Comments solicited by HDTV newbie on these (basic) stats for a TV

These are the basic stats for a (budget) TV that I'm considering
buying. Can anyone take the time to comment on their value? If it
helps, this will be my first widescreen, flat panel and/or HD TV, and
I am buying on a budget, so I'm not considering TVs with better stats
but double the price tag. This is for a TV I'm thinking of paying $550
for.

# 32" WXGA LCD (1366 x 768)
# Response Speed 8 [ms]
# Contrast Ratio 1000 : 1
# Brightness 420 [cd/m2]
# Horizontal / Vertical Viewing Angles 170 [°] / 170 [°]
# Built-in ATSC/NTSC Tuner

My thoughts: the stats all seem adequate for my "low-end" usages
(mostly watching SD DVDs, playing SD console games {e.g. the original
XBOX}, and perhaps, eventually, connecting an Apple TV). The one piece
that I'm concerned about is contrast ratio, and that's only because
other TVs in the brick&mortar in which I viewed this had higher ones
at similar pricepoints, and one site that I found in my research (yes
I've done *some* of my own research) called this ratio standard for
cheap LCDs.

What're your thoughts? Many thanks in advance for people's sharing of
their expertise.

-Brendon

Disclosu this is a reformatted repost of an earlier thread that
didn't get much attention for myriad possible reasons. My apologies.
If you want to see that thread or get more info about the specific TV
model for some reason, check he http://tinyurl.com/yr4p3e (google
groups link).

On Jun 21, 1:15 pm, Brendon Troy wrote:
These are the basic stats for a (budget) TV that I'm considering
buying. Can anyone take the time to comment on their value? If it
helps, this will be my first widescreen, flat panel and/or HD TV, and
I am buying on a budget, so I'm not considering TVs with better stats
but double the price tag. This is for a TV I'm thinking of paying $550
for.

# 32" WXGA LCD (1366 x 768)
# Response Speed 8 [ms]
# Contrast Ratio 1000 : 1
# Brightness 420 [cd/m2]
# Horizontal / Vertical Viewing Angles 170 [°] / 170 [°]
# Built-in ATSC/NTSC Tuner



I would be concerned by the lack of HDMI inputs.

On Jun 21, 1:19 pm, TerryinDTW wrote:
I would be concerned by the lack of HDMI inputs.

Thanks for your reply, Terry. I didn't think to summarize the inputs
(newbie) ... they a

# Video/S-Video, Audio L+R 2 [set]
# Component, Audio L+R 2 [set]
# HDMI, Audio L+R 1 [set]
# RF Input 1 [set]

So it does have HDMI, right? (goes to read up about HDTV inputs ...)

-Brendon

"Brendon Troy" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Jun 21, 1:19 pm, TerryinDTW wrote:
I would be concerned by the lack of HDMI inputs.

Thanks for your reply, Terry. I didn't think to summarize the inputs
(newbie) ... they a

# Video/S-Video, Audio L+R 2 [set]
# Component, Audio L+R 2 [set]
# HDMI, Audio L+R 1 [set]
# RF Input 1 [set]

Think of the input this way: You probably have a
VCR
DVD
cable STB
xbox
ps2
computer

How are you going to hook all these up?

Connections are important, and you might as well ignore the s-video and
composite since they look terrible on an HDTV (and pretty bad on SDTV, too).
You can get an AV receiver that will do video switching for you, but that is
an added expense that you may not want. If you can, spend a little more for
more connections.

steveo

In article .com, Brendon Troy wrote:
These are the basic stats for a (budget) TV that I'm considering
buying. Can anyone take the time to comment on their value? If it
helps, this will be my first widescreen, flat panel and/or HD TV, and
I am buying on a budget, so I'm not considering TVs with better stats
but double the price tag. This is for a TV I'm thinking of paying $550
for.

# 32" WXGA LCD (1366 x 768)
# Response Speed 8 [ms]
# Contrast Ratio 1000 : 1
# Brightness 420 [cd/m2]
# Horizontal / Vertical Viewing Angles 170 [=B0] / 170 [=B0]
# Built-in ATSC/NTSC Tuner

It's really hard to accurately gauge much from these stats, or
really most any popular stats, though I might be given to pause by
the contrast ratio. I have a 3 yr old rear-proj LCD and yes, I
would prefer a higher contrast ratio than it gives as many dark
scenes on DVD's are muddied and undiscernable.

