Bought a new TV for the bedroom

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BackInTex · #1 Post by **BackInTex** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 2:48 pm

If you are not interested in LCD TVs or what to look for, you may want to skip this. I'm just dumping my knowledge and experience in case someone else is in the market.

The wife showed me an ad last Sunday for a local retailer showing a 23" HD LCD TV with built-in DVD for $499, normally $700. She said "Honey, here's your Valentine's Day present." Wow! Now she didn't go buy it, but basically said I could. I almost did, but I did some research via the net. I read some reviews by folks who bought the exact same model on Amazon. Most were not happy with if for a variety of different reasons. One also suggested a different model by the same manufacturer. So I set off to determine what what the best buy would be for such a t.v.

Normally I wouldn't buy an all-in-one knowing that a separate DVD player could be purchased for less than the differential between a t.v. with and one without. But my wife hates wires and if the internal one goes out, I can always then get a separate external one.

Things some of the reviews keyed me in on as important:

Speed of channel surfing. So I looked at this on many models. No specs will tell you how quickly a t.v. will go through the channels, but reviewers will.

Ability to tune HD channels directly of of a cable feed, without the need for a cable box. Digital t.v.s all come with ATSC/NTSC tuning to funtion with the new broadcast standards, but not all have QAM tuning which is the standard for HD broadcast over cable.

Viewing angle. Most good LCD have wide (left to right) viewing angles, but they don't rate the up and down viewing angles. The reviewers do, though. Since the t.v. will be mounted on the wall above head level, this is important. The original t.v. I considered had on reviewer discuss this saying it had great side to side viewing, but get a little angle down and it goes gray.

Sleep timer. This is something some have. Why get one without it? I never use it, but still.

Aspect ratio(s) - some only have one, others have several, still some have several with auto detection of what is being played.

Pixels - most 26 inche LCD have the same, but look at the numbers and the refresh rate (8 ms or less).

HD quality (720P, 1080I, 1080P, etc.) 1080 is better than 720, P is better than I. For a 26" screen 720P will be fine.

Inputs - Important depending on what you want to use it for, including the future. The more, and the more types the better (HDMI, HD component, RF (normal coaxial), HD PC input).

O.K. so instead of the $499 special on a Toshiba 23" LCD (that I found out through research is a 2 year old model) I bought a 26" Toshiba Regza with built-in upconverting DVD player (26LV47). Best price was at Beach Camera, no tax, free shipping, $649.99. I've bought several cameras from them over the years so I trust them. And amazingly enough, no retailers sell them 'cause I sure would have liked to bring one home over the weekend. Oh well.

I compared this model to every other model I could find, and for the money (even plus $200) I couldn't find one that had the features and reveiw results of this one.

Plus I was able to donwload from Toshiba the user manual which always answers lots of questions not answered in the promotional sales literature.

Things this model had that others didn't:

Upconverting DVD - takes a normal 480p DVD and upconverts to 720P

3 HDMI inputs, 2 component inputs, 1 RF input, 1 PC input, 1 s-video, RCA A/V inputs

Channel Browser, you can easily scan through the last 32 channels you have viewed, with screen images for the last five channels displayed, by channel, by favorites, and by input, at the touch of a button.

Favorites Browser - Within the Channel Browser™ previews of you preset Favorite Channels can be viewed via thumbails along the bottom of the screen

6 auto detected aspect ratios

20W sound

The QAM receiver to eliminate the need for a cable set-top box.

******************

It has shipped, but the free shipping is 5-7 business days. Maybe I get it Friday, maybe next week. I will report back on my initial thoughts once I get it and watch a few broadcast and DVD movies.

I would love to hear from others who have experience with LCD T.Vs. Anything I left out that should be considered (besides dependability which is a given).

I have a 50 inch DLP in our game room that is great for HD broadcasts but no so pretty for non HD (grainy, fuzzy, and shadowing action). I don't have an upconverting DVD player connected to it, but will get one at the next opportunity (when the old one gives out).

Ritterskoop · #2 Post by **Ritterskoop** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 4:43 pm

We got a 32" Sony Bravia for the living room last month and love it. Both Consumer Reports and Amazon users like the Bravia models. It's a smallish room so it would have been silly to get anything larger.

We paid $900, which seemed reasonable. Also we got it at a local store who advertises with my employer, and has done so for decades, so that's worth a little extra if it works out that way. They are a chain but not big box.

We did not upgrade the cable service to HD, but just having the better picture is jawdropping. We leave it on Vivid except I change it to Cinema for movies. Unless the movies have a lot of grass or ocean shots.

peacock2121 · #3 Post by **peacock2121** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 6:46 am

Thanks, BiT!

We are in the market and this info is terrific.

Aside question:

Did you get an okay to spend more money on your Valentines present?

