LED/LCD big screen value alert - at Best Buy!

TheChairGuy · « **on:** 26 Apr 2010, 06:44 pm »

Up until the past year or two, I found the picture so much better with my Sony XBR CRT TV that purchasing a big screen seemed remote. However, 24" is getting awfully eeeny-weeny with these 47 yo eyes now

But, more recently I saw a (Samsung, I think) LED/LCD TV and my thoughts changed. It had the deep color richness of plasma, with none of the attendant glare issues.

Most of the LCD viewing angle issues seem sorted out the in the past couple years, already.

It came down to price for me....I was finally sold on the quality merits of a flat screen with the LED technology. A ~47" from Samsung was hovering at $1500 a few months ago and I'm not a video guy...so I wanted sub-$1000.00. I was about to buy a Vizio from Costco for ~ $1200.00 as this was the best I could find, but just before committing today I checked out Best Buy and found an Insignia (their house brand) 46" LCD/LED (no internet option or 3D...but I don't see using these in my life, offhand) for $999 on sale

So, I bought one sight unseen, delivery included - $999. HDTV, 1080p, 120hz refresh, 2 year warranty, etc.

If it works, it's a helluva deal on an LED flatscreen of that size and feature content in today's market (assuming it works - teehee): http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Insignia%26%23174%3B+-+46%22+Class+/+1080p+/+120Hz+/+LED-LCD+HDTV/9687054.p?id=1218150606365&skuId=9687054

I'll let you know how it goes...in my area at least, same day delivery for orders before 12 noon.

John

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #1 on:** 26 Apr 2010, 07:29 pm »

oops, it's 48 hour delivery delivery - not same day

I need to learn to read a calendar better

Nonetheless, it'll be here on Wednesday.

John

Phil A · « **Reply #2 on:** 26 Apr 2010, 07:41 pm »

I'd be a bit wary of the Insignia product line. They are made by different manufacturers for Best Buy. Some are good, some may not be so good - such as - http://www.ripoffreport.com/Audio-Electronic-Retail-Stores/Insignia-Products-By/insignia-products-by-best-buy-9ce3e.htm

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #3 on:** 26 Apr 2010, 07:45 pm »

Yeah, I kinda' realized that, Phil...but it's been hit and miss with established marks like Sony and Toshiba, for me in the past, too.

I bought a couple set top digital converters with the Insignia brand on it...they work fine.

The major brand names have a lot of advertising behind them...which inflates the price to the consumer. Buying the store brand is a way to cut some fat from the innate equation.

I'll let everyone know how it goes...I'll prepare myself for a POS, and hope for better

John

Phil A · « **Reply #4 on:** 26 Apr 2010, 08:00 pm »

Quote from: TheChairGuy on 26 Apr 2010, 07:45 pm

Yeah, I kinda' realized that, Phil...but it's been hit and miss with established marks like Sony and Toshiba, for me in the past, too.

I bought a couple set top digital converters with the Insignia brand on it...they work fine.

The major brand names have a lot of advertising behind them...which inflates the price to the consumer. Buying the store brand is a way to cut some fat from the innate equation.

I'll let everyone know how it goes...I'll prepare myself for a POS, and hope for better

John

Let's hope for the better

I grabbed a 55 inch Vizio LED at Costco in the beginning of Feb. for $1,599.99 which I have on a full swivel out mount. Works well in the room (replaced a 42 inch LCD I put in the kitchen). I wanted to grab one before the next generation of stuff comes. I'll probably replace the Samsung 2500 Blu-Ray I have in there when more newer models are out later this year with Vudu and other internet content.

shawnbaden · « **Reply #5 on:** 26 Apr 2010, 08:41 pm »

I'm still in favor of plasmas. I started off with a 37" Panasonic professional model and now own a 50" Pioneer Elite.

Best Buy has a 50" 1080P Panasonic plasma for $1099. I'd recommend anyone looking for a new TV to consider a Panasonic plasma. The price/performance ratio of their 42" and 50" 1080P models is impressive.

BTW, I'm not looking to steer this post into the gutter. I consider plasma versus LCD one of those religious topics to not get involved in, like Ford versus Chevrolet, tubes versus solid state, etc. I personally find plasmas to be consistently attractive in both price and quality. If you prefer LCD, I'm not going to argue.

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #6 on:** 27 Apr 2010, 01:13 am »

Quote from: shawnbaden on 26 Apr 2010, 08:41 pm

BTW, I'm not looking to steer this post into the gutter. I consider plasma versus LCD one of those religious topics to not get involved in, like Ford versus Chevrolet, tubes versus solid state, etc. I personally find plasmas to be consistently attractive in both price and quality. If you prefer LCD, I'm not going to argue.

No sweat, Shawn and no religious or other orientation to LED/LCD's here. In fact, I prefer the plasma pictures, by and large. But, my den where the flatscreen will be is pretty bright (windows on 3 sides and I live in oft sunny California) and I think would wash out many a picture on a plasma set.

Had I a dark room...there would be almost no questions I'd have bought a plasma. For a given screen size, more costs less and the picture in darkened rooms is generally superior.

The LED/LCD's are the first LCD's with a color richness / contrast that I could find acceptable...combined with the anti-glare prowess that LCD's still enjoy over plasma's.

