Official Black Friday HDTV Discussion Thread

[Brad]

As always, we have several dedicated threads for the hotter items each Black Friday. Please try to keep all discussion related to these items in their official threads. Other threads posted will likely be merged into this main thread.

[Brad]

Flat-screen TV prices to plunge for holiday season

 

http://money.cnn.com/2010/09/23/technology/lcd_tv_prices/index.htm

[hoits2000]

I want to pay 999 or less for a 55 in lcd or led tv with internet apps. Come on black friday! Hopefully amazon does some sweet thing again so I can get no tax!

[KingofGames]

i want to buy a 32 inch at a low price but must be a 1080 want it for gaming...i hope i could find one this year now that i know about this site...i feel more prepare...when does amazon start showing their deals?

[crazypurgatory]

I want to pay 999 or less for a 55 in lcd or led tv with internet apps. Come on black friday! Hopefully amazon does some sweet thing again so I can get no tax!

I know right now that Costco has a deal on a Vizio 55 inch tv for $999 right now at the store.

Its the E550vl.

http://www.vizio.com/e550vl.html#support

I have the 47 inch model and I do like it just some things to to remember with flat screens.

#1 The sound is not good because the can't fit good speakers into the thin tv's.

It's got OK sound but I was very unhappy with it until I hooked up to my 5.1 and ran it in stereo.

With this tv and others you can control the volume for the tv remote.

#2 You need to have digital cable or satellite for any LCD tv's I can't say if it's the same for plazma.

I have this tv hooked up to analog cable and the picture is not good motion blur peoples faces are not clear Black levels are not good.

But get it on just a SD channel that digital and all this goes away and of course HD and great!!

The tv does not have any Internet apps but you can find a good deal BF for a blu-ray player that does.:)

#3 The screens I see more and more LCD have glass and you will get a lot of glare.

I'm not sure about the ones with the glare coatings on the but I was in best buy the other day and you can see your self like your looking into a Mirror.

This tv has a Mat screen so you will not get any glare.

 

i want to buy a 32 inch at a low price but must be a 1080 want it for gaming...i hope i could find one this year now that i know about this site...i feel more prepare...when does amazon start showing their deals?

Start doing you research now if your looking for a tv for gaming!!

Some TVs like the one that I have have alot of input lag and are not good fore gaming.

From what I have read about my TV it seams to be the HDMI ports them selves giving the tv lag hence "input lag".

 

For a large purchase and the fact that's it's a tv I would rather buy it from a store that way it's an easy return if you have a problem.

Something to think about.

[SNelson]

First time using BF. Wanting to get good deal on an HD flatscreen. Best strategy on BF?? How do BF ads typically compare to Costco/Sam's prices on this type of item?? Tks!

[jamlei]

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between a 60hz and a 120hz? Thanks for the help?

[neboo]

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between a 60hz and a 120hz? Thanks for the help?

May as well explain 240hz too.

[neboo]

Here is some basic info:

 

#

1

 

The first thing you need to understand is that the moving picture on televisions is actually a still picture refreshed at a very high rate.

#

2

 

The second thing you have to understand is this stat really only applies to LCD screen televisions. Plasma screen televisions may have the 60 Hz stat on the sign but Plasma televisions are better at showing movement than LCD screens, so if you are buying a Plasma, this stat isn't very important. If you are buying an LCD screen continue.

#

3

 

120 Hz means that the still pictures are refreshing at 120 times per second while the stat 240 Hz means that they are refreshing at 240 times per second.

#

4

 

The human eye has a hard time processing this difference so other than the price tag the difference is rather slim. However, the difference can be noticed during fast action sequences and during high speed moments and sports. During these instances you will notice and much smoother picture with the 240 Hz model. With the 120 Hz model you may get a tiny bit of lag during high speed sequences.

 

The differences as seen by the human eye between 60 hz and 120 hz TV's are much more evident than between 120 hz and 240 hz. If you like a TV that is only 120 hz, don't let this stat be your deciding factor.

 

 

Now that is basic, basic, basic info. There is a lot more to it with the brand of tv and what kind of motion blur technology they use, etc.

