New HDTV

DaveRoberts'Shoes

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So, the good news is, my three-year-old son may have an excellent career as a left- handed middle reliever. The bad news is, he used his nascent skillz to throw a toy train into my TV this morning and spiderwebbed the screen pretty good. It was probably time for a new one anyway....

Anyone have any recommendations for specific units or websites to check out for reviews, etc? The previous one was a 63" Samsung - we'd probably be looking for something similar. It's been a while since I looked for a TV, so I'm not very up to date with what I should be looking for other than size and price. Thanks in advance, and if this should be moved to TBLTS, feel free
 

Beomoose

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Panasonic ST60. Absolute best you can get at a reasonable price in that size range.
 
If you're looking for a good reviews website, I recommend the wire cutter as having good data and minimal FUD.
 
Edited. 
 

SumnerH

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Beomoose said:
Samsung ST60. Absolute best you can get at a reasonable price in that size range.
 
If you're looking for a good reviews website, I recommend the wire cutter as having good data and minimal FUD.
 
The Samsung ST60 is a digital camera, not a TV.
 
Panasonic has an ST60 tv that's quite nice (and top ranked on the wire cutter).
 

Couperin47

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1. Everyone with functioning eyes still finds the quality of plasma to exceed any other currently available flat panel technology, especially for fast motion as in...all sports.
 
2. The 'best' plasmas last year were all Panasonic, who ended production...availability of what's left of their models is highly problematic, if you can find one...buy it.
 
3. That leaves exactly 2 real companies making plasmas: Samsung and LG (anything else is a rebranded version of, usually, last year's or older models from one of these 2 sources)
 
4. ALL reviews show the Samsungs are better than the LGs at virtually every price point.
 

Beomoose

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SumnerH said:
 
The Samsung ST60 is a digital camera, not a TV.
 
Panasonic has an ST60 tv that's quite nice (and top ranked on the wire cutter).
Very embarrasing, thank you for the correction. 
 

McDrew

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I have had 2 Samsung's for years.  I can't comment on any newer model for comparative quality, but both of my TV's still run like new 5+ years later. 
 

Adrian's Dome

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Plasma:
 
Pros - Great picture. Better for motion. Wider viewing angles. Cheaper.
Cons - Slightly more power consumption/heat. Heavier. Image retention.
 
LED:
 
Pros - Thin and light. Efficient. Vivid picture. Better in a bright room.
Cons - Picture is less realistic. Slight motion blur. Pricier.
 
Take your pick. I have one of each (Panasonic plasma, Samsung LED,) and I like them both for all the outlined reasons. My LED is my gaming TV, the plasma is for Netflix/movies/TV/etc. If you go LED, try and go with a backlit and not an edge-lit model. If you go plasma, be sure to break it in correctly.
 

OttoC

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Couperin47 said:
1. Everyone with functioning eyes still finds the quality of plasma to exceed any other currently available flat panel technology, especially for fast motion as in...all sports.
 
...
Have you looked at 4K LED TVs? Altogether different price range but the picture quality on a 55" knocked my socks off.
 

Couperin47

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OttoC said:
Have you looked at 4K LED TVs? Altogether different price range but the picture quality on a 55" knocked my socks off.
 
 
 
Exactly what are you going to watch on it ? You are aware there are at least 2 competing and incompatible forms of media being touted as "4K" and absolutely nothing is available in either format in the US atm....
This summary shows just how chaotic the current situation really is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4K_%28resolution%29
 
Far from 'future proofing' you for whatever finally arrives, serious risk you wind up having paid big bucks for a set that has no media available for it.  For example, most of current cable TV is still actually 720p, some FIOS and Sat is 1080p (but in some case the dirty secret is they still compress the signal so you don't get anywhere near the benefit of 'true' 1080).  There is zero possibility there will be cable, Sat or broadcast of any version of 4K in the US in the next 5 years, possibly some fibre delivery. Exactly how any of the formats will be delivered in any quantity by other means during that time period is highly problematical. By the time it's actually available so it matters there's a decent chance OLED (or something else) tech will finally be available at consumer friendly prices.
 

Adrian's Dome

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The only reason to invest in 4k is with a computer monitor to play PC games on. Otherwise, it's a complete waste of cash and the TV will be outdated by the time any kind of media in that definition begins to be broadcasted.
 
(Edit: what that guy said.)
 

DaveRoberts'Shoes

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Adrian's Dome said:
Plasma:
 
Pros - Great picture. Better for motion. Wider viewing angles. Cheaper.
Cons - Slightly more power consumption/heat. Heavier. Image retention.
 
