November 2016 cheap TV thread

[Kaido]

Lots of pre-Black Friday, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and leftover TV deals going on this month. If you find a good deal, post a price & a link! Here are a few live deals (as of November 8th) to start out with:

• 43" 4K Sceptre U435CV-UMC: $250
• 55" 4K Sceptre U550CV-U: $330
• 65" 4K Hitachi 65L6: $700 - UPDATE! Now $599!!
• 75" 4K Philips 75PFL6601: $1500

Shopping notes:

• You can still find 1080p sets, but the 4K sets are being drastically reduced. The next hot thing is HDR & OLED.
• Most cheap sets are 60hz. Some advertise 120hz as the "effective" rate, but are really 60hz base. Keep that in mind if you watch sports or play video games.
• 55" is the sweet spot right now. Jumping up to 65" doubles or triples the price.
• Keep an eye out for any specific features you want (Smart TV, 3D capability, curved display, etc.).
• Cheetah (Amazon) & Monoprice both sell cheap TV mounts. Special note, Monoprice now sells an above-mantle fireplace mount for $150, which pulls down for eye-level viewing (also has an 18-degree swing). Fireplace mounts are typically $300 - $500, so that's a pretty good deal.
• Lots of good cheap players available: Roku (starting at $30 for the 1080p model), Amazon Fire Stick ($40 with voice remote, easy to hack KODI onto), and newcomer Xiaomi Mi box ($70, 4K@60fps Android TV player).

 

[cbn]

Some info on that first listing from Virtual Larry's thread:

https://forums.anandtech.com/thread...-249-99-fs-walmart-com.2489510/#post-38531581

https://forums.anandtech.com/thread...-249-99-fs-walmart-com.2489510/#post-38531591

 

[Replay]

November 2013 cheap TV thread.
Title threw me for a moment, as if an old deal was bumped by a spammer (2013 TV's should be cheap by now.)

 

[cbn]

Kaido,

Under thread tools there is an edit title option.

 

[Kaido]

November 2013 cheap TV thread.
Title threw me for a moment, as if an old deal was bumped by a spammer (2013 TV's should be cheap by now.)

LOL epic brainfart

 

[Kaido]

Kaido,

Under thread tools there is an edit title option.

Thanks, fixed. Hahahaha!

 

[Kaido]

Some info on that first listing from Virtual Larry's thread:

https://forums.anandtech.com/thread...-249-99-fs-walmart-com.2489510/#post-38531581

https://forums.anandtech.com/thread...-249-99-fs-walmart-com.2489510/#post-38531591

fwiw, I do computers for work & buy 4K screens for infotainment setups on a regular basis. I have a truckload of the $329 55" Sceptres I'm unboxing right now, so if anyone has any questions, I can check it out before I install 'em!

The reliability & PQ on the various Seikis, Sceptres, etc. I've used has been pretty good. I think I've only had one fail out of the dozens I've put in recently (backlight died, similar to a laptop...weird tho because they're LED...). Even low-end 4K screens look surprisingly decent compared to low-end 1080p-native screens.

 

[cbn]

fwiw, I do computers for work & buy 4K screens for infotainment setups on a regular basis. I have a truckload of the $329 55" Sceptres I'm unboxing right now, so if anyone has any questions, I can check it out before I install 'em!

The reliability & PQ on the various Seikis, Sceptres, etc. I've used has been pretty good. I think I've only had one fail out of the dozens I've put in recently (backlight died, similar to a laptop...weird tho because they're LED...). Even low-end 4K screens look surprisingly decent compared to low-end 1080p-native screens.

Kaido, if you tell us whether or not these would work as monitors for productivity that would be great.

 

[Kaido]

Kaido, if you tell us whether or not these would work as monitors for productivity that would be great.

Well...it depends. The big thing is the dot pitch. 4K TV's are way better than 1080p TV's for text, but it's still a TV, not a monitor with a fine dot pitch. And literally every single set looks different, as far as how they handle the visible pixels & how the text looks as a result. Vizio looks different than Sceptre looks different from Seiki. The higher-end sets have extra visual processing that sometimes screws up text, too. Also, you can run 4K sets in 1080p mode, and if you enable 60hz & 100% scaling, it actually looks pretty decent if you're sitting from a few feet away. You can also do neat tricks like using DisplayFusion to split the 4K screen into say four 1080p virtual monitors:

https://www.displayfusion.com/Features/MonitorConfig/

As far as using them for a text monitor...hmm. If you run it at 4K, and sit at a reasonable distance back, and have like an NVIDIA GTX-whatever card that actually supports 4K@60hz, then it might be good. Do you have a particular size in mind? I have found that the larger you go, the better the text looks, oddly enough - you'd think it'd be the other way around, but the 39" 4K televisions have had some of the worst text rendering, whereas the newer 55" models do pretty well. I can take some screenshots if you want, although they don't really come out the same as actually having an eyes-on IRL.

