HDTV - BF2S Forums

2007-12-07 04:30:59

#1

notorious: Nay vee, bay bee.; +1,396|7227|The United Center

Yes, this probably could go in the "Tech" section, but it's not really a computer component...so...

Anyway, I'm in the market for an HDTV. Right now I'm using a five year old 22" Magnavox flat-screen (not flat-panel) CRT television. There's nothing wrong with it. However, it's a bit small and really, it's gotten to the point where movies I watch, games I play, and even regular television I watch just doesn't look as nice as it could.

Now, I'm looking for something in the 32" to 37" range. Right now this TV is going to be my main television in the house, but when I move out and get my own place (probably in a year or two), I plan on putting it in my bedroom and buying a better television for my living room. I'm thinking about 720p since I really don't need 1080p (when I get the other TV I'll get 1080p at least) and I'd prefer if it was less than $800.

I've heard that as of right now, Sony and Samsung are the two best HDTV makers, which would make sense since Sony uses Samsung-manufactured panels. My friend has a Sony Bravia and I must say, it's a damn impressive TV. However...they're pricey. Samsungs are a bit cheaper, but I've never really used one or seen one other than in a store display.

So basically, I'm just asking for personal experiences or opinions. Do you have an HDTV? Have you used them/have experience with them? What do you recommend and why? Have you heard any bad things about certain makes or models? Do you have any complaints about yours/one you've used?

2007-12-07 04:33:08

#2

Slayer: ---hates you; +1,137|7237|Hell, p.o box 666

Slayer is very interested in this thread as he wants to buy a new HDTV soon too...

2007-12-07 04:39:10

#3

Mekstizzle: WALKER; +3,611|7101|London, England

I didn't really like the picture quality/colours on the Samsung Plasma screen TV's. If you're gonna go for a Samsung, get an LCD. I think Sony Bravia might be out of your price range I'm not sure how expensive things are in the US Market. With Sony, you pay more for the brand tbh. Imo there's not much of a difference.

I've worked in Electronics Shops with them side by side so that's how I know. I'm going by my opinion, but the best ones out of them all were Panasonic LCD's.

2007-12-07 04:54:32

#4

TGMaverick: Member; +16|6710

I bought a Sony Bravia 40" (KDL-40V2500) LCD 1080p about a year ago and love it. My main restriction was size (couldn't be larger than 40" in the space I wanted to put it) and the Sony was the nicest TV in the 37" - 40" range.

I'm also looking at a smaller TV, both for the bedroom and for the living room, and kinda have my eye on the Vizio line that can be bought at Walmart. They're a 720p TV without alot of bells and whistles....just appear to be a good basic TV.

2007-12-07 04:55:32

#5

Mint Sauce: Frighteningly average; +780|6766|eng

I've got a HANNspree 32" HDTV with 2 HDMI slots, running 1080p. For £299.99, new. The 37" is the same price..

And before you say HANNspree are crap, they are the downmarket version of Bang & Olufson, so it's higher quality than say, Sanyo or Toshiba.

#rekt

2007-12-07 05:03:45

#6

jsnipy: ...; +3,277|7003|...

Whatever you get make sure it can take a cable card.

2007-12-07 05:18:57

#7

Flecco: iPod is broken.; +1,048|7145|NT, like Mick Dundee

Oh boy, TMo is back.

Hey wait, when did you move to Texas?

Whoa... Can't believe these forums are still kicking.

2007-12-07 05:24:19

#8

notorious: Nay vee, bay bee.; +1,396|7227|The United Center

Flecco wrote:
Oh boy, TMo is back.

Hey wait, when did you move to Texas?

Back? Pfft, I never left!

Also, I moved in October. Apparently I'm now in the same city as Gibson.

2007-12-07 05:24:30

#9

Switch: Knee Deep In Clunge; +489|6943|Tyne & Wear, England

Slayer wrote:
Slayer KILLSWITCH is very interested in this thread as he wants to buy a new HDTV soon too...

Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.

2007-12-07 05:38:26

#10

heggs: Spamalamadingdong; +581|6868|New York

I've done a bit of research in HDTV's when I bought mine, but apparently not enough.

