Armed Polite Society
Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: RoadKingLarry on July 21, 2019, 07:33:20 PM
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After many years of faithful service my 32" CRT TV appears to be nearing the end of it's useful life.
Considering something in the 50" range and would prefer a unit with wifi and basic streaming apps included, Netflix, Amazon...
We use a OTA antenna and stream off our wifi.
$300-400 budget.
I'll be doing my own research of course but what's the 411 on these things?
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https://www.cnet.com/g00/topics/tvs/best-tvs/?i10c.ua=1&i10c.encReferrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8%3d&i10c.dv=19
Other than that, I usually default to Samsung these days.
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I also default to Samsung. I just bought a 55" QLED at Costco a few months ago.
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Honestly, unless you want to get bleeding edge stuff (OLED and 240hz refresh and all that) the Vizio brand at WalMart is pretty solid.
The Samsung in my mancave crapped out last year and I went to get a replacement TV. for less then $400 I got a 55" 4k 120Hz Vizio that looks really nice. It's not as jaw dropping as the 3 grand OLED displays, but it's better than anything on the market was even 7 years ago. For like $380.
I will caution that some of them save money buy not installing a TV tuner, so if you want to use that OTA antenna, make sure you get one with the built in tuner, or budget an external tuner.
ETA: Just looked, the 55" I got is now $319, and appears to have an antenna input on the back. I don't use an antenna, so I didn't remember for sure.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/VIZIO-55-Class-4K-Ultra-HD-2160P-HDR-Smart-LED-TV-D55x-G1/786202247
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Both of mine are Vizio.
Instead of a smart model, get a plain one with multiple HDMI inputs and add a Roku Stick. (or one of the fancier Roku) The Amazon streaming stick is solid too, but it doesn't support as many streaming apps as the Roku (for example, Spectrum TV), also the free Roku channel is pretty good.
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Yeah, Vizio is probably the best of the cheap brands. Overall, they get good reviews.
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Vizios are solid. As long as you sick to them, Sony, Samsung, or LG you'll be fine. A lot of big names were sold off to budget manufacturers in the last decade or so. Zenith, Westinghouse, Toshiba are all pretty much on the no fly list now. You can get a much better quality TV from any of the first four manufacturers I listed for about the same money. Also, keep in mind that pretty much any TV you get now days isn't going to look it's best out of the box. Once you pick one, Google the exact model number and calibration settings. Set the TV to what you find, and use that as a starting point, then adjust to your eyes and room.
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I, too, am generally a Samsung kind of guy. I originally had a Toshiba or Motorola that I lost to a lightning strike back in 2008. I went to Circuit City because they had a good sale going on and I picked up a 40" Samsung that I have been VERY happy with.
Thinking of possibly upgrading to a 55-60", but I've not really put much effort into it because I still like the Samsung.
Castlekey just bought one of those really high end Samsungs and the picture simply can't be believed. But I couldn't believe the price, either. Far more than what I'm prepared to spend at the moment.
Don't forget about Woot.com. They occasionally have really good deals on refurb/open box TVs from major manufactures like Sorny, Magnetbox, and Panaphonic... (bonus points to anyone who gets that reference!)
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^^^D'oh!
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Hard to go wrong with Samsung, LG, Vizio, or Sharp. Biggest issue will be getting something with input quantity/type necessary to support your peripherals.
A quick glance at Worst Purchase shows thirteen choices in the $350-400 range, all 50" or better. If you have one close by, visit their Clearance rack. With a little patience you can score a serious deal on an open-box unit. I got mine that way. Wouldn't fit a customer's entertainment center so they brought it back for a different size. I got a brand new TV for a third off the price.
Also, stores are also beginning to clear out current models to prepare for fall. Model changes from one year to the next are mostly cosmetic so there are decent deals to be had.
Brad
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I'm good with my 55" 4K LG. Also Blu-Ray and Soundbar in LG.
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Thanks.
Had not considered the possible lack of a TV tuner :facepalm: . Uh it's a TV not a monitor.
I'm another Samsung fan and their offerings are high on the list.
I've got to reconfigure the furniture first. A dozen or so years ago my wife decided we needed a massive 3 piece 7' tall entertainment cabinet set. It's actually a decent piece of well made cabinetry but it is designed for old style TVs and our current 32" tube fills the hole completely.
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' It's actually a decent piece of well made cabinetry but it is designed for old style TVs and our current 32" tube fills the hole completely."
