Single online resource for HDTV reviews

[tomdkat]

My dad is looking to do some online research on HDTVs. He would prefer a SINGLE place where he can go, rather than wade through the gobs and gobs of info that is spread out over several sites.

Any suggestions? I'm going to go ahead and send links to HomeTheaterSPot and AVS Forum, just to get this ball rolling.

Is C|net a good site for good HDTV reviews? I believe the Consumer Reports site requires a subscription fee to access their reviews, right?

Thanks!

Peace...

[PunkMunkey]

eCoustics is a site that compiles reviews from a lot of different sites in one convenient location. Here is a link o their HDTV Reviews.

They also compile useful articles and buying guides. It may take some time to weed thooght all of the info, but at least it will all be in one place. Their focus used to be strictly A/V related, but in the recent past they've branced out to include a lot of other CE products as well.

[tomdkat]

Thanks!

Peace...

[Iguana Man]

I wouldn't have sent him to AVS. Those threads get soooo long and are to me tedious to read. You as a good son should wade through it all instead and just say Dad, your buying this TV. No if's and's or but's about it.

Come on...you know you want to.

(If my Dad was still around I would JUMP at the chance!)

[tomdkat]

I haven't actually sent the links yet, but I've compiled several to send.

Peace...

[dugpa]

Originally Posted by tomdkat

Is C|net a good site for good HDTV reviews? I believe the Consumer Reports site requires a subscription fee to access their reviews, right?

No to CNet for reviews, and hell no to Consumer Reports. Consumer Reports is useful if you're buying a car or maybe a toaster, but for god's sake never use it for consumer electronics!

Just find out how much he wants to spend and tell him what display to get for that price.

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by Iguana Man

I wouldn't have sent him to AVS. Those threads get soooo long and are to me tedious to read.

Agreed. AVS can be a real headache.

I've honestly never found a HDTV review site that has met my needs.

[dugpa]

Originally Posted by piratehunter

I've honestly never found a HDTV review site that has met my needs.

Here's what I did last year when I was ready to buy a new display. First, I made a list of all the features I wanted. Since I'm pretty picky, that narrowed it down nicely to a handful of displays. Then I read through the threads on avsforum for each of those displays, seeing what problems people had, what they liked about them, and generally getting an overall idea of the display. Then, I headed to stores. That's always a crap shoot since the average idiot working there doesn't know how to properly calibrate a display, but it's a start. I looked for some of the issues people on avsforum had mentioned, looked at the overall image quality, double checked features and checked out the general build quality. Then I read up on avsforum again to see if the general impressions I got from the displays in the stores matched what people were saying. Then I finally made my decision.

[Pirate]

Dugpa, the problem is that most people don't know as much as you do going in. Most people just want a TV that "looks good."

[ganthc]

My choices on hdtv's were simplified when I just stuck to a brand I trusted for TV's...Sony. Having had Sony TVs in the past that were incredible, I just did research on which Sony set I wanted to buy, and for what price. I never regretted the Wega I bought back in 2000 (though it was a heavy mother, for sure), nor have I regretted buying my GrandWega back in 2005. My friend was so impressed with it, he bought the same model for himself. My dad has one, but just the larger size.

Sometimes it helps to stick with a brand, and limit the amount of research you have to do. If you like Toshiba, or Samsung, stick with those.

[dugpa]

Originally Posted by piratehunter

Dugpa, the problem is that most people don't know as much as you do going in. Most people just want a TV that "looks good."

That's easy then. Just go to the store and see what looks good to you!

Originally Posted by ganthc

Sometimes it helps to stick with a brand, and limit the amount of research you have to do. If you like Toshiba, or Samsung, stick with those.

Unfortunately, these days there's just too much variation in any one company's products to be brand loyal. For instance, I used to be a diehard Panasonic man. In fact I still have the 21" Panasonic TV I bought back in 1988 in my bedroom, and it still works as good today as it did then. But I wouldn't touch one of their displays today. Heck, even with Samsung, which is the HDTV I have now and love, I would want to research the hell out of a new product from just to be sure. There's just no guarantee of quality anymore sadly.

[Derb]

Originally Posted by dugpa

Unfortunately, these days there's just too much variation in any one company's products to be brand loyal.

Very true. Unfortunately I was sucked into the 1080p hype & Sony's marketing of SXRD technology. I gave the KDS60A2000 2 try outs. The first was an extreme green push. The second one had image tilt issue.

Out of the box, forget about it.

Buy a in-store demo.