Advice on HD tv

[Displaced Flames fan]

What do I need to know before buying one? What minimum specs do I need to make sure I have?

It won't be anything extravagant....just looking to not get ripped off. Any suggestions as to specs I need to be aware of would be great.

Thanks!

[underGRADFlame]

You don't need to know anything just go into BestBuy and get everything the sales person suggests!!! :P

But honestly, I wouldn't buy anything but 1080p with less than 6ms response time. Stay with your brand names, Sharp/Sony/Panasonic/LG are the brands to go with. Then the whole fight of wether to go with LCD or Plasma..... It's up to you, I prefer LCD personally. My best advice is don't buy Monster Cables!!!! buy your cables online where they are priced correctly.

[Vulcan]

I'd include Samsung among the top LCDs and Pioneer among the top plasmas. Don't forget to have an HD source, either an antennae [most HD TVs will have an ATSC tuner] for your locals and or a HD cable or satellite box. SD typically doesn't look so good on a big screen HD TV, although some are better than others.

[Mightyfire89]

Lots of good info here Dis.

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/inf...fo-center.html

For what it's worth, I have two Panasonic plasmas and couldn't be happier with them. Zero problems so far. I've owned one of them for 3 years and the other for one year. If you're looking at plasma, I would recommend Panasonic (or Pioneer if you can afford it) with no reservations.

[Burninator]

Buy your cables here: http://www.monoprice.com

[Draug]

I'd also recommend Panasonic Plasma's. I have 2; one is 6 years old now and is just as perfect as the day it was brand new. I'd still put it head to head against the cheaper LCD's and Plasma's.

The top end Pioneer's are better, but also way more expensive.

If you end up going with the Panasonic, the newest generation (in sizes 50" and less) will be out in the next month or so. 58" and 65" next generation wont be out until Fall. There are supposedly great advances in the black levels for this generation.

[HOOT]

I have a 40" Sony Bravia LCD and with my Exvu HD its the best picture I have come accross that isn't $10,000 or something stupid. Also video games like Xbox 360 play amazing on it with no lag.

[Russic]

Originally Posted by Burninator

Buy your cables here: http://www.monoprice.com

Order some fairly soon. In my experience (in calgary) they take about 9 days to arrive.

Also, take a quick run around the internet and figure out the proper screen size for your sitting distance. I didn't pay too much attention to this and nearly bought a tv that was too big. Being too close or too far away could be a problem!

[Old Yeller]

Everybody that owns HDTV's will give you their opinion based on what they bought.

ie) LCD buyers will tell you LCD's are better than plasma or vice versa.

The best advice I was given was to go to a store and find something that LOOKS good. You'll be able to compare a wide variety of TVs and technologies at any of the big stores.

Then take the brands/models that you really liked and do some research on them.

www.Digitalhome.ca is a good for Canadian prices and perspectives, and the www.avsforum.com is good for more research.

Also, unless you have insane eyesight, you won't be able to tell the difference between a 720p and a 1080p in a TV 50 inches or under from more than 5+ feet away. Resolution isn't as important as contrast ratio, or response time. Salespeople are hung up on the 1080p buzzword because they get to charge more for them.

Basically, go and see some TV's that YOU like and go from there. Once you've got some brands/models, we can offer you more specific advice.

[Bill Bumface]

I bought an LCD, but I would say buy Plasma.

Pioneer's are really nice, but very pricey. Next best are Samsung and Panasonic.

LCD's have gotten a lot better, but picture quality on the plasmas is amazing. Unless you'll be gaming on it a lot, or putting it in a very bright room, I'd go plasma. Cheaper, and better picture.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Old Yeller

ie) LCD buyers will tell you LCD's are better than plasma or vice versa.

The best advice I was given was to go to a store and find something that LOOKS good. You'll be able to compare a wide variety of TVs and technologies at any of the big stores.

The sources are split so many ways for the shared HD signals in stores, that often they look like crap. Plus image adjustment is huge on a lot of TV's. Many come with pretty crappy factory defaults.

The only good way to compare TV's in stores is if they have their own HD TV box, or you can take a Bluray around and see the same movie on a couple TV's with a Bluray player hooked directly up to them.

[Old Yeller]

True, the factory default "torch" modes won't tell you anything, but most (not best buy) salespeople won't have a problem with adjusting the settings.

And yes, some stores do split their signals 10 different ways, but you're not making a final decision based on that... you're starting to see what you like and dislike about brands/models before doing further investigation. Which is what I said previously.

[photon]

Always buy from somewhere with a generous return policy, so you can buy it, try it, and exchange/return it if you don't like it.

I have 2 Sony Bravias and am very happy with them.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by Old Yeller

Basically, go and see some TV's that YOU like and go from there. Once you've got some brands/models, we can offer you more specific advice.

Best advice in the thread! Everyone has their favorite brand and favorite model and then someone will hate the exact same TV. Like someone said above find a place like Futureshop/Best Buy where you can return/exchange the TV within, I think 30 days, incase you don't like the picture.

See what works for you and your set-up because things like your HD provider and what kinda cables you are using will make a difference.

Its like going to a NASCAR event and trying to get everyone to agree on Chevy or Ford

[Vulcan]

Another thing to look at is the viewing angle. If everybody is going to look at the TV from straight on, don't worry but if it's important, try moving to the side of the TV and see if the picture fades badly. I'd also try looking at some fast action, like hockey, to see if the scenes start to break up. Look up the advantages of LCD compared to Plasma or rear or front projection and decide what 's best for your situation.

[greerb]

I personally like DLP, probably the second best picture of all of the TV types, unless you go with a CRT screen (I'm not even sure if they make those anymore). If you want something to hang from the wall, I would go with LCD since there are no burn-in issues with them. But like another said before stick with brand names, and make sure it does "FULL 1080p" for future proofing.

[Old Yeller]

There are no burn issues with any new plasma panel.

Burn in hasn't been an issue in many generations of plasmas, you may get some slight IR (image retention) but that goes away.

You'd have to work pretty hard to get burn-in on a plasma. Like leaving a static image displayed for many hours straight on high brightness/contrast.

[Fobby]

even when you go into a store and check out all the TVs, make sure that the TV you are looking at are all getting HD sources. Most of the times, they will have SD hooked up to the cheaper TV and HD hooked up to the more expensive TV and put them side by side depending on which brand they are promoting for the month, and obviously the more expensive TV will "look better".

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by HOOT

See what works for you and your set-up because things like your HD provider and what kinda cables you are using will make a difference.

Cables do NOT matter for digital signals. Either they work, or they don't.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Cables do NOT matter for digital signals. Either they work, or they don't.

I think he meant composite vs HDMI, not Monster vs Monoprice.