YATVT: This a good DLP TV?

[Kaido]

linkage

My brothers and I are looking to split a nice TV for my parents for Christmas this year. That looks decent. Looking for either a plasma or dlp like that in the $1k-ish price range. Comments are a little bit sketchy, but nothing is perfect. Whatcha think?

 

[RossMAN]

For an extra $91 the Samsung 46" is definitely better.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000F2P31E/

 

[RossMAN]

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=671006

 

[yllus]

I have the slightly older model, the Samsung HL-R4264W.

On the one hand, it's great to use and look at. On the other hand, I had to have its entire innards replaced last week because it was dying. The TV is 8 months old.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
For an extra $91 the Samsung 46" is definitely better.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000F2P31E/

Props to the Deal Man! btw we gotta chat about the HTPC sometime.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Get the 46"

From what I 've read at AVSForum and user reviews elsewhere, the 42" is the one bad model of the HLS series. Picture quality is just not as good as the other HLS models, or last year's HLR models.

If your parents don't play console games or plan to get a blu-ray player, the HLR model closeouts are cheap and excellent. If they're all gone then I can recommend every other HLS model except this one.

My brother has had a 61" HLR 1080p model for a year and still loves it, while I have a 50" HLS model (also 1080p) and am happy with it too.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
No.

From what I 've read at AVSForum and user reviews elsewhere, the 42" is the one bad model of the HLS series. Picture quality is just not as good as the other HLS models, or last year's HLR models.

If your parents don't play console games or plan to get a blu-ray player, the HLR model closeouts are cheap and excellent. If they're all gone then I can recommend every other HLS model except this one.

My brother has had a 61" HLR 1080p model for a year and still loves it, while I have a 50" HLS model (also 1080p) and am happy with it too.

Well for $91 more I'll definately go for the bigger 46" model. Mostly they watch DVD movies and SD cable. How does SD look on this beast?

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=671006

Good reading materials, thanks! How would you setup OTA HD with that?

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: yllus
I have the slightly older model, the Samsung HL-R4264W.

On the one hand, it's great to use and look at. On the other hand, I had to have its entire innards replaced last week because it was dying. The TV is 8 months old.

Yuck, how much did that cost?

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: RossMAN
For an extra $91 the Samsung 46" is definitely better.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000F2P31E/

Props to the Deal Man! btw we gotta chat about the HTPC sometime.

Yep, weekends are best for me

Have you added me to your Skype buddy list? My Skype username is RossyRoss

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: RossMAN
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=671006

Good reading materials, thanks! How would you setup OTA HD with that?

Connect antenna to TV? Since it has a built in HD tuner that's all you need to do.

 

[yllus]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: yllus
I have the slightly older model, the Samsung HL-R4264W.

On the one hand, it's great to use and look at. On the other hand, I had to have its entire innards replaced last week because it was dying. The TV is 8 months old.

Yuck, how much did that cost?

It was before the warranty was up so nothing. It'd have cost me $500+ otherwise. Needless to say, I wasn't impressed. Fausto's had problems with his Samsung DLP TV as well.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: RossMAN
For an extra $91 the Samsung 46" is definitely better.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000F2P31E/

Props to the Deal Man! btw we gotta chat about the HTPC sometime.

Yep, weekends are best for me

Have you added me to your Skype buddy list? My Skype username is RossyRoss

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: RossMAN
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=671006

Good reading materials, thanks! How would you setup OTA HD with that?

Connect antenna to TV? Since it has a built in HD tuner that's all you need to do.

Nice! I have never done OTA HD before. Is there a recommend antenna?

 

[Kaido]

There any downsides to playing games on this? (burn-in, etc.) I am thinking about hooking them up with a PS3 or 360/HD-DVD in the future for family gatherings.

 

[RossMAN]

FWIW Samsung is very popular and rightfully so, I almost bought a Samsung then discovered Mitsubishi then Toshiba.

In the end I bought a Toshiba Cinema Series 50HMX96 for $1,600 with free delivery from a local a/v dealer
http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/televisions/product.asp?model=50hmx96

Value wise it's hard to beat the Samsung 46" DLP for $1199 with free shipping.

Do you or your brothers have a cc which offers free extended warranty such as CitiBank or Amex?

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: RossMAN
For an extra $91 the Samsung 46" is definitely better.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000F2P31E/

Props to the Deal Man! btw we gotta chat about the HTPC sometime.

Yep, weekends are best for me

Have you added me to your Skype buddy list? My Skype username is RossyRoss

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: RossMAN
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=671006

Good reading materials, thanks! How would you setup OTA HD with that?

Connect antenna to TV? Since it has a built in HD tuner that's all you need to do.

Nice! I have never done OTA HD before. Is there a recommend antenna?

The Zenith Silver Sensor is very popular.

 

[yllus]

For HD antennas, I'd hit up the Channel Master CM4221. Really excellent antenna, not too large (but large enough to require being mounted outside), proven performance. Have one myself and on my recommendation two coworkers have purchased it as well.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
FWIW Samsung is very popular and rightfully so, I almost a Samsung then discovered Mitsubishi then Toshiba.

