Ack! I need a new TV. Advice?

[KristinBelle]

My TV is on the fritz, the pictures weird(colors off, wavy) and it keeps making this weird fuzzy, whispering sound. I'm going to look this afternoon and don't want to spend over 600.00 and I'd like to spend under 500.00, if possible. It's for a medium size room. I haven't bought a TV in years, any advice?

 

[barbeml]

In your price range, we have had great luck with Panasonic. We got one for our den last year and the picture and sound are outstanding.

 

[KristinBelle]

In your price range, we have had great luck with Panasonic. We got one for our den last year and the picture and sound are outstanding.

What kind(style, flat screen etc..) is it and where did you buy yours? Thanks.

 

[bicker]

At that price, a flat-screen would either be small or inferior technology. Also beware that a lot of CRTs are labeled "flat-screen" but that just means the picture tube has a flat surface -- it doesn't mean what most folks typically mean, these days, when they refer to flat-screen.

One thing I would take into consideration is that you probably want to aim either for a monitor (NO tuner) or a television WITH a digital tuner (in addition, perhaps, to an analog tuner). That's really what the standard is now. It's actually illegal now to make new televisions with only an analog tuner, so if you see that offered, I'd steer clear. Anything with just an analog tuner is a remainder, old technology that the vendor hasn't been able to unload already.

 

[barbeml]

I can check the model for you when I get home. It is 22" I think, has a flat, rectangular screen and a picture tube (as opposed to a plasma or LCD). We just bought a Sharp Aquos 42" LCD, so forgive me if I mix up the terminology.

We got both at Circuit City...we get email offers from them all the time.

When we bought the Panasonic for the den, we originally purchased a Samsung. It wouldn't work with our DVD player...no sound. DH called their tech support and the guy said to take it back and get another brand (seriously!)

When we got the Sharp two weeks ago, we gave our old 27" JVC to the neighbors. 13 years old and still working great, not sure if they have maintained their quality over the years.

 

[barbeml]

Also beware that a lot of CRTs are labeled "flat-screen" but that just means the picture tube has a flat surface -- it doesn't mean what most folks typically mean, these days, when they refer to flat-screen..

Bicker said it better than my description...Bicker KNOWS tvs!

 

[KristinBelle]

Thanks so much barbeml.

 

[KristinBelle]

At that price, a flat-screen would either be small or inferior technology. Also beware that a lot of CRTs are labeled "flat-screen" but that just means the picture tube has a flat surface -- it doesn't mean what most folks typically mean, these days, when they refer to flat-screen.

One thing I would take into consideration is that you probably want to aim either for a monitor (NO tuner) or a television WITH a digital tuner (in addition, perhaps, to an analog tuner). That's really what the standard is now. It's actually illegal now to make new televisions with only an analog tuner, so if you see that offered, I'd steer clear. Anything with just an analog tuner is a remainder, old technology that the vendor hasn't been able to unload already.

I'm a bit confused, can you think of any examples of what you think I should buy? I'd really appreciate the help.

 

[bicker]

I'm a bit confused, can you think of any examples of what you think I should buy? I'd really appreciate the help.

Here's a good one:

http://samsung.com/Products/TV/SlimFitHDTV/TXT2793HXXAA.asp

I don't have it, but I have a different Samsung television, a DLP, but I know Samsung is a good brand, and that set should cost you about $550. It's 27" horizontal, which is pretty decent for a small living room. It is widescreen, and will support HDTV, when you get it. It has both digital (both ATSC for over-the-air signals, and QAM for unencrypted digital cable signals) and analog tuners. It has two HDMI inputs... better than my $1500 television. It's major downside is that it only support 800 lines of resolution (while my set supports 1800 lines I think). Also, it is a picture tube television (not a flat-screen or projection television, the latest technologies), and consequently it is heavier (90 pounds).

