We just got a blu-ray player tonight, and now I've got the home theater bug. Next up is the HDTV unit.

Tell me about the units you own, what you like or dislike about them, and what brands you hear nice things about.

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mechaphil

I have a 42" Toshiba that I got at Sam's club for around $500 I think. I'm happy with it, but my old TV was a 20" CRT monstrosity so I'd have been happy with just about anything.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

I got a Samsung and had a million problems with it. It was a rear projector 62" and was replaced once then the second one was breaking too. Now I have a 54" or 50-something inch Sony and it's been a year wth zero problems. Sony HD just seems to be a better made product.

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They are all shit, every company makes their TVs with the cheapest parts and labor they can get away with. Compare the stats of all the ones in the size category you're interested in. Choose the least expensive one that meets your requirements, and buy the longest warranty available.

Oh and blu-ray is overrated. FYI you will have letter box effect watching most blu ray movies, because they aren't filmed in 16:9.

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

I've liked my Vizio. A few other people that I know have Vizios as well and have had no problems.

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Check out Fast Super Cars, Car Tuning, and WNY Sports

Twitter - @Ryan911T - @MotoExposure

I can vouch for Vizio. I got a 50" Vizio plasma about 4 years ago, haven't had a problem. Only has 2 HDMI ports, but at the time that was a lot.

My only complaint is that it's a power whore, sucks 15A. I'm fairly sure the newer models are much more efficient.

Past that, just avoid the 3D bullshit. It's all crap.

Yeah I have no reason to look into 3D television

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mechaphil

well you don't want 720p, that's for sure. 60hz refresh is too slow. 1080p 120hz is probably what you want, the rest will be phased out in the next few years.

vizio always is good. don't get the old names that were once great, like Panasonic and Westinghouse. They're leeching off their names, now, they both make crap.

The best hdtv i've ever seen (in value and durability) is my ex's stepdad's. it was an LG. i'm not sure about their new stuff but that was a great tv. samsung still makes good stuff.

whatever you decide to do, read the amazon product reviews. they're pretty unbiased.

My Samsung 58", 600mhz plasma is still the best picture from a 50"^ size I've ever seen. And as a cable guy I have literally seen them all. But 600mhz is a high frequency and so it makes a humming noise that is audible when you pause a game or have a quiet scene in a movie. It also sucks power like Bree Olsen at a dick convention and it puts out enough BTU's to mess with a thermostat if the TV is too close too one.

Plasmas are being phased out for just about every reason besides picture quality.

I've had nothing but problems with it, but the picture makes it all worth it. Hockey, gaming, movies, it's remarkable.

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

LG makes good stuff, and it's reasonably priced too generally.

I have an Acer projector that does 1080i...It's my 3rd projector in a row and I have no idea why more people don't use them.

<$400 and I have a ~74" screen

You just need an empty wall and a dark-ish room.

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Hold my beer and watch this...

Samsungs look good when they work but they have a nasty trend of breaking. I went through two balasts and a color wheel all in the first year then had it replaced. The replacement had the same issues and after the warranty ran out I finally just said fuck it. I gave the thing to the guys who installed my carpet for a discount and bought this Sony.

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They are expensive but I think they have the best picture quality out of anything and that are Led TVs take a look at the sanding 8000 series which are led and look soooooo amazing. Too me they look the best out of all TVs at best buy. Oh and when you get hdmi cables do not buy them from a retail shop save money and order them from amazon or somewhere online. You will save close to 50 bucks for the same quality.

Also for refresh rate go 120 or higher. The higher the refresh rate the better the picture quality. And nowadays 1080p is on almost all TVs but it is pointless on TVs under 40 inches still.

Don't go for a projection tv either. Either go LCD plasma or led. They're smaller and to me they have way Better picture quality.

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Yup, led is the way to go IMO. They cost less and have a great picture. Love mine at least. With Sony's stuff though the sound quality is crap so I bought a simple Sony sound bar with a sub and it's great. Still working my way up to the surround sound I had before but the sound bar is great.

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I have a Samsung as well, but I've never had any problems with it over the two years I've owned it. I'd recommend the brand. For a regular LCD model, you can probably find some for like $300. I've seen 42" plasma screens going for $500 lately.

Actually, and somebody should repost this so mecaphil sees this because he's got me on ignore.

DON'T BUY ANYTHING WITH A TUNER IN IT!

This is the best advice anybody can give, because when you think about it, you will NEVER use that TV's tuner, and the tuner is about 30% of the price. Get a monitor.

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

I have a Sharp Aquos 46" 1080P and 180hz. Great television. No puck trails, and the colors are rich and vivid.

My only gripe is that it only has 2 HDMI inputs.

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Wheelhouse

I've always been a fan of projectors, but I don't have either of those. When I have a bigger place (looking into a 3 bedroom for a "toy room"), a projector is on my agenda.

For now, I'm probably gonna get something LCD in the 30"-39" range. Probably a Vizio or LG.

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mechaphil

FYI Phil.

if you're looking for something in the 39" range, I'd suggest going up to the 42" level where you might have a lot more options and get more bang for your buck.

Thanks for that.

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mechaphil