Television recommendations

[Dori]

As luck would have it, our TV fizzled two days after the Black Friday sales. We are now in the market for a new one. A flat screen is what we are looking for, but we're at a loss as to what kind. The Visios seem to be cheaper, but we aren't familiar with that brand. We don't want to spend a fortune, as it is for our mobile home in Florida, and we are only there for about 3 months. Any suggestions as to what kind we should be considering? DH wants a 40". I don't think I want a 3D.

Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Dori

 

[Passepartout]

Samsung is well rated. There have been reports of service shortcomings with Vizio. Cyber Monday (today) there have been great buys all day. Check Amazon and/or BestBuy. Soon.

Jim

 

[Elan]

If you and/or your DH like sports, I highly recommend a Panasonic plasma. They are very highly rated. I own a 42" and a 55" and have been very happy with both.

 

[rtf2017]

Vizio is now a top brand, we have one and it is excellent. Bought at Costco.

 

[Talent312]

The 3 TV's in our house (22"-LCD, 40"-LCD and 60"-LED) are all Samsungs.
Our two blu-ray players are both Samsungs.

IMHO, Sony's are overpriced. You pay more for the label than the guts.
LG and Visio are reasonable alternatives.
But I'd avoid RCA, Westinghouse and any no-name brand.

Visio used to be the "Sprit Airlines" of the electronics world -- a cheap knock-off with no C/S. However, over the last few years, their higher-end models have received positive reviews and listed as "best buys." I see them more and more in sports-bars around town.

 

[Ken555]

Vizio is now a top brand, we have one and it is excellent. Bought at Costco.

They may be a top brand in terms of sales, but not customer support. That said, I have one for a bedroom tv, and it's works great. But for any serious tv I'd look at other brands. There's a reason Visio is less expensive.

+1 for Panasonic plasmas. My 58" is fantastic for tv and movies.

 

[Talent312]

If you and/or your DH like sports, I highly recommend a Panasonic plasma.

LCD/LED TV's have greatly improved their contrast and sampling rates to the point where the plasma's advantage in picture-quality is not as noticeable anymore. IMHO, the plasma's sheer bulk and weight is a real disadvantage.

I think that plasmas will become the betamax of the HD-TV wars. Some here may remember that betamax videotape technology was considered significantly superior to VHS, and yet it passed into oblivion as the unwashed masses thru their weight behind the more flexible VHS format.

 

[Wyominguy]

Samsung or Sony

I strongly suggest checking out a Samsung. We have a large LCD in our family room and a smaller Sony in the bedroom. I have also been very impressed with Samsung customer service since we had to replace a new Samsung refrigerator late this summer. A real person from USA actually answered the phone and the process was almost painless. They have my vote for TV's, appliances, smartphones, etc. from now on.

Neil

 

[Elan]

LCD/LED TV's have greatly improved their contrast and sampling rates to the point where the plasma's advantage in picture-quality is not as noticeable anymore. IMHO, the plasma's sheer bulk and weight is a real disadvantage.

Yes, that's true LCD sets are approaching plasma for picture quality. But to get a more comparable picture in an LCD set, one will typically spend at least 50% more as compared to a similarly sized plasma set. And plasma's are indeed heavier, but I can easily move my 55" by myself, so I'm not sure it's a major issue.

LCD technology will likely eventually win out, primarily to being more energy efficient, but I feel that plasma's still have a clear price/performance advantage.

Having said that, if one isn't interested in watching fast motion, the differences are probably negligible. LCD sets tend to be brighter and more efficient. Plasma's tend to have better blacks and better fast motion response. Just depends on what's most important to each buyer.

 

[NWL]

As luck would have it, our TV fizzled two days after the Black Friday sales. We are now in the market for a new one. A flat screen is what we are looking for, but we're at a loss as to what kind. The Visios seem to be cheaper, but we aren't familiar with that brand. We don't want to spend a fortune, as it is for our mobile home in Florida, and we are only there for about 3 months. Any suggestions as to what kind we should be considering? DH wants a 40". I don't think I want a 3D.

Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Dori

Here's link for a great store in Montana. Good prices and free shipping.

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/category/desc/91/1/flat-screen-tvs/

This link is for their Clearance section. Make sure you read the description for the unit you are looking at:

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/clearance/7/91

I have done business with this company for years. They are great. All my TVs and audio equipment have come from them. Give them a try!

Edit: NO SALES TAX EITHER!
Cheers!

 

[Deb from NC]

Consumer reports latest buying guide rated the Samsung highest in the 32 and 37 inch category,
but Vizio's 37" was # 2. We have a 32" LG that has a great picture, but
our best TV is a 50" Pioneer Plasma. (I'm not sure Pioneer is even making
them anymore, but ours has a fabulous picture!)
Deb

 

[pwrshift]

I have a 55" LG passive 3D and love it. It comes with 4 glasses and you can buy more from Amazon for less than $10 each...and they are the same as in the movie theartres, not expensive battery operated like on other 3D TVs. The TV is already set up with Internet, Netflix, wifi, etc. every time I sit down to watch it I'm just amazed with the quality of regular HD TV and disks and the 3d is stunning...go see it before you buy anything else.

Brian

 

[Wyominguy]

Van's is great

I would second the suggestion of Vann's to purchase a tv. I bought both of mine there from the retail store a couple of years ago and picked them up at the warehouse. The must have had a thousand tv's there in stock.

Neil

 

[MILOIOWA]

Toshiba makes great tvs also. I just bought a Samsung 43" Plasma. Havent got it yet but hope I like it lol!

 

[HatTrick]

+1 for Panasonic plasmas. My 58" is fantastic for tv and movies.

Ditto.

 

[Dori]

Thanks for all of your great suggestions. We wound up buying a 40" (Yes DH won that round! LOL) Philips LED. The picture on it is great. Now we just have to fugure out how to get the wireless connection to work. Thanks again!

Dori