AVS › AVS Forum › Display Devices › LCD Flat Panel Displays › Need help picking out a TV (32")
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Need help picking out a TV (32")

post #1 of 19
12/20/08 at 6:48pm
Thread Starter 
I "updated" my list in post #9
Quote:
Originally Posted by dave_nj View Post

So what remains is the 32LG30($550), VO32LF($550), KDL-32M4000($560), TC-32LX85($508), KDL-32L4000($506).

When you guys refer to "my list" I'm not sure which one you're referring to...
I guess I'll add the LN32A450($540) to my list since you guys seem to have a love interest with it.

Hi guys, I hope I don't break any rules with this post but here goes (1st post jitters, haha):

So I'm in the market for two LCD tvs, both 32"ers.
One is for my mom, she will be watching tv and dvds. it doesn't really need to be anything special, I was thinking about getting an Insignia 32" and that should be fine.

As for myself, well I play FPS games on xbox and ps3 so I need a quick tv, here's what I'm looking at:
Samsung LN32A300
Samsung LN32A330
Toshiba 32AV502U Also: I think i saw the 37" version of this one at costco for about 600.. good?
Sony KDL-32L4000
Vizio VO32LF (Costco) - I keep hearing great things about this TV, and I'm sort of using it as the start point.. only I keep coming back to it as the best option.

I probably could spend more money but I don't feel like it's necessary... Help!

Thanks in advance!
Reply
Reply

AVS Top Picks

post #2 of 19
12/20/08 at 7:39pm
I just picked up the LG 32LG30 from BB. There's a pretty crazy online promo going on right now, that might help incent you. Haven't hooked PC up yet. PQ and sound are pretty darn good out of the box w/out any calibration. I would give it some thought.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 19
12/21/08 at 7:48am
I've got the Vizio VO32L and it's been fantastic.
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 19
12/21/08 at 9:26am
Welcome to AVS dave_nj

Try the search function, there are several recent threads here discussing various 32" LCD's.

Also, CNETcompares several 32's in one place with full specs and tests:
  • Samsung LN32A450
  • Panasonic TC-32LX85
  • Vizio VO32L
  • Sony KDL-32M4000
  • LG 32LG30
  • Toshiba 32CV510U
  • Insignia NS-LCD32-09
  • Vizio VP322

http://reviews.cnet.com/best-32-inch-hdtvs/
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 19
12/21/08 at 9:42am
I have the Vizio VOJ320F1A, the same panel as the VO32LF just with a "Java" bezel. I use it primarily as my computer monitor for games and web surfing. The picture is great out of the box and needed very little calibration. Motion with FPS games on the PC, PS2 or PS3 is great, haven't noticed any blurring except when I "toss" my mouse. I've been impressed with the video overall and won't complain about the sound as I only use it for SD TV anyway, HDTV, computer and consoles go to an old Sony STR-DE995 unit then out to Infinity Primus 5.1 speakers, tv can't touch that.

Steve
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 19
12/21/08 at 9:49am
You get what you pay for. I would avoid the LCDs with poor contrast, and stick with the Samsung 450 or Panny TC-32LX85 (both at the top of CNET and Consumer Reports reviews for 720p LCDs).
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 19
12/21/08 at 10:15am
DON'T BUY A POLAROID TLX-03210B!!!! Mine is broke, and I'm still trying to find out what is wrong with it. After I turn it on, the screen goes black, but I still hear sound. If I shut it off for a while and turn it on again, it works. I have my theories that there is a backlight in it and the ballast is faulty (similar to a Florescent or HID light) and it occaissionally cuts out. I don't know for sure and it is a royal pain in my a$$! Apparently there has been alot of power boards in these tv's from Polaroid and in some of their other models as well.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 19
12/21/08 at 11:52am
i like my samsung 450.
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 19
12/21/08 at 6:05pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for all the replies. Gandu that link was quite useful.

After my shift today I stood around looking at the TVs in Best Buy and I felt that the Samsungs lagged behind all the other sets, on a quick scene change you could tell the Samsungs were behind. Also my friend has an a550 and it looks nice and all, only when I was playing cod4 on it it sometimes it felt just the tinyist little bit laggy. So I think those are out.

So what remains is the 32LG30($550), VO32LF($550), KDL-32M4000($560), TC-32LX85($508), KDL-32L4000($506). I was leaning toward the LG while in the store but now I'm not sure...
The next step I suppose is to bring my laptop into the store to do the timecode test...
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 19
12/22/08 at 12:51am
The Panny 32lx85 doesn't have a PC VGA input, if your laptop has HDMI or you have DVI and a DVI=>HDMI cable, you should be okay.
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 19
12/22/08 at 2:48am
Check out this one also.

