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the "help me choose an LCD" thread - Page 114

post #3391 of 4421
12/23/11 at 12:48pm
Im getting new tv for gaming only. Most important feature would be low input lag, and its too difficult for me to find out input lags for certain tv`s. TV size should be 32-42 inches, not necessarily full hd. Budget about 400.

Here is some models that are available, and fill my budget and size features. Im only willing to find out their input lag.

LG:
42LK450(N)
42LK430(N)
32LK330(N)
32LK450(N)
32LD350N(N)

PHILIPS:
42PFL3606(H/12)
32PFL3606

SHARP:
LC-32SH130E

SAMSUNG:
LE-40D504
LE-32D404

If anyone has good/bad experiences or just knowledge about the input lag of these models, please share it with me!
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Gear mentioned in this thread:

post #3392 of 4421
12/24/11 at 10:50pm
Hey Everyone,

I have been trying to figure something out and can't seem to find the answer. I have narrowed my TV search to the following 3 TVs. I can't decide between them, they all look great to me. I have amazon prime so would like to be able to use the TV to watch movies and TV shows from the Amazon on Demand library. Do any of these 46 inch TVs have an Amazon app? How about youtube?

Sharp LE830U
Samsung D6400
LG W5600

I appreciate the help.
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post #3393 of 4421
12/25/11 at 9:05am
1. Budget

Approximately $500-600

2. Seating distance

8-10 feet from nearly straight on.

3. Size/placement limitations

32-47" is the range I'm looking in.

4. Uses and sources

Gaming from SNES (Composite), Wii (Component), XBox 360 (Component), PS2(Component), PC (DVI->HDMI)
Watching movies from XBox 360 (Component), PS2(Component), PC (DVI->HDMI)

5. Room lighting
Flourescent Overhead
CFL lamps pointing upwards at ceiling.
Minimal natural light (basement /w 1 window)


I'm eyeballing 2 panels that are on sale for Boxing Day here in Canada,

The Sony KDL-40EX500, and the Panasonic TC-L42U30. There is also the Sharp LC42D69U on sale, but I don't like it quite as much.

Dell also has the LG 47LW5700 with 4 sets of 3D glasses on for $900, which is more than my budget, but I could stretch that high if it would be worth it. 3D seems gimicky, but there are some movies (Avatar) that make it work.
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post #3394 of 4421
12/25/11 at 11:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rfsam View Post

Hi,

1. Budget: Max: $1500
2. Seating distance: ~10 ft
3. Size/placement limitations: 55"
4. Uses and sources: movies...
5. Room lighting: lots of light
6. What I want: Nice picture quality, decent sound...

I'm trying to choose a new flatscreen TV right now. I narrowed it down to (probably) these two models: Sharp LC52LE830U vs LG 55LW5600 or 55LW5700. I've seen some info here on forum regarding both models (yes, I tried searching! ) but not the direct comparison. So, I'd appreciate any input regarding these particular models. I've seen them both at Best Buy but it's really hard to compare TV's there unless its something good vs bad.

There is also 55LW5700 but it seems that only Costco sells it and I'm not sure how different it is from 55LW5600. I've read that 55LW5600 has some special remote that's optional with 55LW5700.

I don't care much about 3D but want the best 2D and probably a decent sound. Although sound is not #1 criteria and I know that it's OK at best in all the flat panel. I do have Panasonic TC-P50GT30 and sound quality is not that bad while in my Sharp LC60E79U it's pretty bad. I just recently purchased LC60E79U and now thinking about returning it and getting Sharp 52" or LG 55". The picture quality is good but it's just too big for my room.

So, I'll appreciate any advice here! Also is it worth spending another $300 for LC52LE835U if mostly I'll be watching 2D and I'm not a gamer? Not sure how important is 240Hz vs 120Hz.

Thank you!


I would skip the LG 5700 because it doesn't have Local Dimming [ although it can be enabled from within the Service Menu.. if you're comfortable doing so.. ]

The LG 5600 has LD and comes with a separate [ think Wii ] remote which comes in quite handy when using Apps or browsing.

