Low priced TV's
- Thread starter mikefamig
- Start date
pete_c
Guru
My brother in law had a Panasonic Plasma for more than 10 years. He did update it to a larger LCD TV. Pansonic was still working fine and he gave it to his daughter.
Here got a deal on Toshiba LCD TV's via Crutchfield many many years ago (~2004?).
Initially just purchased one 42" Toshiba...then talking to the sales person there purchased a couple of smaller Toshiba LCD TVs at the time 50% off. Excellent delivery and installation by the Crutchfield folks at the time.
Around the time that Circuit City was closing purchased another Toshiba LCD 42" TV.
These Toshiba TV's all still work fine today and just updated the 42" Toshiba last year for a 55" el cheapo LCD TV with Roku built in which is configured mostly in the off mode except that it manages the TV.
All of the above and really do not watch too much television here.
Here got a deal on Toshiba LCD TV's via Crutchfield many many years ago (~2004?).
Initially just purchased one 42" Toshiba...then talking to the sales person there purchased a couple of smaller Toshiba LCD TVs at the time 50% off. Excellent delivery and installation by the Crutchfield folks at the time.
Around the time that Circuit City was closing purchased another Toshiba LCD 42" TV.
These Toshiba TV's all still work fine today and just updated the 42" Toshiba last year for a 55" el cheapo LCD TV with Roku built in which is configured mostly in the off mode except that it manages the TV.
All of the above and really do not watch too much television here.
I've got a 58" Panasonic Plasma that is 12 years old and a 50" that is going on 15 and they are both still incredible 1080p displays. I also have a 60" Samsung LCD in the master bedroom, and while it is a great TV, it still doesn't give the image quality and viewing angle of the plasmas. I've never had one issue with the plasmas (and to be fair, no issue with the Samsung 60" either).
I was also given a dead Samsung 42" LCD that at the time was only about 4 years old. I fixed it with $2 of caps in the power supply and now have it hanging in the garage. Did that repair about 3 years ago and it's still going strong.
I think many new TV's are just a crap shoot. Decent quality and may last forever or you may get a couple years out of it before it dies. Since Panasonic no longer has Plasmas, my preference now are for the Samsung LCD's.
I was also given a dead Samsung 42" LCD that at the time was only about 4 years old. I fixed it with $2 of caps in the power supply and now have it hanging in the garage. Did that repair about 3 years ago and it's still going strong.
I think many new TV's are just a crap shoot. Decent quality and may last forever or you may get a couple years out of it before it dies. Since Panasonic no longer has Plasmas, my preference now are for the Samsung LCD's.
wkearney99
Senior Member
Done the $2 cap kit more than once in different TVs.
The downside to the Samsung units is they're making it difficult to use them just as a dumb TV. I had to resort to putting a switch in-line with one we have over the treadmill. It would keep turning itself on when anything else connected to it powered up or changed video state. Like a streaming box rebooting, a chromecast losing it's wifi or the AVR being used for audio-only. No option in the settings to tell it to just STAY OFF until deliberately powered up.
The downside to the Samsung units is they're making it difficult to use them just as a dumb TV. I had to resort to putting a switch in-line with one we have over the treadmill. It would keep turning itself on when anything else connected to it powered up or changed video state. Like a streaming box rebooting, a chromecast losing it's wifi or the AVR being used for audio-only. No option in the settings to tell it to just STAY OFF until deliberately powered up.
BraveSirRobbin
Moderator
I've historically went with Samsung TV's over the years. I was thinking of looking into Sony for my next purchase which will be a while as the old 65" is doing fine (had this for about seven years). Please post what you think of your new Bravia as you use it.
I love my Sony Bravia TV (XBR-65X900H) which is now about 5 years old. It's not OLED or even MiniLED, but the picture quality is so much better than any of our other TVs (which are were certainly much cheaper too). The color and LED backlighting consistency is the difference. We haven't had a single problem over the last 5 years.
Costco is one of the best places to get a TV due to their decent prices and long warranty.
I will say this..... Always do local pickup when buying a TV. Don't ever buy a large TV online and have it shipped to you. The shippers absolutely abuse the TVs which is honestly expected. I mean how can one person move a huge TV in a box from the truck to your front door? Generally they will flip the TV end over end the whole way..... And people wonder why their TV doesn't work out of the box or even worse, seem to work fine initially but then develop screen problems overtime!
Costco is one of the best places to get a TV due to their decent prices and long warranty.
I will say this..... Always do local pickup when buying a TV. Don't ever buy a large TV online and have it shipped to you. The shippers absolutely abuse the TVs which is honestly expected. I mean how can one person move a huge TV in a box from the truck to your front door? Generally they will flip the TV end over end the whole way..... And people wonder why their TV doesn't work out of the box or even worse, seem to work fine initially but then develop screen problems overtime!
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pete_c
Guru
So far liking the Sony Bravia 8 TV. It was delivered by two Costco guys and they were very careful. They moved the TV to the great room. I unpacked it and put the legs on.
It is just one HDMI cable to the Denon AVR.
It did not come with a screen plastic film which I read about. Picture is nice.
I could not have done this by myself and glad my son came over to help. He carried the old TCL TV by himself downstairs.
I shut off the talking / TTS as it was getting annoying.
He gave me his old makerbot 3 D printer. I have not tinkered at all yet with 3D printing.
It is just one HDMI cable to the Denon AVR.
It did not come with a screen plastic film which I read about. Picture is nice.
I could not have done this by myself and glad my son came over to help. He carried the old TCL TV by himself downstairs.
I shut off the talking / TTS as it was getting annoying.
He gave me his old makerbot 3 D printer. I have not tinkered at all yet with 3D printing.
I have two Sony Bravia TVs. A 75" and a 55" in the bedroom. Nice TVs and much brighter than the three Samsungs I have owned, but they are the only brand that directly support the Bell PVR over WiFi via the Bell app. No cables required except 120vac power.
Either way, Samsung makes all the monitor screens AFAIK. It takes some rare-earth metals which are almost all found in China.
Either way, Samsung makes all the monitor screens AFAIK. It takes some rare-earth metals which are almost all found in China.
I think the video quality of the name brands like Sony, Samsung and LG are all pretty good - so similar that I don't see much difference. So for me, the distinguishing characteristics are the controls and interfaces. I prefer simple and intuitive. The controls and user interfaces for many Asian products, like Japanese cars, just don't work for me, so I buy American because the controls, menus and panels make more sense to me.
That said, Sony TVs make the most sense to me. LG menus and controls are very confusing, and Samsung has some quirks that I would rather avoid. So my house is full of Sonys.
That said, Sony TVs make the most sense to me. LG menus and controls are very confusing, and Samsung has some quirks that I would rather avoid. So my house is full of Sonys.
