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[Grifter]

I've been waiting for standards to solidify and figured I would toss this TV (27' Sony) when I move, but it hasn't read remote inputs in a decade and getting up to change the volume is crushing my lazy soul. Also, I want to get the most out of the 360 (and possible PS3).

Hoping to spend 1K - 1.5K, but no clue what to buy, command me.

 

[dark10x]

1-1.5k eh?

Well, you have a few options...

If you want the best quality for that kind of money at a decent size (34") you should go for a Sony XBR970 CRT. It lacks the super fine pitch tube of the 960, but it's still an awesome TV and will deliver amazing results.

If you can deal with rainbows and rear projection, you can get a much larger DLP for around 1.5k, if you look around. Whatever you find might offer poor performance with SD content, however.

You could get an LCD panel between 26" and 32" from a variety of companies. You could even get a Westinghouse 37" 1080p LCD for $1500, but I'm not a huge fan of the Westy brand and feel they have some issues (but if you're not worried, go for it).

You could get a projection LCD TV for less than $1500 (there is a 42" Sony for $1299)

Unfortunately, you are out of plasma territory (especially HD units).

There are some other potential options, but you need to let us know what exactly you are hoping for and what type of technology you'd like to buy.

 

[Grifter]

Thanks, dark. I'm basically looking for the best balance in image quality and size. Image mainly but I would sacrifice some quality if it'll bump up the size a good amount.

Since I'm planning on moving in the next year or 2, I'd like an LCD (or Plasma?) unless projection is a much better value.

Also, are stores like Best Buy a good place to buy TV's, or should I be looking to purchase online, like with PCs?

 

[Ponn]

The best thing to do starting out is to go into a Best Buy or Sound Advice or something and just look at all the different kinds of TVs available and options you might be interested in. Don't decide totally on picture quality though because in store TV's are usually off but you can get some judgement from looking at them. Also test out the DLP's and make sure you aren't one of the ones that see rainbows so you know if that TV is an option or not. Then decide how big you can go or how much room you have then start researching and reading reviews and looking at places like AVS forums.

 

[koam]

1-1.5k eh?

Well, you have a few options...

If you want the best quality for that kind of money at a decent size (34") you should go for a Sony XBR970 CRT. It lacks the super fine pitch tube of the 960, but it's still an awesome TV and will deliver amazing results.

If you can deal with rainbows and rear projection, you can get a much larger DLP for around 1.5k, if you look around. Whatever you find might offer poor performance with SD content, however.

You could get an LCD panel between 26" and 32" from a variety of companies. You could even get a Westinghouse 37" 1080p LCD for $1500, but I'm not a huge fan of the Westy brand and feel they have some issues (but if you're not worried, go for it).

You could get a projection LCD TV for less than $1500 (there is a 42" Sony for $1299)

Unfortunately, you are out of plasma territory (especially HD units).

There are some other potential options, but you need to let us know what exactly you are hoping for and what type of technology you'd like to buy.

Do you have any recommendations for LCD or Plasmas that support 1080p (at 60fps). Preferable size is 42in or 50in. Do LCDs even go that high? I want something thing and wall mountable. Also, native resolution MUST be 1080 not 720 that happens to upconvert to 1080.

 

[CB3]

shit the TV in my room in ancient. YOu can tell because its from Montgomery Ward. I dont think ive seen one of those in forever.

(P.S. It was free, and its a good size and has good sound, which is why i keep it)

 

[dark10x]

Best advice is to look around and see what you like, jot down a few models, and then return with your own test material, if possible.

Here's a few possibilities for you...

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...CategoryId=pcmcat95100050016&id=1134702137061
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...CategoryId=pcmcat95100050016&id=1140394400806
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...CategoryId=pcmcat95100050016&id=1118841724863
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...CategoryId=pcmcat95100050016&id=1138085296581

Do you have any recommendations for LCD or Plasmas that support 1080p (at 60fps). Preferable size is 42in or 50in. Do LCDs even go that high? I want something thing and wall mountable. Also, native resolution MUST be 1080 not 720 that happens to upconvert to 1080.

That all depends on price...