You may also consider the LG 6500 which is basically the 240 Hz version of the LG 5600 but, IMHO, go with the LG 5600 instead.

The 5600 is well below your budget ceiling, is perfect for brightly lit rooms [ I should know lol ] and 10' is just the right distance for viewing a 55".

Finally, as with most larger HDTVs today, don't expect much in terms of sound from this TV either. It's .. decent enough .. but you will want a separate Audio unit for an optimum audio experience
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post #3395 of 4421
12/26/11 at 10:22am
Is there a brand, or brands, which allow you to adjust each of the primary colors independently? I have an old Toshiba which has very weak greens, and it drives me nuts.
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post #3396 of 4421
12/26/11 at 12:58pm
LG 42LK450 is currently listed at $486.99 at best buy.com with or without store pickup.
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post #3397 of 4421
12/26/11 at 1:03pm
Need help finding the best 55" HD set I can find for around 1500-1700 bucks. Was looking at the Samsung 55" HD sets, but want to get a few opinions if possible.
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post #3398 of 4421
12/26/11 at 10:15pm
1. Budget
$800

2. Seating distance
9 feet

3. Size/placement limitations
46"-50"

4. Uses and sources
HD cable, netflix, HTPC

5. Room lighting
Darker colored basement with no windows.


Ive been outta the HDTV loop for the last 2 years... decisions sure are getting more complicated. The reason im struggling to pick a TV is because I want a tv with great PQ, but no features... netflix, smarttv, etc. I have HTPC and Bluray for all that. Do they even make quality sets without those features anymore?
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post #3399 of 4421
12/27/11 at 7:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by peteypistol View Post

Ive been outta the HDTV loop for the last 2 years... decisions sure are getting more complicated. The reason im struggling to pick a TV is because I want a tv with great PQ, but no features... netflix, smarttv, etc. I have HTPC and Bluray for all that. Do they even make quality sets without those features anymore?

I'm sort of in the same boat, but have been out of the loop for much, much longer.

One thing I did find was the Samsung LN46D630. Seems to be pretty no frills, but the price isn't that much less expensive (about $811 on Amazon). I haven't checked local sources though. Also, some reviews indicate reliability issues, but the timing of some are such that I suspect they might be reviewing earlier Samsung models.
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post #3400 of 4421
12/27/11 at 12:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Karyk View Post

I'm sort of in the same boat, but have been out of the loop for much, much longer.

One thing I did find was the Samsung LN46D630. Seems to be pretty no frills, but the price isn't that much less expensive (about $811 on Amazon). I haven't checked local sources though. Also, some reviews indicate reliability issues, but the timing of some are such that I suspect they might be reviewing earlier Samsung models.

Also check out the Samsung model LN46D550 at sale prices. Excellent no-frills picture quality and even has good basic video/audio/picture playback from USB or local network.
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post #3401 of 4421
12/27/11 at 1:01pm
Can anyone recommend a good 55" LED TV for gaming and watching sports?

I currently have an older Panasonic 720p 50" plasma and would like to upgrade to a newer tech LED - maybe with 3d as an option - but I'm having a hard time finding any glowing recommendations online. Most seem to revolve around the input lag inherent to LED/LCD tech.

Should I just change my search criteria back to a plasma or can someone suggest a 55" LED that's good for gaming and won't totally break the bank? I'm looking at 2k or less budget.

Finally - the TV is in my finished basement with no lighting issues - however - with the Xbox Kinect - I find it works better with overhead lighting on - the kids don't care but I'd think a matte screen would be better in that setting. When I'm playing my games at night (MW3, Battlefield, Skyrim etc.) the room is dark.
__________________
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post #3402 of 4421
12/27/11 at 8:00pm
I've been out of the HDTV loop since, oh..... about 2005. So I'm basically flying blind here. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated!

EDIT: I should add, I've been looking at the Samsung LN40D630 as a possible option.

1. Budget

$500-600

2. Seating distance

No more than 5-8 feet.

