Need new HDTV under 500$, any recommendations?

[WIRLYWIRLY]

My Vizio 50 inch plasma just suddenly went to shit, and im too lazy/uneducated enough to try and fix it... In case its an easy fix, ill tell you guys whats wrong with it...I heard a loud spark noise (like a firework) coming from Top left corner of TV, then image started going black, and now it wont even show black [No Signal] screen -.- It turns on, but the screen looks as if its off (not even a black background)... thinking it needs a new bulb... don't know model BTW

P.S
Found this TV on Walmart (I hate Walmart too, but its cheap as hell here)

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sceptre-42-X425BV-FHD/16878627

Thinking of giving it a go...heard only thing that sucks about it is Audio, but i got a home theater...

This looks good too...

http://www.walmart.com/ip/RCA-46-46LA45RQ/15685177?findingMethod=rr

Anyone else recommend a good HDTV tv under 500$? :3 (Preferably 1080p, but will settle with 720p...and decent size for both...MUST HAVE AT LEAST 1 HDMI INPUT... VGA would be nice, but not required)

[halfelite]

The pop of death does sound can be any easy fix as replacing a bunch of caps or up to needing a new x and y board which will run you like 400$  but before you throw the tv put it on craiglists or ebay people will buy it

[FlyinPenguin]

Don't buy a Vizio again or any bargain brand set if you want it to last. I'd look into some of the more reputable companies such as Toshiba, Sony, Samsung, etc even if you will be getting one of their low end models.

Are you looking for a LCD or plasma? You mentioned wanting a VGA so I'm assuming you will be looking this up to a PC? I'd go with LCD then. LED is coming down is price but I would stick with LCD to get the most bang for your buck.

The best advice I can give you is to use the filtering system on Wal-Mart's website to find one within your price and that meets your requirements. Then go onto CNET and Google professional reviews. Don't just go off the customer reviews as most people don't even know what they are talking about and don't have an eye for quality. I just did a quick search on Best Buy and there are several TVs under $500 that are worth looking into. Compare them all and decide what features and visual quality you are willing to sacrifice. It's a somewhat time consuming process so I can't really help you out too much especially since I don't know your exact criteria and what is most important to you in a TV.

Just curious, can you live without a HDTV for awhile? The best time of year to buy a TV is around Black Friday and the holidays. That would allow your money to go even farther and save up some extra green to throw at it as well. Right now, it looks like there are some decent sets for under $500 but nothing from a reputable company that offers 120HZ.

Wal-Mart really doesn't have that much. What about Best-Buy or Amazon?

The only sets I noticed on Wal-Mart's site within your price range that I would look into are:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Toshiba-40-40FT2U/17201554
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Philips-40-40PFL3706-F7/16874083
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Philips-40-40PFL7705D-F7B/20565700

The last one may really be worth looking into. Not only is it 120HZ but it is $100 under your budget. Unfortunately, it is refurbished. I'm not sure if I personally would buy a refurbished TV but it is certainly something for you to consider especially since it is going for almost $1,200 on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Philips-40PFL7705D-F7-40-Inch-1080p/dp/B003ICXD0G Actually, the cheapest I see it for online is $734.80 from some random places online. It could potentially be the best bang for your buck.

You really need to read some professional reviews on these sets though. I've just provided you with a few sets that may be worth investigating.

[GoGeTa006]

I would recommend Vizio LCD/LEDs, I used to sell them at Sears and they are underrated,
cheaper brands that still have good quality are:

Sharp
Panasonic
Toshiba

for under 500 tho, you will only get 40" at the most (LCD)

if you get another plasma I would highly advice for Panasonic (they are top-of-the-notch Plasma)
why Panasonic?
well from what I've read and (workshops) and stuff, most of the "new" things for plasmas (pixel shifting among them) was developed by panasonic, since most other brands switched over to LCD/LED they buried plasmas on a graveyard but panasonic took it back
Plasmas have a higher color range, they have better contrast ratio, they have real (full electromagnetic) light (not polarized like LCD/LED)
however Plasmas get hotter and use more energy (Im sure you should know this already but just setting grounds)

now compared to Samsung Plasmas, Panasonics consume a little less energy, and IIRC they usually have pretty sweet deals
 

[Freedom Kira]

One interesting tidbit of info I heard from a guy working at Future Shop when I was talking to him was that Sony actually gets its screens from Sharp. Either that or they get their screens from the same manufacturer.

[GoGeTa006]

One interesting tidbit of info I heard from a guy working at Future Shop when I was talking to him was that Sony actually gets its screens from Sharp. Either that or they get their screens from the same manufacturer.

u are correct, Sharp makes Sony screens although they have completely different set of standards (Sony high-end look way better than sharp high-end)

[halfelite]

most screens are made by sharp or Samsung,

[NaRu]

I have a 46" Sharp LCD TV and a Sony 32" LCD. I do recommend those brands. Also I recommend Samsung.

