Looking to get a new TV in the next couple months
#1
Tue, 12/16/2014 - 13:27
Looking to get a new TV in the next couple months
Come tax time I'm finally going to upgrade my 32" Magnavox TV. I thought I had one all picked out, 4k, 240Hz, $800ish and then I started to do some research and found out that 1080p 120Hz is what I should get for gaming. A few places even said 60 Hz is best for gaming, but most TVs will have an option to change between 120/60 Hz. So I feel the need for some input on what to look for and what people have had good luck with. I hear Samsung and Sony are the best. I'm looking for 50"-60" and under $1k. It will be wall mounted and will mostly be used for gaming, but will be used for watching TV and movies as well.
I do not want 3D and a smart TV is unneeded, but not a deal breaker.
I can tell you that you DO NOT want a 60Hz refresh rate on LCD/LED TV if you plan on using it for gaming. I would say that you want 120Hz or higher, so I'm not sure why the TV you mentioned would not be a good fit.
Two years ago I bought a 42" RCA 720p plasma from Kmart during their Black Friday sale for $200 and it's been an awesome TV. I do plan to upgrade it at some point to 1080p, but the differences between 720/1080p are not all that discernable until you get into the larger sets and also depending on how close you sit to the set. We have a small TV room, so we don't really need anything bigger. I also like plasma because you don't have to worry about refresh rates or viewing angles.
The 4k set might be nice, but is probably overkill since I'm not sure there is really any programming that can support that kind of quality. I could be wrong on this though. I would recommend checking out Consumer Reports. They always do big write-ups on TVs and electronics around the holidays and also have their annual buying guides you can get from places that sell magazines.
The TV I was talking about was 240Hz. Plasma is really hard to find anymore since most companies have moved away from them. I was going to get one when I was looking at TVs a couple years ago, but the funds never happened. 1080 comes into play once you have the 50+ size. I also sit about 10' or so from my TV.
You want 120hz for gaming, 240hz if you can get it without going over budget. I don't see the the point in 4k right now, consles barely push 1080p natively it'll be another generation before we get 4k gaming. Unless you're going to PC game and hook a PC up to your new TV i'd take a pass on the 4K thing.
All that being said, VIZIOs have a lot of bang for the buck and they compete with the high end sets for image quality these days. I would start your search there. Either the E or M series in a 60" will do you nicely. A 60" M series with 240hz refresh is $899 msrp so well under your budget and you'll be happy with it.
Best Buy has 51" and 60" Samsung plasmas on sale right now. I have a 51".