the "help me choose an LCD" thread - Page 144

Originally Posted by Matt L 

Well, got the Insignia NS-39d240a home but not sure it's going to stay. It has the potential to be a very nice set but the white balance is overdriven to a blue-green point even in warm. Normal and cool are unwatchable. I had planned to tweak the WB but after a few hours of searching I have found no trace of what the code is to enter the service menu. skin tones are terrible.

I guess I will try codes from random manufactures since I have no idea who made this puppy, if I can get in and fix it a bit I'll take it out to my cousin.

Originally Posted by Matt L 

The Insignia NS-39d240a Service Menu code is --Menu 1999 Select ---if anyone is interested. There is a burn in mode, and "burn room" that cycles through Red Blue Green Yellow black White. Just to show how bad the color adjustment is the yellow screen is chartreuse.

Originally Posted by GGnoRE 

Do you guys think I should get the Samsung E550 or should I get a different model or even wait till the 2013 tv's come out? How well is the E550 for gaming? If you guys have any other tv suggestions with a budget around $700-$800 I would really appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Trauber103 

Sorry, Im a noob and started a new thread before I saw this one.

All I care about in a TV is HD picture quality, size and having a decent viewing angle. No smart apps, extra features or 3D necessary.

1. Budget around: 1200 and below. Fairly hard ceiling. Wanted to spend less that 1000 but willing to go a couple hundred more for a jump in quality.

2. Seating Distance: Its a big open room so Ill put the couch at what ever is optimal for whatever size TV I end up getting.

3. Size/placement limitations: 55+ but willing to go down to 50 to get the best picture quality

4. Uses and sources: HDTV, Gaming, Netflix. 2 HDMI inputs total

5. Room lighting: Very bright room

Here is the orignal post from the thread I started. Again im sorry for the clutter. Ive been reading review after review for a couple months and now starting to get into the reading various forums. Im not an experienced poster.

I have been scouring the internet and local electronic stores searching for the first TV I will buy on my own and I think Ive finally settled on my choice of the UN55EH6000 or possibly the 60in model. I was also looking at the Vizio E601i-A3 and the Sharp Aquos LC-60LE640U decided on the samsung for the better viewing angle than the other two according to consumer reports.

All I care about in a TV is HD picture quality and having a decent viewing angle. Other factors like remote controls, sound quality, and smarts apps dont matter to me as I will be using other products. 3D has never really interested me and I feel like the extra cost of that is keeping the next level of quality TVs out of my price range. However, if a TV is the best quality in the 1200 and below price range that has it, so be it. I havent used 3D as an excluding factor in my search whatsoever. It just seemed like these 3 TVs were the best bang for my buck.

I have looked at some plasmas that seem to meet these characteristics, but I watch TV in a bright room, during the day most of the time, so I dont think its an option. However, Im not opposed to a plasma at all, if it has good quality and can be used in a bright room.

I was hoping to find out if I have looked over a better option in the 1200 and below price range. Id be willing to go as small as 50ins to get the best picture quality to meet the price range but obviously would like to go as big as possible.

Originally Posted by frogpond1 

Surprisingly I thought the Vizio's looked good but the sharp aquos is much better Imo. Sharp aquos by far or Panny plasma. Act fast though last year's models at cheap prices are getting hard to come vby. Managed to get lucky and find a Panny 60" plasma for under 800$ new in the box.

Originally Posted by Mickey_C 

What's the best picture at 40" to 43"? Cost is only mildly concerning. $1,000 would be fine.

I've been looking for an LED backlit with local dimming, but none are made in this size... is that because edge lit works fine up to 43"?

My understanding is that the LED backlighting can (not always does, but CAN) have better contrast, color, and motion. So I leaning towards this technology.

Originally Posted by tgm1024 


Thoughts:

• Stay clear of Vizio anything. If I go into why, I'll have to start an additional "The Official Vizio Rant Thread" in this subforum.
• The panasonic ET5 is loved by many, but not by me.
• HOWEVER, the DT50 is the next model up and is using their highest end IPS panel (I think it's alpha-IPS, but not sure: they call it "clear panel Pro"). I passed on it mostly because it's Active-3D (and I want passive), but you don't care, so I would consider it. I'm also a little dissappointed about Panasonic's IPS implementation which just doesn't have the viewing angle they claim, HOWEVER, that's primarily with the ET5.......and I've heard from others that the DT50 is a completely different quality. Only problem is it's $85 out of reach for you right now. But it's on a price slide:
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00752R9W8
  
• The "good" sony's aren't going to drop to your price range for a while I don't think. If they do, look for the 55" HX750. Or the 850 if you're absurdly lucky. For the most part, IIRC, the biggest complaints had to do with the smart apps.
• I can't speak for the Samsungs any longer.....ask about them. I had a lot of bad luck 2 years ago fighting their firmware and panel [lottery] quality issues, so I'm anti-sam for a while.

BY THE WAY:

• Always add into your budget the cost of an extended warranty. Costco's version of the Square Trade is pretty much the cheapest, though I don't have an opinion on their quality.
• And always sort user reviews by "newest" and not "most helpful" because things change dramatically (both hardware and firmware) during the lifetime of a model.

Originally Posted by tgm1024 

"Panny 60" plasma". <----Huh? Please give model #'s!!! :-P

Originally Posted by tgm1024 

Addendum:

Hoozthatat just jogged my memory. The Sony EX645 comes in a 50" model, which you said was a size you might consider. I doubt it somewhat, because you were already evaluating 60"ers and the size difference between those two is enormous-ish.

The KDL50EX645 is $999 right now.

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-KDL50EX645-50-Inch-1080p-Internet/dp/B008XG1N7C/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1362878772&sr=1-1&keywords=50EX645

Originally Posted by whymeintrouble 

I need help choosing between two tvs. First is the Vizio E503AR. Or for 30% (clearance price for both) more i can get the Panasonic TC-P55UT50 plasma. The room will be fairly dark and sitting about 7-8 feet away. Picture quality is important to me and also the ability to handle SD source material well is a must. Viewing will also include blu-ray and hd OTA.

Thank you for your help!

Originally Posted by hoozthatat 


This isn't even up for debate. The UT50 is the hands down choice here. Night and day above the E503AR and anything else from Vizio for that matter. Grab the UT50 and enjoy it, it's a very solid FP and one you won't regret.

Originally Posted by tgm1024 

Hooz, there are complaints about buzzing that show up now and then from various models: is this largely because of the 2012 push to make things brighter? And/Or is it just luck of the draw with all plasmas (some louder than others)? I'm assuming it's always a complaint with white (or otherwise bright) images.

Originally Posted by Matt L 

I second that, there is no comparison between a Panny and a Vizio. As to the so called buzzing I have 2 plasmas and neither buzzes any more than my LCD units - which is zero % of the time. Non-issue.