HELP! High Def TV Confusion!

Super Trooper

Super Trooper

Well-known member
Allright.

I'm sick and tired of watching movies on my 27'' 6 year old tv. :(

I want to watch movies on a big set in high def.

Plus, it's Fathers day tommorrow, and theres nothing I'd like more than to buy a present for my dad that I too would enjoy (I'm not getting him those damn Def Leopard tickets. He'll make me go with him. I just know it).

I think I'm ready to go HD.

Question is, which set to go for?

I don't want to spend anymore than $1,000 on the tv, given I'll have to shell out another $400 for an hd-dvd player. I'm cheap, and semi poor, so keep this in mind. :)

I'd prefer something in the 42 incher ranger.

What is the diff between 720p 1080p 1080i?

I'm clueless.

What are brands I should stay away from?

LCD, Rear Projection, Plasma?

Please give me some insight, as I don't trust the guys at best buy to be straight shooters .

Thanks :beer:

-Troop
 
Super Trooper said:
Plus, it's Fathers day tommorrow, and theres nothing I'd like more than to buy a present for my dad that I too would enjoy (I'm not getting him those damn Def Leopard tickets. He'll make me go with him. I just know it).
Click to expand...
C'mon, Troop.... it's Def Leppard.

DJ knows his Hi Def TVs. :thumbsup:
 
-1080p offers the highest resolution, but is more expensive.

-you can get the largest picture for your money with a projection tv. hhgregg has a 51' projection tv for $699. the downside is that it's large and takes up space. the picture isn't as bright and you're not getting a good viewing angle from the side.
http://hhgregg.com/ProductDetail.asp?SID=BF61353939BA468BB4E3869C07C2CD1D&ProductID=16449

-you can get an cheap brand 42' lcd or plasma for under $1,000. cheap brands include vizio, westinghouse, maxent, olevia, sylvania...

-for the picture quality, this hp 42' plasma is about as good a deal as you're going to find for under $1,000.
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Cust...d/171331/rpem/ccd/productDetailReview.do#tabs
 
At 42" if you are sitting 8+ feet away you won't need 1080, your eyes cannot resolve more detail then 720. I just got a 720p plasma a few days ago and for HD at that size, it is enough.
 
Dunno about you, but from 8 Feet away I sure notice a difference between 720p and 1080p on two very similar LCD's.

Also, I wouldn't recommend plasma screens at all. CRT > DLP > LCD > PLASMA

Plasma generally has this serious oil paint-like effect going on and while they last long enough, they won't last as long as an LCD. DLP's are a bit large, but are rather cheap now-a-days for larger sizes. CRT's are heavy, and usually aren't any bigger than say 34" - 36" inches.

Don't trust your own eyes at Best Buy, the television signals are different on sets and they've been on for hundreds of hours. They are in no way an accurate representation of what you can get out of a television.

Also remember that you have 30 days to return at nearly every place without a restocking fee, so feel free to be adventurous and try out different brands until you get what you really want.

If you can afford 1080p, get it. A lot of people (I used to be one of them) will tell you that 1080p is a waste? It's not. Until you get two sets, one of which can ONLY DO 720p and one what's native res is 1080, you really won't get a chance to see that there is definitely a difference between 720 lines of resolution and 1080 lines of resolution.

IN fact, the recommendation from hardware forums is genearlly anything 40" + is worth investing in 1080p.

I just bought a Westinghouse W4207 and 42w2 and I can say the 1080p native 42w2 is definitely worth the extra change for 1080p.

That's me thoughts. Good luck.
 
Oh just to add to kholi remarks on why not to try the stores is that they will but the cheaper display to worse settings then the more expensive one to make them look better to you buy the higher priced ones
 
Man, I just got back from Best Buy...empty handed.

I'm telling ya, the blue shirts were swarming around me like a pack of hyenas.

I told them my bidget and they were chucking a $3000 display at me.

I don't know...too many brands.

Sony, Samsung, Phillips, Vizio, Emerson, Sanyo

Sony tends to be a bit expensive, as does phillips.

I don't know about the other ones though. I've heard horror stories about Vizio.

Hell, even Polaroid has hdtv's.

I hink I'll go back tommorrow after collecting my thoughts.
 
Super Trooper said:
I don't know...too many brands.
Click to expand...

i like panasonic the best, but a 42 inch will run you about 1300 (on sale) and up. the hp i linked to earlier is the best i could find for under $1,000. tomorrow best buy and circuit city will have new deals on tvs so you can see if there is anything you like then.
 
I actually see deals on 42" and slightly above for under a grand. They are 720p and usually projection as opposed to flat screen but the deals do exist from time to time. Mainly I believe people are trying to blow through their 720p inventory as 1080p is finally starting dominate the HDTV market.

While 1080p will give you a better picture if the signal is 1080p/i there is very little content out there that I have seen that is 1080p right now. Instead of spending $3000 now for a 1080p set you might do better to get the 720 for $1000 now and if the 1080 content starts coming you can get another set that does 1080p in a couple years for around $1000 at that time. Spending less money overall and having two TV at the end of it.

Go to your local library and check out Consumer Reports. Every year they have a really good issue on HDTV; how to decide what is right for you, best brands, and best places to buy.

Good luck
 
On bargain HDTV's you can't go by specs alone. Some have terrible scaling citcuitry so the picture suffers from jaggies. While other bargain brands have none. Best Buy's Insignia brand isn't bad for the price. No jaggies, bright picture.
 
I agree with Kholi...CRTs are the best. I've had two Sony's and I just can't find a set that is comparable to the accurate picture quality. The Sony Bravia series are some of the best panel displays out there right now.

Beware of the cheap brands. Westinhouse, insignia, et al. They're finding short cuts in the display's circuitry, and the picture quality and life expectancy are suffering.

It's true that the TVs at Best Buy and Circuit City are using settings that no TV should be set at - if you really want to see what a set looks like, go shop at a local home theater shop. More often than not you'll see TVs that are set with more basic viewing settings, and the lighting in those stores will be MUCH more like what you'll be seeing at home.
 
ugafan said:
-1080p offers the highest resolution, but is more expensive.

-you can get the largest picture for your money with a projection tv. hhgregg has a 51' projection tv for $699. the downside is that it's large and takes up space. the picture isn't as bright and you're not getting a good viewing angle from the side.
http://hhgregg.com/ProductDetail.asp?SID=BF61353939BA468BB4E3869C07C2CD1D&ProductID=16449
Click to expand...


Can anyone recommend something like this that also does 1080p? 37"-42" is acceptable.

This is looking pretty sexy:

http://www.hitachi.us/tv/browse/lcd/lcd/50VG825.shtml

$1199.99USD --- http://www.dealznet.com/item.aspx?eid=1&pid=96694
 
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I'm also looking for an hdtv. Weird catch, it has to be from circuit city.
Have around $1300. Looking for around 40"

Any suggestions?
 
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If you're alone tonight
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I gotta know tonight
If you're alone tonight
Can't stop this feeling
Can't stop this fire
 
Personally, I don't think you can beat the value:quality of the Panasonic TH42PH9UK. You can find them for under $1000 now, and the picture quality is pretty great. However, it's an industrial set, which means it doesn't have built-in tuner, speakers, etc. That may or may not be a big factor for you.
 
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