LED:
 
Pros - Thin and light. Efficient. Vivid picture. Better in a bright room.
Cons - Picture is less realistic. Slight motion blur. Pricier.
 
Take your pick. I have one of each (Panasonic plasma, Samsung LED,) and I like them both for all the outlined reasons. My LED is my gaming TV, the plasma is for Netflix/movies/TV/etc. If you go LED, try and go with a backlit and not an edge-lit model. If you go plasma, be sure to break it in correctly.
 
Lots of good advice in this thread, thanks -  AD, what do you mean by the bolded phrase?
 

OttoC

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Well, I don't have a 4K TV on my list of things to buy and it is good to learn that I shouldn't, but the one I see on the floor in my local Best buy sure has an impressive display. The manufacturer claims they can up-convert the source but then they don't have it hooked up to Comcast so you can see for yourself and they obviously are not going to show sub-par performance in their advertising.
 

NortheasternPJ

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DaveRoberts'Shoes said:
 
Lots of good advice in this thread, thanks -  AD, what do you mean by the bolded phrase?
Turn down brightness and contrast for the first hundred hours or so. There's also breakin DVDs that work out the plasma. Plasma are more prone to burn in early on.

I also wouldn't play video games with static images on it for awhile. That being said I have a plasma and played a ton of original Nintendo which is like 80% static images with no side effects
 

Adrian's Dome

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NortheasternPJ said:
Turn down brightness and contrast for the first hundred hours or so. There's also breakin DVDs that work out the plasma. Plasma are more prone to burn in early on.

I also wouldn't play video games with static images on it for awhile. That being said I have a plasma and played a ton of original Nintendo which is like 80% static images with no side effects
Pretty much this. I ran a full-screen DVD with no still images on loop for a couple days with the brightness down to do the trick. I wouldn't use a Blu-ray as the black bars might give you some IR.
 

Couperin47

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Burn in is significantly less of a problem than it used to be.
 
The phosphors in plasma panels take around 100 hours of use to 'settle' into the performance and tints they will provide, after that change is very gradual. Those who want a set calibrated or adjusted for most natural color want to wait that long before adjustment, ideally they would also like the burn-in to be uniform in respect to all colors. 100 hours of moderate use (as others have said keep the brightness down) with varied programming generally will accomplish this, but there are programs available free to accelerate this burn-in using rotating solid color slides to do this in just a few days. Detailed info you find at http://www.avsforum.com/ in their forums. Understand that absolutely no TV comes adjusted for really accurate color from the factory, though some come closer than others. There is a belief among all makers that overly bright and too vivid color are attractive and 'what people want'. The serious techies at AVS either pay pro calibrators to come to your home and for several hundred bucks accurately calibrate the colors of your new TV using serious electronics, alternatively, since there is generally not that much variation from set to set in any one model, there are calibrators who publish in the forums their compromise adjustments for each model, while not perfect they are free and virtually always produce way more realistic color. Understand that because of the complex interactions between the drivers for each color and other settings on modern sets, it's virtually impossible to obtain anywhere near this sort of accuracy 'by eye', also the settings provided usually are to both the obvious settings and also to 'factory settings' that depending on make and model are in secondary and sometimes semi-hidden menus. While this can sometimes be complex, you only have to do it once and the results are usually so much more realistic that you wind up with a silly grin the first time you see what it has accomplished.
 

DaveRoberts'Shoes

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On a related note, does anyone have any experience with the commercially available hard plastic-ish screen protectors for HD TVs to prevent a similar episode from happening to the next one? I've seen mixed stuff online.
 

Adrian's Dome

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Couperin47 said:
Burn in is significantly less of a problem than it used to be.
 
