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wormil
Sep 12, 2002

Hulk will smoke you!
Well, last minute decision and I bought the JVC 47" LCD for $399 at Walmart, hopefully it doesn't bite me in the rear end.

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WhiteOutMouse
Jul 29, 2010

:wom: will blow your mind.
I am sure I am among the many bummed out people who didn't get the 40" for $180 and I am looking for the next best deal on a similar size.

I went to bestbuy and target after work but nothing jumped out at me.

I saw a pile of this tv:
http://www.target.com/p/element-ele...rimary%20Banner

But that's probably because it's a brand I have never heard of before, and probably has junk quality. Not sure if 6,000:1 is even a workable contrast ratio. I could have sworn I saw some with X-Million:1 which would dwarf this tv immensely.

Still, I figured I would ask here since I have a broken heart and I need to fill it with an affordable TV now, even though a week ago I was just fine with my current setup. Shopping is addictive.

AlternateAccount
Apr 25, 2005
FYGM

WhiteOutMouse posted:

But that's probably because it's a brand I have never heard of before, and probably has junk quality. Not sure if 6,000:1 is even a workable contrast ratio. I could have sworn I saw some with X-Million:1 which would dwarf this tv immensely.

There is no legitimate cross-brand standard for measuring contrast ratio, it's kind of a useless number.

Haven't I seen some of these cheaper TVs with awful 6-bit panels in them or was that my imagination?

Piquai Souban
Mar 21, 2007

Manque du respect: toujours.
Triple bas cinq: toujours.
Prices on the 50" Panasonic Plasma ST50 (TCP50ST50) in Canada fell a lot over the last two days, a lot of specialty stores and The Brick dropped the standing price (I'd been watching for a month) from 1199$ to 998$.

Not as big of news to Americans, but that's the Amazon.com price for it, which is a surprise given the usual Canuck premium on these.

Gobias Ind.
Apr 5, 2007

If your girlfriend says hey to me that's our girlfriend now idc
I'm trying to help my girlfriend buy a new TV for her family, and have discovered that I don't know nearly as much about TVs as I thought I did.

They're currently running with a TV that's probably 25" and is most assuredly not HD ready. They have the basic-est of non-digital cable packages and don't watch a ton of TV; they'd primarily use it for their PS3 and movies. I've read that analog cable will actually look worse on an HDTV, which is unfortunate, but I presume that the upgrade in their PS3 playing and movie watching will be worth it.

My question is, should this Samsung 39" LED suit their needs? It looks to me as if it has everything they'll need and will be a huge upgrade from their current shitbox for a pretty reasonable price. They also value energy conservation, so I figure paying a little more for an LED would be worth it for them.

http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product...f2b0422e366en02

Anybody have any experience with this set or any general recommendations for me? Thanks!

Kilty Monroe
Dec 27, 2006

Upon the frozen fields of arctic Strana Mechty, the Ghost Dads lie in wait, preparing to ambush their prey with their zippin' and zoppin' and ziggy-zoop-boppin'.
I'd like to get one of these <$100 Black Friday sets for a friend of mine that's away at college because he has nothing at all right now. The dorm gets cable, but the hookup in the rooms is just a coax connector on a wallplate. If the TV doesn't have a coax input, would it just need something cheap like an RF modulator, or is he screwed without an actual receiver?

other people
Jun 27, 2004
Associate Christ
Is it standard for a new tv to have analog RCA audio output?

If a device is connected to the tv via hdmi, will the tv still output the audio to RCA? Or would gay hdmi copy protection ruin that?

kuddles
Jul 16, 2006

Like a fist wrapped in blood...
I've never heard of any issues with sound output from a TV, but a lot of televisions these days don't include an audio output other than optical, although there might be adapters for that.

Acer Pilot
Feb 17, 2007
put the 'the' in therapist

:dukedog:

I read that I should look for TVs that upconvert to 1080i but all the TVs I see here in Canada "downscale" and are 720.

Can someone explain this to me please?

Don Lapre
Mar 28, 2001

If you're having problems you're either holding the phone wrong or you have tiny girl hands.

KNITS MY FEEDS posted:

I read that I should look for TVs that upconvert to 1080i but all the TVs I see here in Canada "downscale" and are 720.

