HDTV trigger finger needs restraining. Vizio

[pauldun170]

After 2 years of service (and declining picture quality) our Samsung ln46d HDTV decided that it would like to stop working.

After checking out some sites and seeing parts out of stock for it (and seeing plenty of sketchy sites with parts in stock) decision was made to get a new TV. The Samsung will be stored until I can find some parts to throw at it and then it will be moved to another room.

So shopping has been fun but as of now, all paths are leading to a Vizio 55' E series. It's got the # of HMDI ports I need and reviews of the picture quality are "good enough" for what it will be used for. (Kids xbox games and wife's reality TV with the occasional netflix).
The top requirement is hassle free for at least 2 years.

What I could really use here is a reality check.

Are Vizio's a crap shoot? Whats the word on component quality (PSU, fit and finish)? Word on the street from repair shops?
For the sub 1K price bracket, 50-55 inch should I avoid Vizio and stick with Samsung\Sony?

I don't want to fall into the "Buy cheap....buy twice" trap.
Thanks

 

[tential]

I don't know of any HDTV brand that dies within 2 years... Even the noname brand HDTV's I bought with the original xbox 360 still work just fine.

What are you guys doing with your HDTVs where you're praying for them to last at least 2 years?

 

[NutBucket]

I have no issue with Vizio. They're cheap TVs (relatively) but seem to have pretty reasonable quality. My only data point is the 32" set my folks bought circa 2006. The only thing that is wrong with it is the ATSC tuner quit a few years ago. Otherwise it's been chugging along just fine.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Vizio is the current darling brand. Now that plasma is dead they are leading the industry with picture quality value. Sony is overpriced for the most part, and only good for gamers. Samsung, outside of the top shelf, is quite frankly crap nowadays. If it was my money it would be Vizio.

Only downside is Vizio's have crap speakers in my opinion, but everyone should be using a soundbar or better in 2014.

 

[NutBucket]

Any of the thin TVs will sound like crap. You can't beat the laws of physics....

 

[pauldun170]

I don't know of any HDTV brand that dies within 2 years... Even the noname brand HDTV's I bought with the original xbox 360 still work just fine.

What are you guys doing with your HDTVs where you're praying for them to last at least 2 years?

We've owned one so far and now its shot. So we are little bit noobish with our expectations. Bought the Samsung years based on rep only to find out shortly after that lots of folks had issues with the PSU (caps going bad).

As for what those people do (those people meaning the kids and the wife), beats me.
I think they stare at it.

 

[SickBeast]

I have a Hisense TV and I'm really happy with it. I would probably be happy with a Vizio as well. Vizio are known for selling direct LED backlit TVs with local dimming for a very low price. They say that local dimming makes a subtle difference but it can also create artifacts so stayed away from it personally. I prefer the thinner profile of an edge lit TV as well; my current TV is going to be wall mounted in my bedroom once 70-80" TVs are more affordable.

 

[pauldun170]

Vizio e series 55 inch purchased.
Hillarity #1
Turn Power indicator light on, screen brightens. Turn it off, screen dims (guess the indicator light is a bit to close to the light sensor.

Otherwise remote control sucks big time.

 

[maevinj]

Vizio e series 55 inch purchased.
Hillarity #1
Turn Power indicator light on, screen brightens. Turn it off, screen dims (guess the indicator light is a bit to close to the light sensor.

Otherwise remote control sucks big time.

I bought the same TV on a BF sale. It's good for the price, but the remote really really sucks.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I don't know of any HDTV brand that dies within 2 years... Even the noname brand HDTV's I bought with the original xbox 360 still work just fine.

What are you guys doing with your HDTVs where you're praying for them to last at least 2 years?

Friend got a Vizio a few years back. Motherboard went pretty quickly. But they offered in-home repair, and fixed it for him. Been good since.

I've had a 32" Westinghouse for a number of years, been good to me. Friend has a Sceptre, similar age, been working fine for him too.

 

[tracerbullet]

Vizio ... are leading the industry with picture quality value.

I've seen the same thing as well in my recent TV "which to buy" studying. If I end up getting an LED it's a safe bet it'll be a Vizio. Probably M series, possibly going for P series and 4k. I know I can't realistically make use of 4k in the near future nor benefit from it given how far back our couch is, but simply on the idea (yet to be completely researched) that they'll throw their best tech at it as well.

 

[SickBeast]

IMO 99% of the Vizio hype is coming from Cnet. You guys should check out Hisense and some of the other brands. I'm sure that the Vizios are great but there are other options. I think that local dimming is overrated personally.

