The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
New HDTV
sireyiyer
Registered User new member
Registered User new member
Im going to buy a 42 inch LCD or plasma HDTV, hopefully for less than 1500. I need all the help I can get in making this purchase... any recommendations?
sireyiyer on
0
Posts
PSN: super_emu
Xbox360 Gamertag: Emuchop
here ya go
http://www.buy.com/prod/samsung-42-plasma-tv-42-16-9-4-3-14-9-stereo-sound/q/loc/101/202846945.html
PSN: super_emu
Xbox360 Gamertag: Emuchop
that thing has no hdmi, and a native res of 1024x768, unless i'm missing something with that resolution its not even a real HDTV, he should be able to find a 720P LCD for under 1500$, and the vast majority of people supposedly can't tell the difference between 1080P and 720P on screens 42" and under, so thats really all he needs
although if he's willing to budge on his price a little bit it looks liek amazon has the Sharp Aquos LC42D72U (42" 1080P) on for 1709$ with free shipping
$999 at circuit city--Usually $1499+
720p
3 HDMI inputs
2 Component inputs
2 Composite AV inputs
2 S-Video inputs
VGA input
It's what i have. Really great set.
One of the best TV's around IMO and only 1199.00 now. That's pretty damn cheap
For reference, I have a my HD-DVR and Wii hooked up via component, and a Mac Mini hooked up via HDMI. The only downside I've run into so far is that while it has a VGA in, it doesn't support widescreen. So if you're hooking up a PC, you have to use a HDMI or DVI-HDMI cable to hook it up.
or Brawl. 4854.6102.3895 Name: NU..
I have the 32" version of that TV. It's both slick and awesome. OP should definitely check out the 37" or 42" models.
1. smaller
or
2. bigger, but rear projection, like dlp or dila.
You're investing a lot of cash into this television - the HDTV spec will not likely change for many years, however, buying a set that is outdated already seems kind of silly to me. I'd either wait for the price to come down on 1080P if you can't find something in your range, or go smaller screen / larger form factor.
Edit: Isn't the Sharp AQUOS supposed to be a pretty good set?
Take a lookie: 42LCD 1080P for $1400
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7992684&st=1080P&lp=3&type=product&cp=1&id=1155069968903
Well duh, but that doesn't mean buy a 1080p TV or don't buy one at all.
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/product_detail.do?storeName=storefronts&landing=storefronts&category=flat_panel_tvs&subcat1=&catLevel=2&a1=Type&v1=Plasma+TVs&product_code=RK541AA%23ABA&tab=detailed_specs#defaultAnchor
Based off of the Panasonic plasmas, $1,199
42" plasma
1080p
10,000:1 contrast
integrated HDTV tuner
3 HDMI, 1 PC VGA Input, 1 Antenna Input, 2 High Definition Component Inputs (Y, Pb, Pr), 2 Composite Video / S-Video Inputs
i bought this tv 2 models ago and I haven't seen much better for the price
Seriously, who's gonna stand less than 20 feet from a 120" screen?
I have this one. It's pretty great.
This one seems to be the same, but at a discount now, so I'd get it:
I think it was the lvm-42w2.
I will second this. I have the 50" model and it looks damn good. Just as good as more expensive brands
From the opposite side of the spectrum, I have a 37" Samsung HDTV and I couldn't be happier. I haven't had any problems with it whatsoever, even including calling customer support with a few questions (regarding how to get my TV out of Shop Mode and things about setting it up).
Some people just have different experiences, I suppose.
I love my Samsung very much ( this TV here ) and it works beautifully for everything. However, for a little bit less money than the same size Samsung, you can probably get a Sharp like: this one
I have a Samsung, too, and I love it. I couldn't recommend Samsung enough.
And hey, you got stuck in Shop Mode, too, eh? I hated that. Easily fixed, though.
Phew, glad I'm not the only one! I felt like such an idiot, because I kept changing my settings and then when I'd turn the TV off and come back to it, none of them would have stuck. It took me a day or two to realize what was going on.
