Chavez....what TV should I buy

[jryoung]

Since TV tech is driven by Moore's law I haven't really kept pace of where is good to buy now.

Here's what I think I want:
Sub $1,500 (can bump that to $2,000 if it's really worth it)
46"
240hrz refresh
LCD

Not really sure about the whole 3D thing yet and I know that tech is rapidly evolving and I'm not sure I'd use it. So right now it isn't a big deal to me, but it seems that it is part of most of the TVs I am looking at.

Anyway, based on the above, tell me what I should get or what assumptions I should change.

[churchy]

Why not LED?

[chavez]

churchy, LCD can be LED backlit or fluorescent.

If you don't need/want 3D then your budget can be way less than that.

Give me a few and I'll post you some options.

[jryoung]

[chavez]

Got to be 240hz? Have you looked at a 120hz tv next to a 240hz set?

If you haven't you might want to do that - watching sports preferably. You might not be able to tell. I can't easily tell...

Best bet is always Costco. Problem is, they have way more in-store than is listed online. I'm guessing there are 2 or 3 46" LED LCD sets there for sub-1000. I know they sell a Vizio LED LCD 240hz 3d set with internet apps (via WiFi) for $900 online and in-store. Vizio is really pretty damn good and pretty damn hard to beat.

If I'm being completely honest, if you walk in to Costco, and choose any one of their sets in the flavor/size you want, from one of the MAJOR manufacturers (Sammy, Sony, LG, Toshiba, Vizio, Panny, Sharp) you will likely be 100% happy. Just stay away from second tier sets like Element, Seiki, etc.

Just one thing - buy LED backlit. Most sets are edge-lit, which is fine for almost everyone. Full-panel backlit is nicer, but it adds depth to the set and also add price.

[jryoung]

[Nor*Cal]

Walked into Fry's the other day and saw an +80" LED...

[chavez]

jryoung, you can have someone get you a Costco cash/gift card in a small denomination (say, $10) and pay the difference at the register. You don't need to be a member if you are shopping with a cash/gift card. The main point of buying from Costco is the warranty extension and the super-easy-to-deal-with customer service.

Otherwise, buy with AMEX or another card that offers a second year of warranty when you purchase with the card.

I think as far as the 120 v 240 thing - you may have been looking at 2 sets that were either of highly different quality, or more likely - they had the settings dialed in on the 240hz set and the 120hz set was not. No matter what, you are going to want to spend a little time calibrating any set you buy.

Anyhow, with your budget 240hz is not a problem. If you like the way it looks, totally get it. You won't be disappointed.

Nor*Cal, 80's and 70's are super awesome, but you've got to have a big ass wall for that.

[eeven73]

FWIW

I got a Vizio 240hz refresh LCD 2 years ago. I have been pleased overall with tv. My two compaints are ....

1. I sometimes get ghost images around moving people when the picture is close up.

2. When I first bought the tv there would be scenes in which the camera was panning within a scene and the picture would "float". I realize that is a funny description, but from what I could research I guess it has to do with watching film shot in 60 hz at the higher rate.

[fish6942]

Are you also considering plasma? We just upgraded to a 60" and went with a Panny plasma, cost was right around $1,600. Very happy with it.

[pyrocasto]

I was planning on a HD 3D projector, but if tvs are getting up to 80"+ then I might think otherwise.

[chavez]

I have both LCDs and Plasma in the house. My main 50" is a plasma, and I love it. However, I do like the sharpness of the LCDs. So what I am saying is I like features of both. The blacks in the plasma are much richer, sports (and action events) flow better, but the glare is noticeable at times of high light. I'm used to it and just ignore it.

eeven73, it really is a case of garbage in garbage out. If the source isn't as HQ as the output, something is gonna give. The MFGs use DSP to help smooth things out, but it only goes so far.

pyrocasto, Sharp has an 80" LED LCD. It's massive. It is the set you see in the "viewmongous" commercials.

[Okie Boarder]

Definitely interested in this subject. Trying to help my Dad out as much as possible as he is looking to upgrade in the next 12 months.

[b_girl]

We bought 2 new TVs in the last couple months... first one was a 55" Samsung LED SmartTV... Absolutely loved it, so around Christmas went back and got a 40" of the same TV for my husband's "man cave". Couldn't be happier...

Although if I were to do it again we'd get the ones with built in WiFi to save on the (very slight) hassle of using wireless adapters. But they're great. Most of our electronics (phones, home theatre systems, tvs) are also Samsung so they all communicate with one another - super convenient

[nmballa]

Just picked up an LG 60PV250 for $ 900. I'm guessing it was last years model but so far pretty happy with it.

