Ok, so with Black Friday right around the corner as well as the holidays a lot of us are interested in buying new TVs. Myself though is pretty clueless when it comes to this kind of stuff. I figure this thread can be useful for anyone that has any questions on specs and pricing. LED vs. LCD vs Plasma Which is better? Is there a big difference from 720p to 1080p? I have a PS3 and do buy blu ray movies quite often. Will I notice a big difference from 720p to 1080p? Also, what are Hz? The more the better? If it has more Hz, does the picture look like it were a home video? I ask because I've been to my girfriends dads house and that what his tv looks like. Even when we watch movies it looks like they were home movies. I have been browsing a couple days now for TVs and I found these: Westinghouse 42" LED 1080p 120 Hz for $479 Spoiler http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Westing...HDTV/2257682.p?id=1218325540178&skuId=2257682 *Also at WalMart and Target for $30 bucks cheaper Samsung 40" Class LCD 1080p 60Hz for $598 http://www.walmart.com/ip/Samsung-LN40D550/15992349 Samsung 43" Class Plasma 720p 600Hz $499 http://www.walmart.com/ip/Samsung-43-PN43D450/15992347 Samsung 40" Class 1080p 120hz LED LCD for $699 Spoiler http://www.target.com/sb/electronic...tedValue=/-/N-5xtdwZ5y4wrZ5zjaa&RatingFacet=0 Now, are any of these good deals in regards to the specs offered?t
LED vs LCD vs Plasma: Plasma is the oldest, most mature technology. It used to have a bad rep for burn-in (leaving a 'ghost' of the last image on screen). But that's mostly gone away now. Supposedly some excellent image quality and blacks in certain panels (like the long-gone Pioneer Elite series). LCD is the cheapest, most mainstream technology that's being slowly phased out for LED. Not particularly great at anything but has tons of options/price ranges. LED is the newest. Supposedly better blacks than LCD. There's still a price premium for LED over LCD. Hz. The higher the better, within a specific technology. Hz rates are not comparable between LED/LCD/Plasma. Generally for an LCD/LED you'd want atleast a 120hz now. I have no idea whats good for plasma. Resolution: Anything 40in and over get 1080p, it's definitely noticeable at that size. Brand: Unless price is a huge factor, I'd avoid a generic/store brand like Westinghouse. Sony for a long time was the leader in TV's but Samsung has caught up. Even moreso I've been impressed by nicer LG screens. My recommendation is get a decent brand and a non-entry line TV.
We're lucky for having 2 frys within driving distance. But the lines for them have gotten pretty ridiculous over the last 3 years. There's probably no reason you should be considering 720p anymore, unless value is your biggest priority. If you are thinking about buying an LED tv, make sure you learn about which ones to get. Not all LED tvs are created equal, and some aren't even as good as reguler lcd tvs.
It's all a matter of opinion. I believe the LED 1080p 120 Hz looks the best. The way I decided this was not by browsing the internet and comparing name brands and prices. I went to many big box stores and only looked at what was on the screen, making notes on the best looking screens. Do this several times at different stores then compare notes. After that you can compromise brand and price.
all i know is the IPS Alpha-LED technology is used in the panasonic veira led series tvs, and I think the picture quality of this tv is one of the best around. I don't think any other major manufacture of tvs use IPS Alpha-LED (especially on the lower end tvs) and that's why panasonic tvs give more bang for the buck.
For Black Friday, any TV sale that has a limited number of sets is probably not worth the trouble unless you plan to get in line early. I'd look for a 1080P 120HZ model, unless a 60HZ was a lot cheaper or a lot bigger. If the set is over 40", I wouldn't consider 720 at all. I also recommend an extended service contract. Paying extra for delivery is worth it, so there's no risk of damage during transportation. Also, make sure to check whether the set comes with a base, because they usually don't.
There are flaws of doing things this way also. At least by viewing it in person you can check out the little things like build quality, aesthetics, remote. But unless you tinker with its settings, you're looking at the tv's demo mode. This usually means highest backlight levels, vivid display, and a sub-quality source. With bright flourescent lights around you it's hard to get an accurate idea of how a set would look like in your place.
I was just about to post a thread about buying a new tv! Anyways, I will be buying my first HDTV mainly to watch blue ray. I want my movies to look like they do at Fry's at their Blu ray section. Haven't been to frys in a couple months but the picture was simply fabulous. It looked like I was watching the movie live in person. So what kind of tv will give me that great picture? I know it has to be 1080p, and does 120hz or 240hz really matter?
These newer TV brands, are any of them worth it? Hadn't heard of Vizta, Curtis, Sceptre, etc before...
Westinghouse 40" 1080p 120Hz LED-LCD HDTV LD-4080 $370 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...S111211-_-EMC-111211-Index-_-index-_-89234047 I've had my Westinghouse tv for 6 years now.
Thanks for all the info guys. Really appreciate it. I'll probably go out to the store today and see how the Westinghouse looks compared to others. Thats what I currently have now and its never given me problems. Needless to say it is outdated seeing as how I bout it back in 2006. Pretty much just looking for something that'll show my games and movies nicely without forking over too much money.
True, but i think i remember when Vizio first came into the picture, many were seeing it as one of these cheaper brands before they realized it wasnt. Maybe one of these new ones is the next Vizio. A (healthy) Grant Hill and not a Harold Miner.
No problem, Newegg has started their black November. Got that in an email. There is also an off brand Hair 20" for $196 or so.
I think it was that Vizio improved their quality by a lot after getting its foot in the door. Like LG, they may have been crappy around 2007, but by 2009 they raised the quality expected out of the middle-of-the-line brands.
