Samsung UN46C7000 (C7000 series) LED TV

[MindBlast]

Okay so right now I've got no TV at all. I'd like one for watching movies and stuff. I saw this awesome LED TV in the store (see thread title), and it totally blew my mind. However, I do NOT want to make any impulse purchases, especially not for $2600.

I was wondering what you guys thought of this line of TVs and if it was even remotely worth it.

 

[GamerBear]

Okay so right now I've got no TV at all. I'd like one for watching movies and stuff. I saw this awesome LED TV in the store (see thread title), and it totally blew my mind. However, I do NOT want to make any impulse purchases, especially not for $2600.

I was wondering what you guys thought of this line of TVs and if it was even remotely worth it.

I have never seen an LED TV yet haven't been to Best Buy lately, but I would go around Amazon and read the reviews, negative and positive ones to see which one weighs the most. I have been happy with my LCD TV that I bought last year but I always keep hearing the LED ones are better than LCD.

 

[bankside]

I don't know the samsung line, but when we replaced our TV last year, I tried to avoid the impulse thing too.

My research took me to either a Sharp or a Sony and ended up going with the Sharp....mind you that was before the 3d craze so i don't know how the current line-up stacks up.

I looked at your model - sounds like a reasonable price range for the features. It looks really good! Now I want a new TV! LOL.

I must say I would not go back to Best Buy - they were just asses who were more concerned about loss prevention than helping me spend thousands on one of their TVs. Hint for Best Buy - don't piss off your honest paying customers while going on your shoplifting witch hunt.

Umm... this year we got a projector. It is incredible for movies. Have you considered that route? Especially if movies are a priority for you.

 

[rotary]

Any basic TV worth buying will have at least 120 hz refresh rate. Anything below that (60hz) results in blurry movement. Stay awaaaaaaay from the 60hz TVs.

LED's have fantastic contrast ratio. They're in the millions, whereas LCDs are in the tens of thousands, so you don't need to worry about that.

Make sure it's 1080p (the majority of all TVs are now)

The lower the response time, the better. 2-4ms response time preferably.

That's really all you need to be concerned with if you're just watching TV. If you're going to use it as a computer screen as well, look into the native resolution and all that. Don't pay for extra features if you're not going to use them.

And lastly, go look at it in person. Picture quality differs greatly depending on the type of HD box and what cables are used, so keep that in mind.

*edit*- I just looked at the TV you listed and see that it's 3D. Right now those things are too expensive and 3D isn't mature yet. I'd stay away from it. They'll be releasing 3D TVs that don't require glasses so these things will be outdated in no time.

 

[BearBoi]

I have one of the non-3D 8000 series, 240hz. It really is gorgeous. I love Samsung.

Read consumer reports about the 3D TVs.

However, if you are going to buy one, I strongly advise you to either wait for a sale, do a lot of cross-comparison shopping (use their lowest price guarantee -- a price match plus 10% off the difference), or sign up for the Best Buy Reward Zone and use the point bonus coupons they send out every couple months.

Also, watch the sale prices for 30 days after your purchase. If your TV drops in price, you can get the difference refunded. After I bought my entertainment system I watched the sale prices for 30 days and over the course of the month I got $70 back on the stand, $30 on the sound system and $200 on the TV (and it was already on sale when I bought it).

I’ve done that with SO many items.

Finally, when buying the TV DON’T be afraid to ask for a deal. Haggle a little, and don't seem too eager to buy it. Mention that you've looked at other models (that the store does not sell) at competitor’s stores. It is a major purchase, like a car. Use the same mentality. If you are buying more than one thing at the same time (like a sound system or even a TV stand) you can usually get $ off or at least a reduction in your accessories cost if you ask. Also, in my experience East Indian sales guys are way more eager to haggle than other people. Asians are kinda so-so, and white people are just the worst.

PS: if they try to sell you that "picture tune-up" package, don't go for it. It isn't needed with these TVs. I bought one and then returned it before the guy came to my house. It would have been a waste of $.

 

[MindBlast]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I've decided against it after reading enough reviews and your comments here. I didn't care much about the 3D, but it was more the LED and the features it had. I'm going to wait for another model to come out (kinks to be worked out) or get the 8000 series.

 

[BearBoi]

Glad I could help!