[Klownicle]

From some of the deals I have seen so far. It seems that article posting tv deal prices is a little off. Which is good to see them coming out lower. The 26in for 198$, or the 42in for 400$. Lookin good so far. But the laptop deals are lack luster right now. Bestbuy with there 278$ and Walmart with there 288$. There all really outdated specs, im really suprised in that end. These models should be 200$. I just hope the netbooks come down like they did last year. I haven't seen ANY netbook deals

[Jen8112]

Where did you see a Best Buy laptop for $278?

 

Nevermind, someone posted the link.

Edited November 4, 2010 by Jen8112

[jamlei]

Thank you! That helped a lot!! :)

 

 

Here is some basic info:

 

#

1

 

The first thing you need to understand is that the moving picture on televisions is actually a still picture refreshed at a very high rate.

#

2

 

The second thing you have to understand is this stat really only applies to LCD screen televisions. Plasma screen televisions may have the 60 Hz stat on the sign but Plasma televisions are better at showing movement than LCD screens, so if you are buying a Plasma, this stat isn't very important. If you are buying an LCD screen continue.

#

3

 

120 Hz means that the still pictures are refreshing at 120 times per second while the stat 240 Hz means that they are refreshing at 240 times per second.

#

4

 

The human eye has a hard time processing this difference so other than the price tag the difference is rather slim. However, the difference can be noticed during fast action sequences and during high speed moments and sports. During these instances you will notice and much smoother picture with the 240 Hz model. With the 120 Hz model you may get a tiny bit of lag during high speed sequences.

 

The differences as seen by the human eye between 60 hz and 120 hz TV's are much more evident than between 120 hz and 240 hz. If you like a TV that is only 120 hz, don't let this stat be your deciding factor.

 

 

Now that is basic, basic, basic info. There is a lot more to it with the brand of tv and what kind of motion blur technology they use, etc.

[reynog]

I'm hoping to find a nice Sony or Samsung in 36"-42" and for around $500 this year, so I've been watching the ads as they come out. Finally struck on a couple with today's Sears ad, which has one of each:

http://blackfriday.gottadeal.com/black-friday-1339-Sony40Bravia1080pLCDHDTV.html

http://blackfriday.gottadeal.com/black-friday-957-Samsung40Class1080p60HzLCDHDTV.html

 

Starting doing some research on reviews for these, and came across this listing on Amazon (Samsung model, same price and clearly Target branded):

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-LN40C500-40-Inch-1080p-Black/dp/B00453Q20K

 

Does anyone have thoughts on what that could mean? Do you think Target/Amazon will be offering this TV at the same price? Do you think it's Black Friday related?

 

The Amazon page lists the release data as October 29, 2010, and it's now 11/5 and it's still available for pre-order. If this does become available at some point for this price, I'm thinking no tax through Amazon will be a hell of a lot better deal than trying to beat out others for a doorbuster at Sears!

[len_mullen]

I've had my 50" plasma for two years and have four inexpensive LCDs in other rooms. I did a lot of research when I was in the market and collected information and links here.

 

If you are shopping for a big tv, do some planning. Figure out how big a set you need. There are guides, but just cut our a piece of cardboard the size of the tv and try to place it in your room. How far you sit from the set and the size of the screen will help you decide between 720p and 1080p. At six feet, you cannot distinguish a 720p 50" plasma from a 1080p 50" plasma. Your viewing habits and domain will help you choose the correct technology. If your room is generally lit during viewing -- either by windows or from, say, an adjacent kitchen -- lcd/led may be best for you. If you sit at wide angles from the tv, plasma is going to look better. If you watch a lot of fast action programming (hockey, The Transporter), most LEDs and LCDs still have problems. How big a problem varies from set to set, so just be sure to watch this programming on any set you are interested in.

 

Once you have all this figured out, go shopping. Look at a lot of TVs. Don't stand a foot away unless that is how you watch tv. Stand off to the side and see how much the image fades at the angles you will be watching (not a big deal in my living room, but my desk is below and to the right of the set in my bedroom and the lcd fades at that angle). Watch movies and sports. Make a list of all the TVs you really like and set a price ceiling. Search bargain sites for best deals on these sets. Past deals will help you predict future deals. Pay attention to credit card and cash back opportunities (some cards double warranty and discover card is doubling cash back for the Christmas season).