You might do better to state the model name to solicit direct
feedback on that model and manf. And check avsforum.com as well as
less fanatical sites (epinions, amazon, etc).

On Jun 21, 3:04 pm, "steveo" wrote:
"Brendon Troy" wrote in message

oups.com...

On Jun 21, 1:19 pm, TerryinDTW wrote:
I would be concerned by the lack of HDMI inputs.

Thanks for your reply, Terry. I didn't think to summarize the inputs
(newbie) ... they a

# Video/S-Video, Audio L+R 2 [set]
# Component, Audio L+R 2 [set]
# HDMI, Audio L+R 1 [set]
# RF Input 1 [set]

Think of the input this way: You probably have a
VCR
DVD
cable STB
xbox
ps2
computer

How are you going to hook all these up?

Connections are important, and you might as well ignore the s-video and
composite since they look terrible on an HDTV (and pretty bad on SDTV, too).
You can get an AV receiver that will do video switching for you, but that is
an added expense that you may not want. If you can, spend a little more for
more connections.

steveo

Except that he can't ignore the S-video and composite connections if
he has the components you mention. For instance, the VCR will not
output anything higher than S-video if it even has that (some only
have composite and mono audio, like my father-in-law's). The PS2 only
comes with composite as well, you have to buy a separate cable to get
anything higher than that (but he only said he had an xbox). The cable
STB is only going to give you S-video or composite unless he upgrades
to the HD box and service (which he doesn't really intend to do, I
assume). If its only SD content from the cable that's the best you're
going to get anyway.

All you're left with is the xbox, computer, and DVD player. These give
you component (for the DVD player and xbox) and if he wants to hook up
a computer, he can use the HDMI through a DVI connector. I doubt he
will do that though since he mentioned his intended use, and it didn't
include a computer.

My suggestion is go with a Vizio at Wal-mart (it seems to better with
the SD content that gets put on those sets sometimes than the others)
since it is the cheapest of those that they sell. You get a couple of
HDMI ports and a couple of component connections, with enough of the
others for whatever else you have. Also, get a component cable for the
xbox, I got an extra one on ebay for $6 shipped. This will give you HD
out of the xbox (be sure to set it up in the dashboard) and hook up
the DVD player with component also.
Component cables (and HDMI also) are cheap from monoprice.com (decent
quality too, I have a set), don't waste money on expensive cables for
any device.

On Jun 22, 9:13 am, Doug wrote:
On Jun 21, 3:04 pm, "steveo" wrote:
Connections are important, and you might as well ignore the s-video and
composite since they look terrible on an HDTV (and pretty bad on SDTV, too).
You can get an AV receiver that will do video switching for you, but that is
an added expense that you may not want. If you can, spend a little more for
more connections.

Except that he can't ignore the S-video and composite connections if
he has the components you mention.
snip

My suggestion is go with a Vizio at Wal-mart (it seems to better with
the SD content that gets put on those sets sometimes than the others)
snip

Wow, thank you both for your advice ... it's correct that (for the
foreseeable future), I'll only have the XBOX (connected via a new
cable that I'll get) and OTA antenna hooked up to this thing, with the
iTV or whatever it's called coming soon enough.

I actually just was looking at the 32" Vizio at WalMart last night.
It's a bit more (and, sadly, a difference of ~75 or 100 bucks really
does matter to me), and I was worried about the brand name, but
perhaps I'll look more into it on your advice. Thanks again, both of
you.

-Brendon

On Jun 22, 10:03 am, Brendon Troy wrote:
On Jun 22, 9:13 am, Doug wrote: On Jun 21, 3:04 pm, "steveo" wrote:
Connections are important, and you might as well ignore the s-video and
composite since they look terrible on an HDTV (and pretty bad on SDTV, too).
You can get an AV receiver that will do video switching for you, but that is
an added expense that you may not want. If you can, spend a little more for
more connections.

Except that he can't ignore the S-video and composite connections if
he has the components you mention.
snip

My suggestion is go with a Vizio at Wal-mart (it seems to better with
the SD content that gets put on those sets sometimes than the others)

snip

Wow, thank you both for your advice ... it's correct that (for the
foreseeable future), I'll only have the XBOX (connected via a new
cable that I'll get) and OTA antenna hooked up to this thing, with the
iTV or whatever it's called coming soon enough.