Basically I got a Samsung SlimFit CRT 30" hdtv, which is a very nice tv, and I like it a lot. However, don't buy it. Because it is a CRT tv, they haven't quite perfected the geometry issues on the sides. Basically, the screen bends a bit on both sides, and occasionally there is a rainbow of colors when the left side is black. I can deal with this, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else.

With that said, go with a plasma or lcd, you won't run into these geometry issues. I'd recommend LG or Samsung personally. I know that Samsung tv's are good, but I don't know as much about LG. Read some reviews first to see if there any issues with any tv you plan on buying.

For a screen that size, you don't need 1080p. 1080p is really only practical for screens that are big, because they need that added resolution to produce a crisp image. A 720p set should be just fine.

Also, make sure it has at least one HDMI input. HDMI is becoming more and more popular, and it is a nice interface in my opinion. It can't hurt to have a couple component inputs and regular AV inputs as well. Also, with your existing DVD player you have, see if you can run component out of it. Now with this TV, you can view the dvd's in 480p via component, which isn't great, but it's much better than the standard resolution through the AV video cable.

Remember Me As A Time Of Day

2007-12-07 06:20:13

#11

theDude5B: Cool member; +805|7231

Personally I wouldn't got for LG as I have heard some bad reviews about the reliability of the TVs. I have a Toshiba 1080p and the quality is excellent.

But what I would say, is that you are going to hear many people recommending different TVs, different brands, Plasma, LCD, bigger the better, Contrast ratios. The BEST thing to do, is going into the shop, look at all the different ones there and just watch. If you think it looks good, and it is either a Sony, Samsung, Sharp, Toshiba, Philips, then just go for it. And yeah, try to get one with more HDMI inputs, as some only come with one which is a bit shit if you have an HD DVD player and 360/PS3.

Watch out for how gradients are displayed on screen, as this can be an annoyance with HDTVs.

2007-12-07 06:38:27

#12

killer21: Because f*ck you that's why.; +400|7071|Reisterstown, MD

I actually just got a Vizio 42" HDTV 1080p for 899. It really is a nice TV. I know some of the bigger brands cost a lot more and they probably deserve to be expensive but my Vizio has two hdmi ports vice one that you see on most HDTVs.

2007-12-07 06:38:48

#13

SEREMAKER: BABYMAKIN EXPERT √; +2,187|7048|Mountains of NC

I'm going to keep an eye on this thread bc I'm in market for a 20"-22" LCD possible with a built in DVD player for the bedroom

and 32"-42" LCD for the living room

https://static.bf2s.com/files/user/17445/carhartt.jpg

2007-12-07 06:43:41

#14

TheEternalPessimist: Wibble; +412|7100|Mhz

I's always go with Samsung, most brands use Sammy pannels, Samsung keep the top end stuff for themselves though.

2007-12-07 06:51:53

#15

OneSixty: Member; +14|6974|Melbourne

I think Sharp are up with the best for lcd panels.. All i know is the Japanese = german cars of lcds..

Sharp Aquos are considered top notch..

2007-12-07 06:58:38

#16

UK|Hooligan: Seriously, fuck off.; +103|7168|"The Empire"

I have a 40" and 44" samsung HDTV, the 44" i use with my sky HD box and it works truly amazing. They look stylish as well which was just as important to me.

2007-12-07 07:56:54

#17

loubot: O' HAL naw!; +470|7058|Columbus, OH

You can't go wrong with Sony or Samsung but I would recommend both. Personally I would buy a TV online rather than at a retail store. If you can find the right model with free shipping, plus no taxes, you are set. I have seen a Phillps 42" Plasma...the picture looked way better than an LCD. The Black Friday deals were amazing....I think next (year) Black Friday I will buy a HDTV.

I spoke to a Best Buy service tech and asked him what brand of TV I should get. He said Sony.....Toshiba are problematic. Samsungs are decent.
Someone I know recently bought the 60" Toshiba HDTV; he had to get it serviced after a couple of weeks he bought it.

