TVs

We're thinking about getting a new TV. Anyone want to recommend a set 40-42" where the price tag won't put me in shock?

The prices keep coming down.

When I shopped for mine back a year or so ago, I was frustrated with the displays in the store. They don't have the settings all the same on all the tvs, so you can't compare apples to apples. I ended up doing a lot of research online and buying a brand I'm feeling pretty loyal to these days that also got a pretty good review online.

The models change so often that it won't help you for me to recommend anything based on my 1.5 year old research.

Regarding size and resolution, it's helpful to look at the charts out there that show what the human eye can see from different distances, and then compare that to your normal viewing distance. For example, this chart points out that with a 40 inch screen, 1080P doesn't become visible over 720P until you are sitting around 7-8 feet from the screen. I personally sit around 10-13 feet from the screen, so 1080P isn't needed for me at that size. (You may only be able to find 1080P in the 40" sizes. I think 720P doesn't become common until you get down to the 32" screens.)

The bigger the screen, and the closer you sit, the higher the resolution you need.

The only recommendation I can give you is to read the reviews at cnet and other similar sites. I can say that I love my Panasonic LCD.

I just did a quick search at Cnet, and even though I hate Sony, this TV looks like it has potential. They didn't review it, but customers gave it 4 stars, and it's "only" $650.

I love Sony, why do you hate Sony?

Because they hate standards and they go out of their way to destroy existing standards in order to gain market share with their proprietary devices. The consumer always loses when they start another format war. Once or twice in their history, they have had a better product, and the war made sense, but usually they just start a war and the consumers are caught in the middle. I blame them for the drawer full of compact flash digital camera memory cards that I no longer use. My old camera, my new camera, my old cards, and my new cards are all non-Sony devices, but the war they started with their stupid MemoryStick destroyed the memory card standard that existed up until then.

I wrote a really long rambling post and decided to delete it, but their wikipedia page has a big section on all the format wars they have started in order to destroy existing standards to gain market share with their proprietary formats.

HDTV or Plasma or ???

I have been watching my 40" Sondy HD for a year and a half and I love. Even non HD shows (like soccer) turn out pretty good on it. I picked it up at Walmart for $800 at the time so it's probably right around $7.49 now.

I was just walking about Sams Club today and was floored at the TV prices - they've gone down SO much! Looks like hubby is gonna get a nice fathers day present this year.

This one. I've had my eye on it for some time.

After my old large screen broke I've been using a small 19 inch for two years waiting for prices to lower.

:blush:
[SIZE=1]My capacity for delayed gratification is embarrassing.[/SIZE]

On sale now for $599. $749 regular price.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_05775509000P?keyword=P42X1&sLevel=0&psid=65186704&sid=ISx20070515x00001a&OVMTC=Broad&site=&creative=3769784815&OVKEY=p42x1

Pete Zicato;637050 wrote:

We're thinking about getting a new TV. Anyone want to recommend a set 40-42" where the price tag won't put me in shock?

This month's Consumers Reports. The cover story is answers to your questions.

Every time I've tried to follow Consumer Report's advice on buying an appliance, it hasn't worked. Most of the models have been discontinued before the issue even hits the stands.

Yeah, but they do give good buying advice and a bit of education about the products.

skysidhe;637162 wrote:

This one.

[snip]

On sale now for $599. $749 regular price.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_05775509000P?keyword=P42X1&sLevel=0&psid=65186704&sid=ISx20070515x00001a&OVMTC=Broad&site=&creative=3769784815&OVKEY=p42x1

I'm not sure about a plasma. The family room where this would go gets a a fair amount of afternoon sun - especially in the summer. Are the newer plasmas better in this respect?

I don't get the paper version, but I pay yearly for access to the web site. I look at professional reviews, but I like to personal recommendations as well. Sometimes the reviewers pay too much attention to features and not enough on the main use.

Good luck.

Damn. Hoped Eddie Izzard would feature in this thread,
He's looking very fuckable on the cover of the new Radio Times, promoting Sport Relief.

Yeah, I would too.

You'd have to share with me, SG. Jinx might be taking some of that action at some point too, I'm not sure.

Pete Zicato;637301 wrote:

I'm not sure about a plasma. The family room where this would go gets a a fair amount of afternoon sun - especially in the summer. Are the newer plasmas better in this respect?

Mine does too but I plan to close the blinds since I'll just be using it to watch movies.


