Five big-screen HDTVs for under $1,000
Wed Dec 3, 2008 8:36PM EST
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These are tough times for many across the nation, and splurging on that $4,000 HDTV is probably out of the equation. However, getting a great, big-screen HDTV doesn't have to cost and arm and a leg if you're a smart shopper. As someone who's personally looking to find a new HDTV to light up their living room, I can tell you I've looked high and low and have done my research. Here are five great HDTVs under $1,000 that will leave you happy.
Panasonic TH-42PZ80U: This 42-inch plasma set from Panasonic features 1080p resolution, 3 HDMI inputs, 2 component inputs, 20,000:1 contrast ratio (although contrast ratios are largely arbitrary), and an HD tuner—meaning that will work over the air without a DTV box. A set this size is perfect for medium-to-large living rooms, and the warmer, softer colors along with deeper blacks makes this plasma a great choice for those who are big into movie night. Currently, this set is available $899 at TigerDirect.com (via Yahoo! Shopping) and Amazon.com. If $899 is too steep, go for the older Panasonic TH-42PX80U. It also has 3 HDMI inputs, 2 component inputs, HD tuner, and a 42-inch size, but it comes in at 720p resolution (1024 x 768 rectangle pixels) and has a lower contrast ratio of 15,000:1. At $715.99 plus tax shipped, it is a downgrade, but don't get me wrong, it's still an awesome big-screen set for the price.
Sony KDL-40S4100: Sony's 40-inch LCD is a member of the BRAVIA lineup, and it features 1080p resolution, an HD tuner, 3 HDMI ports, 2 component inputs, and 24 fps "True Cinema" playback. This 24 fps refresh rate (don't confuse this with 120hz playback) allows compatible Blu-ray players to playback movies at the original rate that they were filmed at—24 frames per second. This actually solves an existing problem with DVD players and ubiquitous 60Hz TV sets, since 24 frames per second original film doesn't divide nicely into a TV refreshing its screen at 60 times a second. Of course, this can get really technical and complicated if you want it to, but if you don't want to get into that, just know that if you're going to be watching a ton of Blu-ray discs, 24 fps compatibility needs to be considered. Right now, this set is $995 plus tax (free shipping) at Amazon.com, and $999 at Crutchfield.com (via Yahoo! Shopping).
Toshiba REGZA 40RV525U: This 40-inch LCD from Toshiba is another 1080p LCD with 3 HDMI ports, 2 component inputs, an HD tuner, and a VGA port. This set comes in at a very reasonable $679 (plus shipping) from TigerDirect or $749 from Beach Camera (free shipping), making this set a great value. However, this is missing the 24 fps compatibility that the Sony has, but if you're going to mainly be watching DVDs on an upscaling player (like the Oppo DV-980H) or don't mind watching Blu-rays with 3:2 pulldown, this set will be fine for you. Again, great value with this set.
Westinghouse TX-42F430S: Ok, first things first: This 42-inch 1080p LCD HDTV set is currently available $689 at Buy.com with free shipping, but it is factory refurbished. I'm not sure how some of you feel about refurbished products, but I personally feel that factory refurbished items are excellent deals and rival the quality of new, off-the-shelf items. I have consistently purchased factory refurbished items and have had good experiences with all of them. Of course, make sure it's factory refurbished and not refurbished by any other company/retailer. This HDTV features 4 HDMI ports, 2 component ports, HD tuning, and an 8ms response time. If you're looking for something smaller or cheaper, there also is a 32-inch Westinghouse LCD with built in progressive-scan DVD player for only $399 shipped (again, refurbished). Both are great deals. UPDATE: Buy.com no longer has these TVs for sale, but here are some alternative places: 32" Westinghouse no DVD - $399, a 47" Westinghouse 1080p LCD for $664, and a 42"1080p Viewsonic $649. All refurbished.
