Does anyone sell a really good dumb TV?

[CodeSlinger]

I just sold all my old A/V gear with my house and so need new stuff. I'm quite technical (computers) but have not researched all the latest A/V gear yet and am in a bit of a time crunch so appreciate any input to help select some new devices.

Ideally I would like to find a large flat screen that had really good picture quality and built-in sound, and lots of monitor connections (DVI, HDMI etc.) but was not a smart TV. I don't need WiFi in my computer, and the Blu-ray, and the Roku, and the TV. Seems most of the device makers think each device should be an all in one device rather than a component in a system. Amazing they still don't have all these components talking to each other over Gbit Enet after all these years.

I'm happy with Sony for picture quality, but do they or anyone else make a quality large screen TV that is "dumb" and comes without all the WiFi etc. bells and whistles?

Thanks, Dave

 

[JackBurton]

Ignore the smart tv aspect of the set. If you want a quality set, it will come with that extra crap. You don't have to use it though.

If you want a great LCD, check out Sony's latest 4K set. Gorgeous TV. If you are more of a plasma fan, check out Panasonic's VT or ZT series TV's.

 

[CodeSlinger]

The 4K is more than I need/want to spend esp. since so little content for it. I want something with decent internal speakers since just moved into a condo, and won't get an A/V receiver and setup surround sound until we get into the next house a few months down the road. I was hoping to save money by not getting the "smart" wifi etc. features I don't need since in my computer, Blu-ray and Roku if I keep that. I'm just looking for 50"+ with good picture and sound quality that could support DVI and HDMI. Upsetting everyone tries to make their device an all-in-one, rather than just really good at what it should do, for as inexpensive as possible, designed to complement other components, not be redundant with them.

 

[Midwayman]

If you really want a dumb TV you'll need to look at commercial monitors. I know panasonic has commercial monitor versions of its plasmas. They won't have all the smart TV crap, but I doubt you'll be saving any money. I totally agree with the sentiment that you don't want to spend money on extra stuff like that, but the best screens in consumer sets are bundled with it now days.

 

[alaricljs]

Samsung 50" 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV UN50EH5000FXZA

It's dumb, but as with all the other features that means it has very few inputs:
Number of HDMI Inputs: 2
Number of Component Inputs: 1
Number of Composite Inputs: 1

Speakers are 10W which is on the upper end for built-in LCD TV speakers. Going to go look at one tonight alongside a Vizio 50" 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV E500i-A1 with the only difference I care about being image quality and screen reflectivity.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Samsung 50" 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV UN50EH5000FXZA

Without a budget I could not in good conscience recommend a 60hz TV.

 

[alaricljs]

$480 for the Sammy, $520 for the Vizio... So shooting for $500 and image clarity/quality is the primary concern. I've never even looked at a better than 60Hz TV and I game on a Dell 2408FPW without lag being an issue for me.

 

[poofyhairguy]

$480 for the Sammy, $520 for the Vizio... So shooting for $500 and image clarity/quality is the primary concern. I've never even looked at a better than 60Hz TV and I game on a Dell 2408FPW without lag being an issue for me.

Game lag isn't the issue, it is the fact that 24fps movies divide nicely into 120hz but not 60hz. Unless it be a glorified PC/Xbox monitor I would not buy a 60hz TV in 2013.

 

[alaricljs]

Oh... I do all my movie watching fed from a PC and have never felt a need to attempt finagling the necessary refresh rates.

Having seen the 2 models mentioned I'm kinda stuck. I also looked elsewhere and the only TV in the 50" range that impressed me is an M-class Vizio Razor 47", but then again that's the only one that was playing Monsters U. Everything else was scrolling through standard advertising schlep. So this means the 47 was getting a nice clean direct feed off the BD player next to it and everything else was getting their munged feed off the spiderweb.