AKB: Anyone here well versed in televisions?

[psuro]

I may be in the market for a 55 or 65 inch TV. But I know nothing about what brands are good or not. The prices have dropped quite a bit since the last time i looked (about 3 years ago)

1. i don't play video games (and no kids in the house who do play)
2. I dont have Netflix. or any other streaming service but may consider getting one so it should capable for that.
3. Mostly just need it to watch CFB.

Anyone have recommendations on brand(s)?

 

[Grant Green]

I may be in the market for a 55 or 65 inch TV. But I know nothing about what brands are good or not. The prices have dropped quite a bit since the last time i looked (about 3 years ago)

1. i don't play video games (and no kids in the house who do play)
2. I dont have Netflix. or any other streaming service but may consider getting one so it should capable for that.
3. Mostly just need it to watch CFB.

Anyone have recommendations on brand(s)?

I think almost any tv now is a smart tv, built for streaming. I have 2 TCL tvs. When I bought them a few years ago, they were kind of new and the best bang for your buck per reviews (inexpensive, but reliable). I'm sure you can get way higher quality, but I'm not picky and they have both performed well for me.

Curious if anyone else has a TCL and what they think.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

I may be in the market for a 55 or 65 inch TV. But I know nothing about what brands are good or not. The prices have dropped quite a bit since the last time i looked (about 3 years ago)

1. i don't play video games (and no kids in the house who do play)
2. I dont have Netflix. or any other streaming service but may consider getting one so it should capable for that.
3. Mostly just need it to watch CFB.

Anyone have recommendations on brand(s)?

What's best for any individual is based on a number of factors.

@Grant Green mentioned TCL, and they really have been gaining traction of late. Samsung and LG are also excellent.

Based on picture quality and energy usage (or lack thereof), for the parameters you listed, I'd go with a LG OLED. You pay more for OLED TVs, but I think the extra cost is worth it. And if you go OLED, the discussion pretty much starts and stops with LG.

This article from the past month from CNET should give you some information on some of the better options you have from which to choose:

Best TV in 2024: Tested and Reviewed by TV Experts

Shopping for a new TV? Here are our top picks for the best TVs of 2024, based on side-by-side comparisons at CNET's testing lab.

www.cnet.com

 

[Still in State Colllege]

I think the most important things are refresh rate of at least 120MHz and resolution of at least 4K. Response time is a consideration as well (10ms).

Brightness levels would be the next consideration.

there are a lot of other bells and whistles that really just depends on what you want to spend. Things like reflectivity, color gamut and viewing angle.

 

[LionJim]

Zonker Harris: “Yeah, I’m an expert. I watch twelve hours a day.”

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

LG s don’t have the ESPN app so buying MMA fights is a pia
I’ll also find a how big a tv do you need based on where you sit thing. It’s diff than you may think

What Size TV Should You Buy?

What Size TV Do I Need? Here's how to figure out the size of TV set you should get and the distance away from your TV you should sit.

www.tomsguide.com

 

[Nittering Nabob]

Costco and Sam's Club are both having some nice pre-Holiday deals on large TV's from Samsung and LG. I was looking at them the other day and was surprised at the negligible price difference between a 55"/65" and 75"/85". The OLED's are really crisp but they are more expensive.

 

[BobPSU92]

As a kid, my parents often referred to the TV as the “boob tube”. That made no sense to me since we didn’t have Cinemax or Playboy Channel.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

CNET is my go to review comparo site

Best 65-Inch TV of 2024

Whether you're upgrading to a bigger TV or replacing a 65-inch model, these are the best TVs on the market right now.

www.cnet.com

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

Oops boss beat me to it (I’m disadvantaged in the hot tub)

 

[bdgan]

I may be in the market for a 55 or 65 inch TV. But I know nothing about what brands are good or not. The prices have dropped quite a bit since the last time i looked (about 3 years ago)

1. i don't play video games (and no kids in the house who do play)
2. I dont have Netflix. or any other streaming service but may consider getting one so it should capable for that.
3. Mostly just need it to watch CFB.

Anyone have recommendations on brand(s)?

All new TVs are going to be "smart" and connect to the internet for streaming.

TCL is a good brand for the money.

 

[psuro]

Thanks for the responses.

 

[FTLPSU]

Here ya go, most don’t know of this but really the best rating analysis for
many items out there IMHO.