Brother and SIL ran into the same issue with their entertainment center. Worked great with a big screen CRT.
Didn't work at all with a flat screen.
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Had not considered the possible lack of a TV tuner :facepalm: . Uh it's a TV not a monitor.
I've only seen a few that didn't have tuners and they were clearly labeled "monitor" even though they were in the TV section. That doesn't mean they all will be, though.
Brad
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I'm using a 32" Samsung HDTV (1080) as a computer monitor right now. It's been working well for several years, and I'm happy with it. No problems.
There's a Toshiba 40" HDTV (1080) in my MBR. It's been working well for several more years than the Samsung, and I'm still happy with it. No problems.
I've had a 65" Sony 4K TV in my great room for about 2 years now. It continues to work well. No problems.
Right now, if you stick to the midpoint of the main brand (Sony, LG, Samsung) product lines, it's hard to go wrong. BUT . . . if you're using some old "legacy" components, be aware of connectivity; in particular, when I was shopping for my latest, I saw the Samsung TVs only had HDMI connections for additional components.
Larger screen TVs can be a little "tippy" . . . depending on your layout, you might want to consider a wall mount. I used one for my 65" unit and in hindsight, that was a really good decision.
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Larger screen TVs can be a little "tippy" . . . depending on your layout, you might want to consider a wall mount. I used one for my 65" unit and in hindsight, that was a really good decision.
Yes. It's a bit irksome to me how flimsy stands seem to have gotten. It's probably the one negative thing I can say about Samsung TVs, which seem to go to these little feet more-so than other brands. My old one had a rock solid large stand. These new ones are the analog of a 7' 300lb guy with size 5 shoes.
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Revisiting because I just came across this ad.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sharp-58-class-led-2160p-smart-4k-uhd-tv-with-hdr-roku-tv/6296543.p?skuId=6296543
Sharp Aquos 58"
Reg $550
Sale price $380
I have a Sharp Aquos of the same general series. A couple of years old and only 1080p but it's been a very good TV. I've no complaints at all.
Whatever you do, remember to turn off Motion Smoothing (or whatever your TV of choice calls it). Leaving it on will give everything the "Soap Opera Look".
Brad
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I would also suggest looking at this one, it's on for $350.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/LG-55-Class-4K-2160P-Ultra-HD-Smart-LED-HDR-TV-55UK6090PUA/652779723?u1=7a0dc648ae6611e9a115aef906d31fd80INT&oid=223073.1&wmlspartner=lw9MynSeamY&sourceid=26395009633921616103&affillinktype=10&veh=aff
Sharp and Toshiba are both owned by Hisense now, and while a good model slips out once in a while, they're generally known to be difficult to get accurate color out of.
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Vizio's are very nice for the money. For me it's them, Samsung, or LG.
I'll also echo what someone said above about using a separate Roku or whatever your flavor preference is. Having gone the smart TV route, the interfaces are often far inferior to the dedicated streaming platforms.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
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Yes. It's a bit irksome to me how flimsy stands seem to have gotten. It's probably the one negative thing I can say about Samsung TVs, which seem to go to these little feet more-so than other brands. My old one had a rock solid large stand. These new ones are the analog of a 7' 300lb guy with size 5 shoes.
I think that's because they don't really expect you to use the TV stand, as opposed to using the VESA mounting on the back to wall mount it. Not a lot of furniture sized for the bigger screens seen today.
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"Not a lot of furniture sized for the bigger screens seen today."
Yep. I recently bought a new TV stand to replace my old corner stand that was woefully undersized for my HDTV. I originally got it for my old 32" CRT TV.
But, in the next year or two I really want to get a much larger TV -- something in the 60 to 72" range -- which means I'll very likely have to wall mount it. I'll keep the stand for storage and also for the sound bar and gaming systems I have.
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The stands can be flimsy since the TV's have gotten so light weight. That is why they mostly come with the cables you can attach to keep them from tipping over.
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Also, RoadKingLarry, do be careful. I remember how heavy my 32" TV was from some years back. Don't hurt yourself.
Also, I recall stores like Best Buy will recycle the old TV if you need to get rid of it. They did not require a purchase when I got rid of mine.
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Also, RoadKingLarry, do be careful. I remember how heavy my 32" TV was from some years back. Don't hurt yourself.
Also, I recall stores like Best Buy will recycle the old TV if you need to get rid of it. They did not require a purchase when I got rid of mine.