 

When a good deal on one of the sets you like pops up, buy it. Bring it home and set it up. This will be the first time you really know how big a set you need if angles and lighting will affect your viewing experience. Be careful with the packaging in case you have to return the TV. Once you are happy just watch for pricematch/adjustment opportunities.

 

Plasma still looks best and you can get a 50" 720p for $500 on a regular basis these days. If you can dim your room, this will be the best viewing experience from six feet to ten feet. This is not opinion, it's fact. There are two reasons plasma looks better: 1) the dots that make up the screen are soft so you do not see jagged edges and the transition between colors is smoother, and 2) pixels can be completely off (vs blocked for LCD), so blacks are blacker.

 

LCD has less problems with reflections, but does not look as good and has issues with viewing angle. LED is just a LCD with an LED backlight. The plus is that pixels can get darker. The frequency for these sets matter, but you cannot assume a higher number means a better picture. Tv signal is delivered at 30 frames per second and movies are filmed at 24 frames per second. If you are watching a movie on a 240hz set, you are seeing the same image refreshed ten times vs five for a 120hz vs two for a 60hz set. What matters is what happens between frames. The sets load two frames then guess at what happened between these frames and fill the extra frames with altered images. If the tech is good, you see an improved image. I have seen very good implementations. I have also noticed that not all programming is improved the same. Bottom line: if you are a hockey nut and want an LED, go watch some hockey on the set. If it looks good to you, that's all that matters.

 

You need at least 120hz for 3D tv/gaming.

[jaymacfla]

From some of the deals I have seen so far. It seems that article posting tv deal prices is a little off. Which is good to see them coming out lower. The 26in for 198$, or the 42in for 400$. Lookin good so far. But the laptop deals are lack luster right now. Bestbuy with there 278$ and Walmart with there 288$. There all really outdated specs, im really suprised in that end. These models should be 200$. I just hope the netbooks come down like they did last year. I haven't seen ANY netbook deals

It is still early, don't be a sad Klown just yet!:)

[jaymacfla]

has anyone noticed the second and third tier prices on LCDs at Walmart??? Interesting.....

[len_mullen]

i'm keeping an eye on walmart this year. Not so much for in store shopping as for site-to-store deals. 11/15 shopdiscover rates double, so that zune i cought could fetch me another ten bucks. if you are looking for a deal on a tv, that may be the way to go.

[neboo]

I've had my 50" plasma for two years and have four inexpensive LCDs in other rooms. I did a lot of research when I was in the market and collected information and links here.

 

If you are shopping for a big tv, do some planning. Figure out how big a set you need. There are guides, but just cut our a piece of cardboard the size of the tv and try to place it in your room. How far you sit from the set and the size of the screen will help you decide between 720p and 1080p. At six feet, you cannot distinguish a 720p 50" plasma from a 1080p 50" plasma. Your viewing habits and domain will help you choose the correct technology. If your room is generally lit during viewing -- either by windows or from, say, an adjacent kitchen -- lcd/led may be best for you. If you sit at wide angles from the tv, plasma is going to look better. If you watch a lot of fast action programming (hockey, The Transporter), most LEDs and LCDs still have problems. How big a problem varies from set to set, so just be sure to watch this programming on any set you are interested in.

 

Once you have all this figured out, go shopping. Look at a lot of TVs. Don't stand a foot away unless that is how you watch tv. Stand off to the side and see how much the image fades at the angles you will be watching (not a big deal in my living room, but my desk is below and to the right of the set in my bedroom and the lcd fades at that angle). Watch movies and sports. Make a list of all the TVs you really like and set a price ceiling. Search bargain sites for best deals on these sets. Past deals will help you predict future deals. Pay attention to credit card and cash back opportunities (some cards double warranty and discover card is doubling cash back for the Christmas season).