The 8 Best TVs - Fall 2024

The best TV we've tested is the Samsung S90D/S90DD OLED. It's a fantastic TV with a great selection of extra features and incredible picture quality.

www.rtings.com

 

[psuro]

Here ya go, most don’t know of this but really the best rating analysis for
many items out there IMHO.

The 8 Best TVs - Fall 2024

The best TV we've tested is the Samsung S90D/S90DD OLED. It's a fantastic TV with a great selection of extra features and incredible picture quality.

www.rtings.com

Thanks

 

[lionlover]

What's best for any individual is based on a number of factors.

@Grant Green mentioned TCL, and they really have been gaining traction of late. Samsung and LG are also excellent.

Based on picture quality and energy usage (or lack thereof), for the parameters you listed, I'd go with a LG OLED. You pay more for OLED TVs, but I think the extra cost is worth it. And if you go OLED, the discussion pretty much starts and stops with LG.

This article from the past month from CNET should give you some information on some of the better options you have from which to choose:

Best TV in 2024: Tested and Reviewed by TV Experts

Shopping for a new TV? Here are our top picks for the best TVs of 2024, based on side-by-side comparisons at CNET's testing lab.

www.cnet.com

The Achilles heel of OLED TVs is "picture brightness." If you are going to be watching TV in a bright sunny room, then you may not want an OLED. But, if you are watching TV mainly at night or in a dark room, the LG OLED is benchmark.

Now, at my age, my ability to clearly see the advantages of an OLED dark background is not as profound as it used to be. I am into "simplicity and reliability" more than elite picture quality. So, if I were buying a TV now, it would probably be a ROKU TV or a TV brand with ROKU already built in.

 

[psujejr]

I may be in the market for a 55 or 65 inch TV. But I know nothing about what brands are good or not. The prices have dropped quite a bit since the last time i looked (about 3 years ago)

1. i don't play video games (and no kids in the house who do play)
2. I dont have Netflix. or any other streaming service but may consider getting one so it should capable for that.
3. Mostly just need it to watch CFB.

Anyone have recommendations on brand(s)?

TCL Roku 55 inch @ Walmart for $228. I just purchased 2 of these.

 

[psuro]

Thanks again guys.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

Thanks again guys.

Don’t go soft bro damn. 7 thank yous jeez

 

[BobPSU92]

Don’t go soft bro damn. 7 thank yous jeez

 

[razpsu]

I may be in the market for a 55 or 65 inch TV. But I know nothing about what brands are good or not. The prices have dropped quite a bit since the last time i looked (about 3 years ago)

1. i don't play video games (and no kids in the house who do play)
2. I dont have Netflix. or any other streaming service but may consider getting one so it should capable for that.
3. Mostly just need it to watch CFB.

Anyone have recommendations on brand(s)?

Visio. Has been good to us. Doesn’t matter anymore. Drop 500-800 on a big one, get 3 year warranty from Walmart etc. if it is bad return it,

 

[razpsu]

Oh, another thing to everyone reading this. Turn the picture setting to “vivid” if you haven’t already. You will be amazed how much the picture quality will be better. Used to do this at all my restaurants and the mgrs were shocked.

 

[Moogy]

I may be in the market for a 55 or 65 inch TV. But I know nothing about what brands are good or not. The prices have dropped quite a bit since the last time i looked (about 3 years ago)

1. i don't play video games (and no kids in the house who do play)
2. I dont have Netflix. or any other streaming service but may consider getting one so it should capable for that.
3. Mostly just need it to watch CFB.

Anyone have recommendations on brand(s)?

Two factors should drive you: 1. Go bigger than you think you need/want; and 2. Go cheaper than you think you need/can afford.

It's not like the old days when top of the line TVs cost an arm and a leg, but were noticeably better than the cheaper versions. Today's budget models have tremendous pictures. And you won't be missing out on "necessary" features, unlike the old days.

Right now there's a 75" LG on sale for $550 at Best Buy. You're much better off buying that dirt-*** cheap big TV than the 55" Sony OLED that's on sale for $1,400.

I mean, yeah ... there are $20K TVs out there, or even $5K TVs ... but the typical consumer isn't going to be interested in what they can provide, considering the price point.

We have a range of price points of TVs throughout our house, including a couple ridiculously priced models (not the $20K, but a couple steps below that) ... but the best picture out of all of them is a 55" Vizio that's in a kid's bedroom, that was like $500 when we bought it (it may be 10+ years ago now), that would probably retail for like $200 now).