Samsung LN40A650: This one tips the scale over $1,000 (about $1,200 shipped), but if you have a little extra cash, this new Samsung 650 series is an excellent, excellent LCD HDTV. You get all of the latest features: 1080p resolution, 120Hz (which is compatible with 24 fps), 4ms response time, 4 HDMI 1.3 ports, USB ports, and more. Again, higher than most would like to pay, but Samsung's 6, 7, and 8 Series are truly an impressive bunch. However, you'll find me drooling from over by the window.
There you have it—five (actually seven, minus one since the Samsung is over $1k) excellent HDTV sets that will leave you happy this holiday season. Leave me a comment and let me know if I missed anything, and shop on!
One more thing: Buying the TV is just half the battle. Make sure you have your TV and HD settings set up correctly for the best picture. Trust me, it makes a huge difference. Ben Patterson has a great write up on things you should know about HDTVs.
Related Links:
Holiday shopping guide: Blu-ray TV shows & movies
Holiday buying guide: Best DVDs and box sets
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Comments on Five big-screen HDTVs for under $1,000
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7 Posted by sharetask on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:16PM EDT Report Abuse
Take a really good look at Vizio. I believe they are MADE IN AMERICA!!!! Something we should all be thinking about these days!!!! I know for sure that they are an American company based in California, and I think I read where they make their products here also!
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8 Posted by djlewis0714 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:44PM EDT Report Abuse
I got a 400 series Samsung 50 inch at sears for 849.00 a couple weeks before black friday! I am so happy with it I can not tell the difference between 1080p and 720p a the store and I have really good vision....can anyone really tell?
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9 Posted by unkieboo47 on Fri Dec 5, 2008 8:04AM EST Report Abuse
You forgot ONE very impressive value !! DELL is selling a 42" SHARP for $779 !! I just purchases one, and may i add . . . it is STARTLING !!! Beautiful colour, GREAT VALUE . . . 1080 quality at 720 PRICING !!! GET THEM BEFORE THEY ARE GONE !!!
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10 Posted by hansj01 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:16PM EDT Report Abuse
BEWARE - Not all anufacturers are created equal when it comes to their customer service. I have a 2 year old Samsung DLP 61" TV that I paid $3700 for and now needs a $500 repair because the sound is gone. Samsung's position is "too bad" even though this is a major component on a high end TV that is used about 10 hours/week. Be sure to examine the warranty and also the "exclusions" in an extended warranty.
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11 Posted by mrjay40 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:27PM EDT Report Abuse
If you keep your eyes open, Sam's Club is the place to shop. Recently, two weeks ago, I bought a 42" Vizio 1080p LCD, 3 hdmi, 2 component input, for $700. This was a new (not a refurb) unit. The catch is that they don't advertise and they only get a couple of pallets at a time.
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12 Posted by newman2079 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:36PM EDT Report Abuse
I got the Toshiba 40RV525U from TigerDirect and I LOVE it! I just want to point out though it is not a REGZA even though many retailers advertise it as such. But still a great TV.
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13 Posted by stars1910 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:39PM EDT Report Abuse
BOY , I need to buy stock in Eye doctors because apparently alot of peoples vision is really bad. Panasonics look like claymation on close ups. Samsung blooms colors for the most part. I won't even go into the problems with Vizio and westinghouse. Toshibas reliability has taken a pretty large hit. Course the article is talking about the yugos of the TV world. Stay with the Sonys and some samsungs and you'll be okay.
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14 Posted by christiancollinson@verizon.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:24PM EDT Report Abuse
What about DLP? I've seen a 56 inch Samsung DLP HDTV for $899. How does this technology compare w/LCD and Plasma? Would you consider DLP at all?
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15 Posted by morgan1819 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:26PM EDT Report Abuse
I would advise NOT buying any Toshiba LCD product. I spent $1299 on their Regza model, and it has the dreaded 'banding' issue, which of course they will not warranty. Cost me $250 to have the TV looked at, and they want $850 to fix it. Basically, my worst investment ever. I repeat, stay away from Toshiba.