[GoGeTa006]

I have a 46" Sharp LCD TV and a Sony 32" LCD. I do recommend those brands. Also I recommend Samsung.

from being in the salesfloor for hours here are my observations:

Sharp/Samsung: Great for gaming/Animation, why? because they have oversaturated colors as their natural, it sells, cause their add videos are just ab unch of extremely colorful animals under the sea which emphasizes the highly saturated colors their TV's display
Sony: Real people, sony doesnt have that much sautration but it has a lot (and I mean a lot) better shades of grey and neutral colors, skin looks really real, the colors are very accurate,

Our personal test (without the sony guys or samsung guys shwoing us their wonders)
we put a high def picture on a sony and the same picture on a samsung, the picture was a beach house, the sony TV displayed the tables inside the house, you could clearly see the silhouettes of the chairs and tables inside, the samsung/sharp just displayed a big black window with nothing inside, but they looked pretty damn attractive

[FlyinPenguin]

I have some experience with Samsung and to be honest it is not good at all. at least as far as Plasma and gaming are concerned. A good friend of mine and my parents both purchased Samsung plasmas in various price ranges. One was like $500 and the other slightly over $1,200, both on sale.

First of all, gaming is terrible. Sure there is no ghosting whatsoever but they are both terrible at decent color and blackness representation. When I visited them both, I brought over my 360 and I could not believe how washed out their blacks were. Playing a game with lots of darkness such as Battlefield 3 or Bioshock was an absolute nightmare.

Now, I admit I have not personally configured either of their settings so there may be room for improvement but there is an even more serious problem at hand: Burn-in.

These sets both failed miserably at making it past their first year of operation without burn-in. While there may be no permanent burn-in, if the picture is still for even a couple of minutes there is terrible temporary burn in that lasts minutes at a time. My friends is plagued with horrible red marks all over the screen after starting a game from the main menu.  My parents screen hasn't suffered as horribly but still looks like shit if you have paused for even a few minutes.

I actually went shopping with my parents when they bought their TV. I was trying to explain to them the burn-in issues plasmas have and the Best Buy punk is like "Oh, no. That problem has been solved a long time ago." I'm like "No, it is still an issue despite safeguards." Of course he keeps arguing that it is fine now. This is why I don't trust brick and mortar store salesman. They think they know everything because of what they learn during training from people who's goal it is to sell a product.

To be fair, this was two years ago. They may have improved. And aside from plasma, my uncles's Samsung lcd looks pretty decent for the price he paid.

[kitamesume]

^thats why i prefer dumbass salesman than a smarty-pants salesman.

[halfelite]

Burn in can still be an issue but it depends on what you are using it for but it is a lot better now, But there is a catch if you take samsung for example it has pixel shifts so everything shifts around slighty to not burn in, But if you turn on just scan mode, which is true no overscan mode 1:1 mapping pixel shifting is turned off.

And for samsung saturation that is usually fixable if you calibrate it right. But I have noticed samsung runs better in full RGB 0-255 rather then limited 16-235.

[GoGeTa006]

^thats why i prefer dumbass salesman than a smarty-pants salesman.

my answer (as a salesman):

Yes, the problem has been addressed, burn-ins have been reduced, and there are safety features that help prevent them, but gaming is a whole different thing, and Plasmas are NOT good for gaming due to health bars and other static things that dont move

[kitamesume]

meh, the reason i dislike smarty-pants salesmen is because they pester like:

salesman: why are you picking that? this is better!
me: i want this ok!? so stfu and bill me already!
salesman: no no, this is clearly better, its [blablablabla] and [blablablabla].
me: just freaking give me my receipt already!

short note - arguments doesn't work with smarty-pants salesmen.

[GoGeTa006]

meh, the reason i dislike smarty-pants salesmen is because they pester like:

salesman: why are you picking that? this is better!
me: i want this ok!? so stfu and bill me already!
salesman: no no, this is clearly better, its [blablablabla] and [blablablabla].
me: just freaking give me my receipt already!

short note - arguments doesn't work with smarty-pants salesmen.

Im more of the "yeah thats a great decision but you should take the extended warranty "

and they make us say all that. . .I even had a customer complain to a manager
"Hey sir, this guy, great customer service but seriously I couldnt care less about warranties and surveys, so please dont make them say so much. . .i just want to go home"

[kitamesume]

it wouldnt be bad for a chat, but once the salesperson gets desperate and annoying where arguing is invalid then make'em stfu >,>

[FlyinPenguin]

Honestly, whenever I'm looking at electronics and the salesman asks me if I need help, I tell them no. Between my own knowledge and smartphone, there is really nothing the salesman can do to help. They generally are misinformed and biased in their opinions. I cringe when I overhear consersations between a salesman and customer and 90% of the time they are either searching for words or spouting complete bullshit.

No offense to you GoGeTa. This is just my experience with the salesmen I tend to encounter.

[megido-rev.M]

They are more hesitant to push when there are several people together, but that might just be me .