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Need advice on a TV

Started by Monsterlover, September 18, 2008, 01:56:50 PM

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Monsterlover

September 18, 2008, 01:56:50 PM
Some friends want to upgrade and asked me for advise.

It turns out I don't know much about TV's anymore, so i need some help.

Their email:

"I'm not sure.  I've been carrying around a little slip of paper from measurements I took of our the TV opening on our cabinet last year:  The diagonal measurements is 4'.  It's 3'2" wide by 2' 6 high.  Currently we have a TV that is 27" at the diagonal.  So when I look in the paper and compare prices, I don't even know what size I'm looking for.  I was going to take my little piece of paper and visit some stores but haven't yet.  Based on what I just told you, what is the biggest screen I should try for to fit the alloted space?

I'm thinking we want HD.  We've been cautioned about not going plasma.  So any guidance you could give would be helpful.

I don't want to have to take out a loan (so to speak--) but also would like a good TV that would take us into retirement!  So, your thoughts?  "
"The Vincent was like a bullet that went straight; the Ducati is like the magic bullet in Dallas that went sideways and hit JFK and the Governor of Texas at the same time."--HST    **"A man who works with his hands is a laborer.  A man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman.  A man who works with his hands, brains, and heart is an artist."  -Louis Nizer**

Popeye the Sailor

#1
September 18, 2008, 01:59:06 PM
Price range would help.



Who uses a cabinet anymore? Hang the dang flat screen on the wall and park a bike in the extra floorspace.
If the state had not cut funding for the mental institutions, this project could never have happened.

Monsterlover

#2
September 18, 2008, 02:00:31 PM
They do :)

Id say $1500 or less with bias toward less ;D
"The Vincent was like a bullet that went straight; the Ducati is like the magic bullet in Dallas that went sideways and hit JFK and the Governor of Texas at the same time."--HST    **"A man who works with his hands is a laborer.  A man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman.  A man who works with his hands, brains, and heart is an artist."  -Louis Nizer**

TiAvenger

#3
September 18, 2008, 02:03:47 PM
whats your viewing distance and  HD source?

Monsterlover

#4
September 18, 2008, 02:04:57 PM
I think they got the Dish network, and I'd say about 10-12 feet.  They're also big on Net Flix so DVD would be the other source
"The Vincent was like a bullet that went straight; the Ducati is like the magic bullet in Dallas that went sideways and hit JFK and the Governor of Texas at the same time."--HST    **"A man who works with his hands is a laborer.  A man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman.  A man who works with his hands, brains, and heart is an artist."  -Louis Nizer**

TiAvenger

#5
September 18, 2008, 02:08:42 PM Last Edit: September 18, 2008, 02:12:23 PM by TiAvenger
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8804109&type=product&id=1206141944402

Not sure if it will fit, but my parents just got the 32 inch version, and it looks tits.

edit: also note, with best buy you can haggle

we got our 37 insigina for $550 otd it was listed at $620 pre tax.

MendoDave

#6
September 18, 2008, 02:14:52 PM
Well, I had to find out, all about, what all these new connections do. (they largely eliminate the need for a tuner to connect all the components) But I would recommend getting a set with 2 or more HDMI connections. One cable does Digital sound & Video. See what kind of DVD player & whatever else they have to make sure it's all going to work. It seemed complicated to me at first but it's not that bad.

Jarvicious

#7
September 18, 2008, 02:20:43 PM
You have quite a bit to choose from with a $1500 budget.  A couple of buddies of mine have a 46" and a 50" Samsung DLP tv (both in 1080p) that look pretty friggin brilliant.  I think the 46" ended up being around 13 or 14 hundred bucks, but don't know how much the 50 was (this was a few years ago as well.  I don't know what the pricing on them is now).  Like I said, the pic on the DLP was really nice but it had a horrible viewing angle, so if you're going to have any seating off at a weird angle, you'll probably want to go with LCD.  Size is gonna be a factor too.  I think DLP tvs only go down to 40" or so, no smaller.  It sounds like "your friend" (if that is his real name) has around a 48" diagonal aperture in which to put the tv, but that size also varies a bit per manufacturer.  The measurement on a TV is supposed to be the diagonal size of the viewing portion, but that doesn't take into account the bevels or the TV stand (i.e.- take a tape measure to the store with you).  If they're looking at a smaller tv (32" +) an LCD would probably fit quite well but because of the wide screen design you'll have to stick with a 40" or less.  Break out that tape and git to measurin! 

BTW - you don't want to get me started on which brand to buy.
We're liberated by the hearts that imprison us.  We're taken hostage by the ones that we break.

Monsterlover

#8
September 18, 2008, 02:24:47 PM
Don't forget the set has to fit in the cabinet. . .
"The Vincent was like a bullet that went straight; the Ducati is like the magic bullet in Dallas that went sideways and hit JFK and the Governor of Texas at the same time."--HST    **"A man who works with his hands is a laborer.  A man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman.  A man who works with his hands, brains, and heart is an artist."  -Louis Nizer**

MendoDave

#9
September 18, 2008, 02:31:28 PM
I forgot to add that COSTCO has a really good return policy, so you might want to take a gander in there.

cyrus buelton

#10
September 18, 2008, 02:39:13 PM
Get a 720 Plasma

1080 is worthless considering all HD feeds are in 720 format
No Longer the most hated DMF Member.

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1999 M750 (joint ownership)
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OwnyTony

#11
September 18, 2008, 02:47:50 PM Last Edit: September 18, 2008, 02:51:37 PM by OwnyTony
the best thing to do is for them to know the actual measurements for the cabinet. 27 diagonal on a "traditional" tv does not translate to roughly the same dimensions for a flat screen that may measure 27 in diagonally.  the tv length and width proportions are different. 

Also, you/he is not taking into account the outer dimensions of the tv.  the screen could be 27 in for 2 flat screen tv but the outside borders could be different so that overall, one tv is longer than the other.   

With the constraints you give, I think the best thing for your friend to do is find out the maximum length/measure (which he has done) of his cabinet and go to best buy or what ever equivalent and measure up the outside dimensions to determine rather or not the tv would fit. 

In your friends case, I dont think it is so much the quality of the tv but rather the tv would fit inside the cabinet.

EDIT: make sure that he knows in Feb, the signal changes so tell him to go with an lcd.  The bad thing about the new TV's and his old cabinet is that you get a "smaller" .

Grampa

#12
September 18, 2008, 02:50:03 PM
tell them to hold off till Monday...the fed will be offering up subprime loans on first time HiDef tv buyers



[laugh]
Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar kicked me out of the band..... they said I didnt fit the image they were trying to project. 

So I went solo.  -Me

Some people call 911..... some people are 911
-Marcus Luttrell

He Man

#13
September 18, 2008, 02:52:53 PM
Im waiting till black friday.

13.3inch laptop and a 32/37inch LCD HDTV!!!!!!!!!

CairnsDuc

#14
September 18, 2008, 03:10:51 PM
There is nothing wrong with Plasma, they have one of the best pictures on the market if you stick with the bigger brands names such as Panasonic or Pioneer.

But the thing to allow with putting any TV in a cabinet, you have to allow room for cooling air to flow into and out of the cabinet, both LCD and Plasma can generate some serious heat when they are running (don't fall for salesman bullshit when they say LCD runs cooler than Plasma's, They can generate a lot of heat, put your hand behind them and feel the heat rising off the top of the panels/cooling vents/cooling fans)

even in a cooler climate, lock a flat panel in a cabinet with very little air flow, and it will die very quickly (and no warranty coverage because of over heating)
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