Looking for a flat panel TV in the 37-42 inch range.

[Patrick]

Anyone here recently done any research on the LCD TVs in the 37-42 inch range? What is the Best Picture quality and price in this Size?

 

[FinanceDude]

Can't go wrong with a Sony...........I love mine...it's a 40 inch model........

 

[happy2bretired]

I like my 42" Sony.

 

[FinallyRetired]

Vizio... best bang for the buck.

 

[JB]

LCD is great for computer displays. If the monitor is for motion video only, don't discount plasma.

 

[wabmester]

Vizio... best bang for the buck.

Ditto. Love ours. Costco consistently has good deals.

 

[FinallyRetired]

LCD is great for computer displays. If the monitor is for motion video only, don't discount plasma.

Yes, don't discount plasma, but be aware that plasma is hot, heavy, and burns in. Today's LCDs work fine with motion, my Vizio does, and it works great as a computer monitor as well. Plus it has a built in HD tuner so you can pull in HDTV off the air, or run it as an HD monitor for cable or satellite.

 

[smileydog]

It may sound strange but I really love the 37" lcd I got from Wal-Mart around Christmas time. I have a friend that sells professional plasmas and lcd screens and the specs on this one were very good. I paid $999 for mine. btw... consumer reports rated this model # 2 on its last year review. Model # Magnavox 37" Widescreen LCD HDTV w/ Built-In Digital ATSC/NTSC Tuner, 37MF321D/37. In high light environments this tv is very bright.

 

[donheff]

Ditto. Love ours. Costco consistently has good deals.

Another ditto on the Costco Vizio. A friend and I have the 42 Plasma from a couple of years ago -- excellent. My son has the 37 LCD from Christmas - also excellent.

 

[Zoocat]

For that size just make sure you buy the 1080. Then you will be set for great viewing in Blu-ray! Also great in HDTV. If you compare with 720 p you will be able to see the quality difference.

Here's an article that explains it all.

http://www.cnet.com/4520-7874_1-5137915-1.html

 

[FinanceDude]

For that size just make sure you buy the 1080. Then you will be set for great viewing in Blu-ray! Also great in HDTV. If you compare with 720 p you will be able to see the quality difference.

Here's an article that explains it all.

http://www.cnet.com/4520-7874_1-5137915-1.html

I read that too, but it will be a while before all shows are in 1080 from what I read. I think there's a world of quality difference between manufacturers in the 720 arena, like I have............

 

[JB]

Yes, don't discount plasma, but be aware that plasma is hot, heavy, and burns in. Today's LCDs work fine with motion, my Vizio does, and it works great as a computer monitor as well. Plus it has a built in HD tuner so you can pull in HDTV off the air, or run it as an HD monitor for cable or satellite.

That's what I thought! Then I did some research and ended up w/ a plasma. LCDs are the way to go for computers and game machines. LCD is also better for for daytime viewing or viewing in a bright room. For video I liked plasma for the dark blacks, high contrast, and good viewing angle. Plus I could get a 50" plasma for the same price as a 40" LCD. The plasmas are a little heaver and use more power (I'd like to see some measurements on real world power consumption. Some of the articles I've read indicate that it's about 60% of max specified power).

It's very difficult to compare video quality in Costco because the ambient lighting is so bright. After viewing in Costco I was ready to get LCD. Then I did some viewing in a dark room and noticed the plasmas displayed a lot more detail in dark areas of the picture.

Find a good A/V store with a dark viewing room and compare for yourself. Or just go buy something good on sale, you'll probably be happy no matter what you end up with.

 

[Patrick]

Update:

Thanks for all the input. I decided to buy a Sony KDL40V2500. It's 1080p and the largest set that would fit in my armoir. It looks decent in standard def and great in HD. I got it online from Frys for $1729.

 

[greg]

Update:

. . . and the largest set that would fit in my armoir.

Men are not supposed to have one of those.

 

[Patrick]

Men are not supposed to have one of those.

What? The largest set? Or an armoir?

Actually, DW insisted on the armoir to hide the set in the living room. If it were up to me, I'd get the biggest set I could find and hang it on the wall out in the open. But I must get along . . .