Best 42" LED TV for under $500... What to look for...

[spacescape]

I am about ready to ditch the 27" CRT in the basement, move the 32" Panasonic (720P) LCD down there and get a 42" LED for my living room. I'm just not sure what to look for anymore and looking for direction. Brand? Panasonic? Samsung? Sanyo?... Refresh Rate? 120 Hz or higher? 1080P... Contrast Ratio?

A little guidance please...

[stephen]

I'm reasonably happy with my Toshiba.

[Robert M]

Space,

Start at this web site:



BTW, it's a great time to buy a TV, especially if you go for a last year's model. All of the manufacturers are discontinuing them in favor of new models and the stores are now deeply discounting the old ones, assuming they have any left.

Robert

[ka jowct]

You might want to avoid so-called smart TVs, due to reports of their surreptitious snooping and tracking of your viewing habits.

[testcase]

Thanks for that link Robert M!

[JPK]

It seems even a 42" is no longer a big tv. It looks like the manufacturers are focusing more attention on bigger TVs and it looks like the 32"-42" are all pretty comparable these days.

From my experience, I have had good luck with LG and very bad luck with Visio. I have had both a good and bad experience with Samsung, but do like the price/value/quality/features ratio of Samsung.

Good luck.

JPK

[Ombligo]

I've been very pleased with my Samsung 46" but of course it is a few models old. There is no telling what has been changed and if a new model of any brand correlates to a previous model. That being said avoid the no name brands, the basic American brands (RCA, Zenith, etc) and older Vizeo. The newer Vizeo seem better but I still don't think they measure up to the first line brands like Samsung, LG, Toshiba or Sony.

As for a deal - keep an eye on Dealnews.com and the closeout counter at Sams or Costco.

[vision63]

Seems TV's are becoming disposable, though I'm a bigger is better kind of guy. Keeping that content flowing is the wallet killer.

[Filliam H. Muffman]

Remember that you are getting a 1080 display. Would you sit five feet from a 21.5" iMac? You are doing the same thing if you are sitting ten feet from a 42" TV.

[Article Accelerator]

Filliam H. Muffman wrote:
Remember that you are getting a 1080 display. Would you sit five feet from a 21.5" iMac? You are doing the same thing if you are sitting ten feet from a 42" TV.

:agree: