HDTV suggestions
 

Hey All,
I need some help. I'm looking to purchase an HDTV over the summer and I am looking for suggestions on brands to look at. I've browsed around review websites and company websites, but I want to get some posters opinions on TV's they have, have used, or have watched.

Here are some random tidbits of information about my wants/usage.
Wants:
40+ inch, maybe a 36...but 40+ is more preferred.
LCD, I don't want a Plasma. 'Nuff said.
1080p, I know the whole "a human couldn't tell the difference line" but still..might as well.
Less than $1,500 (this is going to be hard to do, I know)

Uses:
General TV watching
Watching sporting events...80% of my TV usage (aside from games) is sports related
Xbox 360 (I've got a 20 inch screen tube tv now...and if I play any sports game (again, most of what I play) it comes out fuzzy and just isn't as fun as it could be)

That is really it I think. I plan on getting a DVR at some point and possibly a better audio setup...but those aren't big concerns as it stands.

I plan on waiting at least a month or two as well. I know their are massive price cuts occurring soon so I will be holding off at least a little bit.

Any help/suggestions would be awesome. Thanks

Re: HDTV suggestions
 

I've seen a few Visios, both plasma and LCD and they're both very good. The price point Visios have makes them a very good choice.
Whatever TV you do get, spend a little money and get a calibration DVD. I've used this one and it made a real difference.

Re: HDTV suggestions
 

How did I know you would be one of the first to post on this Jeff. :P

Yeah, I've been looking at Vizio's already but I've had some people tell me not to look too deeply into them. However, the price is very reasonable and right now, it is my #1 choice due to the relative cheapness and just solid looks.
The calibration DVD is a good idea as well. I was planning on something of that nature. My family just got a 52" Sony Bravia and had some calibration issues that they had Best Buy or someone come out and fix it (I've got no idea really what they did, but they had someone come out I know.)

Re: HDTV suggestions
 

I've been looking at them too, although we don't really need one...since we have a couple 42" projection TVs we got for free recently (I sort of fixed one, and the other works but has some wierd blue lines across the screen that are sometimes bothersome).

Looks to me like the smaller sets that you can get 1080P you pay a premium for that, and it's not worth the extra money.

Also do some research into the remote control, apparently some sets don't let you easily change aspect ratio (zoom, or crop, or whatever it's called) without going into a setup menu. That would drive me nuts.

I would treat this purchase like buying a computer...don't spend too much money, because in a year the high dollar set you bought will be available for half what you paid for it....that bugs me....

Also on the calibration thing, if you search the forums on home theaters you can usually find people who've tweaked the set and they offer suggestions on how to do it.

Re: HDTV suggestions
 

I highly recommend the Logitech Harmony remotes. They are super simple to setup and allow all sorts of customization. If the menu system is bad, the Harmonies allow you to create macro functions to do multiple things with one button push.
I have the Harmony 550 and love it.

Re: HDTV suggestions
 

Well, in terms of technology I guess mine is old now.

If you consider a Vizio... consider an executive Costco Membership (or find someone who has one) and reap the cashback rewards.

I have a 32" Olevia.... that I paid $350 for in 2006 in a Black Friday Frenzy. I think the HD channels (that I pawn off of Comcast through my tuner) are outstanding.

I can say that I have notice that p does make a difference, and over the summer, you will be seeing fluctuations as even newer technologies replace and advance p.

Re: HDTV suggestions
 

Cashback rewards? Hmmmm. This is something I haven't thought of. I did think that if I were to get a Vizio to get it from Costco. I'll have to look into that now.

Re: HDTV suggestions
 

My room mate picked up the 32" Vizion and we're in love with it. No complaints.

THOUGH I want to say unless you are getting that 42" or higher display, there's no point to 1080p, and most TVs won't come with it if you go under.

Re: HDTV suggestions
 

I'm going 42 or 47. I definitely won't go below 42.

Re: HDTV suggestions
 

I am watching my 40' 1080p Vizio right now and I love it. I paid about $650 for it a few months ago at bestbuy.com on a sale. i love this t.v It has 2 HDMI ports and everything else you need to hook up multiple game systems.

Re: HDTV suggestions
 

I bought a 42" 1080p LG about 3 months ago, and I've been loving it. I got it on sale at Circuit City for about $1200. If you're not set on one particular make or model, you can usually find one or two that have a great deal going at any point in time. Just find out what the current promotions are, do your research, and if it sounds like a good deal, go for it. Otherwise, if you're not in a hurry, you can wait until one you do like comes on sale. They bring out new models all the time, so you can probably catch a good deal on something that's being phased out.

One key thing to keep in mind is the size of the room - you don't want it to be so large that it overwhelms the room, and you also don't want to be sitting so close that you don't get a good view of it all. I've got a pretty decently sized living room, and my 42" is about the largest that would comfortably fit. If I'd gone up to the 46", it likely would have been too big for the room.

Re: HDTV suggestions
 

I'll probably be buying an HDTV soon, as well, as I'm tired of trying to see the ridiculously tiny text on many XBox 360 games. I have a 32" TV right now and will probably end up with an HDTV that's about the that size -- or maybe 37" or so. If I go much larger than that, I'll run out of walls large enough to accomodate the TV.

I've been curious what effect the switch from a 4:3 aspect ratio to widescreen makes, though, in perceived viewing area. Regular TV shows will appear smaller on a 32" widescreen TV than on my TV, but is that difference really noticeable?

Re: HDTV suggestions
 

Sorry to say this, but...

Vizios are cheaper for a reason.

Before I would buy, I would compare whatever I'm interested in with either a Sharp or Sony. Preferably Sharp.

BTW - I'm not disappointed in the least with my Panasonic plasma. When the lights burn out in 10 years or so, I'll buy the latest technology.

Re: HDTV suggestions
 

Thats an interesting question. Seems that right now TV is in a transition to the widescreen format, and everything is a mess! SDTV is 4:3, HDTV is 16:9, and as a result of both systems being used at the same time, it's confusing.

I personally don't like scrolling text, and having the ability to crop off the top and bottom of a 4:3 picture on a widescreen set is nice. But if you want to see the full width of a widescreen video on a 4:3 screen, then you end up with the little letterbox.

Right now we have 2 TVs in the living room, one is a 4:3 32" and the other is a 16:9 42", both have similar vertical size, but widescreen shows look much better on the wide screen, and normal old TV looks "right" on the small screen.

And my wife and I have different ideas about which way to watch which shows, there is a lot of personal preference involved. For exmaple, I'd just as soon watch the old TV shows on the widescreen and zoom in and lose the top and bottom, and she's ok watching widescreen movies in the letterbox on the narrow TV.

Re: HDTV suggestions
 

Take a look a the new Samsung LCD. 50,000:1 contrast ratio and 120 hz.
I saw the Samsung 4671 and 5271 (46" and 52") and the picture was very sharp (25,000:1)