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Posted on 12/03/2007 6:09:05 PM PST by Graybeard58
I'm in the market to buy a big screen H.D.T.V. I don't know squat about them.
What's the difference in plasma and LCDs? Which is best? What is the best brand for the money? I'm looking for at least a 42 inch set. Do I need to buy a convertor box to get the signal from my cable company? Do I have to pay extra to my cable company for the service? Thanks
I've heard that's true... but at this age my eyes have trouble picking out some of those details -- my four-year old LCD RP still looks good to me. If Graybeard58 is around my age, that may not be a big issue. :-)
To answer a few more of your questions. For plasma brands go panasonic or pioneer. If you do decide to go LCD go for Sony or Sharp.
Cable. Most TVs have a built in QAM tuner now which will allow you to plug in your cable directly. Pioneers have a built in TV guide and are one of the few to still implement the cable card.
If you see them side by side (I review TV’s for a living) it’s very obvious. Even the expensive Sony XBR’s have pretty poor black performance.
I have a GE tv from 10 yrs ago, works just fine really. We paid 200 bucks for it, talk about value huh?
Meanwhile, it IS time to update, I’m dragging my feet, coming up with new excuses all the time.
The crazy 3 yrs old son o mine, in the room with me now, is the best. I can use him to stop us from spending money on just about everything! He’s a little human wrecking ball...
I’ve heard nothing beats tubes? Anyone just build a damn good old fashioned TV? What you think about that? This new fangled stuff sounds like a ton of money, and in a few years you wish you’d done something else?
finny, you have an opinion as to what tv is best, my dear?
That’s true. Tubes still have the best color and black performance but they are size limited and they are actually getting hard to find.
You can get a tube HDTV. Max size though will be about 32” or so.
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Thanks for the advice~!
that would make a good fish bowl
You know your stuff.
I have a 50” Plasma - no internal tuner, so I have been using Basic Cable - non-digital, and tuning through my VCR
I finally bought a stand-alone Digital Tuner to pick up over-the-air digital & HDTV broadcasts.
To tell the truth, since I got that tuner, I RARELY watch cable anymore. There is a pant-load of PBS stations in my area that satisfy my viewing habits. I can watch football and baseball in HD also. I never thought I would use an outside TV antennae again. Worth every penny.
TV will drive you crazy!
Special equipment is needed. It’s a different dish and box from the standard DTV setup.
Worth every penny.
VIZIO...get the GV42 (42 inch), Circuit City has these as well as WalMart. $1199.00 or less. SEARS also has them.
Picture is fantastic.
Call your cable co and have them put in a HD Cable Box.
You can also connect the cable directly to the set and use the internal “QAM” tuner for a while, but you will not get the full HD range of channels.
Exceptional value and great picture.
G
Is it one of the PH series from Panasonic? I use a 42” professional display like that. I like the look of not having speakers or anything on the TV. It looks like a picture frame.
It’s actually a Maxent - Best Buy’s house brand. Mine came with side mount speakers but I took them off and use some old floor standing ones. I will eventually get one of those surround sound receivers with the sub-woofer and little tiny speakers.
The Digital Tuner is the way to go. I watched the thing for 2 years before I could appreciate it in HD. It’s so sharp that sometimes you have to avert your eyes as it gives you the feeling that you are intruding.
Bookmark for when my 1980’s Zenith TV stops working.
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