School a newb . . . HD Televisions

[JohnnyHopkins]

Doubtful I'll use Netflix or Blue Rays. I mean, I don't really rent movies anymore. I've actually sold all my DVD's and don't plan on starting my collection over again.

Pretty much it'll be for Directv and XBox 360. Those would be the only things connected to it.

Regarding size . . . probably something around 36" or bigger. Don't need a 50", but the 32" might leave me wanting for more.

Good to know. Here are my thoughts:

TV Type: LED TVs can get out of your requested range, so you should look at LCDs. LCDs are still great quality, but their prices have gone down with the introduction of LED TVs. Good for you because you can get a great TV in your range. I would not recommend Plasma. They can still carry wicked glare and have never fully resolved their "burn" issues.

Refresh Rate: As for your usage, it is good that you mention the X-Box. You will get the best use of your X-Box by going with a 120Hz refresh rate instead of 60Hz. The refresh rate deals with the screen refresh, which can be the difference between a good or bad purchase when it comes to video games. 120Hz can better accomodate fast motion sequences without looking "choppy" because the TV isn't refreshing as fast. That is important to note because it eliminates most of your Target and Walmart options. Their TVs are cheaper because they are mostly 60Hz.

Side Note: 240Hz is the fastest refresh rate, but that will pretty much drive you out of your price range. No worries because you should be fine with 120Hz.

Shopping Suggestions: If you shop there, you might try Sams or Costco because they often have excellent deals on TVs. If not, I would suggest looking at Best Buy.

Here is a link to their TVs that fit 120Hz and your price range. In addition to Sony and Samsung, the LGs are very highly reviewed TVs. All have vibrant colors. I believe the Insignias are their brand and I'm not sure how good or bad they are. Stay away from the Phillips.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olstemplatemapper.jsp?id=pcat17080&type=page&qp=crootcategoryid%23%23-1%23%23-1~~q70726f63657373696e6774696d653a3e313930302d30312d3031~~cabcat0100000%23%230%23%23wv~~cabcat0101000%23%230%23%236e~~f519%7C%7C24373530202d20243939392e3939~~f690%7C%7C313230487a&list=y&nrp=15&sc=TVVideoSP&sp=-bestsellingsort+skuid&usc=abcat0100000&st=processingtime%3A%3E1900-01-01

One more thing. Don't get suckered into buying Monster HDMI cables or any of their expensive brands that they offer. They are a rip off and the cheaper HDMI cables will do the same thing (no matter what a Best Buy employee tells you).

 

[kmp77]

I've gone this long without getting a HD television, but I think I'm gonna finally get one. I just never saw the need, previously.

Yet, there I was at Target the other day while the wife was shopping, staring at some of the TV's. I was blown away . . . and when I came home, I couldn't quite look at my old faithful 36" box the same.

That said . . . I'm cutting my dependency on credit cards, and I have a hard time bringing 1k + cash to the store for a TV.

Is it possible to get a good sized, quality HD television for around 500-900?

And if so, what should I look for in both brands and specs?

Samsung 50" 720p = $700..$650 on sale.

GREAT tv for the money! I talked my parents into getting that instead of spending the extra for other tvs. That's the tv I'll get if upgrade my tv.

If you have direct tv, 1080p is a waste so save some money.

 

[ethiostar]

Samsung 50" 720p = $700..$650 on sale.

GREAT tv for the money! I talked my parents into getting that instead of spending the extra for other tvs. That's the tv I'll get if upgrade my tv.

If you have direct tv, 1080p is a waste so save some money.

Why?

Explain please!

I have 1080p hdtv And Direct tv. I have to admit i have been a bit concerned with the quality of the picture when i compare the hdtv picture quality with my regular tv. I thought i hadn't correctly adjusted the settings so i looked up some information on the best way to fine-tune my hdtv.

 

[tomson75]

Between price and what you get, Samsung is king.

It's all I buy anymore. There are some other good TVs, but they cost more.

