TV Shopping help

[woodjer]

Ok, finally got the ok from the wife to get a new TV. Hoping to get a man-cave built over the next 6 months or so with this as the centerpiece. I've got it down to 2 models. Anybody have any thoughts on this?

The suspects:
LG 47LW6500 - I like the passive 3D, especially since I'm not sure I'd use it enough to justify the more expensive glasses. Good reviews everywhere I've read. PCWorld ranked it as #2 on the Top 10 of 2011 HDTV list but then ranked it higher than their #1 a month or two later in the "Top 100 Techs of 2011" (or whatever that was called). It's also about $400 cheaper than my other main option and I could have it by Friday.

Samsung UN46D8000 - I went into Best Buy to look at the LG last night and found this TV to be the sexier option. Something about it just popped in the display. My big questions are: Will it still "pop" when I'm not looking at the two side-by-side? and Does it "pop" an extra $400 worth? This is the other TV mentioned above in the PCWorld lists. Due to the cost, I'd have to wait about a month on this one.

Cnet Editors say: Samsung 4/5 vs. LG 3.5/5
Cnet Users say: LG 4.5/5 vs. Samsung 3/5
Consumer Reports says: LG 76 vs. Samsung 57 (this alone is almost enough for me to rule out the Samsung)

How about OS users?

[snepp]

Re: TV Shopping help

Take that $400 and put it toward something else.

[daflyboys]

Re: TV Shopping help

Ya...the side by side is always preferable. I know when my father in law first bought his Quattro, I could definitely see a difference from my Sharp LCD. I can't see enjoying constant active 3D, but passive 3D sounds intriguing. Once you get your comparative shopping in store out of the way, go online. I like to go back to the stores and tell them I'm shopping online. Maybe one day they'll get it and price match in to out.

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: TV Shopping help

Not sure about the 3D.

I am cheap, to me it doesn't sound like there is $400 extra in quality right there. The users and consumer reports are giving the nod to the cheaper one. I am never a fan of in store displays as comparisons. You have no idea what settings they use. A TV set on something like a "vivid" setting are going to pop more then if one is set to the cinema and it will look sexier.

If you have the $400 to spend, why not get the 55" version of the LG? On Amazon it's about $400 more.

[snepp]

Re: TV Shopping help

You didn't mention anything about a sound setup.

I'd take a 47 with quality sound over a 55 by itself any day.

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: TV Shopping help

You didn't mention anything about a sound setup.

I'd take a 47 with quality sound over a 55 by itself any day.

This too.

I don't know the financial situation, but if you are on a budget for the entire cave you could also put the $400 towards man cave items.

[woodjer]

Re: TV Shopping help

Ok, just found out that Best Buy has LG's 5600 in-stock near me...which means I could get it today. That was the TV that I went in looking for. I liked what I saw but now I'm torn between the 5600 that I could have installed tonight and the 6500 that I would get in by the weekend. A part of me says that I trust myself driving home with the box more than I trust an online retailer so it's worth taking the "lesser" model...not to mention that it's an instant-gratification thing. The only real difference between the 5600 and the 6500 spec-wise is the refresh rate. Price-wise they are the same but I'd pay tax on the 5600. I've read that 120 vs 240 is rarely perceptible in 2D but have also heard that it's noticeable in 3D. One article I read even implied that there were some issues with 240 that didn't exist with 120. Frankly, I'm just confused...

So the next question is...should I go with 240 or 120 for the refresh rate?

[woodjer]

Re: TV Shopping help

Not sure about the 3D.

I am cheap, to me it doesn't sound like there is $400 extra in quality right there. The users and consumer reports are giving the nod to the cheaper one. I am never a fan of in store displays as comparisons. You have no idea what settings they use. A TV set on something like a "vivid" setting are going to pop more then if one is set to the cinema and it will look sexier.

If you have the $400 to spend, why not get the 55" version of the LG? On Amazon it's about $400 more.

I'll have to see if I can play with the settings a bit in-store to really compare, I guess. The BB rep last night told me that companies insist upon certain settings in-store and they have little control over that.

I don't have the extra $400 to spend. That's why the Samsung would be put off another month or so. Even if I did, I think the 55" would be too big for the space that I'll have it in. The 47" is just barely within the recommended size for the distance that I'll sit from it.

You didn't mention anything about a sound setup.