The phosphors in plasma panels take around 100 hours of use to 'settle' into the performance and tints they will provide, after that change is very gradual. Those who want a set calibrated or adjusted for most natural color want to wait that long before adjustment, ideally they would also like the burn-in to be uniform in respect to all colors. 100 hours of moderate use (as others have said keep the brightness down) with varied programming generally will accomplish this, but there are programs available free to accelerate this burn-in using rotating solid color slides to do this in just a few days. Detailed info you find at http://www.avsforum.com/ in their forums. Understand that absolutely no TV comes adjusted for really accurate color from the factory, though some come closer than others. There is a belief among all makers that overly bright and too vivid color are attractive and 'what people want'. The serious techies at AVS either pay pro calibrators to come to your home and for several hundred bucks accurately calibrate the colors of your new TV using serious electronics, alternatively, since there is generally not that much variation from set to set in any one model, there are calibrators who publish in the forums their compromise adjustments for each model, while not perfect they are free and virtually always produce way more realistic color. Understand that because of the complex interactions between the drivers for each color and other settings on modern sets, it's virtually impossible to obtain anywhere near this sort of accuracy 'by eye', also the settings provided usually are to both the obvious settings and also to 'factory settings' that depending on make and model are in secondary and sometimes semi-hidden menus. While this can sometimes be complex, you only have to do it once and the results are usually so much more realistic that you wind up with a silly grin the first time you see what it has accomplished.
 
Actual burn-in (permanent) is rare, but image retention (IR, which is temporary) still very much easily happens. Most plasmas will come equipped with some sort of anti-IR function in the settings that'll "wipe" the screen with moving bars or whatever for a few minutes to clear it out.
 

saintnick912

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I switched to a Samsung f8500 series plasma last summer, and I've been thrilled with it. Getting a calibration disc, and shutting off the frame-interpolation were both musts for me.  They make it in a 55, 60, and 64 inch sizes.  The Panasonics are (were?) marginally preferred in black level, but the Samsung can push a much brighter output, which is a plus if your room isn't pitch black.
 
The salesman at the store told me that the current 4K sets offer no real advantage, will be less effective on aggregate for current sources, and they have them on the floor mainly for people who want to show off how much they paid for something.
 

derekson

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Even when we DO have 4K sources available, unless you have an 80"+ screen you aren't going to be able to tell a difference from a high quality 1080p screen. The human eye can resolve that kind of resolution at typical TV viewing distances on screens smaller than that.
 
Like Blacken said, 4K makes a difference for a computer monitor, because users typically sit close enough for the resolution difference to be seen.
 

NortheasternPJ

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I'm looking for a bedroom tv probably somewhere in the 32-37" range which means plasmas are out. As someone who typically hates LCD/lED any recommendations?

Does 120hz refresh make that much of a difference? I'm asking since most smaller tvs are only 60.
 

Couperin47

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NortheasternPJ said:
I'm looking for a bedroom tv probably somewhere in the 32-37" range which means plasmas are out. As someone who typically hates LCD/lED any recommendations?

Does 120hz refresh make that much of a difference? I'm asking since most smaller tvs are only 60.
 
I'm guessing pretty much everything I'm going to say you already know...sorry.:
 
The size you are going for is too small, in a bedroom, from bed, you're guaranteeing you're at least 8 ft probably closer to 10 from the screen, at the size you are going for, it's utterly irrelevant that the set is HD, but it's the classic mistake always made due to spousal insistence or letting the tail wag the dog (it has to fit inside THIS piece of furniture).
 
Nobody makes a high end set in those sizes, it's the domain of the Walmart impulse buy crap. That said, some sets will have 'edge enhancement' circuitry to try and compensate for the lousy fast motion issues and the quality of that is probably at least as important as 120 Hz...done well it can help a bit, done badly it just makes things even worse and the overall picture looks even more artificial. So when eyeballing these sets, find the controls, and turn such features on and off to see what the set can actually deliver.
 
Final plea: you can still find 42" plasmas...for the sake of your eyes...
 

NortheasternPJ

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We've got a 43 inch samsung plasma and that has been deemed too big for the bedroom. Else is get a 50" for the living room and move it.

Wife has been dead set against a tv in the bedroom but is caving with a newborn. I'm pushing for a 37 but may lose that battle.

God I hate image enhancements etc. They make everything look like a soap opera.
 

Catch55

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I've had Samsungs before and was very happy with it. I've heard of a friend that somehow managed to blow the sound on the unit by turning up the volume too high, but that's just one exception. My newest tv is a Toshiba. 42 inch is pretty standard, but I like the 50 inch best.
 

kwa1430

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Looking at a new HDTV for my refinished downstairs.  Plan on going plasma and looking at the Samsung PN60F5300 series.  Dont need 3D or smart (using apple tv) just a good tv at a good price.
 
I found a website called pycity.com that has a bunch of TVs ridiculously cheap with free shipping.  Just seems to good of a deal.  Has anyone dealt with this website before?
 

AlNipper49

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DaveRoberts'Shoes said:
On a related note, does anyone have any experience with the commercially available hard plastic-ish screen protectors for HD TVs to prevent a similar episode from happening to the next one? I've seen mixed stuff online.
 
