A new "What TV should I buy thread"

[frankensooner]

I made the mistake of buying a vizio 32 inch lcd tv two years ago at Sams. I did make the right decision to buy the extended warranty. It died. Sams gave me almost 1,100 bucks back. I would like to buy the best tv I can get for somewhere around this amount, give or take a couple of hundry.

I already have a 50 inch Panasonic plasma that I love. I need something in the 37-42 inch range. Start up with the suggestions.

tia.

[Frozen Sooner]

Is 1080p important to you? How about HDMI/PC/etc connectivity?

[frankensooner]

1080p is nice, but I know it is just a little out of my price range unles I go for another lesser name. No real connectivity issue. I just intend to use it for watching tv in the den. The big tee vee has the wii.

[Frozen Sooner]

Does it need to be a flat panel, or is rear projection an option for you?

[Frozen Sooner]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8423912&type=product&id=1182557417207

This could be a good'un for you. A little smaller than you were looking for, though.

[frankensooner]

I don't want a dlp. I have a nice sized cabinet that is pretty deep. It currently holds a 27 inch tube tv with tons of depth to spare. Plenty of width for a 37-42 inch tv. Seating is pretty close, about 8-10 feet away.

[MextheBulldog]

Regarding brand name, stick to Sony, Mitsubishi, JVC or Samsung. I too have a Panasonic that has served well. Samsung usually has the best value, but with mixed results on dependibility.

[Frozen Sooner]

I don't want a dlp. I have a nice sized cabinet that is pretty deep. It currently holds a 27 inch tube tv with tons of depth to spare. Plenty of width for a 37-42 inch tv. Seating is pretty close, about 8-10 feet away.

OK, the one I linked to should work for you and I think BB will let it go for under 1k.

[rufnek05]

Get this one. Bet it will never break down.


http://www.geocities.com/wa2ise/radios/gem111asd.jpg

[frankensooner]

would it be worth the difference to get this? http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=366942

nevermind that is a 720 as well.

[Frozen Sooner]

Well, $350 for an extra 3" diagonal. Up to you. Looks like a decent TV though.

One thing I dislike a great deal about Samsung is the annoying little tune it plays when it powers up and down.

[frankensooner]

http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=372277&pCatg=5883

What about the Phillips? Are they any good?

[Frozen Sooner]

No. Junk.

[frankensooner]

Okay. Thank you. I know I have eyes, but it is hard to tell at the store, at 37 inches will there be a noticible difference between 720 and 1080, especially since it will be for watching tv and I don't plan on buying a blu ray or HD-DVD?

[Frozen Sooner]

At 37" at a viewing distance of 8-10 feet a person with 20/20 vision will not be able to tell the difference between 720p and 1080p. Since you won't be feeding the display any 1080p source material anyhow, moot point.

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2006/12/resolution_chart.jpg

Useful chart.

[frankensooner]

Most excellent chart. Thank you. I will go with the best 720p I can find. Another Idot helped by the man from Alaska!

[Taxman71]

I would stick to 720p at that size TV, 1080p won't look any different and you can save some money.

The Sony Bravia flatpanels are awesome, but with the size of your cabinet, a 37" Sony RP LCD would fit nicely at under $1,000 (I have the 50 inch version) - great picture:

Sony 37 inch (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8348825&type=product&id=1177112313623)

If you could find the 42" Sony LCD-RP, you would really be happy.

Sony 42 inch LCD RP (http://www.amazon.com/Sony-KDF-42E2000-3LCD-Rear-Projection/dp/B000IHLGJ4/ref=sr_1_23/002-3135063-4183231?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1191527222&sr=1-23)

[Frozen Sooner]

I'd agree with the above. If you can get an RP in there go for it.

[frankensooner]

I looked it up and the circuit city by my house has the sony for the same price. What about bulbs? Does this run on bulbs like the dlps? It looks really nice. I will definately check it out.

Wow, I have been reading the customer reviews of that set. People LOVE it. I will go and look at it tonight.

[SeattleOUstudent]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8423912&type=product&id=1182557417207

This could be a good'un for you. A little smaller than you were looking for, though.

One of my good friends and my parents have this model (40" version) and I have been impressed with these.

[SoonerBOI]

Well, $350 for an extra 3" diagonal. Up to you. Looks like a decent TV though.

One thing I dislike a great deal about Samsung is the annoying little tune it plays when it powers up and down.
I agree!

[SoonerBBall]

I love my 61' Samsung 1080 DLP, but that little beep it plays when powering up or down has got to ****ing go.

[sooneron]

Pioneer. 42" plasma. I got it, I lub it.

