Television purchase

[Wrasse]

So I'll be purchasing the new DLP television soon and was curious (since I'm sure some of you may know more about this than I do) what you all think about the WHERE I should buy it? I can head down to Tweeter which is near my home and pick it up at a more expensive price, get is sooner and also pay a sales tax OR buy it online for cheaper, have it delivered (and possibly damaged) and save the sales tax (but pay the shipping but still save about 200-400 dollars).

I'm leaning towards going to the local place for piece of mind (if something is screwed up I'm sure I can just exchange it right away) but not sure I have all the information I need. Anyone made a larger screen TV purchase recently? What did you do?

Thanks!

[GrilledCheese28 (aka Aruth)]

I bought my 42" rear projection LCD from Circuit City and had them deliver it.

I had no way of moving it home without laying it down, and thats a big no no for rear projection tv's.

Test it upon delivery if you can. I would have tested mine immediately after delivery, before the delivery guys left, but it was in December of '05, and I didn't want to power it on while it was ice cold.


Also, I *highly* recommend www.avsforum.com
Excellent info there, and I'm sure you can find plenty of owners of the particular model you are looking at, and get some opinions (if you want em). Or if you are set on which one you want, you can probably find great tuning tips. Fine tuning an HDTV can make a tremendous difference in picture quality.

[Wrasse]

Thanks Aruth...I think I'll order it locally for piece of mind since it is a bit of an investment.

I've decided on the TV and have read many reviews from the avsforums and just independent reviewers...plus I love mit's products. I'm getting the 831 Diamond series of televisions that they make in the 57 inch screen size.

As for tuning tips...glad you brought that up...I'd read about that on the avsforums and knew it made a difference. I'm thinking of getting this: www.amazon.com/gp/product/630551982X/ref=wl_it_dp/105-3949565-2999602?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1XEZZBYN3NBI2&colid=1LGZ0X54T7ZN9

Any other recommendations? I'll go read more on the avsforums about that...I know you have to let your TV adjust to the temperature of the room...hopefully I can have it delivered on a clear and warm day...maybe being able to power it up sooner to check it out.

Thanks again!

[Winin]

Let me know how it goes. I'm about to get one too. Can't decide on a 48" DLP or a 42" LCD. The price seems about the same. The size isn't that different, but the LCD is thinner and less burn-in issues (I worry about watching non widescreen tv causing the side black bars to burn-in eventually).

[GrilledCheese28 (aka Aruth)]

LCD's and DLP's do not really burn in. There are no phosphors in either type. Image retention is possible, but pretty unlikely and reversible.

Plus if you get a unit with a decent enough stretch mode, its no problem running a 4x3 signal stretched to 16x9. My Sony does a great job in Wide Zoom mode. I was skeptical at first, but now I can't watch with those freakin pillars. This isn't like the old days where the picture looks retarded and stretched...they've come a really long way in smart , non-linear stretching.

I looked at DLP's when I was initially shopping for a HDTV, the picture looks great, but I seem very prone to seeing the rainbows in the picture So I had to pass on that one.

I've heard great things about that Avia disk, Wrasse. I used the THX tuner program found on just about any Disney dvd for mine, with some minor adjustments for taste.

Everyone's taste is different....and LCD, DLP, Plasma all have their own advantages and disadvantages, so go with what you like best.

I would definitely suggest that you run the salesman through the hoops when you are shopping. MAKE them hook up a DVD player, a standard definition source, a high definition source...etc. They're always quick to show you the awesome HD picture quality, with little regard for whatever you might watch primarily.

[GrilledCheese28 (aka Aruth)]

Oh yeah, one more thing....but I think its one of the most important:

Buy for your room. TV's ALWAYS look smaller in the showroom. They purposefully put their 42"s next to their 60" monsters and use other Jedi mind tricks to direct you to the bigger ones. I got a lil dorky when I was trying to decide. I actually mocked up the exact size of the model I was looking at with a cardboard box, and checked out how it would fit in our living room.

Figure out how far away you are going to be sitting from the new TV, then when you go to the store, make sure you view it from that distance. This is really important when dealing with LCD's especially, due to the screen door effect.

View it from a couple different angles too. Does your viewing room have chairs or couches off to the side? Do you like to lay on the floor to watch TV sometimes? Make sure picture stays pretty uniform from the angles you might be watching it from.

[Wrasse]

aruth said:

I got a lil dorky when I was trying to decide. I actually mocked up the exact size of the model I was looking at with a cardboard box, and checked out how it would fit in our living room.

Funny you should bring this up...I was told to do this as well.

The 57" is about perfect for our room...initially I wanted at 65" but I figured it was too big using forumlas on the web (forget what I used but there were a few that took into account viewing distance, etc.). We'll be about 11+ feet from the screen I believe...it's been a while since I calculated all of that. Good advice though. Our room is fairly large too and we can move the sectional back even more if need be.

Winin...I don't think I'll actually get the TV until April...it all kinda depends on what prices do and if I get any info on new sets being introduced. I'll post pictures and impressions when I'm finished.

Did I mention how I hate being patient? heh

I may order that disk then if I can find it at a reasonable price...I don't want to come home with an expensive set only to have Ali tell me how crappy it looks. I must impress the wife and turn her on to my developing home theater addiction.

[GrilledCheese28 (aka Aruth)]

I have heard that Netflix carried the disk. It's possible other rental places may have it as well.

[Wrasse]

I've read that as well...but I don't think you get the transparent color strips or whatever for calibration...I'll look into that (we use Netflix).

[Tye]

You might want to check out Fry's. Specifically, the one off of 635 near the airport is a good one. I know some people who have gotten great deals there. Also, Fry's and Circuit City both have a good amount of "open box" units for a discount. If you don't mind a couple scratches on the plastic, you can save a good amount of cash.

[GrilledCheese28 (aka Aruth)]

Just beware of some of those open box deals. If that was a floor model at the store, I bet that it has a lot of miles hours on its lamp.

[Wrasse]

tye7 said:

You might want to check out Fry's. Specifically, the one off of 635 near the airport is a good one. I know some people who have gotten great deals there. Also, Fry's and Circuit City both have a good amount of "open box" units for a discount. If you don't mind a couple scratches on the plastic, you can save a good amount of cash.

Yea, Fry's and CC don't care the model I'm after. I wanted to potentially go there.

[Athene]

OR buy it online for cheaper, have it delivered (and possibly damaged) and save the sales tax

You're already talking about buying it locally, but I recently learned that we're all responsible for paying sales tax on items bought online. The blurb I saw mentioned that the tax on usual items are inconsequential, but for big ticket items, it's best to pay the sales tax and avoid an audit and heavy fine. I wish I could could the source, but I can't find where I read that....

<edit>
This will work as a citation for the above, at least in Texas.
</edit>

[Wrasse]

Well that's no fun.

[Macaubre]

wrasse said:

Well that's no fun.

was about to say something witty, but I rather not