Can someone explain this to me please?
Don't worry about any of that these days. Just buy what looks good and fits in your budget.

other people
Jun 27, 2004
Associate Christ
Well, the wife wanted to see these things IRL, which backfired a bit because a 32" TV looks tiny in a place like Best Buy when surrounded by 70" behemoths.

They had a Toshiba 40" that was thin and had a small bezel for $499. Even better, was Amazon had the same thing for $450 (and no tax).

So in a few days this thing will be at our door: 40L5200U

kuddles is right though, none of the TVs I looked at had analog audio output. Not a bit deal in the end, but hopefully I can find a cheap adaptor.

kuddles
Jul 16, 2006

Like a fist wrapped in blood...
If you don't find anything in your local Radio Shack or whatever, it looks like as usual Monoprice has a solution if you're willing to wait a few days for shipping.

The Dark One
Aug 19, 2005

I'm your friend and I'm not going to just stand by and let you do this!
My parents are still using a standard def CRT, but my mom has made the decision to jump into the 21st century and get a new TV for my dad for Christmas. The biggest concern I have is that the room where they watch TV has window along three of its walls. They sit fairly far back (about 2.5m away), but don't have room for much more than a 32 inch screen.

Is it worth spending money on anything decent, or will those conditions mean than any lovely 720p screen will do? Are there brands that tend to have lovely electronics, regardless of the panels they use?

Diqnol
May 9, 2010

Nick Sirianni is
bad for business


I have a question I haven't been able to find the answer to and I assume this is the place to ask. If it isn't, I sincerely apologize. I have a cheapo LCD Dynex 32" 720P that has always had a problem on ESPN HD channels but only during commercials or CGI stuff. I have read ESPN is sent out as 720p which makes me tend to believe it is not my TV itself.

I've had a bear of a time trying to figure out why this thing blinks on and off during these commercials. It seems like the screen speeds up for a second, then blacks out, resets and tries again but still can't keep up, resulting in blinking every other second until the end of the commercial. Sound is continuous. TV works perfectly well on any other HD channel and during the football games themselves.

My current theory is that it's my cable box or connection. It's an HD box but it isn't hooked up via an HDMI wire - I believe them to be HD component cables. If anyone has any idea, I'd be hugely grateful.

other people
Jun 27, 2004
Associate Christ

kuddles posted:

If you don't find anything in your local Radio Shack or whatever, it looks like as usual Monoprice has a solution if you're willing to wait a few days for shipping.

I bought the same thing on amazon, but now I am looking at the manual for the TV (here) and on page 20/21 Item #3 seems to be an analog audio output. There is no other mention of it in the manual, but it looks like a female 3.5mm stereo jack. I think that ought to work!

PRADA SLUT
Mar 14, 2006

Inexperienced,
heartless,
but even so
I'm debating about this TV:

http://www.amazon.com/LE42FHDE5300-42-Inch-2-Year-Limited-Warranty/dp/B007HK147E/

46" LED for $448. It seems incredibly cheap, but I'm not familliar much with TCL. Is this a good deal, or would it be better to spend some extra on a more well-known brand?


edit: Would pretty much just be streaming content and occasionally using it as a second monitor for some games.

PRADA SLUT fucked around with this message at 17:04 on Nov 25, 2012

quaker69
Jul 3, 2004

Four measures of cheap Vodka combined with a bottle of Bawls
Lipstick Apathy

Kaluza-Klein posted:

I bought the same thing on amazon, but now I am looking at the manual for the TV (here) and on page 20/21 Item #3 seems to be an analog audio output. There is no other mention of it in the manual, but it looks like a female 3.5mm stereo jack. I think that ought to work!

Yes, thin tvs have been doing this a while. You dont need a fancy digital to analog adapter, just get the headphone to rca style splitter and you're good to go.

Elysium
Aug 21, 2003
It is by will alone I set my mind in motion.
What do you guys think about this Sharp Quattron 60" for $799 (after $100 mail in rebate)? http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1497919&CatId=5990

It being refurbished doesn't bother me at all if the original set is a quality product.

Trump
Jul 16, 2003

Cute
What review sites are considered the most reliable and trustworthy?

