The official "I'm looking for a new TV" thread

[Norelco]

So yeah, I'm looking to get an HDTV. I finally moved into my own place and I've been promising this to myself. Anyway, I'm looking for something with a good picture quality, obviously, 1080i at least, or 1080p. I'm open to all ideas of LCD, Plasma, and rear projection LCD. If there is anything I have missed that may be better, let me know.

Size range I'm looking for is about 48 to 50 inches. I plan on obviously watching movies on it, alot of sports (I hear plasma may be best for this), and video games (my Wii and I am getting a PS3).

Price range: Willing to go as high as $2000-2200

Any suggestions?

[TheCursedGatts]

This:
http://themot.org/gallery/d/85395-1/...Flatscreen.jpg

[Nitsuki]

red Xs are red! (maybe its my work isp)

well, for that price range and size TV, i'd check out an older Sony Bravia or last year Samsung models (both 720p/1080i LCDs) If you're gonna play games on them, they're perfect, the lag issue w/ older consoles is extremely minimal, and they'll give you one of the crispiest images you'll see in an HDTV.

Plasmas are still too expensive, no point in getting something that'll burn in fast. (supposedly its fixed, i didn't see any fix when i worked in the compusa tv department)

If you want to wait a little bit, Mitsubishi's releasing laser rear-projection TVs and in the training i had w/ mitsubishi's rep, he told me the TVs won't be expensive (around the $2000 range) and the sizes start at 62" and a lot thinner than LCD projections and they're 1080p native. Beside those, other manufacturers are dropping LCD projections to go for LED projections, so keep an eye out. (Mitsubishi got the patented rights to laser)

My personal opinion, get LCD if you want one now, if you want to wait, check out those laser projections, they promise a crispier picture than LCDs.

[Norelco]

My friend has this one and I think it's pretty cool: http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/produ...&cm_keycode=66

His was $2200+ when he got it, but it seems the price has dropped to $1800...not too bad.

[zoobernut]

So yeah, I'm looking to get an HDTV. I finally moved into my own place and I've been promising this to myself. Anyway, I'm looking for something with a good picture quality, obviously, 1080i at least, or 1080p. I'm open to all ideas of LCD, Plasma, and rear projection LCD. If there is anything I have missed that may be better, let me know.

Size range I'm looking for is about 48 to 50 inches. I plan on obviously watching movies on it, alot of sports (I hear plasma may be best for this), and video games (my Wii and I am getting a PS3).

Price range: Willing to go as high as $2000-2200

Any suggestions?

I used to work in a Stereo store and all I can say is plasma TVs are great for TV and movies but the worst for sports and video games. Unless something has drastically changed they have the shortest burn in time of any TV. Sports are bad for them because they always have the static score board and logo. The plasma TV in our shop almost got ruined one time because my boss left the TV on ESPN and the basketball logo got burned into it.

[Nitsuki]

SXRDs are hot, and i totally forgot to mention those types of tvs which are known as LCoS (Liquid Crystal over Silicon) on its native res its supposed to give you a completely lag free image, and movies look nice on it. For some reason tho, i think my little 32" samsung LCD 1080i/720p looks a little better than those in 1080p, mainly because LCDs just tend to look a little more crisp, but that's just me. My uncle has the 50" version of that SXRD, i really liked it, i'm always impressed watching blu-ray movies on it, just as much as i am impressed watching them in my little tv. Price is very well marked too, i'd consider, but do your research, it took me a week and 1/2 to buy my samsung lcd, after reading reviews left and right and specs also.

Usually when a manufacturer claims something, its nothing too special. Keep in mind also, Sony and Samsung share a factory, Sony does use Samsung parts, so don't always assume "OMG SONY FTW!!". ;p

here's a little note for good brands that i made to myself for HDTV purchases:

LCD: Samsung, Sharp, Sony, LG (if you're going for a cheap route)
LCD Projection: Sony, Mitsubishi
DLP: Samsung, Mitsubishi
LCoS: Sony (SXRD)
Plasma: Panasonic, Pioneer
Tube (if you find any): Samsung slimfit, Sony WEGA
HD Projectors: Mitsubishi
(future) Laser/LED Projection: Mitsubishi, Sony

[zoobernut]

Don't buy Mitsubishi TVs at all. In my experience they are the crappiest crap.

Like the person said before me keep in mind specially with LCD tvs direct view or rearpro and plasma tvs there are very few actual manufacturing plants in the world and are controlled by a couple companies. the rest buy parts from them.

Hitachi and Sharp are also both very good TV's if you get their upper lines.
Sharp actually makes its own LCD panels, unless they sold their factory.

