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Ye who know smart TVs well: which of these 3?

Obsoleet

Obsoleet

Platinum Member
I'm looking at these 3 tvs (feel free to suggest others this size and under $500USD if you wish), and am mostly interested in which would likely have the most responsive smart TV functionality.

Namely Netflix. My old Samsung PN50B650 plasma is a little sluggish in the smart tv area (I use a jailbroken ATV2 anyway), and this one won't be getting a Roku/ATV. It's for a spare room so needs a responsive smart tv featureset.

http://www.samsung.com/us/video/tvs/UN40EH5300FXZA-features
http://store.vizio.com/led-lcd-hdtvs/m401ia3.html
http://shop.panasonic.com/shop/model/TC-39AS530U

I have no brand loyalty, but have not been very happy with my Samsung plasma (other than the spectacular IQ, but I don't go into the reasons why). I also have a soft spot for Panasonic products, mainly because as a child in the 80s we had their electronics in our home and they lasted forever. Also, my Panasonic Lumix has been very solid (I recognize it's a camera, not a TV). But my personal experience with Panasonic products has beaten out my Samsung stuff (including my GS3 smartphone, like my tv also not really a big fanboy of it either). That does matter to me a little bit. Don't really like rewarding a company for not meeting my requirements in quality..

All that said, a friend of mine noted that Samsung may use their own SoC for their smartTV features? May be more responsive on this newer model than in the past?

I wanted a Vizio with the 3.5mm headphone output they used to always have but this one doesn't seem to have it. 🙁
The price on the Panasonic is a little higher than where I want it to be, <$500, though no street pricing as of yet either. If under $500 on the market, it would probably win the pick as it's also the newest model of the 3.
 
My personal experience with a Vizio M651d-a2 that I bought just a half year ago from Costco is that the netflix app is terribly slow. That is, the responsiveness of the GUI is very very sluggish and it takes the app almost about 30 seconds to present me with the netflix splash page. Navigating netflix is sluggish afterwards. This is with a Comcast 50Mb service that is rock steady. I ended up getting a Roku 3 and it is awesome so I must assume the problem is with Vizio somewhere.

BTW, I still really like the Vizio because I actually do like 3D movies and the passive 3D is great if you have kids (or get headaches with the active 3D).
 
Thanks for that. Definitely makes me question the Vizio, I'm going to try to find it locally and give it a spin.

Doing some searching for the best smart tvs, I found this was highly recommended http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

They brag on it saying it's dualcore. It probably is pretty snappy. Within the size and price requirements (~40", <$500USD). I never trusted LG, but this one is getting moved up to the top of the list with the unreleased Panasonic.
 
Ooops, I made a big mistake. Actually, the Vizio TV's responsiveness is very good. Not quite as snappy as the Roku 3 but close enough. It is the Netflix app on my BD player (a Panasonic BDT220) that is totally unacceptable. It gets a bit confusing when you have three devices that are Netflix-enabled.

I ended up getting the Roku 3 anyway because I couldn't get the HDMI-ARC function to work like I wanted it to between the Vizio TV and my Denon receiver. I'm not sure if this was a problem with my expectations or competency in setting it up. In any event, I had a bitch of a time controlling things properly (although I did get the TV to send audio to the Denon!) so I just went with the Roku.
 
I like Samsung's interface better than any other Smart TV I've looked at. Even better than my Sony. I personally use a console for my TV apps, but if I were buying a TV for which the main usage would be the smart TV features I'd look at Samsung first. Everything just seems smoother and better looking on the interface. The Samsung TV you linked uses a dual core CPU which I believe is a bit faster than options offered in competitor's TVs. Sony and Panasonic TVs are fussy with some file types played back from USB (if that's a usage you may have in mind), and LG is up there with Samsung in regards to codec support and playing back various formats.

I have heard though that some Samsung TVs have shipped with a panel that isn't a real Samsung. The way to tell I'm told is look at the back of the TV where the version number is and if it has the following, it's a real Samsung panel in the TV. I don't know if there is a quality difference because of this.

SS01 /02,03,04/ or SQ01 (02,03,04) S-PVA from Samsung
image
 
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I've got a new list of TVs ranked by my current interest level in them. Opinions/thoughts welcome. The LG is currently my top choice because it has dualcore and reviews on Amazon say how fast it is for Netflix. #2 and #3 are interchangeable, Cnet said the 32" Vizio is the best 32" tv out there.. but I've been instructed to focus more on ~40" tvs.

