PreGameLobby

BiffCo · 10-17-2006, 09:43 PM

Ok, so I've always said that I'm getting a new TV "soon." Well, looks like soon will be with beginning of next month. I'm currently gaming/watching movies on a Samsung TXN3245. It's "not supposed" to do HD, but because of the service menu tweak, it accepts a 1080i signal. For those of you that attended the Monkeyjam, I currently have the same set as Wonderous. Just for reference.

So my budget for a new TV is not huge. Actually, I really can't go above $1400. I need to get a stand also if the TV doesn't have a speaker case thing. Here are a couple I've been looking at recently (both only do 720p):

Samsung 42" DLP (HL-S4266W) $1300
Toshiba Theaterwide 50" DLP (50HM66) $1400

I'm really kind of partial to the Samsung. I'm moving (again, but it's all good), so I can't really go too big on screen size. The main reasons I'm leaning torwards the Samsung is that I really like the look of their TVs. Not to mention that I see slight rainbows with the Toshiba. I do not with the Samsung. I belive this has to do with the Sammy using a 5-segment color wheel spinning at 14,400 rpms. I believe the Tosh is only using a 4-segment and spins at around 13,000 rpms.

So what do you guys think? Any opinions would be great!

-Brad

KEEZY · 10-18-2006, 08:18 AM

I'm very partial to Sammy. I loved my old Sammy, and cry every night thinking of how I had to sell it. If it plays that cool melody when you turn it on and off, get it! If you see rainbows with the Tos... I'd stay away from it. It will probably just get on your nerves.

Either way, a stand is going to be another few hundy... which is a suck.

I'm in the same boat, Brad. I'm back in the market for a new TV, but am just as confused as I've ever been.

BiffCo · 10-18-2006, 08:47 AM

I hear ya, Keez. I really like the Sammy. The Tosh is nice, but the damn rainbows would get in the way a lot. I demoed an Infocus 4805 at a friends house about a week ago. It's nice, but damn if that thing didn't paint more rainbows than Elton John. It was a nightmare!

I don't notice them on the Sammy. Definitely a good thing. I'm not looking to go 1080p at the moment. Much too expensive with no real results. They can preach to me all day about "True HD," but if there is no real visible difference, I'm going to save the extra $$ and go with 720p.

As far as stands go, there is one at Best Buy for $150 that matches the Sammy very nicely. Not to mention that I have a friend that works there that may be able to get me employee pricing. That would be sweet!

Sammy also has a 46 incher in the same model. It's about $100 more, so I may spring for that one if I can get my friend to help me out.

-Brad

Jon Liu · 10-18-2006, 08:52 AM

brad, it seems like your decision is already made. I'd have to agree and back you on the decision for the Sammy. I've seen sammys and they are very nice. I owned a 30" tube a couple years ago and was pretty pleased with it!

I think the biggest concern is the RBE. If you see the RBE on the Toshiba, don't go for it. It will only cause more headaches and frustration than it's worth. Go with your gut instinct and get the Sammy! It seems like you are already pleased with going that route!

Good luck with the move and good luck getting the TV!

BiffCo · 10-18-2006, 09:17 AM

Thanks, Jon! The move shouldn't be so bad if I can sell my current TV. Me and my folks still have a lot of packing to do. I'm trying to convince my dad that renting a Uhaul is a good idea. "Imagine making one trip to the new house vs. 8 with your truck!" I even offered to foot half the cost of the Uhaul. I hope he bites.

I'm pretty much set on the Sammy, but I'm having a tough decision deciding between the 42" and the 46" model. I won't know until I get into my new room. As expected, I'm kind of leaning towards the 46", just because it's only $100 difference.

The one thing I noticed, even in Best Buy's brightly lit showroom, is that the majority of these models (42", 46", 50") didn't seem to have the red push that was evidenced on every other LCD and DLP there, especially the Sony's. Now, these weren't calibrated at all with any test discs. I'm thinking of going to BB today and mucking around with the settings on a few different movies. I'm bringing in my own material that I know, that way I can make a "guesstimation calibration." I just created a new phrase!

They better let me do that, too. They may lose a sale if not.

-Brad

dmiller68 · 10-18-2006, 09:46 AM

I looked at the sammys when I was looking to buy a new TV about a year ago now... I didn't go with them becuase there was a lot of issues around lip syncing. I think I heard those whre resolved in the new models. I personally like the sammys looks and have been thinking about the 46" for the bedroom... I don't see the rainbows at all so I have it lucky there.

Jon Liu · 10-18-2006, 10:07 AM

I did notice Rainbows at the tail end of the time period of owning the Infocus 4805 (DLP PJ). While, when I started noticing it, it didn't bother me nonetoomuch, I'm sure if I lived with it for a longer period of time, it would bother me...

Sammys are sweet looking TVs. Keep us posted on your findings, if BB lets to test them out!

KEEZY · 10-18-2006, 10:12 AM

I tried to calibrate my Sammy DLP, and I couldn't get it to work. There were some settings I couldn't change. Some at HTS told me that you can't really calibrate DLP like you can CRT or OPP.

SpOoNmAn · 10-18-2006, 03:52 PM

Both sets are nice, and build a damn stand if you have the know how and save a couple hundred buckaroonies

Its DLP so rock on!

You guys and your rainbows

what is the reasoning behind some seeing them and some not? Whats the physiological reasons behind it? I'll have to look that up later, Im truly curious. Is there a delay in the eye, or is just a sensitivity thing?

Surveys taken over the years seem to be spot on(sorry for the spot thing, lol). Out of 10 or so people that have demo'd DLP projectors along side me, I believe 2 have seen rainbows. That falls into the 20% or less category that suffers from the rainbow affliction.

BiffCo · 10-18-2006, 06:36 PM

I really wish I didn't see them. It irks me that some do and some don't. I recall demoing the Infocus X1 a couple of years ago for a week. WOW! That thing was worse than the 4805 for me. That "Swarm of Smiths" scene from the Matrix Reloaded was a nightmare. Black suits with white undershirts and white cuffs all moving pretty quickly. That's when most people see rainbows: alternating black and white levels (black and white suits) with quick motion. Look for it on some of the lower end DLP projectors.

Luckily, with the new color wheels with 5-6 segments and the faster RPMS, rainbows are a thing of the past for me!

-Brad

Jon Liu · 10-18-2006, 07:03 PM

yep! i remember seeing it really prevalent in the movie Sin City when I watched it on the IF 4805.

I'm glad that today's units are having less and less of this...

SpOoNmAn · 10-18-2006, 07:10 PM

The X1s color wheel was nowhere near as good as the 4805s. In all the DLP tv's/projectors I've seen in the last 3 or so years, I've yet to see the rainbow, even on low end models.

I must be blessed with lazy eyes

Jon Liu · 10-18-2006, 07:17 PM

yep! Be glad! Ignorance is bliss! Once you start noticing a flaw, there's no turning back... it only costs more money!

dmiller68 · 10-18-2006, 08:44 PM

I don't know if you have a Fry's near you but I was reading the ad tonight and they have a 1080p 62" Toshiba for $1400. It is $500 off right now. Don't know much about the TV but I thought I would through it out.

Jon Liu · 10-18-2006, 09:07 PM

that sound pretty good! Wonder if that's a LCD or what kind of technology it is!

BiffCo · 10-18-2006, 11:01 PM

Unfortunately, I don't have a Fry's anywhere near me, but for that price, I'm guessing it's a CRT RPTV. That's pretty much a no go for me. As beautiful as the picture is, I just don't want something that weighs 300 lbs. Not to mention that 62 inches is WAY too big for my room.

-Brad

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