HDTV for 360 gaming (part 2): about to purchase!

[LarryDavid]

I asked here last week about getting a cheap HDTV (~$300) primarily for Xbox 360 gaming. After getting some great advice from you all and then doing more research (online and visiting Best Buy and others) of my own, I am about to pull the trigger and could use some final advice:

MY PARAMETERS:

• $500 or less (seeing the great options made me excited to spend more)
• 32" (or more if possible)
• 720P
• LCD (a forgone conclusion from the other parameters, I guess)
• I will buy from online or a real store. The prices at my local stores are surprisingly competitive, so I may just do that so I can get it ASAP

REMAINING QUESTIONS:

• 60hz vs. 120hz? Some people say this is important to gaming, others say it is not. (there seem to be no 120hz in my price/size range, though)
• Contrast Ratio? Some sets are as low as 1,000x1, whereas others are 30,000x1 (even within my price range). Should I pay attention to this?
• ms Response Time: Does this matter (especially for gaming)?
• I plan to not buy the extended warranty. Smart move?

PREPARING TO PURCHASE
Now that I am at the step of comparing specific brands and products, it is hard for me to differentiate between them. I plugged my parameters into Amazon.com and got at least 10 viable options.

I took the liberty of listing below some of the options I found on Amazon... How would you choose between these items? Also, my local Best Buy has an open Proscan 37" for $399. I love the idea of getting a few more inches for the same price, though I know quality may suffer. It is hard to choose... they all look the same to me, even though I know it's not true.


THE CONTENDERS:

• $399 37" Proscan open box at local Best Buy (the rest listed below are all 32")
  
• $489 Samsung LN32B360 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV ($437 at my Best Buy)
  http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-LN32B360-32-Inch-720p-HDTV/dp/B001U3Y8M2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=tv&qid=1249919808&sr=1-1
  
• $430 Sharp LC32D47UT 32-Inch LCD HDTV
  http://www.amazon.com/Sharp-LC32D47UT-32-Inch-HDTV-Black/dp/B001TDKLI8/ref=dp_ob_title_ce?ie=UTF8&qid=1249919808&sr=1-12
  
• $380 Sylvania LC320SLX 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV
  http://www.amazon.com/Sylvania-LC320SLX-32-Inch-720p-HDTV/dp/B001OGZRZM/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=tv&qid=1249919808&sr=1-10#moreAboutThisProduct
  
• $445 LG 32LH20 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV
  http://www.amazon.com/LG-32LH20-32-Inch-Gloss-Black/dp/B001V5J7Q6/ref=sr_du_6_map?ie=UTF8&s=tv&qid=1249919808&sr=1-6
  
• $479 Panasonic VIERA X1 Series TC-L32X1 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV
  http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-VIERA-TC-L32X1-32-Inch-720p/dp/B001U3YK52/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=tv&qid=1249919808&sr=1-5
  
• $498 Sony Bravia 32" Class 720P LCD HDTV Model# KDL-32L5000
  http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9222646&st=bravia&type=product&id=1218062424206

Thanks again for your advice! This is the most helpful forum I've found on the web.

 

[GlocksRock]

I would stay with 5ms or lower for gaming, 60hz. will also be just fine, especially for gaming, contrast ratio numbers are usually inflated anyway, so don't pay too much attention to them. I probably wouldn't get the extended warranty either. Check out the vizio sets, they offer great value for the money.

Check out these offerings from Wal-Mart.

http://www.walmart.com/browse/TVs/All-TVs/_/N-73jgZaq90ZaqceZaq9cZ1yzp72f/Ne-lfms?ic=48_0&ref=125875.331180+500000.500592+1000036.4292594439&tab_value=61_All&catNavId=3996&waRef=125875.331180+500000.500592+1000036.4292594439&path=0:3944

http://www.onecall.com/ProductSearch.aspx?N=227+664+683

 

[LarryDavid]

Check out these offerings from Wal-Mart.

http://www.walmart.com/browse/TVs/All-TVs/_/N-73jgZaq90ZaqceZaq9cZ1yzp72f/Ne-lfms?ic=48_0&ref=125875.331180+500000.500592+1000036.4292594439&tab_value=61_All&catNavId=3996&waRef=125875.331180+500000.500592+1000036.4292594439&path=0:3944

Between that and newegg.com, which I just discovered, I am now even more overwhelmed with options!

 

[GlocksRock]

Yes, I very highly reccomend newegg, I get almost all my computer hardware from them. The prices are usually very good, and shipping is fast. I just don't like their 15% restocking fee for returns, but I really don't ever return anything, so it's ok.

 

[agarwalro]

MY PARAMETERS:

• 32" (or more if possible)
  [*]720P
• LCD (a forgone conclusion from the other parameters, I guess)

I apoligize if this has already been covered. Why not 1080 native?

How far do you intend to sit from the TV?

 

[LarryDavid]

Why not 1080 native?

How far do you intend to sit from the TV?

Thanks for the question...

I'm not myself knowledgeable about these things, but I've heard that it doesn't really matter for a set this size. Also, most Xbox 360 games run at 720 and I heard that it's best to have the native setting of your tv match the game... so in a way 1080 would be worse than 720 for Xbox 360. Perhaps I'm mistaken on this last point. But my main reason is that most people told me it doesn't matter and 720 tends to be cheaper.

I intend to sit about 6-10 feet away, BTW.

 

[GlocksRock]

Agreed, for that size tv, and at that viewing distance a 720p tv will be just fine. However your tv will scale everything to it's native resolution regardless of what the xbox scales the game to. Most games aren't rendered at the resolution listed on the back of the box, but the xbox scales them to output at that resolution.

 

[Patrick_Wolf]

I bought my LN32A450 from newegg in Dec. and it arrived safe & sound. I really like this TV except for a couple minor annoyances.

If the power is cut the DTV channels will get the robot audio issue and the only way to fix it is to reset the TV to factory default and you lose your settings. Which has happened to me.

Also there's some very minor trailing of images that's sometimes noticeable in dark scenes. And the blur that's inherent to LCD's could be better I think.

Next time around I may look closer at Sony and Panasonic's offerings.

 

[LarryDavid]

I bought it at Best Buy last night! My new Proscan 37" 720P LCD for $400 out of box. In the end, I had a hard time telling the difference between any of the sets, so I just decided to go bigger is better. The truth is, this is my first ever HDTV and it will look so much better than my SDTV no matter what. I just loaded up the Xbox dashboard last night and was blown away. I know the brand is a no-name, but for now I'm very happy. And I like the 30-day no-fee return policy if it reveals any major deficiencies in the coming weeks.

Oh yeah, and the extra size is awesome and feels totally extravagant.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....8&type=product

 

[GlocksRock]

Congrats on your new tv. The link you gave doesn't work, but I wouldn't say Proscan is a no name brand, If I'm not mistaken it's made by RCA. I have a proscan VCR from back in the day that still works great, even though I never use it any more.

 

[iso9001]

Play some call of duty or something fast and post on here. I've been thinking about getting the Proscan too

 

[LarryDavid]

Play some call of duty or something fast and post on here. I've been thinking about getting the Proscan too

I tried Mass Effect last night and I am disappointed- the action was blurry and I got a headache. Check out my new post, "My new HDTV may stink for gaming (Part III: The Saga Continues)"