 

[UncleRoyBiggins]

I think almost any tv now is a smart tv, built for streaming. I have 2 TCL tvs. When I bought them a few years ago, they were kind of new and the best bang for your buck per reviews (inexpensive, but reliable). I'm sure you can get way higher quality, but I'm not picky and they have both performed well for me.

Curious if anyone else has a TCL and what they think.

I bought a TCL 75" QLED back in August. I'm extremely happy with it so far. It was discounted from about $1,500 down to $999. It was a deal too good to pass up, even though I was originally going to buy a Samsung.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

Hilarious ty

 

[UncleRoyBiggins]

Oh, another thing to everyone reading this. Turn the picture setting to “vivid” if you haven’t already. You will be amazed how much the picture quality will be better. Used to do this at all my restaurants and the mgrs were shocked.

Thanks for the great advice! I didn't know about this setting, and it made a HUGE difference!

 

[FHSPSU67]

Oh, another thing to everyone reading this. Turn the picture setting to “vivid” if you haven’t already. You will be amazed how much the picture quality will be better. Used to do this at all my restaurants and the mgrs were shocked.

Sorry to contradict this, but besides overpowering your eyes ( you will tire of watching before long), but Vivid is the least accurate in displaying the content creator's intent. Please use your TV in isf expert bright or dark, or any cinema setting. Regardless, enjoy your TV the way you want to!
I currently own an LG 65" G4, my 3rd OLED over the years, and like you, in the beginning I thought the very brightest was the best, but after buying my first OLED I would never go back.

 

[Moogy]

Oh, another thing to everyone reading this. Turn the picture setting to “vivid” if you haven’t already. You will be amazed how much the picture quality will be better. Used to do this at all my restaurants and the mgrs were shocked.

This is terrible advice for a typical television at home. It's one of the precautions that buying guides will provide - don't judge a TV at a store based on their default picture, because they set them all to vivid, not giving you an accurate rendering of what a quality picture looks like.

It works in public places ... like a store or a restaurant ... because of the bright lights/sunlight. A typical home setup benefits from a more subdued color saturation level.

 

[WanderingSpectator]

I have a 65” LG OLED and love it. Watching games in 4K is awesome. Next TV will be the same but bigger.

Refresh rate is key for fast motion (like sports). Viewing angle is also important. If you are looking at the TV straight on, most TVs will be fine. If your room requires viewing at an angle, you can’t beat OLED.

Virtually every TV has 4K now but the problem is, not all broadcasts are in 4K. And you’ll have to make sure your service offers 4K. I pay extra for it on YTTV.

I use TMobile internet and my LG has a ton of apps built in (Spotify, Netflix, Amazon, YouTube and YouTube TV, Hulu, Disney). But we pay for most of those services.

Good luck in the decision.

 

[razpsu]

This is terrible advice for a typical television at home. It's one of the precautions that buying guides will provide - don't judge a TV at a store based on their default picture, because they set them all to vivid, not giving you an accurate rendering of what a quality picture looks like.

It works in public places ... like a store or a restaurant ... because of the bright lights/sunlight. A typical home setup benefits from a more subdued color saturation level.

 

[Moogy]

Why are you laughing at this? It's common knowledge.

Are You Getting the Most Out of Your TV? A Guide to Preset Picture Modes

If you’ve invested in an awesome, high-definition TV without adjusting the preset picture mode, you’re doing it all wrong. Learn about the various preset picture modes and when to use them.

briteboxelectrical.com

When to use it: Because of the high color saturation levels, some store owners will keep their displayed TV's on vivid mode. This makes the images “pop” and catches the eye better than other softer settings. We don't suggest using it for in-home purposes, though, unless you are trying to overcome a brightly lit room.Oct 9, 2024

Changing these 5 TV settings can instantly improve its picture quality - here's how

With a bit of patience and experimentation, you can tweak your TV's basic settings for crisper images and a better viewing experience.

www.zdnet.com

3. Turn off Vivid Mode and lower brightness​

TV manufacturers and retailers aim to make their new models appear extremely bright and vivid when displayed on store shelves under fluorescent lighting, often turning on settings like a "Vivid" picture mode that cranks up the backlight and intensifies the image.

 

[razpsu]

Why are you laughing at this? It's common knowledge.

