Good 37" 1080p LCD HDTV

[danball1976]

Ok, in the next few months I will be buying a new 37" 1080p widescreen LCD HDTV (biggest size that will currently fit into the space my JVC 27" SDTV currently sits)

I've been looking at the Toshiba REGZA series TV, but the 37" TV they had in the line is no longer made. Its this one here (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889253137) (I could get a recertified unit from NewEgg). I've also looked at Sanyo, Sharp and Samsung, but what I mainly want is the following:

Speakers on the bottom of the TV
smallest amount of bezel on the sides and top
1080p and 37" sized screen
and basically the same features found on the Toshiba REGZA series

This (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889102222) was actually the first TV I thought about buying when I started looking at HDTVs a few months ago.

[Kwitko]

Go Samsung.

[Snarkasm]

Samsung yes, but I feel compelled to point out that 1080p is pretty much overkill at 37". Compare a set running at 720p vs one running at 1080p at 37" before you go spending the extra money, make sure you think it's worth it.

Samsung!

[airbornflght]

My parents bought a bravia z series lcd and oh my god is that thing beautiful. 10 bit panel and 120hz processing. But I've good things about the REGZA too.

[danball1976]

So, Samsung it is then. My entertainment center opening for the TV is 37.75" wide, so the Samsung fits in there nicely with 1.65" to spare. So I won't notice the difference between 720p and 1080p on a 37" HDTV?

So therefore, its a choice between these two Samsung panels:
720p: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889102216
1080p: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889102222
My choice is with the 1080p TV because of the smaller bezel.

My brother has a little 19" Phillips HDTV that officially supports 720p, but undocumented can support 1080p (he's running his PS3 at that res through the HDMI cable)

[Snarkasm]

I don't mean to say you won't notice the difference, I just wanted to point out you MIGHT not. Go ahead and compare any 720p 37 to another 1080p 37 and see what you think.

That said, at only $100 difference, you might as well. Have fun!

[GnomeWizardd]

720p = 1080i = looks sweet

[danball1976]

720p = 1080i = looks sweet
Technically, 1080i can be considered 540p since with interlaced, only half the scan lines are drawn during each refresh.

[Thrax]

Yes, only half the lines are drawn during refresh, but it's nothing like 540p. 720p's quality is equivalent to 1080i, or vice versa, depending on how you look at it.

[GnomeWizardd]

my samsung 32 flat screen with my samsung blue ray player = looks amazing

Yes only have the lines are drawn during a refresh but the quality of 1080i is equal to 720p

[danball1976]

I plan on also buying this BluRay player and this A/V reciever:
Samsung BD-P2500 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882676117
Onkyo TX-SR606 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882120064

I don't know if you guys know, but will the Anynet+ still work with the HDMI cable from the BluRay player connected to the reciever and then the HDMI to the TV?

[tmh88]

I almost got in a fight with a walmart employee when he was trying to sell me a 1080i tv and claimed it was the same, if not better than 1080p because it has been around for longer. I was trying to explain to him the difference between interlace and progressive, but he basically refused to listen to what I told him and said something like "I work in the electronics department, I think I would know more than you about this." So I laughed and walked away.

[GnomeWizardd]

it will still work, Personally I use HDMI to Tv and Digital cable to reciever

[BetsyD]

I almost got in a fight with a walmart employee when he was trying to sell me a 1080i tv and claimed it was the same, if not better than 1080p because it has been around for longer. I was trying to explain to him the difference between interlace and progressive, but he basically refused to listen to what I told him and said something like "I work in the electronics department, I think I would know more than you about this." So I laughed and walked away.

I think somewhere in the training for every electronics employee is the mantra "Must talk down to every customer that I interact with even if my head is stuck up my butt and the last time I was on the cutting edge of technology, Fred Flinstone was thinking his new stone wheels were awesome"

[danball1976]

it will still work, Personally I use HDMI to Tv and Digital cable to reciever


Too bad Samsung doesn't make A/V recievers, all they have are a DVD Home theater in a box.

