the "help me choose an LCD" thread - Page 121

1. Budget: $2000
2. Seating distance: 6' - 10'
3. Size/placement limitations: No size limit. Looking at 65" - 80"
4. Uses and sources: Uverse-HD, BR, and PS3
5. Room lighting: Somewhat bright room; windows running on left side of screen, but can close shades.

Any help is much appreciated.

1. Budget: about $1500 - 2000
2. Seating distance: about 12 ft
3. Size/placement limitations: up to 55 inches
4. Uses and sources: PS3
5. Room lighting: bright room; sliding door on the left side of screen but not so bad at night.

Recommendations for the best bang for the buck for the best picture quality.

1. Budget : ~$1300

2. Seating distance: ~11 feet (looking for 46" to 55", prefer 50+" if budget allows)

3. Size/placement limitations: none

4. Uses and sources: movies (mostly DVD, some BR later), DirecTV SD & HD, streaming from PC/NAS

5. Room lighting: controlled lighting, usually quite low

6. Desired features:
1080p,
IPS panel,
NOT edge-lit (prefer either CCFL or direct-lit LED),
good 24p mode,
USB port and/or SD Card slot,
Firmware update process that can be done by customer
DLNA support (for NAS box streaming - not a deal-breaker though),
plenty of I/O: at least 2 (prefer 3) HDMI, component, composite, analog and digital audio outputs
... and of course I'd prefer a make and/or model that has good reputation for reliability and customer support.

7. NOT important to me:
3D,
the form-factor of the TV (I don't mind if it's thick or bulky or looks ugly when turned off),
Internet features are optional so long as I can stream from my PC via HDMI or LAN (prefer not to use an analog VGA input).

I think I MAY even prefer a 2011 or earlier model (if I can buy it new) that has a good reputation over a hot-off-the-assembly-line model that hasn't had time enough for its quirks to surface. (Which is why I am asking here at AVS, hoping to find some advice from people who speak from direct experience with specific TVs instead of going only by listed specs. I look up specs all the time, but I need to know the intangibles like audio sync issues, PQ quirks like light bleeding or cloudiness or banding, general reliability, the functionality and ease-of-use of the TV's user-interface, egregious input lag, you know, the little details that owners often discover only after they've had it a while...

Thanks for any advice! (This will be my first flat-panel.)

~Anna~

1. Budget: 600/$600 Whatever's 600 dollars in america is most of the time 600 euros in the netherlands. Also, the less it costs the better.
2. Seating distance: 1-2 meters
3. Size/placement limitations: I'd prefer a 40" or 42" inch tv. I've had smaller and it felt less immersive, and I've had bigger which made me feel like I'm sitting in the front row of a cinema
4. Uses and sources: laptop with VGA (I'm planning on buying one with HDMI in the future, but since that's not going to be anytime soon I want a tv with vga). Xbox 360 with HDMI, and a Nintendo Wii with Component.
5. Room lighting: There's alot of light in my room, so I'd prefer a LED TV.

Additional info: I don't really care for 3D or smart tv, I just want a screen with decent picture quality and preferably I'd like one where the black levels don't look like washed out greys. I've been looking at the LG LW4500 actually, does anyone have any experience with this tv?

c'mon, really, no help yet?

Hey guys,

My 90+ year old grandparents (really) want to buy their first-ever flat screen TV. They know zero about technology (as you can imagine), they just want a large 24 or 26" TV to watch. I can't imagine they would pay for HD so the signal will be digital (they've got a Comcast set-top box) but it won't be HD. Also, they'll be putting this TV in a fairly bright room.

They would like to buy a Samsung since that's what I own, but I don't think they want to spend more than 500 or 600 bucks so I'm not sure if a Samsung is feasible.

So... what would you guys suggest for them?

Thanks in advance!

1. Budget: $500 or less
2. Seating distance: about 10 ft-ish. i'm looking for a TV thats either a 32,37,40, or 42 inch. (its going to be used in a small bedroom)
3. Size/placement limitations: up to 40 inches
4. Uses and sources: PS3, PC Monitor, gaming, watching sports games
5. Room lighting: relatively bright room


i'm pretty much looking for something similar (if not, better) to a LG 32LD450. I used to have the 32LD450(IPS panel) till it was stolen by a burglar who broke into my house. . I would buy another 32LD450 but they aren't made anymore. Also, i'm not sure if all HDTVs already come with this but i also want it to be able to pick up OTA HD channels (just like how my 32LD450 could). thanks!!!