The best TV on the market right now (IMO) is the Pioneer Elite Pro-FHD1. It's a true 1080p plasma TV with an absolutely amazing picture, some of the best video processing around, and loads of features. The downside? Yeah, it's $10,000.

There are a number of 1080p LCDs out there right now as well, actually, so yeah, they do go that high. I'm not a huge fan of LCDs, as many know, but that might be your only real option in the face of the $10000 Pioneer. Panasonic is releasing a large 1080p plasma soon, however, and the price should be quite a bit lower.

There are also RPTV options, if you're interested in that.

How much are you willing to spend?

 

[koam]

Best advice is to look around and see what you like, jot down a few models, and then return with your own test material, if possible.

Here's a few possibilities for you...

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...CategoryId=pcmcat95100050016&id=1134702137061
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...CategoryId=pcmcat95100050016&id=1140394400806
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...CategoryId=pcmcat95100050016&id=1118841724863
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...CategoryId=pcmcat95100050016&id=1138085296581

Awesome thanks.

Edit: Oh you were responding to the first poster, the only one there that's 1080p is the westinghouse.

That all depends on price...

The best TV on the market right now (IMO) is the Pioneer Elite Pro-FHD1. It's a true 1080p plasma TV with an absolutely amazing picture, some of the best video processing around, and loads of features. The downside? Yeah, it's $10,000.

There are a number of 1080p LCDs out there right now as well, actually, so yeah, they do go that high. I'm not a huge fan of LCDs, as many know, but that might be your only real option in the face of the $10000 Pioneer. Panasonic is releasing a large 1080p plasma soon, however, and the price should be quite a bit lower.

There are also RPTV options, if you're interested in that.

Ah, yeah i'd love to have a pioneer plasma, but i'd rather put the 10K down on my house hehe.

I guess i'll play the waiting game, i probably should since i'd love to have a SED tv.

 

[dark10x]

Awesome thanks.

Edit: Oh you were responding to the first poster, the only one there that's 1080p is the westinghouse.

Yeah, look at the edit.

 

[Shogmaster]

42" DLP for $1400 delivered (no tax outside of CA).

 

[Grifter]

42" DLP for $1400 delivered (no tax outside of CA).

Hmm...2 recommendations for this already. Tempting...

 

[dark10x]

You should go find it in store and test for yourself before anything else.

First of all, you need to determine whether rainbows will be an issue for you or not (and you'll know whether or not they are upon seeing it). You should also take a look at its 480i/480p capabilities as the scaler may be of low quality.

 

[Shogmaster]

You should go find it in store and test for yourself before anything else.

First of all, you need to determine whether rainbows will be an issue for you or not (and you'll know whether or not they are upon seeing it). You should also take a look at its 480i/480p capabilities as the scaler may be of low quality.

VERY IMPORTANT. You don't want to find out after getting the thing that you see rainbows on DLPs.

 

[koam]

Question: The video lag that happens with consoles.. is that only for DLP?

 

[Shogmaster]

Question: The video lag that happens with consoles.. is that only for DLP?

Lag happens for two main reasons:

- Slow pixel response (Some LCDs)
- Slow de-interlacer and other manipulations that TV does (effect all kinds of TVs, but made famous by certain older Samsung DLP models)

 

[koam]

Lag happens for two main reasons:

- Slow pixel response (Some LCDs)
- Slow de-interlacer and other manipulations that TV does (effect all kinds of TVs, but made famous by certain older Samsung DLP models)

Is it still a common problem with new gen sets?

 

[Shogmaster]

Is it still a common problem with new gen sets?

Might be. Depends on individual models. No HDTV is immune. It's not just the DLPs. You'd have to test it out at the store to be sure (this obviously only applies to interlaced games, so PS2 is the only thing you'd really have to be worried about).

 

[Grifter]

Doing some homework before I hit the store, should I be looking for specific sub-lines with it comes to LCD like Bravia and Aquos, or is there not much difference?

These are tempting so far...since a 42' may be too big for my apt.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16889252017
http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/productDetail.do?oid=147400&c=1

 

[Shogmaster]

Doing some homework before I hit the store, should I be looking for specific sub-lines with it comes to LCD like Bravia and Aquos, or is there not much difference?

