Posted: 5/11/2010 7:46:05 PM EDT
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Today, my normally frugal wife says, "I'm sick of all these wires, let's get a new TV". We are using a 27" CRT with a tuner box. Plus an RF modulator to convert several sources into a form the old TV can input.
So I have clearance to buy an HDTV for about $500. What brands are good these days? I used to buy Sharp or Panasonic tvs exclusively. Vizio seems to have good value. Prefer not to buy Chinese if I can avoid it. |
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Quoted:
Today, my normally frugal wife says, "I'm sick of all these wires, let's get a new TV". We are using a 27" CRT with a tuner box. Plus an RF modulator to convert several sources into a form the old TV can input. So I have clearance to buy an HDTV for about $500. What brands are good these days? I used to buy Sharp or Panasonic tvs exclusively. Vizio seems to have good value. Prefer not to buy Chinese if I can avoid it. Pretty much unavoidable. We have a Vizio and like it. |
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I have a 20" Samsung monitor, a 25" Samsung TV/monitor and a 42" Samsung TV. All have been very good. (I also have ViewSonic, which I like as well, but they're pricey and so far the only LCD I've ever had die was a ViewSonic –– it blew a $40 power supply.) I see some Samsung 32" 1080p LCD TVs for $600 on the Samsung site. Could probably shop around and find cheaper. I would go for a TV that can support 1080 if possible, rather than 720. Maybe the difference isn't that big but a TV that can run in 1080 looks sweeeeeet when you plug your computer into it. I have an old gaming machine I hooked up so I could watch Hulu and so forth. Looks awesome in 1080 and the TV had a VGA connection so I didn't have to do any weird converters. Check for a sufficient number of HDMI connectors, too. Figure you may have (now or eventually) an HDMI game console, HDMI DVD player, HDMI cable box and/or HDMI DVR... Generally stuff comes with ample HDMI inputs these days but my old "HDTV ready" rear projection TV only had 2 HD inputs. I ended up getting a new TV partly because I was tired of swapping devices. |
| do some research... Im not 100% this is true but i came across an article that stated most dvds, blue rays and hdtv channels wont even come close to maxin out your tvs possiblitlys.. Example. Most cable is still 720, most dvd, bluerays ect, cant go beyond the 60 hz that seems to be so outdated.. I have a 52 lcd samsung, and i love it, since its last years "top of the line" modle of course this year it outdated and theres better and greater but you can still find one for about half what i paid for.. Dont stress to much over it, soon as you buy any electronic do-hickie its outdated 6 months later.. Get something thats in your budget and fits your means.. |
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LG nuff said!  This. I've had my 47" LG for a couple years and love it. Here's a 32" for $550. http://www.lg.com/us/tv-audio-video/televisions/LG-lcd-tv-32LD350.jsp |
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Well, you could go by the opinions of people that have no idea how to tell if a display has a decent picture much less how to properly set one up.
Or you could go with the opinions of some professionals. Unfortunately there isn't much reviewed in your price range. Home theater magazine recomended flat panel displays. Lots of good reviews here also. You can also brows reviews at Sound and Vision. |
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Quoted: Vizio seems to have good value. Prefer not to buy Chinese if I can avoid it. Vizio is mostly US owned (based in CA, founders are US citizens, minority investors from Taiwan). TVs are built in China and Taiwan but the profits stay in the US and they employ 100+ people in the US. |
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Quoted: led is over rated been sellling tvs for years unless u need to win a pissing match and say me tv is thinner not worth it Well you might be able to work a cash register but you obviously don't understand the advantages of using LEDs over a light bulb. LED-backlit LCD TVs are considered a more sustainable choice, with a longer life and better energy efficiency than plasmas and conventional LCD TVs. Because LEDs are able to be switched on and off more quickly than CCFL displays and can offer a higher light output, it is theoretically possible to offer very high contrast ratios. They can produce deep blacks (LEDs off) and a high brightness (LEDs on). LEDs can dim and even be turned off in small clusters behind dark or black areas. This technology is a big deal with regards to bleed through and eliminates the advantages WRT picture quality that other technologies had. As for LEDs vs. bulbs the CCFL burning out usually means it's time to buy a new TV, so if longevity can be increased there multiple-fold, I'm real good with that. Energy savings aside even though that's another big deal especially to California residents.  |
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http://www.buy.com/prod/lg-37lh20-37-widescreen-720p-lcd-hdtv-30-000-1-dynamic-contrast-ratio/q/loc/111/210941520.html?adid=18007 I don't know anything about this TV, but it seems like a good deal. |