On the flip side, I used a 24" 4K monitor for a short period of time & absolutely hated it, WAY too small of a screen for that resolution for text. I use a 24" WQHD (2560x1440) now & it's just on the verge of readability for me (note that I wear glasses)...small, but very, very clear, and since I live in virtual machines & remote desktop all day, it's really nice to have the space & crystal clarity for text and whatnot.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Well...it depends. The big thing is the dot pitch. 4K TV's are way better than 1080p TV's for text, but it's still a TV, not a monitor with a fine dot pitch. And literally every single set looks different, as far as how they handle the visible pixels & how the text looks as a result. Vizio looks different than Sceptre looks different from Seiki. The higher-end sets have extra visual processing that sometimes screws up text, too. Also, you can run 4K sets in 1080p mode, and if you enable 60hz & 100% scaling, it actually looks pretty decent if you're sitting from a few feet away. You can also do neat tricks like using DisplayFusion to split the 4K screen into say four 1080p virtual monitors:

I wish it Windows could just do what OSX does and perfectly double the pixels to give you retina 1080p on a 4K display. Adjustable PPI in Windows works great until you run across an old application and you need a magnifying glass to read the text.

 

[Kaido]

WOW! That 65" Hitachi just dropped to $599!

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hitachi-65L6-65-4K-Ultra-HD-2160p-60Hz-LED-LCD-HDTV-4K-x-2K/52770205

 

[VirtualLarry]

WOW! That 65" Hitachi just dropped to $599!

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hitachi-65L6-65-4K-Ultra-HD-2160p-60Hz-LED-LCD-HDTV-4K-x-2K/52770205

Reviews on Walmart's site about that HDTV are rather mixed.

You can be the guinea pig...

Edit: I guess you will be. I look forward to the mini-review.

 

[Kaido]

Reviews on Walmart's site about that HDTV are rather mixed.

You can be the guinea pig...

I ordered a couple for work projects, I'll see how they look. They'll just be used for data displays, so if they're junk for HT usage, no biggie.

 

[Kaido]

Vizio has a pair of 4K televisons on sale at Sam's Club, one day only. Technically under law, they cannot be called televisions because they do not contain digital tuners, so they are sold as 4K displays or 4K monitors (you have to buy a separate tuner if you want OTA etc.). If you do not have a Sam's Club membership, you can purchase one at checkout for $45. Both units are Chromecast-enabled under the Vizio SmartCast system, which actually includes a pretty nice smartphone remote app. Note that this says "120hz effective", which usually means native 60hz, although the specs don't spell it out concretely, so that's a question mark.

The 55" is $398 shipped:

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/55-uhd-smartcast-120hz-4-hdmi-wifi/prod20591190.ip

The 65" is $598 shipped:

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/65-uhd-smart-120hz-4-hdmi-wifi/prod20591192.ip

This is not only the best deal on a 65" 4K I've ever seen, but it's also the best deal on a name-brand 65" 4K I've ever seen. Granted, you lose a tuner & it's a special cheapie model for Black Friday, but hey, it's large, it's 4K, and it's a Vizio for under $600 shipped!

 

[cbn]

Also, you can run 4K sets in 1080p mode, and if you enable 60hz & 100% scaling, it actually looks pretty decent if you're sitting from a few feet away.

Yeah, that is something I imagine would happen. Having 4K even with 4:2:0 Chroma should look pretty good at 1080p for readability.

 

[Kaido]

Walmart has a refurbished 32" 720p TCL Roku TV for $99 shipped:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Refurbished-TCL-32S3750-32-720p-60Hz-Roku-Smart-LED-HDTV/49689398

2-year protection is $16, if you want it. 1366x768 resolution, 60hz. Nice for a bedroom TV, especially for a kid's bedroom, since Roku has a really easy interface.

 

[Kaido]

If you need a standalone streaming player, the Roku 3 is on sale for $50 shipped at Best Buy:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/roku-3-streaming-player-black/4488011.p

I have three of these, they are great! Headphone jack on the remote, pretty stable, good GUI.

 

[you2]

So here is the debate $4k for a top of the line lg oled or $700 for a non-top fo the line 4k tv. Debates debates...

 

[Kaido]

So here is the debate $4k for a top of the line lg oled or $700 for a non-top fo the line 4k tv. Debates debates...

Had the same debate myself. The 65" 4K OLED (iirc it was the non-3D B6 2016 model) dropped to $2,999 with a $600 Newegg GC, so effectiveLY $2,400. However, I opted to go with a 65" 4K TCL Roku TV instead ($999). Overpriced in light of the recent 65" 4K deals going on for Black November, but the key feature is the Roku integration for my family...having on-screen "channels" for the other inputs is sooooo nice too. My brother picked up the $598 Vizio, so I'll have to see how they compare before he gets it mounted. $400 cheaper is a heck of a deal, but again, I need the usability long-term more than anything else, and from all of the 4K sets I've installed, even the cheapie brands look pretty good. This will be the first budget brand 65" I'll be using, curious to see how it looks! That, plus $3k OTD for a TV...I dunno, that same money would let me install five (5) Vizio 65" 4K LED sets around the house & would still look pretty good, haha.

