Best 32" 720p LCD TV?

[Kaido]

Title says it all

 

[Captante]

Depends on you budget, but if you can find one of the discontinued Toshiba 32HL67u's w/built in DVD player that were selling for roughly $530 a little while back at CC that would be by far the best deal.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I'd wait. Why? Sony announced new 1080p models in 32" and 37" and that will drop the prices on the 720p models which will likely be discontinued. See what happens around then.

Quick FYI: Samsung builds all the screens for Sony then Sony adds their own electronics so essentially Samsung = Sony minus a few things.

 

[gujuguy007]

I've been debating whether I should buy now also. I went to several retailers this week to check out prices and compare products. Most tell me that Samsung LNT3253H is the best rated for a 720p that's 32". Comparing most of the 32" TV's side by side, it's hard to tell which ones are good. However hands down, the Toshiba REGZA 32HL67U, gives the best price/performance. I'm debating whether I should buy this as Amazon has the best deals.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Captante
Depends on you budget, but if you can find one of the discontinued Toshiba 32HL67u's w/built in DVD player that were selling for roughly $530 a little while back at CC that would be by far the best deal.

No budget, all I care about is picture quality. It just needs an HDMI input.

 

[SmoochyTX]

I don't know about the best but I have the Toshiba REGZA 32HL67U and I absolutely love it! Great picture quality and all kinds of settings to play around with. I would recommend it (and have) to anybody not wanting to spend the money for a 1080P on a 32".

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: Captante
Depends on you budget, but if you can find one of the discontinued Toshiba 32HL67u's w/built in DVD player that were selling for roughly $530 a little while back at CC that would be by far the best deal.

No budget, all I care about is picture quality. It just needs an HDMI input.

As I said, wait. You could pickup a 1080p 32" Sony Bravia XBR in the springtime. 120hz refresh and 1080/24 support for your Blu-Ray playback etc.

It's pretty accepted that Sony makes the best LCDs at the moment. (Samsung close second).

Pricey, but they are better.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: SmoochyTX
I don't know about the best but I have the Toshiba REGZA 32HL67U and I absolutely love it! Great picture quality and all kinds of settings to play around with. I would recommend it (and have) to anybody not wanting to spend the money for a 1080P on a 32".

I would also recommend a Toshiba Regza.

 

[prism]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: Captante
Depends on you budget, but if you can find one of the discontinued Toshiba 32HL67u's w/built in DVD player that were selling for roughly $530 a little while back at CC that would be by far the best deal.

No budget, all I care about is picture quality. It just needs an HDMI input.

As I said, wait. You could pickup a 1080p 32" Sony Bravia XBR in the springtime. 120hz refresh and 1080/24 support for your Blu-Ray playback etc.

It's pretty accepted that Sony makes the best LCDs at the moment. (Samsung close second).

Pricey, but they are better.

I thought it's impossible for the human eye to tell the difference between 720p and 1080p at this size of screen?

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: Prism

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: Captante
Depends on you budget, but if you can find one of the discontinued Toshiba 32HL67u's w/built in DVD player that were selling for roughly $530 a little while back at CC that would be by far the best deal.

No budget, all I care about is picture quality. It just needs an HDMI input.

As I said, wait. You could pickup a 1080p 32" Sony Bravia XBR in the springtime. 120hz refresh and 1080/24 support for your Blu-Ray playback etc.

It's pretty accepted that Sony makes the best LCDs at the moment. (Samsung close second).

Pricey, but they are better.

I thought it's impossible for the human eye to tell the difference between 720p and 1080p at this size of screen?

Depends on the distance and what you're using it for. A 1080p display is optimal IMHO for a HTPC.

 

[Captante]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: Captante
Depends on you budget, but if you can find one of the discontinued Toshiba 32HL67u's w/built in DVD player that were selling for roughly $530 a little while back at CC that would be by far the best deal.

No budget, all I care about is picture quality. It just needs an HDMI input.

This screen rates with the best 32 inch 720p LCD's on the market (I have the 37 inch version minus DVD) & if you can get it for that price is a steal ... all things being equal paying less beats paying more in my book!

Otherwise I'd look at Sony & maybe Panasonic. (although with Panasonic make sure it has enough inputs to satisfy you down the road)

 

[Kaido]

Would the 37" be worth the extra $100 investment?

http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-...&qid=1204560923&sr=1-1

It will be used for (1) DVD movie playback and (2) SD television viewing (DVR). I'm concerned about quality of SD broadcasts, which is why I was looking at the 32" models.

 

[A5]

Yes, definitely. 32" is too small for any normal-sized room.

 

[Captante]

Originally posted by: Kaido
Would the 37" be worth the extra $100 investment?

http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-...&qid=1204560923&sr=1-1

It will be used for (1) DVD movie playback and (2) SD television viewing (DVR). I'm concerned about quality of SD broadcasts, which is why I was looking at the 32" models.

Absolutely ... in fact I started out with the 32HL67 myself but wasn't satisfied with its size & exchanged it for the 37HL67.

 

[Shawn]

I just upgraded from a 32" LCD to a 40" LCD... for my bedroom.

 

[SandEagle]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...LCDTV-_-L5D-_-89022070

32 in Olevia, 720p....
$569 (with $30 promo discount) + Free shipping.
(use promo code: EMCADAEDB)

 

[TheDrake]

Originally posted by: rrahman1
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...LCDTV-_-L5D-_-89022070

32 in Olevia, 720p....
$569 (with $30 promo discount) + Free shipping.
(use promo code: EMCADAEDB)

Is it smart to even purchase a Olevia now? From what I have heard it seems the company may bankrupt or has that changed recently?

