Help Me Buy My First HDTV

Bingo. If you were to try and use a 120Hz tv with a PAL broadcast, the timings would be off. We just learned about that stuff 3 weeks ago.

DR, I think the extra cost for the 120Hz refresh rate is *well* worth it.

One funny thing I read in PC Mag or PC World (forgot which), they said the new Samsung 8000 series have a refresh rate of 240MHz....and apparently, 240MHz is only 4 times faster than most TVs... I know they meant 240Hz but It's still funny that the typo slipped through on a column on the coolest tech coming this year.

 

Errr, i'm not sure of the model number. Was only a 32" for my room. A457, or something?

Either way, it's a great TV, and i'm very happy with it Though you're looking for a pretty big TV, and 1080p, so this wouldn't be any good for you. Still, Even though I can't recommend an individual TV, I can very much recommend the brand.

Also, we've got a lovely Sharp Aquos 52" at work, and it looks pretty stunning.

 

Just go out there and see which TV provides a great picture and than start looking at its stats and price to find one that fits you. Sitting at your desk chair writing about it is like finding out if you like a new flavor of ice cream without actually tasting it; it is pointless to write about it. Go out and see what is out there and find one you like. Who cares what brand it is; as long as you are happy with your purchase that is all that matters.

The fact is most no-name/unknown brand name are made in same factories as the name brands; they are just as good as the name brands but cheapers.

Vizio started off as a unknown brand back in 2006; I could of picked up a 42" 1080P for $100 cheaper than my Panasonic 32" 720P back than but didn't because I didn't trust the brand; a week after I purchase my TV did I actually see it in person and loved the picture quality and price. I say forget the reviews and the spec sheets; go out and find one that you like at your price range and within your budget.

 

To correct Merlanni a little:

The gold plated HDMI cable is only better if you aim to wear it around your neck as bling.

It's a digital audio/video connector, the gold plating does very little.

 

True but whit real long connections the cheap cables fail. The goldplated ones are just the expensive ones that will work whit the real long connections. The thin layer of gold is used to prevent oxidation, noting more.

Between your blu ray player and the tv any will do.

 

We're still about a month or two out from actually purchasing, but more than likely we'll be going with the 46" Samsung 650 series. I've been able to find it several places online for about $500 or so cheaper than you can get it in a retail store, so that's likely what I'll end up doing. That is - if shipping costs don't kill me...I've never had any thing that large shipped to me before, so I have no idea of the charges.

 

Keep an eye out for free shipping deals. When I bought mine, I got free shipping *with* white glove services. Unfortunately, my wall mount had the standard VESA mounting plate, and my TV is too big/heavy for that, so they unpackaged it and set it up on the floor...but if I would have had the rails, they would have installed them and hoisted the TV on to the wall for me.

As for finding a better price online than in-store...well, that's just obvious. Brick-and-mortar stores *always* charge more. Check pricegrabber.com at least once or twice a week.

 

Not always true about online vs. the store; when I purchased my TV it was cheaper at Best Buy than online or any where for that matter. I recommend checking out newegg (supporting this site as well) for free shipping if you decide to order it online as the cost of shipping a TV that large can be quite expensive, $50-150.

Also, if you have a Bank of America Credit Card you can get cash back on your purchase.

 

Very good to know. I will likely go through NewEgg.

Actually Kit, on your recommendation I went to my local CostCo and found a 42" Sharp Aquos for about $50 cheaper instore than I could find the same TV online (brand new, not a floor model). So while Best Buy, I agree, will almost always mark up noticably, retail stores in general aren't necessarily always more expensive; you just have to keep an eye out. And yes, as you say, watch PriceGrabber religiously.

 

Costco is special since it's a membership based wholesale warehouse thingamajig.

 

I have a BJ membership card and check their regularly for specials on TV as I am in the market for a 50-56" TV. After I re-arange my living room I will have roughly 10-12' distance between my sofa and TV.

 

New dillemma!!

Fry's has the Samsung LN46A850 on sale right now for an extremely reasonable $1398 (the best price I've seen, even for lesser models like the 650). But after seeing all the shiny new LED's, especially those made by Samsung, I'm tempted to wait for another price drop and get one of those. Are LED's significantly better? They SEEM to be, but I've only seen them in the stores and haven't had a chance to goof around with the settings. And the difference seems to be pretty slight in terms of brightness and picture quality (especially in the higher-end 8 and 9 series of Samsung's). But still - I'd potentially be paying 300-500 more for an LED version, and I'm not sure it's worth the extra dough.

Argh.

 

Led use less power. Experiment whit the viewing angle. Remember. tv's have a shop settings pack to look good under shop lights.

Useless to say to run the typenumbers trough google for reviews.

Wiki says: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LED_TV

 

I would not buy a HDTV without LED backlights anymore, they are simply better than the CCFLs.

 

LED TVs are awesome! Samsung LEDTVs are really cool because the LEDs actually turn off on a dark scene...so the screen is literally black...not some dark shade of grey, but actual black. That's just not possible with LCDs or plasmas. Plus, contrast ratios are off the charts...IIRC, 50,000+
Another thing I remember reading about is that LED TVs are able to reproduce a wider range of colors that neither LCD nor plasmas can achieve.

I really wanted a Samsung 8 series, but they're just so damn expensive!

 

Hmm, not yet. The wife and I decided to spend the saved money on a fancy LG washer and dryer set instead (what can I say...she's a freak for laundry). But thanks for that referral. I'm glad we waited, since the prices of LED sets are dropping like crazy.

Could you give me a review? I've been eyeballing the 7000 for quite some time now...