 

[pauldun170]

IMO 99% of the Vizio hype is coming from Cnet. You guys should check out Hisense and some of the other brands. I'm sure that the Vizios are great but there are other options. I think that local dimming is overrated personally.

whats your opinion on this review?
http://televisions.reviewed.com/content/hisense-55h7g-led-tv-review

 

[SickBeast]

whats your opinion on this review?
http://televisions.reviewed.com/content/hisense-55h7g-led-tv-review

I disagree with it completely. The reviewer didn't even bother to change the TV from the default settings, as noted by some people in the comments. Mine was like that as well out of the box. The picture did not look good. Once I calibrated it, everything looked perfect.

Here is a review I wrote for my 55" Hisense TV:

http://alienbabeltech.com/abt/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=33106

The only issue I have found with my TV is a very minor uniformity issue that I only notice when watching hockey.

Hisense is the #1 brand in China and they will soon surpass Sony in terms of global TV sales. I have been extremely happy with mine. Someone else compared my TV with a 55" LG IPS unit and they said that the Hisense looked much nicer. I believe them.

 

[tential]

I've seen the same thing as well in my recent TV "which to buy" studying. If I end up getting an LED it's a safe bet it'll be a Vizio. Probably M series, possibly going for P series and 4k. I know I can't realistically make use of 4k in the near future nor benefit from it given how far back our couch is, but simply on the idea (yet to be completely researched) that they'll throw their best tech at it as well.

The P Series isn't just 4K you know?
It has more backlight zones for better color picture.
It has 120 hz mode (Real 120 hz not the fake thing) if you want over 60 FPS.
It has low input lag times that are far lower than most HDTVs (Mine is 100 ms which is on the high end, typical monitor is 1-5 ms, Vizio P Series is extremely low, can't remember how low but I know it's far lower than most HDTVs, Others might have this low input lag according to a google search),
etc.

Me, if I purchased a new TV, the only TV I'm looking at is the Vizio P Series 70 inch. That's it.

Nothing comes close to the value for what you get. I'm holding out for next years model though where hopefully they add 4:4:4 and an 80 inch model (70 is too small at this point).

 

[pauldun170]

I disagree with it completely. The reviewer didn't even bother to change the TV from the default settings, as noted by some people in the comments. Mine was like that as well out of the box. The picture did not look good. Once I calibrated it, everything looked perfect.

Here is a review I wrote for my 55" Hisense TV:

http://alienbabeltech.com/abt/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=33106

The only issue I have found with my TV is a very minor uniformity issue that I only notice when watching hockey.

Hisense is the #1 brand in China and they will soon surpass Sony in terms of global TV sales. I have been extremely happy with mine. Someone else compared my TV with a 55" LG IPS unit and they said that the Hisense looked much nicer. I believe them.

Interesting.
I just heard of them this week (when our Samsung died).

 

[SickBeast]

Interesting.
I just heard of them this week (when our Samsung died).

Apparently they manufacture a lot of TVs for Sony and Samsung. Some people are saying that they even use the same panels.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I think that local dimming is overrated personally.

Local dimming is the only way to go for dark room viewing. It makes sense, turn off the pixels you aren't using. I have never met an edge lit set that has even backlighting across the panel, or no light bleed. I would like to see yours. Blooming kinda sucks, but man I will take that over uneven lighting that screams at you in every dark scene.

Edge lit's only consumer benefit is cost and product thinness. Most look worse than old LCDs.

 

[tracerbullet]

The P Series isn't just 4K you know?

Thanks. But yeah that's what I meant about getting one because they may throw better tech at it. Sounds like they have. I'll have to look into it further.

 

[Raincity]

I have 2 year old M class that is holding up on its own. Its an edge lit so it has its display issues but all it ever displays is Fox and ESPN news these days.

 

[SickBeast]

Local dimming is the only way to go for dark room viewing. It makes sense, turn off the pixels you aren't using. I have never met an edge lit set that has even backlighting across the panel, or no light bleed. I would like to see yours. Blooming kinda sucks, but man I will take that over uneven lighting that screams at you in every dark scene.

Edge lit's only consumer benefit is cost and product thinness. Most look worse than old LCDs.

That is a misconception and you probably read that at Cnet.

My TV has absolutely no backlight bleed at all. None. The only uniformity issue is that the center of the screen is slightly brighter than the edges. It is only noticeable when watching hockey, and even then you have to look for it and you can only see it when the camera pans quickly horizontally.

I was just reading a review of a direct lit Vizio TV and they showed a picture where you could actually see the individual backlights, it looked really bad, it was a bunch of circles on the screen.

My LED TV looks much nicer than my old 46" LCD TV that I paid $2000 for about 6 years ago. At the time that TV was considered high end. My new LED TV is low end.