Are there any TV "experts" here?

[UCFKnight85]

I'm looking at buying a new 65 inch + TV but can't really understand the massive differences in price. I know nothing about TV technology and what really drives price. We just want a good picture with the "smart TV" features that won't have issues left and right.

So, what makes certain TVs so much more expensive?

 

[UCF-icenhl-06]

Refresh rate is a really big one. Basically how fast the pixels can move/change. Higher the rate, the smoother the picture. If you are into gaming on said TV, it's more important and really shows off TV. Refresh rate is also good for fast moving sports like hockey, for example. You can track the puck better.

I am not a full expert though so i dont know about the other things - i just know thats an important one.

 

[MACHater02]

I don't know a lot, but I can tell you don't buy any of those 4k models that cost an arm and a leg. No service provider offers much content of that quality level.

 

[brahmanknight]

Do not get 4K. It would be like buying a HD tv in 1995, when there was pretty much no HD broadcasts.

 

[UCFKnight85]

Don't even know what 4K is lol.

 

[brahmanknight]

Don't even know what 4K is lol.

standard definition TV is to HDTV what 4K is to HDTV.

 

[UCF-icenhl-06]

also i dont like the 'smart' part of Smart TVs. The UIs are terrible and the content lags behind Roku/Apple TV/Amazon anyway. Its just easier to get those devices which offer so much more.

Granted almost every TV is "smart enabled" now anyway.

 

[Bob the Citronaut]

I picked up a 55" Samsung LED 1080 240 hz and it's pretty good for what I need it for. It's not anything special. I got it on Black Friday though and paid $500 after 40-50% off.

 

[chemmie]

Business Majors.

 

[brahmanknight]

If you want to buy the SmartTV functions built in, you can go with pretty much any brand. I prefer Samsung, but that is because I keep a lot of videos on a local hard drive ( a shit load of UCF football games primarily ) and Samsung tvs can deal with pretty much any video format.

I the guy who owned the last house I lived in loved his Panasonic. I think they usually grade out the best on quality.

You can also go without the built in SmartTV function if you don't mind plugging in an Apple TV ( especially if you have a lot of media in your iTunes library ) or Chrome Cast, but I personally don't see any good reason to not buy a SmartTv.

Are you more focused on the image quality or the functions of the TV or what?

 

[UCFKnight85]

This is going to be wall mounted so we don't want to have a bunch of boxes or AppleTVs (no where to put them). hence the desire for the SmarTV. We've got an Xbox upstairs on the other TV. Just need something that can run Netflix/amazon TV plus support MLB.TV.

 

[CommuterBob]

Also make sure you look at the available inputs. Some newer TVs only have HDMI inputs, which if you're only looking to input a cable feed from a wall mount means you will need a converter or hard wire HDMI cable into your wall. Neither is complicated, but just something to consider.

 

[Dmarino110]

is the room well lit or dark?

If you can still find a plasma, they have (IMO) the best picture, color saturation, and the most natural refresh rate. They dont make many any more because of rules in california banning tvs that use more than a certain # of watts. They have better blacks than LCDs. the only problem with plasma is the screens are extremely shiny and you catch glare from even the smallest light.

I dont like like LEDs because i feel their color is washed out and the 240 refresh rates honestly ruin special effects. you can see how fake things look on certain movies. think pirates of the Caribbean 2. the big monster hinestly looks like a rubber suit on my father in laws TV, and i had a problem with lip sync for a while although i have gotten used to it. i just seemed like it was off for a long time until i got used to it (i had the same problem with 120 hz tvs too)

My opinion on LEDs aside, they have true black since there is no back light like on LCD and plasma. either the pixel is on or its off and if its off its true black. Thats not so important to me but certain film buffs deal with the color saturation because of that feature...

Samsung is my brand of choice. I just like their color the most and they are generally cheaper than sony for the same specs

 

[Bob the Citronaut]

Marino is right about the 240. It is the first 240 TV I had seen and it took me awhile to get used to how fake everything looked. Even the real stuff looked fake. I've gotten used to it though and haven't thought about it since then.