1. LG 39LN5700 39" $480
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BB9ORT4/...SIN=B00BB9ORT4

2. Vizio E320i-A0 32" $290
http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/vizio-e320i-a0/4014-6482_7-35471751.html

3. Vizio M401i-A3 40" $500 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CI3BP06/ref=cm_sw_su_dp

4. Panasonic AS530 39" $580 http://shop.panasonic.com/shop/model/TC-39AS530U

5. Samsung UN40EH5300 40" $460 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Heading out to Costco, Frys, BB in a little bit. I doubt I can really make any decision before seeing some of these.
 
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The 2014 M Series Vizio's have been getting some great early reviews at AVS. If I was in the market for that price range it's where I'd go.
 
The new Visio announced at ces are pretty awesome on paper, but we'll have to wait for hands on reviews to see if they are any good. They ditched 3D though.
 
quikah said:
The new Visio announced at ces are pretty awesome on paper, but we'll have to wait for hands on reviews to see if they are any good. They ditched 3D though.
Click to expand...

Yeah, my theory on that is Vizio is a brand that is popular because of their value. The people interested in value don't see any in 3D and aren't buying 3D movies. They are streaming and maybe buying one or two blu-rays and perhaps playing a game console on it. So dropping it isn't a bad idea for their target market. Helps keep the costs a bit lower than Samsung, Sony, and LG.

To the OP, I still like the Samsung. It has a dual core CPU as well(not just the LG). The interface for the TV apps is simply a lot better done on a Samsung to me. The following review is based only on the smart TV experience comparing Sony, Samsung, and LG. It's a couple months old but still relevant as the interfaces for each TV has not changed since the time of publication.

http://www.digitalspy.com/tech/news/a502201/2013-smart-tv-shootout-samsung-vs-sony-vs-lg.html
 
cmdrdredd, I think you're thinking of the updated model here http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-UN32F5...vs-un40eh5300/

The Vizios look nice but there are some horror stories out there. I took a look at the Samsung and Vizio at Costco, they didn't have remotes to tinker around with but I'm going to BB or Frys to see if I can get some hands on.

Re: 3d, we don't care about that. I never enjoyed 3D movies in the theater and doubt I would at home. We mostly stream Netflix and use OTA antenna. I'm glad Vizio removed it from their product line, I would rather either have a lower price or improved quality elsewhere. I think you guys are right, for the type of buyer like me, the move makes sense. I also agree with Vizio's stance on 3D (they haven't abandoned it), they're working solely on it working without glasses.

There's probably a lot of people like me out there, whose only interest in TV is to watch "Disappeared" or "Behind Mansion Walls". I find most programming to be total crap anymore that's meant to be entertaining. The newer Star Wars movies, Transformers, Jersey Shore or whatever else I found to be pretty bad. Not interested, but once in a while if we really hunt and watch a lot of crap we'll find a good movie like "Get the beloved patriot".
Everyone's tastes are different but I'm less interested in 4K, 3D ect and would prefer just having better content to actually watch. The most solid, well-supported smart TV implementation is by far our most important aspect so we can get to that content with less frustration.

I'm going to be monitoring for deals on the dualcore Samsung UN40F5500, the Panasonic TC-39AS530U coming out next month, Vizio M401i-A3 and LG 39LN5700.
 
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Could be it. I went to samsung's site and verified that the 5500 has the dual core CPU inside. I wonder what difference it makes.

I do agree that often times the programming available on TV is pretty bad. Reality shows have ruined nearly every channel out there. Generally I only watch documentaries and nature programs these days. I do catch the American Pickers and Pawn Stars stuff because there is a lot of information on the stuff they show you and I like history. I also watch a ton of movies so I understand how having a good streaming experience can be important to someone.
 
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Thanks for pointing that out though. I didn't realize the dual core Samsung existed until you did.

Usually the streaming/smartTV features don't matter much to me, the main TV has a ATV2 with XBMC and so forth. For the spare set I don't want to mess with anything though, no extra wires and no extra remotes. The smart features on my current Samsung PN50B650 are pretty useless, but by now I would hope manufacturers at least have a snappy Netflix experience. Focusing on these dual core LG/SS sets as extra insurance. The Vizio/Panasonic are still on the radar for sure, and are probably alright, but both the SS/LG are advertising about how fast they are. So they may well be suitable without adding a Roku/ATV.
 
cmdrdredd said:
Yeah, my theory on that is Vizio is a brand that is popular because of their value. The people interested in value don't see any in 3D and aren't buying 3D movies. They are streaming and maybe buying one or two blu-rays and perhaps playing a game console on it. So dropping it isn't a bad idea for their target market. Helps keep the costs a bit lower than Samsung, Sony, and LG.

