Help me pop my HD cherry

The Snert

My "first hd set and I have no idea what Im getting into" cherry that is.

Basically, I've waited this long to jump on the hd bandwagon. The only tv I own is an old 19 inch crt. I have a wii, and plan on getting a 360. Right now I'm in the position to spoil myself this holiday season, and plan on getting an hd set for gaming and later on hd movies. What should I look for when shopping for an hd tv? While I certainly love a good bargain as much as anyone else, I can afford to splurge on this purchase, if it means higher quality.
I'm looking something that does 1080p, and is around 42 inches. I've done some research online and cant determine the difference between the brand-names versus the no-name brands. I basically want to be informed, so I don't blindly buy solely on brand recognition, if I don't havto, but don't want to get saddled with a piece of shit, because I was too cheap and wanted to save a few bucks. I'd say my budget is around 1,200, but I can definately bump that up. My hard limit would probably be 1,700.

Help me, H/A!

variant

Just in time.
This is a hell of a deal:
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11237479&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=&lang=en-US
Sharp 42" Aquos
1080P
$1200

vonPoonBurGer

The Snert wrote: »

I've done some research online and cant determine the difference between the brand-names versus the no-name brands.

The no-name brands often feature some of the same panels as units from bigger-name manufacturers. However, they often cut costs by including cheaper, lower quality scaling and filtering gear. While spotting the difference can be hard from looking at a spec sheet, the difference is usually pretty easy to spot when you're comparing the output of the units. Bigger name manufacturers tend to have better-looking pictures, especially if there's any kind of scaling going on (e.g. SD content being upscaled to an HD display).

The Snert wrote: »

I basically want to be informed, so I don't blindly buy solely on brand recognition, if I don't havto, but don't want to get saddled with a piece of shit, because I was too cheap and wanted to save a few bucks. I'd say my budget is around 1,200, but I can definately bump that up. My hard limit would probably be 1,700.

You could easily get a 720p HDTV for that price, but 1080p will be a little harder. Not impossible, but most 42" 1080p displays will be towards the upper end of your range, if not outside it. Your best bet is to go into a store and take a look at units in your price range. Personally, I prefer the image from plasma TVs, but in that size they tend to cost a bit more than LCDs. There's a lot of personal preference involved, though, and overall quality is increasing all the time, so find out what models are in your budget, take a look at them in stores, and read reviews online to find out if there are any gotchas with units you like the looks of.

variant wrote:

Sharp 42" Aquos
1080P

That's probably the most common 1080p panel in the OPs price range. One thing worth noting is that it's got a reputation for pretty weak sound. If you've already got a 5.1 setup, or even just a decent stereo you can use instead of that panel's built-in speakers, it's probably a good choice.

Daemonion

vonPoonBurGer wrote: »

Your best bet is to go into a store and take a look at units in your price range.

But keep in mind, OP, that not all displays will be configured/hooked up similarly.

Some may be using HDMI cables, some component.

Some may even be out-of-the-box, and some may be slightly or even seriously calibrated (You know - 'tweaking' the picture to make it look better).


Hopefully you can trust a store rep - if you are stuck comparing a few sets, ask if any are calibrated and if both are hooked up with the same cables.

Grid System

Because this thread is already here, I'll use it.

Is this a reasonable TV? I don't want anything too big and expensive.

It seems to have received fairly goodreviews across the board online, and the $400 price drop is very enticing. I don't want to buy it for that reason alone though. I want to buy it because it's a good TV.

ElJeffe

Go check it out in person. If you like it in comparison to other offerings, buy it.

It has a good number of inputs. The contrast ratio they're asserting is a bald-faced lie, but that's standard with LCD manufacturers.

The Snert

Thanks all for the responces. That Sharp panel definately looks like a good deal. I'll havto check that out and see. I guess you guys are right and I can look online, but also head out to a store (with the awareness that they might need to be configured correctly, etc).

Are there any other technical specs I should be aware of? Contrast ratio, responce time, etc? Anyone who could give me just a quick rundown of what that means and how it relates to the picture Im getting? And what would be ideal for what I'm looking for (gaming a 360, and a wii).

Sorry for all the questions!