"Best" TV under $1000?

[Beev]

My current TV is a couple of years old now. Not terrible by any means, but I was foolish and didn't do any research so it isn't exactly the best TV (24" 720p Westinghouse). Next to other TV's I've noticed the framerate (at least I think that's what it is) isn't as high as most others. So anyway! What is the best LCD TV that I can get for under $1000? I'd like something 40+" this time around too if I can.

 

[Gibson486]

My current TV is a couple of years old now. Not terrible by any means, but I was foolish and didn't do any research so it isn't exactly the best TV (24" 720p Westinghouse). Next to other TV's I've noticed the framerate (at least I think that's what it is) isn't as high as most others. So anyway! What is the best LCD TV that I can get for under $1000? I'd like something 40+" this time around too if I can.

I got a Sony 46" Z5100 for $900 +Tax. I bought it at the Sony outlet. Had to haggle to get that price. If you have one there, you can try. Have you thought about buying 50" plasmas at that price? If you can't haggle, a good LCD for that price would be the the Sony Ex500 LCD. They sell those everwhere now because it a 2010 model, but it is teh budget line one. It's not a bad model at all. Also, you could get the samsung 40" 6 (ln40b650) series for that price if you shop hard enough. Just be weary of the very glossy screen.

 

[jjmIII]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung+...&skuId=9238835

over budget, but on sale, 18 months free financing, and nice...

 

[Gibson486]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung+...&skuId=9238835

over budget, but on sale, 18 months free financing, and nice...

very nice, but the ln46b650 is essentially the same TV, but cheaper because it does not use LEDs. I was REALLY close buying the LED one, though....but I could not justify paying the extra $150 for fit. Keep in mind though....the LED version is better....it does give deeper blacks, but not by much. If you can still find the ln46b650 at best buy and it is not an open box, it's actually also 1299. In that case I'd get the LED version.

 

[Hmongkeysauce]

If you can stretch your budget by $169, this is the LCD to get. It's 2009 model, but highly rated, and very close in performance to Samsung's 2009 top of the line LED model (about 2X the cost). I may be getting one, too, to replace my Toshiba LCD.

 

[manimal]

I would get the LH90 over a edge lit samsung anyday. Seconded!

Or If you have a HHgregg near you they had a 50G10 panny for 999 recently. If the price went up wheel and deal!

 

[erwos]

Have you considered a DLP? Bang for the buck is a lot better, IMHO.

 

[kalrith]

Beev, what's your viewing distance?

 

[Beev]

Beev, what's your viewing distance?

Probably about 4-5 feet. My futon is reasonably close to my TV.

 

[kalrith]

Probably about 4-5 feet. My futon is reasonably close to my TV.

That would definitely put you at the sweet spot for a 40-50" TV. However, I would highly recommend measuring the distance first. The viewing distance will determine what size TV is optimal. Obviously there are other factors there, but the recommendations for a 4' viewing distance will (or at least should) be different than the recommendations for a 7' viewing distance.

 

[simonizor]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16889187122 - $899
I have this Panasonic 46" plasma TV. I absolutely love everything about it. If you don't need an LCD tv (no real reason to go with one unless you plan on using it with your PC heavily), then a plasma will give you better colors and a much better black levels than an LCD. Plasmas also bave a much better refresh rate, which is important if you play video games. You don't really have to worry about burn in unless you leave the same image on the screen for like 4+ hours. All newer plasmas come with anti-burn in technology that helps to prevent burn in.

 

[smitbret]

Why LCD?

 

[Beev]

Why LCD?

When I went around shopping last time I just liked the way they looked more than plasmas. That's pretty much the only reason really.

 

[kalrith]

When I went around shopping last time I just liked the way they looked more than plasmas. That's pretty much the only reason really.

You should try to view a plasma in better conditions, like a local HT store or Magnolia Theater at Best Buy. View one in lower lighting and hooked up to a BD player, and get the remote and set it to Movie or Cinema mode.

