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Help me decide on a new HDTV
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frankthetank966
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Jul 10, 2009, 02:32 PM
 
I am in the market for a HD-TV. My limit is $600. I would like a screen at least 32''. I play XBOX 360 and need at least 2 HDMI inputs.

Here are the ones I have researched. I looked at most of them in store but its somewhat hard to decide since customers can mess around the with calibration. I also looked up reviews on BestBuy.com but I have a weird feeling that those are not 100% reliable. They are helpful though. What do y'all think..


http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...#ProductDetail

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1218063831450

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1218035133352

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1218061794284

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1202648989035

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1218062424206
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Laminar
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Jul 10, 2009, 02:38 PM
 
How important to you is 1080p?
     
Dakar V
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Jul 10, 2009, 02:41 PM
 
Unless he's practically humping the TV, he's not gonna be able to see it on the size range he's gonna be able afford.
     
shifuimam
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Jul 10, 2009, 02:46 PM
 
I love my 1080P 40" Sony LCD. Got it on a killer deal at Big Lots - I think it was either $750 or $799, which is a bit out of your price range, but you never know what deals you might find at discount and closeout places like that.

Also look at the scratch & dent section of place like HH Gregg or Fry's.
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frankthetank966  (op)
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Jul 10, 2009, 02:52 PM
 
Originally Posted by shifuimam View Post
I love my 1080P 40" Sony LCD. Got it on a killer deal at Big Lots - I think it was either $750 or $799, which is a bit out of your price range, but you never know what deals you might find at discount and closeout places like that.

Also look at the scratch & dent section of place like HH Gregg or Fry's.
Isn't it risky to buy from that section?
Originally Posted by Laminar View Post
How important to you is 1080p?
Fairly important I do have a XBOX 360 but no HDMI port in it. But what do y'all think about that VIZIO?
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Jul 10, 2009, 02:54 PM
 
XBOX outputs at 720p. And for most games its not even true 720.
     
frankthetank966  (op)
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Jul 10, 2009, 03:04 PM
 
What doyall think about Vizio?
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shifuimam
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Jul 10, 2009, 03:28 PM
 
Originally Posted by frankthetank966 View Post
Isn't it risky to buy from that section?

Fairly important I do have a XBOX 360 but no HDMI port in it. But what do y'all think about that VIZIO?
Not really. It still has a warranty on it, and many times, the reason it's there is because of something really superficial, like a scratch on the rear bezel or something.
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tooki
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Jul 10, 2009, 03:48 PM
 
Of all those, I'd buy the Samsung or Sony.

But why Best Buy? Buy from Crutchfield.com, let them deliver it for free, and enjoy the knowledgeable salespeople and much larger selection they have.

P.S. I just bought a higher-end Panasonic plasma and it's freaking awesome.
     
frankthetank966  (op)
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Jul 11, 2009, 01:06 AM
 
Originally Posted by tooki View Post
Of all those, I'd buy the Samsung or Sony.

But why Best Buy? Buy from Crutchfield.com, let them deliver it for free, and enjoy the knowledgeable salespeople and much larger selection they have.

P.S. I just bought a higher-end Panasonic plasma and it's freaking awesome.
They don't have much of a selection for my price range.
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Jul 11, 2009, 03:55 AM
 
Well I just had issues with my Vizio 42" 1080p a couple months back and though they did replace it with a refurb (which I wasn't crazy about) the process took much longer than it needed to.

I was very close to running out and picking up that newly released Dynex 42" 1080p as a replacement. I have a few Dynex branded products that I've been very happy with. My sister has a couple of the 32" Dynex models in her house and hasn't had any issues as of yet. I don't know, I think for $600 bucks I'd give it a shot if I needed a TV today.
     
frankthetank966  (op)
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Jul 11, 2009, 11:52 AM
 
This is still a tough decision.
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bosox0898
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Jul 11, 2009, 02:31 PM
 
i recently got a vizio 32" LCD HDTV at walmart and i couldn't be happier with the performance. i primarily use it with my 360 and my desktop and it looks great. In both component and HDMI, it says its in 1080i depending on the game (COD:WAW is, but modern warfare is only 720). overall the picture quality is great and it has plenty of inputs. The fact that there's a headphone jack on the side input panel is convenient due to the fact that my roommates go to sleep early and i can continue playing without bothering anyone.
     
