Looking for some advice on which HDTV to buy

Im looking for some advice on which $1000 or under HDTV to buy. Ive decided to get one in about 1 month. I know alot about the systems already. I know all about 480p 720p 1080i and all that. So I know the language pretty well. Im not an expert though, and im not sure which would be more reliable.

Im looking at getting either this Samsung 32" http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...62305&type=product&productCategoryId=cat03005 for $899.

Or this Zenith 32" http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...47203&type=product&productCategoryId=cat03005 for $999.

Ive given up on getting an HDTV with 720p. None of them are in my price range. Neither are any of the 16:9 ones, except for the 30" which is way to small for me. So im looking for the best 480p 4:3 ratio 32" I can get. The Zenith is $100 more and has an over the air HDTV decoder. Which seems like a big advantage over the Samsung. But I think it lacks the vertical compression that the Samsung one has.

All I know is that when Halo 2 comes out in April I want to have an HDTV to play it on. So does anyone have any advice?

Im absolutely serious about getting one this year. I even sold my Neo Geo to do it!

Whats the point of HDTV if it is not 16x9? That is the spec for it.

Seriously though, there is a 30 inch Samsung for under $1k, it was $600 on Black Friday at Sears, its a widescreen.

Here is a Philips from Best Buy:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...21368&type=product&productCategoryId=cat03002

And this is the set I am watching.....

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...36311&type=product&productCategoryId=cat03002

If I can get in on 2 years, no interest, 10% off, plus a $200 gift card, I might bite soon, otherwise, no pocket change to spend on it.

this looks really good...

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...46948&type=product&productCategoryId=cat03002

of course if you get it, get the extended warranty. It's a sony.

Get a projection HD set.

EvilWasabi said:

this looks really good...

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...46948&type=product&productCategoryId=cat03002

of course if you get it, get the extended warranty. It's a sony.

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That is not 16:9 which makes having a HD set pointless.

what if there's a lot of light coming into the room that you have the projector in?

I mean like for me, I always have a ton of sunlight hitting my apartment.

I would like to get a 16:9 but I wouldn't want one thats smaller than 34" and those are out of my price range. Im using a 32" JVC with component right now.

I know technically only 16:9 is HD. But the 4:3 sets still have the higher resolutions and progressive scan. And thats all I really care about in a TV.

That 36" Sony looks nice. But its not actually HD. For a conventional TV though that one kicks ass.

Im going to stick with a tube based set. I know someone who has a projector and loves it. But when those bulbs burn out they are expensive to replace.

Right now im leaning twords the Samsung. It lacks the HDTV tuner, but 95% of my TV viewing is gaming, DVDs, and Satalite TV. So an over the air decoder is kinda pointless to me. I like the looks of the Zenith a bit better, but I think it lacks the resolution compression for 16:9 mode that the Samsung has. Meaning it would actually be a lower resolution. At least thats what it sounds like to me from the description.

Just got my financing approved for the TV. Im charging half of it, paying half up front. I figure ill get it at the end of the month. That gives me time to decide which one to get. Ive decided to spend a few hundred more and go with something better 32" Sony with 720p. Or a 36" 480p which was a couple hundred less.

Im not going to go widescreen though. Even at 34" most of my games and other programs would go DOWN in screen size from 32" to 28"

don't get those cheap sub 1,000 hdtvs, all of them i've seen only do 1080i, they convert everything to 1080i, there is no 480p native support, 480p is converted to 1080i, that's why they're under a grand, they cut features like that.

i would also go 16x9, i mean what are you getting hdtv for. you might as well save your money and buy a sweet 32 inch flatscreen 4:3 non digital set.

for 1,500 you can get a 46-48 inch 16x9 hdtv, which will display 480p and 1080i nativly, native 720p support in additon to both of those is VERY expensive, even DLP sets only support 720P and nothing else, everything is converted to 720P.

nothing supports 720P except DLP and LCD (or a projector), and I doubt if you're sane you'd buy those anyway. the best you can get is a set that converts 720p to 1080i, which looks about the same IMO anyway. 1080i is above 720p in picture quality according to most people, since a ton of stuff looks like crap without interlacing (Low Res Dreamcast game in VGA for example).