I hope I made the right choice on a few different fronts

John

Phil A · « **Reply #7 on:** 27 Apr 2010, 01:14 am »

Supposedly there is a legal issue with the Panasonics (from what I've heard) with fading black levels. Don't know if it is true.

zybar · « **Reply #8 on:** 27 Apr 2010, 01:17 am »

Quote from: Phil A on 27 Apr 2010, 01:14 am

Supposedly there is a legal issue with the Panasonics (from what I've heard) with fading black levels. Don't know if it is true.

Not sure about legal issues, but here is some info on the fading black level:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20001640-1.html?tag=rtcol;relnews

George

Phil A · « **Reply #9 on:** 27 Apr 2010, 01:17 am »

Here's one story - http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10462551-1.html

Panasonic just announced their 2010 3D line - starts at $2.6k

Phil A · « **Reply #10 on:** 27 Apr 2010, 01:17 am »

Beat me to it

Phil A · « **Reply #11 on:** 27 Apr 2010, 01:18 am »

Here's the story about their new line - http://www.twice.com..._TV_Pricing.php

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #12 on:** 28 Apr 2010, 09:58 pm »

It delivered today - it's really a nice looking set at less than 1.5" thick

it's got to be quite new in Best Buys line as the driver said it was the first one he's delivered.

It's only hooked up with RF cable at the moment (that'll change), but I have the say tho the blacks are nice...I see some blur motion or juddering going on that's driving me nutty.

But, it works, the setup was a breeze, the remote is thankfully simple and the picture is at least good.

I had hoped that the move to 120Hz refresh would've eliminated the fuzzies on motion...but it seems not entirely. We'll see as time goes on. I may just be a plasma kinda' guy insofar as flatscreens go

John

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #13 on:** 28 Apr 2010, 10:35 pm »

My 6yo, now home from school for the day, really digs it, tho

pjchappy · « **Reply #14 on:** 28 Apr 2010, 11:23 pm »

I don't get the "LED/LCD?" Is it LED? Is it LCD? Is it both???

Thanks.

Paul

srb · « **Reply #15 on:** 28 Apr 2010, 11:27 pm »

Quote from: pjchappy on 28 Apr 2010, 11:23 pm

I don't get the "LED/LCD?" Is it LED? Is it LCD? Is it both???

It is an LCD screen with an LED backlight versus a CCFL (Cold Cathode Flourescent Lamp) backlight.

Steve

pjchappy · « **Reply #16 on:** 28 Apr 2010, 11:27 pm »

Thanks.

jqp · « **Reply #17 on:** 6 May 2010, 03:35 am »

Also the LEDs are spaced evenly behind the LCD grid

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #18 on:** 9 May 2010, 04:24 pm »

Alright, an update on the Insignia (nee, Best Buy) TV almost two weeks later.

The picture is as good as any of the name brands - give or take a little (I'm not one to nuance that probably).

However, the blur and lack of realistic colors (things have been adjusted to suit 6 ways to Sunday already to make sure we haven't missed a trick) truly bother my wife and I (our 6yo seems not to care, however

). It is also a little fatiguing to watch for a length of time.

I'm pretty sure we're a plasma-likely family. The room that the TV is in is only light-filled in the morning (as the sun rises on that side of the house) and darker as the day progresses. So, I think plasma and it's glare issues would be less bothersome.

I don't want to wade into the pool of LCD/LED vs Plasma debate, but I think if you obsess over your audio system, you probably have a bit of an obsessive personality that might well see the differences in picture quality between the two technologies.

There are plenty of inputs, the remote is chunky and not confusing, setup is as easy as can be, the stand is sturdy and easy to attach and it's a fine looking TV (very subjective, I realize), but 120Hz refresh rate on a 46" just doesn't cut it. Maybe 240Hz does on the better LCD/LED's...but, I don't want to pay $1250+ (Vizio) for that privilege.

Probably the better innate 600Hz sub-field drive (nee, refresh rate) will be superior inplasma for less money than even the Vizio if I buy a Panasonic's Viera.

We're not certain we'll return the current Insignia TV, and there is nothing that would seem to be problematic with it in itself, I simply think that 120Hz refresh for a 46" screen may be insufficient for our particular wants. Maybe it's good enough at smaller screen sizes...but, it seems not up to task for the larger ones.

Today at Best Buy, I can get a (2010 model with better anti-glare filter, brighter and lacking the troublesome black fade issue of past Pannies) 46" plasma 1080p for the same price as this Insignia model.

btw, the early reviews on the Insignia are good from others: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Insignia%26%23174%3B+-+46%22+Class+/+1080p+/+120Hz+/+LED-LCD+HDTV/9687054.p?skuId=9687054&id=1218150606365#tabbed-customerreviews

btw, do pictures improve as you 'breakin' a TV? The TV probably has 100 hours of viewing on it now and it seems less problematic overall than when we first got it. Or is it our minds simply tuning in to it and adjusting for it? Be nice please in your responses...

John

Jon L · « **Reply #19 on:** 9 May 2010, 05:37 pm »

Quote from: TheChairGuy on 9 May 2010, 04:24 pm

I'm pretty sure we're a plasma-likely family.

It's really not that difficult for "laymen" to tell the difference between plasmas and LCD/LED IF you look at them side-by-side playing the same material.

I looked at plasmas side-by-side with latest-greatest LCD/LED's, from same and different major brands, and there was simply no contest. Plasmas have MUCH more saturated, natural, accurate colors and that inexplicable quality that can fool you into thinking you are looking at real things instead of reproductions at 240 cycles per second..