need opinions on new tv....ready to buy

[Enellz 10+ year member]

There is a differance between 720P and 1080P, but it's all depends on type of TV you have period. since you have a Ps3, as do I, and from my personal experience get a 1080P. The gaming and blu ray looks better. But most importantly, look at the ratio for the tv, and refresh rate, due to you gaming. Yes the native resolution plays a part, but RATIO makes a huge difference. Both TVs could be 720P, but if one is 10,000:1 and one is 20,000:1, which one has the better picture?

 

[blackbonnie 5,000+ posts]

im assuming the 20,000:1 does...am i right?

im new to tv's i neve rreally payed much attention becuase ive never made a big purchase like this on one.

and when i look at tv's there are a couple different ratios i see, there is dynamic and another, which one do i look at?

 

[Enellz 10+ year member]

im assuming the 20,000:1 does...am i right?
im new to tv's i neve rreally payed much attention becuase ive never made a big purchase like this on one.

and when i look at tv's there are a couple different ratios i see, there is dynamic and another, which one do i look at?

Here is an example of a Brevia off Walmart.com:

# 37" LCD monitor with 1366 x 768 resolution

# Aspect Ratio: 16:9

# Contrast Ratio: 1600:1 (Dynamic Contrast Ratio)

# Viewing Angle: 178 horizontal, 178 vertical

# Response Time: 8ms

# Video Input

# HDMI: 1 HDMI w/ HDCP, PC + Video, Plug & Play

# Component Input: 3 Component + 3 R/L RCA Audio

# VGA Input: RGB 15 Pin D-sub, PC + Video, Plug & Play, Third Component Input + R/L RCA Audio

# S-Video Input: 2 S-Video with R/L RCA Audio (Share w/AV Input)

# AV Input: 2 Composite Video with R/L RCA Audio (Share w/S-Video)

# RF: NTSC/ATSC Combo Tuner

# Audio Output: 1 R/L RCA Audio, 1 Coaxial Audio, 1 Subwoofer

# Digital Output: 1 Optical Audio

# Headphone: 1 Stereo Mini jack

# Speakers: 30 Watt Speakers (2X15W)

# Video: NTSC & ATSC with High Definition (480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i)

# PC: Compatible up to 1360x768@60Hz preferred

# Voltage: 100-240 (universal), 50-60Hz

# Consumption: 180 watts

# Front Panel: Power, Menu, Source, Channel up/down, volume up/down

# Remote: Simple Remote Control

# Service Port: USB

Everything I put in bold is pretty much what you 'mainly' need to look for: Ratio, the better the number, the better the colors amd overall quality. Response time, this is the refresh rate of the tv. Like if you playing or watching sports and such and you get that blur effect behind the moving object, thats your tv, trying to keep up with it. The lesser the refresh rate, the quicker it is, and the smoother the picture. Then inputs, people over look these until the get into home theatre. Try to get as many HDMI as possible, and a digital optical input is always nice too for older A/V recievers. Aw, also look into self calibrating your TV, to get the most out of it.

 

[blackbonnie 5,000+ posts]

so i want a high contrast ratio, low refresh rate, and be sure that the video inputs suit what i need?

when you see a tv talking about 60hz or 120hz, what is that about? i thought that had something to do with the refresh rate.

 

[Enellz 10+ year member]

so i want a high contrast ratio, low refresh rate, and be sure that the video inputs suit what i need?
when you see a tv talking about 60hz or 120hz, what is that about? i thought that had something to do with the refresh rate.

Thats also refresh rate, low response time, and the a higher hz. 120 is great, if you can get that you'll be in good shape. 240hz versions just came out.

 

[Ellsworthz 10+ year member]

i herd the vizeo (sp) ones were decent budget ones.

I'd personally get a 32" Samsung, or a sony braivia. own both an the picture its great

32" samsung and 52" Braivia

 

[aaronrchr 10+ year member]

Don't get me wrong, 720p is great. It's light years better than any standard def tv res. I just said that 1080p might be best for you because you seem to want to have this tv for a while and 1080p broadcasts are going to become much more frequent in the next few years.

