Choosing New TV

nikolas812

I'm going to buy a new TV in the next week or two and I'm trying to find the best bang for buck TV I can for under $1000. It needs to be a smart TV. 50" minimum. 3d is not important to me but would be a plus if it had it. Picture quality, size and functionality are the most important. I'm not opposed to used or refurbished. But so far from the research I've done used TV's are going for the price of NEW current model TV's or are way out dated... Any suggestions would be great. I'm having a hard time deciding. Here are a couple links below of a couple TV's I'm looking at. Right now I am leaning towards the Panosonic based on reviews of the great picture quality.


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AVRJK3K/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER


http://www.amazon.com/LG-Electronics-47GA6400-47-Inch-LED-LCD/dp/B00BBAFYXQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377961733&sr=8-1&keywords=lg+6400


Thanks for any help or suggestions

Nik

Conradicles

Panasonic plasma.

rpf65

Agreed. Panny plasma. You won't be disappointed

treitz3

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A6216937&ef_id=UhtKwwAAAMlbOFOR:20130831172223:s&dgc=ST&cid=262077&lid=4742363&acd=1230980731501410

I will not get into the specifics but I will say this. We were in your shoes about a year ago and ^^^this TV^^^ matches pretty much what we got [different size]. The wife and I are pleased.....correction, very pleased with our purchase. This was after trying 3 other TV's at our house in the days leading to the TV we currently have. The only other things I'd like to add is that you don't need to purchase an additional wi-fi, the smart hub functions flawlessly, it's smarter than we are, offers plenty of hookup options and has the best picture I have ever seen in my house. FWIW.

Tom

Conradicles

If you could increase your budget a bit, this is a sweet deal:
http://www.samsclub.com/sams/65-600hz-plasma-tv-1080p-2-hdmi-wifi/prod9300314.ip?searchTerm=S64

nikolas812

I would have spent the extra money if it was the ST60 and not the S60. There's supposed to be a major difference between screen panels on the two. The S being a basic screen and the ST having the high end panel that supposedly has much better picture quality. And hence the price difference.


I guess I'm going to go with the 50" panny mentioned in my above link. That was the one I was leaning towards. Just wanted to hear a few people back me up on the decision I suppose. This is pretty big purchase for me and I want to make the right choice the first time.

Thanks

Nik

Conradicles wrote: »

If you could increase your budget a bit, this is a sweet deal:
http://www.samsclub.com/sams/65-600hz-plasma-tv-1080p-2-hdmi-wifi/prod9300314.ip?searchTerm=S64

Conradicles

Note that the S64 is better than the S60. Check out AVS Forums for more info.

AsSiMiLaTeD

I cannot let a tv thread go by without mentioning the horrible experiences a few of us here have had with Samsung tvs. There are a couple threads here on the forums already so I won't hash through all the details here, just wanted to throw it out there.

nikolas812

Oh. Didn't notice it was a 64 model. I'll guess I do a comparison on the st60 vs the s64. That 65" monster would be nice in the living room!!



Nik

treitz3

Keep in mind, you need to be a certain amount of feet back for optimum viewing Nik. Too close and you see things that you don't want too as the screen size gets bigger.

Tom

nikolas812

Okay. SO apparently its the exact same panel as the S60 except with a better glare option. It seems like a whole lot more TV for $300. In this instance I might have to pic size over quality. And I just checked my local Sams club and they have them in stock for pick up. I think I'm going to go there this evening and check it out.

Thanks for pointing it out!


Nik

nikolas812

I'd be about 10 feet away. :cheesygrin:



Nik

treitz3 wrote: »

Keep in mind, you need to be a certain amount of feet back for optimum viewing Nik. Too close and you see things that you don't want too as the screen size gets bigger.

Tom

Conradicles

10 feet is perfect for a 65" set

nikolas812

When I looked it up it said the max thx certified viewing distance for a 65" display was 10.1 feet. So I think I'm good. Can't wait to go pick it up.

Conradicles wrote: »

10 feet is perfect for a 65" set

AsSiMiLaTeD

The s64 panel looks awesome until you compare it directly with the st60. It's a great tv but when compared side by side the st is clearly better, and IMO the st is the best tv in terms of value.

nikolas812

AsSiMiLaTeD wrote: »

The s64 panel looks awesome until you compare it directly with the st60. It's a great tv but when compared side by side the st is clearly better, and IMO the st is the best tv in terms of value.

Well that doesn't help! Now I don't know what to do? Quality over quantity? Or the other way around. I don't have a place big enough for a theater anymore. So I was kind of excited about getting a BIG TV. But I also don't want to be disappointed in the picture quality either. Maybe I can find them locally and go see the difference in person?

Nik

AsSiMiLaTeD

You won't be disappointed with the s64, unless you go look at the st60...

I doubt you'll see the s64 and st60 together, but the s64 is basically the s60 with a better AR filter on the screen, but the panel itself is the same.

skrol

I only had space for up to 47". I picked up a Panny P42S60 and it is sweet. Another vote for Panasonic plasma.

specd_out

Not getting a smart tv, but getting a smart add on device such as a bluray, or roku type box will allow you to get a better quality larger tv for the same price. Plus it allows you to be flexible with what apps you want. For example samsung has the most apps out there, but IMO the tv's are way overpriced and the PQ is subpar. So you could do a panny plasma and a samsung bluray and have the best of both worlds

zane77

I agree with specd_out, you wouldn't have to get a smart TV almost everything you connect to it is a smart device so almost all of the apps on the TV are redundant.

nikolas812

This is true. And its what I am currently doing with my LG blu Ray player. But I did about 3 more hours of research and reading last night. And the 65" s64 seems to still be a heck of a deal. Unless some one can point one out that's better. It's what I am getting. I went to Sams Club today to check it out. Its big. :cool:


Nik

Polkie2009

I've researched quite a few TV's the past 2 years and keep coming to the conclusion due to the overwhelming evidence that almost all of the Panasonic plasma tv owners(who give reviews) , are extremely happy with their TV's performance and dependability. I saw many disappointed Samsung tv owners. A number of disappointed LG tvs owners too. I think whatever tv I buy in the future,I'm going to get the extended warranty with it just to be safe. Good luck with your new set Nik!

jrc56

Add my vote to the panasonic plasma - very pleased

WLDock

For the price I'm not sure what can best the 65" S64". They make a nice Plasma...

