HDTV under 32.5" wide

[psal2]

I want to get an HDTV under 32.5" wide (need to fit the entertainment center) and so far the only one I see is the Toshiba 30HF84.

Reading some of the comments about the vertical geometry problems makes me a little leary of this one.

Are there any other models (about the same price range) that are under 32.5" wide?

[MathGuy]

Samsung's TXP26 series (26" widescreen) come in at under 32" wide. At $699, these have built in HD tuners and DVI/HDMI inputs. I have the older TXM26 (without these two features) and have been quite happy. Samsung's have side mounted speakers, which is why only the 26" models will fit (sorry).

[kevinw]

Get a new entertainment center. Not being mean but Hd is so much better on larger screens. Any way this one is about 30 inches with out speakers
http://www.plasma.com/sharplcd/lc30hv4u.htm

[Ratman]

Get a new entertainment center.

Ha-ha!!
Believe it or not, I was going to reply with that... so I didn't sound mean (again). Thanks kevinw, you opened the door for me! :)

IMO... if you want an HDTV, don't retrict your enjoyment/upgrade based on existing furniture. It's a restriction that will drastically limit your choices and perhaps compromise the benefits of a larger/wider display.

Build the furniture around the TV, not the other way around.

And... I'm not being mean either! :D

[Sheabuff]

Ya know some people do not have the budget or the space available to warrent a large set. For instance, in my living room a 42+" set would look rediculous (trust me I have seen more than a few that have gone that route). I chose to get a 30" badboy because yes it fit my budget and decor. For around a grand I was able to get a nice TV that looks great in my existing ent center, while my neighbor spent 2,500 to get a 50ish" TV that makes his LR look like a joke.

Before people jump to the conclusion that you should just get a new ent center try to see wait challenges the people are meeting. Other than that, I appreciate the great advice I have seen and taken from here. The people posting here are incredible and i do not want to seem unthankful (saved me a few hundred bucks on cables alone, I was one of those fooled by the great marketing machine that is Monster)

[Ratman]

Calm down Sheabuff... don't you think we all have the same problems with space and budget?

The opening post is "I want to get an HDTV under 32.5" wide (need to fit the entertainment center)".

Retricting oneself (assuming the question/requirement), may cause the individual to spend MORE money for an undersized set that he/she may be unhappy with in the long term.

After the expense of an HDTV, why compromise because of a piece of furniture?

Don't forget... going from a 4:3 30" to a 16:9 30" set (assuming it still fits into the existing entertainment center) will have a smaller picture size. Especially with 4:3 programming.

We are here to help. Even if the truth hurts.

As an analogy:
I'm looking for a Humvee that will fit into my one car garage......

[psal2]

Well, all good points but my living room is only about 12 feet deep and anything bigger than a 34" would be too much (IMO) because of the placement of the furniture (can't afford theater setting...LOL).

Also just bought the house this week and spent $1660 on car repairs so the budget is a little thin right now. Keeping that in mind, and I will re-measure to make sure, what TV MIGHT fit in the 32.5"....

I see a JVC 30W575 is 32.8, maybe a little grease on the sides might help it in but I doubt that. Any comments on that TV or the Toshiba 30HF84?

[Ratman]

Well, all good points but my living room is only about 12 feet deep and anything bigger than a 34" would be too much (IMO) because of the placement of the furniture

My living room is 14' deep. I have a 38" widescreen. I sit about 8' away. IMO... it's adequate.

Just as a reference. I just bought my sons a 30" widescreen last week (upgrade from a 27" 4:3 set). Their living room is appox. 12x12. I think it's too small (the TV, but they are happy). Just food for thought.

I'm not breaking your chops... just trying to provide my experience(s).

[kevinw]

Ya know some people do not have the budget or the space available to warrent a large set. For instance, in my living room a 42+" set would look rediculous (trust me I have seen more than a few that have gone that route). I chose to get a 30" badboy because yes it fit my budget and decor. For around a grand I was able to get a nice TV that looks great in my existing ent center, while my neighbor spent 2,500 to get a 50ish" TV that makes his LR look like a joke.

Before people jump to the conclusion that you should just get a new ent center try to see wait challenges the people are meeting. Other than that, I appreciate the great advice I have seen and taken from here. The people posting here are incredible and i do not want to seem unthankful (saved me a few hundred bucks on cables alone, I was one of those fooled by the great marketing machine that is Monster)


Ok Price wise a larger HD rear projection is more often less than a 30-34 HD tube TV.
Making a living room look like a joke is an opinion-Does your neigbor think his living room looks like a joke as you do? Be sure to let him him know. Who has the Superbowl party? Little TV or Big TV...