 

[TheDrake]

Originally posted by: Kaido
Would the 37" be worth the extra $100 investment?

http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-...&qid=1204560923&sr=1-1

It will be used for (1) DVD movie playback and (2) SD television viewing (DVR). I'm concerned about quality of SD broadcasts, which is why I was looking at the 32" models.

Actually Tiger Direct has it for $799 so if you live close to where one of their stores is (I have one in Raleigh here) you can always have BB or CC price match plus it.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...EdpNo=3051990&CatId=37

Otherwise its not worth it cause they charge $155.40 for shipping by truck or whatever.

 

[SandEagle]

Originally posted by: TheDrake

Originally posted by: rrahman1
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...LCDTV-_-L5D-_-89022070

32 in Olevia, 720p....
$569 (with $30 promo discount) + Free shipping.
(use promo code: EMCADAEDB)

Is it smart to even purchase a Olevia now? From what I have heard it seems the company may bankrupt or has that changed recently?

I've got 2 Olevias (26', and 27'). Had them for a few years now, no problems at all. Awesome pic quality but sound is horrible. attach speakers and they're fine.

 

[Captante]

Originally posted by: rrahman1

Originally posted by: TheDrake

Originally posted by: rrahman1
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...LCDTV-_-L5D-_-89022070

32 in Olevia, 720p....
$569 (with $30 promo discount) + Free shipping.
(use promo code: EMCADAEDB)

Is it smart to even purchase a Olevia now? From what I have heard it seems the company may bankrupt or has that changed recently?

I've got 2 Olevias (26', and 27'). Had them for a few years now, no problems at all. Awesome pic quality but sound is horrible. attach speakers and they're fine.

Olevia TV's have good picture quality & the models with larger speakers below the screen have half-decent audio too, but the issue is that Syntax-Brillian is in serious financial trouble which could result in no warranty and/or no parts available for repairs down the road.

Despite the fact that I have an Olevia 532H in my kitchen (& I like it) I wouldn't buy it again if I had it to do over.

 

[Kaido]

Just to go out even further here, would it be worth getting the 42"? The 720p Regza is $999:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...o=3051992&sku=T24-4214

The functions would be:

-DVD player
-SDTV playback (HTPC with SD tuners)
-General computer use

This TV is for my mom. We've decided that it will replace her existing computer, so the LCD TV panel will be used for general computer use as well - email, Internet, Office. Her HTPC is all set up but I just need to decide on a proper set. The couches are 10 to 15 feet away. I'm thinking the 37" would be a good replacement for the existing 32" SD tube TV, but it might be worth investing in the larger 42".

Thoughts?

 

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: Kaido
Just to go out even further here, would it be worth getting the 42"? The 720p Regza is $999:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...o=3051992&sku=T24-4214

The functions would be:

-DVD player
-SDTV playback (HTPC with SD tuners)
-General computer use

This TV is for my mom. We've decided that it will replace her existing computer, so the LCD TV panel will be used for general computer use as well - email, Internet, Office. Her HTPC is all set up but I just need to decide on a proper set. The couches are 10 to 15 feet away. I'm thinking the 37" would be a good replacement for the existing 32" SD tube TV, but it might be worth investing in the larger 42".

Thoughts?

I own the 26" 67 series regza, and have plenty of viewing hours on a 42" 1080p 57 series. Both are phenomenal, though colour is noticably better on the newer models.

Honestly, the 42" you linked to is a really, really nice TV, and that's a pretty good price. Whatever else you're shopping, you won't be unhappy with that one.

Edit - as an aside, I find these TVs do an excellent job with native (non-upconverted) dvd source over component.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: 3chordcharlie

Originally posted by: Kaido
Just to go out even further here, would it be worth getting the 42"? The 720p Regza is $999:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...o=3051992&sku=T24-4214

The functions would be:

-DVD player
-SDTV playback (HTPC with SD tuners)
-General computer use

This TV is for my mom. We've decided that it will replace her existing computer, so the LCD TV panel will be used for general computer use as well - email, Internet, Office. Her HTPC is all set up but I just need to decide on a proper set. The couches are 10 to 15 feet away. I'm thinking the 37" would be a good replacement for the existing 32" SD tube TV, but it might be worth investing in the larger 42".

Thoughts?

I own the 26" 67 series regza, and have plenty of viewing hours on a 42" 1080p 57 series. Both are phenomenal, though colour is noticably better on the newer models.

Honestly, the 42" you linked to is a really, really nice TV, and that's a pretty good price. Whatever else you're shopping, you won't be unhappy with that one.

Edit - as an aside, I find these TVs do an excellent job with native (non-upconverted) dvd source over component.

My main concern is how SD recordings will look as the screen gets larger (37" -> 42"). I know that it will increase the readability of the screen as a computer monitor replacement, but I'm worried that SD shows will look bad on it. There are so few channels offered in HD in my area that it's simply not worth going HD right now.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: Kaido
My main concern is how SD recordings will look as the screen gets larger (37" -> 42"). I know that it will increase the readability of the screen as a computer monitor replacement, but I'm worried that SD shows will look bad on it. There are so few channels offered in HD in my area that it's simply not worth going HD right now.

Good SD source will look fine either way, though certainly not spectacular; if your options are the same TV in either size, flip a coin.

Big screen, SD 4:3 TVs are considerably larger than what you'll get with a 42" screen, and decent dvd source is going to look excellent.

edit - not recommending one, just saying you can go even bigger without making SD look ridiculous.

 

[VIAN]

I have the Sony 32S3000. I can't stop raving about it.