What would you recommend hdtv-wise for me?

[silverpig]

I *may* be getting an hdtv in the near future and would like some advice.

I'm looking for a 37-40" hdtv as the budget and physical size of the room suit a screen of this size. I would prefer a plasma over an LCD for the black levels, but this isn't a requirement. I would also prefer 1080p, but don't mind 720p so long as it's real 720p (I've seen screens say they're 720p but have a native resolution of 1024x768). I would also like to keep it as cheap as possible, and would rather go with a good 720p screen than "spend a few dollars more and upgrade to a xxx".

I'm finding quite a few LCDs in that range, but was hoping someone could recommend a nice plasma, or, short of that, let me in on what's a good bang for the buck LCD right now.

edit: Oh, and a DVI input would be very handy as well. It seems most new sets only have HDMI.

edit2: don't worry about the DVI anymore, I can easily use a DVI-HDMI adapter

 

[sivart]

I am pleased with my Vizio 42" Plasma as a general viewing TV (Netflix, OTA, HD DVD). I think you can pick up the new version for about $750 at Wally-world. Mine is actually a 1024x768 panel with 16:9 pixels and it still looks great (albeit, it is 2 years old). Good luck finding a new one with DVI -- it would be easier to hit monoprice and buy a DVI-HDMI cable for a few bucks.

Panasonic and Samsung also make very nice 42" Plasmas.

The only plasma sizes I've seen in your range are:

32" Plasma (Vizio and LG)
42" Plasma (Various)
50"+ Plasma

Get as big as you can afford....I've never heard anyone say "I wish I had a smaller TV," but have hear many say that they wish they would have bought a larger 🙂

 

[krotchy]

Plasmas don't get smaller than 42" unless you go down to the Vizio/LG 32" as mentioned.

A great quick recommendation is the Panasonic 42PZ80U and 42PX80U (1080p and 720p respectively) but the price difference lately is so little I cant see a reason not to get the PZ.

For LCD the Samsung 40A550 is just about perfect, and that is what I settled on for my bedroom TV and I have no regrets.

I do not recommend getting a 37" LCD, the specs/features on under 40" panels seems to decline quite a bit for some reason. The difference between the Samsung 40A550 and 37A550 is quite a bit and the price isn't, and for Sony the 37XBR6 and the 40XBR6 are 2 different class screens as well.

 

[cheesehead]

I have a Sharp LC42SB45U. For the $780 it cost from Dell, it's a much nicer TV than you'd expect.
HDMI can be used with DVI with one of these adapters: http://www.monoprice.com/produ...id=2029&seq=1&format=2

Also, I've been warned about Vizio's reliability. While the one person I know who owns one constitutes a very small sample size, it's worth noting that it went kaput after under a year. (Thankfully, it was covered under warranty.)

 

[sivart]

Originally posted by"

Also, I've been warned about Vizio's reliability. While the one person I know who owns one constitutes a very small sample size, it's worth noting that it went kaput after under a year. (Thankfully, it was covered under warranty.)

Let's see..my experience with Vizio TV's so far:

42" Plasma --- Mine: 2 years old working fine
32" LCD -- cousin: 18 months old working fine
37" LCD -- cousin: 20 months old working fine
32" LCD -- grandparents: 12 months old working fine

Don't throw out the baby because it pooped once on the floor 😉

 

[cheesehead]

Originally posted by: sivart

Originally posted by"

Don't throw out the baby because it pooped once on the floor 😉

Fair enough. The folks on AVSforum don't like them much, though, and the Sharp costs the same.

 

[sivart]

Well, if it is a Sharp AQOUS at the same price, I'd go with the AQUOS, if it is a plain jane Sharp, then I'd want to do some A/B comparisons before making a decision.

 

[zylander]

Another vote for the Sharp LC42SB45U. At the price I got it for from Dell ($750), it was a great buy. Its my first HDTV and I love it, its got a great picture.

 

[s44]

Originally posted by: sivart
Get as big as you can afford....I've never heard anyone say "I wish I had a smaller TV," but have hear many say that they wish they would have bought a larger 🙂

:thumbsup:

 

[krotchy]

Originally posted by: sivart

Originally posted by"

Also, I've been warned about Vizio's reliability. While the one person I know who owns one constitutes a very small sample size, it's worth noting that it went kaput after under a year. (Thankfully, it was covered under warranty.)

Let's see..my experience with Vizio TV's so far:

42" Plasma --- Mine: 2 years old working fine
32" LCD -- cousin: 18 months old working fine
37" LCD -- cousin: 20 months old working fine
32" LCD -- grandparents: 12 months old working fine

Don't throw out the baby because it pooped once on the floor 😉

My experience with Vizio:

47" Vizio had HDMI ports short together within 6 months
Friend's 32" TV would not turn on sometimes and required pulling the plug from the wall and re-plugging it in to turn on.

That being said these were a couple of years ago and their quality seems to be improving. Plus buying them from Costco is a nice safeguard.

 

[Greg04]

Originally posted by: sivart

Originally posted by"

Also, I've been warned about Vizio's reliability. While the one person I know who owns one constitutes a very small sample size, it's worth noting that it went kaput after under a year. (Thankfully, it was covered under warranty.)

Let's see..my experience with Vizio TV's so far:

42" Plasma --- Mine: 2 years old working fine
32" LCD -- cousin: 18 months old working fine
37" LCD -- cousin: 20 months old working fine
32" LCD -- grandparents: 12 months old working fine

Don't throw out the baby because it pooped once on the floor 😉

See my sig line, with prices of reliable, reputable 1st tier makers closer to 3rd tiers makers, it makes little sense to go with the risk of buying from a 3rd tier maker. See here

I had two friends buy Vizios and had both of them fail within 18 months. Both sets had to be scrapped. Not a good warranty option for them...