I liked some of the specs.

100,000 hour panel life before the panel brightness decreases to half.

Lead free construction.

AR filter for reduced glare.

Wide viewing angle.

Blur free fast motion images.

---------------------------------

A higher resolution is out of my price range.

I have not SEEN this tv but I am hoping not to have to buy another one for a looong time ....or ever.

glatt;637271 wrote:

Every time I've tried to follow Consumer Report's advice on buying an appliance, it hasn't worked. Most of the models have been discontinued before the issue even hits the stands.

Never read anything to be told what to do. Never. Always read the underlying reasons why to learn how to perform a rational analysis.

Decades ago, I was looking at a ten speed. None of the bicycles listed that month existed in any store. But what become obvious were the parts and subsystems that made a bicycle better or worse. In every case, SunTour was a benchmark name.

Still use that same bicycle today. Learning the whys from Consumer Reports, I immediately identified that Schwinn was crap and that this bike, for a little more money, was massively superior.

Learn why certain TVs are better than others. Learn what to look for. Learn which questions are damning.

For example, learn that some TVs do not properly display a moving figure sharply. That moving figure 'ghosts' across the screen. Then go to places where the video does not 'hide' (mask) that defect.

After a lot of comparing, and reading opinions and reviews online, Popdigr settled on a Proscan in 42". Almost all the reviews trashed the remote. It's like you need a rifle scope on that thing to change channels. But the picture was the best he could find. He couldn't be happier with it.

glatt;637081 wrote:

My old camera, my new camera, my old cards, and my new cards are all non-Sony devices, but the war they started with their stupid MemoryStick destroyed the memory card standard that existed up until then.

I wrote a really long rambling post and decided to delete it, but their wikipedia page has a big section on all the format wars they have started in order to destroy existing standards to gain market share with their proprietary formats.

Thanks for answering glatt, sorry I missed it in the crash of my Sony laptop, lol...
I still love Sony (because of how well the stuff works, not because of how well it breaks tw), although I'm not a fan of Apple because of the proprietary crap so I see your point clearly. I have 2 vaios and 3 cameras that all use memory sticks though, so I'm in the opposite boat.

I've bought a fair amount of Sony stuff over the years. Mostly audio equipment. And for the most part I've had few complaints about the quality. I think their stuff is no better or worse than most other big electronics companies.

Sony's had a number of missteps lately. Here's the latest:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/190539/the_ps3_problem_how_sony_got_scooped_by_its_own_users.html

What Sony was once famous for now appear on products with Apple logos.

Akio Morita and his band of six top engineers (management) were the reason for Sony's spectacular successes. They all retired.

Pete Zicato;637050 wrote:

We're thinking about getting a new TV. Anyone want to recommend a set 40-42" where the price tag won't put me in shock?

Pioneer has been making the best plasmas for years, with Panasonic coming a close second. Around the end of 2008, Pioneer shut down its panel operations, and started sub-contracting the work to Panasonic. Apparently there's been a degree of transfer of technology, and the Panasonic plasmas have risen in excellence.

I'd recommend the Panasonic TC-P42X1 as fitting your description. You mentioned your concern over glare, and this model has their newer anti-glare screen. When you look at this model, make sure it has the "X1" designation, as this is the quicker response model, making it excellent for gaming and sports.

It is a 720p, which is sufficient for broadcast HD. While the resolution is less than Blue Ray, on a 42" television you aren't likely to notice the difference beyond 7' of distance.

One of the main things I was looking for was a set which had a decent analogue tuner. Many of the HD sets have analogue included as an afterthought, and it looks horrible.

I can't stand the limited viewing angles of LCD televisions, and replacing the cathode for backlighting can be a harrowing experience.

If you decide to go with the Panasonic, look around for pricing. I've seen excellent deals online, but I picked mine up last year locally for about $539. The pricing is all over the place, you just have to look and wait a bit. Dell had them for the same price not too long ago.

Here's a thread covering both the 42" & 50" X1s:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1124476

If you're into tweaking things, this thread goes indepth into accessing the service menu and calibrating the set after break-in:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1128487

I've no complaints with the set, but I'd surely like to find a way to keep some of the rugrats that wander in here from touching the screen. They seem to lose all conscious self-control when wound up.

I just got this one from New Egg. For $609.98 with shipping.
Works for me, but the book is 70 pages.