We ended up putting ours up high enough that it wouldn't happen again.  It required some re-arranging and design, but worked out better
 

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saintnick912 said:
I switched to a Samsung f8500 series plasma last summer, and I've been thrilled with it. Getting a calibration disc, and shutting off the frame-interpolation were both musts for me.  They make it in a 55, 60, and 64 inch sizes.  The Panasonics are (were?) marginally preferred in black level, but the Samsung can push a much brighter output, which is a plus if your room isn't pitch black.
 
The salesman at the store told me that the current 4K sets offer no real advantage, will be less effective on aggregate for current sources, and they have them on the floor mainly for people who want to show off how much they paid for something.
Just ordered this yesterday, being delivered on Friday. Can't wait. Any suggestions for the Calibration disc and breaking it in? Keeping in mind that it's Masters weekend and there's no way I won't be using it all weekend (running it on loop for 72 hours won't be happening). Also any other setup options or Samsung tips and tricks are definitely encouraged.

Also splurged on the Sonos sound bar too (yeah the credit card got a workout this weekend). Any recommendations on expansion speakers? Not going to get anything soon but will eventually expand the system.
 

Couperin47

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The Four Peters said:
Just ordered this yesterday, being delivered on Friday. Can't wait. Any suggestions for the Calibration disc and breaking it in? Keeping in mind that it's Masters weekend and there's no way I won't be using it all weekend (running it on loop for 72 hours won't be happening). Also any other setup options or Samsung tips and tricks are definitely encouraged.

Also splurged on the Sonos sound bar too (yeah the credit card got a workout this weekend). Any recommendations on expansion speakers? Not going to get anything soon but will eventually expand the system.
 
It's pretty simple, keep the brightness and contrast on the low side, the set will also have the color more vivid than is natural, just back it off a bit. Wait at least 100 hours of use before you try using any calibration scheme, and don't worry, you're not going to screw the set up, even if you ignore these tips...most owners have no idea how to treat a new plasma.
 
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1475066/official-samsung-pnxxf8500-owners-thread-no-street-price-talk
 
That is the AVS Forum thread for this model, everything techie about owning these, issues, settings...you name it..oh btw the thread is currently...180 pages and growing.
 

Couperin47

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Just how obsessive can we get ?: Those who own a Samsung Fxx8500 series plasma were becoming frustrated finding settings in the 5,450 post, 180 page main thread, so they started a separate thread just for tweaks and picture settings on these models...it's here:
 
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1467675/f8500-recommended-settings-thread
 
Never underestimate how obsessive techies can be, THAT thread is now 2,050 posts and 69 pages long...
 

BillMuellerFanClub

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re: sonos playbar, you can paid and two (2) play:1 or play:3 speakers for your rear channels. obviously the sonos sub is your next investment because, well, bass.

also, highly recommend the connect amp for outdoor speakers, or kitchen/bathroom in ceiling. I just picked one up before being laid off at work. can't wait to get it up and running.
 

TFP

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Thanks Couperin, looks like I have plenty of reading to do at those links.
 
BMFC, is there a recommendation for expanding with Play:1 or Play:3? I feel like Play:3 is too much to be rear speakers for a surround sound system, but not sure if the Play:1 is enough to be it's own solo speaker.
 

BillMuellerFanClub

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I'll say this, as a growing sonos system you would be better served using play:3 merely for the reason that if you entertain or want to change things up, you can move those into other locations and they are better than play:1s for music. they will also configure to one stereo set on both models. I have several of each, but I prefer the play:3. I put the play:1 in the bathroom, and one in the spare bedroom.

living room set up is playbar, sub, and two play:3 as rears.

edit: kind of strayed a bit from the question, the amount of audio actually sent to rear speakers when coded to handle 5.1 is minimal, regardless of speaker quality. it's mostly for ambiance and immersion. I wouldn't worry about play:3s giving off TOO much audio, as if you're reading something that is not multi-ch stereo (5.1 etc) then you won't hear more or less than you should.
 

saintnick912

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The Four Peters said:
Just ordered this yesterday, being delivered on Friday. Can't wait. Any suggestions for the Calibration disc and breaking it in? Keeping in mind that it's Masters weekend and there's no way I won't be using it all weekend (running it on loop for 72 hours won't be happening). Also any other setup options or Samsung tips and tricks are definitely encouraged.

Also splurged on the Sonos sound bar too (yeah the credit card got a workout this weekend). Any recommendations on expansion speakers? Not going to get anything soon but will eventually expand the system.
 
