Help me select a TV!

[adulaamin]

OK so here's the thing. I'd like to buy the gf a new TV although I don't have that much at the moment. I'm stuck between 2 choices: A brand new Samsung 32" LED TV (PhP 16,740.00) or a 6 month used Sanyo 42" LCD TV (PhP 25,000.00).

The thing I'm confused about is the HD-ready and Full HD tags. If I understand it correctly, the Samsung would only be able to do 720p even through HDMI? She will be using the TV for watching cable (although not HD), Blu-ray movies and for an Xbox 360. Both are in the budget but it wouldn't hurt to save some cash so I could replace my old 22" monitor .

Which would be a better choice?

 

[Lazzer408]

If you ever plan on connecting a computer to your TV, test it first or buy it from a store that accepts opened returns like Walmart. My experience is many TVs have signal processing between the HDMI and the LVDS which causes unwanted scaling to occur. In other words, text will look like crap unless the TV has the option to disable the processing. Often this is done through the menu with a setting labled as "PC mode" or "Game mode". Without that disabled, the signal will never fit the panel dot-for-dot.

You also want to check the TV's specifications to see what the native resolution of the PANEL is. Many TV's state they can accept 1080 "HD" (whatever the hell that is) but actually can not display a 1080 image to to the lower resolution panel used.

$.02

 

[adulaamin]

If you ever plan on connecting a computer to your TV, test it first or buy it from a store that accepts opened returns like Walmart. My experience is many TVs have signal processing between the HDMI and the LVDS which causes unwanted scaling to occur. In other words, text will look like crap unless the TV has the option to disable the processing. Often this is done through the menu with a setting labled as "PC mode" or "Game mode". Without that disabled, the signal will never fit the panel dot-for-dot.

You also want to check the TV's specifications to see what the native resolution of the PANEL is. Many TV's state they can accept 1080 "HD" (whatever the hell that is) but actually can not display a 1080 image to to the lower resolution panel used.

$.02

Both the monitors have "PC mode" or "Game mode" although unfortunately the store I'm buying from doesn't accept open box returns. As for the resolutions, the Samsung has a native res of 1366x768 while the Sanyo has a res of 1920x1080. And that's the thing I'mm confused about. When I went to check the Samsung monitor it does have this 1080p sticker on it although I think it can only do 720p since it's only "HD-Ready" and not "Full-HD". Is my assumption correct?

 

[eidairaman1]

720p, (1920x1080i), (1920x1080p) , 1920x1200 and higher are HD modes, anything with a Progressive (Letter P) is going to have better picture quality (because Each other Row Refreshes at a Different Time in Internlace vs Progressive Scan), and normally the display with higher pixel count is going to be better (P displays are better despite pixel Density), however different techniques of how the displays are made will determine color gamut, clarity, brightness, contrast etc will be better or not.

My LCD Monitor on my Dell XPS Gen 1 (15.4") was capable of 1920x1200 and 1080 Playback for movies (Sweet for movies, video card couldnt handle that resolution for Games Though)

Id Honestly get reviews of the 2 TVs in question before selecting one

 

[Lazzer408]

Both the monitors have "PC mode" or "Game mode" although unfortunately the store I'm buying from doesn't accept open box returns. As for the resolutions, the Samsung has a native res of 1366x768 while the Sanyo has a res of 1920x1080. And that's the thing I'mm confused about. When I went to check the Samsung monitor it does have this 1080p sticker on it although I think it can only do 720p since it's only "HD-Ready" and not "Full-HD". Is my assumption correct?

You have to find out what panel is in it. If the Sanyo does 1920x1080@60 (or better) that's the one you want. Don't bother with 720.

 

[eidairaman1]

You have to find out what panel is in it. If the Sanyo does 1920x1080@60 (or better) that's the one you want. Don't bother with 720.

Just remember the bigger the screen the further away you have to sit just to see the entire picture less you want to give yourself a sore neck from having to move it constantly

 

[Frag_Maniac]

If you could give us a link to the vendors in your area, vs just showing the manufacturer websites, it would help us to look at other options you might have.

Samsungs tend to have high input lag. That can make it hard to play online shooters competitively, or racing and fighting games in general.

Also be aware that some sets can accept a 1080p signal, but downscale it to a lower res. It's misleading advertising to call them "1080p", but somehow they get away with it.

 

[adulaamin]

If you could give us a link to the vendors in your area, vs just showing the manufacturer websites, it would help us to look at other options you might have.

Samsungs tend to have high input lag. That can make it hard to play online shooters competitively, or racing and fighting games in general.

Also be aware that some sets can accept a 1080p signal, but downscale it to a lower res. It's misleading advertising to call them "1080p", but somehow they get away with it.

Unfortunately the local vendors here don't have websites. You just have to go to the shop and look at it yourself hahahaha.

I posted an ad on a local website and someone offered me a Samsung UA32EH5300 or an LG 32LS5700 brand new and just right between price wise. I think it would be the best out of the three. Native res of 1920x1080 and it has quite a lot of features compared to the first 2. I'm just gonna have to go check it out personally later.

 

[Frag_Maniac]

I posted an ad on a local website and someone offered me a Samsung UA32EH5300 or an LG 32LS5700 brand new and just right between price wise. I think it would be the best out of the three. Native res of 1920x1080 and it has quite a lot of features compared to the first 2. I'm just gonna have to go check it out personally later.

Ha, looks like you lucked out. I imagine with no vendor websites there the chat community has to pick up the slack. Just be careful doing business that way. Sometimes you run into scammers, like on our Craigslist here.

I think I'd go with that LG. Low input lag and 100Hz. Geez I wish my LCD was 100Hz. Better even than 120Hz, as it's easier to power GPU wise, yet higher frames than 60Hz allows with Vsync on. Of course in your area, they're probably ALL 100Hz.

I've read personal testimonials on the A/V forum I chat on stating the S5700s are similar in picture quality to the Sony EX640, which is pretty good really. Note however that there are two firmware updates for that LG, one of which is a general update (vs feature based for media and such). That usually means it fixes something. So if the owner mentions something about a problem with it, you may or may NOT want to mention the updates, because they might change their mind if they don't know about it.

 

[adulaamin]

I bought the LG one and my gf and I are really happy about it. I opted for that one since it has an IPS panel compared to the Samsung although it was a little more expensive. Now time to save up to replace my aging Samsung 22" PC monitor. Thanks for all the replies everyone!

 

[Frag_Maniac]

I opted for that one since it has an IPS panel compared to the Samsung although it was a little more expensive

If it's this year's model, I can believe it. Now when they say they're IPS, they actually ARE, each unit. Last and previous years though, they'd advertise them as IPS, but you didn't know whether you'd get an IPS or VA panel due to a lottery, which really sucked. It's about time they got up to speed with Panasonic, whom have ALWAYS used IPS panels in their sets that are advertised to have them.

 

[pdimar1]

get this

http://www.cseed.tv/design/movie.html

 

[punisher186]

Are you going to take viewing distance into account? It is important.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optimum_HDTV_viewing_distance