A Hard and SHARP (LCD) Choice! Help?

[EastCoaster]

Hi there!

Can you please share your some of your knowledge with me? I'm debating on whether I should get the Sharp LC-37D4U, or the Sharp LC-45GD5U. As you already know, the latter is "supposed" to be able to display 1080p content (who knows if that's true?). It's also about $2,200 more expensive.

What do you think? Which one would you get and why?

 

[westcott]

Review this link.

At the bottom of the page are the best rated LCD flat panels in your size range.

http://www.hdtvsolutions.com/most_popular_hdtv_size.htm

Vizio L37 and Sony KDL 40 or 32 get some of the best marks.

 

[Hanse18]

I own 2 sharp LCD's in my house. A LC-45GD4U and a LC-26DA5U. Neither accepts a 1080p signal, but you knew that When I purchased the 45", the newer displays were not yet available. There was three different models, the 45GD6U, 45GD4U, and 45GX6U. the gx model had a seperate i/o box, with just 1 dvi cord going into the panel for all video. I guess there is a way to hook a 1080p source directly to this panel, bypassing the i/o box, to get a native 1080p picture. I guess it also required a dvi switch box, time, and patience. The success rate was not too high... there is a massive thread on AVS discussing this. As for the newer models, I don't know if they truly accept 1080p or not, but they are such small screens (especially the 37) that you might never notice the difference. I have been content with my 45" aquos, although there have been alot of flat panels released since I bought mine 8 months ago. The bravias should definitely be looked at... I haven't been very impressed with the sammys or toshibas, but there are always a million factors to take into account when comparing TV's, so your viewing experience may be very different.

If you have some basic technological know-how, perhaps you can find an older 45gx6u and do the hack... so at least you know there is a 1080p possibility instead of the newer models where everyone is still in the dark.

Honestly, I would have gone plasma, except I needed the anti-glare screen that comes with LCDs (there are way too many windows in our family room). Have you considered plasma? There are some good units that have dropped in price recently as the new models are being released.

 

[EastCoaster]

Review this link.

At the bottom of the page are the best rated LCD flat panels in your size range.

http://www.hdtvsolutions.com/most_popular_hdtv_size.htm

Vizio L37 and Sony KDL 40 or 32 get some of the best marks.

Thanks for this! But when I checked it out, it looks like those tv's are rated by "popularity" (i.e., sales), and not "best rated" - did I get this wrong?

 

[EastCoaster]

I own 2 sharp LCD's in my house. A LC-45GD4U and a LC-26DA5U. Neither accepts a 1080p signal, but you knew that When I purchased the 45", the newer displays were not yet available. There was three different models, the 45GD6U, 45GD4U, and 45GX6U. the gx model had a seperate i/o box, with just 1 dvi cord going into the panel for all video. I guess there is a way to hook a 1080p source directly to this panel, bypassing the i/o box, to get a native 1080p picture. I guess it also required a dvi switch box, time, and patience. The success rate was not too high... there is a massive thread on AVS discussing this. As for the newer models, I don't know if they truly accept 1080p or not, but they are such small screens (especially the 37) that you might never notice the difference. I have been content with my 45" aquos, although there have been alot of flat panels released since I bought mine 8 months ago. The bravias should definitely be looked at... I haven't been very impressed with the sammys or toshibas, but there are always a million factors to take into account when comparing TV's, so your viewing experience may be very different.

If you have some basic technological know-how, perhaps you can find an older 45gx6u and do the hack... so at least you know there is a 1080p possibility instead of the newer models where everyone is still in the dark.

Honestly, I would have gone plasma, except I needed the anti-glare screen that comes with LCDs (there are way too many windows in our family room). Have you considered plasma? There are some good units that have dropped in price recently as the new models are being released.

Thanks for the great response! No, I'm not really that savvy with my hands - in a perfect world I just want a tv that does what it says "on the box"... That is, if the TV is a 1080p tv, why can't they just add another $100 in materials and make it get the signal? Hmmm... But, like you, I need an LCD (read: want an LCD). I like the no glare, no burn in, brighter picture, lighter weight factors. And I think they will just keep making them better and better, and cheaper and cheaper. I just think we're going to have some major compatability issues with all the HDMI upgrades (1.1, 1.2, 1.3, etc.) and I just don't trust the industry to give me true 1080p until some content starts showing up. Perhaps the best thing to do is just get the 37 inch for now, then sell it a couple of years from now (I'll probably only lose about $1,000) and then buy a new 45"?

 

[Hanse18]

You will lose more than $1000 in a few years. A brand new one will be that much cheaper, assuming they are still being sold at all. New technology occurs so often, you should just buy when you feel it will suit your needs. Waiting, if you have the funds available now, is rediculous. I would say go with your heart 1080p isn't all it's cracked up to be... It's my personal theory that Monster (the company) coined the term and then sold it off, under the table of course, to all the TV companies so they could make money off of naive consumers, like Monster has been for years.

 

[EastCoaster]

You will lose more than $1000 in a few years. A brand new one will be that much cheaper, assuming they are still being sold at all. New technology occurs so often, you should just buy when you feel it will suit your needs. Waiting, if you have the funds available now, is rediculous. I would say go with your heart 1080p isn't all it's cracked up to be... It's my personal theory that Monster (the company) coined the term and then sold it off, under the table of course, to all the TV companies so they could make money off of naive consumers, like Monster has been for years.

Sure, I have the funds, but I don't like throwing money away for nothing - I'd rather know I've got something that will withstand the test of time (well, at least a couple of years). I typically change TVs every couple of years.....

 

[Pyrrho]

Hi there!

Can you please share your some of your knowledge with me? I'm debating on whether I should get the Sharp LC-37D4U, or the Sharp LC-45GD5U. As you already know, the latter is "supposed" to be able to display 1080p content (who knows if that's true?). It's also about $2,200 more expensive.

What do you think? Which one would you get and why?

If you have the money, go with the larger set. Very few people wish they bought something smaller, but many wish they bought something bigger.

Also, the larger set will display all of the picture information in a 1080i signal, but I don't think the smaller one will (you should double check this just in case, though you should ALWAYS double check factual claims made in online posts without anyone suggesting it).

Thanks for the great response! No, I'm not really that savvy with my hands - in a perfect world I just want a tv that does what it says "on the box"... That is, if the TV is a 1080p tv, why can't they just add another $100 in materials and make it get the signal? Hmmm... But, like you, I need an LCD (read: want an LCD). I like the no glare, no burn in, brighter picture, lighter weight factors. And I think they will just keep making them better and better, and cheaper and cheaper. I just think we're going to have some major compatability issues with all the HDMI upgrades (1.1, 1.2, 1.3, etc.) and I just don't trust the industry to give me true 1080p until some content starts showing up. Perhaps the best thing to do is just get the 37 inch for now, then sell it a couple of years from now (I'll probably only lose about $1,000) and then buy a new 45"?

Sure, I have the funds, but I don't like throwing money away for nothing - I'd rather know I've got something that will withstand the test of time (well, at least a couple of years). I typically change TVs every couple of years.....

Whatever you buy, it will lose a tremendous amount of value in a short period of time. Next year, a new set will be cheaper and better, and that means that yours will be worth much less than that new cheaper set, because it will be used AND inferior. If you care about its lasting value, do not buy a TV at all at this time. Only buy a TV if you want to watch it now and do not mind that it will lose its value (the same advice I give about computers, which are also things which lose tremendous value in a short period of time). A TV is not an investment; it is something to be used. Unless you find a fool to buy it from you, in two years it will sell for a tiny fraction of what you will pay for it.