[OUDoc]

Color TV.
The future is color.

[r5TPsooner]

I have the newer Panasonic Black Matte Plasma HDTV. Both the 50" and the 42" have been quite good. Best bang for your buck IMPO.

Good luck.

[C&CDean]

According the most recent issue of Consumer Reports (and the past 4-5 issues that have reviewed HD televisions) the Samsung is the highest rated TV in pretty much every category and size. Sony is always #2, and the Sharp Aquos is usually #3. Any of those three brands and you can't go wrong. They also had great things to say about the newest Panasonic - but only in one size (and I don't remember what size that was).

[OCUDad]

Samsung does make an excellent TV for an excellent price. You might want to consider, however, spending a couple of extra bucks on a third-party warranty. Samsung customer service has a godawful reputation.

[Getem]

You can turn the little melody off, ya know

[sooneron]

According the most recent issue of Consumer Reports (and the past 4-5 issues that have reviewed HD televisions) the Samsung is the highest rated TV in pretty much every category and size. Sony is always #2, and the Sharp Aquos is usually #3. Any of those three brands and you can't go wrong. They also had great things to say about the newest Panasonic - but only in one size (and I don't remember what size that was).
As far as plasmas etc go, I trust plasmatvbuyingguide.com more.

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/9824/picture1ec2.jpg

[Ruuuuuufus]

the rule I have always seen is to stick to the "P" brands for plasmas - Pioneer and Panasonic, and the "S" brands for LCDs - Sony, Samsung, Sharp.

I have the 40" Samsung LCD (4061). I went with that because it was cheaper and looked almost as good as the Sony, and it looked better than the Sharp to me and had more input options. You can turn off the tune it plays upon startup/shut down.

Also as many people have said in other threads, never buy HDMI cables in a store unless you know you're getting a great deal. I don't understand how Amazon fluctuates their prices but I have seen these (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002L5R78/102-2646434-3605719) for as low as $1.40 for a 6ft cable.

[TheHumanAlphabet]

Get this one. Bet it will never break down.


http://www.geocities.com/wa2ise/radios/gem111asd.jpg

And won't get a signal after 2009...

[Blue]

What about HP's? I thought they just made computers too.

I had a customer hook me up with a deal on a 42" plasma for $699(sells in Brandsmart for $1199). Was this a Deal or No Deal?

I gave it to my mama.

[Frozen Sooner]

the rule I have always seen is to stick to the "P" brands for plasmas - Pioneer and Panasonic, and the "S" brands for LCDs - Sony, Samsung, Sharp.

I have the 40" Samsung LCD (4061). I went with that because it was cheaper and looked almost as good as the Sony, and it looked better than the Sharp to me and had more input options. You can turn off the tune it plays upon startup/shut down.

Also as many people have said in other threads, never buy HDMI cables in a store unless you know you're getting a great deal. I don't understand how Amazon fluctuates their prices but I have seen these (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002L5R78/102-2646434-3605719) for as low as $1.40 for a 6ft cable.

www.monoprice.com for all your cabling needs. Won't be $1.40 for a 6 foot run, but they'll get you under $10.

[soonerboomer93]

I have a samsung rear projection at my apartment, don't really like it (but hey, most of my coworkers got 27" crt's)

i get the color blocks on it, which annoys me...

[Frozen Sooner]

I have a samsung rear projection at my apartment, don't really like it (but hey, most of my coworkers got 27" crt's)

i get the color blocks on it, which annoys me...

That's most likely a source bandwidth problem, not a display problem.

[soonerboomer93]

I get it from satellite, cable and dvd, mainly notice it in the daytime, so i just close the curtains

[Frozen Sooner]

Wait, are you talking about random blocks of one color or are you talking about macroblocking? Macroblocking means that your sources are too compressed. Random blocks of color are a display issue.

You could try taking the sharpness down a few notches.

[soonerboomer93]

you're assuming i can adjust the sharpness, but i have a small communication issue with my tv menu system

[ruf/nekdad]

Dog ate the remote eh?

[OU4LIFE]

IBTM

[RacerX]

The Samsung I have has a menu option to turn off that tone.

[1stTimeCaller]

I love my 61' Samsung 1080 DLP, but that little beep it plays when powering up or down has got to ****ing go.

I think you can turn that melody thing off.

[frankensooner]

So, if I do buy the Samsung, I should turn the melody off?

[1stTimeCaller]

I don't know if you can.

[sooneron]

Hmm, I didn't realize that the new version of my plasma was that expensive. I got my 4270HD for 1400 and change. Including shipping.

[1stTimeCaller]

it's because the old version sucks.