Looking for a TV

[King9999]

I'm looking to buy a TV. I've decided that I want a LCD HDTV, but I'm not sure which size is ideal for what I want to use it for.

The only things I plan to use the TV for is for gaming and for watching DVDs. I don't watch TV unless it's 24, and even then, I just download the episodes most of the time (I usually miss the episodes because of work). I have a Xbox 360 and a PS2. My brother has a Wii, but when I move out, it'll just be the 360 and PS2 in my possession. I'll probably get my own Wii mainly for Brawl and Mario Kart in the future, and whatever else comes out down the road.

So these are my questions to SRK:

1) What's the ideal size TV you can recommend to me?

2) Apparently a cable box is required for HD. That only applies to TV channels, right? Remember I said that I don't really watch TV, but I should still be able to get HD from the 360 since that comes with everything I need.

4) Any good stores/ Web sites that have good deals? Refurbished TVs are OK. I live in Canada, so certain stores are not available here.

3) Anything I should watch out for, like which brand of TV to avoid, etc.

[epp1e]

1) Depends on where you plan on putting it I guess. I have a 120" projector in my theater room, a 56" in my den & a 32" in my bedroom. I think generally speaking, 27 to 42 is a good size.

2) You don't need a cable box or HDTV receiver with most TVs. If your TV says ATSC tuner built-in or HDTV Tuner built-in, you're set (for over-the-air channels I mean... for cable/satellite... naturally you need the set-top box). Also, yeah, you don't need anything extra for the HD to work from your 360.

3) Dunno about Canada.

4) Only brand I'd turn down is Vizio, really. It has a short lifespan & my friend's Vizio's image got all distorted out of nowhere... and upon researching, I read that it's a pretty common occurence. There are other cheap brands that people are under the impression suck, but they're pretty nice... Westinghouse or however it's spelled, for example, is a cheap brand that's not too shabby.

P.S. Since you plan on using it for DVDs, I suggest you invest in a Blu-ray player or upconverting DVD player.

[rcaido]

You should post this in the Tech forum...

[King9999]

You should post this in the Tech forum...

Good idea. I request any mod to move this thread to the Tech forum.

[YellowS4]

Get cost-price at big box stores or drop by Costco and hope to God they carry Vizio haha. Samsung LCD, 4265/4665 series aren't bad, neither are the Sony XBRs.

What's your budget? They've been throwing 42s and 46s for under 1.6 packed with various shit (home theatre, bluray players or a ps3). Futureshop gives you 8-12 months of "free" Rogers HD, I'm not sure what BB is offering.

So talk to FS, staff will do anything to get commission, when they offer protection/warranty, make sure you get cost+warranty not retail+warranty.

[King9999]

I picked up a 32" Samsung LN-T3242H from Future Shop today. Extremely impressed. :bgrin:

The original price was $799 on clearance, but they knocked it down to $699 because the only one they had left was the demo. Devil May Cry 4 looks absolutely stunning.

I know I said that I don't watch much TV, but I checked out the channels anyway, and the screen quality is worse than a standard TV. I know it's because I don't have a HD box, but is there any way to get the quality to look like standard TV? It's not a big deal if it can't be fixed without getting the HD box, but I thought I'd ask anyway.

[YellowS4]

SD will almost always look like shit on a HD telly, even with the box.

You should've asked for a bigger discount from FS, they usually take off more than a 100 on a display / OB set.