OT-Advice on buying a new TV

[CL82]

Funny TRest. Like the avatar.

 

[Fishy]

This is what I own . . . XBR Link. If you're serious about your TV, and I'm guessing you are, you'll go with this one. You can probably finance it if you're too poor to buy it outright. Go big or go home.

That's a cute TV - I might put one in the laundry room for the housekeeper to watch while she's ironing my socks. (Not that I ever wear them twice, I just like having her on the payroll.)

Personally, I don't like to squint when I'm standing in the back of the family room, so I went big with our set.

 

[Frank Ivy]

Personally, I don't like to squint when I'm standing in the back of the family room, so I went big with our set.

We looked at that, but there was no way to fit it in our double wide without ripping out the dogs room.

 

[Chin Diesel]

We looked at that, but there was no way to fit it in our double wide without ripping out the dogs room.

Typical over the top Frank Ivy post right there.

Couldn't have a "regular" trailer. No, that's beneath Frank Ivy. For Frank Ivy, only a double wide is good enough to brag about on the internet.

 

[TRest]

Funny TRest. Like the avatar.

I love me some Conspiracy Kitty.

 

[CTMike]

My only advice, never buy an HDMI cable from a big box retailer.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20056502-1/why-all-hdmi-cables-are-the-same/

I'm not sure the type of cable mentioned in the quoted blurb, but if Best Buy will gouge you on HDMI, they are probably gouging you on the other cables you are purchasing. Do your homework on perpipherals too, and then go to newegg.com

Excellent, excellent advice. Personally I have bought a ton of stuff from monoprice.com - just about every cable or adapter under the sun, for very reasonable prices. Terrific experience each time I order there, and they generally arrive sooner than quoted arrival time.

Also, back to the TV- don't sweat it too much. It's hard to get a really shatty TV based on what you are checking out. Every manufacturer is going to have the occasional dud, but that's modern electronics for ya. Pull the trigger and start enjoying your new screen!

 

[Fishy]

Amazon makes a great line of no bull s*** cables and chargers under the AmazonBasics brand.

You can buy a 2-pack of HDMI cables for $10, an iOS-device 30-pin connector for $9, memory cards, chargers, etc., etc.

 

[DaddyChoc]

If you're not setting up a home theater, be careful of Vizio. The sound quality is not good. In fact, I'd recommend getting a speaker bar if you're not going all out with a system.

my Vizio 47" 240 Hz has great sound... of course a sound bar would make any tv sound BETTER

 

[TRest]

I just got a Samsung 46 LCD, and have found my old-school ZBOX sound bar doesn't seem to work with it. By connecting the audio out to the zbox, the tv volume controls are disabled. And I can't control the volume with the cable remote, so far I can only control volume with the knob on the back of the unit.

I figured this has turned into an AV forum, so what the hell.

 

[NHUConnfan]

I have a small little LED, 23" Vizio...but also my electricity bill is super low compared to my friends who don't have an LED TV. And the picture quality is just absolutely stunning.

 

[zls44]

That's a cute TV - I might put one in the laundry room for the housekeeper to watch while she's ironing my socks. (Not that I ever wear them twice, I just like having her on the payroll.)

Personally, I don't like to squint when I'm standing in the back of the family room, so I went big with our set.

You would go with a projection HD screen, wouldn't you, you old idiot.

 

[zls44]

Also, if you buy a TV that costs more than $900, and you're just using the speakers it comes with, YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG.

The crappiest surround-system-in-a-box is less than $100 and is a million times better than the stock speakers. Suggestion: bump the TV you're looking at down a few inches, and take the $$ you save on that and put it into a surround system. You won't notice the picture size difference nearly as much as you'll notice the sound difference.

Plus, any proper sound system will terrify the neighbors from something as basic as the menu music for Up, which is always fun.

 

[CTMike]

Personally, I wouldn't be afraid to buy used audio equipment if you can verify it's in good working order. I have a pretty basic 5.1 surround sound system that's 10 years old at this point... probably next to worthless... but, it's set up correctly, and damn can it sound fine. Not high end fine, but good enough for what it is.

