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wallabee4 · Nov 28, 2011, 04:30 PM

Trying to combine the 'research' I am doing to buy a 32" flat screen TV. I don't know much, so help in sorting it out would be appreciated. Reading that full array is bette than edge lit. Reading that local dimming on that is good to have. Reading that 120-240 hz refresh rates are better than 60 hz altho use more energy. But who can tell me if I need this stuff or not? I have watched a regular old-fashioned 19" Tv for the past 20 years quite happily. I don't need fancy stuff if my eyes probably can't tell the difference. But I do most definitely want to avoid things that I will find downright annoying. (As far as what I would call annoying: when old TVs had to warm up until we all got the 'new' 'instant on' feature! Or things that I'll have to notice or encounter every day that other folks have found annoying. I really don't know what I'm talking about... so looking for experienced wise ones here... ) Only other thing I do want to occasionally hook up an Xbox to the TV and I do want to mount it on a wall.

FadedMaster · Nov 28, 2011, 07:17 PM

Any flat panel TV can be wall mounted.

Your best bet is to go to a store and pick out what you like most. I wouldn't worry too much about full array backlights on a 32" LED. It's pretty small and wouldn't need it.

Also, unless you are going to be watching Blu-rays or some other 24p source, I wouldn't worry about 120Hz. I wouldn't worry about 240Hz at all unless you are planning to get a 3D set.

That being said, if you are looking at name-brand TVs, I would check out the Sony KDL32EX523 and the Samsung UN32D5500.

Those are both 60Hz, if you want to go to a 120Hz set for your 24p sources, then take a look at the Sony KDL32EX720 or the Samsung UN32D6000.

Sharp is another good name-brand to check out. I'm not sure how they have been doing with their smaller sets; they seem to have switched focus to the larger displays.

wallabee4 · Nov 29, 2011, 08:50 AM

Hi, FM, thanks!!
Locally we have these, but I can go to the city to to see about the ones you suggested. Any opinion/advice you can give on a Vizio E320VP or a Toshiba 720p60Hz LED HDTV? Especially looking if I should avoid them for some reason.

Also, what is your opinion on how long one of these TV's lasts? (i.e Keeps working well) We have noticed obvious planned obsolescence in microwave ovens (seems we have to replace every 2-3 years no matter the brand/etc.) And yet we are the kind of folks/budget where I need 'big ticket items' to last me 10 years or more... Will these Tvs do that?

FadedMaster · Nov 29, 2011, 04:11 PM

Avoid Vizio. They've been criticized lately because they lack any parts support at all. So their solution to people outside the warranty is to buy a new TV instead of the required part.

Depending on the Toshiba specifically, you might need to update the firmware right away (some have had issues with turning on slowly, and others issues with sound distortion, both of which were fixed with firmware).

Toshiba TVs overall aren't too bad. They don't sell as many TVs as Samsung does, but then again no one sells as many TVs as Samsung. Haha. I can say that I don't see to many Toshiba TVs for repair, but that might also correlate with the low number sold.

To me, they seem to lack the color range that other TVs have. But they do seem to be fairly bright. Personally I think any TV is brighter than it needs to be, and I look for the ability to accurately reproduce the colors and to have a range of colors available to the TV. I'm also a stickler, which comes from working with TVs and home entertainment products in general for the past 5+ years. Haha.