I'm thinking about upgrading from the 27" tube TV. Suggestions???

• cruiser_96

  

  Myth wife and I have had this TV since we were married back in 03. The picture is starting to lose it (scrambled at the top, discolor at the very bottom).
  
  Any flat screen suggestions out there???
  
  In terms of size, I want it to be proportional to the area (most likely 55"-62"). No need for backlighting.
  
  LED, plasma or LCD!?! I'm leaning to LED.
  
  Are there certain companies out there that are doing it right? Visio, Sony, Panasonic, etc.?
  
  What are some things we really need 1040ez (kidding, but isn't there something like 1080dpi?)
  
  How many HDMI ports do I really need? Is an S-video port necessary?
  
  What is a good price for this size TV $1500? $2500???
• said_aouita

  

  Wait until black Friday and find one for practically half price.
• Midstate01

  

  said_aouita;1293695 wrote:Wait until black Friday and find one for practically half price.

  
  This. Black Friday there will be deals
• j_crazy

  

  said_aouita;1293695 wrote:Wait until black Friday and find one for practically half price.

  
  For my money superbowl time is always better for tv deals
• j_crazy

  

  j_crazy;1293708 wrote:For my money superbowl time is always better for tv deals

  
  Assuming you can wait till superbowl that is. As to the other questions its all preference. I like plasma picture because i have a dark room.
• Ironman92

  

  WalMart has a good deal every year on a good size high quality Samsung.
• Tiger2003

  

  Ironman92;1293714 wrote:WalMart has a good deal every year on a good size high quality Samsung.

  
  Wal-Mart does not have any high quality TV's.
• Ironman92

  

  Tiger2003;1293735 wrote:Wal-Mart does not have any high quality TV's.

  
  Thanks.
  
  Samsung sucks eh? Where can you by the 55 inch Rolex?
• gut

  Plasma still has the best depth of color. An LED or LCD might do a little better in a brighter room, but only because of a brighter backlight (which will cause colors to look a little washed-out).
  
  High-end LED's are pretty close in terms of picture quality to plasma, but they are more expensive. And with LED's it's really about Sony and Samsung. For plasma it's mostly Panasonic and Samsung, though Sony has plenty of nice models. But you still have to do research. Even within the top mfrs some models are much better than others.
  
  Then again, maybe it's all just videophiles splitting hairs. You might save a few bucks buying an EOL model that doesn't have all the 3D, wireless and other junk. Maybe do a search for top-rated 2010/2011 models and then see if you can still find one somewhere at a good price.
• cruiser_96

  

  Gut: love it! Great post. Thx.
• gut

  If you go LCD or LED, stay away from a 60hz refresh rate. 120 is probably more than sufficient. That's not an issue with plasmas (and I'll just add you don't have to worry about burn-in on plasmas since about 2007, either).
  
  Anyway, I think my move would be find a top-rated plasma from 2010/2011 and see if any are still being sold anywhere. Just be careful with an internet order - a lot of those places are shady and I'd check any with the BBB. And buy with a CC so you have some consumer protection if they hassle you on a warranty or return.
• gut

  I see you said you don't need backlighting - I'd go plasma all the way.
  
  As for ports, depends on your needs. If you get a newer one with wireless capabilities, do you really need more than HDMI or component connections? You can get software for computers to stream content if your tv is internet capable.
  
  Otherwise, if you have a home theater it's all pretty much handled by a good receiver thru a single compononent or HDMI-out connection. I'm not sure many tvs even have S-video ports (looks like crap on an HDTV) any more, but if you have a camcorder you need to hook-up maybe an HDMI adapter? I'm not sure there is any noticeable video quality difference between HDMI and component cables.
  
  Anyway, I think you can get a very good 55-60" plasma for @$1100. You can probably do a little better with a 2011 model thru Amazon or something.
• Tiger2003

  

  Ironman92;1293739 wrote:Thanks.
  
  Samsung sucks eh? Where can you by the 55 inch Rolex?

  
  No didn't say Samsung sucks, I have a couple of Samsungs but Wal-Mart doesn't have any high end ones.
• Tiger2003

  

  gut;1293755 wrote:(and I'll just add you don't have to worry about burn-in on plasmas since about 2007, either).