 

[NHUConnfan]

Personally, I wouldn't be afraid to buy used audio equipment if you can verify it's in good working order. I have a pretty basic 5.1 surround sound system that's 10 years old at this point... probably next to worthless... but, it's set up correctly, and damn can it sound fine. Not high end fine, but good enough for what it is.

A family friend gave me these boss speakers he found at a dump. All it needed was a good stereo (which is probably also worthless since it's so old). Thing is powerful and awesome!

 

[zls44]

Theres not a whole lot going on technically with speakers. If you hook them up and they sound great, theyre probably fine going forward.

 

[8893]

Question:

Do I need to have a smart TV if I want to use Apple TV? If not, is there any reason for me to pay up for a smart TV if I plan to use Apple TV in any event? Won't I get all the web-browsing capability from Apple TV, even if I don't have a smart TV?

 

[uchusky32]

Sony or Samsung thats it!

 

[Fishy]

Question:

Do I need to have a smart TV if I want to use Apple TV? If not, is there any reason for me to pay up for a smart TV if I plan to use Apple TV in any event? Won't I get all the web-browsing capability from Apple TV, even if I don't have a smart TV?

No - just an HD TV.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[8893]

No - just an HD TV.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Thanks.

I'm amazed at how confusing this TV market is, and how hard it is to find something with only the features I need/want, without paying for things I don't want/need.

So, previously I was thinking I had to have a smart TV. In the size range I'm considering (55" and up), it seems that almost all of the smart TV options come with 3D, among other things I don't want, and the price automatically jumps almost $1,000.oo (or more) for the models I'm considering. If Apple TV only costs $100, and it allows any HDTV to become a smart TV, aren't I better off just looking for the best non-3D, non-smart TV and saving the dough? Just want to make sure I'm not missing some other benefit (besides TV-specific apps that come with certain smart TVs).

 

[Dogbreath2U]

I got a Roku XS that will connect netflix, amazon, and hbo go for streaming. I have no idea how it compares to Apple TV...just another option. This one allows for wired internet connection as well as wifi.

 

[CTMike]

Almost always better off getting the TV without bells and whistles, and adding the bells and whistles that you choose. Apple TV, Roku, PS3, XBox360 are all good options depending on your needs.

 

[Fishy]

Thanks.

I'm amazed at how confusing this TV market is, and how hard it is to find something with only the features I need/want, without paying for things I don't want/need.

So, previously I was thinking I had to have a smart TV. In the size range I'm considering (55" and up), it seems that almost all of the smart TV options come with 3D, among other things I don't want, and the price automatically jumps almost $1,000.oo (or more) for the models I'm considering. If Apple TV only costs $100, and it allows any HDTV to become a smart TV, aren't I better off just looking for the best non-3D, non-smart TV and saving the dough? Just want to make sure I'm not missing some other benefit (besides TV-specific apps that come with certain smart TVs).

It is baffling.

I have a Samsung SmartTV and an Apple TV. If I use one of them, it's the Apple TV - I just find the Smart TV thing clunky and useless. I have 22,000 things in my house that will go online and tell me the news or weather...I do not need a half-assed app on my tv to do it.

I do have a 3D TV....that is another feature I don't use.

 

[Catsailor]

I found it difficult to compare TVs in a store setting, too many variables though you'd think the opposite. Now that I have lived with my choices for over a year I have a more solid opinion.

I had been a Sony consumer for 40 years and last year I needed to buy two TVs. Research led me to choose between Panasonic and Samung as highest rated, Sony was third.

I was primarily interested in the best available picture quality, which is somewhat subjective, and also important was attractive design, and reliability.

I chose a Samsung 32" LED for bedroom and 50" Samsung Plasma as the main TV for the family room.

I'm happy with both however I MUCH prefer the plasma picture over the LED.

