Buying a New TV - any suggestions?

Hi All,

I'm buying a new TV for my den- would love some suggestions as I'm not well versed in this arena. Ideally, we'd like it 50"+ HDTV. I'd like to spend <$3k.

Any recommendations as to LCD, Plasma, or DLP - do not know where to start. Any help would be highly appreciated!!

Best,
Darren Herman

 

I bought two new TVs at Christmas. Both are Samsungs...52".. one is a projection DLP and the other is a plasma. I had planned on but Mitsubishis but after comparing bightness to every brand in the store, the Samsungs appeared brighter and crisper. I recommend them highly.

 

http://www.outlet.philips.com/b2c_redesign/b2c/catalogForward.do?catalogEntry=true&shop=OUTLET

 

We bought a 46" Sony Bravia 1080i LCD. Two months later, there was a vertical red line running through the screen. Returned it, shopping around now.

One thing you should know: If you buy HD and you don't have HD programming, you will be very disappointed. If you buy 1080 or something, upgrade everything else, including DVD players, because you will again be disappointed.

Should Sony be avoided? How are Panasonics?

 

I have family in the business. I can recommend the following things.

1-LCD, NOT plasma or projection. Plasma is a dead tecnology, and projections have horrible off angle vieweing.

2-Get 1080P....not 1080I. There is a huge difference.

3-I like the Samsung 1080P's and Sony XBR2/3.

Stay away from the low end Sony, and Phillips.

 

Recently, we purchased the 40" BRAVIA™ XBR® LCD Flat Panel HDTVKDL-40XBR3 for our guest bedroom. The picture is exceedingly sharp and it looks phenomenal straight on when watching any HD programming via Directv. However, when you are on a slight angle the picture is not as sharp and appears a little washed out. The problem is not as significant as you would experience with a rear projection LCD, but it does exist.

In our den, we had the Pioneer 50" PRO-FHD1 Plasma installed using the same Directv feed. This picture is phenomenal from all angles. It is also much brighter and just plain jaw dropping than the Sony.

I think both displays are very good, but I much prefer the Pioneer.

Lastly, my brother in law just purchased the 50" Pioneer 5070 Plasma from Costco and absolutely loves it. I think Costco is selling it for about 3k right now.

 

I'm certainly no expert, but I was told that nothing is broadcast in 1080p right now.

 

It's good for game consoles and HD DVD


I have a Samsung HLS-7178. It's 71" of 1080P and is great. But, you should be atleast 12' to 13' back to enjoy. Side viewing angle is about 45 degrees.

Note - Samsung had a light tunnel issue with their DLPs. But mine was replaced in a day by Samsung and I understand they have fixed the problem.

This set can be found for about $3k now.

 

Ah, ok. Thanks for the info.

 

That, I believe is correct, but I know that some of the 1080p's can scale up a 1080i signal and give you 2x the lines of resolution. My older Panny Tau (another line to pay attention to, the newer models are fantastic IMO) upscales a 480i to 480p.

 

Recently bought the Samsung DLP rear projection 1080p 61" (S6187). The interface is simple and highly praised, the colors and contrast are brilliant, it weighs only about 80 pounds. I really love the small bevel edge - makes the picture seem bigger without a huge border around the tv. The sound is great for a television, and the speakers are hidden.
Here's a good review with a video - http://reviews.cnet.com/Samsung_HL_S5687W/4505-6484_7-31783171.html?tag=lst
Of course, the prices were much better right before the Super Bowl, but I was living in a hotel while the house was being finished, so had to wait till three weeks ago. I went looking for the 56" - I ended up getting the 61", just about $2,300. Drove it home very slowwwwwwwly.....
Right now it's $2,022 from Amazon with free shipping : http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-HL-S6187W-1080p-DLP-HDTV/dp/B000F2PHDI/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-5437033-2790346?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1173882076&sr=8-1

 

Forgot to mention - has great inputs - 2 component inputs, 2 HDMI, 3 composite, 2 S-video, 1 PC, 1 USB - plug camera right in!

 

This is a rough guide that will give you more information - you'll be speaking the digital television language in no time!

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-7608_7-1016109-1.html?tag=dir

Enjoy and good luck !

 

We got a 42" LCD sony bravia in Jan '07 for less than $2500, including delivery & set up, 8.25&#37; TX sales tax, and 4 yr extended warranty.

At this point, since we're going to move from our present house, we just have basic cable and aren't watching HD...we just use the bravia for latenight comedy, and movies, which look fantastic on it. I know you can get an HD antenna from Radio Shack but airwave reception is our neighborhood is really bad because its heavily wooded.

What I like most about this TV is its very simple interface...the remote is something I can actually understand and operate, and it's very easy to hook up auxiliary equipment and get it to work.

 

I like the Samsung DLPs too, and have had a 50" for the last four years. The newer models are much better, of course.

If you're looking at a specific model, head over to www.avsforum.com and do a search on it.

 

Not bad huh

50" plasma for $1259, including shipping, which is usually a hundred bucks!

 

Just make sure you don't wind up with a refurbished unit.

 

I've got a 42" Panasonic Vierra Plasma and couldn't be happier with it. Color and contrast is fantastic especially the HD channels. I was told to either get a Sony Bravia LCD or the Panasonic Plasma. I got the plasma because it was on sale at the time. I have a few friends that cheaped out with the "no-name" chinese brands and they are disappointed. With a big name like Sony or Panasonic you know they will stand behind their products.

 

Buy me one!
my 60 some odd inch big screen is outdated, it went out with the 3 spoke wheels and gold nugget bracelets

$1250 is sounding tempting! BTW, there is NO TAX either....
So there's another reason for you to buy me one

 

Sony SXRD

 

ACTUALLY....

the Samsung 61" HLS6187W is on sale for....

$1590

Frys has Samsung 61" HLS6187W 1080p DLP TV [Review 1, Review 2]for $1499. Shipping depends on the zip code, and starts around $90. Add to cart to see lower price. Cheapest on PriceGrabber is $1978.
Specs:

* Resolution: 1920x1080
* Color Wheel: 14,400 RPM
* Input/Outputs:
o AV in: 2 rear/ 1 side
o S-Video In: 2 rear
o RF In: 1 rear
o Monitor and Sound Out: 1 rear
o Component Video Input (Y/Pb/Pr): 2 rear
o HDMI input: 2
o PC audio input: 1 rear
o USB: 1 side

 

I have no problem with a refurb, it's from the factory, warranty still applies.
Whatever probs they had with the units, they fixed it.

 

YES, but what after shipping? A lot of these places advertise lower prices but get you with the shipping.

 

Hardly any games are in full HD, most of them are 720p.

If you want my opinion just get a 1080i and wait about 9 months for OLED to come out, its going to blow LCD, Plasma, and CRT out of the water.

BTW, to whoever said Plasma was dead, Pioneer is a perfect example that it is NOT dead. There is still a lot of potential in Plasma and no technology is better than the other at this point. There are so many things to consider when buying a TV saying LCD is better than Plasma is just to get people to buy LCDs because after a certain size, LCD prices are a lot higher than Plasma.