Need serious buying suggestion...

[wookiemofo]

Hello everyone. I've been lurking this board for some time now! Figured I would join and start posting away. And with my first post, I bring you a buying question. I know a lot of it has to do with personal preference, but I don't have enough experience in Home Theater to know what to do.

My budget is 3K, I need assistance with the following scenarios.

Do I:
Buy a Samsung 42" DLP HLR4266W, from a B&M, pay for a stand, a warranty and tax...for about 2400. Then take my remaining 600 and toss it towards a Denon 7.1 HomeTheater In a Box. All with 24 Months no interest

or

Buy a Samsung 50" DLP HLR5087W from Onecall (pedastal TV), no stand required, no tax, free delivery, warranty, for 2700. And worry about my hometheater components later? All with 12 Months no inereset

I do currently have a Sharp SD-AT50 system, that produces adequet sound for entry level.

I am also currently on Time Warner, and am contemplating switching to DirecTV.

My main dilema, is do I save some cash and get a smaller TV, and hope that I am happy with it (I currently have a 36" upstairs). Or do I spend my max, and get a 50"... and build my theater through time?

Any help or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. Glad to be on this board :rockon:

[mjones73]

How far back do you normally sit from the TV? With a 42", the recommended viewing distance is only like 5-6 feet where the 50" gives you 6-7 feet. Unless your right on top of your TV, go with the biggest set you can afford that meets your viewing distance needs.

[wookiemofo]

That's to be determined.

Im remodeling the basement, creating a hometheater. We could be sitting as far back as 8-9 feet, but I can't afford anything bigger then a 50!!! Unless I with with a standard HD Projection.

You think its smarter to perfect the system through time? I've always wondered on the home theater in boxes.

[cwhiatt]

IMO: Go with scenario 1.

I have a 43" and honestly it's more than enough. A 42" coupled with a nice sound package should bring you much more enjoyment. Plus, I like the idea of having a separate stand.

[wookiemofo]

How far do you sit from the TV?

See, I have a 36 now, and I sit about 8 feet from the tv, and its a pretty nice sized set.

Where in MN did you buy? Im thinking if I go B&M its the Best Buy in edina

[cwhiatt]

Im thinking if I go B&M its the Best Buy in edina

You'd be better off going to the BB in Richfield. They have quite a bit more selection. That's where I bought my set.

[wookiemofo]

Yeah i know. But I sat in there for 20 minutes yesterday, without a single hello or aknowledgement.

They are lucky I don't work for corporate a few blocks away.

[cwhiatt]

They are lucky I don't work for corporate a few blocks away.

If you did, you and I would become friends real quick. I'm dying to get a free pass to their never used outdoor basketball court. :rofl2:

[mjones73]

That's to be determined.

Im remodeling the basement, creating a hometheater. We could be sitting as far back as 8-9 feet, but I can't afford anything bigger then a 50!!! Unless I with with a standard HD Projection.

You think its smarter to perfect the system through time? I've always wondered on the home theater in boxes.

IMO - Go to the store, figure out how far back you'd normally sit from the set and compare how the 42" and 50" look to you. Personally I'd go with the 50" at 8-9 feet.

As for the audio, you need to trust your ears, demo systems, go with what meets your needs and sounds right to you, I'd rather wait and piece together a system I'd be happy with...

[gparris]

I would go with the 50" because the regret factor over not buying it later really can dig at you. I compared a 42" to a 50" in the store at about 9 feet away and the 42" lost its punch, but the 50" gave me the HD experience.
In the master bedroom, the 48" Mits is about 24" deep plus cords, the width of the room is 13 feet so with watching the 48" is barely adequate for HD at about 9-10 feet.
My regret is I didn't go with at least a 50" set of some kind when I could.

[kevinw]

I'd buy the Toshiba
http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/article.asp?section_id=3&article_id=836&page_number=1
fewer issues than Samsung and better picture -at least S&V thinks so

[wookiemofo]

I should also mention that the 5087W, pedestal TV that suposedly has a better picture then the xx67WW, is at Onecall for $800 under retail!

Has anyone ordered from onecall?

[mikehbkwm]

i have ordered from there not a tv but other things and would recommend them they are very reputable in my opinion.....

[mjones73]

I'd buy the Toshiba
http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/article.asp?section_id=3&article_id=836&page_number=1
fewer issues than Samsung and better picture -at least S&V thinks so

Cool, I've seen a few other comments about the new Toshiba's and how they look also.

[wookiemofo]

I think I've decided on the 5067 from BB. There's a $300 difference, which I think I can get down a bit more.

I searched samsungs site, and didnt see a single thing different between the 67 and the 87 besides the design. The 67 actually has more inputs.

Hopefully I don't change my mind...can't wait till the reciept's in my hands and I can stop fretting about it.

[kevinw]

Cool, I've seen a few other comments about the new Toshiba's and how they look also.
I have played with the Samsung- My neighbor has one..I did not care for what appears to be motion blur... Color on the other hand was pretty good after adjustng with AVIA..

[wookiemofo]

Just got out of Best Buy. I was gonna walk in and buy the 5267. I figured with the security of buying it there, and the fact that I would still need an entertainment stand, it's just the better deal (plus 24 months)

Well, the salesman was really pushing the New JVC 52 HD-ILA HD527BP6. What are these? Why was he pushing it so hard. The tv itself looked like hell...Best Buy was definenetly no displaying it right.

So now Im all twisted up...Im actually liking this model, and it will come out to be the same price.

Any ideas?

[mjones73]

The JVC uses LCoS technology which is LCD based instead of a mechnical DLP chip.

This page below explains LCoS projectors but they use the same principals as the JVC set.

http://www.projectorcentral.com/lcos.htm

[gparris]

Best Buy stores differ greatly from my experience from state to state, city to city and store to store on quality of setup, knowledge of salespersons and so on.
The JVC wookiemofo saw was set up very badly at the Best Buy store due to incompetence and lack of management...at that store.
Other stores, like higher-profile ones that sell higher-end HT product are more careful of the set, display and signals for their wares and the sales people more knowledgeable as they have to compete with the Best Buys and the other big box stores.
The 52 and 70-inch HD-ILA JVC sets I have seen are very impressive and outside of the high-end PDPs, a good technology, especially for those who hate the possiblity of rainbows and spinning colour wheels (mechanicals) of DLP.
Find a good store to visit, bring your favourite DVD, play it, then go for any HD they can display for you on adjacent sets to compare.
Ask for the return policy of the store if you are not satisfied.
If the store cannot accommodate your needs, go to another store.