Need HDTV Recommendations
03-05-12, 01:49 PM
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Need HDTV Recommendations
Finally have money set aside to upgrade our ancient TV. Given that we have a fairly bright room, I'm thinking I need to focus on LED rather than Plasma. Regardless, I'd like to keep the cost to around $1200. Screen size would probably need to be anywhere from 42 up to 55 inches. I've been checking out the Sony Bravia KDL55HX729. It seems to have fairly good reviews, but on a whole I notice that most of the LED technology seems to suffer with dimming and black level reproduction in fairly dark scenes. Is this something I should be wary of, or will I really even notice it? Thanks!
03-06-12, 08:36 AM
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Re: Need HDTV Recommendations
Good to know. This whole time I thought I needed to focus on LCD/LED tech. Any good models you can suggest in my price range? Also, is viewing angle an issue? I tend to have folks scattered throughout the room when watching a movie and want to be sure it's not an issue.
03-06-12, 10:28 AM
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03-06-12, 10:34 AM
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Re: Need HDTV Recommendations
And LCDs with non-reflective screens (some are also reflective, just like plasma) simply washout by spreading the sunlight over a larger area. Depending on the exact situation, it could be worse than the reflective glass front. The solution to the sun blinding your TV is to block the light with drapes/blinds.
I had some friend or family member spouting this plasma FUD one day in front of his LCD. Says, "look, no reflections". I'm like, "uh, there's about a 10th of your screen where I can sorta see some pic. How about we just shut the blinds?"
Viewing issue is usually more of an issue for LCDs. But many of them are just as good as plasma, these days. I'd shop for it, that's all. In fact, I did. Bought a 32" LCD a couple years ago, the final thing I looked at was viewing angle. The Panny had a great angle, slightly better than the others I was considering.
I had some friend or family member spouting this plasma FUD one day in front of his LCD. Says, "look, no reflections". I'm like, "uh, there's about a 10th of your screen where I can sorta see some pic. How about we just shut the blinds?"
Viewing issue is usually more of an issue for LCDs. But many of them are just as good as plasma, these days. I'd shop for it, that's all. In fact, I did. Bought a 32" LCD a couple years ago, the final thing I looked at was viewing angle. The Panny had a great angle, slightly better than the others I was considering.
Last edited by Spiky; 03-06-12 at 10:39 AM.
03-06-12, 10:48 AM
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Re: Need HDTV Recommendations
And LCDs with non-reflective screens (some are also reflective, just like plasma) simply washout by spreading the sunlight over a larger area. Depending on the exact situation, it could be worse than the reflective glass front. The solution to the sun blinding your TV is to block the light with drapes/blinds.
I had some friend or family member spouting this plasma FUD one day in front of his LCD. Says, "look, no reflections". I'm like, "uh, there's about a 10th of your screen where I can sorta see some pic. How about we just shut the blinds?"
Viewing issue is usually more of an issue for LCDs. But many of them are just as good as plasma, these days. I'd shop for it, that's all. In fact, I did. Bought a 32" LCD a couple years ago, the final thing I looked at was viewing angle. The Panny had a great angle, slightly better than the others I was considering.
I had some friend or family member spouting this plasma FUD one day in front of his LCD. Says, "look, no reflections". I'm like, "uh, there's about a 10th of your screen where I can sorta see some pic. How about we just shut the blinds?"
Viewing issue is usually more of an issue for LCDs. But many of them are just as good as plasma, these days. I'd shop for it, that's all. In fact, I did. Bought a 32" LCD a couple years ago, the final thing I looked at was viewing angle. The Panny had a great angle, slightly better than the others I was considering.
03-06-12, 06:01 PM
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Re: Need HDTV Recommendations
Given that my existing CRT screen reflects light anyway, I would guess that a new set certainly can't be any worse 
. Thanks for the feedback everyone. Guess this opens the door for me to look at all the current TV types. Given my budget, I realize I'm going to be sacrificing some criteria of picture quality or features.
. Thanks for the feedback everyone. Guess this opens the door for me to look at all the current TV types. Given my budget, I realize I'm going to be sacrificing some criteria of picture quality or features.
03-12-12, 04:23 PM
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Re: Need HDTV Recommendations
Bit the bullet today and ordered the Panasonic TC-P55GT31. It will be here on Saturday so I suspect I may start jumping into this forum with more set-up questions. Fingers crossed...
03-15-12, 03:54 PM
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Re: Need HDTV Recommendations
Cables arrived today. That was quick and easy! A dumb question for an HDMI newbie: are these typically directional cables or does it not matter?
03-16-12, 11:09 AM
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