DashK said:

don't get those cheap sub 1,000 hdtvs, all of them i've seen only do 1080i, they convert everything to 1080i, there is no 480p native support, 480p is converted to 1080i, that's why they're under a grand, they cut features like that.

i would also go 16x9, i mean what are you getting hdtv for. you might as well save your money and buy a sweet 32 inch flatscreen 4:3 non digital set.

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Im not sure what you mean about there not being any 480p native support. Ive decided to spend a bit more, and and im looking at this 32" sony for $1300 http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...46895&type=product&productCategoryId=cat03005
It lists 1080i as its native mode. But it also says it supports 480p and 720p. Are you saying it only accpets them and then changes them to 1080i. Thus meaning it DOES NOT display progressive scan images?

Because this 34" widescreen Sony http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1051826214335&skuId=5447019&type=product
says the same thing. 1080i is its native mode, and the features seem about the same. The only differences im seeing are the screen size and ratio.

I really dont see what so many people have against the 4:3. From all the reviews and guides ive read, and people ive talked to in the stores the only difference is screen shape. Which is just a matter of personal preference. For someone who plans to watch DVDs and not much else then widescreen makes the most sense. But for someone who watches more normal TV and plays games (most of which dont support 16:9 mode) a 4:3 makes more sense. I mean why would I want big black bars taking up 30% of my screen most of the time?

Im thinking of going with this 36" Toshiba http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1051826205997&skuId=5341114&type=product

It only supports 1080i and 480p. But its 4" larger, $100 cheaper ($1200) and in 16:9 mode it plays movies at 33". Only 1" smaller than the widescreen 34" HDTVs.

Maybe theres something I dont understand about this. If so please explain or point me to a web site that explains it. As it stands im not even considering a 16:9 tv. It just wouldn't fit my needs the best.

Are you saying it only accpets them and then changes them to 1080i.

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yes, if it doesn't say the set has selectable 480p, it converts everything to 1080i, every 4:3 hdtv i've seen does this, except the very expensive sony sets like the XBR. just ask around and check the pdf manuals.

720p is usless really, 4 xbox games support it, and about 2 or 3 tv shows output in 720P (Sports on ABC comes to mind). 1080i is the HDTV standard now, 720p is already old, because 1080p is already out and is the next step. The recently defunct Toshiba LCOS sets were 1080p native.

nothing wrong with a 4:3 hdtv, i just don't see the point, when for about 500 more, you can get a TV 20 inches bigger and be 16x9.

Hmm. Im not sure about that. Here's an excerpt from the CNET review of the Sony 32" HDTV "First off, the set can display 1080i resolution when paired with an external high-definition TV source, and 480p or 960i resolution when you're viewing DVDs or standard television signals"

It seems to confirm that the tv is capable of different resolutions based on the source. So with a progressive scan DVD player, or game supporting 480p or 720p it should work in that mode.

Im not sure about all of them. But at least the Sony one seems to. Im still trying to find a good detailed review of the Toshiba 36". I really would like to go to 36" (Its the biggest the room will support, and my wallet can afford) But I cant determin if it has a DCP-equipped DVI jack like the Sony model is. Then again I might never need that jack, but I dont want to buy a new TV in 3 or 4 years because it lacks a feature I may end up needing.

Bah, ive studied this to long today. Its all starting to glasse over in my head. Ive never owned an HDTV, but ive been studying them for 2 years now. Even presented a speech on HDTVs last year.

Im going to keep studying this for a couple more weeks while I decide which model to get.

I'm about 99% sure the Zenith has V-Compression. Check out the AVS forums...it's a really good deal for the money.

A couple things if you're buying it at Best Buy:

1) Sign up for the Reward Zone thing. It costs $10 to sign up, but you'll get $50 or so in Gift Cards for buying a $1,000 TV.

