TV recommendations Options

[impala454]

Not sure if this makes any difference to will, but makes sense to post in this thread:

http://www.cepro.com/article/flat_panel_pr...research_finds/

Flat Panel Prices Expected to Drop 15.6% in 2008, Research Finds

[Rocky]

I'm dead set on getting a Sony with MotionFlow


Sony KDS-60A3000 is the current model under consideration.


I think also a ps3 (just for the blu ray player essentially, and it will be able to run the next gen blu ray movies that have interactive content etc)

[Hartmann]

Wow, this thread has been an education!

So how does everyone feel about DLP? I was walking through Best Buy this weekend and noticed that the DLP picture looks a little darker while the LCD/Plasma screens look brighter though it's almost annoyingly bright.

[Oasis]

Wow, this thread has been an education!

So how does everyone feel about DLP? I was walking through Best Buy this weekend and noticed that the DLP picture looks a little darker while the LCD/Plasma screens look brighter though it's almost annoyingly bright.

I now feel pretty knowledgable because I spent a few hours at Best Buy last night for a Dell employee sale

If I can figure out how to get pics from my Iphone to the computer (I assume with the USB cord but I'm too lazy to check) I'll show you which one I'm getting. It's a 61" Samsung 1080p DLP. $2699.

This is what I could gather from the sales pitches:

LCD is brighter than DLP, and you can see LCD better at different angles. On the flipside, DLP has better fluid motion than LCD. This is great for me who will use the tv for sports and movies. LCD is wall mountable, DLP is not. Not a big deal to me, as I live with frat guys and I don't want the goddamn thing knocked off the wall and broken.

Basically, it depends on what you're using the tv for. If you have a lot of guests over and you regularly watch movies, I'd recommend something like a 47" LCD and mount it on the wall. Remember though, the wall mounts cost an extra few hundred, And it needs to be calibrated which will also cost an extra $300.

I don't know. Personal preference I guess. I don't necessarily need the absolute best picture quality. I'd like a huge tv with good enough quality that I feel like I'm getting my money's worth. Only problem I'm facing is logistics. Do I really need 61 inches of television in my room? Might be a bit excessive. Plus I'm gonna have to try to fit a couch in there as well. Whatever

[Oasis]

I think also a ps3 (just for the blu ray player essentially, and it will be able to run the next gen blu ray movies that have interactive content etc)

I'm getting one too, for one reason: Uncharted Drake's Fortune. Seriously, the game looks fucking awesome. Oh and Assassin's Creed

[Oasis]

Oh yeah Chuck, here's the TV I'm getting

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?sk...d=1173577986348

Lemme know if you approve. The salesman said it was the only DLP he'd buy. Then again I don't trust salesmen at all.

I have until this evening to get the Dell employee discount

[impala454]

Excellent choice IMO. When you get it (if they're delivering it) don't let them leave until you check it for bowing. Put the guide up on the screen and get really close to it and see if you have any major curving. No curving and you're in good shape. On the $300 calibration, he was BSing you. As calibration is something (while not needed) that can be done for any TV, especially DLPs. One of the plusses of DLP is in fact that they are very calibrateable (is that a word?). Let me know the model number and I'll find you the calibrated settings that are changeable from the standard menus. It will make a night & day difference from the out of the box settings.
Congrats man!

[impala454]

Oh yeah Chuck, here's the TV I'm getting

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?sk...d=1173577986348

Lemme know if you approve. The salesman said it was the only DLP he'd buy. Then again I don't trust salesmen at all.

I have until this evening to get the Dell employee discount

Yes definitely. It is the improved model of my exact TV. It uses LEDs instead of a lamp + color wheel, which means you'll have a much longer lamp lifespan (probably won't ever have to replace the lamp at all. I'll find the standard menu calibrations for ya and post em up here. Awesome!

[impala454]

Here are the starter calibrated settings (a $300 calibration like the salesman mentioned could be done, but IMHO probably not worth it until you've had the thing a year or two).

These settings will look a little weird, but trust me it will make a night & day difference out of the box.

Mode - Movie
Contrast - 70
Brightness - 45
Sharpness - 0
Color - 45
Tint - G50/R50
Color Tone - Warm2
Detailed Settings
*Black Adjust - Off
*Dynamic Contrast - Off
*Gamma - 0
*White Balance - 0
*My Color Control - 15/15/15
*Edge Enhancement - Off
*xvYCC - Off
Size - Just Scan
Digital NR - Off
Active Color - Off
DNIe - Off
Color Gamut - sRGB

[2wolUTT]

I'm getting one too, for one reason: Uncharted Drake's Fortune. Seriously, the game looks fucking awesome. Oh and Assassin's Creed

Turok on N64 looked better than that grainy shit.

[Oasis]

Here are the starter calibrated settings (a $300 calibration like the salesman mentioned could be done, but IMHO probably not worth it until you've had the thing a year or two).

These settings will look a little weird, but trust me it will make a night & day difference out of the box.

Mode - Movie
Contrast - 70
Brightness - 45
Sharpness - 0
Color - 45
Tint - G50/R50
Color Tone - Warm2
Detailed Settings
*Black Adjust - Off
*Dynamic Contrast - Off
*Gamma - 0
*White Balance - 0
*My Color Control - 15/15/15
*Edge Enhancement - Off
*xvYCC - Off
Size - Just Scan
Digital NR - Off
Active Color - Off
DNIe - Off
Color Gamut - sRGB

How is this done? Is it something on the TV menu similar to adjusting screen brightness, etc? Or do I need some sort of tool? I really don't wanna start fucking with it and screw it up.

Oh, and I've decided on a 40" Samsung DLP 1080p HDTV. I can't justify putting 61 inches worth of television in my room with a queen size bed and a mini fridge already in there. I'd have to watch the damn thing from
the backyard just to see the whole screen. Plus it's $2100, which means I'll be able to afford a decent display stand and probably a PS3

[impala454]

$2100 for a 40" DLP???? Is that correct?

And yeah the settings are just available from the standard menus, the professional calibrators can open up the TV to properly adjust lenses and such, but those settings you can just enter in the menu w/the remote, and will not screw anything up. Trust me they will make a night & day difference.

[Oasis]

Chuck I think it's this one

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?sk...d=1188561460115

Guess it is an LCD, even though it was over by all the DLP's. I think BB has it on sale for $2099, plus I have a 10% off Dell employee thing, plus another 2% off if I buy it through my friend's Reward Zone thing. So after taxes it should be around $2k, which is nice

One other question, are BB's consumer protection/warranty plans worth it? I have no idea what their plan covers that Samsung's doesn't. If it's protection against dropping/breaking it, I won't need it. I don't care how many girls I bring home, not one of em is touching that damn tv

[impala454]

Ok that makes way more sense (40" LCD 1080p for $2100). Samsung's warranty is 1 year parts + labor. I see the Best Buy service plan is $250 for that TV. Well worth it IMHO. Their service plans are awesome (full replacement for original price once it's been worked on 3 times), but usually pretty expensive. Rule of thumb is don't pay more than 10-15% or so the cost of the item for the warranty. $250 is close enough I think, especially for 4 years of coverage.

[Seeker]

i'm pretty happy with my LG LCD TV