Televisions?

[Shades]

My old 500 ton JVC with the huge picture tube is getting to the end of its shelf life. Thought my eyes were going then discovered it was just the picture tube.
So, I'm in the market for a new TV. Wander into Best Buy and overwhelmed by walls of them......they all look good in the store!
Usually watch sports and the odd movie. Contemplating Netflix but leery of getting hooked on one of their series.......hate wasting too much time in front of the box.

Advice/experience with the bewildering array of brands and also looking for a possible alternative to the Best Buy chain......any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[bolt.upright]

Try Costco if you're a member. It might be worth joining if you're not. Go in and look at prices first--you can go in through the exit door, just like you're joining up, eating at their snack bar or picking up a prescription (no membership required) then wander into the store from there.

As for brands, I like Samsung.

 

[Butler1000]

Sharp and Sony tend to have the best ratings on flat screens. Bit more expensive but I know from experience that Sony has a top notch service dept and stand by their products.

 

[Ben Hogan]

Costco usually includes a second year of warranty on their tvs.

 

[justfor]

Try Costco if you're a member. It might be worth joining if you're not. Go in and look at prices first--

Agree that you should look at Costco's products. They have very good return-policy.

 

[tml]

I've always been a Sony guy and still am. A bit more expensive but top quality and reliability. However, I noticed the difference between tv brands these days is much less than it was 20 years ago.

 

[explorerzip]

TV's always look better in the showroom because they play a pristine demo reel. You will never experience the same picture quality at home. I'd stay away from unnecessary features like 4K and 3D since you'd need the content to take advantage of them. One thing to watch out for is Smart TV's because sales people will try to upsell you on one of those. A Smart TV is one that has apps like NetFlix, YouTube, Spotify, etc. baked into the set. IMO, it's not worth the extra expense especially if you don't plan on watching content from those services. You can easily add those apps to your TV later by purchasing a $35 Chromecast, which plugs into the TV's HDMI port and controlled with your smartphone.

 

[KBear]

Found Costco had better prices for larger tvs, Best Buy was better for smaller cheap tvs. When you have a larger tv you will wonder how you could have watched tv on such a small screen. Bigger is generally better up to a point depending on the space you have.

If you watch local content, with a new tv you will be able to pick up the local free over the air high definition channels. https://terb.cc/vbulletin/showthread.php?528082-Television-signals-in-the-air

One thing to watch out for is Smart TV's because sales people will try to upsell you on one of those.

Was thinking that also, but checked prices for 1080p tvs in the 40-55 inch range and they all seem to be Smart tvs.

 

[explorerzip]

Was thinking that also, but checked prices for 1080p tvs in the 40-55 inch range and they all seem to be Smart tvs.

I picked up a Irico 40" from TigerDirect last year and it's free of any smart tv apps. I think it was just under $500. I think most of the off-brands like Irico, Haier, Seiki, etc. do not have smart tv and are a lot cheaper than the big names. Not even worth getting an extended warranty either because TV's are plentiful and cheap.

 

[GameBoy27]

If you are price conscious, then LCD is your best bet. If you're prepared to spend more to get the best picture then Plasma (specifically top of the line Panasonic) is the way to go. Unfortunately you'll have to look for a used one as Panasonic has discontinued production. According to CNET, the last of the Panasonic Plasmas, specifically the VT60 and ZT60 series are the best they've ever tested. If you don't want to spend quite as much, the ST60 is a good alternative.

This is my second Panny Plasma and currently have a calibrated 60" VT60. Although it comes with features like 3D, pop up camera, smart feature, touch pad remote among others (which I've never used), I bought it because it's the best picture I've ever seen. I've never experienced the typical complaints of burn-in and poor bright room picture quality.

Panasonic has been top of the picture-quality pile for the past five-plus years, ever since the Pioneer Kuro (now known as the "K-word") bowed out of the frame. Panasonic inherited technology and engineers in Pioneer's shakeup and has been inching toward beating the K-word ever since, but never quite got there. I would argue that 2013 is the year Panasonic has finally cracked it.

http://www.cnet.com/products/panasonic-tc-pvt60/

Don't get me wrong, there's some good LCD's on the market but if you're looking for the best picture money can buy, Panasonic Plasma is the way to go IMHO.

 

[oldjones]

Do not under any circumstances consider LG, unless they're paying you.

 

[KBear]

I think most of the off-brands like Irico, Haier, Seiki, etc. do not have smart tv and are a lot cheaper than the big names. Not even worth getting an extended warranty either because TV's are plentiful and cheap.

ok, yes, looked again at the smaller tvs and did see some trend showing about a $60 markup on tvs with the Smart option. Agree on the extended warranty, in 2 years the tv will be almost valueless, so no point in insuring it.

