Best TV for $300

[Kenster]

This post will probably be moved but I don't know where to put it. If I had about $300 for a new TV, what would you recommend? I want a 27 inch with stereo sound and s-video. My father-in-law has a new RCA that has a great picture, but I keep hearing bad things about them. I would appreciate your input.
Ken

[Scott Greczkowski]

I have had an RCA 27' RCA TV which has now been in use for over 10 years with Zero problems.

I would not go for the $199 RCA 27" sets but a middle of the line would be good and around your price range.

[Karl Foster]

Costco has many 25-27" tv's for under $300.00. In fact, I saw a Panasonic 27" with component video and S-video for $279.99 last night.

[EricG]

I've been using a 26" RCA since 1988 - still looks great !

[Chardo]

"Best picture" is entirely up to the individual viewer. If you want to go crazy, go to any of the big-box retailers and look at them. Make note of which ones you like, and if you wish, check out prices on those models at other places.

For sets within your price range (under $300), what you will probably find is that the pictures all look so similar, and any differences are largely due to the settings on each set (brightness, contrast, color, tint). If one set has what looks like an inferior picture, usually a minor adjustment is all it takes to bring it up to the others.

Bottom line--pick the set within your price range that has the features you want at the lowest price. Don't be too concerned about the picture as it is infinitely adjustable. Besides, when you get home, it will be the only TV in the room. With no other picture to compare to, it will look great.

Most major brands are well made and will be problem-free for many years. Today's televisions are probably the most dependable machines in the house.

[Steve Mehs]

I cant offer any advice on specific models, but make sure the TV has component video, assuming you have a dvd player with component out. If the tv will be part of a home theater system with video switching the number of RCA and SVHS inputs wont be that important

[dlsnyder]

You're not likely to find a set with component video in this price range. That is a feature usually only found on HDTV capable sets costing much more. Look for a set with both composite and S-video inputs. S-video is the best way to connect a DVD player or satellite IRD.

I have a 10 year old RCA 27" set and have been happy with it overall. It is starting to show it's age now though as any set would. The picture is now a bit out of focus toward the edges and the front panel buttons are getting worn out (mainly due to the kids). Other than that no real complaints.

[Steve Mehs]

Actually most midrange TVs 27"+ now come with component video. As Karl said he saw a 27" Panny for under $300 w/Component. And I've seen Philips and Zenith TVs 32" or less with component, in the $300-$400 price range at WalMart and Best Buy.

[Mike Gavasheli]

Originally posted by Steve Mehs
Actually most midrange TVs 27"+ now come with component video. As Karl said he saw a 27" Panny for under $300 w/Component.

I own one. It has three video inputs: one component, one S-Video, and one regular in front. Paid $300 a year ago.

Mike

[gcutler]

I just bought the Philips 27" for $299. It would have been perfect except that the picture looks pinched on the left side (Watch a CNN ticker or a letterbox movie and it is noticable). I had them swap it out with a new unit and same problem (Occurs on both DVD and COAX input, so it must be tube related, no adjustment possible from what I can see). Keep away from this one. I am going to try the $399 price range and see what happens. Perhaps I will be more lucky.

[Steve Mehs]

Is it a Philips Smart Series TV?

[MarkA]

Those cheap Philips ones don't look that good, though the flat ones look better than the flat Sonys.

[Steve Mehs]

I have a Philips 32" that was $500 and it looks pretty damn good.

[HarryD]

I have a RCA 27" that I got from WalMArt last year for $199. It's ok for cable but has no component feeds what-so-ever. I bought it for the Guide-plus feature. If you can, check out Consumer Reports magazine. I think their buyers guide is invaluable.

IMHO - I would get the Panasonic. :D

[Kenster]

My father-in-law's 27" RCA has s-video. He paid almost $400 at little TV shop in his little town. It looks just like the one at BB selling for $250.

[gcutler]

Originally posted by Steve Mehs
Is it a Philips Smart Series TV?

This was the model...

http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=11101407&m=1&cat=24&scat=27

And others had posted about the problem, so it wasn't a fluke.

[JohnL]

Originally posted by Mike Gavasheli


I own one. It has three video inputs: one component, one S-Video, and one regular in front. Paid $300 a year ago.

Mike

Many are confusing Composite Video inputs with Component Video. A Component set of inputs has several different cables to connect to be able resolve a complete picture. Generally Component inputs are reserved for the most Expensive of sets as well as HDTV's.

Composite connection is a single cable carrying a NTSC Video signal. S-Video seperates the signal into seperate carriers that run down in the same cable if you look at a S-Video connector you will see 4 unique pins that carry different signals. When the Picture information is seperated in this manner you get a truer to life image than from a Composite connection.


RF provides the weakest picture, Composite is better, S-Video is even better, and for those that have Component inputs they are the best connection available in terms of picture reproduction but are generally reserved for sets that cost $500 PLUS.

John

[Karl Foster]

Check this one out at Best Buy:

http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=11051048&m=1&cat=24&scat=27

It has a picture of the back which clearly states "Component Video." It is $299.97. Seems like a good deal, but Costco has the same model for $279.99

[JohnL]

Originally posted by karl_f
Check this one out at Best Buy:

http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=11051048&m=1&cat=24&scat=27

It has a picture of the back which clearly states "Component Video." It is $299.97. Seems like a good deal, but Costco has the same model for $279.99

Good one, this unit doesn't even have S-Video so it's impossible to have Component Video Inputs. Most manufactures are using the term Component interchangeable with Composite Video. If a Unit doesn't have S-video its a sure thing it doesn't have Component Video. True Component Video connections require 3 seperate cable connections to be able to resolve a picture. Composite is only one RCA type cable from source to TV, S-video is a one cable solution that carries 4 seperate signals down on 4 seperate wire carriers wrapped inside the S-Video cable.