I recently got a Samsung LN32D550 1080p HDTV for an extra room and that 32" model might be perfect for them.
A 32" 16:9 set for older 4:3 channels size height is like an old CRT 26-27" for comparison.
That series is also available in 37", 40" and 46" sizes if you wish something a bit larger for not much more money.

Samsung also has a newer LED backlit series that is similar in 32" and larger sizes at similar prices, the UN32EH5000 model and series. Getting good reviews as well.

Both model series are easily in your price range around $500-600.

Thanks Joxer, I appreciate it!

Looking for bang for buck for son's room. He has a 26" and I can't stand to watch it with him or play games. It is a bargain name he has used since 4.

At 8', will I be happy with 32"?

I think 40" is too much for a kids room. I could go with a 37" in the middle, but fewer choices.

I would like 3d, but am waiting for prices to come down with more choices. Therefore this could be a 3-4 year tv then go to guest room for 3d later.

Uses
first cable tv.. then wii then ps3 then blu ray movies...

When I go shopping for 32" tv, I am told I will not see diff between 720 and 1080p or 60hz vs 120 in a small tv. I have read all the science between these differences here, but don't understand fully..

So, say under $500, where should I start? I understand new models should be rolling in this time of year.. so do I pickup a closeout or get newer tech?

Thanks in advance..

I calibrated one of my friends Sammy HDTV a few weeks ago and noticed it had VERY good frame interpolation just like my Epson 6500 projector. My question is does Samsung have the best "shot in HD video look"? Yea, im not a purist i hate the "film look" and rather see movies in razor sharp detail. Can someone steer me to some good choices in the $1000- $2000 region that don't have the dreaded "backlit glitch"? I am looking for a 55 to 60 inch tv. Will 240hz give more detail than 120?
Almost forgot, i don't want 3d smartv ...heck if there is a Sammy monitor with no speakers that would be fine with me..just want the closest thing to a monitor with massive "soap opera effect" and the best picture. TIA

I'm trying to figure out what TV to buy...and it's exhausting. All these edge led TVs seem to have uniformity/flashlight problems and that would drive me NUTS because I want an all black screen during black scenes. Plasmas seem to have brightness/color issues. I just don't understand why this is so hard.

I am coming from a 32" 32LH20 and it's surprisingly nice/advanced for just a TV I bought because the price was right. I'd like to stay LG and the new TVs by them in the 46"-47" range (where I want) like the W6500 have fantastic reviews at televisioninfo.com, but I don't get how that's possible because looking at people's photos in the TV's threads here shows bad flashlighting issues, which is unacceptable to me. I don't want to buy a new TV and have to see that.

I want fantastic blacks, fantastic 24p quality, and don't care much about the internet capabilities as I can use other devices for that. What say you, AVS?

You might check out the new cheaper (no smart/internet) Samsung models that have backlit instead of edgelit LED backlighting. They purportedly have little or no flashlighting issues and excellent blacks, but don't have the ultra-thin panel like the edglit LED models.
The UNxxEH5000 and UNxxEH6000 series, and a 46" size is available.

1. Budget- Not an Issue
2. Seating distance - approx. 8'
3. Size/placement limitations - 46"
4. Uses and sources - avr, bd, cable box, wii
5. Room lighting

I'm sticking with LED and trying to narrow down the field. Currently seeking app information at the moment. My main apps would be netflix, pandora, and future amazon.
Looking to see which HDTV brand outputs dolby digital and dolby digital + and from which apps it can do this. I know the bd players like sony and panny can do this but if I could do it directly from the hdtv it might save some energy. This is not a real critical concern as I would much prefer the hdtv to experience no flashlighting. Been looking at the top of the line 2012 sammy and lg but will look at what panny and sony have to offer.

So I'm moving back home to Norway in August, and I'm planning on buying a 40" LED-lit LCD to bring home with me, since they tend to be half the price here compared to good old Norway.