3. Size/placement limitations

It'll be on a stand, so placement is pretty flexible. However, we often have lots of people over to watch things, so a wide viewing angle would be much-appreciated.

As far as size does, a 38-50" would be really great.

If it's possible (I know it comes with a premium), a 120hz display would be nice, though 60hz is totally acceptable.

4. Uses and sources

PC (HDMI and possibly DVI-->HDMI), Blu-Ray (HDMI), Wii (Component)

I don't care about 3D one iota.

5. Room lighting
Moderate to heavy natural light (big picture window, though the blinds are very effective), low-key incandescent lighting otherwise.
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post #3403 of 4421
12/28/11 at 10:22am
LG 47LW5600

or Samsung UN46D6050 (or 6000 i guess?)

Which is a better choice? They are both at same price ~$900

Help me!
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post #3404 of 4421
12/28/11 at 1:55pm
I will try in here too if my other posts gets lost.

Hi, so I am unemployed and just looking for an HDTV to hold me over until I can afford to buy a new one. I saw a Proscan 32LB45Q on Craigslist for $50 but it has a problem. The guys says it shuts off randomly and you need to unplug it and then plug it back it and then it works fine. My question is, should I buy the TV and hope the power supply lasts or just buy a 32 inch HDTV Sony tube that is working fine with no problems for less?

Please don't tell me to just buy a new TV or save up for one. I have been without an HDTV for a year and I'm tired of it. Craigslist is full of people overpricing their TV's and not caring what they are really worth but I have found some that realize how cheap HDTV are becoming. I really don't want to spend more than 75$ Thanks in advance.
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post #3405 of 4421
12/28/11 at 2:38pm
I'd by the one that's working, because things like that tend to get worse over time.

It does make me think though. I'm now to the point where I'm going to put off the TV purchase, which was my original plan, but if that changes again I might want to put the old one up on Craigslist or Freecycle if it's still working, just to give someone who will appreciate it a chance to get it.
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post #3406 of 4421
12/28/11 at 4:40pm
Yeah, I am thinking it's the power supply and something like that can last another 1 or 2 years or go out completely tomorrow. If I can fix it on my own for cheap, I will get the TV but I can't really find a lot of info online and proscan won't help me because the TV is out of warranty. The tubes are just really heavy and bulky and I am not even sure they can fit in my car but they are a much cheaper and safer option. It's good to help out the less fortunate if you are able to. That's what I'm hoping to find but the used price TV's on Craigslist are a joke for the most part.
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post #3407 of 4421
12/28/11 at 7:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Freeze Time View Post

I will try in here too if my other posts gets lost.

Hi, so I am unemployed and just looking for an HDTV to hold me over until I can afford to buy a new one. I saw a Proscan 32LB45Q on Craigslist for $50 but it has a problem. The guys says it shuts off randomly and you need to unplug it and then plug it back it and then it works fine. My question is, should I buy the TV and hope the power supply lasts or just buy a 32 inch HDTV Sony tube that is working fine with no problems for less?

Please don't tell me to just buy a new TV or save up for one. I have been without an HDTV for a year and I'm tired of it. Craigslist is full of people overpricing their TV's and not caring what they are really worth but I have found some that realize how cheap HDTV are becoming. I really don't want to spend more than 75$ Thanks in advance.

You can try it, $50 isn't too bad.

Btw, i just plugged the model # into google and found parts available between $50-$100 depending. The problem is if you misdiagnose, and purchase the wrong part, then you are wasting more time and money if the merchant won't let you exchange/swap.

And if you do purchase, yank that back cover off and look for faulty parts like bulged capacitors etc. A few defective capacitors would mean an inexpensive fix. If there are bulged capacitors then i would replace all of the same ones surrounding it.

