new TV, need some good advice on a purchase please!

[zskillz]

I figured this was a tech related question, but if you want to move it to the new forum, it doesn't really make a difference.

I want to buy a new television soon. I'm looking at 32-36 in. screens. i need to know what I should be looking for in a good TV. lines of resolution.???.. other stuff like that?? I really need anything that could help me narrow down my decision.

I thought about the HDTV, but this seems like a turning point in the market right now for that sort of technology, so i think i'll save that for when i'm not a student and i have a real source of income.

Regardless, i'm not sure at all, and i'd like some help here.
thanks
-Z

[dexmax]

I got a Panasonic 32 a few years back. And its good. i really like the color. My SONY 29 is fine too. I can't really make out a difference. I'm planning to purchase a flat/thin one from Philips. I haven't tried any TV's from them, but i think i'll gamble his time.

happy shopping...

[Eli]

I bought a new Sony 27" a few weeks ago and couldn't be happier with it. You really get what you pay for. It was around twice the price of the lowest end sets, but the sound and picture are far superior. Plus that flatter screen (not totally flat, but much flatter than usual) just looks so cool. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[SoopaStar]

For a purchase like this, I always reccomend people to invest in a subscription to consumerreports.org. They have a great buyers guide that you can comparison shop on before you go out. From an article I read recently, stay AWAY from RCA. They have the worst repair history. And I can contest to that. I have a 25" in my bedroom. After owning it for a about 1.5 years, I had to have the tuner board replaced (at a cost of $115). They are the same brand as ProView. The best brands to go for are Sanyo, Phillips/Magnavox, Sony and Toshiba. Yes, I did say Sanyo. In a fairly recent article the were rated the highest for picture and sound quality. I personally like the picture quality of a Sony Trinitron TV. CLEAR AND SHARP! The contrast on the panasonics has been nice. When you have a picture that has a black background and big white lettering, there was no 'ghosting' of that white--just a nice sharp line. Toshiba's offer alot of options for their price. They also have a **** good repair record and a really nice warranty (think it has 3 years on the tube!). Phillips are nice--but I like their smaller TV's better. The small ones (like a nice 19" mitchen size) have excellent color reproduction.
That's my two cents.
Paul C.

[zskillz]

thanks all,
I've been researching it all day, and i think i'll probably with a Toshiba 36 in., I just don't know which one yet!
I'll let you know though

-Z

[Wiz]

I have a 32" phillips magnavox in my room, and i have to say it is top notch. It allows up to 6 hook ups for different additions. Right now i have PSX, my DVD player, a tuner, my stereo, and a VCR. I love it!

[Dave_H]

SONY

[MadMatt]

Dave_H has it right - SONY!

Check out their 'WEGA" line of flat screen TV's - the picture is awesome! WE got a 36" unit a few months back - rarely have I felt better about a purchase. They are pricey though - the 36" is about $1600, 32" is $1300.

[zskillz]

i did take a look at the wega, but i'm bound by a thousand dollar limit....

i want the lasik eye surgery so bad i can't tell you, and that takes priority on this one!
http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[shadow]

I spent alot of years repairing electronics including tv's. I was never a big fan of Sony, I figure they are overpriced and I saw alot of their larger crt's go flat in a very short time. Sony did on the other hand make THE best tv way back when, a kv-1710, and I have one still working and being used everyday. This thing is about 25 years old.
When these were put on the market in 1975 or so, you could spot them in many tv studios being used as monitors.

If the price is comparable, go for Sony but I like Hitachi, Toshiba, JVC ...in that order.

The best way to decide is use your eyes. Look for sharpness, focus, proper convergence and focus in the coners, linearity and color quality. Buy what your eyes like best and forget about technical specs, brand names and other's opinions.

[Graham]

Recently got a Toshiba 32in widescreen, very good picture, and saved 25% getting it off the web !!
Sony and Panasonic are good, but you pay a premium for the name.

G

[Win_98]

I agree sony isnt that great...when it comes to TV
I got a mitsubishi 40' projection
A toshiba 20' thats ive been using since 88
works great and quaity is good!!!
It is a bit tooo expensive if you want something decent but not luxury like
Sony
BTW: I have a proview 15' and 17
both are great, when I look at sony hmm
I see no differences but
only the half price I paid for if I was
to buy a Sony...
SEE! LOLOLLOOLOLO(LOL http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif
I could go on and on, well i bought a few
sony vcr, they are the greatest when it come to recording, perfect quality all the time
as for receiver, kenwood is pretty decent...
Peace!

[brandon184]

I recently bought an RCA 27".. I really like it, nice color and crisp, clear picture. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

- Brandon

[wtp]

sony, they have high quality trinitron TVs.

wtp

[Eli]

Sony is too expensive, granted, but you do get what you pay for. The Sony 27" I bought just looks and sounds so much better than the GE I was planning on buying, and in my opinion it's worth the extra couple of hundred (Canadian).