Which TV should we get?

[Kelvrick]

So, the TV for our apartment just crapped out and considering we have a Best Buy 10% off coupon and interest free financing for 18 months, we're gonna go get a new tv from them.

We have about a 800 limit and we finally settled on Toshiba 32" FST Pure Flat.

It looked better then the Sony right by it, and we didn't want to dish out the extra hundred or two for a Samsung set. Other then that, we were also considering these tvs.

Sony 32" WEGA Again, the Toshiba seemed to look a little better, but is there any reason besides the Brand name to put another 50 bucks into this TV?

Advent 32" Ok, we were just looking at this one because it was cheap. How does it compare to the other two?

Samsung Tantus 27" HDTV This one is High definition ,and its a 27" instead of a 32. We pretty much have already decided against this one, but maybe we just don't know enough about TV's.

Vote in the Poll to help us decide! We're going back tonight, and then watching a couple DVD's and playing X-Box all night long.

<== monkey dance

 

[minendo]

Definitely get the Toshiba. I'm actually buying the next one up from the one listed.

 

[Kelvrick]

Originally posted by: minendo
Definitely get the Toshiba. I'm actually buying the next one up from the one listed.

Ahh, we were wondering what the difference was, but we found out it just offers Picture in Picture. Everything else is the same. We decided since we're just going to watch DVD's or play X-Box or Gamecube, we don't need PIP.

<== monkey dance

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
Ahh, we were wondering what the difference was, but we found out it just offers Picture in Picture. Everything else is the same. We decided since we're just going to watch DVD's or play X-Box or Gamecube, we don't need PIP.

<== monkey dance

Hmm maybe I need to reconsider.

 

[Kelvrick]

Does it have more inputs? I thought the BB flyer thingy said they both have 3 AV?

<== monkey dance

 

[SeaSerpent]

Sony

 

[Kelvrick]

Originally posted by: love1u0
Sony

Any particular reasons, or are you just going by the brand? Is there a website where you can compare the 2?

<== monkey dance

 

[SeaSerpent]

I have a Sony and have had zero problems with it. It has a great picture to

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Do a search for Wega or Sony (may be archived now) and you'll see my rants about my Wega.

I personally really like Samsung. I like Toshiba as well.

 

[Koing]

Sony. My dad has one and it looks VERY good.

I wouldn't trust the pictures of a chain store like that. Even some of their *top end* stuff looks awful. They have numerous splitters etc etc and the colours are set different etc etc.

When you get it it will look much better then the shop. You will get a direct feed and not one that is split with 5+ tv's. Digital will also make it look much better. Analogue tv sucks.

 

[minendo]

The Sony Wegas are extremely over rated and over priced. The best deal of the ones you mentioned is by far the Toshiba.

 

[Kelvrick]

Originally posted by: Koing
Sony. My dad has one and it looks VERY good.

I wouldn't trust the pictures of a chain store like that. Even some of their *top end* stuff looks awful. They have numerous splitters etc etc and the colours are set different etc etc.

When you get it it will look much better then the shop. You will get a direct feed and not one that is split with 5+ tv's. Digital will also make it look much better. Analogue tv sucks.

We did think about that, but then considering it was right next to each other, we figure they were both getting hte same signal, and the Toshiba made it look better.

<== monkey dance

 

[cyclistca]

I voted for the Sony as I just bought the 27" version of it. Great picture. I don't think you can go wrong with the Toshiba though. I narrowed it down to the two and ended up with the Sony because it's boxing day price was less. :Q

 

[Kelvrick]

Hmmm, so far, the Sony is winning in votes, but with actual replies, it seems people think the Toshiba are just as good. We're leaning towards teh Toshiba since nobody has convinced us the Sony name is worth an extra 50 bucks to a couple of college students.

<== monkey dance

 

[LiQiCE]

If you're going to be mostly watching DVDs and playing Xbox, I highly recommend going HDTV ... I have the Samsung 32" HDTV (which I nabbed open box for ~$800 - normally priced $999.99) ... The difference between 480i and 480p is incredible and virtually ALL Xbox games are 480p compatible, and all recent (prolly at least the last 10 years) major motion picture DVDs are 480p compatible... You'll also need a progressive scan DVD player, which runs around ~$150 for a decent one. Regular TV looks decent on the Samsung HDTVs (it uses a pretty good line doubler, nothing like the Sony one which claims 960p, but it does look better than plain old 480p) ...

If you can't spend the extra money on the 32" HDTV then consider the 27" .. but I think you'd be wise to go with the HDTV, especially for DVD and Xbox ... (Not to mention once HDTV receivers come down in price, you'll be able to receive HDTV broadcasts and display them at 1080i!)

By the way, the Samsung HDTV CRTs are imho one of the best deals on the market right now. The CRTs they use in their HDTVs are basically the same technology that Samsung uses in their VGA Monitors. As you may already know, Samsung CRT monitors are rated very highly and this translates into a great picture for TV as well.. When I went to purchase my HDTV last summer, I compared the Samsung HDTV with a Sony HDTV and a Panasonic HDTV (don't think they had a Toshiba)... The Sony looked just as good as the Samsung, but was a lot more expensive. The Panasonic looked good but had some problems with fast moving pictures. Also, the Samsung imho has very good color right off the bat. I'm not a professional at calibrating TVs, but using the LucasArts THX optimizer, the Samsung's factory settings are almost dead, I only needed to lower the brightness slightly, and adjust the color a bit... (as compared to my Panasonic TV which by default is set VERY VERY bright, and starts out a little bit too red).

With Sony Wega TVs, you're paying partially for a name and reputation... And while Samsung maybe new to the TV market, but they are certainly not new to CRTs.

 

[conjur]

Skip the WEGA....overpriced. I second the notion of finding an HDTV-ready tube set in the $1k range. The support for 480p on your DVDs will be quite an improvement.

 

[anxman69]

I paid $450 for my 27" Wega about a year ago and have never regret it. Beautiful TV.

-Ankur