Good luck either way.
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post #3408 of 4421
12/28/11 at 7:59pm
Well, I called Proscan and acted like it was mine and told him the problem and he said since it's out of warranty so he can't properly help me but he said it's most likely the power supply. If it is something simple, that would be great but like I mentioned, the guy selling it says it just randomly turns off and the only way to get it back on is to unplug it and plug it back in. I'd hate to be in the middle of watching something or playing a game online and the tv shuts off. I can't really find a solution to this problem online so any help would be appreciated. I don't know anything about fixing TV's but if there are guides online, I would love to learn. 50-$100 for a problem is not acceptable. A cheap fix is.
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post #3409 of 4421
12/28/11 at 8:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Freeze Time View Post

I'd hate to be in the middle of watching something or playing a game online and the tv shuts off.

50-$100 for a problem is not acceptable.

Personally i think you have your answer already but have yet to acknowledge it. A defective project TV doesn't sound right for you.

The cheapest fix, replacing bulged/leaking capacitors, is also the most difficult for those who have never done it. First you have to remove the board or component, then you have to desolder the capacitors which would require a special tool ~ $10-$15 for a cheaper one. Then you have to re-solder the capacitors which requires a soldering iron, cheaper ones go for $10-$20. This fix, including decent capacitors + cheap tools, will run you between $30-$40.

The more expensive fixes, replacing boards, are often easier since it's usually just a few screws and couple of cables to unplug. $50-$100 bucks depending on what board you need. Then you still have to worry about a possible misdiagnosis and buying the wrong part etc.

Unfortunately i couldn't explain it in any more detail, nor have i bookmarked any online guides. But figured i'd provide you with some info to help you make a decision.
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post #3410 of 4421
12/28/11 at 8:46pm
Thanks so not an easy fix at all if you don't know what you are doing. Do you have any idea what the problem may be? The proscan guy said the TV could last another 2 years or die tomorrow because he doesn't know for sure what it is. The thought of lugging a 190 pound TV into my car and then into my room is a scary thought which is my other option if I get the xbr970 so I'd rather get the really light LCD.
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post #3411 of 4421
12/28/11 at 9:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Freeze Time View Post

Thanks so not an easy fix at all if you don't know what you are doing. Do you have any idea what the problem may be? The proscan guy said the TV could last another 2 years or die tomorrow because he doesn't know for sure what it is. The thought of lugging a 190 pound TV into my car and then into my room is a scary thought which is my other option if I get the xbr970 so I'd rather get the really light LCD.

I'm guessing it's power related or actual power board, but there's two or three other remote possibilities and with that i've reached the limit of either my knowledge or vocabulary.

You're going to laugh, but there is one thing you can try, and would prolong the life of that defective component, a little or a lot. You can actively cool it with a PC fan rigged near one of the lower back vents. You would rig it onto a lower vent to aid the TV's natural convection cooling (hot air rises up and out of the top vents). Get a quiet PC fan with 4-pin molex connector, get a cheap molex power supply to power it, then velcro or sticky tape the fan to the back lower vent. Lower temps, to a certain point, extends the life of power components, hopefully the TV isn't too far gone for a bandaid fix. The fan may push dust into the vents so you may have to deal with that every once in a while as well.
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post #3412 of 4421
12/28/11 at 9:31pm
Well I called Best Buy and asked them and they gave 2 answers. It could be dust or the power supply. They will check it out for free and then let me know how much it will be to fix. I am wondering why the owner of the TV just doesn't do this. The fan trick might work if the TV is overheating I suppose. Thanks for all your help.
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post #3413 of 4421
12/28/11 at 9:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Freeze Time View Post

Well I called Best Buy and asked them and they gave 2 answers. It could be dust or the power supply. They will check it out for free and then let me know how much it will be to fix. I am wondering why the owner of the TV just doesn't do this. The fan trick might work if the TV is overheating I suppose. Thanks for all your help.

Nice. With that, i would definitely go for it. And if they do have to fix it, hopefully it's something simple and cheap.

And if you have a BestBuy gift card laying around, then use it to offset the out of pocket cost.

