Can somebody point me to the TV buying discussion thread?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Speaking of TV's ... my mother-in-law got a new Samsung 32" LCD last week & while the HD channels look very good, the SD channels look consistently blurry, especially the broadcast stations (she's on Charter Cable).

I don't mean "blurry compared to the HD channels", I mean just blurry period. My son commented on that before ever seeing any of the HD feeds side by side, so I'm pretty sure it isn't just my eyes.

I'm pretty sure they aren't supposed to look like that since they didn't on her previous set & none of my regular stations look that way (coming from a Dish Network feed) even on an HD set. Is there some sort of setting that needs to be adjusted somewhere or what am I missing?

[CleBrownsfan]

Originally Posted by Mustang

Upgraded our old 50" Toshiba projection HDTV to a Samsung 46" LED/LCD 120 Hz and 6500 series Samsung Blu-Ray player.

Holy shit have we been missing out on a good HD image... I feel like I've been living in the cave the last few years and have just now managed to create the wheel.

Now my wife wants to replace the TV upstairs too.

I hear yeah! I ended going with the Panasonic - VIERA / 50" Class / 1080p / 600Hz / Plasma HDTV and the quality of what I'm seeing on that screen is unreal!!!

[lighthousekeeper]

my only tv is still the 27" box i bought in 1999 when i got my first apartment, so i can't even imagine what i've been missing

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Speaking of TV's ... my mother-in-law got a new Samsung 32" LCD last week & while the HD channels look very good, the SD channels look consistently blurry, especially the broadcast stations (she's on Charter Cable).

I don't mean "blurry compared to the HD channels", I mean just blurry period. My son commented on that before ever seeing any of the HD feeds side by side, so I'm pretty sure it isn't just my eyes.

I'm pretty sure they aren't supposed to look like that since they didn't on her previous set & none of my regular stations look that way (coming from a Dish Network feed) even on an HD set. Is there some sort of setting that needs to be adjusted somewhere or what am I missing?

FWIW, we had a Samsung 46" and felt the same way, before returning it for a Sony, about a year ago. Fiddled around with the settings forever, looking up people's "optimal settings" online, but no matter what, the SD looked like complete crap.

[CleBrownsfan]

Who watches anything on SD anymore??

[stevew]

sdtv is going to look like shit on an lcdtv. It is like you are blowing a wallet sized photo up into an 8x10. The tech of the tv is way better than most programming for now.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

I'm going to start shopping around for TV's soon for my business. Going to pick up around 4 32" TV's, 4 42" TV's, and 2 52" TV's. Anyone know of any big discount times between now and the start of August where they start discounting old models?

[stevew]

There probably aren't any discounted old models left, as most of the 2009 stuff sold through very quick earlier this year.

Price cuts should be coming soon.

If I needed to buy that many TV's, I'd go either LG, Panasonic or Samsung. If you go 32" LCD, and 42" and 50" Plasmas, you'd be roughly at 6K(retail), whereas LCD everything would be like at least a grand more.

Panasonic stuff is nice, cause it has the SD card slots built into it. If you were doing a wedding, it would be quick and painless to do photo loops on the monitors(of the couples)

[dolfin]

Anyone have any comments on DLP technology? I'm being drawn in by what looks to be good value for large screen sizes. Particularly, I've seen the Mitsubishi 73" model for as low as $1,500.

[stevew]

I always liked DLP tv's, but you have to be able to control the lighting, etc. A 73" for that price would be great for a basement. Otherwise you're better off getting like a 55" for around that price in an LCD, or about a 58" plasma.

Plus with DLP you will have bulb upkeep, I think they're between 1-200$ and need to be replaced every 5000 or so hours.

[SteveMax58]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

I don't mean "blurry compared to the HD channels", I mean just blurry period. My son commented on that before ever seeing any of the HD feeds side by side, so I'm pretty sure it isn't just my eyes.

Yeah, blurry is what you get when your LCD TV is trying to compensate for information that isn't there. For Charter, this is highly localized for certain SD channels. The channels you'll probably see this (worse than others) on are the channels you also have available in analog form (i.e. on your TVs without a cable box).

With the amount of HD channels being added in cable systems, the SD channels (namely the ones also sent in analog form for reasons that are lengthy to explain) tend to be compressed heavily. Couple that with the possibility of not having very good video engineers in that system that can properly evaluate how to transport channels.

As a note...SD doesnt "have to" look bad on HDTVs. It "tends to", but it really doesnt have to.

