New TV Bleg

[mekender]

Currently the biggest TV we have is a Sony Bravia 32"... We want to get a bigger one, perhaps in the 47-52" range.

I have zero need or desire for a 3D TV, I do not believe the technology has stabilized on a standard yet and I do not want to spend $50 on glasses that my kids will likely break. Plus I rarely watch movies from a physical source so I dont think it would apply to me anyways.

It would be nice to have Netflix and Hulu on the unit but not required as I have game systems that already do what I need done. Likewise it would be nice to have the capability of streaming from my HTPC to the box but again, not required as my game systems already do this.

Cost is perhaps the most important factor, I want to spend around $1000.

[Rod]

Guess I should throw my hat in here. I'm looking for a 40-45 inch screen tv, netflix ready. Not worried about 3-D. Is Amazon a good place to look? What brand should I get?

[HTRN]

Panasonics have good reps too.

Right now, the best LED TVs are the Samsungs. They're not cheap. Sonys are a close second. Both are "ferrari pricing" - a bit better than anything else out there, but you're paying drastically more for that small performance increase.

After reading about Flat screens for a coupla months in preperation of an upgrade, I've come to the conclusion that the best bang for the buck is LG Plasmas -A 50" LG Plasma, if you don't need such things as a touch screen or 3D, with a really high consumer rating, can be had for $750. A word of warning though! Plasmas really, REALLY don't like high altitudes, so if you're at over 4000 ft ASL, get an LCD instead. Also, like all Plasmas, they draw more power, and run hotter than an LCD, so if you live in a place where heat is a concern...

[mekender]

Guess I should throw my hat in here. I'm looking for a 40-45 inch screen tv, netflix ready. Not worried about 3-D. Is Amazon a good place to look? What brand should I get?

Right now, I'd go with Sharp, Samsung, Panasonic, and Sanyo.

Edited to add panasonic, since HTRN reminded me. I meant to put them in first pass and forgot.

I have no problems with those brands, is there any reason not to go with Sony, Vizio or LG? I have had great luck with Sony products all my life...

[rightisright]

If you have a Costco membership, they double the warranty on the TV. And they are very good about returning a TV you don't like. I went through a few before I settled on a Panasonic plasma. I've had it for a few years now and still love it. The LCDs I tried at home had distinct motion blur when watching sports. I'm sure the technology has gotten better in the last few years, though.

[mekender]

If you have a Costco membership, they double the warranty on the TV. And they are very good about returning a TV you don't like. I went through a few before I settled on a Panasonic plasma. I've had it for a few years now and still love it. The LCDs I tried at home had distinct motion blur when watching sports. I'm sure the technology has gotten better in the last few years, though.

Ya, I know... Costco has one of the best return policies in the nation.

[blackeagle603]

3 years ago I got a Sharp 32" LED. Good looking unit. I was going to get the comparable Vizio at Costco, it looked good enough for my purposes. My wife was at Costco before I could make it and bought the Sharp instead on the advice of gadget geek b-in-law that the Sharp would outlast the Vizio. Grrrrr.

Spent almost $2X the Vizio price at the time for that Sharp but it's failed prematurely anyway. It's recently lost a 3" wide vertical stripe down the left side of the screen. Must have lost a driver or TAB circuit attach failed on the motherboard. I don't know if there's even such a thing as a TV repairshop anymore. This is probably one fix worth attempting.

Meanwhile the 27" Trinitron CRT TV I bought in ~97 that was demoted to the back family room just keeps on keeping on.

[BadgerVet]

We bought a 46" Vizio at Cosco just before Xmas for $850.00. The son-in-law bought the same model a few months earlier and recommended it. He researches everything before he buys anything. Saves me a lot of time that way.

[randy]

In the last few years my extended family has bought 3 LGs (2 LCD and and an LED)(the most recent one a week or so ago to replace a 21" CRT RCA that was headed down hill). We've been happy with them.

Friend of mine does electronics repair (including TVs) for a living and has the motto "Friends don't let friends buy Vizio" and recommended the LG for the first one we bought. YMMV. I like to keep him happy as he does the market research anyway as part of his business and works for beer!

[blackeagle603]

Fyi got a couple local rec's for tv repair. I'll see if that Sharp can be recovered economically.