 

When a good deal on one of the sets you like pops up, buy it. Bring it home and set it up. This will be the first time you really know how big a set you need if angles and lighting will affect your viewing experience. Be careful with the packaging in case you have to return the TV. Once you are happy just watch for pricematch/adjustment opportunities.

 

Plasma still looks best and you can get a 50" 720p for $500 on a regular basis these days. If you can dim your room, this will be the best viewing experience from six feet to ten feet. This is not opinion, it's fact. There are two reasons plasma looks better: 1) the dots that make up the screen are soft so you do not see jagged edges and the transition between colors is smoother, and 2) pixels can be completely off (vs blocked for LCD), so blacks are blacker.

 

LCD has less problems with reflections, but does not look as good and has issues with viewing angle. LED is just a LCD with an LED backlight. The plus is that pixels can get darker. The frequency for these sets matter, but you cannot assume a higher number means a better picture. Tv signal is delivered at 30 frames per second and movies are filmed at 24 frames per second. If you are watching a movie on a 240hz set, you are seeing the same image refreshed ten times vs five for a 120hz vs two for a 60hz set. What matters is what happens between frames. The sets load two frames then guess at what happened between these frames and fill the extra frames with altered images. If the tech is good, you see an improved image. I have seen very good implementations. I have also noticed that not all programming is improved the same. Bottom line: if you are a hockey nut and want an LED, go watch some hockey on the set. If it looks good to you, that's all that matters.

 

You need at least 120hz for 3D tv/gaming.

 

Something to keep in mind too is energy consumption. A plasma will typically use about 3 times more energy than an lcd. It is even more when you compare to led tvs which are the most energy efficient we have ever seen. For some people on a budget this could be a huge deal breaker.

[DaFees]

Can I just add something to the mix so as to hopefully dispel some confusion. Everyone says to pay attention to the refresh rate (60hz, 120hz, 240hz) with LCD/LED TVs. I want to note though that as far as I am to understand it this ONLY matters when watching live TV fed through a cable line (or antenna) plugged directly into the TV. If you have a blu-ray player or set top box or otherwise the refresh rate really doesn't come into play per say. Example, my TV is a 120hz LCD and I plug my computer directly into the TV but I can't set the computers refresh rate to 120hz.

 

Also the notion that you need at least 120hz for 3D TV/Gaming is true, but you needn't worry about it. ALL 3D TVs are at least 120hz if not 240hz, you can't buy a 60hz 3D TV.

 

I may be wrong, but it just has seemed to me that unless you are watching a lot of live TV via a direct cable line via a cable service or an antenna that the refresh rate doesn't really matter for anything else. I mean even though my TV is 120hz no devices connected via HDMI or otherwise can go up to 120hz only 60 max.

 

So basically you should try to get the most you can for your money, but to me the differences aren't really significant unless you are watching live TV as described above.

[len_mullen]

Something to keep in mind too is energy consumption. A plasma will typically use about 3 times more energy than an lcd. It is even more when you compare to led tvs which are the most energy efficient we have ever seen. For some people on a budget this could be a huge deal breaker.

It costs me about $12 per month to run my 50" plasma. Whether I could run an LCD for $8 less is not an issue for me in the grand scheme of things.

 

http://www.crutchfield.com/learn/learningcenter/home/TV-power.html

[Shripe]

As I mentioned in my post in the Best Buy BF forum, I'm looking at a 40" Sony (KDL-40EX400) at the moment. I also caught the (yet unreleased?) 40" Samsung, but I'm looking at trying to get the Sony instead because of the proven reviews for that actual product.

 

Here's my situation:

I could skip all the BF craziness (which neither I nor family are that excited about) and pick up the Sony through Saturday at $600 from Best Buy, and use the $50 GC after $500 purchase coupon to knock it down essentially to $550 (same price Sears BF has it at), then perhaps price match if they were to do some LCD blowout sale prior to BF, at the risk of being unable to do so given the added value of the GC,

 

Or wait for the Best Buy ad (I'll give the leakers until Saturday, the end of the sale on all Best Buy TVs) and decide once again which way I should go for my TV buy on BF. I'm just not fond about having to camp out if the TV happens to be a doorbuster at Best Buy.