[DaddyTorgo]

Question - now I will soon be in the market for a new TV as I'm getting my own place -- what's up with these new 3D TV's?? Yes? No? Nonsense?

[stevew]

meh. Wait til xmas if you have to have one. Margin on the things is roughly 1200, the price will surely drop a ton. Samsungs anyways.

[k0ruptr]

No, not until the tv and BR companies pick up the slack. wait 3 or rmore years to pick up a 3d tv imho.

[stevew]

most sears should have a functional 3d display

[DaddyTorgo]

sounds good. i figured it might still be too early in the life-cycle of the technology to get one, but just wanted to see what others thought. i'll take a look at them, but it's not a "must have" it sounds like

i should probably just start up a whole thread for shit about my new apartment i suppose.

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by CleBrownsfan

Anybody have the Samsung - 50" Class / 1080p / 600Hz / Plasma HDTV? After doing some extensive research and seeing this TV in person I'm really impressed by it. And it's about $500 cheaper than the Samsung - 46" Class / 1080p / 120Hz / LED-LCD HDTV I was planning on getting once tax return comes.

Just want to see what you guys think of the plasmas. Thanks again for any input...

I just sprung for the Samsung PN50C550 too. It's down to $1,025 on Amazon. After biding my time on the sidelines, I couldn't pass up a nice Plasma TV any longer. My smaller Samsung LCD can step aside.

[markprior22]

Finally bought an HDTV (plasma TC-P42U2) last night after my CRT crapped out. This is my first foray into the world of HD. I like the HD channels but so far am really disappointed in the picture for standard def broadcasts. Are there any general adjustments that can be made to achieve a better SD picture. My setup is straight forward...Comcast box with HDMI to the TV.

Thanks for any help

[stevew]

Unlikely. Watch how much Zoom you're using. Ideally you don't want to stretch it on the cable box, and then on the TV as well. I have a P42S1 which is pretty similar to the U2. I think the SD channels are basically balls, but it's something you learn to live with. I dunno about your cable, but we're almost to HD everything now anyways.

I can't remember how, but I think you can set it to output SD channels to 480i instead of 1080i. You don't want the cable box to upscale the signal, and then the TV to do it as well.

[markprior22]

Thanks Steve...I'll give it a try. I love watching baseball and Comcast has a "blackout" on their extra innings package for HD. If a game is broadcast through Extra Innings in high def, Comcast subscribers to the EI package are stuck watching in SD mode. For most other things, HD is usually an option but not for what I happen to enjoy watching most.

[rjolley]

Looking to get a 37" - 42" tv for my office. Any recommendations for that screen size?

Also, I don't see Vizio's mentioned much in these threads. Is there an overall problem with Vizio's?

[dolfin]

I don't have any personal experience with Vizio's, but a couple of my friends have been very happy with their's and they look pretty good from what I've seen of them (though limited).

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by stevew

Unlikely. Watch how much Zoom you're using. Ideally you don't want to stretch it on the cable box, and then on the TV as well. I have a P42S1 which is pretty similar to the U2. I think the SD channels are basically balls, but it's something you learn to live with. I dunno about your cable, but we're almost to HD everything now anyways.

I can't remember how, but I think you can set it to output SD channels to 480i instead of 1080i. You don't want the cable box to upscale the signal, and then the TV to do it as well.

I'd recommend having the box send the signal 1080i to the TV, then your TV doesn't have to change resolutions when you change from SD to HD channels and you don't get the channel lag. If you set the box to 1080i the TV isn't doing upscaling only the box is.

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by stevew

most sears should have a functional 3d display

3d is an overrated gimmick. Don't pay for it unless it's the TV you really want. I can understand if you want a Samsung 7000, 8000, or 9000 (those things are 6k!) but understand that there is very little 3D content. From what I've read a number of people have issues with 3d, headaches, eye strain, etc.

[DaddyTorgo]

Okay...so my TV console I'll be putting it on is 54"...so I guess I can put a 54" TV on there...thinking LCD over Plasma...sofa will be I guess 13' or a little less across the room.

Do I go with the full 54" then (I know there's all sorts of "how big should it be if you're so far away" calculations)? Any general thoughts on brands from the knowledgeable folks here?

[Eaglesfan27]

At 13 inches away, I recommend going smaller than 54 inch screen


Seriously, we have a 58 inch screen (and had a 60 in the past) in a 18 foot room where my chair was about 14 feet from the screen and I never felt the screen was too big. I think a 54 inch screen would be fine if you find one you like.

