Big-screen TV shopping

[Jimmy Stang]

I have a 42 inch Samsung LCD and I have been very happy with it thus far since buying it in September. I resisted the temptation to go larger because the room isn't huge and our viewing distance isn't as far as some others. The TV looks bigger in our house than it did in the store because it isn't surrounded by gigantic TVs!!

Your house, viewing needs, etc. might be different. But for the amount that we watch TV (not much) and the room that it is in (the basement), it is perfect. We don't even have a TV on the main floor.

As others have mentioned, 3 or more HDMI inputs should do you fine. That'll let you hook up your cable box, Blu-Ray, gaming console. HDMI is really nice as everything (video, audio) is all in one nice cable and plug. Plus you're going to want to make sure that any HD devices are hooked up using HDMI as the quality will suffer if you use the old composite or component hookups.

[Komskies]

I've had this TV for over a year now and have been super happy with it: http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-t...-32815260.html

I use it for my PS3 (and Blu Ray movies), watching TV, and as a computer monitor and I've been more than happy with it for all three uses.

I also agree with Table here. Go to the store, spend some time watching all of the TVs in your price-point, and pick the TV that looks the best to you. I spent a few months researching my TV and I can't say for sure if it even had an effect on my ultimate decision.

[GGG]

Remember that a 42" TV regardless of viewing distance isn't a very big TV. If you are 6 feet away viewing distance get at least a 50" TV. If you are farther away get bigger.

People I talk to regret buying the 42" over a 50". It is a huge difference.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by GGG

Remember that a 42" TV regardless of viewing distance isn't a very big TV. If you are 6 feet away viewing distance get at least a 50" TV. If you are farther away get bigger.

People I talk to regret buying the 42" over a 50". It is a huge difference.

We obviously have different preferences, but I can't imagine sitting only 6 feet away from a 50" TV. Seems like you'd be pixel counting. I'm not trying to be argumentative at all - that just seems really close for such a big TV. It reminds me of some kids that we knew when we were younger. They'd sit on the carpet with their faces 2 feet from the TV.

Keep in mind that I "graduated" from a 27 inch CRT, so my 42" LCD is a big step up as it is. And I don't watch enough TV to justify much more than that.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Ugh, careful though, the "research" can drive you crazy. I spent a good 2-3 months researching this stuff, and going in circles about all the technical details.

If you're smart, you'll go to the store, take a look at all the 1080p LCD's, pick the one that looks best to you, and buy that one. Honestly, once you pick your tv, you won't give a crap about what you're possibly missing.

Sony's and Samsungs are great......in the end, I went with a Toshiba and don't regret it one bit.

I do agree- with one caveat; do a little bit of reasearch, and check out the TV you are looking at buying at more than one store. Because if there is a TV that offers a better commission or some other sales incentive; the salespeople may have that TV hooked up to a better source.

Back when I worked selling electronics, most TVs paid 3-4% commission whereas RCA TVs had a few that were 5%; and RCA offerred the sales staff points for selling their products. Basically sell 4 big screens and you got a free DVD player. (Which was a big deal when DVD players cost $500.) You can bet that all of the 5% TVs were hooked up to DVD using S-video; whereas the 3% TVs were hooked into the split cable feed.

[McG]

i disagree with the advice to go to a store and look at which one looks best and buy it. the reason is because many stores just set the things up without adjustment; this means that you are relying upon the manufacturer's settings (usually vivid or bright) and from all that i have read no one should be watching their tv at home on these settings. therefore, whatever setting that you see won't be the one that you use and therefore seeing it in the store and buying it makes no sense to me.

i would recommend that you go to a store and make sure that you get SAP (spouse approval points) with the overall design and layout of the tv itself; the looks of the tv, the stand and setup will make a big deal on how much you like the tv without the screen.

i would decide on a technology, lcd or plasma, and a size. make sure that you try out different sizes from your sitting position. read reviews about the best tvs in a specific area of interest, and for pete's sake find out the msrp in canada and the us. google your chosen tvs with the word review in them, and do check out avsforum.com.

oh yah. those pesky settings? i have found that people on avsforum have usually posted their preferred settings and you can adjust your set to those settings. many people have done the avia thing so they have the best settings for their tv; of course, only your eyes can tell what is best for you.

one other thing; make sure to check as many real life viewing angles as you can. not every person or chair is the money seat and you therefore need to ensure that other seats have just as good a viewing experience.

edit: i just wanted to add that you might want to wait until after the ces in january; 3d tv will make a big splash there an i would expect there to be alot of news about upgradeable tv models etc. from everything that i know about 3d tv, i will be waiting to see what comes out. it might not matter to you, but if avatar-like experiences are in the future then i want them in my home.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by McG

i disagree with the advice to go to a store and look at which one looks best and buy it. the reason is because many stores just set the things up without adjustment; this means that you are relying upon the manufacturer's settings (usually vivid or bright) and from all that i have read no one should be watching their tv at home on these settings. therefore, whatever setting that you see won't be the one that you use and therefore seeing it in the store and buying it makes no sense to me.

The thing is 90% of people out there won't go to avsforum as you and i will, and change the settings. They will keep using the manufactured settings, and be more than satisfied even if they keep it on the super crazy contrast mode that stores have things set at. Even if you tune around with settings for hours, calibrate them to real colors, sometimes you can only really tell the different if you do side by side comparisons. I used to go to avsforum.com to adjust them all the time, and after a while, I forgot and stopped doing. And surprise! my tv experience is still just as good!

I'm not against research, I do a ton of it myself. But after a while it can get in the way of you enjoying whatever you buy. You spend so much time on silly little details that in the end won't matter as much as you really think. None of the big players (Sony, Samsung, Toshiba, etc) really make BAD tv's....so I don't think there is a bad decision out there amongst them. As long as he knows the basics, he should be fine.

[Vulcan]

One thing to add if you want a professional calibration of your TV, there is a fellow in Calgary that is well thought of and I understand he makes trips across the country to ply his trade also.

Just google

Michael @ TLVExperience
ISF/THX Video Systems Instructor

You can also get in touch with him through digital home canada

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/member.php?u=891

[Antithesis]

Oh, and when you do go to the store to buy your TV, don't buy the Monster HDMI cables. That'll take a huge chunk out of your budget. Bring your TV home, and order your HDMI cables from monoprice.com - you'll be thankful (I was). Better yet, order them now, cause you know you're gonna need 'em!

I suppose you could leverage the Monster cables to wrangle a better deal from a salesdork and then turn around and return them on another day.

[Table 5]

^ Totally. Actually it's probably good to never buy anything made by Monster period, unless you hate being burdened down with money. Monoprice has saved me hundreds of dollars....they are great for anything cable related.

[killer_carlson]

don't be afraid to look at Costco for tv's. We've bought two samsungs from them at ridiculous prices.

You have to know what it is you want, but their tv's have been great for us.

[KTrain]

I made my first purchase from Monoprice on December 27th and it arrived at my place on the 30th. 2 ceiling speakers, a couple HDMI cables and a swivel wall mount. Saved a couple hundred dollars even though the shipping was $100 (the mount is heavy). That place is awesome.

[BlackArcher101]

I buy Monster cables.... but from surplus @ Princess Auto. Hella cheap there.

[Shazam]

I used to buy Monster cables when my brother worked at FS. 95% discount was good.