I actually just was looking at the 32" Vizio at WalMart last night.
It's a bit more (and, sadly, a difference of ~75 or 100 bucks really
does matter to me), and I was worried about the brand name, but
perhaps I'll look more into it on your advice. Thanks again, both of
you.

-Brendon

Make sure that the one you get comes with a Digital tuner. I have not
seen many cheaper than the Vizio that do. Check carefully on those at
Big Lots, since they have a tendency to have errors or a lack of
information. If it says HD monitor anywhere on it, it does not have a
digital tuner (or any tuner for that matter). Any 32" that is sold
should (must) have a digital (ATSC) tuner if it has any tuner in it.
I think you will find that the cheaper you go with an LCD, the worse
the SD content looks on it. OTA digital stations will look good, but
analog broadcasts will be really fuzzy.
You mentioned 75 or 100 bucks, but the 32" vizio comes up at $597,
less than $50 more than the $550 you stated. I understand your price
concerns, so I would suggest wait a month or so more for the price to
drop again. Or look for one on clearance at Wal-mart.

Doug wrote:

On Jun 22, 10:03 am, Brendon Troy wrote:

On Jun 22, 9:13 am, Doug wrote: On Jun 21, 3:04 pm, "steveo" wrote:

Connections are important, and you might as well ignore the s-video and
composite since they look terrible on an HDTV (and pretty bad on SDTV, too).
You can get an AV receiver that will do video switching for you, but that is
an added expense that you may not want. If you can, spend a little more for
more connections.

Except that he can't ignore the S-video and composite connections if
he has the components you mention.

snip

My suggestion is go with a Vizio at Wal-mart (it seems to better with
the SD content that gets put on those sets sometimes than the others)

snip

Wow, thank you both for your advice ... it's correct that (for the
foreseeable future), I'll only have the XBOX (connected via a new
cable that I'll get) and OTA antenna hooked up to this thing, with the
iTV or whatever it's called coming soon enough.

I actually just was looking at the 32" Vizio at WalMart last night.
It's a bit more (and, sadly, a difference of ~75 or 100 bucks really
does matter to me), and I was worried about the brand name, but
perhaps I'll look more into it on your advice. Thanks again, both of
you.

-Brendon


Make sure that the one you get comes with a Digital tuner. I have not
seen many cheaper than the Vizio that do. Check carefully on those at
Big Lots, since they have a tendency to have errors or a lack of
information. If it says HD monitor anywhere on it, it does not have a
digital tuner (or any tuner for that matter). Any 32" that is sold
should (must) have a digital (ATSC) tuner if it has any tuner in it.
I think you will find that the cheaper you go with an LCD, the worse
the SD content looks on it. OTA digital stations will look good, but
analog broadcasts will be really fuzzy.
You mentioned 75 or 100 bucks, but the 32" vizio comes up at $597,
less than $50 more than the $550 you stated. I understand your price
concerns, so I would suggest wait a month or so more for the price to
drop again. Or look for one on clearance at Wal-mart.


i'll add my vote to the current 32" Vizio LCD

i do NOT understand why people spend hundreds
of dollars more for supposedly "higher end" 32"
flat screen TVs (Sony et al); afaik the real
options seem to show up on the 37" (and larger)
units

fwiw, i suspect that slightly cheaper 32" flat
screens don't have the value that the Vizio does,
but don't know that for sure

to the OP: good luck whatever you do

bill

On Jun 22, 10:30 am, Doug wrote:
Make sure that the one you get comes with a Digital tuner.

Point well taken. One slight concern of mine is that the TV I
originally had in mind (which btw is now on sale at BJ's for $500 even
+ tax) has Amazon's "no digital tuner" warning on its page (http://
tinyurl.com/2efh9h), despite it stats there and elsewhere listing dual
(ATSC/NTSC) tuners for it. Think Amazon just goofed? Should I be
concerned?

Thanks for all of your comments, by the way, everyone. I really do
appreciate it. Even though the picture looks good on the Sylvania, and
it's $100 less than the Vizio, I think I'm going to wait a few weeks
and see what crops up at the (presumed) 4th of July sales.

I really appreciate the group's help and will continue to welcome
comments.

-Brendon