[Po]

Vizio

[Norelco]

SXRDs are hot

I found a deal that was too good to pass up. The 50" Sony SXRD was listed at $1599 on CircuitCity.com, but they also included an unadvertised coupon code that said $100 off. So when I put in the coupon code, it said $200 off!!! So I got the 50" SXRD for $1399. They're delivering it tomorrow and setting it up for me.

Now, where to find affordable HDMI cables?

[Exoduso]

Sharp Aquos LCDs are really good (42" and 46" I believe, I have the 42 and it's amazing..)

I don't like Sony just because they're so arrogant... we do however have a 50" Samsung Plasma in the living room, and I can't really say if I like the Samsung or the Sharp better, but they're both equally worth buying.

[Necronus]

Vizio

QFT.

Order online, or purchasable at various Sam's clubs, Circuit Cities, BJs, and a few other places. 42" Plasma $999.99 or less depending on location. 50" is $1400 or less, again depending on location or sales. LCDs have similar pricing.

I'm getting the 42" today from Circuit City. The only downside is they spread their various TVs to different stores and locations intentionally (check their website to see which stores get which TV's). I'm gotta nab mine at a Circuit City 27 miles away from home, but since I work 35 miles away from home in the same direction, it works out.

[Norelco]

Vizio

QFT.

Order online, or purchasable at various Sam's clubs, Circuit Cities, BJs, and a few other places. 42" Plasma $999.99 or less depending on location. 50" is $1400 or less, again depending on location or sales. LCDs have similar pricing.

I'm getting the 42" today from Circuit City. The only downside is they spread their various TVs to different stores and locations intentionally (check their website to see which stores get which TV's). I'm gotta nab mine at a Circuit City 27 miles away from home, but since I work 35 miles away from home in the same direction, it works out.

What's the smallest size they have in these? I may get one for a bedroom.

[jmc]

Sharp Aquos LCDs are really good (42" and 46" I believe, I have the 42 and it's amazing..)

I don't like Sony just because they're so arrogant... we do however have a 50" Samsung Plasma in the living room, and I can't really say if I like the Samsung or the Sharp better, but they're both equally worth buying.

The sony LCD, and the Aquos are pretty much the same TV's. They are built with the same components, but they have a different outer look and the Sony's have a $400 sony icon on the front lol

[Exoduso]

Sharp Aquos LCDs are really good (42" and 46" I believe, I have the 42 and it's amazing..)

I don't like Sony just because they're so arrogant... we do however have a 50" Samsung Plasma in the living room, and I can't really say if I like the Samsung or the Sharp better, but they're both equally worth buying.

The sony LCD, and the Aquos are pretty much the same TV's. They are built with the same components, but they have a different outer look and the Sony's have a $400 sony icon on the front lol

qft lol.

[Kinto]

My parents bought a Sharp Aquos 1080p 46", with wall mount and a logitech multi-device remote for 2,000 from ShopNBC. It's such a nice TV.

Edit: price was wrong!!

[Norelco]

monoprice.com has HDMI cables as low as $11, wow, and they're not exactly shitty.

Walmart has cables for $30, other places $60, and Circuit City tried to sell me Monster brand HDMI cables for $106.00.

[Exoduso]

My PS3 HDMI cord cost like 30 bucks, and it works perfectly. It's pretty hard to mess up a wire.

[evilbau]

why is this here lol go to avforums for real answers, deal sites to save some money on your choice.

[Anderian]

Unless you are hellbent on getting 48+ inch HDTV, I strongly recommend Mirai DTL-642E500 (42" inch LCD, Full HD through HDMI) http://www.cheaptv.org.uk/mirai-dtl-642 ... -lcd-hdtv/ (I'm sorry but I don't know where to get one in US, as I live in Finland and Google keeps throwing .fi and .co.uk links at me )
I bought one last weekend and I've been very satisfied. It's cheap, has long warranty (3 years) and really the only two reasons it's cheap is because the standard version only comes with analog tuner and it's not a big brand TV (Sony/Samsung etc). It has 6,5 millisecond response time, when most HD Ready and Full HD TVs on the market have 8 millisecond.

[evilbau]

Unless you are hellbent on getting 48+ inch HDTV, I strongly recommend Mirai DTL-642E500 (42" inch LCD, Full HD through HDMI) http://www.cheaptv.org.uk/mirai-dtl-642 ... -lcd-hdtv/ (I'm sorry but I don't know where to get one in US, as I live in Finland and Google keeps throwing .fi and .co.uk links at me )
I bought one last weekend and I've been very satisfied. It's cheap, has long warranty (3 years) and really the only two reasons it's cheap is because the standard version only comes with analog tuner and it's not a big brand TV (Sony/Samsung etc). It has 6,5 millisecond response time, when most HD Ready and Full HD TVs on the market have 8 millisecond.

its worth noting that LCD is great for HD but most people find it so-so for SD.