Which 32 inch LCD TV to get for the holidays?

[Domino]

Hey guys I need some assistance.

For a 32 inch LCD TV which one is usually better: Panasonic, LG, or Sansung?

I'm revamping my audio side of the bedroom where I would like to put a simple 32 inch TV (no size bigger) and put in a Blu-Ray player.

I'm not going to game on it at all. It is more for watching anime, music concert DVDs/Blu-Ray via disc and streaming.

Price is between $250-$300ish. Just need recommendations on a simple TV that's good enough for watching stuff. 720p is fine.

[njiska]

First of all, I love Polly and that Avatar is awesome.

Second, you can't really go wrong with a Samsung LCD, but I don't know if they make 1080p displays of that size in that price range If that doesn't matter they do have some decent 720p displays. Panasonic makes good displays as well, but i'm mostly knowledgable with their Plasma lines.

[Domino]

First of all, I love Polly and that Avatar is awesome.

Hi five! You know it is coming out on DVD right?

Second, you can't really go wrong with a Samsung LCD, but I don't know if they make 1080p displays of that size in that price range If that doesn't matter they do have some decent 720p displays. Panasonic makes good displays as well, but i'm mostly knowledgable with their Plasma lines.

I can be happy without 1080p to be honest. With this set up I'm aiming more for the audio over the video. The Blu-Ray player that I'm aiming at is the new Oppo BDP-103. They improved the analog outputs to sound better, it will play even my odd formats that I own (SACDs for example), and it can read from a hard drive AVIs/MKVs.

[njiska]

Hi five! You know it is coming out on DVD right?

Of course. I keep waiting for the release announcement, but the company is really small so it looks like it may be a bit still. Kind of curious to see the original Japanese DVD release as well, just so I can see what the show is like before translation butchering made it better and more awesome.

I can be happy without 1080p to be honest. With this set up I'm aiming more for the audio over the video. The Blu-Ray player that I'm aiming at is the new Oppo BDP-103. They improved the analog outputs to sound better, it will play even my odd formats that I own (SACDs for example), and it can read from a hard drive AVIs/MKVs.

Then yeah, just go with a Samsung in that range. Honestly, if video isn't important then I'd just recommend going to a store and seeing what looks the best to you. Nothing in that price range is going to have super fancy features, but as long as it's a mainstream brand it should meet your needs.

Speaking of SACD, I still need to get a player that does output over HDMI, but since price is a concern, I've been looking at this year's Pioneer's Elite BD Player.

[Domino]

Of course. I keep waiting for the release announcement, but the company is really small so it looks like it may be a bit still. Kind of curious to see the original Japanese DVD release as well, just so I can see what the show is like before translation butchering made it better and more awesome.

They started on their Facebook page that there's been positive movement on getting the Dub masters by January.

Then yeah, just go with a Samsung in that range. Honestly, if video isn't important then I'd just recommend going to a store and seeing what looks the best to you. Nothing in that price range is going to have super fancy features, but as long as it's a mainstream brand it should meet your needs.

The video is important but not as important. I don't want to get a cheap crap TV that is going to suck monkey balls. 720p is enough for a 32 inch TV IMO.

Speaking of SACD, I still need to get a player that does output over HDMI, but since price is a concern, I've been looking at this year's Pioneer's Elite BD Player.

I heard the Elite players are ok. If you are getting the low end model for $500 new I would recommend consider the Oppo BDP-103.

[njiska]

I heard the Elite players are ok. If you are getting the low end model for $500 new I would recommend consider the Oppo BDP-103.

I plan on testing a couple players in person before I buy. My main concern is SACD and DVD-A over HDMI that sounds correct. The video features of the player are irrelevant to me.

[Domino]

I plan on testing a couple players in person before I buy. My main concern is SACD and DVD-A over HDMI that sounds correct. The video features of the player are irrelevant to me.

The Oppo can do that just fine.

[Friendly]

LG makes very good quality TVs, too. They actually have the best passive 3D screens around, though I don't think getting one as small as 32" makes much sense (and they are beyond what you are willing to spend). Is there a sepcific reason you only want 32"? Blu Ray pretty much begs for 40+ inch.

[SuperPang]

Samsung if you want it to look sexy and have good smart TV features.
Panasonic if you want the best picture quality and sensible options.
Also consider Sony and Toshiba.

[Friendly]

Samsung probably offers the best value for money.

Do NOT buy a 720p display. Especially if you move closer to the screen and play modern games, there is a very noticable difference.

[Gozer]

This model might be slightly out of your price range but you might be able to find it cheaper elsewhere.

You might want to stick with a 1080p set if you plan on watching blu rays.

It's a full array panel rather then edge lit. That should cut down on back light bleed.

Samsung probably offers the best value for money.

Do NOT buy a 720p display. Especially if you move closer to the screen and play modern games, there is a very noticable difference.