Someone was mentioning contrast ratio. While this is a major factor in the overall picture quality of a television, it is not the end all be all. The main problem with comparing tv's contrast ratios is that every tv company uses a different scale by which they measure the contrast ratio of the tv. Most of the numbers are not true ratios and are dynamic, not static, but that's besides the point. For an everyday buyer, contrast ratio is a good number to go by, but mostly, take a look at the tv's you are considering and decide for yourself which set looks better. If in your eyes the $500 vizio looks just as good as the $1000 sony, then by all means buy the vizio. Its all in the eyes of the beholder.

 

[aaronrchr 10+ year member]

Thats also refresh rate, low response time, and the a higher hz. 120 is great, if you can get that you'll be in good shape. 240hz versions just came out.

This is true for lcd's, but as far as plasma sets, they will always have higher refress rates. Last years model plasmas were in the 400hz range and this years are in the 600hz range

 

[ejschultz 10+ year member]

there is no industry standard for measuring contrast ratio. It's a gimic brand names use to make their tvs appear better than others. Contrast only matters when compairing tvs within the same brand and technology. Do some reading about contrast and you'll see I'm correct. Don't be niave and purchase a tv based on contrast ratio. Trust me on this one. I've sold tvs before and I'm getting back into the business. I know what I'm talking about.

 

[Enellz 10+ year member]

since 500 is the limit only two I see above 30" decent are these two:

Vizio here Not bad, for the price, and the contrast ratio isnt bad. If you need to be under 5 that bad, than pick this.

The 37" Olieva. Big for the price, but I dont like it. Horrible contrast ratio, response is slow, and not enough connections for it to big so large. IMO stay away.

37" Vizio Not the best, but for the price, not bad at all. Its a 1080P, contrast isnt That bad, 4ms response time, and 3 HDMI with optical input. However its 597 plus tax, but for all that and 1080P I say get it. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[blackbonnie 5,000+ posts]

Thats also refresh rate, low response time, and the a higher hz. 120 is great, if you can get that you'll be in good shape. 240hz versions just came out.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9244329&type=product&id=1218068507560

Contrast Ratio15,000:1 (2,000,000:1 dynamic)

Screen Refresh Rate 600Hz

HDMI Inputs 2

S-Video Inputs 1

Component Video Inputs 2

Composite Inputs 2

what i dont understand though, is if the refresh rate is 600hz, would that mean my refresh rate, is 1.67ms?

that doesnt seem right at all.

i really like this tv, its fits my budget well, love its apperance, and seems like a decent tv to me.

 

[aaronrchr 10+ year member]

I say go with that Panasonic. Its a very nice looking set, and Panasonic's are bulletproof. I have a question though. Are you planning on upgrading to HD cable/satellite? If you aren't, and you watch cable/satellite with any regularity, I would seriously suggest you think twice. A high def tv on regular 480i cable broadcasts looks worse most of the time than the SD tv's you're used to.

 

[Enellz 10+ year member]

Didnt know you liked Plasmas, thought you wanted only LCDs. But anyway I think it looks good, my only thing is I hate the HDMI input having one on the side, and no digital optical input. But over not bad. I would still buy a 1080P man, go for it. I think your in good shape though, just dont use the side HDMI, wires stick out like a swore thumb like mine:

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/mad.gif.c18f003ab0ef8a0d9c27ca78d77a6392.gif not cool....

 

[aaronrchr 10+ year member]

Didnt know you liked Plasmas, thought you wanted only LCDs. But anyway I think it looks good, my only thing is I hate the HDMI input having one on the side, and no digital optical input. But over not bad. I would still buy a 1080P man, go for it. I think your in good shape though, just dont use the side HDMI, wires stick out like a swore them like mine:

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/mad.gif.c18f003ab0ef8a0d9c27ca78d77a6392.gif not cool....

I'm not trying to be a dick, but where do you see HDMI inputs on the side of that tv?

 

[blackbonnie 5,000+ posts]

yes i will eventually upgrade. im waiting for uverse to be available in my area, because thats what i had before i moved and i loved it. but right now i would prolly not upgrade for another 6 months or so. but will not use the cable nearly as much as movies, ps3, and computer.

wil running std cable on an hdtv, hurt it at all? (im sure thats a dumb question, but i dont know the answer)