I went with the Disney Wow disc for calibration.  Reasonably priced and very straightforward.  The set has a very weird balance with the black and white levels (contrast/brightness), I literally can't get the whites to clip but moving it too far one way can make the blacks clip.  I arrived at a level that gets me the most dynamic range without clipping either end.  My room doesn't have a ton of ambient light, but I still appreciate the light output.
 
Most of the rest I based on that thread that Couperin47 linked.  I can go through tonight and update this post with more of the settings that I switched.  But there were two biggies:
 
1. Turn on the one that does the proper conversion of 24hz sources.  This will allow for smooth panning/scrolling on Blu-Ray if your player supports it.
 
2. Turn off the one that does the frame interpolation "soap opera mode" as they call it.  It's distractingly bad more often than it helps.
 
They have similar names so I forget which is which.  I think CinemaSmooth is the one you want on but I'll confirm.  There is also some interesting nomenclature on which way to set one thing for PC vs
TV black levels. 
 
EDIT:
 
I have the following settings on mine.  YMMV.
 
Picture mode: movie
Cell light: 18
Contrast: 90
Brightness: 45
Sharpness: 10
Color: 50
Tint: G50/R50
 
Picture size: 16:9  - I was getting pixel tearing along the edges when this was set otherwise.  This doesn't seem to clip but doesn't have those weird pixel tearing artifacts.
 
Under Advanced Settings (learned from that thread):
  Dynamic Contrast - Off
  Black Tone - Off
  Flesh Tone - 0
  RGB only - Off
  Color Space - Auto
  White Balance - didn't touch
  10p White Balance - off
  Gamma - 0
 
Under Picture Options
  Color Tone - Warm2
  Digital Clean View - Off (I think this is noise reduction, reduces detail also)
  MPEG Noise Filter - Off (I don't have much low-res MPEG2 content)
  HDMI Black Level - Normal (full PC 0-255 range, not limited range, depends on what your source outputs)
  Film Mode - I think this is where you set CinemaSmooth when watching a 24p source like a blu-ray movie
  Motion Judder Canceller - Off
  Black Optimizer - Dark Room
 

TFP

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Awesome, thanks stnick. Just got the TV today and it's all setup. Only drawback is a pretty audible buzz coming from the TV, but reading online that seems normal and will fade over time.
 
Gonna calibrate the settings and get everything setup and settle in for a nice weekend at the Masters.
 

Frito Tankona

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The Four Peters said:
Awesome, thanks stnick. Just got the TV today and it's all setup. Only drawback is a pretty audible buzz coming from the TV, but reading online that seems normal and will fade over time.
 
Gonna calibrate the settings and get everything setup and settle in for a nice weekend at the Masters.
 
I'm looking forward to your review of the Samsung.  I got a 55" Panasonic VT60 a few months ago and I'm starting to think that 60" was the way to go. 
 

saintnick912

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The Four Peters said:
Awesome, thanks stnick. Just got the TV today and it's all setup. Only drawback is a pretty audible buzz coming from the TV, but reading online that seems normal and will fade over time.
 
Gonna calibrate the settings and get everything setup and settle in for a nice weekend at the Masters.
 
The buzz was definitely there at first for me, and has mostly abated.  It has come back a couple of times when I let the heat get really low in the house, though nowhere near as loud.  I was able to lightly press on the area where the buzzing was, behind the right side of the screen, and the metal would move a bit and make it quieter.  May be worth a shot, just be very cautious.
 
I switched my receiver from doing "scaling" (in quotes because it was 1080p->1080p) to a pass through yesterday, and noticed more mpeg noise in my cable signal.  So I've turned that MPEG noise thing on and it seems good.  Need to rerun my calibration disc now that I changed the setting, make sure it wasn't doing anything beyond noise reduction.
 

Couperin47

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For those who don't bother checking the Tech bargain megathread:
 
Samsung Refurb 50" 720p Plasma TV  Model PN51F4500AFXZA  free shipping  $450 - $100 rebate cc = $350 final cost til 4/28
 
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16889354529
 
600 Hz. If you watch mostly cable or sat or netflix, most of your HD content is really only 720p anyway, if the bulk of your viewing is Bluray/DVD you really want a true 1080p set..
Probably makes an ideal 2nd set at this price.. the real issues are: how good is the refurbing (it's coming from Samsung) and  how does Newegg get this to you without damage?
90 day warranty...If you get one that hasn't been wrecked in shippping could be a great deal.
 
