2011 Official LGP HDTV Buying Guide

[Physical_Graffiti]

Both the satellite and tv have a 1080i setting, thanks for the help bro.

[pittsoccer33]

I found an interesting article on tv reliability I thought I'd pass on. The first one is about Vizio specifically, and then a podcast about reliability in general. Vizio does not carry an inventory of parts to support their tvs, so it is basically viewed as a disposable/not repairable item. The article asks the major Vizio vendors how they handle problem sets.

http://hdguru.com/vizio-disposable-hdtv ... back/5596/

http://www.htguys.com/podcasts/2011/10/ ... ility.html

I often get asked about which tvs last longer, either by type (LED vs plasma) or by brand. This then ties into protection agreements/extended warranties/service plans, etc and whether or not they are worth it.

Anecdotally, we counted recently how many tv's have gone bad just sitting on our shelves in the last year:

2 RCA lcds (backlight bulb burned out on both)
3 Panasonic plasmas (two suffered from their infamous "rising black" an issue on 2009 and 2010 sets and the power supply went bad on a 2011 GT30)
2 Samsung plasmas (one suffered dancing pixels, one had a panel go bad)
2 LG plasmas (the screen would randomly turn green on one, and the other randomly shut off)
1 Sony led (bad panel)
2 Sharp leds (suffering from "light bleed" where the backlight shines through around the edge of the screen)
1 Toshiba lcd (would flash odd colors)

It is a small sample, but I came up with two things to take away
1) plasma seems to have more problems in the first year of ownership
2) since we carry and sell more Samsung led tvs than anything else, that should speak to their quality (at least initially)

Whether or not you feel like you should buy an extended warranty is really up to you. The price range on them is huge, from Costco's $99 5 year plan to over $1000 on some large 3D tvs at my store.

You have to look at what you get for your money. Some include a once a year tech visit at no charge, just to get into the service menu (something you typically cant do yourself) and do some minor calibrations to adjust to the panel's aging. Some stores will give you a refurbished tv if yours needs to be replaced. Some of them replace the manufacturers warranty immediately with greater coverage, some simply extend whatever the manufacturer would cover. Others include damage from electrical surges. The number of dead pixels covered is another thing that differentiates them.

Some things I tell customers who are considering them:

Customers who bought hdtvs 4 or 5 years ago are getting their problem sets replaced with the highest end tv's we carry - that $3000 42" 720p plasma bought in '06 can now buy a 60" 3D LED.

My best friend bought a 50" LG right out of college on a 36 month no interest plan. The service plan would have added about $8 to each payment. Three years later, just after getting married and buying a house, the tv went bad. Now he has to come up with $2000 to get another one, when he could have had his replaced by a 55" 3D led and not worried about it (or deal with his wife who wants a smaller one to fit in with her decor).

[pfim]

Vizio doesn't make a lot of their TVs, so it makes sense that they wouldn't carry and inventory of parts. It also makes sense to buy from a manufacturer and not Vizio, though.

[mac5155]

re: extended plans on a Plasma. you've intrigued me. We're going to go the cheaper route and get the 51" Samsung plasma from Walmart. an extended warranty is $88.33 for an extra 3 years of coverage on a $628 TV. I want to get it, but I really have to be sold on the extended warranties. I'd rather try my luck. It covers the following:

* Power surges (from date of purchase)
* Normal, everyday wear and tear
* Mechanical and electrical failure
* Environmental factors like heat, dust and humidity
* Defects in materials and workmanship

Seems like it would be a good idea. I could also go a bit cheaper with 2 years for $65. Thoughts?

[pittsoccer33]

I remember looking for info on Walmart's warranty a while back and had trouble with TV specific info. Some of their literature makes it sound like you are simply extending whatever the manufacturer covers (Samsung requires you have something like 50 dead pixels in the area of a softball before they say its defective) others sound like you get enhanced coverage, but only after the one year.

I think it would be foolish to not opt for the longer plan, given that the older the set is the more likely it is to have a failure. Id try to find out if you are going to get charged if you think there's a problem with the set, they send somebody out, and determine that you had something set incorrectly.

Still, paying what works out to $0.50 a month to know that if something goes wrong that you will be getting a new television isnt a bad deal.

[mac5155]

I am going to ask tonight when we go to buy. My girlfriend is an assistant manager at the store, so we will speak with someone qualified to answer.

I've heard though, that if you have the plan and something is wrong, you just bring it back and get a refund. No testing involved.

[skullman80]

I have two Vizio Tv's .. my main one that is 1080p in the living room 46". I've had it for about 3 years, and calibrated I will put it up against just about any set except a high end Samsung.

I have a 32" 720p in my bedroom, Vizio as well, and both have been rock solid with no issues.

I'm hesitant to go to another brand when I get another TV.

[mac5155]

Pittsoccer.. ? for you again.

I got the TV. Here's a problem I ran into. The plug is obviously a 3 prong plug. The only outlets we have are 2 pronged 'ionized' (one bigger than the other) outlets. I believe they are called ionized.

Is using an adapter bad for a plasma TV and/or cable box?