BackInTex · #4 Post by **BackInTex** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:01 am

peacock2121 wrote:Thanks, BiT!

We are in the market and this info is terrific.

Aside question:

Did you get an okay to spend more money on your Valentines present?

Of course. I'm in charge.

Hey! Quit laughing.

peacock2121 · #5 Post by **peacock2121** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:09 am

What is so funny is that I was laughing and then scrolled down to read you telling me to stop laughing!

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #6 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 9:28 am

peacock2121 wrote:Thanks, BiT!

We are in the market and this info is terrific.

Aside question:

Did you get an okay to spend more money on your Valentines present?

I am sure that he didn't want to be deliberately disobedient.

andrewjackson · #7 Post by **andrewjackson** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 9:52 am

I am anxiously awaiting the upgrading of the cable/satellite tv system at my apartment complex to include HD. As soon as that happens (supposedly sometime in March) I'll be buying a big honking TV. I'm looking right now but I'm holding off on a decision of what to buy until I can actually take something home and hook it up.

We have DirecTV but through a community dish arrangement so we can't get the HD channels until they upgrade the system.

Bixby17 · #8 Post by **Bixby17** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 10:00 am

andrewjackson wrote:I am anxiously awaiting the upgrading of the cable/satellite tv system at my apartment complex to include HD. As soon as that happens (supposedly sometime in March) I'll be buying a big honking TV. I'm looking right now but I'm holding off on a decision of what to buy until I can actually take something home and hook it up.

We have DirecTV but through a community dish arrangement so we can't get the HD channels until they upgrade the system.

It's amazing.

We got ours in the middle of football season. Even my husband wanted to watch football it looked so good.

christie1111 · #9 Post by **christie1111** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 10:22 am

Okay, this seems to be the right thread to ask this question.

I have a small TV/VCR that we bought for a car trip to Florida the Oct. after 9/11. It more than paid for itself just on that trip alone.

When we moved into the new house I used it in the sewing area to watch TV while I sewed, but also to record my 1 quilting program every week day. Well, the VCR part is not working so great. I can't get it to keep the tape in. I think if I could get the tape to stay in it would record fine but if I can't get the tape to stay in, it doesn't matter.

What do you guys think about how to have a small recording device that I can watch when sewing? We have DVD/VCR combo that we do most of the recording of movies/shows but that is usually busy and wouldn't work for my needs.

Is there such a thing of the DVD equivalent of a VCR that isnt very big or expensive?

andrewjackson · #10 Post by **andrewjackson** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 10:35 am

christie1111 wrote:Okay, this seems to be the right thread to ask this question.

I have a small TV/VCR that we bought for a car trip to Florida the Oct. after 9/11. It more than paid for itself just on that trip alone.

When we moved into the new house I used it in the sewing area to watch TV while I sewed, but also to record my 1 quilting program every week day. Well, the VCR part is not working so great. I can't get it to keep the tape in. I think if I could get the tape to stay in it would record fine but if I can't get the tape to stay in, it doesn't matter.

What do you guys think about how to have a small recording device that I can watch when sewing? We have DVD/VCR combo that we do most of the recording of movies/shows but that is usually busy and wouldn't work for my needs.

Is there such a thing of the DVD equivalent of a VCR that isnt very big or expensive?

DVD recorders have gotten a lot cheaper. I bought one a couple of years ago for $100. It was some weird brand but it works OK. I used it to make DVD copies of stuff I had recorded on my TiVo so I didn't need any scheduling capability. Prices on DVD recorders go up from there.

Does the TV/VCR combo that you have right now have any external input jacks where you could hook up another device? Sometimes combos don't have much of a way to add on other equipment. That will determine if you also need to buy another TV.

Jeemie · #11 Post by **Jeemie** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:26 am

After reading Tex' report, I realized that we got by on sheer dumb luck for our recent HD-TV purchase.

We got a Vizio 32" flatscreen to hang up on the living room wall- we never use the living room, so we thought to convert it to a place where the kids can play video games on the Wii and PS2 (tired of having them do that in our bedroom or on the main TV in the family room).

Did no research- just balanced size and affordability- and managed to find one with all the features Tex talked about- including the sightlines from the vertical (since it hangs on the wall) and the ability to display HD broadcasts from cable without needing a set-top box.

All without even knowing we should be looking for those things.

Kewl!!!

dimmzy · #12 Post by **dimmzy** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:50 pm

I've had a small, Sharp thin (?) HDTV in my kitchen. It was offered at $249 on amazon, so while I was getting out my credit card and futzing around, the price suddenly went up to $349! So I called and complained to amazon and they said they had the right to change prices without warning. So then I complained to Sharp and then suddenly, for about an hour, the price was back down to $249 and I bought it!

