So I bought the XBOX 360 Elite about a week ago and am now officially upgraded to the CURRENT GENERATION of home consoles. My last real console was the PS2 which obviously is at the end of its life. Of course, with the modern consoles, HIGH DEFINITION and shit comes into play. The Elite comes with the HDMI cable packaged in with the console, but I'm still playing my games on a 480p 22" SDTV, and it's really starting to show its age. It never seemed to matter a whole lot with PS2 games but after plugging in my 360 and popping in GTA4, I sort of noticed right away that I'm MISSING OUT. The game is sort blurry, text is blurred and too small, and I just can't see a whole lot of the action. Other games like Lost Odyssey are the same. It's like getting a taste of what is really there!

So I finally admited to myself that I want an HDTV. Now, when it comes to big purchases like consoles/PCs/TVs, I either get something mid/highend or I don't do it at all. I find it impossible to justify it to myself to spend $800 on something PRETTY good when I could spend $1100 on something REALLY good. So I've talked myself out of just getting the seemingly standard 720p HDTV and opt for a full blown 1080p set.

My room is arranged so that the TV will be about 10 feet from where I'm sitting, give or take a foot or two. I don't want or need to splurge on anything bigger than a 37" set. There's a few I've been looking at.

Toshiba makes what seems to be the perfect 1080p TV for someone who wants to play games on it: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/543647-REG/Toshiba_37RV530U_37RV530U_1080p_Full_HD.html

This site ships to Canada too, the total cost would be about $1240, shipping included, which is about the most I'd like to spend.

There's also this Samsung TV: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/544287-REG/Samsung_LN32A550P3FXZA_LN32A550_32_1080p_LCD.html

I hear Samsung is pretty much the top of the HDTV world right now. It's 5" smaller than the Toshiba set and has one less HDMI port but idk if I would ever need FOUR HDMI ports anyway. What am I going to do, hook up three Playstation 3's plus an XBOX? Would I really miss those 5"?

I guess I'm looking for comments/suggestions. I don't own any HD DVDs or Blu Ray discs, I'd just be watching normal DVDs on it plus high def TV but I don't really even watch a lot of TV besides a few shows. If you know of any good deals, keep in mind that I AM CANADIAN AND NEWEGG DOES NOT SHIP TO CANADA. My choices for online ordering are pretty slim, plus I live in a rural area and don't have a lot of MALL ACCESS.

I got a 24" full 1080p PC monitor for £300 (so $600 USD) and just used a HDMI to DVI cable for my PS3. It's something to consider if you don't wanna spend a massive amount on a huge HDTV that takes up loads of space and you can use it for PC too. This is assuming you have a GFX rig that can handle 1920x1200 resolution.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/141321 obviously an english site but they will sell that model in Canada too...

I got a 24" full 1080p PC monitor for £300 (so $600 USD) and just used a HDMI to DVI cable for my PS3. It's something to consider if you don't wanna spend a massive amount on a huge HDTV that takes up loads of space and you can use it for PC too. This is assuming you have a GFX rig that can handle 1920x1200 resolution.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/141321 obviously an english site but they will sell that model in Canada too...

You know, I was going to reply to the post you made about this in the (MGS4?) topic. This is not a route I want. I have a 22" LCD I use for my PC and I want it to stay solely for that. I have the room for a TV of this size and I want something good for viewing at a distance greater than just me sitting at my desk. For roughly twice the price, I can buy that huge size upgrade. Thanks for the suggestion but that's not where I want to go with this!

Just a few things to consider -- I had to do my homework on it all like about a year ago or so:

LCD-TV: Not as good for showing vivid colors as a Plasma.  No burn-in on the screen if a static image stays on it.  Less contrast, though.  Good for just about any size.  Good brands: Samsung, Sony (although Sony is usually overpriced) 

Plasma: More vivid colors and deeper black levels, but can have a burn-in image.  Some are designed specifically to reduce burn-in dynamically.  Only really good/worth it in the size of around 42-60"  Good brands: Panasonic, Samsung (but Panasonic is the clear leader in this)

Cheaper/poorer brands are: Westinghouse, ViewSonic.

Olevia/Syntax is a pretty decent brand -- I know a lot of people who have worked on them or with them -- but they're definitely not top quality.  But for their price range (which usually falls among the cheap), it's usually been better that at least middle-level brands (Toshiba, the pricey Philips, etc).

HDMI ports -- you'd need one for each console (PS3, 360) and also a cable box, so you'd really need around 3, if you could.  An upconverting DVD player, you'd consider needing one, but PS3 would have Blu-ray.  Or if you have no PS3, then a DVD upconverter/Blu-ray player would use the other HDMI.

