I don’t recall a widescreen discussion but if I missed it, please point me in the right direction.
Anyway, I’m looking to get a 50 to 55 inch LCD/LED. So far, I’ve been advised to get something with a faster refresh rate than 60 Hertz and to get the unit from a store with a good return policy like Costo.
I don’t care about the 3D stuff and I rarely go for anything that incurs an ongoing expense like a NetFlix account.
Thank you in advance for any wisdom shared, Brett
LED tvs are thinner and the back lighting should last longer.
LOTS of good options out there - these days you really can't go wrong if you stick to a name you trust. Just make sure it has enough of the required inputs for all the other boxes you plan to hook up.
Just about all the cheaper TVs now have a refresh rate of 120hz which was the premium speed just a year or so ago. The new premium speed is 240 hz. There is a difference, but 120 is still great.
Get one that has the internet built in. I don't mean the whole internet, I mean the ability to connect to the internet.
I'd love an LED, but the LCDs are great (I have 4). Plasmas still suck up the juice and heat up the room so you really have to be careful of room size, but I wouldn't kick one out of bed for the right price.
Hi akamcfly & carguy123,
Thank you very much for your guidance.
I just got back from visiting a high end home entertainment store and I didn’t find the trip productive for various reasons.
Anyway, Costco has a 55” Vizio LCD @ 120 Hertz for $990 so that’s becoming my reference point.
I know LED/LCD > LCD but 55" of name brand goodness for just under a grand seems pretty good.
Thoughts???
carguy123 wrote:Get one that has the internet built in. I don't mean the whole internet, I mean the ability to connect to the internet.
I LOL'd
carguy123 wrote:Just about all the cheaper TVs now have a refresh rate of 120hz....
Check out a Target, there are a LOT of 60 hertz bargin LCD's out there. Surprised me, I didn't think they made them anymore.
If you don't need to hang it on the wall, check and see if Mitsubishi is still making DLPs.
Bought a 65" 1080p, etc, for $900 last year.
I have a 55" Vizio LED. It has the whole internet right inside.
z31maniac wrote:If you don't need to hang it on the wall, check and see if Mitsubishi is still making DLPs.
Bought a 65" 1080p, etc, for $900 last year.
I bought my 60" Mitsu about 3 years ago for $1300 - I think you can get a nice 55-60" LCD now for that price. Only downside is mine is not an LED DLP so come bulb replacement time I'll be looking at a ~$300 hit....
fastEddie wrote:z31maniac wrote:If you don't need to hang it on the wall, check and see if Mitsubishi is still making DLPs.
Bought a 65" 1080p, etc, for $900 last year.
I bought my 60" Mitsu about 3 years ago for $1300 - I think you can get a nice 55-60" LCD now for that price. Only downside is mine is not an LED DLP so come bulb replacement time I'll be looking at a ~$300 hit....
Another vote for DLP. I have a 61" Samsung LED DLP. Absolutely awesome ($1200 about 3 yrs ago). If you go with DLP, placement and room setup is crucial if the room has any windows that face the sun. Or do what I did, hang some thick blinds or curtains.
There is no reason to get a 120hz+ LCD TV, it is a gimmick that is only really good for sports or video games. It makes normal TV shows look "fake", with actors moving like they are animated. Very weird. Apparently some people don't notice it (how I have no idea) but that's that. Good news is you can turn off 120hz (or 240hz) but don't take it as a "feature" worth having.
Best advice for you? Go to cnet.com and read their TV section. Plasma's are still to this day the best for picture quality and black levels, but are not appropriate in a room without controlled light. Also note that there are two different types of LED tv's (edge lit and back lit). Back lit = win, but they get pricey quick.
In Canada, I can get a good quality 60" for under $1500. You should be able to find a 55" for a grand down in the US. Be aware that 55" is an odd panel size, 50s and 60s are much more common. I would personally downsize the tv (50") to get a better quality TV, as a 50" tv viewing distance is still 10+ feet (most people don't have that kind of space).
One thing to also remember, you should get the tv calibrated. DIY or professional, it WILL make a difference. ALSO ALSO, if you are unhappy with the TV, friekin' return it. There aren't many things you spend a grand on, and that is why there are 30 day return policies. It is extremely hard to compare tv's at stores (they give poor quality feeds to tv's with low margins and high quality feeds to tv's they want to sell, lighting is bad, etc etc).
HiTempguy wrote:There is no reason to get a 120hz+ LCD TV, it is a gimmick that is only really good for sports or video games. It makes normal TV shows look "fake", with actors moving like they are animated. Very weird. Apparently some people don't notice it (how I have no idea) but that's that. Good news is you can turn off 120hz (or 240hz) but don't take it as a "feature" worth having.
We have some friends who got a new TV a year or so ago, and everything on it felt weird in the manner you described. I didn't know why until now. Glad I've got a 60hz TV.
I recommend Vann's (online) for mail-order TV purchases. Great prices and service in my experience.
As a side note, I just purchased some professional-grade LED monitors for work and man, I wish I had $5K to spend on a home TV!
