Help choosing new TV(s)

[Nelson37]

Ok, my ship is coming in. Actually its more of a small boat, but some personal upgrades and a few donations to worthy entities are in hand.

Total budget is around $3000, with some now and some later. My thinking is to get something nice now and a better set 6 mos to a year later when prices come down.

Definitely want HD, and a 30" or bigger screen. Football and failing eyesight are factors here. First TV will probably end up in a bedroom as a game room TV.

The tube models seem superior to LCD and Plasma on standard Cable or Satellite, which will still be most of what I watch. Also, with the fixed res of Plasma and LCD, PQ is heavily dependent on the quality of the scaling hardware built-in.

Is there any independent spec I can check to determine the quality of the scaling hardware?

Am leaning towards a 32" Panasonic or Sony flat square tube for $500-600, or possibly a 52" RCA rear-projection at $999. Best Buy throws in a $200 HD receiver on a $999 TV, this brings cost on the RCA down to $799. There's also a $1200 Toshiba 34" widescreen tube that's in the running, but a little more than I want to spend right now.

I can post the links if anyone is interested, am kinda looking for general info right now.

The RCA also has the advantage of not requiring a stand, But it is DVI and component only, no HDMI. All other sets have HDMI and component.

How important to have HDMI? How bad is rear-projection? How to verify scaling hardware? Are Faroudja chipsets still considered very good to have?

[SaSi]

Practically speaking, a HD TV without an HDMI input is a joke. There are several restrictions on output from the DVD players that prohibit the use of other connections.

Regarding the choice between a flat TV and a CRT, I would choose a CRT hands down. You get a very good picture for half the money or less. Only problem is that beyond 30" they get very bulky and I don't have enough clearance on the desk to put a TV.

Between flat panels, I would choose a Plasma rather than LCD. Only problem again is that they come from 42" and larger and are way beyond your budget (and mine)...

I have recently seen that Samsung brought out a Slim line CRT TV series. It includes a 30" model almost half the depth of other conventional CRTs. It is perhaps a good thing to check that one out before buying.

[FulciLives]

I have recently seen that Samsung brought out a Slim line CRT TV series. It includes a 30" model almost half the depth of other conventional CRTs. It is perhaps a good thing to check that one out before buying.

I read about that Samsung on the avsforum and people are having difficulties with it, mostly to due to convergence issues.

I've been looking into getting a tube HDTV and it seems that SONY is the winner hands down as far as quality image goes.

The top-of-the-line SONY HDTV 34" 16x9 WS tube is about $1,899.00 which is way under $3,000.00

I suggest for further "research" you check out the avsforum

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[Nelson37]

Thanks guys, I have been looking for quite a while and I agree, the CRT tubes definitely look much better, at least in my price range.

That Sony 34" WS is under $1500, and they have a 32" Sony I think at $1195. These and the Toshiba are currently the top contenders. Prices from Best Buy. They are bulky, over 100 lbs, additional factor is I have to move in 60 days but want the TV for football season.

I may hold off and get a 4:3, 30-34" tube for now, these are around $600 or less. But then I have to pay an additional $200 for the HD receiver, damn this just never gets easy, does it?

The price on the 52" projection unit went up $100, and they took off the rinky-dink speaker system with it. With no HDMI, this one has been taken off the list.

I may just put on a blindfold, turn around 3 times in the showroom, and point.

[BobK]

My thinking is to get something nice now and a better set 6 mos to a year later when prices come down.

Unless there's some hurry, why not wait 6 mos to a year and then use all the budget on something better than you'd get by splitting it up?

[Nelson37]

No rush, I just want something better and for the first time in many years, that opportunity is here now.

Am settling in on 32" tube HD, 4:3, Sony, JVC, or Panasonic, all in the $650 to $900 range.

[FulciLives]

No rush, I just want something better and for the first time in many years, that opportunity is here now.

Am settling in on 32" tube HD, 4:3, Sony, JVC, or Panasonic, all in the $650 to $900 range.

I was looking at buying a new TV but put it off for other things (I got a Pioneer DVD recorder that cost me about $350) but like you I was looking at a 32" 4:3 Flat Screen TUBE that was either HDTV or not (couldn't make my mind up).

For non HDTV the SONY and JVC were in the running. Both had the same features and both looked excellent but the JVC was a tad cheaper. I'm talking about the 16x9 capable JVC that Circuit City has ... the one that Best Buy has is a different model and lacks the 16x9 compression mode. The SONY is the same model everywhere it seems and also has a 16x9 compression mode.

However for HDTV everything I read seemed to indicate that SONY is the best at doing the SD to HDTV up-conversion from SD sources. Of course the 32" 4:3 Flat Screen HDTV Tube by SONY was the most expensive at $899 to $999 depending on if it was on sale or not.

One problem I see with buying a tube HDTV now is that almost none support 720p at 720p (it will be up-converted to 1080i). I don't really know how big a deal it is but the new XBOX is supposedly going to output at 720p meaning it might be best to play it on a display that can display 720p as 720p instead of up-converting it to 1080i.

Hopefully I will have enough money at the end of the year to treat myself with a new TV then and it will most likely be the 32" HDTV Tube by SONY.

As for why I want a 4:3 HDTV over a 16x9 HDTV ... I have a lot of stuff that is 4:3 and for years and years now I have watched widescreen movies with black above and below the picture. A 4:3 image on a 16x9 screen has black on either sides and I just cannot get used to that! Yes I know there are various ways of stretching or cutting off the top and bottom of the 4:3 to make it "fit" the 16x9 screen but that's bullshit ... if you care about ORIGINAL ASPECT RATIO you would want to watch 4:3 in the correct aspect ratio which, as I said, puts black on either side when viewed on a 16x9 TV and that just makes my skin crawl LOL

- John "FulciLives" Coelman

[Nelson37]

Yes, that Sony seems to have the best picture.

It looked quite similar to the JVC at $765 but then a commercial came on with some fine print at the bottom.

The JVC looked like older-model inkjet print while the Sony looked like laser-printed text. Huge difference.

I had thought that tube models were capable of natively displaying all resolutions and did not do the scaling inherent in LCD and Plasma?

[starshipwarrior]

My Two Cents - IMHO - whatever you decide - get a "HDTV" type anything else would be a waste of money - Best Buy has recently started carring TVs and other computer stuff by LG - They are priced way below the normal - they are breaking into the market - and the reviews have been very good for the money you pay - I just got an LG - DVD/REcorder/VHS combo that does all formats and DL DVD for $350.00 - the reviews on this thing were 9s across the vboard - they also have the plasma etc - Im sure if you have been to best buy you have seen them on display

I am also into the market for a second game room Monitor or TV and would not consider anything under 30 inches - but then aggain I have been watching 21 inch computer monitors for 15 plus years and HDTV for 3 years (60 inch)

so you can say I am spoiled - and since I work in the brocast industries I get to see all the expensive toys that I can not even think about unless I win the LOTTORY LOL

My Two Cents

Starship Warrior

[FulciLives]

I've been wondering as of late ... who is this LG company?

I was talking to a respected forum member a couple of days ago ... he told me LG is ... drum roll please ... Goldstar.

I can't think of one brand considered worst than Goldstar ... well maybe Emerson LOL

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[Epicurus8a]

Use this formula to determine the "proper" screen size.
First: Determine the distance (in inches or cm) from the screen to your couch/easy chair.
Second: Divide the number obtained above by 6*. The result is the approximate height your TV screen should be.


*Divide by 5 if you prefer a slightly larger screen. Divide by 7 if you prefer a slightly smaller screen.