Reviews at Samsung are decent http://www.samsung.c.../PN51F4500AFXZA
 
New this set does sell for $450-500.
 

saintnick912

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The Four Peters said:
Awesome, thanks stnick. Just got the TV today and it's all setup. Only drawback is a pretty audible buzz coming from the TV, but reading online that seems normal and will fade over time.
 
Gonna calibrate the settings and get everything setup and settle in for a nice weekend at the Masters.
 
FYI I switched my HDMI black level from Normal (PC range) to Low (TV range)  after switching my receiver to not do scaling, and the calibration ran much better.  I was getting black crush in particular which is better now.  Left the MPEG noise thing on because cable can be blocky at times.
 

derekson

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Couperin47 said:
For those who don't bother checking the Tech bargain megathread:
 
Samsung Refurb 50" 720p Plasma TV  Model PN51F4500AFXZA  free shipping  $450 - $100 rebate cc = $350 final cost til 4/28
 
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16889354529
 
600 Hz. If you watch mostly cable or sat or netflix, most of your HD content is really only 720p anyway, if the bulk of your viewing is Bluray/DVD you really want a true 1080p set..
Probably makes an ideal 2nd set at this price.. the real issues are: how good is the refurbing (it's coming from Samsung) and  how does Newegg get this to you without damage?
90 day warranty...If you get one that hasn't been wrecked in shippping could be a great deal.
 
Reviews at Samsung are decent http://www.samsung.c.../PN51F4500AFXZA
 
New this set does sell for $450-500.
 
Just one note: Netflix has tons of 1080p content.
 

Yakker 4 your Kudos

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Anyone ever order electronics via Groupon Goods?  I am usually skeptical, but this set (Samsung 50'' LED 1080p 60Hz Smart HDTV, item UN50F5500) seems to have good reviews, and $729 is well below current retail:
http://www.groupon.com/deals/gg-samsung-50-led-1080p-60hz-smart-hdtv?p=2&utm_source=pc_goods&utm_medium=email&sid=c67514dc-a35d-4246-b780-2ce6f18cd0f6&division=chicago&user=8c3734dfa765cbef84e86c8b4729602a7254cf4c4de48a0deb4c4ab2b1fbacee&date=20140425&s=body&c=link&d=Goods-PN&utm_campaign=c67514dc-a35d-4246-b780-2ce6f18cd0f6
 
The deal is up for 6 more days.
 

NortheasternPJ

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I just grabbed a Samsung 51" 1080p plasma, f5300 and this is a great tv. I couldn't justify the 8500, for the price this was just too good. Coming from a 43" 720p tv it makes a huge difference.
 

shoosh77

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64" Samsung 8500 - 1999 plus tax.  Took a bit to adjust from the previous TV in the room, a 48" Samsung LCD, but I don't think I could ever go back.  
 

TFP

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Dec 10, 2007
20,380
For what it's worth, my tv is fucking awesome and I wouldn't trade it for anything. The buzzing still exists but the shitty part is that it's only when I am lying down on the couch (which is my natural tv watching position). If I sit up or move around the room it's inaudible.

I haven't done much adjustment to the picture but now that it's been a few weeks I'll probably play around with it.
 

shoosh77

Member
SoSH Member
Oct 19, 2009
4,374
New Canaan, CT
My middle one was the only one to notice the buzzing, and she was standing next to it.  I've found movie setting was better for, wait for it, movies, but standard has worked best for Sox games and the rest.  I am in no means a techie anymore, lost that when I hit my 30's, but might try a calibration disc in the future.
 

Investor 11

Plobbably the greatest videographer ever
SoSH Member
Jul 23, 2006
3,911
San Diego
Went in to Best Buy today to "browse" for a new bedroom TV. Of course, that turned into a purchase. The Magnolia section had just pulled a Samsung UN46F8000 from the box and placed it on the wall as a display model. The guy could have been feeding me some BS but he said May is generally when they have their best deals on the higher end models since the new versions of the 8000 have just come out.
 

Harry Hooper

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jan 4, 2002
34,367
Looking for a 75" (or very close to it) television. Sadly, it looks like plasma isn't an option anymore at that size. Looked at the Samsung UN75H6350, but surprised to see quite a few recent bad reviews regarding build quality at Amazon. I don't care about 3D or really smart tv features, but preferably under $2,500 to take advantage of Mass. tax-free weekend. Suggestions, anyone, for  watching live sports and DVDs for most of its use?