I don't overthink it for my basement man cave. Biggest flat screen they have for $500 out the door then hook up to my Atmos receiver and pump up the volume
Who makes a good TV?
- Thread starter The_Eric
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I have 3 TCL TVs purchased within the last 2 years that all work like a charm and have very good 4K pictures. I have a Sony 65" 4K I got from Costco in 2021 that is the slowest to respond piece of garbage I've ever used. It sits unused in a spare room.
5 Tv's in the house, (1) 40" Philips smart TV, I bought Refurbished in...2014...now retired to the Guest Room with a Roku
(1) LG 49" Smart Tv in the Main Family Room. (1) LG 24"(?) Dumb Tv in the Front Room with a Roku. (1) LG 32"(?) Dumb TV in the Parent's Room, and (1) 50" LG Smart Tv in My Bedroom ( Replaced the Philips after 10 years)
we also have an LG Fridge, and Dishwasher... we did have to Get a pump in the Dishwasher replaced under warranty, it still worked, but was making a high pitched whining noise (bearing going bad)
no real complaints with any of the LG stuff... The Dishwasher and The 2 smart TV's both work well with the LG ThinQ app on my Phone...
(1) LG 49" Smart Tv in the Main Family Room. (1) LG 24"(?) Dumb Tv in the Front Room with a Roku. (1) LG 32"(?) Dumb TV in the Parent's Room, and (1) 50" LG Smart Tv in My Bedroom ( Replaced the Philips after 10 years)
we also have an LG Fridge, and Dishwasher... we did have to Get a pump in the Dishwasher replaced under warranty, it still worked, but was making a high pitched whining noise (bearing going bad)
no real complaints with any of the LG stuff... The Dishwasher and The 2 smart TV's both work well with the LG ThinQ app on my Phone...
When I had my business, Sony made most of their TVs in-house, but needing to offer some less-expensive models, outsourced a few to China using Sony's designs. One of Sony's top US service execs later told me their Chinese-made TVs had in-warranty failure rates less than half of any of their models manufactured by Sony.
I would spend some time watching the various brands in the showroom and size you desire. . Brands don't matter, picture quality does. I would pick a set which produces the most purest white. Many sets cannot do that. If a set cannot make a good b&w picture, it cannot make a good color picture. When I made my purchase a few years back, Insignia blew the rest out of the water.
Just replaced my Samsung 55 with a Samsung 75 smart 4k. After some tweaking on the picture, it looks great.
Got it for $500 from Best Buy due to a $400 gift card for switching internet to Verizon 5g. Costco currently has the exact same tv on sale this week for $799.
Also love the Verizon Bluetooth internet connection, no cables or wires showing, a 1st for me.
Got it for $500 from Best Buy due to a $400 gift card for switching internet to Verizon 5g. Costco currently has the exact same tv on sale this week for $799.
Also love the Verizon Bluetooth internet connection, no cables or wires showing, a 1st for me.
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IF one wants the best in in picture quality I suggest get away from the big box and at a minimum shop a Best Buy grade of product.
However. I have found one if not THE best option for the average Joe or Jane ( lower to mid grade product )that offers a good but not the best pic, good but not the best sound but a simple plug -n- pay product that just works, simple all the time every time is a TV and a Soundbar thats labeled Roku TV.
What I find that fantastic is #1 that little simple Roku remote is the same for the sound bar TV, Small simple, not lots of buttons and if you loose it $10 -$20 at WM, Target etc, SIMPLE!
Also, plug the Roku sound bar into a Roku TV, Its smart, it knows you plugged a matching sound bar and it just works! You do nothing but plug it in!
In the past I have had great luck with the Walmart Onn brand with Roku when a normal grade TV is needed and a simple sound bar, more for needing a clear voice when watching the news vs home theater sound...
However if you want the higher grade of TV ( best HD pic with the best, deep blacks etc, go look at TV's at best buy ) But for simple Roku
However. I have found one if not THE best option for the average Joe or Jane ( lower to mid grade product )that offers a good but not the best pic, good but not the best sound but a simple plug -n- pay product that just works, simple all the time every time is a TV and a Soundbar thats labeled Roku TV.
What I find that fantastic is #1 that little simple Roku remote is the same for the sound bar TV, Small simple, not lots of buttons and if you loose it $10 -$20 at WM, Target etc, SIMPLE!
