tv help

kwhauck · 10-09-2009, 05:38 PM

it doesn't say car audio, video, and security

anyways looking to purchase our first nice tv in the next couple months and would like some personal input from people with flat screens

i am looking at a minimum 42" up to possibly a 55"

i will have $1500-$2500 to play with, maybe a little more, but less than $2000 would be nice.

so cover the basics for me, lcd, plasma, 1080p, aspect ratios, blah blah blah.....

Thanks in advance!! Kyle

AGT · 10-09-2009, 05:44 PM

People like LCD because less burn in than Plasma but then again Plasma has bright colors and when it comes to 1080p you might as well get it altho you will save yourself some money with 720p. Aspect ratio should always be 16:9 which is just how you view the video you are watching

Oh and get 50 or bigger. I bought 2x50s and I am very happy. I see people that have a 42 and you really notice the difference especially side by side

My next TV will be a 58 or larger for sure.

Ryan from Ohio · 10-09-2009, 06:16 PM

Depends on the room size.

In my place your head is litterally 9 ft and 11 ft away from the screen depending on what Lazy Boy you are sitting in.

We had a 32" at first which was plenty big... Way bigger than the 27" standard screen i did have.

We now have a 42" and its perfect. It seemed a little large at first but now I like it. Any larger would be to big IMO.

1080p is the minimum now. Dont get ANYTHING less.

Biggest thing is STICK TO A WELL KNOWN BRAND.

CactusWill · 10-09-2009, 06:38 PM

LCD without a doubt. More reliable and most efficient. Plasmas have a bad reputation for alot of things, including being throwaway units, electricity hogs, and its possible to burn the screen.

Fi-Alero · 10-09-2009, 07:29 PM

I work at a Pawn shop, I see every type of T.V. come through after 1 month to 5 years of use.

1080 LCD is the way to go. The size depends on how far you are away from the T.V. The trick is to go to the store, and look at the LCDs at a distance at which you would be sitting in the room.

As far as brands, I have an Emerson myself (budget line) and it looks just as good as any sony, toshiba, AOC, etc. All companies are making T.V.s so cheap these days to maximize profit, in fact, most brands use the same imported panels.

kwhauck · 10-09-2009, 07:24 PM

what about contrast ratio, is 100000:1 gonna really be that different than 3000000:1?

also i heard lg's are crap, yes?

any recommends brands?

Oldsnut · 10-09-2009, 07:37 PM

What about LED TV's?

cherrington17 · 10-09-2009, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldsnut

What about LED TV's?

led gives longer life span (no bulb to burn) and thinner/better contrast then standard lcd. but cost alot more.

your contrast ratio is going to be your white to black ratio. (how white the whites are, compared to the blackest black) the higher, the crisper the picture. plasma has a ridiculously high level of contrast, but images can burn in, much more energy to operate.

its up to you, as to what your looking for. each company has good lines and bad lines. IMO, LG is a good mid-high grade. Sony is the same. But both companies have their "cadillac" lines, which are high grade. AOC is made by Envision. EXCELLENT mid grade tv. Samsung is good...

I don't know of any that are horrible. I'd stay away from a company you've never heard of. But as for LG being crap, thats far from the truth. They are a major leading brand, these days. Good quality on most things.

lonnie · 10-09-2009, 08:39 PM

I've got a 42inch Vizio plasma that I got for 747 and I haven't had any issues with burn in, and I play the Wii and PS2 on it all the time. With any plasma you have to go through a 100hr break in then all is good. My sister picked up a 32inch Vizio plasma and hasn't had an issue. The LED tv's look very good though...Out of them all stay away from DLP TV's...they end up costing more in the long run.

NickAlero2000 · 10-09-2009, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lonnie

I've got a 42inch Vizio plasma that I got for 747 and I haven't had any issues with burn in, and I play the Wii and PS2 on it all the time. With any plasma you have to go through a 100hr break in then all is good. My sister picked up a 32inch Vizio plasma and hasn't had an issue. The LED tv's look very good though...Out of them all stay away from DLP TV's...they end up costing more in the long run.

I have a 42'' Visio LCD with 1080P as well, cept I got mine for 410

Look around for used TV's, they go cheap that way.

lonnie · 10-10-2009, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickAlero2000

I have a 42'' Visio LCD with 1080P as well, cept I got mine for 410

Look around for used TV's, they go cheap that way.

I hate you...LOL...but I wouldn't pay that for a used set.....espeacially for a plasma set.

Ian 2000GL LA1 · 10-09-2009, 08:54 PM

i help with home installs all day at a local shop i'de recommend the sony bravias or any of the new LG sets. they also deal with panasonic and one other company i cant think of right now. some of the LGs r just a touch sharper than the sony's. ide also reccomend a wall mount.

FrankTheTank · 10-09-2009, 09:40 PM

maybe my eyes suck, but when i'm in the store i cant tell the difference between a 720p and 1080p set.
thus, i just picked up a 42" panasonic plasma for $480 from dell.

cherrington17 · 10-10-2009, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankTheTank

maybe my eyes suck, but when i'm in the store i cant tell the difference between a 720p and 1080p set.
thus, i just picked up a 42" panasonic plasma for $480 from dell.

there is no difference in 720p and 1080p with any set under 42". The human eye doesn't have the ability to discriminate such a difference.

BlackJack · 10-10-2009, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherrington17

there is no difference in 720p and 1080p with any set under 42". The human eye doesn't have the ability to discriminate such a difference.

*cough*BULLSHIT*cough*

You can't speak for all humans just because YOU can't see the difference below 42".

I can tell the difference between 720p and 1080p on my wife's 22" monitors.

cherrington17 · 10-10-2009, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackJack

*cough*BULLSHIT*cough*

You can't speak for all humans just because YOU can't see the difference below 42".

I can tell the difference between 720p and 1080p on my wife's 22" monitors.

*cough* learn stuff *cough*
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=768167

ServO · 10-10-2009, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackJack

*cough*BULLSHIT*cough*

You can't speak for all humans just because YOU can't see the difference below 42".

I can tell the difference between 720p and 1080p on my wife's 22" monitors.

Yeah agreed, I can tell the difference as well. I could care less if the internet says I can't.

AZFire316 · 10-10-2009, 04:42 PM

One thing to consider when looking at 1080P vs 720P is if youre only gonna watch broadcast HD and not Blu-ray is that most HD tv is still transmitted in 1080i

Vella's Alero · 10-09-2009, 09:47 PM

Personally I would go with a 1080P Pioneer Plasma line. They have some wicked colour and if you have some seats that arent dead onto the screen LCD will fade and the colouring won't be as good on the sides.

Also is the room that it is being put into have a lot of light or not? If it doesn't then go LCD but if it has a lot of light then go plasma for ease of viewing.

A good site to check out that has dedicated people for all this and review a ton of screens would be www.pcmag.com . They are very reliable and have no connections with any one such brand so they are completely objective.

Another thing would be to take the contrast ratio number with a grain of sand because every company measures it differently so what might be 2000000 for one might be half that for another.

Ryan from Ohio · 10-09-2009, 10:19 PM

We bought the $800 42" Phillips at Wal mart and put an extended 2 year warranty on it.

I think it was a bit over $940ish out the door.

Been about 9 months with it no issue besides the remote control is on the fritz.