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Best Picture Quality w/ 37" LCD TV

S

Stokes

Senior member
I've also posted on the avsforum.com to get some more opinion, but so far no help there.

I'm in the market for a 37" LCD TV thats priced around $1700 or so. My main purpose is for watching standard definition picture (digital cable), and connecting it to my PC for watching DVDs.

I don't need a lot of options on the tv and just want the best SD picture quality from a 37" set. The Sceptre has a good price from costco, but I get mixed reports about it's SD quality, and going to the stores doesn't help me much as they don't feed in SD picture.
 
Best Buy usually does have a SD feed available but usually won't use it for more then 1 display unit if that, but you can ask to get some 37" displays on one. I'm not a big fan of LCDs for purely watching TV and DvDs, I think for the money a DLP looks a lot better without all the ghosting and lack of true black, especially considering a 3rd generation refurbed samsung 50" can be gotten online for under $1300 shipped.

Best LCD I've seen in person myself (albiet on a HD only feed) was the Westinghouse though, which was noticably superior to every other larger LCD I have seen displayed at a few different stores.

You might also consider a ED plasma for a digital feed as they look pretty nice and are in the $1200 range.
 
a DLP is too thick for my purposes as far as depth. I really only have maybe a foot of room, which in most cases is big enough for the stands on LCD TV's of Plasmas. I would have gone with a 42" Panasonic Plasma, except I live in Colorado Springs where its 6,000FT+ and supposedly only certain Plasma's can operate at that altitude. I've also heard that with a plasma using your computer to watch DVDs on it isn't that good, or did I hear wrong?
 
Demoth -

So is it your opinion for my uses that a DLP set is a much better buy? Is picture quality for SD any better then an LCD TV? I guess it's really the options the tv has for stretching/zooming for the widescreen aspect.

And do you recommend going with the refurb? I hate to say this, but 46" is way too big for my dorm room lol.

Also is there something with DLP and noise level?
 
I LOVE my 37" Westinghouse. I bought it a week after the 360 came out and I have loved every minute of it. After buying a 1080i DVD player that does SACD also for $50 I was set I can wait a few more years for the new disc formats. Even though I could wait I will buy them the day they come out.
 
in case you weren't aware, avsforum.com is probably the best place to go to research tv's and home theater stuff.
 
I've been viewing the avsforums and even posting to get information, but I never get a clear answer or it turns into a debate about little features on the tv that doesn't concern me, plus I haven't gotten any replies in the past few days even with bump 🙁 .
 
Yes, a good quality newer generation DLP will have a much better picture (subjective) then any LCD in a 32" and greater screen size. LCD is still great, but watch something like Star Wars between the two and you'd see DLP displays much------>much better blacks, and LCD ghosting of fast moving bright objects on a darker background (lightsaber fights) is very noticeable. Really depends on what you watch a lot. Sports and sitcoms, comedies, etc. either is fine, but if you watch a lot of sci-fi, horror movies and such, then I'd go DLP if possible.

DLP's main flaw is you will be changing the bulb after a few to several years for about $200. Also, once SED replaces everything for several years, finding replacement bulbs for DLP might become tough.

Size wise, if 37" is pretty much the limits for your dorm, then your looking at LCD for now. Though if you can go bigger, a 37" LCD does not take up very much more physical space over a samsung 46" DLP, some of the difference is in the height of the unit.

Noise wise, DLP itself is quiet but the sound on the samsung is better then standard sound you'll find on a LCD set. It is higher wattage and similated surround, meaning it sounds better louder and you'll probably be more tempted to watch TV louder. Of course, just about any 3rd party sound system will sound much better than samsungs.

As far as refurbed goes, as long as there is a return policy, your usually ok. I actually prefer refurbed products since they are tested to be in working order unlike new products coming right off the assembly line. I always try and buy refurbed tech when I can if the savings is more then 40%. Of course, as with anything else, there is always some amount of risk of a lemon.

Most importantly, you need to go to several stores and look at different screens in person and see what you like, even if all the feeds are only coming off a optimized HD feed. Some people see unbearable rainbow effect with DLP (less then 5% of people), while most don't notice it, some people can't take the brightness or the ghosting of LCD screens. Every review and opinion you see on forums are subjective and for every pro, someone else has a con.
 
Although I have discussed this with you at length via PM, another alternative you might consider, since your main viewing source will be Cable SD, is to go to Plasma. You seem to be doing limited amount of PC / Gaming, thus burnin won't be an issue. Plasma has better color depth, blacks, etc., and usually cheaper than comparable LCD.
 
Well I would jump on a Plasma in a second if it wasn't for me being in Colorado Springs where the altitude is 6,000FT+ average, and I have heard of problems with plasma's at altitude. I suppose I will look more into that specifically or if someone can enlighten me there. I know Panasonic has a excellent 42" Plasma that can be had for 1300? I think? But the altitude thing is the only thing stopping me.
 
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