VOJ320F1A
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 19
12/22/08 at 6:59am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by afrogt View Post

The Panny 32lx85 doesn't have a PC VGA input, if your laptop has HDMI or you have DVI and a DVI=>HDMI cable, you should be okay.

I have no intention of hooking my laptop to the TV, I have a Gateway HD2200 for that (Which is also what I currently use for xbox and PS3 gaming). So the VGA input on these TVs is irrelevant to me, but thanks.

All the TV needs to do is SD & HD thru Comcast, PS3 and Xbox 360.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 19
12/22/08 at 7:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by BillP View Post

You get what you pay for. I would avoid the LCDs with poor contrast, and stick with the Samsung 450 or Panny TC-32LX85 (both at the top of CNET and Consumer Reports reviews for 720p LCDs).

I'd stay away from the Sony L series as it has poor contrast and hence SD picture is sub-par. We bought the TC32LX85 for my parents from Sears after Thanksgiving for under $500. That was a big BF discount, so you may want to see if anyone puts it on sale after Christmas.
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 19
12/22/08 at 8:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by JimboLNT5265 View Post

Check out this one also.

VOJ320F1A


C-Net just gave the VOJ37 a very very good review. Said it had the most accurate color of any LCD they have tested.
Vizio is really coming into it's own.
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 19
12/22/08 at 10:32am
I'd say it's a close one betweeen the Panasonic TC32LX85 and the Samsung LN32A450. These two definitely trumps the other ones on your list in terms of PQ. However, the Sony has better speakers than the Sammy (the only two that I have ownership experience with). Between the Panny and the Sammy, I went with the Sammy because it can accept 1080p signal and has more inputs. Otherwise, both are great 32s.
Reply
Reply
post #16 of 19
12/22/08 at 11:05am
I just picked up the panny 32lx85 - and it's not too bad overall - very "simple" compared to my 46" XBR and no where near as nice (but then again I paid about 1/4 for the panny!) - Just hooked up to straight coax cable now - waiting for HD cable box - and SD looks OK with digital signal, pretty awful with analog SD - DVD (used my PS2 with component connection) and looks OK as well - again pretty tough competition in the living room (XBR & PS3 with HDMI) but the role of my panny is a bedroom set so it should suffice -
I will update once hooked up to HD box and will try seeing what it will look like with the PS3 hooked up to it - but if anyone has some setting suggestions, I'm open
Reply
Reply
post #17 of 19
12/22/08 at 12:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrES View Post

I just picked up the panny 32lx85 - and it's not too bad overall - very "simple" compared to my 46" XBR and no where near as nice (but then again I paid about 1/4 for the panny!) - Just hooked up to straight coax cable now - waiting for HD cable box - and SD looks OK with digital signal, pretty awful with analog SD - DVD (used my PS2 with component connection) and looks OK as well - again pretty tough competition in the living room (XBR & PS3 with HDMI) but the role of my panny is a bedroom set so it should suffice -
I will update once hooked up to HD box and will try seeing what it will look like with the PS3 hooked up to it - but if anyone has some setting suggestions, I'm open

While you're waiting for HD box, just hook up an antenna to pull HD OTA. Sweet!!!
Reply
Reply
post #18 of 19
12/22/08 at 1:29pm
Thread Starter 
I can't tell if you guys are referring to the list in the 1st post or my list in post #9.. please tell me. I edited the 1st post with the information, but here it is again:
Quote:
Originally Posted by dave_nj View Post

I "updated" my list in post #9
Quote:
Originally Posted by dave_nj View Post

So what remains is the 32LG30($550), VO32LF($550), KDL-32M4000($560), TC-32LX85($508), KDL-32L4000($506).

When you guys refer to "my list" I'm not sure which one you're referring to...
I guess I'll add the LN32A450($540) to my list since you guys seem to have a love interest with it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by esdub20 View Post

I'd say it's a close one betweeen the Panasonic TC32LX85 and the Samsung LN32A450. These two definitely trumps the other ones on your list in terms of PQ. However, the Sony has better speakers than the Sammy (the only two that I have ownership experience with). Between the Panny and the Sammy, I went with the Sammy because it can accept 1080p signal and has more inputs. Otherwise, both are great 32s.

The a450 supports 1080p? I can't find information on that anywhere but cnet's site
Reply
Reply
post #19 of 19
12/22/08 at 2:44pm
You can download the owner's manual for the LN32A450 from Crutchfield's site:

http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/Man...305LN40450.PDF

Their page for the TV is here:

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_305LN32...-LN32A450.html
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: LCD Flat Panel Displays

AVS Top Picks

AVS › AVS Forum › Display Devices › LCD Flat Panel Displays › Need help picking out a TV (32")