New TV today

[hopefullyoneday]

My favorite solution to that problem: https://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/harmony-remote-650?crid=60

My remote for my samsung tv automatically picked up my soundbar which i have yet to need and my firestick.

 

[Free bird]

Vizio also wants you to use your phone or tablet as a remote. Some models have a basic remote but you need the app on a smart device to control most fuctions. I wonder when they will just send you a kit & you can build your own TV. Like a Heath kit from back in the day

 

[CRLLS]

We needed to replace our LG 50 inch before Xmas. We ended up with the Insignia 4K 55 inch Roku. We considered the TCL brand which ran about $20 more at the time, but there wasn't one on display at BestBuy. We are pretty happy with the Insignia. Have it hooked up to the ol' LG sound bar via HDMI. Insignia is a BB brand. From my research, they also made some of the Sharp models before Sharp sold them exclusive rights to sell TV's under the Sharp brand in the US.

Our LG lasted only ~3 years before the LED backlights started going bad. I repaired it once but the 2nd time, I decided not to throw good money into it. After having a >$3,000TV some years back, I vowed never to buy the latest and greatest. If I have to throw this one out in 4 years, I'm a happy camper.

Good luck with the TCL. The Roku TV works a lot better that the embedded LG smart interface ever did.

P.S the Roku Android App controls our Insignia Roku. I imagine it does for the TCL too.

 

[Carpediem]

Can you use any HDMI port on a TV to connect to a soundbar or does it need to be a 'special' HDMI port? I see (ARC) mentioned but have no clue what that means.

I'm currently connecting to our soundbar using the digital audio cable but I have to use the soundbar remote to do anything with it.

 

[Independent]

[*]Bluetooth OUT for listening to the TV with headphones
[/LIST]

Anyone heard of such a thing?

I'm also interested in headphones. I watch most of my TV after my wife is in bed. It seems hard to find sound systems with headphone options.

 

[FIREmenow]

I'm also interested in headphones. I watch most of my TV after my wife is in bed. It seems hard to find sound systems with headphone options.

I like my (action) movies loud - and we are in a townhouse......

I am currently using this combination. Very happy with both of them for less than $100 total, but would like to get a soundbar with the dongle-thingy built-in.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074V49XRL
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N5KKUR0

The transmitter will support two sets of headphones, so that's cool. If going BT, make sure you get "aptX low latency" devices (both transmitter and headphones must be this) for best performance.

 

[zinger1457]

Can you use any HDMI port on a TV to connect to a soundbar or does it need to be a 'special' HDMI port? I see (ARC) mentioned but have no clue what that means.

I'm currently connecting to our soundbar using the digital audio cable but I have to use the soundbar remote to do anything with it.

My understanding is you need a HDMI ARC (audio return channel) connector on both the TV and soundbar to pass the audio through from the TV to the soundbar.

 

[CRLLS]

I'm also interested in headphones. I watch most of my TV after my wife is in bed. It seems hard to find sound systems with headphone options.

ARC is used for combining bidirectional Audio and HDMI. Both the TV and Sound Bar must be ARC rated (I think). Here is a short primer:

https://www.tomsguide.com/us/hdmi-arc-faq,news-26262.html

I have 2 HDMI cables to the TV, one from the Dish receiver and 1 from my DVD player. Then 1 cable (ARC) to the soundbar (also ARC capable). When I increase volume, both the TV and the Soundbar show the same numbers for volume. They are digitally linked together

 

[mpeirce]

I believe they purposly use inferior audio speakers to make you spend more money. Speaker technology has evolved. Tiny speakers make great sound. Just another source of profit.

You have two things going against good sound in these TVs:

1. Think how much thinner these TVs are. Most good speakers take up at least some space.

2. These are cheap TVs. As others have said, price drives sales on low the cheaper TVs. This means that even though there are ways to produce acceptable sound from thin speakers, it costs. You're not going to see that on the lowest end TVs.

The work around is to get a sound bar. You can get OK ones pretty cheap and they have the benefit of not optimizing for thinness.

 

[Independent]

Thanks for multiple responses. I'll check them out.

 

[RobLJ]

I run TV sound (Dish and blueray) through a receiver and speakers, both in the upstairs living room and downstairs in the study. Works great but I use it mostly for movie watching and some TV drama/sports.
My youngest gave me his 60" plasma that was giving him problems through HDMI, so I connected it last week--really improved the NFL playoff experience versus the old 42" plasma that I was using.

 

[Scrapr]

Every time we walk into Costco i point out the 80" UHD TVs to Mrs Scrapr. I tell her we have room on the wall for that. or That would look good in my TV room.

She has not bit yet (-;;