# Flat screen TV recommendations **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 27, 2012, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-screen-tv-recommendations/629625 "2012-07-27T23:37:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cumberdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Cumberdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumberdale)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-screen-tv-recommendations/629625/1 "2012-07-27T23:37:49Z")
Our 55’ LG TV that we bought in 2009 just died on us, so now we’re looking for a replacement and am looking for something that hopefully will last longer. I’d like something in the same range as our old one. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-screen-tv-recommendations/629625/2 "2012-07-28T04:34:03Z")
55’? Where’d you put that? :eek: We bought a 40" Sony Bravia Z Series in 2009, and it’s going strong. A little pricey, but we’re big fans of Sony quality. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-screen-tv-recommendations/629625/3 "2012-07-28T12:36:46Z")
Plasma? LCD? 3D? 1080p? 720p? We don’t know what something “in the same range” is until you tell us what your range is. ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-screen-tv-recommendations/629625/4 "2012-07-28T15:32:10Z")
wrong thread ---
**Author:** ![Cumberdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Cumberdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumberdale)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-screen-tv-recommendations/629625/5 "2012-07-28T19:16:16Z")
Yeah, I should have put more info. Plasma or LCD I could go either way. I’d prefer 1080 and 3d is not really a big deal for me. I’m looking for something mid range. My old one was about 800 so I’d prefer not to go higher. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-screen-tv-recommendations/629625/6 "2012-07-28T19:44:28Z")
Really? You bought a 55" LG HDTV for about $800 in 2009? I’m surprised that it was that cheap then. I just checked Best Buy’s website and can’t find anything that cheap now, unless you get a refurbished one. And prices have dropped dramatically in three years. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-screen-tv-recommendations/629625/7 "2012-07-28T19:56:09Z")
800 euro? $800 for 55" is asking a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-screen-tv-recommendations/629625/8 "2012-08-01T16:52:00Z")
The OP’s TV was only three years old. So is ours. How long are these supposed to last anyway? Our old Sony Trinitron ran perfectly well for 15 years. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-screen-tv-recommendations/629625/9 "2012-08-01T18:01:50Z")
I don’t know if they’ve corrected the problem, but the Samsung 52" TV we bought about three years ago has had to be serviced twice due to failing capacitors (a problem widespread enough that there was a class-action lawsuit to which Samsung [agreed to a settlement](http://www.samsung.com/us/capacitorsettlement/)). They did pay for the first repair and eventually reimbursed us for (75% of) the cost of the most recent repair, and I like the TV otherwise, but it’s made me wary of buying another Samsung TV or recommending their brand. ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-screen-tv-recommendations/629625/10 "2012-08-01T18:17:03Z")
$800 in 2009 for a 55" flatscreen is a fairlyland price. I’d love to know where you’re shopping. Although, a 3-year lifespan may indicate a refurb or something. If you spend $1500 (doable?), you should get a quality TV that does everything you want and lasts. Plasmas generally provide the best picture for your buck, but do take up more electricity. I’ve run the math and where I live the extra power costs are only significant over a decade or longer. I can’t recommend 3D as it feels gimmicky and having to buy/locate the glasses seems like a pain. For plasmas, Panasonic is the best. For LCD/LEDs, Samsung is generally the best. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-screen-tv-recommendations/629625/11 "2012-08-02T01:35:54Z")
> [@phreesh](#): > > If you spend $1500 (doable?), you should get a quality TV that does everything you want and lasts. Our 40" Bravia was a little over US$2000. And we’ve always generally been happy with Sony’s quality. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-screen-tv-recommendations/629625/12 "2012-08-02T12:13:35Z")
> [@phreesh](#): > > $800 in 2009 for a 55" flatscreen is a fairlyland price. I’d love to know where you’re shopping. By comparison, our 52" 1080p Samsung LCD bought in 2008 or 2009 was around $1700 from NewEgg, which appeared to be a great price at the time. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-screen-tv-recommendations/629625/13 "2012-08-02T12:18:38Z")
I got a Panasonic TCP55GT30 55-inch plasma from Crutchfield for $1600. It has an excellent picture, built-in networking and 3D. (Yes, I got the glasses, and yes, _Avatar_ looks awesome.) I’m very very happy with it. But I don’t think you’d find anything that good for $800 anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![tomcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-screen-tv-recommendations/629625/14 "2012-08-02T12:49:50Z")
Here is your TV: > **[Panasonic TC-PUT50 review: Panasonic TC-PUT50](https://www.cnet.com/reviews/panasonic-tc-p42ut50-review/)** > > Panasonic TC-PUT50 I have a panasonic plasma and love it. Go check this out at a local store and see what you think. $800 is a great price. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-screen-tv-recommendations/629625/15 "2012-08-02T16:36:30Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Our 40" Bravia was a little over US$2000. And we’ve always generally been happy with Sony’s quality. Hmm I got a 40" Bravia in…2010? 2009? It was $800 on sale. I bought it during Super Bowl season. Still it was only like $150 on sale at most. I’m happy with it. Bought it explicitly for the matte finish. I do have a bit of a problem getting the colors just right but the source is my computer so I think the display is fighting with my video card. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-screen-tv-recommendations/629625/16 "2012-08-02T16:39:23Z")
> [@tomcar](#): > > Here is your TV: > [http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/panasonic-tc-p42ut50/4505-6482\_7-35153391.html](http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/panasonic-tc-p42ut50/4505-6482_7-35153391.html) > > I have a panasonic plasma and love it. Go check this out at a local store and see what you think. $800 is a great price. It’s nice, but the OP wanted a 55" set. That one appears to be a 42" set. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-screen-tv-recommendations/629625/17 "2012-08-02T16:43:39Z")
It’s not that hard these days to find 50+ inches for $800, maybe even less if it’s a no-name model or clearance. If you have a Costco nearby you can sometimes find great TV deals. I just looked on Fatwallet and apparently Costco and Sam’s both have an LG 60 inch plasma for $900. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-screen-tv-recommendations/629625/18 "2012-08-02T16:50:21Z")
If you have little more depth for the TV, I recommend a Samsung DLP. Mine is 16 inches deep, but it has incredible response time, no motion blur. Now that I’m on FIOS the resolution is incredible. But you do have to be prepared to replace bulbs and fans over time. Some people have issues with the color, but I’ve never noticed anything. ---
**Author:** ![eno801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c2a13f/32.png) [@eno801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eno801)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-screen-tv-recommendations/629625/19 "2012-08-02T16:58:04Z")
slight hijack for those that bought the Panasonic plasma what would you recommend an extended warranty? Just asking because my sister’s LG also went kaput and it was too expensive to fix. She had the extended warranty from SAM’S and they reimbursed her what she paid. She has since bought a Panasonic from Best Buy but declined the extended warranty from there and was trying to decide whether to get something from Square Trade or straight from Panasonic. Is it even necessary or is the original factory warranty enough? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-screen-tv-recommendations/629625/20 "2012-08-03T03:14:37Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Hmm I got a 40" Bravia in…2010? 2009? It was $800 on sale. I bought it during Super Bowl season. Still it was only like $150 on sale at most. > > I’m happy with it. Bought it explicitly for the matte finish. I do have a bit of a problem getting the colors just right but the source is my computer so I think the display is fighting with my video card. Ours is the Z series, and our just over $2000 represented a discount of a couple hundred dollars. Electronics are generally more expensive over here, but that still seems like an extreme difference. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-screen-tv-recommendations/629625.md?page=2)