Don't let anyone fool you into buying a Vizio! :laugh2:

I strongly as I disagree with you about Apple products, you couldn't be more correct in this case.

Samsung is by far the best bang for the buck in the flat panel business. I'm not sure they make a dud in their entire line up.

Other rules of thumb:

Sony makes a quality product, but like Bose in the audio world, much of its reputation is based on name recognition....and so are their prices. Overrated by many, and overpriced by all.

Vizio, as tempting as their low prices are, is CRAP. If you only intent to use the TV for a year or so....by all means, buy one. The picture isn't that bad, actually, but the reliability and quality is borderline criminal.

Know who makes what, and which brand names use the better components. i.e. Magnavox and Philips. Look for deals on products with higher quality, rather than what looks better to you in the store. Some retailers will go as far as adjusting the pictures of certain sets to sell them over others. Rep perks can be pretty motivating. Basically, don't trust your salesman, instead....do your homework and know what you want before you have any intent to buy.

LG makes a good tv, but do your research, they've been known to throw a dud into their lineup on occasion.

....3d tv's are dumb....at least at this point in their development. A good plasma will surely last you until the next major change in home televisions comes along, or until they get the 3d crap perfected.

Don't buy expensive HDMI cables, but make sure you have enough of them...they're essential for a quality picture for anything you choose to hook up to your tv.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Samsung 50" 720p = $700..$650 on sale.

GREAT tv for the money! I talked my parents into getting that instead of spending the extra for other tvs. That's the tv I'll get if upgrade my tv.

If you have direct tv, 1080p is a waste so save some money.

How long will that be relevant? Direct TV is already offering PPV content in 1080P (although still lower quality than Blu-Ray).

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Why?

Explain please!

I have 1080p hdtv And Direct tv. I have to admit i have been a bit concerned with the quality of the picture when i compare the hdtv picture quality with my regular tv. I thought i hadn't correctly adjusted the settings so i looked up some information on the best way to fine-tune my hdtv.

DTV's "HD" channels are broadcast in 1080i, not 1080p. That would be the big difference.

 

[tomson75]

Doubtful I'll use Netflix or Blue Rays. I mean, I don't really rent movies anymore. I've actually sold all my DVD's and don't plan on starting my collection over again.

Pretty much it'll be for Directv and XBox 360. Those would be the only things connected to it.

Regarding size . . . probably something around 36" or bigger. Don't need a 50", but the 32" might leave me wanting for more.

If you don't plan on using blu-ray in the future, and you trust your 360 will escape the ring of death, you could easily go with a 720p HD for dirt cheap...just make sure its made by a reputable company. Look on some of the overstock type websites for samsung plasmas at 720p.

 

[tomson75]

DTV's "HD" channels are broadcast in 1080i, not 1080p. That would be the big difference.

...for a discerning or picky eye, yes. We're talking about someone that has been looking at a square tv in 2010 here.

I doubt he'll notice.

Watching a 720p will be like back to the future 4 for him. Might turn him into a window licker he'll be so stoked.

 

[bbgun]

Or you could go the cheap route like me and watch all HD content on your computer.

 

[Reality]

Between price and what you get, Samsung is king.

It's all I buy anymore. There are some other good TVs, but they cost more.

Don't let anyone fool you into buying a Vizio! :laugh2:

I agree .. Samsung is the only brand I will buy. While Sony TVs and even the new Sharp Aquos TV's look nice, I still prefer Samsung's TVs. Ironically though, their bluray players tend to get bad reviews.

-Reality

 

[ethiostar]

...for a discerning or picky eye, yes. We're talking about someone that has been looking at a square tv in 2010 here.

I doubt he'll notice.

Watching a 720p will be like back to the future 4 for him. Might turn him into a window licker he'll be so stoked.

DUDE!:

 

[Reality]

One suggestion I will make that I have also given to friends who asked me about which HDTV to get is to not go all out on your first TV. Get one that's more of a reasonable size replacement for your current TV but don't go overboard. The reason is that eventually, you'll want a TV with more features and specs and then you can move that TV to your bedroom or kid's room.

