32 inch Flat Screen TV

[Uncle Timbo]

OK all you experts. I'm coming out of the dark ages. My 25" Montgomery Ward console TV is biting the dust. I have a $400.00 Sears points card and I want a 32 incher. I can kick in a little more funds. Any recommendations for this Hillbilly?
I have basic cable service at the present time.

 

[heysox]

We're looking for a few 32" LCDs at work. Walmart has a 32" Samsung HD for $458. Sears may have similar. Samsung has a good rep.

 

[Macchina]

I got an Emerson 32" HDTV about 6 months ago from Walmart for $350. Sears had something like that IIRC. I got the TV because it was the only one that would fit in my enclosure, but it turned out to be quite nice. Display is great (better than the Sony next to it at the store) and I haven't had a single problem with it yet. Sound is kinda wimpy, but I hooked up a sound system I used to have on my PC and now movies are awesome. If you are not going to pay extra for HD service, almost all HDTV's will look the same with standard cable hook-up. Don't splurge on the Blueray player for a 32" tv, DVD's already display in digital 420P (I think that's right) and it looks great on my 32", as good as the Blueray's I've seen playing on the 50" TV's.

 

[Uncle Timbo]

I got an Emerson 32" HDTV about 6 months ago from Walmart for $350. Sears had something like that IIRC. I got the TV because it was the only one that would fit in my enclosure, but it turned out to be quite nice. Display is great (better than the Sony next to it at the store) and I haven't had a single problem with it yet. Sound is kinda wimpy, but I hooked up a sound system I used to have on my PC and now movies are awesome. If you are not going to pay extra for HD service, almost all HDTV's will look the same with standard cable hook-up. Don't splurge on the Blueray player for a 32" tv, DVD's already display in digital 420P (I think that's right) and it looks great on my 32", as good as the Blueray's I've seen playing on the 50" TV's.

Is there basic, digital and HD service?

 

[UnknownVT]

I'm kind of looking for this as well and came across a -
Panasonic VIERA C12 Series TC-L32C12 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV
it's a fairly new set - priced at several reputable vendors for $400
(does Sears do price matching?)

Check out the user reviews on Amazon.

It depends on your provider -
Comcast has basic digital with a few HD channels.

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[OldPhysics]

We're looking for a few 32" LCDs at work. Walmart has a 32" Samsung HD for $458. Sears may have similar. Samsung has a good rep.

There are a lot of good ones in the range. Samsung does do a good job for a reasonable price. As a solid state electronics guy, I like the Sonys ... but they are pricey. Panasonic does a good job.

Just make sure you know what sort of resolution you want. Do you want full 1080 HD? Something a blu-ray DVD can really take advantage of? Make sure, then, that you are getting that and not one of the 'compromise' resolutions (there are many).

1080p is the full-up resolution that's most common now.

 

[Uncle Timbo]

There are a lot of good ones in the range. Samsung does do a good job for a reasonable price. As a solid state electronics guy, I like the Sonys ... but they are pricey. Panasonic does a good job.

Just make sure you know what sort of resolution you want. Do you want full 1080 HD? Something a blu-ray DVD can really take advantage of? Make sure, then, that you are getting that and not one of the 'compromise' resolutions (there are many).

1080p is the full-up resolution that's most common now.

Upgrading from a Montgomery Ward I don't know. Besides the price is there that big of a diff? And what about Visio's?

 

[OldPhysics]

Upgrading from a Montgomery Ward I don't know. Besides the price is there that big of a diff? And what about Visio's?

Visio makes a decent middle-of-the-road model. I wouldn't be ashamed. I'd consider LG to be somewhat better.

The difference depends on your eyes and what you expect.

I can easily see the differences between models with supposedly the same resolution and refresh rates ... but I've been working in optics labs for many decades.

Hit Best Buy and see what your eyes tell you. If the 720p resolution seems about the same as 1080 p to you, you should save around $300 at that size.

From Monkey Ward, most models you will see are in the "up" direction.

 

[DWK2]

Although I eventually decided to buy a larger Sony, I looked at the 32" and was very impressed. The Samsung was also top-notch, although I like the matte finish of the Sony screen a bit better than the shiny finish on the Samsung. But that's just personal preference combined with the way my room is lighted.

The larger Sony has been excellent.

DancesWithKnives

 

[rycen]

1080P is wasted on a 32 inch tv unless you sit 8 inches away from it.

 

[elbaiv]

My Samsung 32" 1080p Series 4 has 3 hdmi inputs and one slot for pc connection with 30,000:1 contrast ratio. It's just perfect for my needs especially tv viewing in which my cable provider only broadcasts sd channels. Even then the picture quality is still great which is very much better than the one on my old CRT unit. Examining the LCD TV ratings helped me greatly in my final selection. I couldn't be more happier.