Help buying an HD LCD TV

[lostnfound]

Hello, my family and I have thought about getting an LCD TV for a few years now. Fortunately, they're much cheaper now than they were a few years ago. We are thinking about getting a 46"-50" tv. However, there are so many features and specs, that it's kind of confusing. I have a few questions:

1) LCD is better than a plasma right? I know home lighting can make a difference, but I get the feeling that plasma was a thing of the past and pretty much everything these days are LCDs

2) 1080p vs 720p. Is there a difference? I heard that 1080p is useful w/ a blu-ray player, but we don't have one. We're just going to watch cable tv and dvds, so is there any difference w/ 1080 or 720?

3) Hertz--there's 60hz, 120hz, 240hz. Any real difference?

4) Is it necessary for us to upgrade to digital cable or satellite to get HD quality? My friend has a 720p and no cable, and the major channels are broadcasted in HD. However, they keep advertising that to get HD picture, you need HD feed.

Thanks, and feel free to share your reviews or stories.

 

[trinket]

I'm thinking of a new TV too, so your questions and hopeful answers are relevant and timely for me too. I know some JUB'ers will know this stuff cold! I've been trying to read everything I can online or listen to in tech podcasts that relate to TV selection to help look at features. Your point #3 about the hertz, I've been reading stuff like this and this. Funny enough when I see models stacked up against each other in reviews with capsule specs they're pretty much all almost 120 hz.

PC World recently published their "HDTV Buying Guide" as well that might help.

 

[glorff]

Too much technical jargon only gets in the way.

In my opinion you have to go 1080 after you get over 42" After that you can see the difference. New DVD players are all moving to upscaling DVDs to 1080i with the newest players going to 1080p, so sooner or later 1080 is going to be worth having even if you don't get a blueray player.

Plasma and LCD is usually a price question when you are looking at the extreme ends of quality, so LCD should be fine. The newest models have a lot less difference than they used to.

Make sure that when you look at several models in the store you ask to see broadcast TV and a regular DVD playback so you won't be surprised when you get home. They usually only show you the best of feeds like blueray or digital cable, so insist.

After that it is up to your eye and your budget. I think LG is the best "value" on the market, but you have to decide.

Good luck

 

[jcojax78]

Go 1080. It's worth the extra money. I would also say go LCD over plasma. As you said, plasma is basically on it's way out. If you can, go with an LED LCD screen, the back lighting is better.

As for HD, if you have a digital converter box attached to it, then the major channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, etc.) will broadcast in HD. If you have satellite/cable, then you have to upgrade to the HD receiver, which will allow you to receive the HD channels.

I have 2 flat screens in my home. One is a 47" Vizio. We have an HD receiver hooked up to that one and it is great. The TV is very clear and crisp. The other I have is a Toshiba 47". This just has a regular satellite reciever but the picture is still pretty good. I use this one to watch rehular DVD's and it is awesome! I really enjoy both of them.

 

[andysayshi]

1) LCD is better than a plasma right? I know home lighting can make a difference, but I get the feeling that plasma was a thing of the past and pretty much everything these days are LCDs

Not true. Plasma and LCD both have their pros and cons. Larger screens like 46" and above are often cheaper in plasma than LCD. Fast movement can look better on plasma than LCD. Personally, I recommend looking at the actual model you choose on a showroom floor - everybody has a different opinion, so buy a set you like yourself. As mentioned above, newer LED screens look fantastic, but they cost a little more at the moment. Also check power consumption - some TVs can use double the power of others. Plasmas often use more power than equivalent LCDs.

2) 1080p vs 720p. Is there a difference? I heard that 1080p is useful w/ a blu-ray player, but we don't have one. We're just going to watch cable tv and dvds, so is there any difference w/ 1080 or 720?

1080p is true HD, and will ultimately be the standard. Don't buy anything with less than 1920x1080 resolution.

3) Hertz--there's 60hz, 120hz, 240hz. Any real difference?

Higher refresh rates mean less screen flicker. Some people really notice it, others don't. It's another reason to look at the TVs yourself before making a purchase. The higher-rated TVs can often re-interpolate extra fields to smooth fast motion on screen. In laymans terms, it adds extra steps in moving pictures so they look smoother. This can look really great on stuff like fast-moving sport, but I think it looks awful in movies, which are designed to be viewed at 24 frames per second. I turn the function off on my own 50" Panasonic, except on special sporting occasions.

4) Is it necessary for us to upgrade to digital cable or satellite to get HD quality? My friend has a 720p and no cable, and the major channels are broadcasted in HD. However, they keep advertising that to get HD picture, you need HD feed.

I don't know the specifics of your cable company, but the TV tuner built into any current TV will be HD capable, so you won't need an external TV set-top box for free-to-air transmissions. Speak directly to your cable company to determine how much HD content they broadcast, and if you need to upgrade your cable box to see it.

 

[GamerBear]

I just bought a TV for myself, it was on sale at HSN for about $530, it was an LG LCD 37" TV 1080p, so I got a good deal it arrives December 14th. I usually game and watch movies (No Sports) so I know that using HDMI is gonna be a big help when playing PS3 games I haven't jumped on the Blu-Ray bandwagon yet but maybe if my DVD movies look worse on this TV I might switch but I'm seriously not going to replace all 400 of my DVD's.

I'm glad someone mention that LG is a great brand for TV's I was kind of sketchy about LG and I was leaning towards a VIZO TV since my brother told me they were good but was told about the great deal on the LG TV on HSN and had to buy it, if only a 42" was for that price I would of bought bigger but I'm happy with a 37" it beats out the 27" tube TV.

 

[Jimboy121]

This is what you need in short context

Sports: Plasma
Movies/TV: LCD

More hertz is better, less lag on the screen, look for as much as possable, look for 100hz or more.

1080p > 720p, always get 1080p, your regret it otherwise at a later date

Can't help with cable, don't have myself.

In other words you want a...

50" LCD TV
200hz
1080p

http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/sto...duct&fm=11&sm=0&tm=4&sku=605925&category_oid=

 

[lostnfound]

Thanks everyone for their advice! They were really helpful.

My dad is all about Sony, while the rest of us just don't care about the brand. We're gonna go shopping later this week.

Thanks again.

 

[hotatlboi]

Plasma vs LCD is still an consideration, Plasma is definitely not inferior tech.

As said Plasma will look better with lots of fast motion like sports and action movies and that kind of thing.

Also the home lighting is a consideration. If you are watching it in a mostly darkened room in a home theater kind of setting, Plasma will look better. If the room is brightly lit or there is a lot of ambient light from open windows or bright lamps etc, then LCD will usually look better there.

 

[trinket]

Hey lostnfound, speaking of "PC World" I linked to earlier, a print issue of "PC World" magazine is sitting beside me and it's got a multi-page "The TV you want today" feature. It's also available online here. It spans 5 online pages, and includes a sidebar on the refresh rate question. Here's the printable version of the whole thing plus sidebars if it's easier.

Let us all know what you end up choosing.

 

[lostnfound]

Hey lostnfound, speaking of "PC World" I linked to earlier, a print issue of "PC World" magazine is sitting beside me and it's got a multi-page "The TV you want today" feature. It's also available online here. It spans 5 online pages, and includes a sidebar on the refresh rate question. Here's the printable version of the whole thing plus sidebars if it's easier.

Let us all know what you end up choosing.

Thanks for the read, as well as the previous links.

Anyways, I have a better understanding now, but now it's just us making up our minds if we want a 46" or a 52" screen. Our living room is pretty big--the main sofa is about 13-14 feet away from the TV position.