Most console games natively run at 720p or below.

[Domino]

LG makes very good quality TVs, too. They actually have the best passive 3D screens around, though I don't think getting one as small as 32" makes much sense (and they are beyond what you are willing to spend). Is there a sepcific reason you only want 32"? Blu Ray pretty much begs for 40+ inch.

TV going into the bedroom and a 32 inch is the highest that it will fit in my bedroom. Blu-Ray is for music features where audio plays a more important role than video. I don't know if I can find a good 1080p set for my price range but we will see.

[Cuilan]

This model might be slightly out of your price range but you might be able to find it cheaper elsewhere.

I got that exact same TV a couple of months ago from Amazon, and it is very good for the price in my honest opinion. Very good picture quality and the sound from it is actually decent. When fed with a 1080p video signal via HDMI, I think it looks almost as good as the Vita's OLED screen.

But be warned:

Samsung ships those TVs with LCD panels from various manufacturers, and not all of the panels are of the same quality. It's very easy to tell what panel the TV comes with by just looking at the barcode label on the box.

Cxxx/Bxxx = Chei Mei (S-MVA)
Axxx = AUO Optronics (A-MVA)
Hxxx = Sharp (ASV)
Txxx = Samsung (S-PVA)

The panel in mine is an actual Samsung panel.

[Gozer]

But be warned:

Samsung ships those TVs with LCD panels from various manufacturers, and not all of the panels are of the same quality. It's very easy to tell what panel the TV comes with by just looking at the barcode label on the box.

Cxxx/Bxxx = Chei Mei (S-MVA)
Axxx = AUO Optronics (A-MVA)
Hxxx = Sharp (ASV)
Txxx = Samsung (S-PVA)

The panel in mine is an actual Samsung panel.

Ah yes, the Samsung panel lottery.

Unfortunately for me I wasn't aware of this phenomenon when I bought my first HD tv back in 2008, it was a Samsung 720p lcd with a chei mei panel. I knew something was up with the tv because the viewing angels where terrible and the blur was atrocious.

I'm searching for my second HD tv myself at the moment. Instead of playing the panel lottery this time I'm thinking of just buying a Panasonic plasma. The only thing I'm worried about this one is how bad the glare is going to be since it doesn't have a anti glare filter. It couldn't be worse then crt glare, could it?

[Ed Oscuro]

Samsung isn't the only monitor manufacturer with a panel lottery.

I knew something was up with the tv because the viewing angels where terrible and the blur was atrocious.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Sharp makes a 32" HDTV with 1080p input...try playing the PS3 games of Wipeout HD/Fury & it's quite stunning in 1080p with the crisp 60fps framerate + 5.1 digital surround for some serious bass shaking.

Back in 2006-2007, the 32" class of HDTVs really hadn't hit the 1080p barrier yet but with the Sharp Aquos 32" HDTV set, it had 1080p from the get-go (and were considered pricey in the range of $1,600+ easily). It does have all the usual analog A/V inputs you could want & more.

The 32" HDTVs from the 2004-2005 era were 1080i at best and still commanded a respectable $1,400-$1,500+ pricetag depending on the brand name you decided to go with.

HDTV Factoid: Best Buy's lineup of HDTVs is their own "Insignia" brand.

PC Engine Fan X ! ^_~

[Ed Oscuro]

the 1080p barrier

I know this could be said to exist for us mere mortals, but surely not for you!

I have it on good authority the only reason the 8K projectors being used to display NHK's 8K Olympics footage is because PC Engine Fan X! needs them. All of them, for 4-D projection of the super-special release of GunLock, where the lasers actually travel into deep space and kill enemies in the future.

[Domino]

I'm not getting a store brand and the panel lottery sucks. I heard only Sharp and Panasonic don't do it, but the other companies does. Best Buy is pushing more of the LG/Samsung products in the 32 inch line in their stores nowadays.

I hope the TV that I pick up won't be completely like shit.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

It all depends if you go with a low-priced HDTV with just the bare/basic inputs, mid-priced HDTVs with a bit more inputs, and as usual, with the high-end HDTVs, all the inputs you want/need. Of course, you could end up taking close to a year to pay off such a mid-priced or high-end HDTV if going that particular route.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Daigohji]

Blu-ray and 720p are not a good combination, and not just because of the downscaling of the video source from 1080p. AFAIK, there are no 720p TVs that support the 24p blu-ray standard. Real time conversion from 24fps to a different frame rate will result in annoying judder in any shot where the camera moves or where large objects move on-screen.

[njiska]

For his intended purpose I really don't think the minor level of judder introduced will be an issue.

[Domino]

I had a Blu-Ray player years ago with a small 720p TV and I thought Blu-Ray was just fine on that setup. The big catch is that I'm not buying any regular movie releases on the Blu-Ray format. I want to use more of the Blu-Ray format for the music releases they have on the format.