Opinions Please: TV's - Big Screen - Buy new or used?

[freshprince1]

Hi there, I'm starting to look at a newer, bigger television and want to make an educated purchase. I'm waffling between saving money and buying a used projection tv, or spending a little more for better quality, longer lasting flat panel.

For a new TV I'd like to keep it between $600-$900.

Size: around 40"

Any opinions, or first hand experience with recent purchases will be greatly appreciated.

BTW - I'm just starting to do the research, so please, no flaming for lack of technical/product knowledge yet.

Thanks in advance.

[89coupe]

Best Buy is selling a 40" Plasma 1080P for $1200.00

[punj_abi]

buy new, if you shop around you should be able to find a decent 1080p jvc, pioneer at around 1000

[A790]

Hey Dave;

Don't buy used electronics man. Trust me (from experience), if something goes you are HOSED. For $900 you can get a NICE 37" TV, which will look great and will come with a warranty.

Burnt out pixels are annoying dude, and if you got it second hand chances are that it wont be warranties.

Let me know how it goes bud :)

[Weapon_R]

Buy whatever you can afford. If you can afford new, it's obviously the better choice, but a used TV with warranty is okay too.

[Xtrema]

Unless it's less than a year old and less than half of current sale price, I won't touch used.

[copynpaste]

If you dont care about brands go to costco and get the 42'' AKAI for $899.

Buying a used projection is probably the worst thing you can do. I wouldnt touch Rear PJ at all....not even DLP (unless it was LED DLP)

[envoyondubs]

i have a samsung 50'' dlp for $1600 if you have more cash!

[freshprince1]

Thanks for the input guys.

[modded46]

I wouldn't buy a used TV.. Too much internally could be wrong that you would never know about..

If you like movies, sports, HD video games = Plasma FTW!!

Broadcast HD, Video games = LCD or DLP FTW!!

Brands.. Samsung, Panasonic, LG all very good.

[em2ab]

Save some money and get a HD projector. That's what I did.

[modded46]

If you have the proper room for it.. Dark, Big, etc.. I would agree a HD projector is a great option!

[em2ab]

Get one with a high lumens count and you can use it in the daytime. Mine's 2800, works perfect. I don't even have a computer monitor, I simply don't own one. I use the projector all times of day.

[Xtrema]

Originally posted by em2ab
Get one with a high lumens count and you can use it in the daytime. Mine's 2800, works perfect. I don't even have a computer monitor, I simply don't own one. I use the projector all times of day.

Bright ones are usually noisy due to huge fan for heat dissipation. I hate fan noise. But that's the only way to go if you want screen size 60"+ for cheap.

[De Dutch]

Originally posted by modded46
I wouldn't buy a used TV.. Too much internally could be wrong that you would never know about..

If you like movies, sports, HD video games = Plasma FTW!!

Broadcast HD, Video games = LCD or DLP FTW!!

Brands.. Samsung, Panasonic, LG all very good.

I thought Plasma was a no no for vid games, what with "burn in" and all? Could someone elaborate? :dunno:

[em2ab]

Originally posted by Xtrema


Bright ones are usually noisy due to huge fan for heat dissipation. I hate fan noise. But that's the only way to go if you want screen size 60"+ for cheap.
They state the decibel rating on each projector, mine's only 27 decibels. That's nothing, when the movie's on you can't hear anything. And during the quiet parts you can't hear the projector, only the hum of the computer fan.

[freshprince1]

Thanks for the input again, we'll be using our TV for just basic stuff, watching TV/movies mostly. I only have time to game once or twice a week for about half an hour at a time.

Do you think 37" is too small? If I'm going to be spending $900 on a 37" should I just spend a couple hundred more and get a 42"? Or are those significantly more expensive?

I think I'm going to go check out some stores this week, and reccomendations? (i.e Visions, Best Buy...etc)

[A790]

Originally posted by freshprince1
Thanks for the input again, we'll be using our TV for just basic stuff, watching TV/movies mostly. I only have time to game once or twice a week for about half an hour at a time.

Do you think 37" is too small? If I'm going to be spending $900 on a 37" should I just spend a couple hundred more and get a 42"? Or are those significantly more expensive?

I think I'm going to go check out some stores this week, and reccomendations? (i.e Visions, Best Buy...etc)

It depends on how far back you will be sitting and how big your room is. Most TV's look like crap if you're too close. I have a 37" and I love how it looks- clean, very rich colors, etc. If you want a 42", just make sure you have a big enough room :)

[freshprince1]

Originally posted by A790


It depends on how far back you will be sitting and how big your room is. Most TV's look like crap if you're too close. I have a 37" and I love how it looks- clean, very rich colors, etc. If you want a 42", just make sure you have a big enough room :)


Thanks Cam, I think I'll look into the 37s, we don't have a small room, but it's not that big either...and we want to use the same TV stand we have right now.