lcd tv choices

OP,

Check slickdeals.net for TV deals. You WILL find a great deal if you watch it daily.

 

it is so hard to hold out.......

 

^^^^^ Yeah, I actually went to the store to bite on another TV deal and found my TV package there. It was luck, but I wouldn't have been able to hold out either.

 

Did you get your TV yet?

 

Check these out:
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...0151&langId=-1&categoryId=8198552921644762027

They do have some bundles for 3D TVs if you can up your budget. ^^^These actually are the same as what you found, I thought the EX500 was cheaper.

 

First of all, Sony and Samsung are both excellent choices. I have a 52" Sony KDL-52XBR4 and a 46" Samsung 540 model, and both are, IMO, excellent TVs. I don't think you can go wrong with either brand. Vizio also seems to offer good value, and Sharp TVs get decent reviews. I personally would stay away from your lower tier brands (Hitachi, Phillips, RCA, etc).

Now, as far as the 60 vs. 120 vs. 240 hz debate. The human eye can very rarely pick up the difference between 120 and 240 hz, so that's pretty much a moot point. No reason to spend more for 240 hz. In fact, of my 2 TVs I listed above, the Sony is 120 and the Samsung is 60. There's not a hill of beans difference between the two as far as blur. If you do a little bit of reading (cnet is my favorite), you'll notice that most professional calibrations will actually turn the blur reduction to "low" or "off". I have it "off" on my Sony, and there's no blur. My point here - don't focus too much on the refresh rate. A higher quality TV with a lower refresh rate will look better and more natural than a lower quality one with a higher refresh rate.

Regarding plasma - IMO, stay away from plasma unless it's going to be in a completely dedicated theater/viewing room where you can have a completely dark viewing area. They get washed out in any kind of light, and they use more power. They do offer excellent picture quality, though that's becoming less of an issue with the advances in LCD TVs. Personally, I'm an LCD guy through and through.

Whatever TV you get, get it calibrated. You can usually google your model number and "calibration" and get an idea of what settings make your TV look best. It makes a WORLD of difference. My Sony is my theater/main TV, and it still amazes people who watch games and movies on it who have newer TVs because it's calibrated. It will take an OK picture to a whole new level.

Hope this helps. I've researched TVs a lot, set up more than a couple, and have calibrated most of my friends' and family's TVs.

 

I would agree with almost everything here , except with the 120-240hz part , kinda . I can't see a discernable difference between 120 and 240 hz , except when watching hockey , which being in Canada , is pretty much the prime driver in getting a big tv . I think it has something to do with the huge contrast between the white ice and the players , but you can see a difference in this case . On other content , no .

 

I'll give you the hockey, because I don't watch much, so I can't say either way.

 

no not yet but...been holding out but i dont know how much longer i can wait.......
prices have been the same for the last 2 weeks...actually went upo $100 but sales man said he would honor old price

 

By the way, I did some reading, and it seems like the Samsung 630 is a slightly better TV. I change my vote to that one.

 

sweet i might just go and get that tv tomm.and stop the wait.....

 

Plasmas don't wash out. The issue is with glare. Our room is well lit and viewing is not an issue. The only issue is when window shades are open during the day and at certain angles you may pick up some reflections.

I'll offer my 1.5 cents on TVs. Yes, a 60HZ refresh rate is usually the max the human eye can see. Anything else and it is to compensate for motion blur on a larger LCD panel. Personally, I have seen it and it could be annoying to some. The screen glare on a Plasma may bother some as well. It's best to look at each one side by side and pick which looks best to you. Try viewing different programs.

As far as brands I can only really provide my personal feedback. I was a big Sony fan boy mainly due to that's all we had when growing up. Hell, my dad bought a Betamax in '81. My biggest issue is I think their customer service has slipped. I was indirectly involved in Sony's rear projection LCD TV issues and I think they handled the situation poorly.

The other TV I purchased for the in-laws recently was a Vizio 55" LCD. I unpacked it, turned it on and a row of pixels were out. I returned it and decided to stick with the LG plasmas that I already have. I bought the in-laws a 60" LG plasma.

 

Different ways of saying the same thing. The glare from the sun would cause the picture to be washed out. Just a miscommunication.

In respect to full disclosure, OP, you're going to get some of this same effect if you get an LCD with a glossy screen instead of a matte one.

 

This will probably get you headed in the right direction if you go with the 630.

http://reviews.lcdtvbuyingguide.com/lcdtvreviews/samsung-ln55c650-calibration.html

 

LG