Two Plus Two Older Archives  

Go Back   Two Plus Two Older Archives > 2+2 Communities > Other Other Topics

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 10-11-2005, 11:40 AM
JordanIB JordanIB is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 134
Default Want a new (HD)TV, Budget = $1,500-2,000

So I'm itching to finally upgrade from my 27" CRT, but I have some reservations about spending $2-4K on a TV. I know there have been a handful of TV threads, and I've run a search, but nothing quite covers this budget range, of $1500-2000.

My situation: Right now my living room is about 18x14, and the couch would be about 5-6 feet from the TV. I'm not a gamer, but I do watch a lot of sports. While I currently have room for pretty much any size and bulk TV, I'm young and in NYC (so I could very well have a new place each year) and probably headed to grad school in a couple years, so avoiding lugging around a 200 pound beast from place to place is a consideration, but doesn't necessarily eliminate a good option.

So what are your recommendations?

All types and technologies welcome.

Whatcha got?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10-11-2005, 11:43 AM
daveymck daveymck is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 388
Default Re: Want a new (HD)TV, Budget = $1,500-2,000

5 or 6 feet away I would be looking at smaller lcd's rather than anything big 27" may well be enough. Will be easier to move from place to place as well.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10-11-2005, 11:49 AM
JordanIB JordanIB is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 134
Default Re: Want a new (HD)TV, Budget = $1,500-2,000

[ QUOTE ]
5 or 6 feet away I would be looking at smaller lcd's rather than anything big 27" may well be enough. Will be easier to move from place to place as well.

[/ QUOTE ]

What additional sizes/sets would I consider if we pushed that distance to 7-8 feet?
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-11-2005, 11:55 AM
trevorwc trevorwc is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 42
Default Re: Want a new (HD)TV, Budget = $1,500-2,000

I have a 42" Sony HD LCD and I am VERY VERY VERY VERY happy with it. I am also in an apartment, and I'm about 5-6 feet away from it on the couch. It is AWESOME in Hi-Definition, everything from sports to regular prime time programming.

The only negative is that standard definition just sucks. I don't know if it's because Hi-Def stuff is just so awesome, but it really sucks to go from Hi-Def to regular programming. I also don't know if you're going to have that with EVERY Hi-Def set or not, but I have read in other "research" that LCDs are particularly bad for that.

As for cost - I bought mine at the beginning of the year when they were listed at $2300. Talked down Circuit City to $2050. DEFINITELY NEGOTIATE with this type of large purchase. I believe they're listed at like $1900 now, so I'd suspect you can pick them up for $1700 or so?

The only thing I'd caution is to be careful of the extras. I have DirecTV, so it was a couple hundred extra for the Hi-Def receiver. I had to buy an antenna to get Hi-Def locals, and that was like $50. If you're a TIVO guy, their Hi-Def box is extra. You WANT the good cables when you go to hook everything up, and they're expensive (I spent $75 each on cables to hook up my Hi-Def box and my PS2).

The other "extra" with LCDs is that the bulbs burn out. And they're a couple hundred bucks each. I bought the Circuit City service plan, which has unlimited bulb replacement for 3 years.

In summary, I LOVE my TV - you'd be very happy with a 42" in that "small" of a space, and the picture on my Sony LCD is AMAZING.

No matter what you go with though - consider the extras. They add up REALLY fast.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10-11-2005, 11:56 AM
daveymck daveymck is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 388
Default Re: Want a new (HD)TV, Budget = $1,500-2,000

Up to 32", the recommendation for 42" plasmas is 10-12ft.

I would still look at lcd, over here they are not looking to do hdtv in crt sets so thats a basis for me saying lcd. A good crt is going to have a better picture than a equivelent priced lcd (but do they have hdmi slots on crts in the states?)
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 10-11-2005, 11:59 AM
rogue rogue is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: MN
Posts: 13
Default Re: Want a new (HD)TV, Budget = $1,500-2,000

I just bought a Samsung HLR5067W for less than $2000. Highly recommended.

Though as the other poster said, 5-6 feet is a little close for that size. You would be fine with HD content, but SD stuff will look pretty bad.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 10-11-2005, 12:02 PM
Soul Daddy Soul Daddy is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Hurricanes, animal corpses and your potential new tattoo have a lot in common. Think about it.
Posts: 463
Default Re: Want a new (HD)TV, Budget = $1,500-2,000

[ QUOTE ]
No matter what you go with though - consider the extras. They add up REALLY fast.

[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah, if you're on a budget then this is a huge consideration. I ended up spending as much on the peripherals as I did my TV.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 10-11-2005, 12:05 PM
PITTM PITTM is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 39
Default Re: Want a new (HD)TV, Budget = $1,500-2,000

spending a lot of money on good cables is kind of a bad idea. as long as you dont buy bargain bin crap its pretty much all the same. i say this having built many RCA/component cables in my lifetime. with 8 bucks worth of parts i could build cables better than monster cables.

rj
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 10-11-2005, 12:07 PM
astroglide astroglide is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: download an irc client at www.hydrairc.com (freeware not spyware), connect to irc.efnet.net, and join the channel #twoplustwo to chat live with other 2+2 posters
Posts: 2,858
Default Re: Want a new (HD)TV, Budget = $1,500-2,000

6' is a good distance for a 42' set. if you go smaller you will be shortchanging yourself for all of your hd viewing.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 10-11-2005, 12:08 PM
trevorwc trevorwc is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 42
Default Re: Want a new (HD)TV, Budget = $1,500-2,000

[ QUOTE ]
spending a lot of money on good cables is kind of a bad idea. as long as you dont buy bargain bin crap its pretty much all the same. i say this having built many RCA/component cables in my lifetime. with 8 bucks worth of parts i could build cables better than monster cables.

rj

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't know jack about building cables - maybe that's my problem.

However, I do think that HAVING good cables (whether you buy them or make them) is important. When I hooked up my PS2, I was pretty disappointed the first time I played Madden. So I went out and spent $75 on Monster cables and it looks AWESOME.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:18 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.