 

[UCFKnight85]

They're too expensive but are those curved TVs as awesome as they look?

 

[goodknightfl]

Make sure to get at least an 19 inch, and color too if available. and one of those new fangled remote controls is the bomb.

 

[brahmanknight]

Not from the times I've watched them and the reviews I've read.

 

[KnightedIbis]

avsforums is a great place. Avoid 4k. SmarTV functionality is largely garbage - definitely better off with a Roku/Apple TV but you can't really avoid "Smart" these days.

Contrast ratio, refresh rate, resolution (again don't spend money on 4k), brand - these are all the things that matter most. Sony, Samsung, LG - can't really go wrong.

 

[UCFKnight85]

Does the Amazon "stick" allow you to access Netflix as well? I'm assuming it gives Amazon Video access.

 

[jetsaholic]

Tv's are ghey. Projectors rule. I have a 10 foot 3D DLP "TV" that only cost me $700. Try beating that deal.

 

[brahmanknight]

Tv's are ghey. Projectors rule. I have a 10 foot 3D DLP "TV" that only cost me $700. Try beating that deal.

Bigger the TV, the smaller the penis ( of the owner ).

 

[UCF w00t]

Get an Amazon Fire TV stick or Roku Stick or ChromeCast if your issue is connecting a box to it. Smart TVs are garbage. I'm not a snob when it comes to picture quality. The last few TVs I've bought I just kept an eye on slick deals til a good deal matched what I wanted. That being said, OLED TVs are gorgeous. If I didn't mind spending the cash I'd get one of those. 4k is pointless at this point and by the time it's not-pointless you'll likely be in the market for a new TV anyways.

 

[UCF-icenhl-06]

Does the Amazon "stick" allow you to access Netflix as well? I'm assuming it gives Amazon Video access.

First of all...3 clicks to quote someone is stupid, Rivals.

Anyway....keep in mind the sticks need power too (at least Amazon's does). Now new TVs may have a powered USB source you can use so you still wont have any hanging wires but something to keep in mind

 

[Bob the Citronaut]

First of all...3 clicks to quote someone is stupid, Rivals.

Anyway....keep in mind the sticks need power too (at least Amazon's does). Now new TVs may have a powered USB source you can use so you still wont have any hanging wires but something to keep in mind

Click the reply button on the post you want to quote and it puts it down there for you.

 

[CommuterBob]

First of all...3 clicks to quote someone is stupid, Rivals.

Anyway....keep in mind the sticks need power too (at least Amazon's does). Now new TVs may have a powered USB source you can use so you still wont have any hanging wires but something to keep in mind

Just hit "reply" to the post. It automatically quotes it. No extra clicks. The "Quote" feature allows you to quote multiple posts at once.

 

[Game_Day_Sports]

I picked up a 55" Samsung LED 1080 240 hz and it's pretty good for what I need it for. It's not anything special. I got it on Black Friday though and paid $500 after 40-50% off.

Ha ha loser. Bought the same exact tv from Target night before Thanksgiving for $399

 

[UCFRogerz]

First of all...3 clicks to quote someone is stupid, Rivals.

You can also highlight what you want to quote and click reply. The quote button is for creating a difficult, multi quote thread.

It irritated the shit out of me too before I figured it out.

 

[UCF-icenhl-06]

well holy shit then.

 

[UCF w00t]

Anyway....keep in mind the sticks need power too (at least Amazon's does). Now new TVs may have a powered USB source you can use so you still wont have any hanging wires but something to keep in mind

Yes, all the sticks will need power. Pretty sure most if not all newer TVs have powered USB (my cheapo one does) but yes, that is something to keep in mind when shopping.

 

[UCF_Video]

This is going to be wall mounted so we don't want to have a bunch of boxes or AppleTVs (no where to put them). hence the desire for the SmarTV. We've got an Xbox upstairs on the other TV. Just need something that can run Netflix/amazon TV plus support MLB.TV.

