Looking at getting an HDTV, clueless on them. Please help me find a nice one....

[jcovercash]

Ok I'm looking at getting an HDTV withen the next month or so, I know I will have it before X-Mas. I have been looking at them but I need some help before I jump into a purchase of this magnitude. Mainly I need to know what specs to look for etc.. (I have no idea what most of these mean).

Right now I have a 27 Inch Sony Trinitron TV, It is a nice Little TV but It feel of my entertainment center, because my little cousins were messing with it :-/, and now its whole left side has a green tint to it and it is driving me crazy, so I decided that when I got a new TV I would go ahead with an HDTV .

ATM we just have regular cable, TWC, But withen the next 6 months we will be getting Digital Cable, IDK if this makes a difference in the TV I get or not. I most likely will not play any games on it, But I may purchase an Xbox or something later on. I also want to be able to hook up my computer to it so that I can watch divx on my TV, If this is even possible with HDTV?

I want something that I will be able to add a surround sound system too, I may get a kick a$$ system or a cheaper one, I have not decided yet... and I also want to be able to hook up the progressive scan (isnt this the higher clarity DVD player?) DVD player too it. The main use will be TV and DVDs.

The most important thing to me is Clarity, then Size. I would like something around 50+ inches though however. It would be nice is the included speakers with it sound good also, in case I dont get a system till later on down the road. My budget is going to be around $1500, I will spend more though however but I dont want to spend $2000 though.

LMK what you would recomend withen this price range that meets my requirments, or help me out with specs to look for.

Thanks,
Josh


Also the display models at Circuit City, and other B&M stores that I have seen none of them were really as clear as I expected is that because they may not have a good signal or because they have everything hooked up to one line? because what I saw look the same as my TV now if not worse.

 

[Viper GTS]

Sounds like you really have no clue what you want. Go to the store, look at stuff. See what you like. Then go learn what things mean. Read reviews, read spec sheets, read anything you can get your hands on. Then go back to the store, see what you like this time.

IMHO you would be better off spending $1000 on a TV and $500 on audio, a good TV without decent audio is kinda pointless.

Who buys an HDTV and uses the built in speakers? Yuck.

Viper GTS

 

[jcovercash]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Sounds like you really have no clue what you want. Go to the store, look at stuff. See what you like. Then go learn what things mean. Read reviews, read spec sheets, read anything you can get your hands on. Then go back to the store, see what you like this time.

IMHO you would be better off spending $1000 on a TV and $500 on audio, a good TV without decent audio is kinda pointless.

Who buys an HDTV and uses the built in speakers? Yuck.

Viper GTS

Well I only planned on using them untill I got a system.

Where is a good place to go for info for a beginner? I found this place? will it cover the info I need? If you have another site with info I would apreciate it.

Thanks,
Josh

 

[Amused]

Go poke around http://www.avsforum.com

Great source of info.

 

[Doggiedog]

For that price a Hitachi 51SWX20B is your best choice IMO.

The picture is stunning. I looked very hard recently to replace my broken Sony 36XBR400 and the Hitachi was on the top of my list. I ended up getting a Panasonic 50LC13 because it was smaller and also because it was an LCD RPTV instead of a CRT RPTV.

Like Amused said, goto avsforum and do some research. I'm on there all the time. Also go check out the TVs whenever you can. Quality differs from place to place but I think if you find a TV with a gorgeous picture, you are likely to replicate it even if other places with the same TV don't have the same PQ.

Oh and don't get Sony PLEASE! They just plain suck. Go to agoraquest or hometheaterspot or audioreview and look at the reviews for Sony TVs and you will see LOTS of complaints. My Sony broke, my best friend's 1 1/2 YO 65XBR just blew up and another friend's Sony projection went bad. They seem to have a life span of about 2 years. Nice way of implementing planned obsolesence.

 

[rudeguy]

rule #1, sony is overpriced, so dont even look at it if you are on a budget
rule #2, look at the new mitsubishis out there, you can find the 46hx93 for around $1500 and its a great set
rule #3, go to avs forums and start a topic on this, the majority of the people here only know what the clerk at best buy told them

 

[royaldank]

Your regular analog cable is going to look pretty crappy on any HDTV. It most likely will not look nearly as good as it did on your regular TV. Any HD channels you get will look awesome, but non-digital channels (local channels and basic cable channels) will not look all that great.

Might be better off waiting until you have access to a good HD lineup either via cable or satellite (DISH has most, I think). And at that time, prices will be lower.

 

[StageLeft]

IMHO you would be better off spending $1000 on a TV and $500 on audio, a good TV without decent audio is kinda pointless.

Who buys an HDTV and uses the built in speakers? Yuck.

True, but since he's saving up for an audio setup hopefully he can make do in the shortterm with the crappy stock speakers

Royaldank has a good point, although it seems that most people are still glad that they bought an HDTV even in cases where they're still using analog or digital (non-hdtv) satellite or channels.

Agree that sony is overpriced. Nice, but not great bang for buck.

 

[Wingznut]

I recently picked up this Sony 51" widescreen from Circuit City, and I couldn't be happier.

I see some people claiming that Sony's are overpriced, but at $1800 (regular price), I don't think you are going to find many (any?) 51" HDTV's with more features or better picture quality. This Sony has a DVI input... So yes, you can hook up your PC to it.

As for Sony's reliability, I've only had it for a few weeks. However, this is my fifth Sony TV (my first HDTV), and I've never had a problem with Sony TV's.


And yes, since you are running a much larger monitor, you will be able to see the deficiencies of the video source (analog cable, digital sat, etc...) But it definitely does not outweigh the pluses of owning a widescreen HDTV.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Wingznut
I recently picked up this Sony 51" widescreen from Circuit City, and I couldn't be happier.

I see some people claiming that Sony's are overpriced, but at $1800 (regular price), I don't think you are going to find many (any?) 51" HDTV's with more features or better picture quality. This Sony has a DVI input... So yes, you can hook up your PC to it.

As for Sony's reliability, I've only had it for a few weeks. However, this is my fifth Sony TV (my first HDTV), and I've never had a problem with Sony TV's.


And yes, since you are running a much larger monitor, you will be able to see the deficiencies of the video source (analog cable, digital sat, etc...) But it definitely does not outweigh the pluses of owning a widescreen HDTV.

I didn't know it would be so cheap; that is a good looking one and was rated highly.

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: SkoorbI didn't know it would be so cheap; that is a good looking one and was rated highly.

I actually got mine for $1320, through a series of events (Link).

 

[sillymofo]

get a JVC (48")

<---- Used to sell these thing...

 

[Doggiedog]

Quick look at hometheaterspot on the Sony.

If I mentioned all the bad Sony products I had, I could start a huge thread for you. I used to be an all Sony guy until this TV. After putting up with their deteriorating quality over the last few years and their total lack of care for their customers I have to say <^>:|<^> Sony.

Like a car, I wouldn't just go by the first few weeks of operation by the TV. Who knows? Maybe you might have a problem with the TV down the road. Hope you don't though.