LCD Suggestions for Fred Flintstone

[Muser]

I’m upgrading my Fred Flintstone 1988 20" Toshiba CRT. The tv will be in a fairly bright living room with lots of natural light, so plasma is out. We don’t have cable, satellite or over the air tv and don’t want it. We watch netflix or games a few days a week for my 6 year old son and don’t plan to change our viewing habits.

I have seen high definition video and can appreciate it, but for the two or three hours a week we might watch we're not going to upgrade to cable, etc. to get high definition, primarily because for Fred and Wilma it’s not currently important to us. I expect our viewing to remain primarily be lower resolution netlix and dvd video. At some point, we’ll get a Blu Ray player, but don’t have plans for that now. In short, we intend to stay with low definition video for the next several years.

My question goes to whether a lower definition display (720p) might be a better viewing experience with our typical sources than with a high definition display (1080p). I’ve seen poor video look really bad through a high definition display, so I don’t want to torture myself by buying a high definition display while watching low definition video.

When Wilma and I upgrade to Blu Ray, the choice will be obvious (high def 1080p). But I'm looking for input on how to upgrade without upgrading into dissatisfaction with what we have.

Constructive thoughts are appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Fred Flintstone (aka Larry)

Tricky question. I was not aware that plasma could not deal with lots of room light. Plasma seems to be really good at blacks, so I figure it would be better.

If you want a temp upgrade, it might be worth your time to go to wal-mart, best buy, and stalk the open box items. They WILL come down in price. They will come with a full warranty, but just be cheaper. 720p stuff is usually on pallets in Wal-mart for cheap. You can even look for open box or refurbished stuff from tiger direct.

Do you have a modern computer with DVI or HDMI out? As little as you watch, it might be worth streaming quality movies instead of buying a blu-ray player. http://www.vudu.com/

If you were closer, I'd try to unload my 32" CRT HDTV real cheap. It's heavy, but it looks great with standard TV, and colors are great for 720p too.

[Integra8]

I just received my replacement Sony (to replace the problem SXRD with the green blob issue) and I have a VERY bright Great Room setup. I have NO problem viewing the TV in the daytime, at all. I'm sure this is not just what Sony TV's do. Any LCD/LED TV will be bright enough I'm sure. Oh, and btw...welcome to the 21st century!!

Jeff

[mechman]

Generic wrote:

Tricky question. I was not aware that plasma could not deal with lots of room light. Plasma seems to be really good at blacks, so I figure it would be better.

Plasmas in the past (I haven't seen much on the latest models) had glass screens as opposed to the matte screens of LCD/LED tvs. Glass screens reflect ambient lighting disrupting the image. That is/was the main reason LCD/LED is recommended in bright rooms.

[eugovector]

Even the modern day plasmas with supposed anti-reflection screen still have quite a bit of glare. I have to do a very good job of blocking light when we watch, right down to covering up the clock on the microwave. Maybe I'm just to picky.

They have a great picture, though.

[Jasonpctech]

Hmm, this seems appropriate for that era LED lighting.

[Muser]

Integra8 - thanks for the welcome. I know I'm totally stone aged on this topic. We listen to music rather than
watch movies, etc.

FWIW, my 1988 Toshiba exhibits a bit of reflection, too. In big box stores the LCDs do a much better job, to my eyes, than Plasmas. I agree that plasmas do somethings better than LCDs, but my biggest obstacle to address is reflection - well, after having a decent picture.

In shopping, I'm seeing the open box stuff at Best Buy isn't much less expensive than a brand new, current technology LCD at Costco, etc. Open box saves $100 or so and that's not much given the rate at which technology and quality seems to be changing.

I do welcome other thoughts from all of you.

Larry

OK, I took a DVD to my brother-in-law's house and watched it on his 52" Sony 1080p 240Hz tv. It looks fine. I'm off to a 1080p display and will likely go for a 240Hz TV. Either a 47" or 55" Vizio. Sorry for the apparently dumb question.

[Integra8]

There are no dumb questions! When my TV is off I see the room reflected in the screen, even when it's on and it switches to a commercial I see the refections, but once a picture or show or Blu Ray is on all I see is picture and no reflection. With my SXRD I saw reflections galore, not anymore!! Loving my new tv!

Jeff

[Jungle Jack]

Integra8 wrote:

I just received my replacement Sony (to replace the problem SXRD with the green blob issue) and I have a VERY bright Great Room setup. I have NO problem viewing the TV in the daytime, at all. I'm sure this is not just what Sony TV's do. Any LCD/LED TV will be bright enough I'm sure. Oh, and btw...welcome to the 21st century!!

Jeff

Hello,
I too received a replacement LCD from Sony for my KDS-55A3000. The crazy thing is that at least with my Model, getting a replacement is really difficult whereas the XBR1, XBR2, 2000 and 2020 Models all are much more likely to get replacement offers.

I think much of this stems from Sony dumping the A3000's on the Market as they originally were set to retail for $3000, $3300, and $3500 Dollars for the 50, 55, and 60 Inch Models only to sell them for less than half that amount when blown out at Best Buy and places like Sears. Also, it seems Optical Block failures were not as common, but I had 2 failures in 10 Months and on the last failure which happened 12-30-2010 Sony still would not offer a replacement.

Go figure that on a lark I Emailed Sony Listens a month later and got a phone call a few days later offering me a KDL-55EX500 for free. So it ended up working out amazing as I got my OB replaced, scored a 2nd free Lamp from Best Buy when I was only supposed to get 1 replacement Lamp right after getting the OB Replaced and got a free 55 Inch LCD that I could not be happier with.

The EX500 is a great TV and I actually prefer it to any of the Edge Lit LED Sony's that I have seen. The Fully LED Backlighted LCD's with Local Dimming are the best, but are still quite expensive. The EX500 is a CCFL Model that really has exceeded all expectations I could have possibly had. I was squarely in the Plasma side of the Panel debate and would never had purchased an LCD, but after doing a good bit of research, going to see it in person, and talking to a good friend who is a Salesmen at a Sony Dealer I ended up keeping it. All of the time leading up to it coming I was planning on selling it and buying a Panasonic VT25 Plasma, but was so intrigued that I opened the box and hooked it up and the rest is history.
Cheers,
JJ

[Integra8]

Congtrats on the TV!! Enjoy!!

Jeff