The problem with viewing TVs side by side in a bright big-box store is two-fold. One is that this is not how you would watch TV at home (several TVs on the wall, all set to "torch" mode, with very bright lighting, and usually a really crappy source). Two is that studies show people will think that the brightest display is the best-looking display when comparing two TVs side by side. There's not a single current TV that should be run at max brightness in a home setting, so that point is moot. Therefore, if you go to Best Buy and choose the TV that looks best in the store, you will most likely NOT be choosing the TV that will look best in your house.

 

[Agentbolt]

Probably about 4-5 feet. My futon is reasonably close to my TV.

Are you sure it's 4-5 feet? That sounds awfully close. The viewing distance is really important because, let's say you're actually like 8 feet away. Unless you're doing like 55+ inches, you'll be fine with 720p, and there are some REALLY nice 50 or so inch 720p plasmas for only like 700 bucks out there.

Don't put too much stock in how the TVs look in the store. In your own house, controlling the lighting and being able to mess with the menu settings, it's going to be completely different. Plasmas have a lot of their own issues but the general consensus is that they have better PQ than LCDs.

 

[s44]

At 4-5 feet, 42" would be great. And $1k is plenty of budget for that size.

 

[fstime]

For LCD, Samsung LNB40650. The Samsung LED model is about $300 more and would probably be the best for a 40 inch screen.

I like Panasonic for plasma.

You might want to wait because everyone is probably going to come out with a new line of TV's for the new year (if they havnt already)

 

[piasabird]

Samsung already has on their own website the new LN40C650. They are promoting HDTV with Applications like an I-phone. I wonder if other companies will think this is a good idea. I would have thought it might violate patents or something like that.

Think of the concept of Internet TV.

This was their big thing at the CES technology show in vegas. Well also 3DTV. Comes in Wireless (With USB adapter) and Ethernet. This is what Best Buy was advertising; streaming from the Wireless laptop to the TV, or from the internet (Maybe fast enough).

I was wondering what is

 

[Beev]

I probably should have mentioned this in the OP, but maybe it isn't relevant. The TV will be used 99% of the time for gaming, and lots of it . I went to Best Buy over the weekend just to check out how some set looked, and I really liked almost every Samsung. The Sony's seemed nice too, but their prices were just stupid. For gaming, do I need to focus on a high refresh rate? Is 120Hz good enough?

 

[s44]

Note that TVs can't yet render 120hz of actual input -- they're restricted to 60hz at 1080p, with the other 60 frames being interpolated via algorithm. (Maybe the new 3D sets can? I know the 3D monitors do true 120hz -- expensive, though.)

Mind you, some have enjoyed the smoother motion the frame interpolation provides in games, but there's also a slight bit of lag added that may or may not bother you.

120hz is also good for allowing 5:5 pulldown for perfect 24fps film playback.

The DNLA-certified Samsungs would let you stream media content directly to the TV, which is neat but probably not much use if you already have a console or PC hooked up for gaming.

 

[Beev]

So what's the point of the ones I see with 240hz rates then? That seems like serious overkill that wouldn't really add anything.

 

[s44]

So what's the point of the ones I see with 240hz rates then? That seems like serious overkill that wouldn't really add anything.

Higher numbers are better!

It's like the "1500W" HTIBs.

 

[piasabird]

Usually they also have higher contrast ratio. Like with Samsung Wallmart sells the LN40B530, but the LN40B550 is a little bit better. This is probably an assumption on my part.

I think Dell.com sells the Samsung 42" Plasma pretty cheap. I dont think that model was 1080p. I think it was 720p. Maybe you can find a 46" plasma for around $1,000.00 on sale. I think they are more like $1,200.00.

 

[crazycarl]

I got a sony something-something-ex500 46" for $900, really happy with it so far. Haven't noticed any lag in games as long as I use game mode on it.