Good luck too btw.
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post #3414 of 4421
12/28/11 at 9:41pm
No gift card but I told him that we can meet at Best Buy or I can pick up the TV and take it to Best Buy. The Best Buy guy told me that if it's the power supply, I'm looking at a minimum of $100 to replace it which wouldn't be worth it. I'm afraid I might be eliminated from the XBR970 since my friend is not really willing to help me go and pick it up and then put it in my living room. Being poor sucks!
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post #3415 of 4421
12/29/11 at 9:45am
Hi, I have been reading here, searching the Internet and am still stuck. I have a bright living room with lots of lighting and windows. I am between the sharp 70 in 735 and the Samsung D8000. I know the Samsung will provide a better web experience but I am not focused on that. I am looking at picture quality and performance. Does the Samsung truly justly almost $1,000 more? Any advice would be appreciated!
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post #3416 of 4421
12/29/11 at 11:43am
First off, I am upgrading from a 27" CRT which is on it's last legs. I have never owned an LCD tv...

Budget: around $500-600 or so.
Seating distance: around 9-10 feet. This TV will be going in a bedroom.
Size: Since it's a small bedroom, 32-37" is what I need, preferably 37". I feel that 32" is too small, but anything >37" is too big for that space.
Uses: TV viewing, DVD viewing, watching divx avi files from thumb drives.
Room lighting: 1 window, dim during the day, and I turn off the lights when viewing, which I do mostly at night.

For TV- I have *ANALOG* cable because I refuse to upgrade to digital, and I also live in a no OTA signal area..
I don't have a blu-ray player just a regular DVD player, everything I watch is SD.
I can't even narrow this down to TV models because I don't know what I need.
What I DO need is an analog audio output so I can hook up my 4 button switchbox which I have the base station for my wireless headphones hooked up to. These use RCA cables.
This TV will NOT be hooked up to a tuner/amplifier of any kind, I just need the damned wireless headphones so I need audio RCA output jacks.
My DVD player does have an HDMI port on it, but right now it's hooked up to my old set with plain old composite (?) cables- yellow, red, and white.

So I need a set with a lot of connections. One that could play divx files from a thumb drive would be nice too, but not a deal breaker if it doesn't have it.
Should I be looking at 720- or 1080??? What about refresh rates? 60 or 120? I don't watch much sports, but I do like action movies. LCD? LED? LED-LCD?
How bad will the SD signal look on an LCD TV?

My head is spinning....

I am totally befuddled and I don't know what to even look for. Any help will be appreciated.
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post #3417 of 4421
12/29/11 at 1:12pm
I want to upgrade my 40" Samsung (which has worked flawlessly for 2+ years) to a 50" set. Budget is around $1,000 but can adjust as necessary.

Only thing is, though plasma are a bit cheaper than LCD, I am curious to know if it still has problems with burn-in when playing console-based games? Otherwise I may stick with the LCD.

Set of course has to be 1080p since its in my living room connected to my surround system. Don't need 3D and I am just fine using the 60Hz refresh rate. I'm just wondering what's good to look into right now, since it has been awhile since being in the HDTV scene.
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post #3418 of 4421
12/29/11 at 2:17pm
Ok, I'm looking for a new flat panel and given the lighting in the room (lots of sunlight during the day) I'm thinking I want an LCD panel. here are my constraints:

Budget: preferably <$1000 but would consider up to $1500

Size constrains: no hard constraints, but I don't want a monster, so I'm arbitrarily capping myself at around 50"

viewing distance: 6-8 feet

uses / sources: I watch some normal TV, but don't care that much about PQ for the daily show. Where it matters to me is watching HD sports, movies (1080p content from PC or lower quality streamed from netflix / amazon), and video games (xbox360 and ps3).

lighting: one wall of my living room is glass, but I live in seattle, so it's not like it's sunny that often, that being said, when it is, i'd sure like to let that light in. Most viewing will happen at night though.

edit: i don't care about 3d at all, but it seems like most of the mid and high end TVs these days have it. I will probably never use it.

Given my uses, budget, and size a panasonic 50ST30 seems like a great bet, but I'm worried it won't handle the sunlight in the room very well. Is there an lcd tv out there that will do better in ligher environments without too much motion blur / motion artifacts? I'm not a huge videophile so black's aren't as important to me, but motion blur and screen artifacts do bother me. Any suggestions?