There's a ginormous difference between older and newer flatscreens as well. My old 50" was a bear to move by myself, but I can about juggle the new 55" one.
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There's a ginormous difference between older and newer flatscreens as well. My old 50" was a bear to move by myself, but I can about juggle the new 55" one.
This. Plasma and CFL-based flat screens weren't nearly as svelte as modern LED and OLED offerings. I recently helped swap out a couple of plasma sets in the building lobby. Heavy suckers.
Brad
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A friend's first HDTV was one of the HUGE console projectors from the early days of the HD market.
He upgraded to a more modern flat panel and found some sucker... er... enthusiast to buy it. I helped get it into the van so he could deliver it. Even though it broke down into multiple pieces it was unbelievably heavy.
Now a 72" OLED model weighs about half of what my 32" CRT weighs.
It's amazing.
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Speaking of rear-projection consoles. People around these parts are literally giving them away just to get them hauled off for free. Good source of amazingly precise optics, excellent quality mirrors, and HUGE Fresnel lenses.
Brad
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Speaking of rear-projection consoles. People around these parts are literally giving them away just to get them hauled off for free. Good source of amazingly precise optics, excellent quality mirrors, and HUGE Fresnel lenses.
Brad
And there's a good chance the molded rear projection lenses were Made In USA by a company in Cincinnati, US Precision Lens. Corning acquired the company, and then sold it for a HUGE amount of money to 3M (the suckers) which ultimately decommissioned the factory and laid off its 1800 or so workers. I had a chance to go through it - VERY impressive, but oriented almost entirely towards projection optics and made obsolete by plasma and LCD flat panels.
As for weight of older TVs . . . the reason I bought my 65" TV at Best Buy was their very cheap haul-away policy - $10 to take away and dispose of my old 36" Toshiba CRT, all 172 pounds of it.
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Also, RoadKingLarry, do be careful. I remember how heavy my 32" TV was from some years back. Don't hurt yourself.
Also, I recall stores like Best Buy will recycle the old TV if you need to get rid of it. They did not require a purchase when I got rid of mine.
My I finally get around to replacing it my son is going to take it. He wants it to use on his old game systems.
My issues are due to compatibility issues with current input devices.
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On the stands, you can still find decent stands even for larger TVs. I got this one at Home Despot for my 55":
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Walker-Edison-Furniture-Company-58-in-Barn-Door-TV-Stand-with-Side-Doors-Grey-Wash-HD58BDSDGW/301999979
It will easily take a 65" as well. I know wall mounting is the in thing now, but I still like a stand/entertainment center. I have to have something for DVDs, blue ray players, Rokus, etc., so I figure I might as well use it for the TV too. Plus I like eye level or slightly above eye level viewing. I see a lot of wall mounts put TVs way up high.
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My issues are due to compatibility issues with current input devices.
RCA to HDMI converter, perhaps?
https://www.amazon.com/Converter-Amtake-Composite-Adapter-Supporting/dp/B07MJTR9KS/ref=asc_df_B07MJTR9KS/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309750549985&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5958279645249023782&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1026578&hvtargid=pla-662235628062&psc=1
Brad
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RCA to HDMI converter, perhaps?
https://www.amazon.com/Converter-Amtake-Composite-Adapter-Supporting/dp/B07MJTR9KS/ref=asc_df_B07MJTR9KS/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309750549985&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5958279645249023782&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1026578&hvtargid=pla-662235628062&psc=1
Brad
I went through this with my dad and his new TV plus old headphones. I got a similar one that also does the optical conversion. Works well.
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RCA to HDMI converter, perhaps?
https://www.amazon.com/Converter-Amtake-Composite-Adapter-Supporting/dp/B07MJTR9KS/ref=asc_df_B07MJTR9KS/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309750549985&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5958279645249023782&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1026578&hvtargid=pla-662235628062&psc=1
Brad
I could go that route and other band aid fixes but there are other things. Broadcast image is no longer formatted for a mostly square screen, and I'm losing things like news crawls and subtitles. It's just time.
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I could go that route and other band aid fixes but there are other things. Broadcast image is no longer formatted for a mostly square screen, and I'm losing things like news crawls and subtitles. It's just time.
Nevermind on my reply. I thought you were looking for backward compatibility.
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That's alright, I'm just trying to crawl into the 21st century with the rest of the cool kids.
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"As for weight of older TVs . . . the reason I bought my 65" TV at Best Buy was their very cheap haul-away policy - $10 to take away and dispose of my old 36" Toshiba CRT, all 172 pounds of it. "
Thank you, I wasn't aware of that. I've got an old CRT TV which is a bit of a disposal problem.