Also, plug the Roku sound bar into a Roku TV, Its smart, it knows you plugged a matching sound bar and it just works! You do nothing but plug it in!
In the past I have had great luck with the Walmart Onn brand with Roku when a normal grade TV is needed and a simple sound bar, more for needing a clear voice when watching the news vs home theater sound...
However if you want the higher grade of TV ( best HD pic with the best, deep blacks etc, go look at TV's at best buy ) But for simple Roku
I purchased a Sony OLED 55” on super sale 3.5 years ago for $1000. I turned down the $250!!!! 5 year warranty and this occurred yesterday in upper right. Pretty frustrating . I have a 10 and 15 year old Sony Bravia working perfectly fine elsewhere in house.
In the market too for new TV however trying to spend under $800 and expect 3-5 years life I guess now?
Not sure how I feel about Sony my go to . 2nd let down but it was $40 blue ray player before not $1000.
In the market too for new TV however trying to spend under $800 and expect 3-5 years life I guess now?
Not sure how I feel about Sony my go to . 2nd let down but it was $40 blue ray player before not $1000.
The well over 10 year old samsung 46" I've got is still doing great, it's staying till the day it dies. LE46C750 it is. So that brings the depreciation down below $3 a month even if it died today.
Sound is meh, but I've ran it through a stereo system from day 1, the built in speakers are essentially new and never used.
Sound is meh, but I've ran it through a stereo system from day 1, the built in speakers are essentially new and never used.
I would call Sony and the retailer. You should get far more time out of a TV than that. The last few that I have left at the curbside all went 10 or more years, and were replaced for new programming, screens, size and features. They still worked
The Samsung's 70 to 45-inch screens, where I worked, were on 24/7 for the last 4 years. The picture remained fantastic, and my Sammy 55-inch is on for weeks at a time with no problems. I would look at a Samsung big as you have room for.
^^^This is what I'd do should our 8-years-old 75" Samsung LCD die today.
The one concern I have is, should the TV have a problem, getting the correct parts can be a royal pain on Samsungs. Not just their TVs, but all Samsung products (anyone have a refrigerator ice maker Samsung says is no longer available?). They do not hesitate to source parts from different suppliers during production runs for the same model number. The suffix will be different, but base model, which is all you'll see in advertising, will remain the same.
Been with a Vizio for many years. A bit above base level but remained reliable although remote is a bit clunky. Very affordable for the budget/value conscious.
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I learned about Samsung Washing machines and the parts the hard way. I had no idea as you assume all these big box and home good stores selling them getting parts was a given. Its NOT and my research a few years ago turned me on to the classic brand Speed Queen ( ONLY sold and mom and pop places) that HAVE in House service! Best thing I ever did was going Speed Queen and my TUB will fill to the TOP unlike those EPA friendly water saver washers you find at the home centers and I can USE low cost old school NON "hE" washing powder like mom used in the 70's! ( Sorry, back to TV's )... But always ask about the parts and repair options be it washers or a TV!
Judging by the comments, I guess I'm one of the lucky ones owning a 65" LG Smart TV. It's about 10 years old, has well over 1,000 hours of playing time, and has survived two moves. The WiFi module failed a few years ago, which was a common issue with this model. I just hardwired it to the router. Still a sharp picture, decent sound from the TV, but paired with a ZVOX 140 watt sound bar + a 250 watt subwoofer. It uses an indoor antenna and the internet for channels, no cable. Changing functions is a bit pokey, but not a deal breaker.
There are not many repair options for a TV that make sense if they are out of warranty. They are pretty much disposable these days
This is a little bit off topic, but I would like to add:
Getting the brightest display possible in a TV is not always a good idea. The Samsung I have has an excellent display, but TV commercials DO NOT play by the rules! When a commercial comes on, I can turn down the volume (they're always louder that the content), but I CANNOT turn down the brightness!
TV commercials will absolutely blow your eyeballs out with their brightness. So much so that I'll sometimes have to actually cover my eyes to avoid pain! The automatic brightness controls are no help on this either. Even room light sensing has minimal effect, in fact sometimes it makes it worse.
Just my two cents.