Stutes
Oct 13, 2005

Tonight's the Night

Elysium posted:

What do you guys think about this Sharp Quattron 60" for $799 (after $100 mail in rebate)? http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1497919&CatId=5990

It being refurbished doesn't bother me at all if the original set is a quality product.

As far as I can tell, Tiger Direct is wrong, and this is not a Quattron set. Only the LE8xx series are Quattron TVs. The one Tiger Direct is selling is likely a store-specific version of this model: http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/sharp-lc-60le640u/4505-6482_7-35123266.html

Mister Facetious
Apr 21, 2007

I think I died and woke up in L.A.,
I don't know how I wound up in this place...

:canada:

Trump posted:

What review sites are considered the most reliable and trustworthy?

I don't know if they're trustworthy enough for everyone's taste, but I used combination of CNET, TelevisionInfo, and HDTVTest to arrive at the decision that, based on my budget and wants, the Panasonic TCP50ST50 or Samsung PN51E6500 were the televisions for me.

Plus this thread, and AVSForum for bullshit-sifting.

Rhyno
Mar 22, 2003
Probation
Can't post for 8 years!
What are everyone's thoughts on Dynex sets? My father and I want to buy my sister a new tv for her birthday and he found a 32" Dynex at Best Buy for a great price with like 500 positive reviews.

Mister Facetious
Apr 21, 2007

I think I died and woke up in L.A.,
I don't know how I wound up in this place...

:canada:
Since it's a store brand, you should head down to give one a once-over, and ask to fiddle around with it.

Rhyno
Mar 22, 2003
Probation
Can't post for 8 years!

Mister Macys posted:

Since it's a store brand, you should head down to give one a once-over, and ask to fiddle around with it.

Oh I plan to, just curious if anyone has any negative input to give.

Mister Facetious
Apr 21, 2007

I think I died and woke up in L.A.,
I don't know how I wound up in this place...

:canada:
Well, I don't trust store brands outside of a supermarket, but it'll have a warranty like any other TV, and Best Buy wouldn't be selling them if (enough) people didn't think they were at least decent.
Hell, these days, just about any tv looks good displaying an HD signal with even minor tweaks to default video settings.

SD on the other hand...

WhiteOutMouse
Jul 29, 2010

:wom: will blow your mind.
That's encouraging for my off-brand finds.

I am looking to pull he trigger on one of these:

39" $269
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0081UUYWA/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

39" $279
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Coby+-+39%26%2334%3B+Class+-+LCD+-+1080p+-+60Hz+-+HDTV/5472124.p?id=1218651675253&skuId=5472124

40" $299
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Westinghouse+-+40%26%2334%3B+Class+-+LCD+-+1080p+-+120Hz+-+HDTV/5772998.p?id=1218694834215&skuId=5772998

They all seem to be 3rd or 2nd party brands. I am just looking to get the biggest bang for my buck. Is it worth it to spend the extra $10-30 to get the extra inch and or 60hz bump?

Edit:
My credit card is offering 5% cashback on bestbuy purchases, so I might go got the 40" just in case I really need that extra inch and 120hz. For $15 over the cheaper one I think it's worth it, barring any advice I get from you guys.

WhiteOutMouse fucked around with this message at 11:22 on Nov 26, 2012

Ragehaver
Jul 27, 2001

"Though I often smell of excrement, I deserve your respect because I provide a valuable service."

WhiteOutMouse posted:

That's encouraging for my off-brand finds.

I am looking to pull he trigger on one of these:

39" $269
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0081UUYWA/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

39" $279
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Coby+-+39%26%2334%3B+Class+-+LCD+-+1080p+-+60Hz+-+HDTV/5472124.p?id=1218651675253&skuId=5472124

40" $299
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Westinghouse+-+40%26%2334%3B+Class+-+LCD+-+1080p+-+120Hz+-+HDTV/5772998.p?id=1218694834215&skuId=5772998

They all seem to be 3rd or 2nd party brands. I am just looking to get the biggest bang for my buck. Is it worth it to spend the extra $10-30 to get the extra inch and or 60hz bump?

Edit:
My credit card is offering 5% cashback on bestbuy purchases, so I might go got the 40" just in case I really need that extra inch and 120hz. For $15 over the cheaper one I think it's worth it, barring any advice I get from you guys.