[chavez]

nmballa, had my in-laws buy the same unit. Did you buy from Dell as well?

For anyone else who might be interested, the 60PV250 is a PLASMA unit.

[J-Ro]

chavez, Can you get a 55" - 60" backlit LED for under $2k yet? We are going to put a 60" on the living room wall.

Suggestions??

Caveats-
Less than $2k
55" or more
LED
120HZ
Has to be pretty thin - WAF
No plasma due to those windows in the living room.

I was checking out the 60" Sharp 120hz LED at Costco but it's edge lit and I would prefer backlit.

[nmballa]

[jryoung]

Seems like all the TVs at costco are edge-lit and I don't have a membership to go look in store.

I think I might try and squeeze in a trip to Magnolia tonight.

[chavez]

J-Ro, Check out the LG Infinia line. I've seen the 55" for right at 2k.

jryoung, Likely the case. I think I've seen a 70 there that was full, but that is bigger and more expensive than you are looking for anyhow.

nmballa, The in laws paid 949 shipped (incl tax).

[ScottyB_RochNY]

I didn't read any other response to this question because I have a TV that is so awesome that I would recommend it to anyone.

Sharp Aquos Quattron 60" LED 240hz

This for whatever reason, and confirmed by some reviews I read, when you get this TV home it is far better than what you see at the store.

Many times in my lfie I have seen a TV and said "wow it looks like youre really there" I now know how wrong I was and that what I was seeing was just a bright, sharp picture.

With the Sharp, it does not look like you're really there, it looks like the fawking actors are in your living room. It's unbelievable. It has completely changed the way I see movies and television. Even old 50's movies on AMC look absolutely dazzling. It's crazy, its almost like an optical illusion. I cannot begin to describe how awesome this TV is. Everyone that comes over comments on how they have literally never seen anything like it in a television. I don't even know how to describe it, it just looks truly real.

Movies with special effects can go either way. If the effects are done right, it looks so so so good becasuse they too look real. If they are done poorly, they look like crap beacuse thave have been exposed by a good tv that is unforgiving (I'm talking about you Captain America)

Either way, stop your search, go buy a sharp aquos quatttron 240 hz and thank me later.

[Cary K.]

I admittedly don't know very much at all about TV's but I saw this deal this morning after I saw this post. May not even be a "deal" at all, but thought I would pass it along.

55" Samsung 3D LED LCD, 240Hz, free BluRay player and 4 pair of glasses for $1900.

[supermanotorious]

Frys Electronics has been running some crazy sales on LED LCDs lately FYI

[J-Ro]

ScottyB_RochNY, I was looking at that one...it's 1,600 right now at Costco and the 120hz version is 1,300. Sharp is wise in that their top ends are not 3D which I think a lot of people aren't willing to pay for.

[jryoung]

Stopped by Magnolia lastnight to look at some TVs and do some comparison. I looked at a couple LEDs both edge and back-lit and I loved their sharpness, but in both cases the brightness was a touch too high and colors were a bit muted.

I was then looking at a Panosonic plasma and while the colors were deeper, the picture was too dark and the sharpness was not there.


Then like Goldilocks I looked at this set.

http://www.samsung.com/us/video/tvs/PN51D7000FFXZA

Sharpness to match the LEDs, vibrant colors without being oversaturated and great reviews online. I see it online for around $1,100 so I;m going to see if I can get Magnolia to match and or toss in a mounting until...I'm guessing I'll bring the wife in for this has she has much better negotiating skills than me.

[J-Ro]

Buy the mount at monoprice for $50 and cables for $25 and negotiate for something else. Maybe a Logitech remote

[chavez]

[jryoung]

Don't buy this one....

[eeven73]

Story?

[jryoung]

I think UPS mistakenly used my TV for a live version of Angry Birds.

Seriously though, it arrived yesterday, out box was fine, inner box (factory) seemed fine too. Opening the factory box all the styrofoam was shattered and as I lifted the TV out and put it on the mount I discovered this.

Bottom corner here is shattered, the sticker is holding it together and I have a couple long cracks all the way across the screen.

Amazon is on it, new TV ships today and UPS should be by to pick this one up in a couple of days.

I think it happened prior to shipping though. The outter shipping box had a 3 inch layer of bubble wrap supporting the factory box.

[jjaszkow]

Wait ... I thought you were getting a Samsung. That looks like an LG. what made you change your mind? I really like our LG, except for the built in YouTube app.

[jryoung]