 

Thoughts?

 

An added note: I've settled on an LCD as I've got a pretty well naturally-lit room for it, and I don't usually dim the lights that often. I've also seen the Sony first-hand at Sears (haven't been to Best Buy yet), and I really like it in comparison to a similar Samsung model.

[clm101798]

I am in the market for a 32" tv. Last week I bought the Vizio that Walmart had on sale with site to store shipping - it won't be in until almost Thanksgiving. I figure that if I find something better I can return it when I pick it up. Today I see that Target is having a Samsung 32" for $328 (plus get a $10 gift card).

 

My questions are: Is the Samsung better than the Vizio?

If I use my Target debit Card do I get the 5% off the tv on BF? (price then would be $311 and a $10 gift card - then the prices between the two tvs are about even)

[Paka]

I know I'm going to kick myself for buying last weeknd... but old Sony HDTV died and needed a replacement. I know Wal-Mart hasn't shown up yet, but if they (or anyone else) discounts the 42" Sanyo Plasma HDTV, you might want to consider it. Not a big name, and I know the issues with Plasma, but the reviews are mostly very positive, even for gaming (a big thing for me). Great picture, really easy setup. It was $448 when I bought it; if that were to be sliced for BF, couldn't beat it if you want a 2nd TV for any reason.

[Shripe]

I'll probably kick myself as well, but I was looking for an investment.. Without knowing Best Buy's ad (nor the chances I'd have to actually get one on BF), I went ahead and bought the Sony KDL-40EX400 40" TV on sale for $100 off the normal price this week at BB. I could've gotten the Toshiba 40" for $400 today, but I wanted something that would last, and the picture looked a lot better with the Sony. Oh well.

[GinaInIL]

Where did you see a Best Buy laptop for $278?

 

Nevermind, someone posted the link.

Do you happen to have the link?

[nirvana4all]

I know many are looking at the 46" at target, but if you want to avoid the rush, are willing to pay $50 more, BB is selling a 46" for $500 today online.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dynex%26%23153%3B+-+46%22+Class+/+1080p+/+60Hz+/+LCD+HDTV/9605116.p?id=1218131141989&skuId=9605116

[KC-Traderbear]

So, my biggest question is:

 

Would it be better to get an off-brand television (Apex, Dynex??, Vizio) (46-47") for (what appears to be) around the $500 price range?

 

OR is it better to get a more name brand t.v. for a bit more money? I don't know a lot about t.v.s. I know that many stores are selling t.v.s really cheap, but the really, really inexpensive sets appear to be the off-brand names. (Or, at least names that I'm not really familiar with.)

 

Does it matter? Are these good t.v.s? Is it better to spend a bit more and get a Sony or Samsung or a more recognizable brand?

 

I suppose it depends on what you will use it for?? (primiary t.v. vs. something that will just be used every so often??)

 

Any input from a t.v. expert(s)??! :) (We are looking specifically for something in the 46-47" range.)

[peppysfireball]

I would spend the extra money. With an off brand, chances are it could quit after warranty is up and they are too expensive to fix. I've done a lot of discussing this with repair and sales people. Samsung and LG are my requirements. I don't want to have to b u another one in a year because I wanted to save a 100.00.

[KC-Traderbear]

I would spend the extra money. With an off brand, chances are it could quit after warranty is up and they are too expensive to fix. I've done a lot of discussing this with repair and sales people. Samsung and LG are my requirements. I don't want to have to b u another one in a year because I wanted to save a 100.00.

Thanks! That is kind of what I was thinking. We have all larger Samsung,s and we want one for our exercise room. I'm more of a name brand buyer and in some cases I know I shouldn't pay so much attention to that. However, with a t.v., they can be a pain to get rid of, so I'd like to get one that will last!

[len_mullen]

I disagree. Get a tv that looks good and has the features you like in an off brand at bestbuy then get an inexpensive service plan. I have a Samsung in my living room, but got 32" dynex sets for the bedrooms. saved a bundle, love the sets.