I have a PS3, Wii, etc, and hi-def. cable box.  My TV is a Panasonic 50" plasma (forget the model number) that's along the Viera line.  It was marked as a 1080i/720p, but factory specs actually say it's a 1080p and that all the labeling on it was done wrong...  Not sure whether to believe it or not, but it does scale up and looks awesome.  I remember hooking my PS3 up with HDMI and freaking out when the resolution got so huge.  It's a nice feeling.  If you have a static screen on it for a while, I'd turn it off, but that's more to save power too.  But apparently, this TV has a dynamic-update thing to help reduce burn-in, and some consoles (the Wii) have burn-in reduction technology built into the system.

Keep in mind for a 48"-56" the ideal viewing distance is like 6' - 12' I believe.  So if you're closer, it won't look as good.

EDIT: Also, make sure you buy from a trusted seller in person.  Online places are usually scams.  I suggest going to Sears and see if they'll match another store in price -- Sears or CostCo.  Avoid Best Buy at all costs...  Circuit City will probably be expensive.  And remember: YOU CAN USUALLY GET A STORE TO PRICEMATCH!!!

--Terin

What the hell are you talking about?

24" are GREAT for watching from... I don't know, lying in your damn bed...

I recently got a 22" (Because Chile sucks so I had to take second best option... Basically, I found nothing full-hd in the < $US500 range so I bought a pretty cool Samsung 1680x1050 instead...)

The point is, this has tuner + every in and out conceivable to man, so I pretty much got it hooked to my old PC via a crap component, to my macbook via DVI and to cable via Coaxial... And I've got the HDMI left for when I actually get an Xbox.

Now, I'm not telling you to get a 1680x1050 because not getting something FullHD anywhere else is incredibly dumb; however... There is a particular LG monitor that is PRETTY DAMN GOOD (It was what I originally wanted)

The model is W2452V/T (I'm not sure about the difference really) but they've pretty much got everything, it looks great and has a great viewing angle... Also, it costs $500.

What the hell are you talking about?

24" are GREAT for watching from... I don't know, lying in your damn bed...

I recently got a 22" (Because Chile sucks so I had to take second best option... Basically, I found nothing full-hd in the < $US500 range so I bought a pretty cool Samsung 1680x1050 instead...)

The point is, this has tuner + every in and out conceivable to man, so I pretty much got it hooked to my old PC via a crap component, to my macbook via DVI and to cable via Coaxial... And I've got the HDMI left for when I actually get an Xbox.

Now, I'm not telling you to get a 1680x1050 because not getting something FullHD anywhere else is incredibly dumb; however... There is a particular LG monitor that is PRETTY DAMN GOOD (It was what I originally wanted)

The model is W2452V/T (I'm not sure about the difference really) but they've pretty much got everything, it looks great and has a great viewing angle... Also, it costs $500.

Idk if this is a response to me but I'm not sure why you're so hostile! I don't really like watching too much on my 22" LCD monitor from further than my desk because it's just not a big picture, especially widescreen movies with a lot of action, it becomes difficult to follow too closely. It's not AWFUL, I mean I'd just really prefer something a lot bigger, especially when I'll be 9-10 feet away. Again, after taxes and shipping, it'd only be 400-500 more to get a 37" TV with 3-4 HDMI inputs as opposed to a 24" PC monitor with 1-2.

Also Terin, the sites I'm browsing are all very legit. The one I linked to is the only one I've never personally purchased from but it has a ton of positive reviews from other people. Best Buy and Circuit City are not an option where I live, and I just haven't browsed Sears or CostCo yet because they are an hour's drive from where I live!

And Calibre, I don't trust Panasonic! Look at the 3DO.................. no but really, I just haven't seen any sets from them that I'd want.

Well, Rowain, just FYI, all models that are available online at Sears will also be available at the store itself.  I don't know for sure if it's the same for CostCo.  So, just see if you can find the one you like online and then go in -- at least, that's what I'd do.

Panasonic is also only really decent for Plasma -- and in all honesty, the new LCD's kind of kick the Plasma's in the butt.

--Terin

Terin, I don't know what you're talking about, but most online stores are pretty well established these days. You would have to be a complete idiot to be scammed these days.

Also, I do tons of research on this stuff. LCD's are easily the better choice now instead of Plasma's. The contrast is easily up to par with a Plasma, and Samsung is a really good brand at proving that. You'll notice that retail stores have a little to no Plasma TV's anymore because they don't sell, and overall just aren't as good. LCD's are also way easier to see during the day time.

