Community Forums => General Chat => Topic started by: Ian Sane on February 28, 2003, 09:38:39 AM
Title: Buying a new TV
Post by: Ian Sane on February 28, 2003, 09:38:39 AM
I've been thinking about buying a new TV. My current TV is a few years old and only has one A/V input which is a big pain in the ass as I have to constantly swap the cables for my videogame consoles and my DVD player. I've been doing some research and have some idea about stuff like S-Video and Component Video and whatnot but most sources of information are pretty techinical and don't tell me really simple stuff like what types of video hookup there are and which ones are better than others. There seems to be a reasonable amount of tech nuts on this forum so I figure I might as well ask for any personal experiences with certain brands, models, etc and what features are worth looking out for.
Anyway my price range is around $750 Canadian which is probably around $500 in American funds (though I can go a few hundred higher). My absolute requirements are that's it's flat screen, around 27", and can support at least S-Video. The only stuff of consequence that I'm hooking up to it right now is my Gamecube and DVD player (which is a Toshiba and is Progressive Scan capable). I can't afford anything really fancy like HDTV or anything. I also don't have any sort of fancy audio setup so for the immediate future the TV's speakers have to suffice. I'm not restricted by any dimension requirements for an entertainment centre or anything. If the TV doesn't fit on the stand I'm currently using I'll buy a new stand.
I also am not too familiar with what sort of cables are needed for what particularly with the Gamecube. I'd rather not have to order cables from Nintendo's website so if anybody has any third party cables to recommend that would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Title: Buying a new TV
Post by: Marcus Arillius on February 28, 2003, 12:38:45 PM
I got a tv with the RF switch built in. Its a God send.
Title: Buying a new TV
Post by: MikeHrusecky on February 28, 2003, 12:55:56 PM
$750 Canadian/$500 USD is a lot of money for a good TV nowadays.
I'm a big fan of the Toshiba "PURE" flat tubes. The best price I can find online for their 27AF42 model is $428 USD. The next bump up, 32", I found for $626 USD, if you wanna go crazy on spending.
Flat 27", S-Video input, 3 A/V inputs, component input, AV output. The colors are sharp and the input quality is phenominal, even on the A/Vs. It's not digital or high def, but if that's not a concern, the PURE flats are great.
I have the 20" model, my Cube is connected using component, the DVD player to S-video, and anything else to the AVs. And the remote is a nice, big universal one, if that matters. (too many TVs sell with crappy remotes these days.)
This is a premium line selling for a premium price. They do have a cheaper line of TVs, but they're basic sets, not flat screen, not as good clarity or sharpness, etc.
Title: Buying a new TV
Post by: manunited4eva22 on February 28, 2003, 05:47:37 PM
Any problems with the edging not showing right, like in a lot of CRTs, Mike?
Title: Buying a new TV
Post by: RickPowers on February 28, 2003, 06:01:31 PM
I can also vouch for the 20" Toshiba Flat. EXCELLENT TV.
Title: Buying a new TV
Post by: MikeHrusecky on February 28, 2003, 08:28:31 PM
Do you mean with the corner edges bending inward? I think I've seen it twice in my year and a half owning it, and in both cases the video was unusual or very intense in some way. It's been rare and isn't very noticable when I do catch it.
Title: Buying a new TV
Post by: Ian Sane on March 03, 2003, 06:34:49 AM
Okay I got the TV on the weekend. I went with the Toshiba that Mike suggested. My friend has a 24" Toshiba flat screen and he loves it and Consumer Report had the 27AF42 ranked at the top of their conventional TV list. It also was the cheapest 27" at the store (aside from some Sorny and Panaphonics no-name brand stuff) oddly enough.
So far I'm very impressed with both the picture quality and sound. I've got both my DVD player and Cube hooked up with S-Video and they just look amazing (I'll be ordering the GC component cable soon). My only complaint is that with some games the graphics actually look worse because the detail is greater making the flaws look more noticable.
One problem though is that the TV (and the stand I bought with it) take up too much space in my room and now I have no place for my games and DVDs so I'm going to have to do some massive reorganizing. I'd post pics but I don't have a digital camera or a scanner.
The best thing is it came in a really big box which I plan on turning into a transmorgamifier.
Title: Buying a new TV
Post by: Marcus Arillius on March 03, 2003, 07:07:00 AM
Quote Originally posted by: Ian Sane
The best thing is it came in a really big box which I plan on turning into a transmorgamifier.
Good idea. I use my modded box as a transmorgamifier too. I use it to go to Super Mario World and make chicken babies. Then I make Yoshi puke up food for the chicken babies to eat so they can grow up to be healthy Swans. Then I eat the Swans. And we all live happily ever after. The beginning.
Anyway, congradulations, I guess. You saying the graphics were worse because the definition is better is a lot of the reason I won't get a better TV. I'll have to stick with my Magnetfox, no-name brand. Well, that and I'm poor. Its okay cause it has the RF switch built in though. (Its actually a sylvannia television, still, never heard of it before I got it.)