Thanks
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post #3419 of 4421
12/29/11 at 2:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrsfixit View Post

First off, I am upgrading from a 27" CRT which is on it's last legs. I have never owned an LCD tv...

Budget: around $500-600 or so.
Seating distance: around 9-10 feet. This TV will be going in a bedroom.
Size: Since it's a small bedroom, 32-37" is what I need, preferably 37". I feel that 32" is too small, but anything >37" is too big for that space.
Uses: TV viewing, DVD viewing, watching divx avi files from thumb drives.
Room lighting: 1 window, dim during the day, and I turn off the lights when viewing, which I do mostly at night.

For TV- I have *ANALOG* cable because I refuse to upgrade to digital, and I also live in a no OTA signal area..
I don't have a blu-ray player just a regular DVD player, everything I watch is SD.
I can't even narrow this down to TV models because I don't know what I need.
What I DO need is an analog audio output so I can hook up my 4 button switchbox which I have the base station for my wireless headphones hooked up to. These use RCA cables.
This TV will NOT be hooked up to a tuner/amplifier of any kind, I just need the damned wireless headphones so I need audio RCA output jacks.
My DVD player does have an HDMI port on it, but right now it's hooked up to my old set with plain old composite (?) cables- yellow, red, and white.

So I need a set with a lot of connections. One that could play divx files from a thumb drive would be nice too, but not a deal breaker if it doesn't have it.
Should I be looking at 720- or 1080??? What about refresh rates? 60 or 120? I don't watch much sports, but I do like action movies. LCD? LED? LED-LCD?
How bad will the SD signal look on an LCD TV?

My head is spinning....

I am totally befuddled and I don't know what to even look for. Any help will be appreciated.

For your needs I'd recommend a Samsung LNxxD550 series LCD/CCFL HDTV, easily in your budget price range maybe even less.
Its available in 32", 37", 40" sizes.
I got a 32" 1080p model LN32D550 recently and it works well even with analog video sources and it fully supports video playback of avi,divx, and more on USB drives. Has two component/composite video inputs along with four HDMI, two USB ports, and an analog audio output via a sub-mini phone jack which you can easily convert to red/white RCA audio plugs via standard adaptor cables.

Using your DVD player's HDMI output would provide better picture quality, might even upconvert, alternately a component video output would be better than the old composite output.

Probably your cable system also provides free local HD channels without a box that the HDTV could find via a channel scan, mine did, along with all the analog channels.

At your viewing distance, a 40" would actually be preferable and sells typically for not much difference (in some cases cheaper on sale) than the 37" size.

Samsung
32" model: LN32D550
37" model: LN37D550
40" model: LN40D550

Product info link: http://www.samsung.com/us/video/tvs/LN32D550K1FXZA
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post #3420 of 4421
12/29/11 at 4:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joxer View Post

For your needs I'd recommend a Samsung LNxxD550 series LCD/CCFL HDTV, easily in your budget price range maybe even less.
Its available in 32", 37", 40" sizes.
I got a 32" 1080p model LN32D550 recently and it works well even with analog video sources and it fully supports video playback of avi,divx, and more on USB drives. Has two component/composite video inputs along with four HDMI, two USB ports, and an analog audio output via a sub-mini phone jack which you can easily convert to red/white RCA audio plugs via standard adaptor cables.

Using your DVD player's HDMI output would provide better picture quality, might even upconvert, alternately a component video output would be better than the old composite output.

Probably your cable system also provides free local HD channels without a box that the HDTV could find via a channel scan, mine did, along with all the analog channels.

At your viewing distance, a 40" would actually be preferable and sells typically for not much difference (in some cases cheaper on sale) than the 37" size.

Samsung
32" model: LN32D550
37" model: LN37D550
40" model: LN40D550

Product info link: http://www.samsung.com/us/video/tvs/LN32D550K1FXZA

Thank you Joxer. I'm going to look at the model you recommend.

Hopefully, I can find it locally, and if not, then I'll have to check online.

I miss the old days. Back then, it was SO much simpler to buy a tv, all you needed to know was what screen size you wanted...
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