Looking to buy a new TV...need recommendations

[Sonny]

My wife threw me a curve ball today. She asked me if I wanted to buy a new TV. Of course I was shocked and asked her if she was feeling OK. She reminded me it was a gift to celebrate my five years at Southwestern Energy and my new position, within the company, I will be starting next week.

Right now we have an old 30" Sony Wega we bought back in 2005...I think. Unfortunately I know next to nothing about TVs on the market today. Last year I did have my eye on the Samsung N55B8000. In the stores this TV's picture quality looked so amazing.

Let's get to the particulars:

• Viewing distance in my living room will be from 10'-12'
• Budget $1000-$2500
• Connecting to Comcast cable
• I watch a lot of sports
• I watch a fair amount of movies mostly on cable TV
• We have Netflix but watch the majority of movies and shows on computers or iPad
• Kids watch their cartoons
• 3D is not a must
• Wireless is not a must
• Really like the IR remotes on some TVs
• I do not currently own ANY sound system equipment
• Still have to budget in wall mount or TV stand, cables, and accessories.

That's all I can think of right now. I'm sure my wife will change her mind when she finds out how much her 'gift' is going to cost.

I really don't have a time table when I'll buy one but I figure I better start looking now.

[Jake]

We just replace our Samsung(6 series) LCD with a Samsung(6 series) plasma.
IMHO, the plasma has a better picture than the LCD. In the store, that's not the case, plasma's look flat, dark, washed out, etc. But one I got it home and tweeked the settings it looks killer!

But that said, plasma's have image retention. And that sucks! It goes away, but it still really annoying. So even though I think plasma has a better picture, I don't recommend one.

The 8000 series from Samsung is nice, but if you go with LCD(btw, the "LED" tv's are still LCD) I would recommend one that is full backlit with local dimming, not edge lit. Look for something that says "Full-array with local dimming", not sure which models offer that.
And no matter what, if you care at all about what's good in this world....DO NOT USE MOTION SMOOTHING WHEN WATCHING MOVIES!!!!! All the new LCD TV's use frame interpolation to smooth out the jerkiness and it make things look like they were shot on video at 60fps. Fine for sports, but when I someone is watching a movie with it on I want to smack them up side the head!

Anyway, if your budget goes up to $2500 you should be able to get a great set. Look for the key words "local dimming" when buying.

[Jake]

BTW, I get all my cables from Monoprice. I'm using a $15 HDMI that has no problem running 1080p in 3D......best buy will tell you that you need their $130 cable to do that.....

[groovyone]

You know what TV I will say, I like their screens the best. My suggestion is look for backlit LED if possible for the best color and blacks thanks to local dimming.

All my cables are also from monoprice.com and I just got yet another shipment from em this past week. 10' USB micro for $1.60, bunch of other stuff.

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by groovyone

You know what TV I will say, I like their screens the best. My suggestion is look for backlit LED if possible for the best color and blacks thanks to local dimming.

Would you be refereeing to Sony?

[jeffclow]

Samsung LED - the latest have hardly any frame and look like you are viewing a screen floating in the air. Amazing and well worth checking out.

You've got a fun task .... and a good wife!

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by jeffclow

Samsung LED - the latest have hardly any frame and look like you are viewing a screen floating in the air. Amazing and well worth checking out.

You've got a fun task .... and a good wife!

I saw the commercial for those last week. They look so cool.

[Sonny]

I think I might scale back on the size at 46" instead of a 55", save some cash and also buy a home theater system. We'll see.

[kenw]

According to my inside sources.....(son works at BB):

LED is technically superior to almost anything out there, but you still have a price premium and the quality does vary a lot by brands. Plasma in general still beats most LCD. Avoid 3D for now, too many brand-specific idiosyncracies and instantly obsolete technologies. Wait for a standard to emerge.

