 Hokie
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Joined: Aug 2001  ME, USA
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Posted: 3/1/2012 1:28:20 PM
THE IMAGE ABOVE IS A PAID ADVERTISEMENT 
Not being fluent in the ways of audio-visual, I'm compelled to ask Arfcom...even in the face of potential ridicule. Is there a comparative "buyers" guide I could reference? The fam is due for a new TV, but I'm not sure where to start. I'd appreciate a boost! My living room is 15 feet X 20 feet, lots of daylight, and wired for surround sound. 
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Posted: 3/1/2012 1:35:59 PM
it's a buyers market...go make a deal.
Usually if you can find prior versions of the newest models you can save a ton. Like a standard version, instead of the extra special 3D version that will make you go blind anyway. I find hhgreg to be the easiest to deal with. |
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Posted: 3/1/2012 3:06:00 PM
Samsung...FTW!
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Posted: 4/1/2012 11:49:05 PM
it'd get a nice Samsung. I prefer the 500 series if you are on a budget. I dont think 120HZ is worth 100-200 bucks more. Plus blurays are native to 24HZ so you TV actually refreshes less watching blurays. Second question I know you said home theater but everyone has their own definitions, are you going to watch blurays or just live TV. The only reason Live TV is only available in 720p/1080i due to bandwidth, so you can get some get deals on large plasmas at are only 720P/600HZ.
As for home theater take that step by step. As most home theaters in a box its hard to rewire in to existing setups due to crappy wires build in to the speakers. Get a nice receiver you can build from. As for speakers hopefully you have some around that can get you buy until you save up for better/additional speakers. IMO the audio is the most underrated piece of creating a bad ass home theater. I'd strongly urge you to save up a few hundred more to get a nice sounds system. 5.1 or 6.1 is great target, as 7.1, there is not that many movies in 7.1 right now. 2 years ago I bought a 2 room home theater receiver($450) and had 2 floor speakers($200) and 1 center speaker($100). This year I was able to add a powered subwoofer($180), Left/Right Surround($175) and 1 rear surround speaker($50). Currently its a 6.1 setup. With an XBOX, DIRECTVHD and BLURAY hooked up to it. Its amazing and by no means breaking the bank. My room is just under 300sq feet roughly the same as your place. If you want to go that route i'd gladly help you. Newegg.com open box or 24 hour sale items are my secret. I have gotten many great products for dirt cheap for myself and friends. my sub was 179.99 usually $550. I have even got a friend 3 surround speakers for $20 usually $120. As for you original questions if I had 1k budget for completely everything: Samsung 40 (LN40D550) $580 Sony Bluray Player (BDPS380) $100 Pioneer 5.1 Reciever (VSX-821-K) $180 Thats just around 140 to spend on speakers, but if its for the long run i'd put the 140 bucks in to 2 floor speakers to get you by until you can get the whole package. Here is a great guide plus request there product catalog for home theaters (http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Learn/Article/Menu.aspx?g=10300&tp=35) |
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jerz_subbie
Acronym & abbreviation whore :-)
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Joined: Jan 2007 NC, USA
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Posted: 4/2/2012 12:41:36 AM
Tough to get a 55"+ TV for $1k alone, especially when it sounds like you need an LCD, not to mention decent audio. You can get large plasmas inexpensively, 51" 720P Samsung $600, but it would be a poor choice in a room where glare is an issue.
Go down to a 46" LCD like Samsung or LG($700) and a soundbar like the LG($250) which is one of the best soundbars of 2011 and the new version is very similar. |
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Posted: 4/2/2012 1:25:52 AM
[Last Edit: 4/2/2012 1:30:17 AM by NickydaGreat]
I highly recommend Samsung (I have two in my home), Sharp is pretty good as well. Vizio does well at balancing cost and performance.
I suggest staying away from LG tvs for the time being. I sell/merchandise electronics at Sam's Club and I've been getting A LOT of LG sets returned broken defective lately. Stay away from the following names: RCA, Magnavox, Viore, Dynex, and many, many more. CNET is a great resource of reviews and comparisons. |
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jerz_subbie
Acronym & abbreviation whore :-)
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Posted: 4/2/2012 10:41:34 PM
Originally Posted By NickydaGreat:
I highly recommend Samsung (I have two in my home), Sharp is pretty good as well. Vizio does well at balancing cost and performance. I suggest staying away from LG tvs for the time being. I sell/merchandise electronics at Sam's Club and I've been getting A LOT of LG sets returned broken defective lately. Stay away from the following names: RCA, Magnavox, Viore, Dynex, and many, many more. CNET is a great resource of reviews and comparisons. Sam's club only carries the LG LV4400/5400 series which are absolute turds. Don't judge LG's line soley based upon those models. The LW series are nice sets and get great reviews. The LV5500 is a nice TV but requires a repair to get rid of the flashing and line at top of the screen issue; LG will fix it no problem. Some Dynex TVs are actually pretty nice, for what they are, if you just want a very basic, no frills TV. I know a Best Buy Geek Squad in-home repair guy and he says he rarely repairs their store brand TVs (Dynex/Insignia). Granted the 55" models don't look so great. Sharp is very near the bottom of the barrel in terms of picture quality and they're priced accordingly. A 60" sharp is $1k cheaper than a comparable Samsung. Sharp simply makes the least expensive, large, name brand TVs and that's because they are one of the major panel manufacturers. Vizio has gotten much better over recent years but I'd still stay away; Much better to cough up a few more bucks to get a Sony, Samsung, or Panasonic. Tough to go wrong with Samsung, though, regardless of what size, model, or technology. |
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Hokie
"Fucking Savages!"
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Joined: Aug 2001 ME, USA
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Posted: 4/2/2012 11:08:54 PM
This is excellent intel fellas. Thank you.
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