Getting the brightest display possible in a TV is not always a good idea. The Samsung I have has an excellent display, but TV commercials DO NOT play by the rules! When a commercial comes on, I can turn down the volume (they're always louder that the content), but I CANNOT turn down the brightness!
TV commercials will absolutely blow your eyeballs out with their brightness. So much so that I'll sometimes have to actually cover my eyes to avoid pain! The automatic brightness controls are no help on this either. Even room light sensing has minimal effect, in fact sometimes it makes it worse.
Just my two cents.
Sound bar that most all the public will love for a room (around) 15 x 15 maybe a little more or less.
JBL BAR 500 (recommended to me a couple years back in this very forum) Ive been a sound fanatic all my life, from the 1970s >I always had the best sound systems in my car, boats and home. (compared to my friends)
Anyway, new home, getting older, the wild parties are now in the past, I wanted simplicity. Worked great for our great room. The JBL Bar 500 is truly amazing for a wire free simple set up if that is what you are looking for. It's perfect for a TV movie set up. Im not saying it's perfect for regular stereo sound for music only.
Best part is you can't be disappointed. Free Returns at Amazon and JBL gives a 30 day free returns.
https://www.jbl.com/soundbars/BAR-500MK2.html
AS far as TVs, higher end, midrange priced, Samsungs, LG and Sony let's say in the $1,200 to $1,600 price range.
Im not loyal to any brand of anything however when it comes to TV. We are now loyal to Sony X900 series or the equal in future model numbers. I believe that is now the X90 and cost is lower. We just bought a 65 inch for our daughter's new home.
The only thing about the TV for my wife and I is we do not use the "google tv" at all.
We have Roku players on all our TVs and the only thing we use. (Im not a google fan)
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sony-6...-smart-google-tv-2023/6544733.p?skuId=6544733
JBL BAR 500 (recommended to me a couple years back in this very forum) Ive been a sound fanatic all my life, from the 1970s >I always had the best sound systems in my car, boats and home. (compared to my friends)
Anyway, new home, getting older, the wild parties are now in the past, I wanted simplicity. Worked great for our great room. The JBL Bar 500 is truly amazing for a wire free simple set up if that is what you are looking for. It's perfect for a TV movie set up. Im not saying it's perfect for regular stereo sound for music only.
Best part is you can't be disappointed. Free Returns at Amazon and JBL gives a 30 day free returns.
https://www.jbl.com/soundbars/BAR-500MK2.html
AS far as TVs, higher end, midrange priced, Samsungs, LG and Sony let's say in the $1,200 to $1,600 price range.
Im not loyal to any brand of anything however when it comes to TV. We are now loyal to Sony X900 series or the equal in future model numbers. I believe that is now the X90 and cost is lower. We just bought a 65 inch for our daughter's new home.
The only thing about the TV for my wife and I is we do not use the "google tv" at all.
We have Roku players on all our TVs and the only thing we use. (Im not a google fan)
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sony-6...-smart-google-tv-2023/6544733.p?skuId=6544733
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I think you can get junk anything, but I have had luck with Samsung. I have 2 1080P LCDs that are about 17 years old that I would like to upgrade to 4k but they won't die. I have another Samsung in our main livingroom that is 4k and about 5 years old and it works great.
My advice is whatever TV you get don't bother with the Smart function of the TV and get yourself a Roku Ultra or Apple TV for the streaming duties. These are separate streaming boxes that connect to the TV, not the cheap Roku Tvs. Most built in Smart Tv functions are slow and clunky and Roku has it nailed IMO. The Tv will never be obsolete until it won't turn on anymore if all your streaming in done by the Roku Ultra. Roku supports software updates for a long time on their streaming boxes. I have 1 Ultra that is 8 years old and gets used daily running the latest updated Roku OS.
My advice is whatever TV you get don't bother with the Smart function of the TV and get yourself a Roku Ultra or Apple TV for the streaming duties. These are separate streaming boxes that connect to the TV, not the cheap Roku Tvs. Most built in Smart Tv functions are slow and clunky and Roku has it nailed IMO. The Tv will never be obsolete until it won't turn on anymore if all your streaming in done by the Roku Ultra. Roku supports software updates for a long time on their streaming boxes. I have 1 Ultra that is 8 years old and gets used daily running the latest updated Roku OS.
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