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On the stands, you can still find decent stands even for larger TVs. I got this one at Home Despot for my 55":
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Walker-Edison-Furniture-Company-58-in-Barn-Door-TV-Stand-with-Side-Doors-Grey-Wash-HD58BDSDGW/301999979
It will easily take a 65" as well. I know wall mounting is the in thing now, but I still like a stand/entertainment center. I have to have something for DVDs, blue ray players, Rokus, etc., so I figure I might as well use it for the TV too. Plus I like eye level or slightly above eye level viewing. I see a lot of wall mounts put TVs way up high.
There are some TV stands that have a metal bar or lattice on the back extending upwards which could be used to secure a large flat panel TV - here's one example, athough it's from a pricey source:
https://www.skandinaviatexas.com/tv-cabinets/product/576-arena-9970-tv-mount (https://www.skandinaviatexas.com/tv-cabinets/product/576-arena-9970-tv-mount)
Since most manufacturers suggest securing a big TV from the back to the wall with a cable or some other method, I figure anyone who's at least halfway handy could probably put together a simple brace on the back of a TV cabinet which would accomplish the same purpose.
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I visited Castle Key over the weekend and one of the projects was to get and mount a TV in the guest suite.
He ended up picking this one -- https://www.bestbuy.com/site/samsung-50-class-led-7-series-2160p-smart-4k-uhd-tv-with-hdr/6323733.p?skuId=6323733
Not nearly as nice as the Q90 that he has for the primary TV, but man, what a really nice TV.
I streamed a couple of episodes of Magnum PI while I was there and it was actually kind of disconcerting how clear the picture was. You expect old TV shows like that to be the old CRTV quality, and they were not. Some of the scenes were so clear that they actually seemed 3D.
The incredible thing is it was $400 and change for a 50" TV. That's just freaking mind boggling to me.
I have a really nice Samsung 40", but I got it in 2008. IIRC I paid about $1500 for it.
The picture is nice, but it absolutely pales in comparison to the $400 one I linked above.
I'm seriously considering upgrading my TV. I may wait until the after Christmas sales.
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Looking at displays for conference rooms and see that, as of today, there are several 80"+ 4K name-brand displays going for under $2500. Even the Samsung QLED and Sony XBR, both of which are astonishing, can be had for $2997 on Amazon.
Brad
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Looking at displays for conference rooms and see that, as of today, there are several 80"+ 4K name-brand displays going for under $2500. Even the Samsung QLED and Sony XBR, both of which are astonishing, can be had for $2997 on Amazon.
Brad
We didn't go that big, but our conference room at work has a big screen TV with an HDMI cable run to the conference room table. It was cheaper than a projector and most laptops have an HDMI port. Probably cheaper to replace if there is a problem later.
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"As for weight of older TVs . . . the reason I bought my 65" TV at Best Buy was their very cheap haul-away policy - $10 to take away and dispose of my old 36" Toshiba CRT, all 172 pounds of it. "
Thank you, I wasn't aware of that. I've got an old CRT TV which is a bit of a disposal problem.
The local Goodwill here takes in electronics for recycling. They took my last CRT about a year ago. There's gold in those things. I imagine a bunch of otherwise unemployables sitting around with a hammer and pliers dismantling these things to the components.
bob
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I visited Castle Key over the weekend and one of the projects was to get and mount a TV in the guest suite.
He ended up picking this one -- https://www.bestbuy.com/site/samsung-50-class-led-7-series-2160p-smart-4k-uhd-tv-with-hdr/6323733.p?skuId=6323733
Not nearly as nice as the Q90 that he has for the primary TV, but man, what a really nice TV.
I streamed a couple of episodes of Magnum PI while I was there and it was actually kind of disconcerting how clear the picture was. You expect old TV shows like that to be the old CRTV quality, and they were not. Some of the scenes were so clear that they actually seemed 3D.
The incredible thing is it was $400 and change for a 50" TV. That's just freaking mind boggling to me.
I have a really nice Samsung 40", but I got it in 2008. IIRC I paid about $1500 for it.
The picture is nice, but it absolutely pales in comparison to the $400 one I linked above.
I'm seriously considering upgrading my TV. I may wait until the after Christmas sales.
That's the one I'm probably going to get. The wife still has to figure out what the hell she is going to do with the old furniture.