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Raddogz

Raddogz

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So I bought this 36" Sony (apparently piece o crap) tv for my mom about 11+ years ago, and the screen kept going out. So finally had a tv repairman come out and fix it $300.00 later it's on the brink again. The screen just blacks out - you have to turn off the tv for about 30secs, and turn it back on again.

I'm tired of putting money into this POS.

We're leaning towards getting a new tv -> plasma/lcd debate aside - Which HD tv (lcd or plasma please) do you have, likes and dislikes, and which model (if any) would you like to move up to.
 
With the exception of the super expensive esoteric high end models, you'll notice to big differences with LCD and plasma. Plasmas have better blacks and LCDs better whites.

I shopped around A LOT about 5-6 months ago and settled in on the Sharp 52" aquos. I got it for a good price and the picture is really good.
 
Yeah, same thing happened with my 53" widescreen, one color was off.. found out it's the convergence blah blah, basically $300 fix, and I told myself that was 1/4 of what I paid for it... like 8 years ago. So I told myself if it happens again, I'm rolling it out the window (it's a heavy SOB).

As to the actual TV, I like the look of Samsungs in stores, they have the nicest picture for the price available. Now I know that all TVs are set differently in someway in stores but hey it's what I've seen. However from experience, regardless of what you get, as long as it doesn't crap out on you, you'll probably end up getting used to it and accepting it as the norm, regardless of how good or bad it is.
 
If you look at the current Sharp Aquos LCDs in the 52" size, you'll find 3 or so versions of it. I have the middle or cheapest version. For the most part, you gain functionality that most people dont even use.

If you are ever in the livermore area, you are welcome to see mine in person. I only have HD-TV and old DVD as a source so if you want to see HDDVD or blueray, you'd have to bring your own player and disk.
 
We still have our our regular ghetto TV [size=12pt]BUT[/size] I do have a real good friend that is a manager at Andersons and I'm sure he can beat any price you can find.
 
INCOMING--MEGA IMPORTANT TIP WHEN SHOPPING FOR TVs!!!1



At almost every place you go to, they have one or both of the following problems
1) extremely poor calibration (they tend to crank the sharpness and boost contrast beyond appropriate leves). Their settings (if you are lucky) look striking at first, but will be annoying over the longhaul...or are just plain bad.

2) 1 source daisy chained to tons of TVs. This really degrades the quality.


If you are going to drop a lot of money on a TV, I advise you make sure you atleast see the TV with a non chained HD source. If you know what you are doing, you can also play with calibrations.
 
This is the one my hubby and I were looking at to eventually put in our bedroom:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8547708&type=product&id=1188560191680

We do have a Samsung HDTV, but it's a DLP. Been pretty happy with it though.
 
[quote author=LeviTillie link=topic=3154.msg34627#msg34627 date=1203641493]
We still have our our regular ghetto TV [size=12pt]BUT[/size] I do have a real good friend that is a manager at Andersons and I'm sure he can beat any price you can find.
[/quote]

Post in the Group Buy forum, haha :D
 
Eileen - I was soooo close to buying the Sony 40" XBr 1080p LCD with 120 Hz....BestBuy had it hooked up to their entertainment center and were running Pirates of the Carribean on Blu-Ray. Picture was awesome..almost 3D....but then thought how often am I watching Blu-ray DVDs and what's been broadcast on 1080 so I went with the Samsung 40" 1080p LCD instead. With the savings I can get a blu-ray player or PS3 and although it's only 60 hz, I figure they'l keep increasing that in newer models in the next couple of years/months like computers. Just my two cents but I also heard Sony and Samsung use a lot of the same parts. Happy TV hunting!
 
I've been looking at LCDs also. Was pretty enthusiastic over the Samsung 4661, 46in, until I actually watched it in a store. I was bothered by the glossy black, very reflective screen border. To me it was distracting. Has anyone noticed that? A lot of the LCDs have a glossy border compared to a matte finish. Am I being too picky?
Also watched a Sony 1080 with Blue Ray. It was Awesome! Are Sonys that much more than the others? Seemed just a little more to me.
 
I believe it's either the 4671 or 4665 Steve that has the matte finish bezel - not sure though

I'm trying to decide between the Sammy 4671, 4665 lcd's. Plasma - Pioneer Kuro 5080 or Sammy 5084. I know the XBR4 is right up there.

Probably go shopping for new tv one of these weekends. I just came home and my mom said the tv blacked at least once already <sigh>

I'm still perusing the AVSforum.com for more info.

As far as Blu-Ray - waiting on getting ps3 later this year - much much later. I already have NetFlix which carries BR anyway so at least I'll be in no hurry to buy any discs :D

I have to say I am shocked at the power consumption of these bad boys. Plasma consume over 300w and Lcd a little over 200w
 
Curious huh?

Most people have no idea how much power their appliances e.g. tv consume. I had no idea until I stuck a kill o watt meter on the tv in question. 90w when the tv tuner is on, and about 83 or so when the vcr or dvd player is being used.
 
There is no point in getting a 1080p under 60 inches. To be able to actually see the difference in picture for a 50 inch tv you would have to be sitting with in 6 feet. Don't get one tv over another because its 1080p, get it because the picture is better. A good 720 set will look better than a crappy 1080 tv.
 
Eileen, you saw my Samsung 5271, and I would highly recommend it if you do not mind the reflective surface (e.g., no strong light source shining on the TV). Otherwise Sony xbr4 is very good. Most people don't realize that they are looking at one size too small until they hang it on their wall (I wish I bought a 65" LCD TV instead of my current 52").
 
These things do cost an arm and leg. But consider that you are going to be stuck with it for a long long time, and you will be staring at it everyday, it is worth the extra money, just like a reef tank :).
 
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