Not only is it a nice kitchen TV, but it also wipes the counters, loads the dishwasher and makes a mean satay.

kayrharris · #13 Post by **kayrharris** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:53 pm

What with all the talk about needing a TV that has some sort of digital something or other next year means I'll be looking for a new TV for my guest room. The Zenith 19" dinasour in there was purchased in 1984 and it works perfectly, has great color and never had a service call. Only thing I had to do was buy one of those universal remote thingies and it works just fine. It even has a sleep timer on it.

It's too bad that I'll be forced to retire the poor thing. They just don't make things like they used to.

TheConfessor · #14 Post by **TheConfessor** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:58 pm

kayrharris wrote:What with all the talk about needing a TV that has some sort of digital something or other next year means I'll be looking for a new TV for my guest room. The Zenith 19" dinasour in there was purchased in 1984 and it works perfectly, has great color and never had a service call. Only thing I had to do was buy one of those universal remote thingies and it works just fine. It even has a sleep timer on it.

It's too bad that I'll be forced to retire the poor thing. They just don't make things like they used to.

If you watch it through a cable TV connection, nothing will change. It will continue to work, just as it does today. It's only an issue if you depend on rabbit ears for your signal.

peacock2121 · #15 Post by **peacock2121** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:09 pm

TheConfessor wrote:
kayrharris wrote:What with all the talk about needing a TV that has some sort of digital something or other next year means I'll be looking for a new TV for my guest room. The Zenith 19" dinasour in there was purchased in 1984 and it works perfectly, has great color and never had a service call. Only thing I had to do was buy one of those universal remote thingies and it works just fine. It even has a sleep timer on it.

It's too bad that I'll be forced to retire the poor thing. They just don't make things like they used to.
If you watch it through a cable TV connection, nothing will change. It will continue to work, just as it does today. It's only an issue if you depend on rabbit ears for your signal.

Funny.

I was reading the new posts in this thread and asked Sting about it - wondering if we will need new TVs as well. He told me no, just for the reason Ed sighted.

If Ed and Sting say the same thing, it must be true.

andrewjackson · #16 Post by **andrewjackson** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 2:30 pm

kayrharris wrote:What with all the talk about needing a TV that has some sort of digital something or other next year means I'll be looking for a new TV for my guest room. The Zenith 19" dinasour in there was purchased in 1984 and it works perfectly, has great color and never had a service call. Only thing I had to do was buy one of those universal remote thingies and it works just fine. It even has a sleep timer on it.

It's too bad that I'll be forced to retire the poor thing. They just don't make things like they used to.

As Ed pointed out if you use cable or satellite, your TV will still work fine. The only problem is with an antenna. And converter boxes are going to be available which would mean that you don't have to retire the the TV if you don't want to.

kayrharris · #17 Post by **kayrharris** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 3:29 pm

Well, yay! The dinasour lives. Who uses rabbit ears anyway? I just figured it meant those of us who have antique televisions.

I live in a confused state, as you all can tell. Thanks for the information!
I can buy more shoes now.

silverscreenselect · #18 Post by **silverscreenselect** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 4:02 pm

TheConfessor wrote:
kayrharris wrote:What with all the talk about needing a TV that has some sort of digital something or other next year means I'll be looking for a new TV for my guest room. The Zenith 19" dinasour in there was purchased in 1984 and it works perfectly, has great color and never had a service call. Only thing I had to do was buy one of those universal remote thingies and it works just fine. It even has a sleep timer on it.

It's too bad that I'll be forced to retire the poor thing. They just don't make things like they used to.
If you watch it through a cable TV connection, nothing will change. It will continue to work, just as it does today. It's only an issue if you depend on rabbit ears for your signal.

If you watch cable TV with a converter box, you may or may not need to upgrade the box, depending upon whether it is digital or not. If it is already digital, you shouldn't need to upgrade the box, but if it's not, the cable company will get you one.

If you watch cable TV through a cable ready TV set with a direct plug in, then you will need to get a converter box from your cable company, because your old analog cable signal won't be broadcasting in analog next year.

tlynn78 · #19 Post by **tlynn78** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 4:06 pm

I can buy more shoes now.

Excellent!

t.

silverscreenselect · #20 Post by **silverscreenselect** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 4:10 pm

andrewjackson wrote: DVD recorders have gotten a lot cheaper. I bought one a couple of years ago for $100. It was some weird brand but it works OK. I used it to make DVD copies of stuff I had recorded on my TiVo so I didn't need any scheduling capability. Prices on DVD recorders go up from there.

One thing that people who use a DVD recorder should be aware of is that there are no high-def DVD recorders on the market right now or for the forseeable future. So if you run a high def signal through your DVD recorder and then to your television set, you are only getting DVD quality video, not high def.

In fact most DVD recorders only have an S-video input (and some only have a composite input), so the quality of what you will be seeing is not quite as good as a standard DVD.