Rowain, I would suggest either going with Samsung or an LG. Sony doesn't make their own TVs, they usually get theirs made by Samsung or by another brand. LG is pretty good as far as I know, but I would definitely pick Samsung over any TV out there. I'd probably go with the Samsung you posted. That thing has a 30000:1 contrast ratio. Once you go past 10000:1 though, you really can't tell the difference, most companies just go higher than that to try and sway you over. That response time is top notch as well. My monitor is a 22" and it's the same as that TV. I really can't see anything wrong with that TV.

Edit: nevermind Terin understands.

Samsungs  usually come with a 3 yr  guarantee as well which is always a plus!

Haha, LG was really spoiled for me after I came back from India. Every fucking electronic there is made by LG and it's all terrible terrible stuff but it might just be because it's a 3rd world country and it's all knockoff crap or just really old.

I got a 24" full 1080p PC monitor for £300 (so $600 USD) and just used a HDMI to DVI cable for my PS3. It's something to consider if you don't wanna spend a massive amount on a huge HDTV that takes up loads of space and you can use it for PC too. This is assuming you have a GFX rig that can handle 1920x1200 resolution.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/141321 obviously an english site but they will sell that model in Canada too...

Yeah, I have a 1920x1200 monitor and I want to get a HDMI to DVI cable, but is there any way to switch between PC/PS3 without going the long inconvenient route? My monitor has component cable input so I use those in 1080i, but all my games still look like shit.

If you're going to get the cable make sure your monitor is HDCP enabled (i.e. it can connect with HDMI)

Everyone keeps kind of bashing me on the entire "watch internet stores."  When I say that, I mean to just make sure you don't go with an online store you've never heard of or something that isn't like linked to something like Amazon.  There are plenty of online stores where they will scam you -- if you check out Fatwallet forums (I used to frequent them a lot), there were a LOT of people going for the best deal -- everything SEEMED legit about them -- except the fact that their prices were ninja-cheap and they were from South East Asia.  In addition, they would sometimes charge just a lot for shipping and look legit still, etc.  Anyway, there are a lot of scammers out there.  Just my warning in advance.

And yeah, I totally agree with Neophyte on selections.  I almost forgot about LG -- they've been making significant progress in improving over the years...  originally they weren't that fantastic, but they definitely caught up with the others.

--Terin

I know EBAYING shit is an easy way to get scammed when it comes to buying PC parts and general consumer electronics because a lot of the time you'll get an asian knockoff if you're too eager and don't read the fine print/ask questions. But I don't do that shit, the store I linked to is listed in the BBB, has a Wikipedia page with its history etc and, like I said, a ton of solid reviews on sites like pricegrabber.ca and shit. It's a legit store from every little piece of info I could glean from the web.

I think the only time I got ripped off, and it wasn't even badly, is when I ebayed a radeon 9550 videocard and it just came in a static bag in a brown cardboard box with no papers or identification or anything. it WORKED and showed up as a 9550 in my PC but god knows what vendor it was and the ebay listing didn't say anything about it being refurbished!

I know EBAYING shit is an easy way to get scammed when it comes to buying PC parts and general consumer electronics because a lot of the time you'll get an asian knockoff if you're too eager and don't read the fine print/ask questions. But I don't do that shit, the store I linked to is listed in the BBB, has a Wikipedia page with its history etc and, like I said, a ton of solid reviews on sites like pricegrabber.ca and shit. It's a legit store from every little piece of info I could glean from the web.

I think the only time I got ripped off, and it wasn't even badly, is when I ebayed a radeon 9550 videocard and it just came in a static bag in a brown cardboard box with no papers or identification or anything. it WORKED and showed up as a 9550 in my PC but god knows what vendor it was and the ebay listing didn't say anything about it being refurbished!

Only $400-500 more? Yes, exactly... You're now basically saying "I don't care to pay twice as much" when before you said you didn't want to shell out a huge amount...
In short, I'm saying that a 24" is perfectly fine for seeing from 4-6 feet away...

As for brands... Just don't get Sony or AOC because they both suck major balls... And for anything else, just be sure to check the specs thoroughly.

You might want to take a look at the LG Scarlet series, for example...

Yeah, I have a 1920x1200 monitor and I want to get a HDMI to DVI cable, but is there any way to switch between PC/PS3 without going the long inconvenient route?

You can get a switch for DVI or HDMI (or both) but they are rather expensive.

In the uk you can get a DVI switch for £15 on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-port-DVI-Audio-switch-splitter-2-way-PC-Video-in-UK_W0QQitemZ360059410332QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item360059410332&_trkparms=72%3A12|39%3A1|65%3A12&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14