We have a Panasonic plasma and love it. However, plasma has a few issues (image retention is not a major problem, how long do you leave a static image on screen anyway?). Heat is an issue; they're hot and you can feel the heat. They're relative energy hogs compared to LCD and LED.

Ge the biggest screen you can afford and fit in the room. We're about 10-12' away from a 42" and I seriously wish it was bigger but the armoire limited us. I would think after a couple of years of use that a 45-55 in our situation would be a lot better.

The more HDMI inputs the better, you can't have too many and often need more. I have 3 and am already maxed out.

[groovyone]

I only have one HDMI cable running to the TV, but ken is definitely correct of you do not plan on any sound system or receiver. All of my receiver input ports are full!

LED backlit is much nicer than LED side lit, but also like ken said, you'll pay more for back lit.

If you get the right TV (not just Sony), many can stream Netflix straight to the TV, which is kinda nice.

As for home theater systems, that is a whole other can o' worms. Just don't buy Bose, trust me on this one. I have to friends sporting the Klipsch theater in a box sets and they are far and away better plus they cost less. Personally I have Klipsch Reference speakers all around.

[craigb456]

+1 for Klipsch i have a Klipsch Reference 7 system with ~3,000 watts of total power (I am sad i did't get to meet him before he passed, but i did meet miss Klipsch) and it is the best system i have had. I worked for a Home entertainment company for 3+ years doing from sales to high end theator rooms, and out of everything we sold the best brands as far a performance, price, lest DOA and less returns at the time where Klipsch, Yamaha, Sony, and LG. And their was a saying "No highs, No lows, Must be BOSE" and i have installed several BOSE systems when i worked for them and i would agree

My 2c if you have anything you want to ask ask away

Originally Posted by groovyone

I only have one HDMI cable running to the TV, but ken is definitely correct of you do not plan on any sound system or receiver. All of my receiver input ports are full!

LED backlit is much nicer than LED side lit, but also like ken said, you'll pay more for back lit.

If you get the right TV (not just Sony), many can stream Netflix straight to the TV, which is kinda nice.

As for home theater systems, that is a whole other can o' worms. Just don't buy Bose, trust me on this one. I have to friends sporting the Klipsch theater in a box sets and they are far and away better plus they cost less. Personally I have Klipsch Reference speakers all around.

[CaptainG]

I've been very happy with a 55" Vizio from Costco (two year warranty). It is about $1495 these days. Yesterday, I saw a 60" Viszio 3D, back lit LED and it had an awesome picture. IIRC, $2895.

[princer7]

We recently purchased a Panasonic TC-P42S2 plasma TV for the bedroom and could not be happier. It has received very positive reviews with excellent picture quality. The TV is a 42" and was $650. I think their current model is similarly priced as well.

[Rson]

Originally Posted by thejakestir

BTW, I get all my cables from Monoprice. I'm using a $15 HDMI that has no problem running 1080p in 3D......best buy will tell you that you need their $130 cable to do that.....

Love mono price, slow as hell on the ship but well worth the price. When you buy, get everything cablewise you might need and pay the upgraded shipping route.

[Rson]

Originally Posted by craigb456

+1 for Klipsch i have a Klipsch Reference 7 system with ~3,000 watts of total power (I am sad i did't get to meet him before he passed, but i did meet miss Klipsch) and it is the best system i have had. I worked for a Home entertainment company for 3+ years doing from sales to high end theator rooms, and out of everything we sold the best brands as far a performance, price, lest DOA and less returns at the time where Klipsch, Yamaha, Sony, and LG. And their was a saying "No highs, No lows, Must be BOSE" and i have installed several BOSE systems when i worked for them and i would agree

My 2c if you have anything you want to ask ask away

I had Klipsch KG 5.5's and HK monster running them I could run a concert. Wife hocked all my good stuff, now I have klipsch in-walls and not happy. The KG series was before Paul died and still were hand made. I had a KSW 15 also with them, now I had to downsize[snicker, snicker] to a Deftech supercube.