2) About every other week BB does 18-month interest free financing on TVs over $299 with their credit card.

Thanks for all your help guys.

I hope it didn't sound like im arguing with anyone. I dont mean it that way. Im just trying to get my head around every facet of this technology before making a major purchase.

I think ive made a decision though! I found a great review of the 36" Toshiba. And it answered ALOT of my questions. It does have DVI, and includes the option to convert 1080i to 580p if you choose.

Plus its friggin 36"!!! And I think your right Dashk about the 720p thing. Im not going to pretend I understand all of this. But the Toshiba also accepts 720p. So whatever.

Hey its only $1200 and its bound to be a huge step up over my 32" analog JVC. Cant wait to get this thing. Should be the best of both worlds as far as DVDs and games go for me.

I swear the more I study this stuff the less I know about it. I better get to sleep now.

Get a SAMPO. Hands down, best HDTV out there.

CraigPilecky said:

Thanks for all your help guys.

I hope it didn't sound like im arguing with anyone. I dont mean it that way. Im just trying to get my head around every facet of this technology before making a major purchase.

I think ive made a decision though! I found a great review of the 36" Toshiba. And it answered ALOT of my questions. It does have DVI, and includes the option to convert 1080i to 580p if you choose.

Plus its friggin 36"!!! And I think your right Dashk about the 720p thing. Im not going to pretend I understand all of this. But the Toshiba also accepts 720p. So whatever.

Hey its only $1200 and its bound to be a huge step up over my 32" analog JVC. Cant wait to get this thing. Should be the best of both worlds as far as DVDs and games go for me.

I swear the more I study this stuff the less I know about it. I better get to sleep now.

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Do not get toshiba....

It's 540p not 580p. And that is NOT good. Because what it will do, is take all your DVDs, that are 420P (because 540P is not any sort of standard), and upsample them to 540P, this results in a SOFT/blurry image, than what you'd get on a TV that supported 420P. The reason they only support 540P is because it's cheaper to do, since 540P and 1080i are basically the same, one just has interlacing. 420P is a way different signal, it takes more parts to support.

Do your homework before you buy anything.

I did MAJOR homework before I bought an HDTV, probably talked to people and researched 15 different models over 5 monthes, and finally decided to go with a Mitsubishi 48 inch RPHDTV, I don't know everything about 4:3 hdtv sets, but in the RPTV world, Mitsubishi is the best hands down.

Toshiba makes fine TVs, I have an analog flatscreen that rocks, but their HDTVs only do 540P, and that is not good imo, you want 420P, not 540P.

EvilWasabi said:

what if there's a lot of light coming into the room that you have the projector in?

I mean like for me, I always have a ton of sunlight hitting my apartment.

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I hate you guys.
.....I hate you guys SOOOOO much.

he means rear projection dumbass. you don't think he was actually recomending a front projector do you.

You guys make this look like an episode of something you would find on lifetime. real men know how to pick out real electronics. It's practically a gene that you have since birth. obviously most of you are lacking that.


STOP using best buy as a ref so much. Have you actually been in one of those places, it's like being in the village of the damned. instead of blond hair all those little punk as kids (sales people my ass) have blue shirts instead.

Man the fuck up and go to your closest :

Tweeter

Ultimate electronics

Sound Advice

Showcase

Hi Fi Buys

Hillcrest

Magnolia Hi Fi ( yeah, it's owned by BB, but...Meh)


Walk into one of those places and you will come out a new man (who actually has a pair of balls in between his legs)


* Oh, and I don't actually hate you guys, but after this I had to poke fun at you.

Ok back to the drawing board. Thanks for warning me about the 540p resolution stretching.

Ok I found a good guide http://www.cnet.com/4520-7608_7-1016109-3.html?tag=tnav#resolutions and I think I finally understand what you where saying about 720p being obsolete. So the way I understand it now when HDTV came out they had 2 resolution standards that where both considered high defenition. 720p (1,280x720) and 1080i (1,920x1,080). But almost nothing supported 720p so it died out. 480p was created to improve the visual quality of non-high defenition images. Thats why most HDTVs only support 480p and 1080i.