2007-12-07 08:00:18

#18

Flecco: iPod is broken.; +1,048|7145|NT, like Mick Dundee

ThomasMorgan wrote:
Flecco wrote:
Oh boy, TMo is back.

Hey wait, when did you move to Texas?
Back? Pfft, I never left!

Also, I moved in October. Apparently I'm now in the same city as Gibson.

Ruuun for cover! Oh yeah, you are. You and Duk should go get pissed some time. FOR THE LULZ!

Whoa... Can't believe these forums are still kicking.

2007-12-07 08:24:08

#19

elbekko: Your lord and master; +36|6881|Leuven, Belgium

I'll give you one hint: don't go to a large store to decide which one you take. We did that, the 32" looked small in the store. When we got home with it, it was huge

But yeah, Samsung is definitely the way to go.

2007-12-07 08:31:08

#20

TrueMusou: Member; +36|6641|United States Of Hamerica

My family just recently bought a Sony Bravia 46" 1080p. It's crisp, it has a bunch of outputs including the HDMI slots and a PC Display Output. We bought it at a local Costco for about 1900. It's nice considering it isn't over the 2k range. (It actually was when we first purchased it...but a week later the price dropped so we got a 200 bucks refund...CHA FRIGGIN CHING)

2007-12-07 08:46:31

#21

notorious: Nay vee, bay bee.; +1,396|7227|The United Center

I've been looking at amazon.com lately and really, it seems like their deals can't be beaten.

I've also been looking at Sears and Walmart (don't laugh, their prices are actually pretty decent), but amazon is FAR cheaper.

Right now I'm seriously considering the 32" Sharp Aquos. I've heard really, really good things about it, mainly how the response time is actually a bit quicker than what Samsung or Sony currently has out. Plus, it's a lot cheaper. The only knock against it is that apparently the sound quality from it is horrendous, so it looks like I'll be buying a couple of bookshelf speakers to go along with it, which really isn't a big deal since I'm planning on getting a surround sound system soon anyway.

Also, earlier I had wanted a 36" or 37" TV, but the way I see it now, the 32" is already 10" larger than the one I'm currently using...and if this thing is eventually going to be in my bedroom, I don't want a huge TV. When I get a different TV for my living room in a year or so, I'll probably go with a 40"-50" but for right now 32" should be MORE than adequate.

This is the TV I'm currently looking at.

Also, have you guys seen this? That's a ridiculously good deal.

2007-12-07 08:48:17

#22

Kurazoo: Pheasant Plucker; +440|7165|West Yorkshire, U.K

Well If you have lots of money, go for the latest Bang and Olufsen range, I have one and 40inch LCD's are usually quite blurry close up but mines clear

and btw, im not a rich Mofo, i got this TV cheap

2007-12-07 09:14:55

#23

Varegg: Support fanatic :-); +2,206|7290|Nårvei

32" - 37" .... Panasonic have had the plasmas below 42" so far, Sony Bravia for LCD is another good option - if going for 720p now you only need to concider panels that are "HD ready" ..... HD-ready is max 720p - Full HD is 1080p if you have the source that delivers 1080p signals.

Later when you decide to buy the best the only choice for best picture is a full HD Pioneer 50" plasma, no other panel comes even close and that is a technical undisputed fact ...

Wait behind the line ..............................................................

2007-12-07 09:48:04

#24

Ryan: Member; +1,230|7323|Alberta, Canada

I just got a 46" Sony W Series TV. It's and LCD and 1080p. The electricians are here right now wiring it, and I'm getting satellite installed next week, We got the TV a month ago, and it's taking forever to get everything set up.

Even with cable TV hooked up, this TV is great. I recommend the Sony's.

Last edited by Ryan (2007-12-07 09:48:33)

2007-12-07 09:50:33

#25

Switch: Knee Deep In Clunge; +489|6943|Tyne & Wear, England

I'm waiting until January to get mine, probably going to end up saving £200+. You do have January sales in the US??

I'm probably after a 42" but yet to decide on the make and model.

Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.

BF2S Forums HDTV

Flecco wrote:

Slayer wrote:

ThomasMorgan wrote:

Flecco wrote:

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