 

[Sonikku]

Vizio has a pair of 4K televisons on sale at Sam's Club, one day only. Technically under law, they cannot be called televisions because they do not contain digital tuners, so they are sold as 4K displays or 4K monitors (you have to buy a separate tuner if you want OTA etc.). If you do not have a Sam's Club membership, you can purchase one at checkout for $45. Both units are Chromecast-enabled under the Vizio SmartCast system, which actually includes a pretty nice smartphone remote app. Note that this says "120hz effective", which usually means native 60hz, although the specs don't spell it out concretely, so that's a question mark.

The 55" is $398 shipped:

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/55-uhd-smartcast-120hz-4-hdmi-wifi/prod20591190.ip

The 65" is $598 shipped:

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/65-uhd-smart-120hz-4-hdmi-wifi/prod20591192.ip

This is not only the best deal on a 65" 4K I've ever seen, but it's also the best deal on a name-brand 65" 4K I've ever seen. Granted, you lose a tuner & it's a special cheapie model for Black Friday, but hey, it's large, it's 4K, and it's a Vizio for under $600 shipped!

I got the 65". The picture I snapped with my phone doesn't do it justice. It makes the 40" Westinghouse I had look like a toy in comparison. It just BARELY fit on my tv stand.

So far I'm pleased. WoW and Battlefront definitely look nicer in 4k than they did in 1080p. Or maybe they don't and it's just a better panel than my last one was across the board. Either way, right out of the box it had better picture quality that my last tv did by a country wide mile. Web browsing from my couch is MASSIVELY improved, text is a synch to read compared to my 1080p 40". This was a sorely needed upgrade that hit the mark, but bear in mind it makes concessions. No HDR, no built in tv turner, 60hz, not 120hz as its specs misleadingly suggest, so so sound. But these were worthwhile sacrifices for me to get a 65" 4k tv for $598. I use a sound bar anyway, if you rely on a LCD screens speakers you're doing it wrong. I don't know what the response rate is as it is not listed in the specs, though I will say Battlefront set to 60hz with v sync on was buttery smooth. Just bear in mind the remote control is bare bones. It can't do much of anything without the smart cast app and because it isn't compatible with my Samsung Stardust phone I basically can't get the most out of this tv's settings.

 

[Kaido]

So far I'm pleased. WoW and Battlefront definitely look nicer in 4k than they did in 1080p. Or maybe they don't and it's just a better panel than my last one was across the board. Either way, right out of the box it had better picture quality that my last tv did by a country wide mile. Web browsing from my couch is MASSIVELY improved, text is a synch to read compared to my 1080p 40". This was a sorely needed upgrade that hit the mark, but bear in mind it makes concessions. No HDR, no built in tv turner, 60hz, not 120hz as its specs misleadingly suggest, so so sound. But these were worthwhile sacrifices for me to get a 65" 4k tv for $598. I use a sound bar anyway, if you rely on a LCD screens speakers you're doing it wrong. I don't know what the response rate is as it is not listed in the specs, though I will say Battlefront set to 60hz with v sync on was buttery smooth. Just bear in mind the remote control is bare bones. It can't do much of anything without the smart cast app and because it isn't compatible with my Samsung Stardust phone I basically can't get the most out of this tv's settings.

Awesome, congrats! Thanks for the review, too. Like you said, not as fully-featured as other sets, but for $598 for a beautiful picture, and that's awfully hard to argue with! Are you running web browsing at 4K with a zoom? That's how I had my Win10 Kangaroo setup on my 43" 4K kitchen TV & it worked pretty well (just switched to a Chromebit this week tho), very readable without looking bad.

I wish Insignia had a 65" version of their Roku TV out, those have been by far the best TV speakers I've ever heard. I wouldn't mind adding a soundbar or something to my upcoming TCL set, if I could control it through the Roku remote, so I'll have to see how the outputs work & if the audio output is set to line-out or not.

 

[Sonikku]

Yeah, I had to increase the icon size of everything to 200% as well. But it looks now. I don't know if my 1060 gtx is doing the scaling or what but pictures look fine.

 

[Kaido]

Not a completely stellar deal, but Best Buy has a 55" 4K Sony TV + a Playstation Pro for $999 together:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/offer/1...?loc=0&ref=0&acampID=0&id=pcmcat1477337825922

$300 savings ($900 TV, $400 console = $1300 together).

 

[Kaido]

Steve posted a 2016 Black Friday HDTV roundup over in the BF sub-forum:

https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/2016-black-friday-hdtv-megathread.2491464/

The quoted sections are per company & are conveniently alphabetically sorted, so keep an eye on those deals if you don't mind waiting another couple of weeks.

 

[steelodon]

fwiw, I do computers for work & buy 4K screens for infotainment setups on a regular basis. I have a truckload of the $329 55" Sceptres I'm unboxing right now, so if anyone has any questions, I can check it out before I install 'em!

The reliability & PQ on the various Seikis, Sceptres, etc. I've used has been pretty good. I think I've only had one fail out of the dozens I've put in recently (backlight died, similar to a laptop...weird tho because they're LED...). Even low-end 4K screens look surprisingly decent compared to low-end 1080p-native screens.

I would like to know about the quality of these TVs.