Actually, now is a good time to buy one of the non-3D 7000 or 8000 series. They’ve dropped in price a lot since the 3Ds have come out, and I strongly doubt they will be releasing a newer model for some time. Usually they give it at least a year or so before they update the market. Just make sure to look for sales and comparison shop, get the lowest price guarantee if you can and haggle a little.

When the 8000 (240Hz) TVs came out they cost $3200. I waited a while and paid $2300, and now you can get the 46" model for about $1,850.

If you really don't mind waiting a while longer, the best time to get a big screen TV is the couple weeks leading up to Super Bowl. Everybody has them on super-sale.

 

[Audio Tech]

I had a chance to take one of the Samsung LED tv's apart and do a real analysis on it regarding image quality, etc.

Personally, I do like them. The main failure with conventional LCD sets is backlight inverter failure. This is mainly due to the POS chinese capacitors used in these sets. The LED tv IS an LCD, but with LED BACKLIGHTING. The LED's do not require a high voltage inverter, so it should be more reliable.

NONE of the sets look worth a crap out of the box. They are set up in what we call Torch Light mode. Once properly calibrated, they can look STELLAR.

Another bonus is that they also make a damn good computer monitor!

Myself, I still use a plasma. I like plasma for it's color accuracy, but when it DOES die, I'll grab an LED set, now that they are maturing.

 

[Chip12414]

Very timely discussion - I have been carrying on this search for a few weeks, comparing Plasma vrs LCD vrs LCD/LED, refresh rates 60, 120, 240 and even 480 Hz, 42,46 or 53 inch diag, features such as HDMI connections, internet compatibility, etc....and then brand... Sanyo, Samsung, LG, Sony, Panasonic, and, of course, price.
And..most importantly...many trips to the big box stores to compare how the pictures looked to me.

Simultaneously, my tech-savy friend was making identical comparisons.

At the end, my friend chose the 46" LED Samsung model with the 240 Hz refresh rate mentioned by MindBlast at the beginning of this thread, costing about $2,400. I settled on a 46" Sony Bravia 2 LCD with a "mere" 60 Hz refresh rate for $850.

I just could not see a difference between the two...even with fast motion and fast panning shots. And could not justify to myself the $1,500 plus price difference. My friend, on the other hand, is not one to "settle" and insists on the best and most current. We are both very satisfied with our choices. I find my Sony's colors to be brilliant, the picture incredibly sharp and detailed.

And..the tv speakers are remarkably good. But, I use an outside amplifier I bought via Craigslist and 30 y/o Radio Shack "Realistic Minimus 7" speakers from eBay that were goosed up with new crossovers and bass speaker cones....that are simply perfect for my setup. (I don't want "surround" sound...as I find it distracting). The sounds...voices, water, bird calls, car chase, etc.....are very "realistic". (I play my computer audio thru the same amplifier). (Someday...I will try connecting the computer's video also).

I also purchased online a "refurbished" Panasonic DMP-605 Blue-Ray DVD player for $89 (a Google search and comparison seems to indicate that *all* DMP-605's by Panasonic are refurbished (I wonder why..?). Nevertheless, the player is fantastic, can connect to the net for YouTube, firmware updates and for the soon to come Amazon streaming movies (but not Netflix), a USB connector, etc. And...it "upconverts" non-Blue-Ray DVD's magnificantly (with one exception "Bonnie & Clyde" which must be a poor transfer.) Thank goodness, in my pre-HD days, I always tried to get wide-screen versions of any DVD.

Sadly, a large DVD rental store nearby is going out of business and selling its entire inventory (including Blue-Ray's, foreign films, concerts, etc.) at low prices. I am sorry to see the store close, but this has been a good opportunity to buy movies that I would happily pay to see in a theater for less than a ticket would cost.

I had to have my cable tv company come and connect their digital converter box (I elected NOT to have DVR). Now I get more channels, and of course, the HD channels that really shine on this tv. The converter box, however, generates a LOT of heat. So....I have the whole setup plugged into a wall outlet that I can shutoff when I am through viewing. I figure if the converter box is throwing so much heat, it must be consuming a LOT of electricity, so I turn it off after viewing the tv.

In short...I believe I am getting maximum enjoyment from my setup at a cost of less than $1,000 for all components.

But then....next year will no doubt bring better prices, more options and who knows... But, in the meantime, I am having a great time!