HDTV advice

[Dmitry]

So I'm looking to buying an HDTV (LCD screen) in the next month or so. Anybody here have any advice on them? Any owners here already? (I'm sure there are!) This 42'' TV from Westinghouse gets some really good reviews from a couple of tech geek forums. For the price it really seems like a great choice and this price at Amazon is the best I've found.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NIDJ3E/?tag=reefs04-20

Anybody here with any tips, though?

 

[Bob 1000]

Check the port on your cable box & make sure its not DVI instead of HDMI..

 

[inkblue]

i haVe an Olevia in my bedroom and an insignia in tHe boat... both are great

 

[crox99]

Sony will be my choice.:splitspin

 

[bigsink]

Just got the 40" Bravia and I love it! The Colts/Saints game was unbelievable on Thursday in HD. 6th Ave Electronics is having great sales and financing deals on all TVs.

 

[Davidl919]

I see a few lcd's a week, Dmitry and I would recommend the Sony Brand with sxrd technology.

 

[nycsicktank]

i have samsung 52" LCD screen. it looks nice but heating is crazy

 

[Dmitry]

6th Ave Electronics web-site doesn't even have Sony listed.

 

[drunktank]

i have an Olevia in my room and i love it esp since it was pretty low price.... probably one of th better flatscreens in the lower price range that can hold its own against the bigger name brands

 

[Dmitry]

i have an Olevia in my room and i love it esp since it was pretty low price.... probably one of th better flatscreens in the lower price range that can hold its own against the bigger name brands

This is also my understanding of the Westinghouse model I linked above. From the reviews I've read it seems to have all the features and qualities one gets in the best models at a much lower price. The only major criticism I saw of a 47'' version of the same model is that its blacks left something to be desired, but everything else was of top quality. One assumes the 42'' version has the same issues. But the price for all the other features seems excellent. I've always liked Sony. Also Pioneer, but Pioneer has very few options for HDTVs.

 

[Mak]

Why not plasma??

 

[Dmitry]

Plasma tends to be more expensive.

For best image on LCD screens you have to sit directly in front of the screen. The image gets murkier the further you move from dead center. It also generally has slower-response time to the image, so you will have streaking on fast movements and sudden bright lights (explosions, etc.) Plasmas has more vivid and brighter colors than LCDs (generally).

On the plus side, it weighs less.

 

[Mak]

Oh ic, and I always though the plasma is better than LCD..

 

[Dmitry]

It all depends on the model and the cost.

 

[ming]

I have a 37" phillips 1080i/720p
Its great as long as the source you're getting video from is HD

 

[masterswimmer]

D, I'll be in the market for a 42" very soon too. Just wondering, what's the difference between 1080i and 720p? Is there a 1080p and a 720i? This is so confusing

Russ

 

[tosiek]

i was always a samsung fan when it comes to LCD's. They were the best when LCD tech came out and still hold the same quality. I still have the same 64" samsung from like 7 years (or more) ago and the picture quality is the same (i have changed the bulbs and had to replace the color wheel but still). My dad got the Sony 2 years ago (65 or 67" forgot) and its nice but setting the thing up is a pain and stuff. I don't know what the top models are for LCD's right now so i can;t help ya out more.

Plasma's are excellent for HD but only if your willing to spend the money for a good one. That the only reason people complain about picture quality is because they don't see what a 6-10k plasma looks like :Up_to_som. Super flat and able to hang on your wall is what your spending the money on when you go plasma.

 

[Dmitry]

1080 vs. 720 is basically resolution. 1080 is the highest resolution there currently is. So you think you want it, right? The problem is TV is not broadcast in 1080 (still in 720). Pretty much the only things that take advantage of the full resolution are Blue-Ray DVDs, HD DVDs, and some video games. If you think of a TV as a long-term investment (which I do), then I still want the 1080. When the Blue-Ray vs. HD war is over standard DVDs will be gone to be replaced by whoever wins that one.

I've also been checking out this Sony Bravia 40'' set:

http://www.butterflyphoto.com/1/KDL40V2500/KDL-40V2500_40_LCD_TV

This is the best price I've found on it so far and overall the reviews for the Sony are much stronger than for Westinghouse. The more I read, in fact, about Westinghouse the more nervous I got. It seems there have been a lot of problems with the set as time went on and their customer service, it seems, leaves everything to be desired.

The primary issue with this Sony set appears to be that some sets have a "cloud pattern" on the screen during dark scenes. It hasn't plagued everyone, but enough people to cause a ruckus. Also, it seems that Sony is about to phase out this model with a new (much more expensive) one.

I have an version to all things Philips. I had a bad bad experience with their stand-alone CD recorders back when the technology first arrived. (Like 2000 or so.) Ever since then I've sworn to never buy anything from them again. So far I've kept my word.

Overall I guess Vizio and high-end Sony models seem to lead the pack for LCDs. I'm sure Samsung isn't far behind.

Tosiek: 10K Plasma will have to wait until I win the lottery!

 

[masterswimmer]

Thanks D. It's exactly what I thought. I was just wondering if there was various configurations of 1080 and 720. The i and p after the #'s confused me. Apparently it's only the 1080 and 720 that have any relevance.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Do I hear group buy? :biggrin:

R

 

[Deanos]

1080i vs 1080p