  
  Wrong Plasma still get burn-ins. I actually had a Panasonic Plasma replaced last year.
• Ironman92

  

  Tiger2003;1293760 wrote:No didn't say Samsung sucks, I have a couple of Samsungs but Wal-Mart doesn't have any high end ones.

  
  My 120 hz 1080 HP is quite brilliant
• j_crazy

  

  Tiger2003;1293763 wrote:Wrong Plasma still get burn-ins. I actually had a Panasonic Plasma replaced last year.

  
  Hahaha. Mine 5 yrs old. Still strong. To me only an idiot could burn in an image on a tv.
• Tiger2003

  

  j_crazy;1293812 wrote:Hahaha. Mine 5 yrs old. Still strong. To me only an idiot could burn in an image on a tv.

  
  Nope not an idiot. Still have a Pioneer Plasma won't ever replace it till it dies, still running strong. The burned in image was the ESPN logo in the bottom corner of TV. Now I would have been a idiot if I didn't have protection on it had to replace a $3,000 TV.
• gut

  Tiger2003;1293834 wrote:Nope not an idiot. Still have a Pioneer Plasma won't ever replace it till it dies, still running strong. The burned in image was the ESPN logo in the bottom corner of TV. Now I would have been a idiot if I didn't have protection on it had to replace a $3,000 TV.

  Appears you're right about burn-in, but it still takes hours and hours of the same image to do it, something that isn't an issue for 99.9% of people. And it seems you can actually fix it, usually.
  
  Never had an issue with my plasma, and it was an older one. Watching ESPN for hours was your first problem - who does that? :rolleyes:
  
  And is that the Pioneer that is like the Mona Lisa to videophiles? Just curious. Something to be said about a 5-yr old tv or whatever still being regarded as the best visually.
• Ytowngirlinfla

  

  I got my 47" Vizio LED with internet at Walmart. I paid $600 for it. Great tv and amazing color. I love the quality of Vizio.
• justincredible

  

  gut;1293749 wrote:Plasma still has the best depth of color. An LED or LCD might do a little better in a brighter room, but only because of a brighter backlight (which will cause colors to look a little washed-out).
  
  High-end LED's are pretty close in terms of picture quality to plasma, but they are more expensive. And with LED's it's really about Sony and Samsung. For plasma it's mostly Panasonic and Samsung, though Sony has plenty of nice models. But you still have to do research. Even within the top mfrs some models are much better than others.
  
  Then again, maybe it's all just videophiles splitting hairs. You might save a few bucks buying an EOL model that doesn't have all the 3D, wireless and other junk. Maybe do a search for top-rated 2010/2011 models and then see if you can still find one somewhere at a good price.

  This post is great. Look for older models that are highly discounted. Anything is going to be a MAJOR upgrade over a tube tv.
• Benny The Jet

  

  justincredible;1293916 wrote:This post is great. Look for older models that are highly discounted. Anything is going to be a MAJOR upgrade over a tube tv.

  This. Why go for the top of the line $2,500 flat panel TV if you're going from a 27" tube TV? Any HD tv will look better than what you had. I picked up a 55" Dynex LCD from Best Buy for like $550. Well worth it, picture works for me.
• justincredible

  

  Benny The Jet;1293932 wrote:This. Why go for the top of the line $2,500 flat panel TV if you're going from a 27" tube TV? Any HD tv will look better than what you had. I picked up a 55" Dynex LCD from Best Buy for like $550. Well worth it, picture works for me.

  We have a cheap Insignia 26" LCD in our bedroom and it looks great. We've had it for a few years and have had no problems with it.
• sjmvsfscs08

  
  
  
  Anything less than an 84'' 4k TV and you're poor.
  
  /sleeper'd
• sjmvsfscs08

  On a serious note, I have a 36'' 480p Toshiba tube from 2000, which cost my parents a grand back in the day.
  
  Next to it I have a 46'' 1080p Sony from 2011, which cost me a grand last October. It can get on the internet and has all of the neat bells and whistles that I never use...
  
  4k tv will just blow it out of the water. Give it 5ish years and they'll be affordable and revolutionize, again, the tv experience. And I think 4k will be or the future what 760p was for the last upgrade. 5k will be right around the corner and that'll probably be as good as it'll ever need to be. Just incredible.
• sjmvsfscs08

  I just read about OLED televisions. Holy balls. mind = blown.
  
  In ten years we'll have 100'' 5k OLED televisions as the norm. It's the miracle of capitalism.