HDTV Purchase

[Jessterw]

Looking to invest in a new TV for the living room soon and I was leaning towards an HDTV enabled unit. Been debating on which brand, form factor and display technology I should go with, and honestly, I'm damn near ignorant of the latest with any of this stuff.

Flat would be nice, but I'm not opposed to something with depth. In terms of size, somewhere between 30" and 40" widescreen (ws would be sorta redundant in this case I guess).

Cost-wise I certainly don't want to break the bank, but I definitely want quality. Upper limit would probably be $2k US, but with a million other things tugging at the wallet I'd prefer to stay a bit under that.

I've always been a RCA and Philips fan in the past, but as I said, not up on who's doing the best units these days. Optionally, we have a number of devices so the more inputs the better, but not a necessity as we already use a switching box.

Any pointers and/or recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks.

[GT98]

I have an RCA (nee Phillps)50in DLP HDTV that I got last year...been pretty happy with it. I think I've seen them as cheap as $1500 bucks these days...

[Jessterw]

Will have to see if I can find one nearby. 50" is a little larger than what I'd want as space is a concern. I've also been less than impressed with the rear projection (assume that one is) displays I've seen. Straight-on they look great, but we have seating that isn't exactly that.

[KvHagedorn]

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=KD34XBR960N&Dept=tvvideo&CategoryName=tv_34%22to36%22TVs

[agallag]

I have a 50" Samsung DLP, and it's fantastic, even when sitting to the side up to 45 degrees from center. The new generation are supposed to be even better. If I were you, I'd get one of these:

http://www.samsung.com/Products/TV/DLPTV/HLR4266WXXAA.asp

42" widescreen, 13" deep. $1799 at BestBuy.

Either that, or wait for SED to come out later this year. It's a flat panel technology based on CRT tech, but there's basically a little CRT for each pixel on the screen. Supposedly cheaper than any other flat panel tech, but also brighter and higher contrast.

[Mehen]

check out something along the lines of a Toshiba 42" DLP

You might also want to check out the 34" WideScreen Toshiba HD CRTs, especially if you want to save a bit of $$.

[KvHagedorn]

Just go look at them. The Sonys are the best looking CRT tubes out there, but you can get a bigger set in a DLP if you want to sacrifice brightness and viewing angle. For picture quality it is really hard to beat the one I linked you to, and you can see it from an angle very well. If you want to save some money, look at this one:

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=KD34XS955N&Dept=tvvideo&CategoryName=tv_34%22to36%22TVs

not as good a warranty (90 days labor vs 2 years) and not as many toys like PIP modes, but still has a good picture.

[Jessterw]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Definitely will be looking around for some of the smaller units mentioned. We just purchased a new TV stand a few months back, so I don't want to get anything too big for it or that would replace it completely. That and I'd rather not have the TV be the biggest thing in the living room

[KvHagedorn]

By the way, don't even bother looking at flat panels unless you want to spend upwards of $2500.00 in this size range. Plasma is a great technology, looks good from an angle, but the sets they try and push on you at the below $2000 range are not so hot. They are EDTV, which means fewer pixels and no HD resolution. Yes, they accept an HD input, but that's not the same thing.. it gets all scaled down to fit the 400-odd by 800-odd pixel screen. We have a Mitsubishi 42" HD plasma in the store that's gorgeous, but retail is $3699.00, and it still has no HD tuner (people usually use them with cable or satellite boxes to get their HD picture)

Sony has a really awesome new line of HDTV LCD flat panels, but they are $2000 for the 26", $2700 for the 32", and $3500 for the 40". A bit more than what you want to spend.

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?CategoryName=hid_tv_BRAVIA&ProductSKU=KDLV40XBR1&INT=sstyle-tv_FlatPanelTVs-catpfeature-KDLV40XBR1

[Jessterw]

I've seen the EDTV models and I've wondered what the point is. So yeah, more apt to buy a CRT model. We just don't watch enough TV or anything to justify spending too much on one. We are avid movie watchers, but again, million other more important things pulling at the wallet.

[Gurm]

DLP. Not CRT... DLP.

Seriously. I am always very impressed by the Samsung DLP's.

[KvHagedorn]

Samsung schmamsung.. can we say QC issues? Mitsubishi is a seriously better product. Best DLPs on the market. Most saleguys even pick them over the Sony SXRDs.

Of course they are a bit more money, and start with a 52" size.

[Gurm]

Of course they are a bit more money, and start with a 52" size.

Bingo.

[GT98]

To highjack this thread....KvH any suggestions for Flat panel LCD's under 30 inches that don't cost an arm and leg? I'm looking at getting one for my Bedroom in the summer and I'm trying to keep it cheap as possible, since its just a secondary TV.

[Jammrock]

With the 1080p DLP chips coming out, you should be able to snag a 720p DLP set pretty cheap in the next couple of months. I'm not a fan of LCD TVs greater than 30" or Plasma's at any size. There are still too many quirks with Plasma, burn-in and set life being key (though much better than it used to be). Though you can get a 42" plasma these days for around $2k ... and if you must, Fujitsu is the best bang for the buck, imo.

Samsung does have a 46" widescreen DLP: http://www.samsung.com/Products/TV/D...4667WAXXAA.asp

and a 42": http://www.samsung.com/Products/TV/D...R4266WXXAA.asp

The 42" inches start around $1300 online, and seem to be about $1800 at retail.

Jammrock