Modern TV's -50+ inches. What's out there?

[herr_oberst]

So, help me bypass the basic research, and steer me towards a decent, moderately priced TV.
50 inches would be ideal, the least problematic, most compatible and the newest features that will keep it from becoming obsolete within just a few years.

The last TV I bought was a 60 inch Samsung plasma, it's been great, but a friend of mine is looking for something new, and I'd kind of like to know about the latest trends

I've little interest in 3D.

Thanks, guys and gals!

[1990C4S]

We just bought an LG smart TV for our office. Very nice and super easy to configure and update with wireless connection.

[John Rogers]

We have Mitsubishi 74 inch and it is a 3D / Enhanced 2D model and I only use the Enhanced 2D mode (3D) to watch all sorts of car and motorcycle races. If you crank up the surround sound, it is all most like being there!

[scottmandue]

Boy where do I start, I could go on for days.
Long story short we run a lot of Samsung's here at work (six hours a day, seven days a week) so I am pretty sold on them for reliability.
Off the top of my head I would shoot for LED in the 240 Hz zone... however it has been over a year since I last shopped and the flat screen specs are like computers and smart phones (change every six months) so don't know what the latest greatest thing is.

Edit to add I should add the LCD also.

[Bill Douglas]

It's got to be 4k Ultra HD.

[imcarthur]

Plasmas are dead because the 4K investment was too big (and this is a shame).

4K OLED from LG ($5K) & Panasonic ($10K) are the current kings. 4K HD is a stop gap offering increased resolution over standard LCDs. But increased resolution still fails to solve LCD's basic issues like contrast ratio, black level & the Soap Opera Effect. A good read: Why Ultra HD 4K TVs are still stupid

Ian

[Baz]

Visio's have been a pretty good value for me, Herr Oberst....

Here's one for $499.99 and includes free shipping:

VIZIO E-Series 50

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I'm still using a 39" flat screen Emerson I bought about 10 years or so ago. Maybe I'll upgrade next time I see a price drop. A 50" would be awesome! Be great before bowl season starts!

[herr_oberst]

Thanks a lot for all the input, fellas! At least now I have a jumping off point to start looking!

Brain trust! Can't leave home without it!

[Brian 162]

We have a Samsung LCD (5 years old). It gets alot of use and it still works.

We also have an Insignia (Best Buy house brand) LED tv. It has a Samsung screen. The picture is much better than the Samsung.

[joe payne]

55 inch Samsung Smart TV $700.00.

[scottmandue]

Again I haven't studied the latest specs. (Like Ian who is in the business).

However I have heard the 4K is wasted money, very little programing out there in 4K (least that is what I heard) on the other hand it seems like 4K is becoming a standard on new flat screens so not a deal breaker either.

[joe payne]

My freind bought a 65 inch curved 3-D 4K Samsung @ $4000.00. I bought a flat 55 inch Samsung at $700.00. The only noticeable difference is the size and she's $3,300 dollars poorer.

[Baz]

Look what showed up at WOOT this morning.......Vizio E-Series TVs

http://www.woot.com/plus/vizio-e-series-tvs?utm_source=Daily+Digest&utm_campaign=78f63d2202-Daily+Digest+-+20151115+-+Woot&utm_medium=email

One day sale only..........while supplies last.

Refurbished but for the money worth a shot, IMHO.

A 50" is only $399.99 + tax and $5.00 shipping.

My order came to $430.99 total.

Merry Christmas, Bazza!

[onewhippedpuppy]

I have also had great luck with Visio. If you want to over-research your TV purchases (like I do), CNET has very comprehensive reviews. Visio always gets great marks for picture quality and features for a reasonable price. CNET also professionally calibrates the picture for their reviews and posts the settings online, so you can duplicate that and have a professionally calibrated tv picture. I'm going tv shopping today to upgrade our basement tv as part of a refresh we are doing (horray for painting!), it will probably end up being another Visio.

I also have a Visio sound bar with powered sub, the difference it makes to the overall experience is amazing. It's not a top notch surround sound system like I had when I was single, but it's a huge upgrade over the crappy tv speakers. Bonus for buying the same brand sound bar and tv is that your tv remote volume control will also control the sound bar volume, so no extra remotes needed.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by Baz

Look what showed up at WOOT this morning.......Vizio E-Series TVs

Vizio E-Series TVs - Woot

One day sale only..........while supplies last.

Refurbished but for the money worth a shot, IMHO.

A 50" is only $399.99 + tax and $5.00 shipping.

My order came to $430.99 total.

Merry Christmas, Bazza!

Nice! Thanks for the link

[plain fan]

If you're looking for something just to get you through until 4k really takes off then get 1080p set. But if you are looking for something more long term go 4k and get as big as you can afford. Just make sure you get the most recent 4k sets that have the most recent HDCP copy protection schemes built into the set.

I'm waiting a little longer until the 4k Sony projectors come down in price then I'm upgrading. BTW, if you didn't really like 3D on 1080p sets you might want to give it another shot with a 3D 4k TV.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by imcarthur

Plasmas are dead because the 4K investment was too big (and this is a shame).

4K OLED from LG ($5K) & Panasonic ($10K) are the current kings. 4K HD is a stop gap offering increased resolution over standard LCDs. But increased resolution still fails to solve LCD's basic issues like contrast ratio, black level & the Soap Opera Effect. A good read: Why Ultra HD 4K TVs are still stupid

Ian

Have an almost 10 year old Panasonic plasma and I won't make a change until it dies and OLED comes down. If it ain't broke...

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by nostatic

Have an almost 10 year old Panasonic plasma and I won't make a change until it dies and OLED comes down. If it ain't broke...

Same here. Our Panasonic plasma is still going strong.

[WolfeMacleod]

For 4k, Panasonic AX800, but it's a bit bigger than 50 inches... and it's a bit pricey.
And it doubles as an insanely stellar computer monitor. Which is what I use it for.

And it does active 3D. Which can be used with some gaming, by the way.

[69 Soft Targa]

Originally Posted by Baz

Look what showed up at WOOT this morning.......Vizio E-Series TVs

Vizio E-Series TVs - Woot

One day sale only..........while supplies last.

Refurbished but for the money worth a shot, IMHO.

A 50" is only $399.99 + tax and $5.00 shipping.

My order came to $430.99 total.

Merry Christmas, Bazza!

We have the 55" 2014 model of this unit. I predict you'll pleased with that deal!