Any advice on buying a bigscreen TV?

Various | 1/28/03 | The G Man

[The G Man]

Excuse the vanity but I'm in need of some FReeper assistance. Our 15 year old console TV is on its last legs so the Mrs and I are thinking of buying a big screen TV and I would welcome folks advice on this matter.

We really can't afford to go much over $1500 so after looking on the net, I think the features we want are 40" and above and HDTV compatible. I'm not sure how important widescreen (16:9) is compared to standard (4:3) ... is that something I need to reconsider?

I've found two that are somewhat affordable:

I also have Bernies and Best Buy near me, but Circuit City seems the cheapest.

Also, how much room do I have to negotiate? Will they actually negotiate price? Or should I ask them to throw some stuff in?

[cdefreese]

I am in the same boat as the poster. I am currently looking for a HDTV widescreen as well, but I am a little confused. You have to buy a HDTV decoder separately from the TV?

[jhouston]

Do not look at anything BUT 16:9 format. Do get an HDTV ready (or compatable) set. You do not need an integrated tuner (they are very pricey with the tuner built in). You can purchase a Samsung 151 HDTV tuner on the web for $350. It's great, just hook it up to a garden variety antena and to your HDTV monitor (look at rear projection 40-60 inch).

You might want to check this place out - www.wholesaleconnection.com .

When I purchased 50" Toshiba and tuner, I priced them at BestBuy, CircuitCity, Tweeters and Sears and Wholesaleconnection beat them all by over $700 on the TV alone (Bestbuy - 2400, WC - 1700). The savings on sales tax paid for the $200 shipping charge. The shipper sets it up in your living room and removes all the packing material.

[On the Road to Serfdom]

Don't you make enought on your talk radio show to buy a better TV? ... If you will watch a lot of DVD's and/or real HDTV broadcast get 16:9 like others said. Only get 4:3 if you will be watching mostly standard TV for the next several years. If you get 4:3 make sure it "squeezes" the picture in 16:9 mode so you get as good a picture as if you bought 16:9 when watching DVD or HDTV.

[gov_bean_ counter]

How about a 12" Sony and a magnifying glass.

[destroid]

There is an excellent source of info here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/

Look under the Display Devices forum. Many FAQs on the different styles of displays, aspect ratios, and occasional good deals.

[PMCarey]

While we're on the topic, is there any reason to buy and HDTV when you don't have cable or satellite reception? We live out in the country and there are no cable providers and I don't want to spend money on a satellite system, so we simply receive the broadcast signal. Given that, is there any reason to go with HDTV?

[laker_dad]

The extended service contract is their profit maker. You can talk them down in price, but only if you take the contract too.

[jhouston]

If you are more than 40-50 miles from the broadcasting source, do not bother with HDTV. The over the air broadcasts are great and all the networks now broadcast a majority of their prime time shows in HDTV.

DSS and Dish Satelite broadcasts have a very limited number of HDTV channels (DSS has only HBO and a dedicated HDTV chanel). Most cable companies now include HDTV broadcasts when they are available from the local broadcaster.

[Atlas Sneezed]

"If you have a DVD player or expect to get one soon absolutely go 16:9. Make sure it IS HDTV compatible."

But are they ever going to produce HD-DVDs?

[Lonely NY Conservative]

My wife just got me a 42" 16x9 Toshiba HDTV for Christmas. I can't say enough good things about it - bright, clear, line-doubler makes analog signals look great, DVDs even better. I still haven't shelled out for an HDTV decoder - waiting for the HDTV TiVo DirecTV receiver coming out later this year which will do both over-the-air and satellite HDTV.

Two recommendations:

1. If you go HDTV look for one that has a DVI interface (or is DVI upgradeable). On the Toshiba only the 2002 and later model years are DVI upgradeable. DVI is a new interface which may or may not become the standard. There are many arguments about why it is a good or bad thing as it gives content providers greater control of HDTV content, but if it does become a standard you may need it to display a good deal of HDTV content (particularly PPV and HBO).

2. 16X9 works for me as I was most concerned with HDTV and DVD viewing (which fits 16x9 natively if you watch the letterbox DVD version) and the anamorphic modes work well for stretching 4x3 - stretches sides more than middle of the picture. This is opinion, as you will have gray bars either on the sides when viewing 4x3 material on a 16x9 screen or on the top and bottom when viewing 16x9 material on a 4x3 screen unless you use one of the stretch modes.

A good place for more technical information is the AVS Forum at http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/

[Mark17]

Get a High Definition set. NTSC is on its way out.

[Zathras]

First of all, figure out what you want to watch and how.
Alot of cheaper rear projections have poor off-angle viewing. Make sure you test view it side to side and not just centered.
Test view the type of media you will be watching and be sure to check out the translation modes for 16x9-4x3. Some systems have, IMHO have too much distortion when ie stretching 4x3 signal to fill a 16x9 screen.
Consider the lighting of the room you will be using it in. Too much ambient lighting can make a rear projection look washed out.

I use www.audioreview.com to get a general idea of product quality and likes/dislikes. The video section isn't as extensive as the audio but it would be a good place to start.

[ralph rotten]

There was a good write up in the WSJ on the 27 monday on this subject-- do a google search

[ralph rotten]

There was a good write up in the WSJ on the 27 monday on this subject-- do a google search

[Atlas Sneezed]

"While we're on the topic, is there any reason to buy and HDTV when you don't have cable or satellite reception?"

Many stations are broadcasting in HDTV already (although the source recording can be crappy quality). PBS stations in many areas have superb signals with special demo material (like travelogues, etc.) different from their normal programming.

[savedbygrace]

I am going to give you advice that nobody else has.

There will be many changes in TV/monitor offerings and price points over the next two to five years. Nobody really knows today how it will all shake out.

So, what I would suggest is that you buy a $500 TV that you can live with today, and bank the other $1000 to earn interest or dividends. Then, a few years from now, when you absolutely HAVE to have a DV or HD compatible TV/monitor, then pull your $1000 out and buy a better set. I'm betting the price point will be below $1000 by then.

Then put the $500 set you buy today on the output of your VHS VCR so you can watch all those home movies and other movies you've recorded over the years. You know, the VCR that won't output to the new $1000 DV HD set you buy three years from now.

[AppyPappy]

I want a wall-mount but can't figure out where to put the rabbit ears.

[Allen In Texas Hill Country]

---

"If you have a DVD player or expect to get one soon absolutely go 16:9. Make sure it IS HDTV compatible."

But are they ever going to produce HD-DVDs?

---

Not for awhile. But with an anamorphic wide screen DVD and a good line doubler it comes close to looking like HDTV.
Most 16:9 systems these days come with a good internal line double. But mine was one of the first Toshibas so I bought an external one that also does 3-2 pull down and converts my DVD player into progressive output.

Yes www.avsforum.com is THE place to spend some time if you take the time to sort it out.

Again, most OTA TV is HDTV in primetime now. Go for it if you are within range.

[gov_bean_ counter]

I am going to give you advice that nobody else has.

Number 24 was close.

[fogarty]

If you can get it into the living room. How big is this guy's house? A >53" HDTV flat tube I daresay is too large for the majority of living rooms out there.

I imagine it probably weighs around 300-400 pounds too. Need a forklift just to get it into house.