I looked around at other TVs for probably over a month while I was looking for my new TV. Reading and going to all kinds of stores, and the ones with the best picture always ended up being Sharp/Samsung/Sony. I was stunned when I got my Samsung home and plugged in my 360. I just don't think you can go wrong with them, they're quality products.
And to stay on-topic and for another point: It also might be a good idea to browse around techdeals.net and slickdeals.net. I've noticed techdeals has quite a few listings on HDTVs going on sale.
Also, I want to bring up another point here -- whatever you do, don't judge a TV by the way it looks in the store. A lot of them aren't set up properly. The most important thing you can do is probably to go out and look at TVs and then come right back home and read up on all of them online. Amazon.com reviews and AVS forums are really great to browse, in my opinion. Along with that, know that TVs you see in stores are going to look a LOT bigger when you get them home.
The ceilings are so high in those big stores, TVs look smaller there. I got mine home and couldn't believe it was really the 37", so you might be able to get away with a smaller TV if you wanted to spend the extra money on a higher quality set.
PSN: super_emu
Xbox360 Gamertag: Emuchop
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-HLT5076S-UltraSlim-1080p-HDTV/dp/B000N4Z39G/ref=sr_1_6/002-6014080-0827228?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1188339588&sr=1-6
Westinghouse 47" LCD, 1080p, 4x HDMI, 2x Component, 1x VGA, $1500
Westinghouse 42" LCD, 1080p, 4x HDMI, 2x Component, 1x VGA, $1100
Vizio 47" LCD, 1080p, 2x HDMI, 2x Component, 1x VGA, $1500
It's at Costco's website, don't know if you need membership to buy off the site.
Vizio 42" LCD, 1080p, 2x HDMI, 2x Component, 1x VGA, $1200
Samsung 42" Plasma, 720p, $1000
Philips 42" Plasma, 720p, 2x HDMI, 1x Component, $900
I just hooked up my new Samsung HDTV to my Wii, and I have to ask...if I play VC titles on 4:3 mode for too long should I worry about image retention? Zoom mode always leaves a bit out and 16:9 just stretches it out....and I really don't want to fuck it up this soon.
Any advice?
I don't know anything about other technologies, but I doubt it'd be a problem there either.
http://newspaperads.mercurynews.com/ROP/ads.aspx?advid=32664&adid=4936771&subid=17347364&type=
sale ends today, get that or the 50" samsung, both are $1500
the 42" is $1100 for either of them, those are good also. Unless your viewing distance is like 8 feet you would be surprised how tiny 50" is after a while.
I paid the same price for a 37" earlier this year, and I love it. It could stand to have a few more features, but for that price I have no problems with it. If you're picky about black levels, you probably shouldn't go with an LCD. If not, I recommend the Westinghouse.
EDIT: Just realized BubbaT already posted this. :P
image retention is temporary on LCDs. you will be okay.
PSN: super_emu
Xbox360 Gamertag: Emuchop
It accepts a 1080p signal. The picture quality is actually something that has to be seen in person to believe. And just going to Best Buy or CompUSA doesn't cut it. Look at a professionally calibrated model and you will be amazed at how much better it looks than an LCD, even a native-res 1080p LCD of the same size.
Well, that's really a misnomer. Talking about 1080p is really shorthand for talking about what they call "native resolution" on a screen. The higher the numbers, the better.
Native 720p resolution is 1280x720.
Native 1080p resolution is 1920x1080.
720p tends to look a little better in fast motion than 1080i. 1080i looks better on stills. The reason for this is that 1080i is a high resolution - but it only draws part of the screen at a time. It draws screen fragments at a fast rate, so the picture ends up looking "whole" to your eyes, but the effect becomes more apparent with fast motion.
1080p would seem to be the best solution (high resolution, and draws the whole screen), but... it only draws 30 frames a second, which is half the speed of 720p. What does this mean? Movies are AWESOME in 1080p, because they are filmed at 24 fps, but games might not look as good (they want 60fps).
So, that being said, the important thing in this is native resolution.
A 720p native resolution monitor can "fake" 1080i (and sometimes 1080p) by cutting out pixels. So, just looking for 1080p on a box... not a good idea.
Native Resolution for the win.