Best LCD in $1K Range?

[Jack Hammer]

I've got some extra cash coming my way at the end of the year and want to upgrade my 6 year old 36" tubed tv to an 37-42" LCD. I'm in a highly reflective environment currently.

The two main ones I seem to see are the Olevia and the Vizio (from Costco). I've seen some refurbed stuff at Second Act, but am unfamiliar with their differences between the displays, there are a lot of what look to me like similar models at various prices. I'm open to suggestions of other brands too. What is the best lcd in the $1000 range? What's going to give me the best bang for my buck?

 

[Jack Hammer]

Bump...

...Anyone?

I'm ok with getting a 720p display. When I move, eventually, this could become my bedroom display and I'll upgrade to a 1080p for the living room.

Any recomedations for a good 720p display in the $1k range?

Jack

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Jack,

Get a unit from Costco in that price range. That way you can easily return it if it's not what you want. I've got the 37" Olevia, and it's a nice unit for $795, but my pq went down on SD feeds compared to my old 36" Toshiba CRT. It's hard getting used to the stretched pic on 95% of the stations. The HD quality on the Olevia is perfect, but super fast sporting events show a bit of ghosting (golf swings, tennis). It's not bad, but its there. Just keep in mind the best LCD's are still going to stretch SD channels, and the quality won't be what your CRT was. Get a good HD DVR and throw up an antenna in the attic/on the roof for as many HD channels as you can get. It's infectious. DVD looks great as do cartoons and video games.

 

[Jack Hammer]

Jack,

Get a unit from Costco in that price range. That way you can easily return it if it's not what you want. I've got the 37" Olevia, and it's a nice unit for $795, but my pq went down on SD feeds compared to my old 36" Toshiba CRT. It's hard getting used to the stretched pic on 95% of the stations. The HD quality on the Olevia is perfect, but super fast sporting events show a bit of ghosting (golf swings, tennis). It's not bad, but its there. Just keep in mind the best LCD's are still going to stretch SD channels, and the quality won't be what your CRT was. Get a good HD DVR and throw up an antenna in the attic/on the roof for as many HD channels as you can get. It's infectious. DVD looks great as do cartoons and video games.

DVD pq is my primary concern. I'd like to get a better picture than my interlaced crt offers. The pq on regular tv already looks pretty bad on most channels (free cable via building). Many channels are somewhat fuzzy in appearance, I'm ok with it, for those.

I play games on my PS2 occasionally, so a plasma is out. I need a set with both digital and regular tuners. Which ones from Costco are best?

Jack

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

DVD pq is my primary concern. I'd like to get a better picture than my interlaced crt offers. The pq on regular tv already looks pretty bad on most channels (free cable via building). Many channels are somewhat fuzzy in appearance, I'm ok with it, for those.

I play games on my PS2 occasionally, so a plasma is out. I need a set with both digital and regular tuners. Which ones from Costco are best?

Jack

Check out the 37" Visio, Phillips, and View Sonic. I'm not sure about the Sceptre. AVS in the HDTV section will have a lot of info on those brands, with +/- on each. Of those three, make sure they all have scaling capabilities to stretch a picture in OTA mode, as well as cable/dish hookup. Your dvd quality will come from a good $150+ upscaling dvd player, such as an Oppo, Panasonic or Denon.

 

[Pianoman84d]

I'd also look at Westinghouse. Just another name to throw into the mix with the Olevia, Vizio, etc...

 

[Davidt1]

I just posted a great deal on a Samsung 40'' lcd at Fry's. With prices so low these days, you don't have to settle for unknown brands anymore.

 

[markw]

I'm in pretty much the same boat. Here's what I've found out so far,

1) I'm looking in the 1000 - 1200 range for a 42" set and that pretty much limits me to the weekly specials of the "good" brands.

2) Check the Sunday sale flyers in the paper. There's gold in them thar hills.

3) Check out the big box stores. Also, don't discount some of the "local" brown/white goods retailers. Here in Joisey, we've got "Electronics-Expo", "6th Ave" and "P.C. Richards" and more, all of which have weekly loss-leders. Some of which also sell on line. I know the first two do.

4) If you're going purely satellite or cable, skip this one. But, if you want to avaiil yourself of any local free "over the air" HD programs, make dang sure the set has a NTSC/ATSC/QAM tuner. You'll need this to get the new digital (and HD) broadcasts over the air. Again, if OTA digital/HD doesn't interest you, you open up more options within your price range.