In the end I bought a Toshiba Cinema Series 50HMX96 for $1,600 with free delivery from a local a/v dealer
http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/televisions/product.asp?model=50hmx96

Value wise it's hard to beat the Samsung 46" DLP for $1199 with free shipping.

Do you or your brothers have a cc which offers free extended warranty such as CitiBank or Amex?

I have a CitiCard, the cashback one, but I don't think it does extended warranty. Might be time to sign up with Amex How long do you think it will be at that price? We can hide the TV in the garage until Christmas if needed.

Also, do they make corner stands that would fit this? The current 32" CRT is in a corner next to a fireplace, but the wood stand is a piece of junk and I'd like to replace it with a nicer model as well.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: yllus
For HD antennas, I'd hit up the Channel Master CM4221. Really excellent antenna, not too large (but large enough to require being mounted outside), proven performance. Have one myself and on my recommendation two coworkers have purchased it as well.

Hmm, they live in a condo and I'm not sure if an outdoor antenna would be allowed. Would the Zenith work indoors?

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: Kaido
I have a CitiCard, the cashback one, but I don't think it does extended warranty. Might be time to sign up with Amex How long do you think it will be at that price? We can hide the TV in the garage until Christmas if needed.

Is your CitiBank a Visa or MC?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: Kaido
Well for $91 more I'll definately go for the bigger 46" model. Mostly they watch DVD movies and SD cable. How does SD look on this beast?

Mine is the 1080p version vs. 720p, but comcast SD looks fine (I leave it as 4:3 with bars on the sides).

DVDs looked good even from a years-old Sony DVD player that's 480i (non-progressive) using an s-video cable. $5 component cables improved the picture a little over s-video but s-video was fine.

You really don't need to spend $100 on an upscaling DVD player unless it's a minor expense to you. It does help, but I only justified it since I don't spend money on much of anything else.

Also, do they make corner stands that would fit this? The current 32" CRT is in a corner next to a fireplace,

FYI the DLP weighs 40 pounds _less_ than that 32" TV so most any stand you find will support it.

 

[yllus]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: yllus
For HD antennas, I'd hit up the Channel Master CM4221. Really excellent antenna, not too large (but large enough to require being mounted outside), proven performance. Have one myself and on my recommendation two coworkers have purchased it as well.

Hmm, they live in a condo and I'm not sure if an outdoor antenna would be allowed. Would the Zenith work indoors?

Most of us who are pretty into the whole HD over the air thing aren't fond on indoor antennas like the Zenith Silver Sensor. It's worth a shot though.

Here in Canada where we really just aim to point our antennas at semi-local American cities like Buffalo, we need a bit more range.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: Kaido
I have a CitiCard, the cashback one, but I don't think it does extended warranty. Might be time to sign up with Amex How long do you think it will be at that price? We can hide the TV in the garage until Christmas if needed.

Is your CitiBank a Visa or MC?

MC.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons

Originally posted by: Kaido
Well for $91 more I'll definately go for the bigger 46" model. Mostly they watch DVD movies and SD cable. How does SD look on this beast?

Mine is the 1080p version vs. 720p, but comcast SD looks fine (I leave it as 4:3 with bars on the sides).

DVDs looked good even from a years-old Sony DVD player that's 480i (non-progressive) using an s-video cable. $5 component cables improved the picture a little over s-video but s-video was fine.

You really don't need to spend $100 on an upscaling DVD player unless it's a minor expense to you. It does help, but I only justified it since I don't spend money on much of anything else.

I am hooking them up with a modded Xbox, so it will handle upscaling for DVDs, Xvid movies from the xNAS server, and so on. Plus some gaming and stuff, assuming it doesn't have burn-in issues.

Just curious, how bad would a VCR look? They still have a small tape collection.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: yllus

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: yllus
I have the slightly older model, the Samsung HL-R4264W.

On the one hand, it's great to use and look at. On the other hand, I had to have its entire innards replaced last week because it was dying. The TV is 8 months old.

Yuck, how much did that cost?

It was before the warranty was up so nothing. It'd have cost me $500+ otherwise. Needless to say, I wasn't impressed. Fausto's had problems with his Samsung DLP TV as well.

Actually Fausto's faulty set was a CRT RPTV. They replaced it with a DLP set for very little money.

FWIW, I have had a Samsung DLP set for a year with no problems, and love it.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: Kaido
I am hooking them up with a modded Xbox, so it will handle upscaling for DVDs, Xvid movies from the xNAS server, and so on. Plus some gaming and stuff, assuming it doesn't have burn-in issues.

Just curious, how bad would a VCR look? They still have a small tape collection.

DLPs can't be burned-in.

I don't have a VCR hooked up right now, but it won't look any worse than on the old set, only bad in comparison to DVDs and HDTV.

FYI for a stand, depth on these is about 18" and weight is 70-80 pounds, vs. 110+ pounds for their old 32" set. So any stand rated for a 32" CRT TV will support it.