These are tempting so far...since a 42' may be too big for my apt.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16889252017
http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/productDetail.do?oid=147400&c=1

Becareful about buying direct view LCD panels from Newegg. They have a bad dead pixel policy (7 or more otherwise restocking fee).

 

[beanoboy7]

Samsung 26" Model: LN-S2652D
2 HDMI Ports
3000:1 Contrast Ratio
$1,299

OR

Samsung 42" Model: HL-S4266W
2 HDMI Ports
2500:1 Contrast Ratio
$1,399

 

[Shogmaster]

Samsung 26" Model: LN-S2652D
2 HDMI Ports
3000:1 Contrast Ratio
$1,299

OR

Samsung 42" Model: HL-S4266W
2 HDMI Ports
2500:1 Contrast Ratio
$1,399

If you've got the space, go for the DLP. The 1366x768 of the LCD is not ideal since the games will be stretched a bit, and it's only 26". Just make sure you check out DLPs at stores and see if you notice rainbow effect.

 

[beanoboy7]

If you've got the space, go for the DLP. The 1366x768 of the LCD is not ideal since the games will be stretched a bit, and it's only 26". Just make sure you check out DLPs at stores and see if you notice rainbow effect.

By any chance do you know why LCD's seem to be made 16:10 instead 16:9?
because that extra scaling does suck

 

[Shogmaster]

By any chance do you know why LCD's seem to be made 16:10 instead 16:9?
because that extra scaling does suck

1366x768 is 16:9. 1280x768 would be more like 16:10. And I have no idea why the industry as a whole decided that the 99% of the LCD HDTVs sold will be from now on 1366x768. It's stoopid and pointless from my perspective, but what the hell do we know, right?

 

[beanoboy7]

1366x768 is 16:9. 1280x768 would be more like 16:10. And I have no idea why the industry as a whole decided that the 99% of the LCD HDTVs sold will be from now on 1366x768. It's stoopid and pointless from my perspective, but what the hell do we know, right?

That's True. I just wish that the Sammy LCD was 1280x720, so that I wouldn't have to worry about scaling.

 

[Shogmaster]

That's True. I just wish that the Sammy LCD was 1280x720, so that I wouldn't have to worry about scaling.

I haven't seen a new model large direct view LCD of any kind that is 1280x720. The best bet is finding an older model that's still around like that 27" Viewsonic in the other thread ($700ish).

 

[Grifter]

Samsung 26" Model: LN-S2652D
2 HDMI Ports
3000:1 Contrast Ratio
$1,299

OR

Samsung 42" Model: HL-S4266W
2 HDMI Ports
2500:1 Contrast Ratio
$1,399

What about $1300 for the 46" model Samsung shipped free from Amazon?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...84709?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

Seems too good to be true, but I live in a pretty good sized 1 bedroom apt. and that would likely overwhelm my living room. Leaning more towards this so I don't have to rearrange, get a new TV stand, and be blinded by light:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...84709?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

 

[Shogmaster]

What about $1300 for the 46" model Samsung shipped free from Amazon?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...84709?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

Seems too good to be true, but I live in a pretty good sized 1 bedroom apt. and that would likely overwhelm my living room. Leaning more towards this so I don't have to rearrange, get a new TV stand, and be blinded by light:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...84709?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

That's a rediculously good deal on the DLP. I'd go with that and reaarange the place a little than going with the LCD personally.

 

[beanoboy7]

What about $1300 for the 46" model Samsung shipped free from Amazon?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...84709?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

Seems too good to be true, but I live in a pretty good sized 1 bedroom apt. and that would likely overwhelm my living room. Leaning more towards this so I don't have to rearrange, get a new TV stand, and be blinded by light:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...84709?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

I agree too, take that 46" DLP @ that price it's a steal

 

[Joe]

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Sony...30219/catOid/-12870/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

edit: read the first review here http://www.circuitcity.com/rpsm/oid/130219/rpem/ccd/productDetailReview.do#tabs