LED has advantages but picture quality isn't one of them. Yes it's sharp, perhaps too sharp, and it has lost the subtle tonal-transition nuances which make for a smooth realistic and stunning picture. For picture quality plasma is king. I don't use the 3-D feature or other PIA features so I realize I over paid for crap I didn't want and probably won't ever use. I just want a killer picture and this Plasma delivers. Had I to do over would have purchased two Samsung plasmas however, at the time, smallest plasma was larger than I thought I needed for the bedroom.

Maybe LED has improved since my purchase. If not, go plasma.

 

[TheChamps990411]

I have a vizio 42 inch 1080p res in my bedroom. I know that cable boxes run at only 1080i and i noticed that if you watch a football game in hd it looks a little pixely and not crystal clear. im using hdmi and im problably being picky but this drives me nuts because my blu rays looks so crisp and clear as does my playstation. is this just the norm for all tvs or is there a way to make the picture look better?

 

[Chin Diesel]

So, you'r viewing in the bedroom sucks?

 

[upstater]

I have a vizio 42 inch 1080p res in my bedroom. I know that cable boxes run at only 1080i and i noticed that if you watch a football game in hd it looks a little pixely and not crystal clear. im using hdmi and im problably being picky but this drives me nuts because my blu rays looks so crisp and clear as does my playstation. is this just the norm for all tvs or is there a way to make the picture look better?

I think you'll probably find a much bigger difference in the refresh rate. If your TV has a top rate, you probably won't see the difference between 1080(x) etc.

 

[klutch.xls]

Your cable company is compressing the signal. You'd get a better picture watching the game over the air with an antenna.

 

[jleves]

Your cable company is compressing the signal. You'd get a better picture watching the game over the air with an antenna.

^ this. OTA is much better, but depending on how much they have to compress, it could make a big difference.

And for the record while your TV is listed as 1080p, it will be able to do native 1080i, 720p, 480p or 480i out of the box and it will recognize any of those automatically.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

I'm pretty sure tv isn't broadcast in 1080p. To be honest I think the majority of hd programming is 720p and not even 1080i.

Some day we'll get there!

Btw what tvs are people liking these days? I bought a 55" Samsung about two years ago and I wish I had gotten the comparable model in an LG. I think they look the best.

 

[jleves]

I'm pretty sure tv isn't broadcast in 1080p. To be honest I think the majority of hd programming is 720p and not even 1080i.

Some day we'll get there!

Btw what tvs are people liking these days? I bought a 55" Samsung about two years ago and I wish I had gotten the comparable model in an LG. I think they look the best.

I'm pretty sure there is no broadcast TV @1080p other than video on demand from some providers. 1080i and 780p are about equivalent in quality. 1080i sends half of the 1920x1080 pixels, then the other half of the 1920 x 1080 pixels 60 times a second so you end up with 30 total frames every second. 780p sends all of the 1280 x 780 pixels at once 60 times a second so you get 60 lower density frames per second. It ends up being about the same but 720p is better for sports because there's less flicker and 1080i is better for movies or slow stuff because it looks richer.

BluRay and some VOD are 1080p which is a full 60 1920x1080 frames sent every second (obviously a lot more bandwidth is needed) and is obviously and by far better than the first two and why BluRay movies look so good.

But we'll soon get to 4k or UltraHD (UHD) which will be 60 3840x2160 (aka 2160p) sent every second. You will need a big TV to see the difference and seeing how broadcast hasn't gotten to 1080p, you won't see this kind of programming anytime soon. You will need a new UHD monitor and a BluRay source to take advantage of it and if you're more than 10 feet away, your eye can't discern the difference until you get to an 80" or larger display.

edit - A little math:
720p =1280*720*60 or 55,296k pixels per second sent and displayed
1080i = 1920*1080*30 or 62,208k pixels per second sent and displayed
1080p = 1920*1080*60 or 124,416k pixels per second sent and displayed (now you can know why it looks better)
UHD/4k/2160p = 3840*2160*60 or 497,664k pixels per second sent and displayed (that's half a billion dots per second!!!)

Hence 720p and 1080i are really close, 1080p is twice as good and UHD is 4x better than 1080p.