Yes old style entertainment centers do not work with todays TV's. I feel that if you are going to update the electronics then update the furniture. Whats more important -having a TV you a truely happy with or sacrificing for oak and particle board.

There are many compact TV's - DLP or LCD that are better choices for compact areas than a large tube.
BTW I was not jumping to a conclusion. I was half kidding. I really do not expect everyone to dump the entertainmnet center.Yes I know people are on a budget me included. :)

[Sheabuff]

I appologize, did not mean to jump down your throats at all. Actually thought about the fact that if size was the only concern a large plasma or lcd monitor would take up next to no space at all.

Just on a side note, the Super Bowl party this year was still at my house, even though we just had a small tv. Guess the wings and beer were a factor :guiny:

I really do see your side of the furniture discussion. If it were my call the EC would have been shipped out but it was the one concession I had to make. Oh well, guess i am pwipped

[Sheabuff]

I also guess joke was an exaggeration, it is a very nice set. But even he has told me that it is too big for his living room

[Ratman]

Actually thought about the fact that if size was the only concern a large plasma or lcd monitor would take up next to no space at all.

Depth-wise, but not necessarily width.

Don't worry about the 'throat jumping'. I've been married forever! :)

[kevinw]

No problem. My wife also thinks our 50 inch RP TV is way to big for the room and is a "JOKE". I did turn down an invitation to a Superbowl party that did not have an HD tv though. Fortunatlely I have friends with bigger TV's and BIGGER living rooms :D

[gparris]

I got my 65" with 14" feet away and it still seems small...but sufficient until the car bills go away...then I want to treat myself to the Sony 70" LCD RPTV unless the 73" Mits looks better...thanks for the honesty,folks. Everything is a personal preference, and I find that out with every couple I meet with Home Theatre on their minds, especially now, as the weather in the northern climes gets colder and people tend to stay inside more, holidays come, etc.
So far, the favourite HD set sizes are from 48" to 65" with a mixture of half in the 50" plus sizes...all types, with CRT or LCD RPTVs in most favour...time will tell by January as I do some more setups.

[Matt27]

if you were still interested in the toshiba, by all means stay away from it.Don't make the mistake that many people have had with theirs on AVS forum.

I think the panasonic 30wx54 may work out for your dimensions, but i am not sure.

[Blaster]

while my neighbor spent 2,500 to get a 50ish" TV that makes his LR look like a joke.

hey , I'm the neighbor You think my LR looks like crap... :rofl2:
of course I'm kidding

well I am on the side of not letting Ent Center dictate , but I know people
do what they have to...

5-6 years ago I bought a huge $1000/500lbs beautiful Ent Center
I had to "can-it" for the WS HDTV :mecry:
I'm glad I did & never looked back...

so here's my input on sets below 32.5"

this one is: 32"W x 19.25"H x 4.33"D http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=3266483&cat=136937&type=19&dept=3944&path=0%3A3944%3A121791%3A136937

and this is: 20.3"H x 20.2"D x 31.7"W http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=3207230&cat=136937&type=19&dept=3944&path=0%3A3944%3A121791%3A136937

[psal2]

Okay, I remeasured and I have 32.75 inches and the JVC 30W475 is 32.8 inches. Maybe greasing the sides would work.

I don't want to go below 30 inches and if I could, I would go 34 inches but I remeasured everything. Closest seat is 5 feet away and main viewing is only 9 feet.

I could go 42" (Samsung RPTV) at around $1100 but I want to hold off on that and just get something around 30 inches to take advantage of the widescreen format DVDs that I have.

Any body have the JVC and how is that one?

[mfabien]

....I could go 42" (Samsung RPTV) at around $1100 but I want to hold off on that and just get something around 30 inches to take advantage of the widescreen format DVDs that I have.

Any body have the JVC and how is that one?

Why do you want to hold off? The Samsung 42" RPTV would give much more satisfaction than any 30 incher. And DVD should not be "the" criteria for selection...what about High Definition?

[gparris]

In my thread about entertainment centers, I gave an example and this list never ends.
WWF or not, I would give in to the HDTV rather than the "cute furniture".

You can, too, have nice furniture AND a decent-sized HDTV set...42" seems, at least in my experience, to be the optimal size for every room, lately, as I do consulting and installs.
No wonder why the plasmas started out around that size...but RPTVs are definitely less expensive and produce great pictures nevertheless.

[psal2]

I might be able to modify the entertainment center to handle the 42 inch Sammy (now where did I put the sawzall...LOL).

I need to check the local Sears outlet center (someone told me that last year's version of the 42" was selling around $650. Than I might be able to justify it to the war department.

[akeener]

I have the Hitachi 46F500 and it looks great in my single car converted garage with only 12 feet wall to wall.