If you can, either run dual outputs from your high def box, one to the DVD recorder for recording and an HDMI output directly to the TV. Your other alternative is to invest a few more dollars and buy an upconverting DVD recorder, which will upconvert your signal to near Hi-Def quality.

kayrharris · #21 Post by **kayrharris** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 5:07 pm

Silverscreenselect said:

If you watch cable TV through a cable ready TV set with a direct plug in, then you will need to get a converter box from your cable company, because your old analog cable signal won't be broadcasting in analog next year.
Back to top

Uh oh, I do have a direct plug in, so is the cable company gonna charge me big time for this converter box?

TheCalvinator24 · #22 Post by **TheCalvinator24** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 6:52 pm

kayrharris wrote:Silverscreenselect said:

If you watch cable TV through a cable ready TV set with a direct plug in, then you will need to get a converter box from your cable company, because your old analog cable signal won't be broadcasting in analog next year.
Back to top

Uh oh, I do have a direct plug in, so is the cable company gonna charge me big time for this converter box?

sss is the only person I have heard claim that cable subscribers will have any issues.

Everything else I have read said that if one is using satellite or cable, then the switch over will have no effect for those of us with older sets.

andrewjackson · #23 Post by **andrewjackson** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:01 pm

silverscreenselect wrote:
TheConfessor wrote:
kayrharris wrote:What with all the talk about needing a TV that has some sort of digital something or other next year means I'll be looking for a new TV for my guest room. The Zenith 19" dinasour in there was purchased in 1984 and it works perfectly, has great color and never had a service call. Only thing I had to do was buy one of those universal remote thingies and it works just fine. It even has a sleep timer on it.

It's too bad that I'll be forced to retire the poor thing. They just don't make things like they used to.
If you watch it through a cable TV connection, nothing will change. It will continue to work, just as it does today. It's only an issue if you depend on rabbit ears for your signal.
If you watch cable TV with a converter box, you may or may not need to upgrade the box, depending upon whether it is digital or not. If it is already digital, you shouldn't need to upgrade the box, but if it's not, the cable company will get you one.

If you watch cable TV through a cable ready TV set with a direct plug in, then you will need to get a converter box from your cable company, because your old analog cable signal won't be broadcasting in analog next year.

Is that right?

I don't think so. If you are receiving a cable signal in a cable-ready TV set that should continue to work. Last fall the FCC said that cable companies had to make sure that analog TVs would continue to receive the cable signal. I think that cable companies are required to keep sending out an analog signal until 2012.

I guess it is possible that cable companies can meet the requirement by providing everyone with a cable box. I would check with your cable company to see which way they are going to handle it.

silverscreenselect · #24 Post by **silverscreenselect** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:35 pm

andrewjackson wrote: Is that right?

I don't think so. If you are receiving a cable signal in a cable-ready TV set that should continue to work. Last fall the FCC said that cable companies had to make sure that analog TVs would continue to receive the cable signal. I think that cable companies are required to keep sending out an analog signal until 2012.

I guess it is possible that cable companies can meet the requirement by providing everyone with a cable box. I would check with your cable company to see which way they are going to handle it.

I just looked it up and here is the situation. Cable TV companies, like everyone else will have to convert to digital signals next year. That means that you won't be able to plug the cable into your analog cable ready TV set.

However, the FCC granted a three-year extension for local channels only, which will allow cable companies to continue to transmit your local channels in analog until 2012 (the waiver might be renewed). So, you won't need the converter box to watch your local channels, but you will need it for CNN, ESPN, etc.

To make it even more complicated, smaller cable TV companies can apply for a waiver to the FCC rule which means that, if granted, they won't have to transmit the local channels in analog (dual broadcasting is expensive) and if you are a customer of one of those smaller cable companies, you would need the converter box even for the local channels.

My guess is that the converter boxes will not cost you much of anything, but you would have to contact your local cable company.

http://dtvfacts.com/digital-tv-facts-cable-customers/

kayrharris · #25 Post by **kayrharris** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:41 pm

So essentially I'm just as confused as I was in the first place. I won't be chunking the old set anytime soon. I went to our only cable provider here...Charter...and this is what it says:

Non-Cable Ready = To continue to receive broadcast basic channels post Digital Transition, a set top box will be required --Does not have an RF output on back of TV

Cable Ready --Analog -- No impact, cable ready TVs will continue to receive broadcast basic channels--Most likely purchased before 1998
Digital Cable Ready (DCR) -- Analog and Digital w/cable card slot-- No impact, cable ready TVs will continue to receive broadcast basic channels Most likely purchased post 1998

Digital TV --Analog and Digital w/out cable card slot-- No impact, cable ready TVs will continue to receive broadcast basic channels - Most likely purchased post 1998

So if I'm reading it correctly, I should be OK with no other equipment.
I think.