Are You Getting the Most Out of Your TV? A Guide to Preset Picture Modes

If you’ve invested in an awesome, high-definition TV without adjusting the preset picture mode, you’re doing it all wrong. Learn about the various preset picture modes and when to use them.

briteboxelectrical.com

When to use it: Because of the high color saturation levels, some store owners will keep their displayed TV's on vivid mode. This makes the images “pop” and catches the eye better than other softer settings. We don't suggest using it for in-home purposes, though, unless you are trying to overcome a brightly lit room.Oct 9, 2024

Changing these 5 TV settings can instantly improve its picture quality - here's how

With a bit of patience and experimentation, you can tweak your TV's basic settings for crisper images and a better viewing experience.

www.zdnet.com

3. Turn off Vivid Mode and lower brightness​

TV manufacturers and retailers aim to make their new models appear extremely bright and vivid when displayed on store shelves under fluorescent lighting, often turning on settings like a "Vivid" picture mode that cranks up the backlight and intensifies the image.

Oh. Then you must be right. . Wouldn’t watch a whiteout any other way!!

vivid
Vivid
Vivid.

 

[Moogy]

Oh. Then you must be right. . Wouldn’t watch a whiteout any other way!!

vivid
Vivid
Vivid.

Yeah, what does EVERYONE ELSE know?!? All the experts who actually work in the industry must be wrong!

But, seriously, you might have a vision problem if you're in a normally lit room, with a properly sized TV for the viewing distance, and you consider Vivid to be optimal. Sort of like, if everyone else thinks turning the volume to 5 is adequate, and you're standing around saying "let's turn it up to 10 ... no 11!! so I can hear it!"

 

[razpsu]

Why

Yeah, what does EVERYONE ELSE know?!? All the experts who actually work in the industry must be wrong!

But, seriously, you might have a vision problem if you're in a normally lit room, with a properly sized TV for the viewing distance, and you consider Vivid to be optimal. Sort of like, if everyone else thinks turning the volume to 5 is adequate, and you're standing around saying "let's turn it up to 10 ... no 11!! so I can hear it!"

Why do you always fly off the handle due to someone’s preference. Someone already said they liked the advice so chill dude.

 

[Moogy]

Why

Why do you always fly off the handle due to someone’s preference. Someone already said they liked the advice so chill dude.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

Why

Why do you always fly off the handle due to someone’s preference. Someone already said they liked the advice so chill dude.

Moogie is not wrong here fyi

 

[razpsu]

Yeah, what does EVERYONE ELSE know?!? All the experts who actually work in the industry must be wrong!

But, seriously, you might have a vision problem if you're in a normally lit room, with a properly sized TV for the viewing distance, and you consider Vivid to be optimal. Sort of like, if everyone else thinks turning the volume to 5 is adequate, and you're standing around saying "let's turn it up to 10 ... no 11!! so I can hear it!"

All the experts where have I heard that before. Oh yea, Tuesday night. Hahaha

someone’s opinion is not wrong. So if you like it without it fine. Some like it with it. So let it be.

 

[Moogy]

All the experts where have I heard that before. Oh yea, Tuesday night. Hahaha

someone’s opinion is not wrong. So if you like it without it fine. Some like it with it. So let it be.

Well, there’s actually science behind it, so it’s factual.

But, yes, elections and vision are worthy of comparison. Good going.

 

[PSU1989]

While you say you don’t really use streaming services, if you think you might in the future do not get a Samsung TV. Its smart tv operating system is Tizen, which has significant limitations on both what apps can be used and how the apps function. Most streaming apps use a different OS so only 10-15% of video apps are also built on the tizen OS. As an example high school sports apps will not work, but do on Apple TV, Roku, Android, Etc. My wife worked at DirecTv, T Mobile, and other video related companies. Did a ton of work with TV manufacturers. We were all in on Samsung until smart TVs became the norm. We need to get a Roku stick to make our Samsung smart Tv usable with our services….

 

[soparklion]

Anyone with experience buying direct from the manufacturer (LG, Sony, Samsung) vs Amazon vs Best Buy? They all participate in the UPP (Universal pricing) so the price is the same, but I don't know the differences in service. I can get a corporate discount from the manufacturers.

 

[razpsu]

Well, there’s actually science behind it, so it’s factual.

But, yes, elections and vision are worthy of comparison. Good going.

Science. lol. Omg.