Good LCD Buys in Early 2009
February 7, 2009
The last year has been a very interesting time in the LCD TV market. Prices have dropped tremendously, and features only available on high-end sets a year ago are now almost commoditized. In 2008 also saw the demise of Syntax Brillian, maker of the Olevia line of TVs. I was a big fan of these TVs… as a few years ago they were the best bang for the buck amongst the “2nd tier” of manufacturers. From what I can tell, they used some creative accounting methods, and they also acquired Vivitar for some reason. Those things along with tough competition from the likes of Vizio and even some of the first tier manufacturers were just too much, and S-B declared bankruptcy.
So, what might we find going on in the market right now? Well for starters, 1080P is pretty much the norm now on TVs 32″ and up. 42″-46″ LCDs are the sweet spot in size verses the cost, with 52″ sets quickly coming down in price as well. 42″ name brand sets are commonly going for $999, with 46″ at $1299 and 52″ for $1599 or less. Of course, these are the manufacturers base models. 120Hz will add $100-200. A 10-bit panel will add more. But the bottom line is this: prices have fallen off a cliff, and with the current economic environment, I don’t expect prices to firm up soon. There is a large supply, and relatively weak demand. So if you are in the market, I think 2009 will be a great year for purchasing a TV.
What are my favorites? Right now, I like the Samsung LNxxA#50 series (i.e. LN46A650). Samsung is great quality, and the deals I see locally on these sets are outstanding. I am also a fan of Toshiba — great quality at a fair price. For Toshiba, I am a big fan of their thin bezel models, and I am a strong proponent of getting their 10-bit panels, rather than 8-bit. For a budget line, look at Vizio, and even some of the base Toshiba models.
New Blog…
February 6, 2009
This is my first blog post. Yippee. I want to thank my great friend BMP for hooking me up with this new website and hosting. My old website was already out of date when I first uploaded it way back when, and it was so tough to update. This new site is a snap. So hopefully those of you looking at the site, especially repeat offenders, will be more likely to see new content on a regular basis.
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