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TV Help

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smokelaw1

Cigar Ambassador
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
3,348
Location
West Hartford, CT
Hey all,
Would any of the TV savvy folks care to chime in on this one? Looking for 45-50 inches, HDTV. Would love to stay as slim as possible, and not go too crazy with price. I've been looking around, and see some solid looking DLP's that run under 2 grand, and that would be great....any input? I think there was a thread around a while ago, where I even gave some input on this same subject based on what a buddy had told me last time I was looking for a TV, but never bought....I couldn't find said thread.
Thanks in advance.
 
Vizio has gotten some good reviews not only for picture but bang for the buck. You'll want to get a 1080 capable set in case HD-DVD ever takes off in the next few years.
 
Samsung DLP package at best buy. My friend just picked it up. Let me know if you want to see it and I'll make him cook dinner (you bring the smokes!). :whistling:
 
We just got a new Toshiba 56" DLP we're very happy with. Got Comcast's HiDef service and it's a beautiful thing. Nice slim cabinet for a 56"...easy to recommend. Even old DVD's look pretty cool...

Regards - B.B.S.
 
I'm saving up for one of those gigantic Dell LCD monitors to use as a TV. My dad though, bought a Sony plasma, and it is FUCKING GORGEOUS. If I lived at home, I'd burn that thing out in no time. Well, 60000hrs no time.
 
Get a DLP powered HDTV.
Excellent prices.
Great oicture
720 P set are priced to move
1080 P sets are price reasonable (my pick)
No chance or burn in with these sets.
suprisingly light sets

LCD'are nice on sets smaller than 32" 32 and up I would go with DLP.


I currently have a 50" Plasma from Samsung ( about 3 yts old) and I am asbolutely happy wth it.

I recently put a 65" Mistubishi Diamond CRT HD in the basement and am pleasantly suprised at the HD quality these sets possess. (got a ridiculous price on it and had the room for this monster cabinet.


So many choices the only thing I recommend you do. Is take time purchasing your set. Look at every type of set ad look at them with different inputs (ie DVD player, HD signal, analog signal etc etc)
 
smokelaw1 said:
Hey all,
Would any of the TV savvy folks care to chime in on this one? Looking for 45-50 inches, HDTV. Would love to stay as slim as possible, and not go too crazy with price. I've been looking around, and see some solid looking DLP's that run under 2 grand, and that would be great....any input? I think there was a thread around a while ago, where I even gave some input on this same subject based on what a buddy had told me last time I was looking for a TV, but never bought....I couldn't find said thread.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...



Oh yea...WAIT!



The prices are suppose to drop 20-30-% this fall/winter. The manufacturers blew the mark and OVER produced components, so a surplus is in store. :thumbs:
 
Go with DLP... 1080P is preferable, but 1080i isn't the end of the world... I was actually reading an article on the net a while back that most newer TV's are said to upconvert into 1080P anyway (without saying that on the package)... not sure how true that is though. Bottom line is that the money you will save on buying 1080i.... do you really think that 1080p will make that much of difference to warrant the extra loot? Onto more important aspects...

I just read yesterday in PopSci that new LED based DLPs are coming out. Instead of using a standard lamp to project the DLP image onto the screen, they use ultra bright LED's. They say that the upside is that you no longer need to change the projection lamps, and that they provide an unmatched level of brightness.... Conventional DLP's have a lamp life of 5,000 hours... LED's have a life of 60,000. If you look at the specs of the HP ID5220N 52 inch Microdisplay TV.. it supposedly goes for $2500.... this is the model they use an example. Some sets are starting to use it, but a flood of them is expecting in a year. Just FYI.

Steve
 
I have had the 55" Sony DLP for 2 years now, I just love it. Make sure you have HD reciever (Dish, Direct or Cable) that provides the reception you need.

I believe mine costs some $2500 when I bought, should be cheaper by now.
 
smokelaw1 said:
Hey all,
Would any of the TV savvy folks care to chime in on this one? Looking for 45-50 inches, HDTV. Would love to stay as slim as possible, and not go too crazy with price. I've been looking around, and see some solid looking DLP's that run under 2 grand, and that would be great....any input? I think there was a thread around a while ago, where I even gave some input on this same subject based on what a buddy had told me last time I was looking for a TV, but never bought....I couldn't find said thread.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Check out the following link... I got a bunch of good advice!

LINK

-Rob
 
We bought a 60" Toshiba DLP set from Costco earlier this year. We upgraded our cable service to HD at the same time with the DVR setup. The TV is very nice and the picture in HD is really something. Like everything else, there are pros and cons. Lots of folks have posted pros, I'll post a few cons.

HD cable service required for best picture (con-expense)

The new DVR and TV finally drove us over the edge remote-control-wise. We bought one of those fancy programmable RC's (cost more than my first car). It's eased the pain somewhat, but we occasionally still reach for the real remotes. (con-expense, setup, learning something new)

We also upgraded the cabling between the DVR and TV (to HDMI). (con-expense)

The TV gets "stuck" sometimes...no volume, bad picture flicker, etc. Changing channels usually fixes it.

Between the new DVR and the TV, channel surfing is out. It takes 1-3 seconds to change channels (for the new channel to settle) for regular TV, twice as long for the HD channels. "Surfing" is now done with on-screen program info. Everybody in the family has converted but me. I'm a surf-until-I-find-something-to-watch guy and for me, this delay to change channels is a deal breaker. I just use one of the other TV's in the house.

I often flip around between commercials to catch the weather or news, check out MTV/VH1 or just see what else is on. It's intolerable with this TV. For watching long-running events (sports, movies), it's great.

So basically, I paid $3000 for a TV that I don't use. (not to mention the $250 for the remote, $50 for the HDMI cable and additional $$ every month for the cable service).

The rest of the family really likes it though....

Good luck.
 
There are usually three things which will dictate your purchase. They are, picture quality, foot print(will it fit where you want it to go) and aesthetics(how does it look turned off). Rear projection will get you the best bang for your dollar, flat pannel tv's (Plasma, LCD) are great if you want to mount it on the wall. Here is a short overview of the above mentioned technologies...

DLP - will give you a better black level which in turn gives you more darker saturated colors and an increased depth of feild.

LCD(rear projection) - Offers a sharpness and bright picture yet a little weak when it comes to creating the color black so the colors may not be as saturated compared to DLP.

Flat Pannel - LCD, Plasma are great if you want to mount your TV on the wall, however if you just want to set it on a Credenza you may want to look into Rear Projection(DLP,LCD).

AS far as brands go, look at all of them if you can and then go with your gut. If the salesman you are dealing with is worth his salt, he will listen to your needs and help you chooese the right set based on what you like and need not what he thinks is the greatest.


This should be fun shopping for a new set and not confusing...

C&R
 
I spent the last year researching TVs for my father-in-law. I was most impressed by the Hitachi 42" 1080P plasma. There are a few different Hitachi lines and the best picture we saw was the 42HDT52. Go check them out at Bernie's in Newington, Southington or Manchester.
 
I think the "Sammy" you bought is a 56 incher! Very nice TV. Keep the HDMI cable, as a matter of fact, buy another one for an upconverting DVD player!


McK
 
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