TV finally died. Time for a new one.

[SagaLore]

I know there are plenty of threads on here asking the same thing. But this one is different - it shall be a POLL.

The TV doesn't have to be huge. The one that just died was a 27", and I thought that was big enough. I also have a surround sound system so the TV doesn't need any uber-quality speakers.

My biggest pet peeve when looking at the widescreen hdtv's, is the obvious pixelation that occurs during fast movement. Also, I notice a lack of brightness around the corners. Last but not least, my eyes are pretty sensitive to refresh rates.

And whatever I get, I want it to last. My 27" is 7 years old and has been moved up and down many flights of stairs and across country.

update:
Okay I made a decision to go with LCD, and made a purchase. After scoping out Circuit City and Best Buy, I realized how expensive these things were. I didn't really want to spend that kind of money. So I went to Walmart and found a 37" Magnavox for less than $1000. I like the rich colors, but I'm not that impressed with the blacks. The only other sets I liked were a Polaroid and a Samsung at CC. Now that I have the models narrowed down, I looked up reviews and the Samsung has the highest customer ratings. Also I didn't notice this before, but the Samsung has a 3000:1 contrast ratio. :Q The downside is its only 32".

So now I have to decide to either keep the Magnavox, or return it and get the Samsung. Hmm...

 

[Chunkee]

CRT

i have a sony 34inch...my boss got new 50inch plasma...still get that checkered digitation thing


Look at the XBR sony

jC

 

[vi edit]

With your restrictions - I'd say CRT assuming you don't mind the heaft of the thing(130 pounds polly!).

http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=349849&pCatg=5988

The "pixelation" problem at high speeds is more source than display though. If the signal is heavily compressed it's going to blur at high speeds. The TV can't fix that problem.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
The "pixelation" problem at high speeds is more source than display though. If the signal is heavily compressed it's going to blur at high speeds. The TV can't fix that problem.

I've never seen that happen on a CRT though. Maybe because the resolution is so low, it gets blurred out... but still, I find it very annoying.

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
With your restrictions - I'd say CRT assuming you don't mind the heaft of the thing(130 pounds polly!).

http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=349849&pCatg=5988

The "pixelation" problem at high speeds is more source than display though. If the signal is heavily compressed it's going to blur at high speeds. The TV can't fix that problem.

I notice it on a relative's DirectTV HD service all the time, always annoys the crap out of me. Hasn't happened with Comcast since I started the service.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: vi_edit
The "pixelation" problem at high speeds is more source than display though. If the signal is heavily compressed it's going to blur at high speeds. The TV can't fix that problem.

I've never seen that happen on a CRT though. Maybe because the resolution is so low, it gets blurred out... but still, I find it very annoying.

Or they just didn't have an HD signal run to them. If it's an SD signal it's not going to do it.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: vi_edit
The "pixelation" problem at high speeds is more source than display though. If the signal is heavily compressed it's going to blur at high speeds. The TV can't fix that problem.

I've never seen that happen on a CRT though. Maybe because the resolution is so low, it gets blurred out... but still, I find it very annoying.

Or they just didn't have an HD signal run to them. If it's an SD signal it's not going to do it.

Whats the point of having this high resolution HD signal when they're just going to compress the crap out of it?

When they're playing demos in stores, is that an HD signal they're using? Because that is when I see the issue.

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: SagaLore
Whats the point of having this high resolution HD signal when they're just going to compress the crap out of it?

When they're playing demos in stores, is that an HD signal they're using? Because that is when I see the issue.

I hope you aren't going to be picking your TV based on the in-store HD they use. They are almost universally crappy, with not only pixelation, but many other problems.

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: vi_edit
With your restrictions - I'd say CRT assuming you don't mind the heaft of the thing(130 pounds polly!).

http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=349849&pCatg=5988

The "pixelation" problem at high speeds is more source than display though. If the signal is heavily compressed it's going to blur at high speeds. The TV can't fix that problem.

I notice it on a relative's DirectTV HD service all the time, always annoys the crap out of me. Hasn't happened with Comcast since I started the service.

My Comcast has the pixelation on the hi-def channels. Interestingly it is far more pronounced on certain channels. HDnet is one of the worst.

 

[Koing]

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: vi_edit
The "pixelation" problem at high speeds is more source than display though. If the signal is heavily compressed it's going to blur at high speeds. The TV can't fix that problem.