I could be totally wrong but Coby (and Haier) always look really really bad in person. They also tend to have a lot of "died in 6 months" reviews.

If you're buying it sight unseen, I'd avoid them unless this thread thinks otherwise for some reason.

Jose Valasquez
Apr 8, 2005

How's the Amazon deal of the day TV?
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-TC-L42ET5-42-Inch-LED-LCD-Polarized/dp/tech-data/B00752RABS/ref=de_a_smtd
42" Panasonic 3D/1080p/120Hz for $599

uwaeve
Oct 21, 2010



focus this time so i don't have to keep telling you idiots what happened
Lipstick Apathy
Hoping this is the place to ask, but what does one use to mount a 60ST50 plasma to one's wall? I see a huge range of prices for basic wall mounts. Some tilt is required, pan may be nice depending on price (I have a feeling it's going to get expensive).

merk
May 20, 2003

##interact
I am a little bit salty. I've sat idly by all Black Friday and now into Cyber Monday waiting for the Panasonic VIERA TC-P60ST50 (50"-60") to be on sale. I didn't expect to see anything crazy, but I kind of was hoping to at least see like a 10%-20% dip on price.

Are the Amazon prices truly reflective of how cheap this TV will go over the holiday season: http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-VIERA-TC-P50ST50-50-Inch-Plasma/dp/B00752VKW8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353940556&sr=8-1&keywords=TX-P42ST50B

BonoMan
Feb 20, 2002

Jade Ear Joe

Those are all decent deals since they're all IPS panels.

The "active shutter" 3D sucks, but you can just not use that. However if you're really wanting 3D (most people aren't), I'd look at a passive 3D set.

merk
May 20, 2003

##interact
Thanks! I'll probably pull the trigger soon.

Jose Valasquez
Apr 8, 2005

BonoMan posted:

Those are all decent deals since they're all IPS panels.

The "active shutter" 3D sucks, but you can just not use that. However if you're really wanting 3D (most people aren't), I'd look at a passive 3D set.
Not terribly worried about 3D but from what I can tell these are passive 3D

BonoMan
Feb 20, 2002

Jade Ear Joe

Jose Valasquez posted:

Not terribly worried about 3D but from what I can tell these are passive 3D

You would be correct!

I was looking at the Amazon Deal of the Day link (which features all three TVs for sale) and the first two were active shutter. Didn't see that the 3rd was passive.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.ht...GD5DTB80ZJ9VB8R

merk
May 20, 2003

##interact
That link shows the DT and ET lines for sale, not the ST50. Did you paste the wrong link?

Jose Valasquez
Apr 8, 2005

BonoMan posted:

You would be correct!

I was looking at the Amazon Deal of the Day link (which features all three TVs for sale) and the first two were active shutter. Didn't see that the 3rd was passive.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.ht...GD5DTB80ZJ9VB8R
I was doing the same thing and assuming the deal was for 3 sizes of the ET5 instead of one ET5 and two DT50s.

Pulled the trigger on the 42", my 5 year old Samsung "UltraSlim" (12.3" thick :lol: ) is getting a bunch of pixels that are stuck on white so it's time for an upgrade

BonoMan
Feb 20, 2002

Jade Ear Joe

merk posted:

That link shows the DT and ET lines for sale, not the ST50. Did you paste the wrong link?

No I was responding to Jose Velasquez, and not you. Sorry that got confusing as all the posts were jumbled up together.

Elysium
Aug 21, 2003
It is by will alone I set my mind in motion.
The Sharp 60" is still available from Sears for $688 if you don't mind older tech: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_05771350000P?sid=IAx20050830x000545&PID=1225267&aff=Y

BonoMan
Feb 20, 2002

Jade Ear Joe
My $180 42" TCL just arrived. Eager to give this one a trip report tonight. Although I imagine it'll end in "meh...it'll do."

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merk
May 20, 2003

##interact

Jose Valasquez posted:

Pulled the trigger on the 42", my 5 year old Samsung "UltraSlim" (12.3" thick :lol: ) is getting a bunch of pixels that are stuck on white so it's time for an upgrade

That 42" deal is now dead. I think you must have purchased one of the last ones.

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