We use these for AppleTV:
http://www.amazon.com/TotalMount-Apple-Universal-Mounting-System/dp/B0057CVH6W
It comes with a collection of plastic "hooks" that let you hang it from the vents of the panel or off of the actual mount. That way the AppleTV is completely hidden from view.

There are similar units for Roku.

 

[ChrisKnight06]

New Marino is right about the 240. It is the first 240 TV I had seen and it took me awhile to get used to how fake everything looked. Even the real stuff looked fake. I've gotten used to it though and haven't thought about it since then.

Explain a little more. I'm not up on my TV game.

 

[Bob the Citronaut]

I'm not sure how to explain it. It was just weird. The movement was so fast that it looked like it was IRL and I was thinking it looked so real that it had to be fake. I came from a 10 year old DLP with a ton of dead pixels and probably 60 hz so it was a huge difference.

 

[ChrisKnight06]

I think I know what you're talking about. I've had a DLP for a while too and the first time I really sat and watched what I imagine was 240, the movement of the picture was so clean and smooth that it was actually weird. It was the end of Cowboys and Aliens. So real that it looked fake and the sound seemed off is the best way I can put it. But I had no idea what to attribute it to and haven't been in the TV market so yea. Looks like it's time for an upgrade.

 

[Sir Galahad]

I will start by telling you there is no real difference in 90% of the brands. Most of the actual TV's are made by two companies and shipped to the final assembly where they put their own options on them. For the money I would stick with Vizio and go with the 240 MGZ. 4K TV's are dropping in price but until they can sell one that larger than 65 inches for less than $5,000 I would not waste my money on that either. I bought an 80inch Vizio 240 mgz for $1,000 and its by far the best TV I have owned.

 

[UCF-icenhl-06]

I think I know what you're talking about. I've had a DLP for a while too and the first time I really sat and watched what I imagine was 240, the movement of the picture was so clean and smooth that it was actually weird. It was the end of Cowboys and Aliens. So real that it looked fake and the sound seemed off is the best way I can put it. But I had no idea what to attribute it to and haven't been in the TV market so yea. Looks like it's time for an upgrade.

Regarding audio. Tvs have settings to adjust this. When I first got my tv (Samsung 240hz) the audio and picture were just out of sync. Luckily there's setting to delay the audio by milliseconds until it's right

 

[1ofTheseKnights]

Love my 50 CHANGHONG. Almost popped on 60 or 65 Vizio refurbished from WM recently tho

 

[knightalum74]

I bought an 80inch Vizio 240 mgz for $1,000

Where and when? Looking to upgrade to the 80", but can't find it anywhere that cheap.


Oh and the quote feature is awesome, thanks for the tips!

 

[KnightedIbis]

Does the Amazon "stick" allow you to access Netflix as well? I'm assuming it gives Amazon Video access.

Yes, as well as Pandora, Plex and a number of other apps

 

[Sir Galahad]

Where and when? Looking to upgrade to the 80", but can't find it anywhere that cheap.


Oh and the quote feature is awesome, thanks for the tips!

Sam's is a good place to start. I bought mine there around the Super Bowl.

 

[rulethirty]

I have a 65" Samsung and enjoy it. No matter the TV, buy it on an AmEx to double the warranty (thats true for all electronics, really)

If you do ever have to deal with Samsung support don't bother with their call in number -- use social media. Post a picture of the issue on their facebook page and ask for help. It's a different team with more leeway in how they handle issues. I basically had the whole inside of the TV replaced for $300 after the warranty had already expired.

And yeah, smart TV stuff is dumb. Buy a roku for ~$70 or an Amazon Fire TV stick for $40. Same stuff, more powerful and you can upgrade every year without replacing the whole TV.

4k isn't there yet, 3d came and went. Refresh rate matters but not after a certain point (your eye can only handle so much anyhow). Chances are if you're looking for that big of a screen the refresh rate will be fine.