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Jul 11, 2009, 04:11 PM
 
I like to buy TVs where I can see the picture in person. I went into the store to look at Sony's and LGs. I came out with a Samsung. I spent a little more, but no comparison in picture quality. (At least at the high-end models.)

Samsung also has a super-thin LED display now as well.
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frankthetank966  (op)
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Jul 12, 2009, 01:33 PM
 
Originally Posted by bosox0898 View Post
i recently got a vizio 32" LCD HDTV at walmart and i couldn't be happier with the performance. i primarily use it with my 360 and my desktop and it looks great. In both component and HDMI, it says its in 1080i depending on the game (COD:WAW is, but modern warfare is only 720). overall the picture quality is great and it has plenty of inputs. The fact that there's a headphone jack on the side input panel is convenient due to the fact that my roommates go to sleep early and i can continue playing without bothering anyone.
how much was yoru 32?
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reader50
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Jul 12, 2009, 02:46 PM
 
Probably this one considering it's the only 32" Vizio at wallmart.com which is 1080p and under $600. ($498)
     
frankthetank966  (op)
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Jul 12, 2009, 03:21 PM
 
Originally Posted by reader50 View Post
Probably this one considering it's the only 32" Vizio at wallmart.com which is 1080p and under $600. ($498)
Why would I buy that over a sammy? Same price..
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frankthetank966  (op)
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Jul 12, 2009, 04:01 PM
 
I am about to jump on the 42" Vizio would it be a big mistake b/c I have my set 7 ft. away from the couch?
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tooki
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Jul 12, 2009, 04:02 PM
 
The Vizios are pleasant overall, but I wasn't super impressed with the black point compared to a more expensive set.
     
frankthetank966  (op)
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Jul 12, 2009, 04:13 PM
 
Originally Posted by tooki View Post
The Vizios are pleasant overall, but I wasn't super impressed with the black point compared to a more expensive set.
Should I be concerned with the view distance?
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tooki
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Jul 12, 2009, 04:23 PM
 
My plasma is a 42" and I love sitting 5 feet from it.
     
frankthetank966  (op)
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Jul 12, 2009, 04:26 PM
 
LOL k thanks for all your help y'all!
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Jul 13, 2009, 10:42 AM
 
I recently bought a 32 inch 1080p Panasonic (TC-L32S1) from MacConnection and the shipping was free. Consumer's Union claims that it has the best picture when viewed from off center as it has a 178 viewing angle.
http://www.macconnection.com/IPA/Sho...tm?sku=9489885
     
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Jul 19, 2009, 02:03 AM
 
My parents bought a 42" 1080p Panasonic plasma for around $700.

Best Buy has the worst prices. Buy from a smaller place if you can. My parents bought from Video Only (after leaving Best Buy in a huff when no one would help them, and they were ready to buy the 720p modal from Best Buy for more.)
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Jul 19, 2009, 02:11 AM
 
Originally Posted by goMac View Post
My parents bought a 42" 1080p Panasonic plasma for around $700.

Best Buy has the worst prices. Buy from a smaller place if you can. My parents bought from Video Only (after leaving Best Buy in a huff when no one would help them, and they were ready to buy the 720p modal from Best Buy for more.)
Best Buy ain't dubbed "Worst Buy" for nothing! If you know someone that works there, their employee discount brings them into the ballpark, otherwise, yes ... go somewhere else.
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Jul 20, 2009, 02:35 PM
 
I bought an end of line 40" Samsung 720p LCD for $699 (Canadian) - I still haven't seen a 40" LCD that inexpensive (for a real brand, anyway). I don't really care that it's not 1080p. Maybe if I had a computer connected it, I'd care, but for me, it doesn't really make that much of a difference.
     
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Jul 20, 2009, 02:42 PM
 
Originally Posted by hayesk View Post
I bought an end of line 40" Samsung 720p LCD for $699 (Canadian) - I still haven't seen a 40" LCD that inexpensive (for a real brand, anyway). I don't really care that it's not 1080p. Maybe if I had a computer connected it, I'd care, but for me, it doesn't really make that much of a difference.
Then it sounds like it was an excellent buy!
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Jul 20, 2009, 04:38 PM
 
Newegg.com - TOSHIBA 40" 16:9 8ms 1080p LCD HDTV 40RV525R

One of my neighbors just bought one of these and I went over to hook it up for them. After a little tinkering with VE, the picture was actually rather impressive.
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