There are a lot of sub-$1,000 LCD TVs at Best Buy now that offer really good screens and quality. Most of the higher priced TVs are LED-based or support 3D.

-Reality

 

[tomson75]

I agree .. Samsung is the only brand I will buy. While Sony TVs and even then new Sharp Aquos TV's look nice, I still prefer Samsung's TVs. Ironically though, their bluray players tend to get bad reviews.

-Reality

That's the only real knock I have on Samsung...their customer service could use some help too. My parent's samsung blu ray came with a bad remote, but since they bought it at best buy, the best we could do was to return it and lose the 25% restocking/rip-off fee from Best Buy. Samsung wouldn't just give us a replacement. I can't imagine it would have hurt them too much....

 

[YosemiteSam]

Speaking of 3DTVs, ignore them. It's basically a scam to sell more TVs.

LCD is still your best bang for the buck easily.

 

[Reality]

Speaking of 3DTVs, ignore them. It's basically a scam to sell more TVs.

I absolutely hate 3D period ..

And nyc is right, it's just a scam to get people with existing non-3D TVs and bluray players to buy new equipment they don't need under the illusion of "upgrading" ..

-Reality

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

I agree .. Samsung is the only brand I will buy. While Sony TVs and even the new Sharp Aquos TV's look nice, I still prefer Samsung's TVs. Ironically though, their bluray players tend to get bad reviews.

-Reality

I have been extremely happy with my Samsung. I have never once questioned the investment. FYI, my Blu-Ray/Amp is a Samsung and I have no issues with it at all. I guess I was one of the few.

 

[theebs]

without really getting into it I will just say be very careful buying lcd.

LCD's suffer from lousy black levels, they have terrible viewing angles and alot of times have very poor audio.

So if your going the sub 40" range just be careful buying an lcd.

Before you find one, figure out where you are going to put it and what angles everyone sits at. If you are mounting it on the wall you want it at your exact eye level. Otherwise an lcd's viewing angle shows its face and you get a shadowy picture.

if you sit to the side of it, you will also get shadows and not be able to use it, depending on the angle.

If I were you I would buy a 40 inch panasonic plasma, they are better than anything in their range. Lightyears better than any lcd. Personally I wouldnt even consider an lcd.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Panason...HDTV/9761059.p?id=1218168620157&skuId=9761059

I have a samsung lcd in my editing room and it is not of the same quality as my panny plasma. Panasonic plasmas are the best buys there are. You will love it.

I do like the samsung led panels though, but I would buy a sony if I were to buy an led.

dont forget to check crutchfield, although I know you want to buy cash. And remember buy the biggest screen you can afford. HD looks great no matter how close you sit on a good panel and it would be a shame to want a bigger one 5 months down the road.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

That's the only real knock I have on Samsung...their customer service could use some help too. My parent's samsung blu ray came with a bad remote, but since they bought it at best buy, the best we could do was to return it and lose the 25% restocking/rip-off fee from Best Buy. Samsung wouldn't just give us a replacement. I can't imagine it would have hurt them too much....

If they get in that pickle again, Best Buy sells an RCA universal remote for $20 that will work with Samsung and DTV. I have it linked up to my TV, Blu-Ray and DTV and it works great. Only issue is that it starts fading off after being about fifteen feet away.

 

[Hoofbite]

Between price and what you get, Samsung is king.

It's all I buy anymore. There are some other good TVs, but they cost more.

Don't let anyone fool you into buying a Vizio! :laugh2:

I like mine just fine.

 

[Kevinicus]

I just got this one:

http://www.samsung.com/us/consumer/tv-video/televisions/plasma-tv/PN63C8000YFXZA/index.idx?pagetype=prd_detail&returnurl=

It might be out of your price range though.

I'll sell you my old Samsung 61" DLP along with the TV stand, Yamaha 7.1 receiver, and 7 speakers (no subwoofer) for $1000.

Anyone who thinks 3D is a scam, isn't a gamer. And really 3D adds very little cost to the TVs, so why not get one with it?