I'd take a 47 with quality sound over a 55 by itself any day.

I have a receiver that is about 10 years old (with an optical in though) that is currently in storage. The wife said that it was too loud whenever I turned it on so it got put in storage when we were clearing some things out to try to sell the house. That aspect likely won't get added until I get further along in my man-cave but I agree that sound is big on these sets. My initial thought is that this new TV will take the place of the main one until I can get its new home fully prepped.

As for a budget for the whole cave, I don't have one set. I've picked up a side job that floats some extra cash my way each month and I've been told that it can go toward whatever I want. With that in mind, I can get the TV now and add a newer sound system in the next month or two. More items will come along after those couple things.

Thanks for all the responses, guys (and gals?)...this is part of the reason I love OS!

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: TV Shopping help

You can never go to big. If there is space go for an 80" haha.

I like our sound system for the music. I can turn my house into a club if ever needed.

I have heard there isn't a lot of difference between 120 and 240. I would wait for gamec0ck to weigh in on this thread. He is the resident TV expert.

[woodjer]

Re: TV Shopping help

You can never go to big. If there is space go for an 80" haha.

At one point, I think I would have agreed with you here. However, I really saw the difference last night when I went to look. When I stood up close, the 47 was MUCH better than the 55. When I stood further back, the 55 got clearer. Standing about the same distance that I would be at home, both looked good but the 47 looked a little better.

I think that I've decided on the LG but now need to determine if I want the 5600 (and instant gratification) or the 6500. With the long holiday weekend coming up, it would be nice to have the 5600 in place for all of it but I don't want to base a big decision on just that. I just double-checked my deal on the 6500 and see that I've missed out on getting it this week...the earliest would be next week Monday. That 240 is looking less important given that info...

[woodjer]

Re: TV Shopping help

If anyone cares, I went with the LG 47LW6500. Found out that I could still get it on Friday (just couldn't schedule my preferred time) and turned out that BB didn't have the 5600 in stock by the time I got around to asking. Since I was told it would probably be to me by Friday, I decided to go with the next step up. Friday can't get here soon enough now!

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: TV Shopping help

If anyone cares, I went with the LG 47LW6500. Found out that I could still get it on Friday (just couldn't schedule my preferred time) and turned out that BB didn't have the 5600 in stock by the time I got around to asking. Since I was told it would probably be to me by Friday, I decided to go with the next step up. Friday can't get here soon enough now!

Nice. What are you going to do for surround sound? Surround sound HTIB, sound bar + sub? Almost anything will be better than tv speakers.

[woodjer]

Re: TV Shopping help

Nice. What are you going to do for surround sound? Surround sound HTIB, sound bar + sub? Almost anything will be better than tv speakers.

I have an older 5.1 system that has an optical in so I think I'm going to start with that and then maybe pick up a sound bar + sub as a Christmas present to myself. Any recommendations? In the space that I have currently, I'm not sure a full system is my best option.

Also, any thoughts on picking up a 3D blu-ray player to use instead of my PS3? I know my PS3 will work but I'm thinking that I'd rather leave that for just gaming to reduce wear on the unit. Even if I go with one, it'll probably be the last element of the setup that I add since I have something that works anyway.

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: TV Shopping help

I have an older 5.1 system that has an optical in so I think I'm going to start with that and then maybe pick up a sound bar + sub as a Christmas present to myself. Any recommendations? In the space that I have currently, I'm not sure a full system is my best option.

Also, any thoughts on picking up a 3D blu-ray player to use instead of my PS3? I know my PS3 will work but I'm thinking that I'd rather leave that for just gaming to reduce wear on the unit. Even if I go with one, it'll probably be the last element of the setup that I add since I have something that works anyway.

You can always just stick with what you currently have and just don't use the rear speakers. Ie. a 3.1 setup instead of a 5.1 setup At one point, I had a 5.1 setup in a small bedroom and it was just overkill. A 3.1 setup using floorstanding (Sony) speakers was just as effective.

Like I was saying, anything will be an improvement over regular tv speakers.

Almost every major company makes a sound bar + wireless subwoofer combo. They can range from $150-500. The one offered by Sony usually gets good reviews and can decode the lossless HD audio. http://www.amazon.com/Sony-HT-CT150-...2003010&sr=8-3

Good luck.

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: TV Shopping help

I have just a 2.1 setup and it's such a huge improvement.