I've never seen that happen on a CRT though. Maybe because the resolution is so low, it gets blurred out... but still, I find it very annoying.

It is precisely that.

If you have a big screen tv with a good resolution you will need to feed it a good resolution (and at a good compression) so you don't get pixelation on screen.

The stuff fed in store the signal is usually split up many times so that butchers the signal to no end.

Pop in a good HD DVD or BR and watch the quality of it

Our 50" Panasonic plasma does a good job on the signals I get from Sky. Some channels look a lot worse then others but it is compress to hell and back.

Koing

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: Koing
It is precisely that.

If you have a big screen tv with a good resolution you will need to feed it a good resolution (and at a good compression) so you don't get pixelation on screen.

The stuff fed in store the signal is usually split up many times so that butchers the signal to no end.

Pop in a good HD DVD or BR and watch the quality of it

Our 50" Panasonic plasma does a good job on the signals I get from Sky. Some channels look a lot worse then others but it is compress to hell and back.

Koing

My co-worker's roommate has a plasma, I've seen this on a few shows he's watched too.

I don't have cable television. I plan on installing a large antenna in my attic. Other than that, I have my standard dvd player. I'm a simple guy.

 

[pulse8]

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: vi_edit
The "pixelation" problem at high speeds is more source than display though. If the signal is heavily compressed it's going to blur at high speeds. The TV can't fix that problem.

I've never seen that happen on a CRT though. Maybe because the resolution is so low, it gets blurred out... but still, I find it very annoying.

Or they just didn't have an HD signal run to them. If it's an SD signal it's not going to do it.

Whats the point of having this high resolution HD signal when they're just going to compress the crap out of it?

When they're playing demos in stores, is that an HD signal they're using? Because that is when I see the issue.

They have to compress the hell out of it. How else do you expect them to get it to you?

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: pulse8
They have to compress the hell out of it. How else do you expect them to get it to you?

By... not... compressing it...

 

[UNCjigga]

32" LCD for teh win. The only time you should ever consider DLP or LCoS or similar is if you're getting a 56" or larger set--digital projection TVs are much more affordable than LCD at that size. But for your needs, 32" will suffice. If you're gung-ho about getting 1080p, you'll probably need to step up to 40" or larger since there aren't very many 32" 1080p sets available today.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: UNCjigga
32" LCD for teh win. The only time you should ever consider DLP or LCoS or similar is if you're getting a 56" or larger set--digital projection TVs are much more affordable than LCD at that size. But for your needs, 32" will suffice. If you're gung-ho about getting 1080p, you'll probably need to step up to 40" or larger since there aren't very many 32" 1080p sets available today.

Nah it doesn't have to be 1080p.

 

[keeleysam]

You should be able to get a 42" Samsung 720p DLP for that.

Honestly, you should spend $200 more and get this.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: pulse8
They have to compress the hell out of it. How else do you expect them to get it to you?

By... not... compressing it...

Won't happen from conventional cable/satellite carriers. They are operating on a fixed amount of bandwith. There simply isn't enough pipe available to push non-compressed HD content down and retain the number of stations that they have.

The only way to get uncompressed HD feeds is to pull it from over the air local broadcasts. And then you are only given your prime time stations (NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox).

 

[jammur21]

Microcenter has 42" Olevia LCDs on sale today for $800

 

[JS80]

DLP = bang for buck

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: JS80
DLP = bang for buck

If I got DLP, I would get the newer set that has a chip for each color, instead of the color wheel. But I guess I'd have to still deal with a bulb.

 

[Shlong]

32" - 42" LCD.

 

[bigdog1218]

27-32" CRT. Unless space is a huge issue there really is no reason to get anything but a CRT at these sizes. Cheaper, better picture, better quality.

 

[BigSmooth]

CRTs are still a great blend of price, picture quality, and reliability. Size/weight are really the only major downsides. If you want to go slim I like LCDs.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: Shlong
32" - 42" LCD.

Do LCD sets have the problem that regular LCD monitors have? Where if you're not directly center, the brightness fades and sometimes goes negative?

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: Shlong
32" - 42" LCD.

Do LCD sets have the problem that regular LCD monitors have? Where if you're not directly center, the brightness fades and sometimes goes negative?

Depends on the TV. In any case, I've never seen an LCD tv as bad as a DLP projection TV as far as viewing angle goes.