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16 Posted by jcup1029 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:31PM EDT Report Abuse
I just bought a 50' Samsung at Best Buy for only $789. After the five year warranty and tax it ran me just over $1000.
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17 Posted by sherylbray on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:19PM EDT Report Abuse
I got a 42 inch Philips for 899 and love it. Walmart.
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18 Posted by xxwhat_ever on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:53PM EDT Report Abuse
Since when is a TV for more then $500 dollars considered a bargain? I can not bring myself to spend more on a tv then I pay for my house note or my car note. Hello? Are we lemmings? We blindly follow the urge to spend outragous amounts of money on a TV. It is insane. I dont get it. Lets do the math, thats just say I could watch TV 24 hours a day 7 days a week. We would spend $2.70 a day just to own that TV and that doesnt even count the electricity used. You are actually paying more for the TV then most of us pay for the HD service we use to watch it. I maybe watch 10 hours of programing a week, so thats do that math, $19.23 a week to watch TV. And really, how much of that time is spent watching things that I really want to watch in HD? 2 or 3 hours maybe? Come back when you find an HDTV at a REAL bargain.
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19 Posted by in_hollywood on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:24PM EDT Report Abuse
Sony has the best reliability but their picture quality is far behind. They buy their LCD screens from Sharp. You can buy there only good TV - the XBR8 for $7,000. Or you can buy a tv with an even better picture for $1,000. The 85u Panasonic and the 800u. The best TV's made. They look horrible in the stores such as best buy but wait until you get them home- CNET rates the 800u as their TOP HDTV!!!!
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20 Posted by mwlindsey2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:31PM EDT Report Abuse
Where can you buy the Samsung 650 for $1200 shipped?? I've been watching Amazon for weeks and the lowest it has been is $1500.
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21 Posted by daddy12203 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:34PM EDT Report Abuse
xxwhatever what a dumb post. having a car payment at all is worst than buying a tv for 1000 dollars that very well may last 15 years. i have four panasonic plasmas in my house and my electric bill is under 50 dollars a month. i watch about the same amount of tv as you do. my house is paid for and my cars are also. maybe i understand how many do not live by their means but cars are by far the worst investment there is. the average household car payment is 378 a month and americans keep their cars for an average of 3 years.
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22 Posted by thomasjeffersonlady on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:08PM EDT Report Abuse
We just bought a Toshiba 37inch High Def ..cant' tell you the model..it was on " sale " at Sears in JULY... so we still paid higher than the pricers are today which makes me mad...cause now the prices have dropped QUITE a bit. BUT WE LOVE THE PICTURE quality of this Toshiba. We did purchase an extended warranty plan ..for 3 years I think . We normally do not purchase any of those but with these high def's being so pricey...we did. We had no choice other than to buy a tv at that time. Amazes me how ...5 months later ..the prices have come down. I think we paid $ 850 for our Toshiba in July.
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23 Posted by seacoast1963 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:10PM EDT Report Abuse
I was thinking of gettign a Westinghouses as 2nd TV. But I see in the article that they all seem to be refurbished is Westinghouse not making them anymore? Consumre reports gave Vizio's top ratings (for quality and price-dont know a thing about the company) on their website and annual book, paid subsription only.
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24 Posted by soxfann64 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:34PM EDT Report Abuse
Purchased a Pannny 46 inch (th46pz80u) last month and love it. It's the same series as the 42" panny he wrote about here. We absolutely love it. I feel the prices will go down a bit more (we paid 1300 bucks for ours) but I was ready to move after watching the price on this set go down aprox 500 bucks over 6 months time.
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25 Posted by witherst on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:48PM EDT Report Abuse
I'm avoiding Samsung due to their poor warranty service and horrible customer service. But don't take it from me...google and see the growing masses that have complaints.
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6 Posted by rayland_dizon on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:31PM EDT Report Abuse
There is also the samsung ln46a500....46" 1080p for only $1099 @ bestbuy...only 2 hdmi ports but i only have a ps3 and the cable box...so it's enough...it's good deal