[GnomeWizardd]

I use denon Home theater receivers OR onkyo I don't like all in 1 boxes

[danball1976]

Well, since 2004 I have been using a JVC reciever with my JVC TV and DVD Player, and yeah. I don't really like those all in one boxes either.

BTW, I found Samsung's A/V reciever. More expensive than the Onkyo (Onkyo is $399 after a $100 instant savings (usually $499) on NewEgg, the Samsung is $549 at Sears, $569 at BestBuy), has only two HDMI inputs vs the Onkyo's four, but I probably will only need that much, since the TV itself has three inputs. See it here (http://www.samsung.com/us/consumer/detail/detail.do?group=audiovideo&type=hometheater&subtype=hometheatersystems&model_cd=HT-AS720ST/XAA&INT=us_234httype_htas720)

[MAGIC]

Might as well just get a PS3 for the price of the blue ray player.

[Snarkasm]

PS3 is twice as expensive as other blu-ray players now. It's no longer the intelligent choice, at least at this price point.

[Thrax]

It still depends on what you're looking for in a player. If you want the best player that will never have compatibility problems with newer BDR specs, PS3 is it. Otherwise you must get a Blu-Ray spec v2.0 player, which still may be a gamble.

[Snarkasm]

Not entiiiiiiiiiiirely, as after the Profile 1.0 -> 1.1 debacle, most manufacturers started building in some extra room and allowed for internet connectivity to update firmware, etc., but I agree that the PS3 is the safest bet until the spec is finally completed... if it ever is.

[RADA]

It's a little off-topic (like that's something new for us veteran IC-ers! LOL)

but I found this handy piece of equipment for all of you with pre-HDMI receivers.. Not bad for $274...

LINK (http://octavainc.com/HDMI%20switch%205x1%20Audio.html)

[danball1976]

The Samsung BD-P2500 is a v2.0 player plus BluRay Live and has Netflix capability with a firmware upgrade.

Also of note. HDMI 1.3a cables are expensive, especially the 24K gold plated ones.

It's a little off-topic (like that's something new for us veteran IC-ers! LOL)

but I found this handy piece of equipment for all of you with pre-HDMI receivers.. Not bad for $274...

LINK (http://octavainc.com/HDMI%20switch%205x1%20Audio.html)

Meh... Just one extra piece of hardware that isn't really needed and will make it even more cluttered with wires.

[danball1976]

There's no such thing as an HDMI 1.3a cable, and if you bought one, you got ripped off for no reason. HDMI 1.3a is a spec level that exists only for the hardware output and input, not for the cables. Any cable out there can give you 1080p signal with no degradation over medium-length distance.

I saw this at Wal-Mart when I was browsing the electronics department. Also, even the owners manual that I downloaded for the TV I want to buy says you have to use HDMI 1.3 cables in order for all of the HDMI features to work, so whats up with that?

(Did Snarkasm delete his post right before I posted this?)

[Snarkasm]

I may have... :p

I had misworded my statement and wanted to correct it, but you're clearly too fast for me. While 1.3a cables do technically exist, all current cables will be 1.3 (at least I haven't found a 1.2 in quite a while) and support all your HDMI equipment as far as 1080p playback; 1.3 merely boosts the bandwidth up to 340MHz, which is far beyond the scope of current video standards. The switch from 1.2 to 1.3 required new cables to support this extra bandwidth.

1.3a cables exist, yes; they're just overkill, and if you're paying more than $50 for an HDMI cable for your home theater use, you'd better be running it 30 feet. You can get $25 HDMI cables that will perform just as well as $300 Monster 1.3a cables. 1.3a is actually a case of a solution looking for a problem, at the moment.

Apologies for the delete. :D

[danball1976]

I may have... :p

I had misworded my statement and wanted to correct it, but you're clearly too fast for me. While 1.3a cables do technically exist, all current cables will be 1.3 (at least I haven't found a 1.2 in quite a while) and support all your HDMI equipment as far as 1080p playback; 1.3 merely boosts the bandwidth up to 340MHz, which is far beyond the scope of current video standards. The switch from 1.2 to 1.3 required new cables to support this extra bandwidth.

