Help on buying a new TV: 32″ Flat Screen?
I’m planning on replacing my current Tube TV for a flat screen. What should I look for in a new television?
>it’s for my bedroom
>going to connect DVD player and Basic Cable to it
>looking for about a 32″
What’s the difference between LCD, Plasma, and High Definition?
How do I know which will be most compatible for me?
I’m planning on spending about $500 USD max
Thanks for you input!
I’m lost on this!
Also,
Which brand should I look for (or stay away from)?
What does 720p and 1080p mean?
Woah, loads of questions…
720p vs 1080p is resolution of the screen. A 720p TV’s resolution is going to be in around 1280×720 (sometimes its an odd number slightly larger). At 1080p TV, that is full HD, will be 1920×1080 (maximum HD resolution that exists). So off the numbers people assume 1080p is better. And off the numbers they are right. But in reality, TV size matters too. If you’re looking at 42″ and above, 1080p matters. At the 32″ you quote, 720p will look amazing. If you find a TV with 1080p at that size that is in your budget, great, but don’t go paying extra for it and don’t make that your make-or-break spec for your decision. You just don’t see the 1080p advantages on a 32″ screen.
High Definition means higher picture resolution. Standard Definition is only 720×480 (in North America). As you can see from my 720p vs 1080p bit, HD is quite a bit larger in resolution. What this means is a crisper more detailed image. Its an aesthetic thing, and its hard to describe, it truly is “seeing is believing.” Everything just looks beautiful in HD.
As for LCD vs Plasma, on a pure tech standpoint, Plasma will give you a better picture. It will give you better color, better contrast, and better blacks. BUT, same as with 1080p, TV size matters. When you dip below the 40′s the Plasma advantages become much harder to notice. So in your case I would just worry about LCDs.
As for brands, Samsung is the leader in LCDs. Sony/Panasonic/Sharp Aquos I would kind of clump as #2. With certain models you could lean on Toshiba or LG, but mostly you’re going down a tier to those (but they do have some models that perform very well). Vizio has had some really good picture quality/bang-for-buck reviews. Its not as good as you’ll get from Samsung or even Sony/Panny/Sharp, but some models are getting very respectable comments. You have to research each model though on its own merit.
Based on your budget, I would recommend Sony Bravia KDL-32L4000. It MSPRs slightly higher than your budget, but most places sell under MSRP, so I think you can snag it towards the limit of your budget. You might just need to dig around and find a place that has it for the price you can tolerate.
If that just won’t work budget wise, then maybe look out for the Vizio VW32LHDTV. Its not quite as strong as the Sony, but does rate okay. Its MSRP is around $450, so you should find it cheaper than that.
Abt Electronics: The Differences of TV Refresh Rates