A couple of years ago, I purchased my first flat screen TV. I promised myself that I wouldn't buy ANY TV for more than $500. I thought I did pretty well - a Proscan 40" near bottom of the line specs: 3HDMI inputs, 60hz, NON LCD.

I was pleased - my hockey games looked a million times better than the ol' Sony Trinitron.

I'm not in a hurry... I'm hoping to get another under $500 TV in time for the next hockey season (may be willing to wait until NOV-DEC). But the model that I currently have is known to die suddenly and catastrophically.

What model/specs should I consider as my min for my next under $500 TV?

I'm not sure that flat screen TVs are getting any better. They keep adding features like Netflix, Hulu, wireless, etc. But I don't think the picture is really improving. They added 3D if you care.

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C(-)ris

......best bet is a new one.....not worth it for a used one......

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I reject your reality and substitute my own!

I don't know the answer, but after the wretched, hair-pulling, fist-thru-wall misery of the new Samsung user interface on my Dad's tv, I'd focus on the menu system and remote control. Unfortunately, testing the remote and looking at the interface is NOT something you can easily do at a place like best buy. Because of this, if I were shopping for a new set, I'd probably look at the bottom of the line!

Any recent TV is going to have a beautiful picture.

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[www.flickr.com] [picasaweb.google.com]

Panasonic 1080 plazma. Best tv's i have ever bought.

[www.avsforum.com] is the only place to do research when purchasing electronics.

The one thing that sticks out about your current set is the 60hz refresh rate. From my purely theoretical understanding, with just a little experience, with LCD sets, fast action, like hockey, won't be quite as smoothly rendered as with newer sets; there maybe a sort of stroboscopic effect to fast moving objects. I've seen it on my sister's older HD set, though it wasn't quite as distracting as I would have imagined.

Not anywhere near as bad as this, but it gives the idea -



A few years ago sets moved to 120hz, and from there they seemed to have plateaued at 240hz, with some pretty mixed reviews of the 240hz technology. I've heard numerous people say they don't like the effect it has on the image and turn it off. (Apologies in advance if the whole refresh rate topic is old news to you.)

I've been window shopping for my first HD set, and $500.00 seems to be just about the entry fee for a decent quality 120hz set. I've seen what look to be older generation plasma sets for pretty tempting prices, but I'm worried that they may still be of the generation of sets that sucked power like crazy and would drive up my electric bill.

The one thing I've found out in the recent past is that Vizio sets, which seemed to used to get raves, have pretty dodgy warranty service; with Vizio very quick on the trigger to declare sets "unrepairable" and only offering 'buy a new set' as a remedy.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/21/2012 04:19PM by Blankity Blank.

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weapon
Panasonic 1080 plazma. Best tv's i have ever bought.

[www.avsforum.com] is the only place to do research when purchasing electronics.

+1 X 2

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RIP, Greg the DogSitter. You are missed.

I know it is sold out now, but a few days ago Newegg had a 55" Coby (yes) for $599:
[www.newegg.com]

...now I know what you're thinking, 'Coby?' - but I have seen one of these and it would be an excellent set for that price. Newegg does have an open-box one for $549, if anyone cares: [www.newegg.com]

...there's also a coupon to get an extra $10 off: FB1MTHANKS7 (should still work)

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Plasma's still the best bang for the buck.

No worries about rendering fast on-screen action, or the 'soap opera effect' you can get on a 120/240Hz LCD HDTV.

Maximum brightness, however, will not be nearly as bright as a LCD HDTV.

If your $500 bottom of the line *only a few years old* current TV is known to die an early death, perhaps you should consider not buying bottom of the line.

If you spend a little more, you might not have to replace it so soon.

I'd shoot for LED backlighting - should last longer, if you want an LCD display.

I personally would go with a simple monitor plus either a Robu box or Apple TV if you want Netflix, etc.

I'm a big fan of Vizio for value TVs.

For me, generic vs. name-brand depends on how much it will be used.

I bought a 'RCA' brand LCD HDTV for the extended family cabin in the mountains because it was cheap - $300 out the door for 40".

It will get maybe 10 weeks of use a year, so no worries about fluorescent vs. LED backlighting.

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N-OS X-tasy!

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weapon
Panasonic 1080 plazma. Best tv's i have ever bought.

[www.avsforum.com] is the only place to do research when purchasing electronics.

+1 X 2

Me too!

BTW, I enjoy my TV's 3D functionality. I've only purchased and watched a few 3D Blu-ray movies because I discovered that my Cox OnDemand lineup included quite a few FREE 3D movies, plus a lot of the newly released 3d movies on PPV.

YMMV!

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gl @ Dana Point, CA

I have bought Dynex or Insignia TVs (Best Buy's house brands). I think they're great. I bought a 42" LED-LCD Insignia last Black Friday for $399 - 10% Discover cash back. Picture is great. Works as it should. Recommended.

Maybe a hockey forum would have a model the guys have settled on for their real-life experience.