More on #4. Here, we've had 7 VHF stations all my life. Now, they all offer HD broadcasts. When I hooked up my new Toshiba to the 30 uear old TV antenna on the roof and set it to scan, it brought in about 50 stations. A few were blurry, seven were digitital duplicates of the analog stations (capable of a HD signal) and a few were simply new digital stations I never knew existed. When I cleared out the drek, I still wound up with 30 crystal clear (even the non-HD ones) OTA stations! Yes, seven are digital HD duplicates of the main one, but that still leaves 16 new ones!

 

[Jack Hammer]

...But, if you want to availa yourself of any local free "over the air" HD programs, make dang sure the set has a NTSC/ATSC/QAM tuner. You'll need this to get the new digital (and HD) broadcasts over the air.

How much is an OTA add on for a unit without it built in?

Jack

 

[markw]

How much is an OTA add on for a unit without it built in?

Jack

It's not so much of an "add on" as much as some sets have 'em and some don't. It's hard to say since they don't offer two similar models side by side, one with and one without like 4 cylinder/six cylinder cars. But, on he whole, I'd guestimate around $200 or so.

And, even more, some don't have that QAM tuner, just NTSC/ATSC. NTSC receives analog signals, ATSC does ditital (and HD) signals. QAM tunes in unencrypted digital (and HD) cable channels.

FWIW, the OTA channels have a better picture than the same channels on cable. Go figure...

 

[Jack Hammer]

It's not so much of an "add on" as much as some sets have 'em and some don't. It's hard to say since they don't offer two similar models side by side, one with and one without like 4 cylinder/six cylinder cars. But, on he whole, I'd guestimate around $200 or so.

And, even more, some don't have that QAM tuner, just NTSC/ATSC. NTSC receives analog signals, ATSC does ditital (and HD) signals. QAM tunes in unencrypted digital (and HD) cable channels.

FWIW, the OTA channels have a better picture than the same channels on cable. Go figure...

Now I'm a little confused. Which is the one that will allow me to recieve OTA hd signals?

BTW, I'm leaning toward the 37" Vizio at Costco because of the price and the ability to drive it back to the store if there is a problem. It has all three tuners you mentioned built in. I won't have the coin for an upgrade for another month or more, I'm waiting to see if they offer an in warehouse sale on that unit. I'd really like a 42" lcd, but those seem too cost a bit more.

Jack

 

[jiml56]

Westinghouse

I just bought another Westinghouse 37 inch LCD yesterday. My first one lasted almost 14 months (12 month warranty, ugh). This one lasted less than 36 hours. Sound, but no picture or On Screen Menu, etc. It's no wonder that BB doesn't carry them in their stores anymore.

I'm stupid, don't be like me, stick with name brands.

 

[markw]

Now I'm a little confused. Which is the one that will allow me to recieve OTA hd signals?

ATSC allows reception of over the air digital TV, which includes HD programming.

NTSC is what we've had since the 50's in that it receives analog programs.

QAM allows the TV to receive digital cable transmissions, as long as they are not encrypted. In my area it doesn't do a heckuva lot of good for now. Comcast encrypts virtually everything. I But, I believe I readsomewhere that sometime in he future, cable companies will not "force" one to procure a cable box to view their programming. Hopefully, this will pay off then.

But, for OTA HD, ATSC, and a decent antenna, is what you want.

 

[Jack Hammer]

ATSC allows reception of over the air digital TV, which includes HD programming.

NTSC is what we've had since the 50's in that it receives analog programs.

QAM allows the TV to receive digital cable transmissions, as long as they are not encrypted. In my area it doesn't do a heckuva lot of good for now. Comcast encrypts virtually everything. I But, I believe I readsomewhere that sometime in he future, cable companies will not "force" one to procure a cable box to view their programming. Hopefully, this will pay off then.

But, for OTA HD, ATSC, and a decent antenna, is what you want.

Thanks for the clarification. I'm going to head over to Costco this weekend and look at the Vizio. Maybe i'll see something else I like there too. From everything I've read, Costco seems like the best place to buy from. It's local, and it's easy to return stuff or exchange it if there is a problem. That is one of my biggest concerns with buying a tv online. Having to pay $200 shipping and waiting a month or more to get it back. Especially because I'm looking at refurbed units.

Jack