Additionally, our TV came with 2 magnet looking things for each end of the power cord. We put one on each end. Do they need to go on the HDMI cable as well? Also the hole is way too big for the wire. Can I like tape them onto the wire so they stay at the ends? or is that a no-no also?

[Letang Is The Truth]

What do those magnet things even do

[mac5155]

What do those magnet things even do

Said it blocked interference out. I dunno. They came with it so I put them on. They clipped around the power wires

[Letang Is The Truth]

I know exactly what you are referring to; I was just curious to their actual function cuz I usually just put them straight into the trash.

[mac5155]

I might just attempt to change the outlet to a 3 prong instead of 2. Anyone ever mess around with that?

[JS©]

What do those magnet things even do

[pittsoccer33]

those are ferrite beads. they can help eliminate some type of interference in the tv. might as well toss them on there.

many hdmi cords, usb cords, etc, have one built into the cable. hdmi cords often have ferrite inside of them too.

its never desirable to plug anything three pronged in using adapters. if you do it see if you can screw the little piece of metal that sticks out of the bottom of the plug into the screw that holds the outlet cover on.

[mac5155]

Thanks. I'm going to try and replace the outlet with a 3 prong. If not, dunno what else to do

[pittsoccer33]

I've found out what some of the special holiday editions that are coming out for black friday will be

LG LV4400: 1080p/120hz LED. Much lower contrast than the LV5500 (their middle market LED line) and no smart tv functions. 47" around $700, 55" around $1000

another that I'm not sure that I can mention is a 1080p/120hz LED tv w/ internet apps from a major manufacturer. I imagine all the big box stores will carry this one. It will be quite a bit under $1000, but like the LG set it will have a much lower contrast ratio. Once a black friday ad leaks with some info I'll post the model number. I believe there will be a similar LCD for less and also a 40" LED, not sure on prices for those yet.

[canaan]

I've found out what some of the special holiday editions that are coming out for black friday will be

LG LV4400: 1080p/120hz LED. Much lower contrast than the LV5500 (their middle market LED line) and no smart tv functions. 47" around $700, 55" around $1000

another that I'm not sure that I can mention is a 1080p/120hz LED tv w/ internet apps from a major manufacturer. I imagine all the big box stores will carry this one. It will be quite a bit under $1000, but like the LG set it will have a much lower contrast ratio. Once a black friday ad leaks with some info I'll post the model number. I believe there will be a similar LCD for less and also a 40" LED, not sure on prices for those yet.

898.00 to be exact http://slickdeals.net/blackfriday/29934 ... z-led-hdtv

[canaan]

walmart is doing a vizio wi-fi LED @ 240hz and 3d http://slickdeals.net/blackfriday/29950 ... -wifi-hdtv

and also LG cinema class led with 3d blu ray and 2d glasses for under 800 http://slickdeals.net/blackfriday/29932 ... 3d-glasses

[pittsoccer33]

the price on that 3D LG is pretty close to current retail prices. none of the components are internet connectable and it uses the passive 3D technology. The pro to that is cheap glasses (like the ones at the theater), less noticeable flicker, and slightly brighter images. Con is that you are only ever going to see 540p to each eye when watching 3D. Also they are not the nicest 2D televisions.

If you're thinking about that 42" Vizio 3D, for not a lot more money I'd highly recommend looking at the Panasonic TC-P42ST30 (unless you're plasma averse).

[canaan]

http://www.projectorcentral.com/Optoma-HD33-projection-calculator.htm

That, the Optoma HD3300 (higher quality) or HD20 (if you don't care about 3D) are some of the best entry level home theater quality projectors. The next price point would be closer to $3k, then $5k, etc.

best entry level for the price point is the Optoma HD66

http://www.amazon.com/Optoma-HD65-720p- ... B000XOKZ8U is what i have, but the HD66 at the same price point is 3D ready. they arent 1080, but for personal movie room use, its not a big deal. these will run you under 700$

[eddysnake]

http://www.projectorcentral.com/Optoma-HD33-projection-calculator.htm

That, the Optoma HD3300 (higher quality) or HD20 (if you don't care about 3D) are some of the best entry level home theater quality projectors. The next price point would be closer to $3k, then $5k, etc.

best entry level for the price point is the Optoma HD66

http://www.amazon.com/Optoma-HD65-720p- ... B000XOKZ8U is what i have, but the HD66 at the same price point is 3D ready. they arent 1080, but for personal movie room use, its not a big deal. these will run you under 700$

That's very tempting, but with a screen that large, wouldn't you benefit more from the 1080p? I wish I wasn't but I'm terribly picky when it comes to these things.

[canaan]

ill see if i can find some "in action" pictures

[eddysnake]

ill see if i can find some "in action" pictures

did you buy or make your screen? details please

[canaan]

ill see if i can find some "in action" pictures

did you buy or make your screen? details please

here are some amazon customer pics....very solid http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-media ... images_all

i made a thread a while back about the screen i made. ill find it for you

[canaan]

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=39941&p=1063736&hilit=projector#p1063736

eddy, i noticed that you posted in this thread lol