Selecting A Television

Chet

Chet

Well-known Member
Location
PA, USA
I have a 38 inch LCD Vizio TV that is about 10 years old now which still works like new with which I watch only over the air broadcast TV and DVD movies. I'm thinking I should upgrade because I'm probably missing out on the latest features like LED displays and 4K. I don't need super fancy features but just something for an optimum TV and DVD movie viewing experience. I should get a larger screen size since DVD movies are shown in a movie size aspect ratio, but I have seen a TV in a home that seemed to have too large a screen for the viewing distance where you had to turn you head to watch the action. I am seeking guidance from all you smart folks.
 

I am still using a 52" 'dumb' Sony from probably 15 years ago or longer ...It was top of the line back then. .
Has served well over the years, and still has its sound and picture quality ... will use it until it expires, or I do!
 

Chet, I am not smart and what I got for a TV probably wasn't all that smart because it cost too much; however, it was a moving present to the wife. She's had her mobility limited in recent years by a number of ailments along with eye problems. Because she sits and knits a lot while enjohing TV, I got her a really good one - an LG OLED model. It's a pricey, ultra high definition TV whose screen, if not the price, will blow you away.
 
We've had good luck with Samsung LED TVs and monitors. Our current TV is a 52" Samsung that's about five or six years old. It's old technology, though. It's flat with a built in tuner, but now there are "smart" TVs with built in electronics for streaming (like a built in Roku box). There are curved screens and built in 3D and probably some other enhancements that I'll look into more when we're ready for a new TV, but right now, this one is good enough.
 
We have a Panasonic Plasma, 46", that we bought way back in 2006...and it's still working good. I sometimes look at what's available now, for a fraction of what we paid, and it's amazing to see how technology has increased, and how prices have come down.

If I were buying today, size and sound quality would be the most important factors. Many of these flat screen TV's have such poor sound quality, due to tiny speakers, coming out the back, that it's almost necessary to buy a "sound bar" to get clear sound.
 
The bad thing about buying TVs other than rating like the one posted here as they appear to be rating rocket ships with all the data is sound. I bought a Philips long ago because it was rated #1 but the sound is subpar and those sound bars are not highly thought of in terms of quality. I also have a Vizio that had a bad mother board when I got it home and now it is losing channels. I will not recommend them
 
Once you decide approximately what you want, check out Costco or Sam’s Club.

Sometimes it’s worth it to buy from a local store if they’ll help mount it for a small price if you want it on the wall. We keep ours on a stand.
 
Don M. said:
We have a Panasonic Plasma, 46", that we bought way back in 2006...and it's still working good. I sometimes look at what's available now, for a fraction of what we paid, and it's amazing to see how technology has increased, and how prices have come down.

If I were buying today, size and sound quality would be the most important factors. Many of these flat screen TV's have such poor sound quality, due to tiny speakers, coming out the back, that it's almost necessary to buy a "sound bar" to get clear sound.
Click to expand...
The TV I have now has jacks in the back to drive an amp for external speakers which I use. The amp and speakers are from an old Sound Design system for turntable, radio and eight track. Speakers are large and good quality with woofers and tweeters and I don't miss anything. If eight track ever comes back, I'll be ready too.
 
Some features tp look for would be. At least 4 HDMI outputs. Even though TV's have internal sound an optical sound output to feed an external sound system should be a feature. Of course a jack to connect an antenna.

Like JD my wife wanted a LG OLED model. It's a pricey, ultra high definition TV.

We have a 2 port blue tooth transmitter connected to the optical sound output. The transmitter has a built in splitter to send sound to either the surround sound system or to blue tooth headphones. Using headsets makes it possible to listen without disturbing each other like if I want to nap & my wife wants to watch a Spanish telenovel.
 
Jules said:
Once you decide approximately what you want, check out Costco or Sam’s Club.

Sometimes it’s worth it to buy from a local store if they’ll help mount it for a small price if you want it on the wall. We keep ours on a stand.
Click to expand...
Costco has a good reputation for standing behind their merchandise. My 47" LG "not smart" TV has excellent display, but poor sound, with limited external sound options, but for $499 was a great impulse buy at Costco. I'm shopping for a larger TV now, paying close attention to included features.
 
No advice here.

I have a 20” element television that I bought a few years ago at Walmart for $100.00.

My next television will probably be a 32” element television from Walmart for $100.00 or less.

It amazes me how some things that seem very complicated to me are so inexpensive.
 
Lots of good advice already. If you do buy a 4K (UHD--ultra high definition) TV and also plan to watch 4K dvds on it, make sure that you get a true 4K dvd player. Unfortunately, some dvd players say they upconvert to a nearly 4K experience (or language like that). A friend of ours bought a 4K tv and one of those not-really 4K dvd players at Costco and then found that the brand-new 4K dvd he'd bought wouldn't play since the player wasn't the real thing. So Costco did take the almost-4k-player back but didn't carry the real 4k player; he had to go somewhere else to buy it (and it was a lot more $$). But now he can watch the 4k movies.
 

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