To the OP, I still like the Samsung. It has a dual core CPU as well(not just the LG). The interface for the TV apps is simply a lot better done on a Samsung to me. The following review is based only on the smart TV experience comparing Sony, Samsung, and LG. It's a couple months old but still relevant as the interfaces for each TV has not changed since the time of publication.

http://www.digitalspy.com/tech/news/a502201/2013-smart-tv-shootout-samsung-vs-sony-vs-lg.html
Click to expand...

Value is where they got their start but are moving up in the world. Their new reference series looks to rival pretty much anything out there. i have my eye heavily on the 65" model. My theory on why they ditched 3D is very very few people care about it. It needs goofy expensive glasses and just plain doesn't work that well for most movies. I'd rather the money be spent making the 2D picture the best possible.
 
boomhower said:
Value is where they got their start but are moving up in the world. Their new reference series looks to rival pretty much anything out there. i have my eye heavily on the 65" model. My theory on why they ditched 3D is very very few people care about it. It needs goofy expensive glasses and just plain doesn't work that well for most movies. I'd rather the money be spent making the 2D picture the best possible.
Click to expand...

Well I hope they can at least drive the prices of Sony and Samsung down. I own a Sony LCD and it the absolute best LCD outside of 4k that I have seen. It just cost me an arm and a leg. If vizio can impact the market in that way it would be a success in my book. I look forward to seeing what they bring. Should have reviews of their new line in the second half of the ywar .
 
phillyman36 said:
The new Vizios are FALD(full array local dimming). pq should be better. You cn check over here and ask mxpx5678 about the responsiveness of it.

http://www.avsforum.com/t/1510136/2014-vizio-thread-all-models/180

post #198
Click to expand...

Hey thanks for this. I have been searching for 2014 models and coming up empty handed. Looks like one of the new Vizios is on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/VIZIO-E400i-B2.../dp/B00GKKI4Q6

I may have to go with that. I'm going to do some more reading about local dimming (I assume no other TV under $1000 has this?) and maybe I'll just place an order for that. Pretty exciting.
 
Obsoleet said:
Hey thanks for this. I have been searching for 2014 models and coming up empty handed. Looks like one of the new Vizios is on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/VIZIO-E400i-B2.../dp/B00GKKI4Q6

I may have to go with that. I'm going to do some more reading about local dimming (I assume no other TV under $1000 has this?) and maybe I'll just place an order for that. Pretty exciting.
Click to expand...

Local dimming is sometimes called micro dimming or similar names by other manufacturers. It basically allows the lights in the screen to go dark or off when there is dark content at that part of the screen. It works reasonably well to enhance black levels.
 
just got a 46" sammy 6300

It works great (very responsive in most menus) and looks fantastic - like it looks REALLY good. I made sure it had Samsung panel when I bought it. (watch out for the lottery)

Except, the on-screen keyboards built into apps are not able to access USB keyboards, so you end up having to use the shit-tastic on-screen netflix keyboard to search for anything instead of my wireless logitech that works perfectly well whenever you're not in a 3rd party app. I'm ready to call Samsung and Netflix engineers and ask how the hell the setup passed a user experience test.
 
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videogames101 said:
just got a 46" sammy 6300
Click to expand...

My parents just got the same TV. It's nice but out of the box required a little tweaking of the picture. I'm not at all a fan of LCD TV's. They just look too digital for me, not natural at all. Everything worked well with the apps and netflix streaming but streaming from PC did not work. Didn't try the USB option.
 
Thanks so much for your contributions to my search. I even looked into that 46" Sammy just to see what it was about. I'm 90% set on ordering this Vizio E series tonight or tomorrow. Doing a little bit of final research.

When I go to buy something / do a little research this forum NEVER lets me down and never gotten an older/worse product because of it. I'm always made aware of something I'm missing like that Vizio. Very knowledgeable. Big help.
 
Just to update this thread, a few weeks ago I ordered and received my Vizio E400i-B2.

I love it, great tv for the price. I couldn't go for anything else considering it has full array local dimming and nothing else does at this size. Image quality is pretty good for the price too. I'd definitely recommend this as the go-to choice for a bedroom TV. Or a living room TV if you don't really care for TV too much like me or like the appearance of massive mind-melting/numbing TV sets in your living room.
This would be a really good choice for anyone.
 
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