Myself, coming from a 50" Samsung Plasma I wanted the VERA 65" a couple of years ago but it was waay too much, but it looked better that everything on the wall....even the 70" Sharp I wanted. Well, the 84" Samsung was doing some amazing things with the Transformers Bluray.
So, I went cheap and found a used DLP and got the size and a decent picture. If I had to buy today for $1000+ a 65" would be the minimum size I would buy rather i was 8ft or 13 ft away.

Polkie2009

Samsung made some excellent DLP sets, I knew a few folks who had them. Unfortunately, they developed a problem where the screen had white specks that kept multiplying. Samsung wouldn't cover them and they were too expensive to repair. Maybe others here have heard of this and chime in.WL, I hope yours doesn't develop this, those sets really did have a nice color.

j1mmy

I used to be a sharp fan but was not happy with my last purchase. I now have my second panasonic... 65" plasma ST60. love it.

4xoddic

By July of 09, board reviewers were snapping up the last of the Pioneer plasmas, as only a very few dealers were still offering Pioneer & the end of the line was near. The Pioneers were said to be the best pictures available, with TOTL Panasonics & Samsungs trailing.

Our local B&M Pioneer dealer had dropped the brand sooner than most. We did have an Authorized repair shop. Our BB had carried Pioneer, but sold too few sets to keep in stock. The B&M guy had a previous model 64" Samsung on display, which he offered to make a deal on (it had minor scratches on the bezel). A quick mind calculation = the latest Samsungs had lower energy consumption, over the time of ownership I told him I would save more $ with the latest model. He then admitted he had a storage room full of the older model . . . . . remember, the bottom had dropped out of the economy . . .

I looked at the latest Panasonic & Samsung plasma models @ BB; reviewers were lauding them as the ones to beat, IF you couldn't find a Pioneer (several dealers were advertising remaining Pioneers with ship-to deals. I didn't want to risk a DOA . . .).

I happened to have a MD appt in Topeka, 60 miles away. Afterwards, I stopped in BB & as I was leaving found the former 2 display Pioneers setting down near the floor, unplugged, with mark downs to clear them out. I quickly went to the TV counter & asked IF they would deliver to Manhattan. NO, was the answer.

I returned home & printed off the details on the Pioneer 60" & rushed to the local BB. I got the usual greeting as I passed the gatekeeper, turned & showed him the Pioneer printout & asked IF they could transfer the Topeka unit. "Sure, I work in the storeroom, I do that all the time. Just ask the TV counter to do it for you. The 2 guys at that counter didn't know how to work a transfer, so I returned to the gatekeeper, just as the store Mgr. & new TV/audio mgr. did. Store Mgr asked how he could help & led the AV mgr to his counter & showed him how to transfer the Pioneer, as the 2 clerks watched (slow afternoon).

As I'd entered the store, there was a handwritten flyer offering 15% off floor model TVs. The mgr mentioned this & deducted it off the price in Topeka. He asked if I had a blu-ray player. NO. He said they had the display Pioneer BDP-51FD on closeout. Lucky for me, he found one NIB on the shelf below for the same price. I did buy the extended protection plan for the TV (it expired this year). It took ~ a week for my plasma to be delivered (no box but securely wrapped in bubble wrap & tape).

2 POINTS OF THIS THREAD

Know your TV's specs. Buying that older Samsung at a deal would have cost me much more in energy use over the newer model.

Small shops may "buy in large lots" to get lower costs & not be able to turn them over before the next model ships.

Downside to this experience:

I've had to get a Pioneer SC-07, 4 RTia9s, CSi5 & 2 F/XiA6s. Since then, a Wii + CSiA6 + QSC-GX7. + a few blu-ray concerts. And, I joined Club Polk . . . .

We also replaced a 1986 27" Sears TV w/a 50" 720P Panasonic Plasma for the basement in the fall of 09.

None of those 09 purchases were full retail. Not sure those kind of deals can be made in the current economy.

A practical observation: both the Pioneer & Panasonic plasmas have been wonderful sets. I've never been tempted to compare the 50" Panny to the 60" Pioneer. Any TV you put up on your wall will be the center of your attention.

nikolas812

I've been busy going to school and work full time. Typically no time left at the end of day but to sleep and do it all over again the next day. BUT... Yesterday my professor called in sick. So I didn't have class and decided to go buy the TV. So far I love it. Seems to be great. My first and biggest complaint is the lack of HDMI inputs. Only two. I don't have any av equipment, so everything goes to the tv. This has left me with a third HDMI cable not being used. Kind of sucks. But other than that. I'm very happy with it. The size is perfect for my living room. The picture is great. I've never had a TV with such great Black levels and color. I'm currently running a break in DVD while I'm not home. I'm worried to death I'm going to get some sort of burn in image. I'll be glad when the break in period is over.