New Television??

[papalondog]

I guess I need to put on my big boy pants and get over it and just buy a new TV. Looking for a LCD in the 37 inch range. Any video gurus out here to help an illiterate out a little?? What brand, what not to buy, gimmick, gadgets??? I am not a game player and don't need a lot of fluff.............

 

[papalondog]

I guess I need to put on my big boy pants and get over it and just buy a new TV. Looking for a LCD in the 37 inch range. Any video gurus out here to help an illiterate out a little?? What brand, what not to buy, gimmick, gadgets??? I am not a game player and don't need a lot of fluff.............

 

[The Big D]

Highly recommend Sony. Prices are getting seriously low nowadays, and Sony is the best brand, IMHO.

Whatever you get, do make sure it's full 1080 and has multiple HDMI inputs for components you will be connecting. HDMI is by far the best and simplest meants of connectivity.

Be safe.

 

[montezumaz]

My DISH installer recommended Sharp LCD as having the least problems and said to steer clear of Vizio and plasmas. I bought a 46" Sharp LCD and am pleased with the picture. Good luck with your purchase.

 

[nisamo]

Vizio at Sam's Club.

 

[Firehouse]

+1 on the Sony. I have a 40" Sony Bravia LCD and it has a great picture. I use Dish Network Turbo HD and I have had some excellent results. Make sure you use the HDMI cables where applicable for best results.

 

[guntownuncle]

Myself and a couple of my co-workers have bought Vizio's and been very happy with them. Admitedly, I'm no videophile, but for the price I'm happy with it. I think they're a U.S. company too.

 

[klondike]

I believe that Consumer groups rate the Samsung the best set. I read the reviews and chose the 37" HD LCD.
The technology is changing so fast that I am sure that in less than 10 years it will be obsolete.
+1 on the advice for HDMI cables.

 

[CH47gunner]

I believe that Consumer groups rate the Samsung the best set.

+1 on the Samsung. I bought a 46" 1080I last year for myself, for Christmas. It's a beautiful TV, especially when watching all the HD wildlife/nature shows.

Bruce

 

[pberry]

Anything you buy will be obsolete in 3 to 5 years. They are working on new stuff all the time. Consumer Report looks at tv's all the time. The difference between the best tv's and the bad tv's is very little. Thre are no really bad ones. just some not as good as the best ones. Go to the store and buy what looks good while considering price. Make it a name brand, like Samsung or Sony. They were the top two on the last report I read.
Phil

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

I would get a Sony or JVC all things being equal because they have served me well. Get something with enough inputs for what you plan although most have at least 6 input lines these days.

 

[wbraswell]

I would recommend Samsung. A friend of mine got a Vizio, and it went bad. A lot of phone calls and still got it replaced with a re-man. Service is spit. The guy who delivered it said he delivers a lot of Samsungs, and Vizios, but he also has to pick up a lot of Vizios.

 

[Len]

Some basic stuff:

Used to be that plasma TV's simply had a better picture. Now, with the advent of high contrast, high refresh rate LCD TV's, the gap is pretty much closed.

Reason I went with LCD is simple. They use a ton less power than plasma, and now the picture is just as good...to my eye anyway.

The 1080 resolution is going to be, if not already, the industry standard for high def TV. Depending on what your signal source is, you must get a HD package via satellite or cable to see the TV at its best. However, over the air HDTV, via antenna is free, as long as you're in range with your house top antenna. And believe me, high def "best" is pretty darn good! But, remember, not all TV is high def...and slick marketing types like to get customers to believe that digital TV and high def are the same thing...they are not.

Refresh rate. An old knock on LCD TV's was that in fast action, like sports, the picture would blur around the action. Then they came out with a 120 hz refresh rate, which has dealt with that problem. [I see now that they're touting a 240, too, but that seems to me to be way ahead of the techno curve. FWIW, "normal" non-HD TV cameras operate at 60 hz, I believe, in that case the point is moot.]

All built in speakers will be relatively disappointing, which is why most people run the sound through a surround/AV/multimedia set up.

If you want to check out thousands of customer reviews, go to newegg.com Bring up the TV section and you'll see tons of reviews on just about all the popular models. It'll give you good starting point.

Having said that, I settled on the Samsung ToC 46" Absolutely amazing picture quality.

Hope this helps you in your search.

Len.

BTW, how'd your dogs do last Fall?

 

[ridewv]

I like Sony's 40" TV's. I'd want one with 1080P and a 120hz refresh rate. It should have at least a few HDMI inputs and a HDMI PC input. Sam's has them at good prices.

 

[truckemup97]

Samsung consistently rates the best brand in Consumer Reports. If you're not a subscriber, take a few minutes at the local library to see which model they suggest in your size and price range.

 

[mstuhr]

Klondike and Truckemup are on the right track with the Samsung.
I have a Mitsibushi that I am quite proud of but I just got a Samsung for my Mom at the advice of Consumers Digest. WOW! It is special.
Good luck in your choice.
Mike

 

[S/W - Lifer]

I've got a Panasonic 1080 plasma. It quit working almost as soon as we hung it on the wall. Getting it fixed was time consuming and difficult. Then Panasonic called a couple of times trying to sell me their expensive extended warrenty by pointing out their product failed to begin with.

I think you can do better with another brand.

 

[Capt Steve]

Get the Samsung, better set, better value. Whatever you get look for a model with multiple HDMI ports. Get one with at least two, preferably three as you will use these to hook up your DVD player, satellite dish and sound system. New technology with old cables sucks.

 

[Farmer17]

I just bought a 32" Sylvania LCD from Sears for $379. They had no payments or interest for one year and I'm very happy with the TV for that price.

 

[therevjay]

I shopped for quite a while before buying a 32" Samsung LCD. After about 4 mo.s I'm still very happy with it.

One thing I learned by compareing various sets while shopping is contrast ratio is MUCH more importent to picture quality then # of pixels in smaller sets. (i.e. under 50")