Component Connections are pretty much reserved for very HIGH end TV's and most are HDTV Sets.

John

[Kenster]

I checked Consumer Reports. It looked like most of these units are very similar in picture quality. Sound was pretty equal except for SHARP which got a bad rating for sound. RCA and GE were rated lowest for reliability and frequency of repairs.
I was surprised to see that SANYO was at the top for needing fewest repairs. I thought SANYO was a low end company. I guess the low prices I've seen reflect limited features. Sony and Toshiba were near the top. Everytime I try to access BestBuy's site, I get a lock up when I click on "mid-size TV's."

[Karl Foster]

Originally posted by JohnL


Good one, this unit doesn't even have S-Video so it's impossible to have Component Video Inputs. Most manufactures are using the term Component interchangeable with Composite Video. If a Unit doesn't have S-video its a sure thing it doesn't have Component Video. True Component Video connections require 3 seperate cable connections to be able to resolve a picture. Composite is only one RCA type cable from source to TV, S-video is a one cable solution that carries 4 seperate signals down on 4 seperate wire carriers wrapped inside the S-Video cable.

Component Connections are pretty much reserved for very HIGH end TV's and most are HDTV Sets.

John

I don't want to get into a pi**ing contest, but if you look at the picture of the back of the tv, it clearly has s-video, component jacks that are blue, green, and red, composite jacks, and rf. Here is a list of details:

http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=11051048&m=1&cat=24&scat=27#details

[Nick]

32" GE (Thompson) for 369.95 at CC -
two years ago. Great pic, no probs,
good deal.

The Nickster :smoking:

[DarrellP]

Some NTSC TV's DO have COMPONENT inputs, but they are interlaced, not to be confused with the component progressive displays that come off a DVD or HD satellite receiver.

The Sony WEGA series is a good example of this type of set. They offer RF, Composite, S-Video and Interlaced Component inputs.

The order I just listed these in is also the quality of picture you will achieve in that order, RF being horrid and Component being the best.

The only thing you can hook up to the component input is a DVD player that has a component output. Then you have to make sure that it is switchable between interlaced and progressive or just interlaced out of your DVD player. Progressive component will NOT work.

Watching a DVD via interlaced component on a Sony WEGA utilizing the vertical squeeze on an Anamorphic DVD is bested only by a HD display.

[MarkA]

"Watching a DVD via interlaced component on a Sony WEGA utilizing the vertical squeeze on an Anamorphic DVD is bested only by a HD display."

Or a multimedia projector hooked up to a computer showing the movie! That rules! (The computer can scale the movie to the native 1024x768 of most projectors far better than connecting a DVD player to the projector)

[Kevin]

I have a 20" Aiwa flat-screen in my room. The picture is great and the speakers are on the front of the unit so the sound is clear. The only negative aspect of this TV is that you can't program your Dish Network (and maybe DirecTV) remote to control the TV's volume and power. Instead, you need the Aiwa remote to turn the TV on and off and you have to use the reciever to control the volume.

[EricG]

I saw a nice 27" JVC at Sam's Club for around $280.

[Martyva]

Sony HiScan and XBR have HD Component in (also aren't $300) Want a great TV for $300. Use it as a down payment for HD. That should be the only choice.

[gcutler]

Swapped out the $299 Philips for a $490 Panasonic Flatscreen (CT27SX12)

http://www.prodcat.panasonic.com/shop/NewDesign/ModelTemplate.asp?ModelId=13984&show_all=false&product_exists=True&active=1&ModelNo=CT-27SX12&CategoryId=2714

[markh]

gcutler, I have a Philips the same as the one you had. I only notice the pinching in the lower left corner when I have the program guide on from the sat receiver. Otherwise it looks great....after I took it to a dealer to get the terribly overscanned picture adjusted. My 4900 seems to move the picture down slightly but before it was adjusted you could only see the top 1/3 of the tickers on the news channels. But now that it's properly adjusted it looks great with Dish.

You'll really like that panasonic, it's loaded with all that modulated velocity scan and edge correction stuff. My Dad just got it's bigger brother, the 36" version of the flat screen series. The thing looks fantastic even with the large picture. I just can't watch TV at his house so I get to like it :) It wasn't $300 though. And it weighs about 250 pounds, it wasn't easy wrestling it into the house for him.

If I could do it over, I would seriously think about a Toshiba 27AF42 or the Panasonic 27" that gcutler got. Oh well.

[gcutler]

I watch alot of CNN, so the pinch started to drive me crazy with the ticker...

One things that made me make the jump to the higher level was that there is alot of sunlight in the living room (vaulted ceilings with windows) and the Philips 27" had alot of glare (any non-flat unit put out alot of glare, my old TV also put alot of glare). Hopefully the flatscreen will help a little.

My entertainment center maxes out at around 27", maybe could hold a 30". And my living room isn't that deep so over 32" and I would be sitting way tooo close :)

[StanW]

A 53" Pioneer that fell off the loading dock.

[gcutler]

Well the New TV will hopefully arrive today. 2nd Philips is going back. After all this time with both the original and now this Philips I probably could have lived with it, but in 6 months someone would have said "hey your tube is misalligned" and I would have gone "Medevil" on his skull :D

[gcutler]

I'm waiting here for the delivery truck to arrive. It is supposed to be here between 12 and 2:30 (1:50 now). I predict 3:00 :D

[gcutler]

Arrived 1 hour late :(

But the TV is nice. I realized that there seemed to be a similar tilt on the screen. But luckily there was a Magnetic Geometry setting that allowed you to adjust screen that got rid of the tilt.

Now I have to see how well it handles the glare of the vaulted windows.