Here's one at sears, not that expensive as far as HDTV go. http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=ELEC&pid=05754713000
Just something to consider. Good Luck!

[psal2]

I am still looking. Narrowed it to the Samsung HC-P4252W (can't find it locally), the Toshiba 46H84 and the 46F500. The first two have HDMI but I can get the 46h84 locally.

Got to local at this one closer. Thanks for the input.

[Blaster]

Hey , what happened to your width limit of 32.5" ??

[psal2]

Still have that while I have the e-center but I am giving some serious thought to blowing it up. I have to look because I think 46 might just be a hair too big and 42 probably about right.

I also looked at the e-center and think it can be modified to fit up to about 38 inches. That might allow some other options. I am at work now so I can't check until later tonight.

[Blaster]

Still have that while I have the e-center but I am giving some serious thought to blowing it up.
:zblowup:

HEY , now your talking !

if you do decide to replace Entertainment Center I believe you will be glad you did

now choose a nice compact 46" RPTV (Sony or Hitachi)
http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_compare.php/?topcat_id=2&page_id=137&page_id=137&masterids%5B%5D=1028668&masterids%5B%5D=3920844&masterids%5B%5D=1657596&Compare+Selected+Products.x=45&Compare+Selected+Products.y=11

and pick out a nice stereo component rack...

and your set for a few years :rockon:

heck , maybe even offset some cost by selling Ent Center

[psal2]

Now, if my wife says we keep the center, I just noticed that the 34HF84 Toshiba would fit too (without modifying).

I need to convince her that we need the bigger TV, that should be easy...LOL

[gparris]

WWF hit hard with a friend of mine. Says they have 6 feet for the HT center next to the fireplace, which angles in the living room. I am pushing hard for what I believe is that perfect size...in this case, 42" HD set...CRT RPTV with nice plants, matching shelving overhead to what will be left of the old "entertainment center" circa 1995.
Either it goes or she goes, he said...I intervened, this is what will happen, at least for now, unless WWF hits hard again.
Point is, 42" works fine, or something in the 40" incher size, otherwise you may be wishing for bigger, later, even at 8-10 feet away.

[jco]

HDTV really shines on large screens or small screens viewed VERY close.
In a living room a screen in a cabinet only 32" wide is too small IMHO,
32" wide is fine for a bedroom where your eyes are only 5 or 6 feet from
the screen but not a living room....
JCO

[gparris]

Most friends of mine that have bedroom HDTV sets have a 30 to 34 inch widescreen size. :cool:

Anything smaller than 42" in a living room is just a bedroom set! :whistle:

psal2: PLEASE get the 42" set and convince her...you both won't regret it! :cheers:

[psal2]

No convincing needed this time. She and daughter just bought a cat for $200 (okay stop laughing), so I am getting the TV I want. Looks like I am going for a Toshiba 46h84.

I work at a Sears and they have a friends and family night coming up in Novermber, where there is an extra 10% off (and I still get a 10% employee discount and we price match other locals, etc, coupons) and no pay, no interest, no accrued interest unitl January 2006. That will make the $1399 down to something like $1100 (can't be that price and payment terms).

Besides two of the kids always sit up front in the movies (like the big pix in your face effect) so they can sit the closest to the TV in the room when I get it (have to wait until November 14th for that but it will be worth it).

Pete

[newf]

why not try to find a 30hf83 It's last years model and you can find them cheep, mine and others seem to have no problems,plus if you watch alot of 4:3 stretch modes are important and I find toshiba rulz that department.

[gparris]

I think you will enjoy the "just right size" of the 46" Toshiba. Try to keep the cat off the set, though.. :rofl2:
This 46" size with the kids will allow you all to enjoy a nice picture without crowding around it, too. :whistle:
Sounds like fantastic pricing... :cheers:
Hold your ground on getting the Toshiba, okay?

[psal2]

The 46H84 is being delivered on Wednesday. I worked it out to get the TV now instead of waiting. But the stand I wanted (not the matching base) won't be available until a week and half later. This will sit on a very sturdy coffee table until then.

Thanks for the input. I am sure once I get it, I will be asking about service menus, etc. I will use the AVIA disc I bought last year to do the set up JUST RIGHT.

[psal2]

My wife called and said the 46" Toshiba 46H84 was delivered today. Can't wait to get home and hook it up. :) :)

Thanks for all the advise.

Pete

[kevinw]

My wife called and said the 46" Toshiba 46H84 was delivered today. Can't wait to get home and hook it up. :) :)

Thanks for all the advise.

Pete
Congrats Pete,
read the Faq's about what to do with your new TV.

[psal2]

I read those many times over the last two years and will make sure that I don't get burn it, use the Avia disk to set it up, etc.

I really do appreciate the help. I will report back (tomorrow?) on the TV.

Pete