Tell me if im getting this right.

Well this makes my search a little simpler. I really only need to find one that has 480p and 1080i and has the other features I want. I dont need to worry about 720p then.

*goes searching for more tvs*

CraigPilecky said:

Ok back to the drawing board. Thanks for warning me about the 540p resolution stretching.

Ok I found a good guide http://www.cnet.com/4520-7608_7-1016109-3.html?tag=tnav#resolutions and I think I finally understand what you where saying about 720p being obsolete. So the way I understand it now when HDTV came out they had 2 resolution standards that where both considered high defenition. 720p (1,280x720) and 1080i (1,920x1,080). But almost nothing supported 720p so it died out. 480p was created to improve the visual quality of non-high defenition images. Thats why most HDTVs only support 480p and 1080i.

Tell me if im getting this right.

Well this makes my search a little simpler. I really only need to find one that has 480p and 1080i and has the other features I want. I dont need to worry about 720p then.

*goes searching for more tvs*

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Your gettin there. if you would like some good advice then check your PM's
Oh and even if you do not take me up on your offer just do one thing: do not listen to those who say "if it's not wide screen don't even bother". that rule oly aplies to rear projection CRT sets.

ORPHEUS said:

Your gettin there. if you would like some good advice then check your PM's
Oh and even if you do not take me up on your offer just do one thing: do not listen to those who say "if it's not wide screen don't even bother". that rule oly aplies to rear projection CRT sets.

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I have never seen a 4:3 RPTV HDTV. Do they make them?

They make them...we have a few at my work...I don't like them at all...I haven't seen any NEW/current modes for sale though...

Ok im done looking for HDTVs. Im going to stick with Sony and get there 36" KV36HS510 model. It does it all. Even 720p for those two or three games that take advantage of it.

Im planning to get it at Best Buy at the end of the month. I got my financing approved through them. Its $1799. But ill get $270 is rebates. So its really only $1529. Plust $100 tax, and $70 delivery... $1699 total.

Ive seen this same one on some online retailers for only $1370. But with the rebates im only paying a couple hundred more at Best Buy. And with this sort of purchase I want a store that I can go back to and bitch at should anything go wrong

Wish me luck. My savings account is going to need it.

DashK said:

720p is usless really, 4 xbox games support it, and about 2 or 3 tv shows output in 720P (Sports on ABC comes to mind). 1080i is the HDTV standard now, 720p is already old, because 1080p is already out and is the next step. The recently defunct Toshiba LCOS sets were 1080p native.

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Actually, you are incorrect on most counts. First, there are currently 14 XBox games that support 720p, with more coming. 720p is becoming the 'standard' for HDTV videogames because it offers 1280x720p resolution at 60fps. 1080i, on the other hand, only runs at 30fps, so it's only 'better' for still images. A recent survey on the AVS forum (Audio Video Science) found that people preferred 720p over 1080i by a ratio of 2 to 1. In addition, it seems that more programming is beginning to support 720p, which is becoming more popular not only because it's better for moving pictures, but because a lot of the newer technology sets support that resolution natively.

As for the Toshiba LCoS sets that Toshiba recently abandoned: While they did display at 1080p, they did not support 1080p input, so they were still only capable of processing a 1080i signal.

IMO, if buying an HDTV set, it most definately must support 720p (if not to display, at least to convert to 1080i), since 720p is becoming more and more popular over 1080i. Second, it would have to be widescreen (for me), because one of the most important aspects for me is the ability to display widescreen DVDs in all their glory (not to mention widescreen videogames ).

Best looking TV in the world hands down.

NIce TV

Does anyone know if it supports 720p natively or does it upscale?

Regarding 720p, all of ABC and ESPN's broadcasts are in this format. It has NOT "died out". I recently read another thread about one of the other major networks jumping from the 1080i camp to 720p.

B