[DaddyTorgo]

oops...i put inch notations instead of feet

hahaha - will fix.

good to know EF

[stevew]

LCD/LED Sizes are going to be 46", 52", 55", and 60". Overhang is not an issue at all.

Good luck finding a 54 foot LCD dude.

Samsung or LG or Sharp are generally the way to go in LCD/LED

[DaddyTorgo]

lol....inches feet...wtf-ever. you all know what i mean

[DaddyTorgo]

what do you mean about overhang not being an issue? you mean it won't overhang a 54"?

samsung or lg or sharp...got it

[stevew]

well, the TV will overhang, but you're good if you go a few inches over on either side. The pedestal is the only important part that needs to sit on the stand. It's usually, say 35" wide or so on a 55" TV. I have a 42" Plasma on a stand that's like 38" wide and it looks fine.

Also, a 55" TV is generally about 52-53" wide anyways.

[DaddyTorgo]

that's what i assumed you meant steve, but thanks for the clarification.

now i need to do some checking online and see what's out there in sharp/samsung/lg

[stevew]

Samsung is usually the best of the 3. Sony stuff hasn't been that great in a few years.

[DaddyTorgo]

cool.

i'll prolly bounce out to a store and check it out too so i can actually see the pictures and all

[DaddyTorgo]

who are the best names in plasma, if i choose to go plasma?

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

who are the best names in plasma, if i choose to go plasma?

I have no idea if they are the best name in Plasma, but Samsung's get rave reviews and I love the one we got recently.

[DaddyTorgo]

i was noticing the rave reviews for the PN58B860 online...that the one you got EF?

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

i was noticing the rave reviews for the PN58B860 online...that the one you got EF?

Yes, it is. It's got a great picture.

[DaddyTorgo]

cool

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by stevew

LCD/LED Sizes are going to be 46", 52", 55", and 60". Overhang is not an issue at all.

Good luck finding a 54 foot LCD dude.

Samsung or LG or Sharp are generally the way to go in LCD/LED

The newest Sony's seem to be getting some good reviews lately.

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by stevew

Samsung is usually the best of the 3. Sony stuff hasn't been that great in a few years.

The main complaints I've seen with the Samsungs is that they tend to have light coming through in the edges that is noticable in a dark room during dark scenes.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

who are the best names in plasma, if i choose to go plasma?

Panasonic

[lordscarlet]

You do realize that a 55" TV is not 55" wide, right? (with the talk about how wide your stand is)

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by lordscarlet

You do realize that a 55" TV is not 55" wide, right? (with the talk about how wide your stand is)

yep. i was considering a stand+hutch that would have been that width, but then eliminated the hutch idea (for now). not sure why i even brought up the size of the console to be honest...lol

[CU Tiger]

Originally Posted by stevew

Panasonic

+1

For my money the only 2 Plasmas Id even look at are Panasonic or Pioneeer.
not going to start a brand war, but I doubt any other brand PLASMA will make you happy in 2-3 years

[CleBrownsfan]

I ended up buying the Panasonic 50" TC-P50G20 and couldn't be happier with my decision!

I've got several "wows" when show them the screen. Avatar blu-ray looks insanely beautiful on it...

[henry296]

My 6 year old Sony 46" RPTV just developed a major red convergence issue. Red lines across the screen and major shadowing of any text, so I'm likely in the market for an TV. I assume this is probably about $400 to have a tech look at it and fix it which isn't worth it. Is that true?

Definitely want something bigger as the TV was bought 2 houses ago and was a much smaller room. I think a 55-60 inch is the way to go. Just need to figure out LCD vs. plasma and if I should buy table or hang on the wall. My TV cabinet fits the RPTV wellwith two cabinets flanking and a bridge over the top. If I hang on the wall, I'll need to figure out what to do with the cabinets which house my components.

[DaddyTorgo]

Do the new 2010 panasonic's still have the problem with blacks turning more greyish after like 100-something hours like the 2009's did?

[henry296]

I was just looking at the Samsungs and noticed that they only have HDMI inputs. Is that true because if so, how would I connect a Wii to that TV.

[stevew]

They should have HDMI, component and AV hookups Henry. At least everything 2010 from samsung that I saw had those hookups. Some of the TV's have adapters for the hookups, which is why maybe you aren't seeing the ports themselves. They're there though.

And DT, my 2009 Panasonic hasn't had any kind of black fall off, at least that I've noticed. And IIRC, i don't remember any of our 2009 displays having that happen at work. With TV's and such, all it takes is a couple people having an issue, and then like 1000 anti-this fanboys chiming in on a problem and suddenly something is "bad."