New flat screen. Need advise

[J.O. Henson]

When in doubt turn to perb it's the best way.

OK first off I'm as low tech as you get so I'm not looking for a billion bells and whistles. I just want to be able to watch TV. So I'm going to buy a new flat screen. Here's what I know that I've narrowed down. No need for gamer stuff.
50-55"
HD
LED
1080p (seems pretty standard)
Smart TV (no real idea what this is)

Anything else I'll need to put on the must have?

 

[CJ Tylers]

Well, will you be watching sports on it? Gaming?

These days, I'd go with a min 240hz and 2-4ms frame refresh. That's probably lowish end now... my current LCD tv, a samsung, is 120hz/6ms refresh/1080p. It's great, but watching high speed sports with small objects flying can be a little painful, compared to some of the newer screens.

Also:

Samsung makes their own parts and screens. They supply screens to other manufacturers.

LG makes their own internals and screens as well, and their high end TV's are the equal or better of many other manufacturers. The same is not generally true for their low to mid end products, but they still hold up ok.

I believe SONY uses all their own electronics, but uses another manufacturers screens.

Toshiba is alright, but I don't think they actually manufacture any of their own internals, and they sub out the screens.


Make sure you check how text wraps and warps around the edges of any screens, it should be flat and crisp everywhere.

The display images/videos at the stores are amazing, high def works of art... don't be fooled by them. Also, store will "detune" tv's that are in competition with their house brand TV, and they will increase the brightness of the house brand TV. This makes the house brand look sharper and brighter, which coupled with the display, will sell most unwary people on the house brand.

If you aren't needing the TV for gaming, or for tons of sports watching, you can probably save a bundle on LCD or plasma tv's, which are on the way out. Everyone is hyped about LED tv's, which are great... but they are the "newest fad"... so, you know how it goes.

 

[Ms Erica Phoenix]

I love my Samsung!

If you get a samsung smart tv, and a samsung device, you can stream photos from your phone or tablet to your tv...near life size! ;D

 

[Ms Erica Phoenix]

2 words, J.O. Henson

"Lingerie Slideshow"

 

[mercyshooter]

I would go for 4K for that size.

 

[ValleyGuy]

JO Henson`s advice was very good on the importance of refresh rates for sports and movies. The Samsung is an excellent product but I have to put in a plug for the Sharp Aquos Quattron which is a LED based television. Good luck.

 

[badbadboy]

Panasonic Viera Series. Other manufacturers use their engines on their products. Absolutely beautiful display in any light condition.

I have owned Sony, Samsung, LG and now Panasonic. Panasonic wins hands down and touch wood, never had a problem with the screens I own. All the other manufacturers had problems in and out of warranty. A real piss off when its 16 days past its warranty. I now won't buy anything made by Sony, ever.

 

[yazoo]

My Sony LCD is two years old now, and I love it. At first I looked for the LCD blurr for those fast moving objects - yes, if you really look for it, it's there. But in two years I don't think I've ever noticed it other than the day I set it up.

PRO's:
Price - it was on sale and LCD technology is less expensive.
Movies - Great picture especially in the dark scenes on movies. The blacks are really black.

CONS
No VGA, so I can't stream from my old laptop
No built in internet stuff like YouTube or Netflix.

Luckily I've not had to test Sony's warranty.

 

[VanessaofBC]

This one looks cool!

 

[Bone_eve]

I would go with a 55-60 inch and also get plasma as their picture is better and get a Panasonic they make the best plasma currently ( I have a Panasonic and Samsung and the Panasonic has little better picture) my first HDTV was an LCD and would not go back as like plasma so much.

Smart Tv just means it has internet on it with stuff like netflicks and some include hand gestures controls

if you want the very best picture and have a really fat wallet you can get an 55 OLED for like $10 000 but they are in short supply also

 

[ValleyGuy]

My bedroom TV is a Panasonic Viera and I agree it is the best Plasma. Please correct me if I`m wrong but I understand Panasonic is getting out of plasma televisions. If so, I would move quickly to snap one up before they are gone.

 

[newatit]

Valley Guy has it correct about Panasonic and leaving that one market. I bought a Samsung 60 inch for a large room, and love it. Had it only a three days, so maybe premature to judge too enthusiastically. But good brand, top of the line attributes and fairly easy to set up. If you want the Smart TV features, you need a router in your house, or at least a cable to your Internet modem. A router is another $60 or so, unless you buy a high end one. Go for it.

 

[alcxd]

I have a plasma Panasonic, Led lg, & a LCD Panasonic
Love the plasma but 1 thing to keep in mind is window lighting
My living room has lots of windows so I get a lot of exterior reflection
Which was not mentioned by sales man
My wife runs daycare & boys had a wii so was worried about flying objects
Plasma has very solid glass exterior & is 5 yrs old now
Lg also holding up in daycare room & it is wireless
Lots of good info here
Good luck

 

[Fakenham]

i would never buy anything from sony either.
i got fooled - again! - and picked up a clock radio that charges my iPhone 5. it is rubbish!

my tv is a samsung lcd, several years old now. apparently built on the same machine as sony, but much less $ and no problems.

the only things i would upgrade would be higher refresh rate and size.
size!
get the biggest tv you can fit into your home. with high-def the screen size/minimum distance from screen ratio is meaningless.

 

[UhOh]

My Samsung for Costco died after just over a year. Warranty expired so in the trash, the repair shop said its a common problem with Samsung and not worth fixing. Guess which brand I won't be buying again.

 

[CJ Tylers]

I've had my samsung for over 4 years now, with nary a problem. I do know that they have a torsion weakness, which typically surfaces with extendable wall mount units that support the TV from only 1 side. It's what did my buddies Samsung in after only a couple of years. Spend the extra on a good support frame or use the table stand, it'll be fine.

 

[UhOh]

I've had my samsung for over 4 years now, with nary a problem. I do know that they have a torsion weakness, which typically surfaces with extendable wall mount units that support the TV from only 1 side. It's what did my buddies Samsung in after only a couple of years. Spend the extra on a good support frame or use the table stand, it'll be fine.

Samsung has a capacitor issue. Theres a class action lawsuit against Samsung for this problem. The tv eventually won't turn even though still relatively new.