1. Budget
Below $1,500

2. Seating distance
Fairly short (10-12 feet?).

3. Size/placement limitations
40", slim as possible, small border around the screen preferable.

4. Uses and sources
Movies, TV shows and games basically. BD, Apple TV and the 3 consoles.

5. Room lighting
Might be bright during the summer, but no direct sunlight

I don't care about 3D, but I wouldn't mind it. I have no need for any kind of service like Netflix etc. In fact I would almost prefer it if the screen was a pure monitor with nothing like that, and not even a TV tuner.


Also, I have a Samsung PN51D7000 51" that I need to sell that I bought in August last year (too big for the space I want the 40" in at home, or else I would have just brought this home with me). Any suggestions as to where the best place to sell this is?

1. Budget: $500 (a little flexible)
2. Seating distance: 6' - 10'
3. Size/placement limitations: >42"
4. Uses and sources: HTPC exclusively, XBMC frontend 30% of time, win7 rest
5. Room lighting: like to use in dark

I am willing to buy used/refurb from craigslist or whatever. I just want a great screen, and one hdmi/dvi/vga port, any of those 3 will do, I do not care about internet, 3d or anything else.

Anybody that can help out here please?

I think I have it narrowed down to one of these three:

Samsung LN46D630
or
Samsung UN50EH6000
or
Toshiba 55G310U

Several reviews on amazon about the 42LK520 hint at bad power supplies, ymmv

Hey, this is one of my first posts here. I am graduating from college soon and want to buy a new TV.

My current one is a 27 inch Samsung LCD 720p TV that I bought in 2008 or 2009.

Here is what I am looking for:

1080P

LED

1. Budget

I have a couple of different budgets:

One is the best TV for $500 or less.

The next is the best TV for $700 or less.

2. Seating distance
2 feet away when at computer to 12 feet away when in bed.

3. Size/placement limitations
At least 40 inches.

4. Uses and sources
TV, Movies, Games, Blu-ray, Act as a secondary PC monitor.

5. Room lighting

Regular, but there are windows and that will cause glare on some screens.

Thank you very much!

Don't know how I missed the sticky, but if anyone could help it would be much appreciated

I need to buy a TV for a family member:
-32" tv
-good quality
-preferably with a USB port that plays H264/Avi/MKV (not needed if I can get a better looking TV -- just a bonus)

Budget: $300-650 before tax

Seating Distance: 9-12 feet

Size/placement limitations: Has to fit in a cabinet with about 36" width

Uses and sources: Going to be watching HDTV / PVR on it, maybe the ocassional DVD -- would prefer something with DNLA or other smart TV features so I can stream the occasional movie from a PC upstairs on the same router -- but this is not needed if I can get a good quality display to watch HDTV on. At least 2 HDMI would be nice. A USB port that can support AVI/MKV/H264 is a bonus but not NEEDED.

Room lighting: They don't watch TV in the dark they always have lights on, display cabinet IS angled so that sunlight hits it during mid day if it matters, as long as it doesn't melt they can deal with it or move their cabinet.

1. Budget: $1700ish, give or take a couple hundred.
2. Seating distance: 11-14'
3. Size/placement limitations: Looking for a decent size say 55", I can place it wherever really
4. Uses and sources: Mostly TV and (Streaming)Movies, not a big video game player.
5. Room lighting: Very Bright, room has all glass front with floor-to-ceiling windows

Other: Don't need/want 3D, so if there are two models with same picture quality and one is couple hundred less but only 2D I'd prefer that. Good viewing angles would be nice, and I would like built in WiFi-N and be able to stream x264, .MKV etc.

Hello. New guy here, looking for some help and can maybe give some as well.

Looking for a new HDTV. Will be replacing a 37 inch Panasonic Viera TC-L37S1.

Overall, the TV is still fine, it works great, have had few issues with it.

My main concern, though is the size. I sit about 8 feet away and due to increasing vision problems (some of which I hope to get corrected), I am finding it increasingly difficult to read onscreen menus and the DVR guide. I have a Scientific Atlanta 8300 HD DVR from Time Warner.

So, I'm looking for something in the 46-47 inch range. My budget is 600-850 dollars. I have been doing some shopping. The Samsung LN46D630 seems to be getting good reviews and I have seen it as low as 750. Costco has a Vizio M470SL for about $750. It seems nice, but I don't need all the extra internet stuff as I have a 360 and PS3 for Netflix and Amazon.