Best Buy has an Insignia 39" 720p TV for 279. Smaller screens the resolution might be less of an issue.

 

[shack]

So, I'm in the market for a new TV.
Usually watch sports and the odd movie. Contemplating Netflix but leery of getting hooked on one of their series.......hate wasting too much time in front of the box.

So you want a new TV but you don't want good programming for it. OK.

 

[out4fun]

You've been watching on a tube TV? I don't think you need to put too much thought into it. Pick the size you want at the price that you can afford and I'm sure you will be better off than you were yesterday.

 

[Indiana]

Go for a smart TV. I got a honking big LG model. Love it, does almost everything.

 

[Shades]

So you want a new TV but you don't want good programming for it. OK.

ya....want good programming but hate getting addicted to watching a series....makes me feel trapped. But sports and movies work.

You've been watching on a tube TV? I don't think you need to put too much thought into it. Pick the size you want at the price that you can afford and I'm sure you will be better off than you were yesterday.

so, you get the idea that my TV's last along time! Mine is so old it keeps showing dinosaur movies! Wait a minute, those are current

Thanks for all the info folks, looks like a visit to costco is in order, and bigger is better, and stay away from LG unless they pay me. Got it.

 

[Shades]

Go for a smart TV. I got a honking big LG model. Love it, does almost everything.

Ok, so LG isn't too bad a brand..............

 

[trouble321]

If you are price conscious, then LCD is your best bet. If you're prepared to spend more to get the best picture then Plasma (specifically top of the line Panasonic) is the way to go. Unfortunately you'll have to look for a used one as Panasonic has discontinued production. According to CNET, the last of the Panasonic Plasmas, specifically the VT60 and ZT60 series are the best they've ever tested. If you don't want to spend quite as much, the ST60 is a good alternative.

This is my second Panny Plasma and currently have a calibrated 60" VT60. Although it comes with features like 3D, pop up camera, smart feature, touch pad remote among others (which I've never used), I bought it because it's the best picture I've ever seen. I've never experienced the typical complaints of burn-in and poor bright room picture quality.



Don't get me wrong, there's some good LCD's on the market but if you're looking for the best picture money can buy, Panasonic Plasma is the way to go IMHO.

+1. If you're looking for picture quality - plasma is still by far the best, especially for sports (no "shadow" like LCD/LED) and movies (true blacks, crisp colours). Downside - much heavier tv and some glare from glass screen. In addition to Panasonic...try to find something from Pioneer if they're still around.

 

[NHFL]

I have a Sony flat screen. Great picture. Lousy Smart TV. Apps are buggy and take a long time to load. Also no connection from iOS devices directly into the Sony. If you want a good TV, Sony is fine. If you want a Smart TV, don't consider Sony.

 

[IM469]

I've always been a Sony guy and still am. A bit more expensive but top quality and reliability. However, I noticed the difference between tv brands these days is much less than it was 20 years ago.

First, I suggest you stay away from Plasma - if you are leaping from a 500 lb tube, just about any HDTV will knock your socks off and I doubt if you will have any less satisfaction between the leap to either technology.

I am a Sony enthusiast from way back and gave up my 500 lb (seemed like that - unbelievably heavy) Trinitron for a new 55" Sony HD for the living room and a 42" Sony for the bedroom. However, Sony has changed their marketing strategy and just buying the name doesn't guarantee best quantity. Do your homework. I found that the Sony TV's that you see quoted in the discount electronics store was not their premium product. Sony was producing a variety of TV's to capture more of the market. Many of the advertised bargain Sony TV's when I was looking had refresh rates of 60Hz. The refresh rate is the number of times the image is flashed on the screen. In moving video, it translates into the smoothness of the motion appearing on the screen. The larger the screen - the more perceivable the difference. 120 Hz and 240 Hz are desirable (IMO).

Look for the number of HDMI ports. If you are not using an external switching amp, you might have two HDMI ports to share with CATV, Blue Ray/DVD, Playstation and external video /camera./ phone port. If you see a USB on a non-smart TV's - these are OK for pictures but they will not play multimedia files (movies) on external drives.

Smart TV's. My S.O. got a Samsung a few years back and it plays media files as well as many Apps for YouTube, Netflicks, Facebook, games ... I'm not sure if it is compatible with all of the Android Apps. Many smartTVs coming out support Google TV - a very robust and functional app. In the same way some people prefer component systems to the generic one box grouping of entertainment functions - I like my Minix Neo 7 multimedia box plugged into my HDTV. As an Android device - it supports ShowCase, YouTube , basically all Android software. I run Kodi (XBMC) which is an open source home theatre software that has a lot of support because it is available in Windows, iOS, etc. Minix is a brand - there are lots of choices of these Android based boxes. It turns your HDTV into a full Android system.

All my own experiences - but I must emphasize - do your homework, it really pays off.