 

[KristinBelle]

Here's a good one:

http://samsung.com/Products/TV/SlimFitHDTV/TXT2793HXXAA.asp

I don't have it, but I have a different Samsung television, a DLP, but I know Samsung is a good brand, and that set should cost you about $550. It's 27" horizontal, which is pretty decent for a small living room. It is widescreen, and will support HDTV, when you get it. It has both digital (both ATSC for over-the-air signals, and QAM for unencrypted digital cable signals) and analog tuners. It has two HDMI inputs... better than my $1500 television. It's major downside is that it only support 800 lines of resolution (while my set supports 1800 lines I think). Also, it is a picture tube television (not a flat-screen or projection television, the latest technologies), and consequently it is heavier (90 pounds).

Thanks Bicker!

 

[TerriP]

Bicker ~ are you still around? You seem to know TVs so I'm hoping you can help me, too. We have been looking at flat screen tvs (20 inches or so) to go on the wall in our bedroom. I don't need fancy schmancy, but I want a decent one. We live in the middle of no where, so we have a regular old antenna on top of our house (very attractive!) that we'll need to hook up to it along with our DirecTV. Also, I want to hook up a VCR (yes, I'm old school) because I tape shows off the antenna every day. Any recommendations?

Maybe you can tell me this, too. DH is convinced I need to ditch the VCR and get a DVD burner instead. Do I really want to do that? How often can I re-use a DVD before it just won't work anymore...my tapes last years.

OK...enough questions. If you're so inclined to respond, thanks for helping out a stranger.

 

[bicker]

Bicker ~ are you still around?

I'm in bad shape today... pulled my back out... so there is no other place for me to be!

You seem to know TVs so I'm hoping you can help me, too. We have been looking at flat screen tvs (20 inches or so) to go on the wall in our bedroom. I don't need fancy schmancy, but I want a decent one. We live in the middle of no where, so we have a regular old antenna on top of our house (very attractive!) that we'll need to hook up to it along with our DirecTV. Also, I want to hook up a VCR (yes, I'm old school) because I tape shows off the antenna every day. Any recommendations?

Let me ask a question: Do you really want to buy a television for this year? Or do you want to buy a television to last you the next five to ten years? Until last year, HDTV technology wasn't sufficiently advanced to give us a good feel about five or ten years out. Now, there are a lot of choices where that long-term view is not only possible, but affordable.

Another important consideration is where will this television go? How far away from the screen will the EYES of the furthest person in the room be? Also, how much space is there to put the television (height x width x depth), and how much weight can the surface hold?

Also, you'll need to check your address on antennaweb.org, to see if your current antenna will be any good past early 2009.

Maybe you can tell me this, too. DH is convinced I need to ditch the VCR and get a DVD burner instead. Do I really want to do that? How often can I re-use a DVD before it just won't work anymore...my tapes last years.

I find DVDs to be so much more convenient than videotapes. They take up a very small fraction of the space, and I've never had one wear out (though studies show that DVDs will wear out before videotape, if playback conditions are kept perfect [heads cleaned, capstans too, etc.] -- however, it is easier to videotape playback conditions to degrade faster and worse than DVD playback conditions.

Personally, if I was going to buy something to recording programming, I'd buy a DVR. It's not about how many times you can watch something -- once is typically enough eh? So it's just a matter of making things available to watch when it is convenient for you, instead of when they broadcast it. A DVR is best for that.

 

[TerriP]

Let me ask a question: Do you really want to buy a television for this year? Or do you want to buy a television to last you the next five to ten years?

Another important consideration is where will this television go? How far away from the screen will the EYES of the furthest person in the room be? Also, how much space is there to put the television (height x width x depth), and how much weight can the surface hold?