1.3a cables exist, yes; they're just overkill, and if you're paying more than $50 for an HDMI cable for your home theater use, you'd better be running it 30 feet. You can get $25 HDMI cables that will perform just as well as $300 Monster 1.3a cables. 1.3a is actually a case of a solution looking for a problem, at the moment.

Apologies for the delete. :D

Tis ok. Also, the ones Wal-Mart sells: 6' cable for $35, 12' cables for $45.
I would definitely need two, maybe three. However, this is a heck of alot better than having the component cables and seperate audio (Digital Coax), HDMI makes for less clutter.

[Snarkasm]

btw, for more on HDMI specs:

Understanding HDMI v1.3 (http://www.audioholics.com/education/display-formats-technology/understanding-hdmi-ver-1.3)

Good stuff there.

[shwaip]

Cables on the internetrons are much cheaper as well. Walmart/BB mark them up because they know they can sell them - people want to plug in their stuff and see it work right away.

[Komete]

I'd go with the samsung 1080p. If you ever hook a pc up to it, you will appreciate it. Personally, I'm waiting to upgrade my TV once the Laser TV's come out. :) but I've had a 52inch 1080i sony widescreen for about 7 years now.

[bothered]

Technically, 1080i can be considered 540p since with interlaced, only half the scan lines are drawn during each refresh.

Technically maybe, but that's just playing with the numbers. Your eyes cannot see an interlaced picture. Like I've seen the argument that 1080i is the same as 720p, it's only a technical opinion, not a fact.

[danball1976]

Technically maybe, but that's just playing with the numbers. Your eyes cannot see an interlaced picture. Like I've seen the argument that 1080i is the same as 720p, it's only a technical opinion, not a fact.

Maybe not, but I can notice the interlaced picture on my regular analog TV if I cock my head sideways.

[LiLbRo]

The Samsung BD-P2500 is a v2.0 player plus BluRay Live and has Netflix capability with a firmware upgrade.

Also of note. HDMI 1.3a cables are expensive, especially the 24K gold plated ones.



Meh... Just one extra piece of hardware that isn't really needed and will make it even more cluttered with wires.

They screw you with the store mark up. I have a friend who works at best buy, I get 6ft 1.3 hdmi cables for 11 dollars, a 9 ft one is 17.

[airbornflght]

I bought four 6 ft hdmi 1.3 cables from ebay for $4.25 a piece. Walmart wanted $30.

The shipping took a little longer than expected but they are very nice cables; they aren't too thick, flexible, and do the job.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=360115085724

[RADA]

Meh... Just one extra piece of hardware that isn't really needed and will make it even more cluttered with wires.

More cluttered? How do you figure?

All my equipment has HDMI ports, but my receiver doesn't. This seems like a great solution to access these ports without having to spent $500+ on a HDMI port equipped receiver..

To each their own, but I personally like going from the 5-6 huge 6 ft composite cables, and a couple TosLink cables down to small box & 5-6 HDMI cables and 1 TosLink cable. At the very least the HDMI cables are thinner and more manageable with zip ties, or other cable managemant tools. If you count each 6ft strand on a composite cable w/ red and white connectors that's 5 wires for a total of 30 ft of copper and connectors.. Now replace that with 1 6 ft HDMI with 1 - 6 ft wire for Video and Sound. Sounds like a clutter-saver to me...

[danball1976]

Alright, I finally bought my TV, but I bought the 40" TV instead, rated higher too. Something I've noticed on NewEgg is that when sorted by highest rated, Samsungs are all generally at the top.

Anyway, link to my TV: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889102202

[shwaip]

if only people in the thread had steered you that way.

[danball1976]

if only people in the thread had steered you that way.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean.

Also, the 40" was $50 more than the 37" TV