52 replies to this topic

[Suzanne F]

Since we had to get cable in order to get Interwebs, we figured we might as well get a television again. We haven't had one since they went digital. And the last time we bought one was around 1979. So it's a whole different TV world out there.

 

So far, we know there are LCDs, LEDs, and plasma. And SmartTVs can be hooked up to the Net. We don't want a giant thing that will take up half the wall--32" is probably too small, but 50" is way too big given the distance from where we'll be sitting.

 

Anything we should be wary of? Look for? Help!

[joethefoodie]

Sharp or Sony.  38 - 40" should do the trick.

[Rail Paul]

I've been every pleased with the Samsung 37" TV.

 

Keep an eye on how many HDMI jacks the TV offers. If you decide to plug in a Roku etc to stream video from the internet they'll come in handy.  Same if you decide to install "theater sound" system etc.

[Suzanne F]

Oh dear god, please don't let Paul (my Paul, that is) get the idea of installing a fancy sound system with the TV. It's enough that he's still in the 1970s with stereo for the receiver and CD player.

 

I mean, we just bought JBL speakers for my computer and Bose for his.

[joethefoodie]

Seriously, any of the above 3 brands (along with Panasonic) will give you a fine TV.  Just stay away from store-brands, like the one they sell at Best Buy, as well as the really cheap Chinese garbage: i.e. Haier.

 

With the end-of-year and Super Bowl sales upon us, you will be able to find a nice 40" or so LED unit for under $500.  A quick glance at the ads with today's paper shows a Samsung 40" LED at $450 and a 42" Sharp at $430, both at Best Buy.

[Stone]

Dito on the brands noted above.  The size should be somewhat determined by the space it will be in.  

As for screen resolution/quality, it's like food.  You'll be very happy with the local Italian joint if you never go to Carbone.  Seriously.  You can easily get by with the less expensive lower resolutions.  You'll be very happy with it and probably never realize that they're not great unless you go to a friend's place and see something better.  

[joethefoodie]

I think it's a 3:1 viewing distance to size ratio that works fairly well.

 

Re: the less expensive lower resolutions...I bought one of those (the Best Buy house-brand) once and man, did it suck.  I do have a HannSpree for my monitor, and it's ok for that purpose.

 

I just think the additional cost for a "real" brand is well worth it.  I mean, when I bought our first LCD TV, it was a fortune; the price drop on these things has been nothing short of amazing.

[Stone]

Can you get good resolution for $500 at 40"?  

[joethefoodie]

Sure - I think those 2 TVs I mentioned above have pretty good resolution, no?

 

Here are the Samsung specs...click

 

Sharp 

 

To me, the worst part about these TVs has always been their sound.

[Behemoth]

samsung, samsung, samsung.

[Suzanne F]

Sure - I think those 2 TVs I mentioned above have pretty good resolution, no?

 

Here are the Samsung specs...click

 

Sharp 

 

To me, the worst part about these TVs has always been their sound.

Is it possible to hook it up to our stereo speakers through the receiver?

[AaronS]

I've had good luck with the sony I have.  stone is probably right about picture quality, but I do think that with the TV I have the blu-ray player was worth the extra money.

[StephanieL]

We got the Panasonic Viera 42" plasma last year and have been very pleased with it.  We can't get anything larger because of the viewing distance from the couch, but the picture is really good at 1080 dpi.  We've had a surround-sound system for a few years and had no problems hooking up the TV to the receiver.

[Stone]

 

Sure - I think those 2 TVs I mentioned above have pretty good resolution, no?

 

Here are the Samsung specs...click

 

Sharp 

 

To me, the worst part about these TVs has always been their sound.

Is it possible to hook it up to our stereo speakers through the receiver?

 

Those tvs do look good.  I guess the main picture upgrade would be 240hz?  I haven't really looked at this in a while.

 

Yes, you can run your sound through your speakers.  Basically, you take the hdmi out of your cable box and put that into the tv.  Then hook up an audio out from your cable box to an available input on your receiver/amp.  Turn off the speakers on the tv.  

[Suzanne F]

Great. We just uncrated the speakers tonight, and found the receiver and other sound equipment (including the cassette player, turntable, and Revox reel-to-reel ).