I want to buy one TV that will last as long as humanly possible! <lol> I'm not afraid to spend some money (SOME!) as long as the stupid thing lasts. The TV will go in our master bedroom. How far away will our EYES be? I've no idea! 10 - 12 feet maybe...I'm thinking I could lay down twice between where my head is and where the TV is and I'm 5 feet 4 (how's that for measurement???). How big is the space?? Now you're pushing it! The wall it's on has two doors in it and it will go between the doors. The space is probably 4 feet wide. We will have to get one of those little wall mount thingys to mount it on.

Can you get DVR way out in the middle of nowhere?? And, more importantly, can I tape off the antenna with it?

 

[bicker]

Okay 10-12 feet is a pretty good distance. Believe it or not, you'll be aiming for a 56" screen television at that distance. If your bedroom is only a secondary location for watching television, then perhaps 50" will do, or perhaps even 46", but at that point I'd go to a lower-quality unit, since the advantage of higher quality sets would be lost. Is this your primary television set or a secondary? That'll make a big difference in what you end up picking. With a secondary set, you don't really care about HDTV versus inferior EDTV, for example.

Wall mount? Okay that limits options a lot, and raises the price a lot too. That's why I asked about the space itself. If you had a cabinet or dresser it would go on, and that space was 45-50 inches wide, then you'd have a lot more choices, and pricing would be a lot better. You could use a rear projection set, either DLP, LCOS or LCD projection. However, with wall-mount, you're stuck with LCD flat-screen or plasma. Both are very expensive (by comparison) especially at larger screen sizes (anything over 36").

There are DVRs that work off the antenna, but not many left, and decreasing fast. I almost wouldn't bother really, now that I think of it. It's too much bother for something that you'll surely have to replace in February 2009. There are DVRs out there ready for 2009, but they're still too expensive for most folks, or they are subscription service devices (you probably could swap out your DirecTV unit for a DVR -- that might be your best bet actually -- checking -- okay, it looks like the DVR they offer doesn't allow you to hook up an antenna anymore. That's a shame. They don't provide you your local channels yet? Strange.

 

[TerriP]

No local channels on our dish, isn't that nuts? I wish we could get them, though...and take that stupid antenna down!

This is our secondary TV. We will use it pretty much every day, though. I will watch the two hours of programming that I tape every day and we'll watch it before we fall asleep at night. So while it's not the family room TV, which we use the most, it will get plenty of use. So I want a decent picture, but not a HUGE price.

I really think we'll go much smaller than you're thinking. We were looking at 20" tvs earlier this week and both thought we'd like that size. Is it possible to still get a good picture quality on a screen that small (in a flat, slim tv)?

HEY...take care of your back! That kind of pain is NO FUN!

 

[bicker]

Right, but since you're planning on viewing videotapes on it, you still don't need high quality, right? No DVD player.

At 20" screen size, you should place yourself less than six feet from the screen. Further away from the screen, and the human eye cannot tell the difference between a high quality picture and a low quality picture. [http://www.carltonbale.com/2006/11/1080p-does-matter/] Of course, that only applies for HD stuff you watch. However, HD is different that SD, and with a small screen that far away, you really would be wasting your money with a high quality set. Aim for EDTV. It's deliberately lower quality than HDTV. You'll spend a lot less, and you'll barely notice the difference at that distance. Then, when you're ready to go HD full-scale, you can spend the money you saved on the EDTV for a high-quality HDTV set for your living room.

 

[TerriP]

How do you know all this????? You've helped me more than all the sales men we've met, combined!! Thank you for your help!

I think we'll stay clear of the HDTV, then. And stick with a smaller size screen. Knowing that, is any one brand better/worse than others?

Where do you want your commission check sent???

 

[bicker]

I've been looking into HDTV for years and year, only finally making my own first purchase last June. It's something I've done a lot of research regarding, especially since I got the feeling that everyone is just trying to sell me their favorite rather than learning what was really important to me and matching the right set to my needs.

As far as brands, Toshiba, Samsung, Pioneer, Panasonic, RCA, Sony... all good.

 

[TerriP]

bicker...thanks again for all your help!!

 

[bicker]

My pleasure.