Any other recommendations?

Anyway, a simple rundown:

Budget: 600-850 dollars
Seating Distance: 6-8 feet
Size limitations; None, really. It will be mounted on the wall like my Panasonic is.
Uses: TV watching, Blu Ray, and moderate to heavy gaming.
Room Lighting: Fairly dark.
Don't need 3D or "Smart" capabilities, just a good screen and nice black levels if possible.
Would like to have a headphone jack, but not exactly a necessity.

Thank you in advance.

hey guys im looking for a 40-42" LED for my dorm room next year. I am looking to spend no more than $1000. I have narrowed my choice down to the LG LM6200 and the Samsung ES6100. Which of these would be the better set?

I bought the M470SL. The picture is stunning and the sound is good. I own a 46 inch Sony and a 46 Samsung (new). Both have lots of red dots in Consumer Reports. All of them are excellent. I do use the Visio apps and they are fast and the quality seems to be great. I would buy the M470SL and not use the apps plus you get five years of extended warranty coverage for $59.

Still need help ... I think I narrowed it down ot the following:

Samsung UN32EH5300FXZC - full of features, expenisve ($550)

Sharp AQUOS 32" 720p 60Hz LCD HDTV (LC32D59U) seems basic and has okay reviews, how is sharp's quality?

panasonic TCL32C5 - no information / reviews on this one.

Sony 32" 720p 60Hz LCD HDTV (KDL32BX330) (not a fan of sony, but it looks like it has good reviews)

Samsung 32" 720p 60Hz LCD HDTV (LN32D403E2DXZA) - an enigma, could be a turd or awesome, no one knows apparently.

1. Budget - ~$1500 shipped
2. Seating distance - probably 8 or 9 feet (getting a new apt soon)
3. Size/placement limitations - Looking for 55" LED
4. Uses and sources - Cable TV, PS3 games, Blu-ray movies, Surround sound via Optical output
5. Room lighting - I usually have all the blinds closed, all the room lights on.

features desired - 3D, 55" LED, Local/Micro Dimming.

Private Message me with any suggestions. Really want the UN55D8000, but a little over my stated budget. Cheapest one on Google Shopping is ~$1800

I really appreciate anyone who helps. I have known about this site for years now, but never signed up/visited. I know you guys are very knowledgeable, so that is why I'm coming here asking for help. Thanks!!

1. Budget - Probably under $3000 (this is a wall-piece for me)
2. Seating distance - 8-10 feet
3. Size/placement limitations - Going above mantle (40 x 80 inches maximum). Would
like to maximize size, so 60" +
4. Uses and sources - Cable, Blu-ray movies, Wifi (component wired already)
5. Room lighting - Decent amount of light, reduced with available blinds.


I have a few other HDTVs in my house, including a 65 VT-30 plasma I usually watch movies on. I typically go with Plasma, but this is going to be in a room with a decent amount of light. Essentially, I have multiple cables dangling above one of my fireplaces (I'm not the original owner/builder). I was either going to cover them up with a large painting, or slap a TV over it. No critical viewing will ever be made on this set, but if one wants to watch a quick movie, etc. it will be available.

Overall, I want a large TV to cover this space, with built in Wi-Fi, that looks pretty solid (both external aesthetics, as well as the picture quality). In other words, it doesn't have to be the latest and greatest, but one that average viewers would think looks good. I appreciate any input.

Hey-

I was just wondering if anyone know of a good set that is preferably at least 40 inches and costs around $500. Obviously, I prefer stuff like LED backlighting and Internet connectivity, but they are not necessary and I prefer PQ to those other features. I was supposed to buy a friend's 1 year old LG 46" LCD, but he backed out at the last minute. I am monitoring deals, but most of the really cheap ones are for off brand TVs that I keep hearing horror stories about. The reason that my budget is so constrained is that I just moved to Chicago for medical school and I may only be here for a year and I can't transport the TV and shipping it would cost too much so I don't want to lay out a ton of cash for something I'll only use for a year and then have to sell at quite a loss. Thanks for all your help in advance!

May as well close this thread.. People stopped helping.