Can you recommend me a cheap but "good" HDTV?

"Voice of C. Montgomery Burns" (voiceofcmb)
12/03/2014 at 14:21 • Filed to: None

Hi guys - Cheapo here in search of a decent 40-42" 1080p 60hz/120hz HDTV. I've done some research on my own and while I now know what NOT to get (or at least be wary of getting) I am not closer to picking a good, affordable, TV set. I'm looking for something under $400.

Here's what I'm going to be using it for:

- Sporadic gaming with my Xbox 360 (probably less than 5 hours a week)

- Dual monitor setup connected to my PC, which I will use for all my movie/TV streaming (and possibly some outdated PC games).

- If the built in speakers are any good, I might connect a digital cable box to it.

So, as you can see my aspirations for this set are not high, which is why I'd like a low price. Have any of you recently purchased a low-end TV that you've been happy with? Any resident experts on the block?

I realize I probably missed out on some decent deals during the shopping weekend, I guess my distaste for capitalistic orgies screwed me on that one.

DISCUSSION (25)

For Sweden > Voice of C. Montgomery Burns
12/03/2014 at 14:23

http://electronics.woot.com/plus/tvs-1?ref…

Pilot of the Clown Shoe > Voice of C. Montgomery Burns
12/03/2014 at 14:25

We use a TON of Samsung TVs at COTA. They're good. You can pick up a 40" off Target's website for under 400 bucks.

Steve in Manhattan > Voice of C. Montgomery Burns
12/03/2014 at 14:25

Check Vizio - made in U.S. and reasonable price. I have a 24" for a computer monitor.

Voice of C. Montgomery Burns > For Sweden
12/03/2014 at 14:26

Very helpful. I guess I should have went to Woot's TV section before browsing Amazon, Newegg, Walmart and Best Buy before I posted this.

Thanks.

Voice of C. Montgomery Burns > Steve in Manhattan
12/03/2014 at 14:27

Thanks, I've heard they're a decent brand.

Margin Of Error > Voice of C. Montgomery Burns
12/03/2014 at 14:27

Used Sony Wega

These things will work forever, and dumb people are giving them away (literally) because they want what they believe is "the latest and greatest".

Great TV for free ? Hell yes !

Kinja'd!!!

TheHondaBro > Voice of C. Montgomery Burns
12/03/2014 at 14:28

ANYTHING BY VIZIO. They're TVs are amazing and well worth the price.

area man > Voice of C. Montgomery Burns
12/03/2014 at 14:30

I bought the 50 inch version this summer and have no complaints. Mine is only 60hz and was $400, so this is a great price: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/sharp-42-…

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Voice of C. Montgomery Burns
12/03/2014 at 14:31

Seiki TVs are pretty good. Here's a 40" for $280!

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Voice of C. Montgomery Burns
12/03/2014 at 14:32

Here's a 4K within budget. http://www.amazon.com/Seiki-SE39UY04…

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Voice of C. Montgomery Burns
12/03/2014 at 14:38

hey man. You can't really go wrong nowadays. I have had good experiences with Sony, Panasonic, and Vizio. I have a Panasonic plasma (st30) that I would highly recommend... You can get them for cheap now I'm sure. The main thing is what ever tv you get, be sure to calibrate the picture... I did mine by just looking up settings online and it is very accurate. I am very picky now when it comes to picture... I notice a lot of people have Tvs with awful color accuracy and it could be avoided by just going to settings and dialing in for accuracy! Tip: movie picture mode is almost always the most accurate.

Tohru > Voice of C. Montgomery Burns
12/03/2014 at 14:38

eBay. I picked up a 32" Samsung 720p for $86. It had a couple scratches on the screen I had to buff out.

EL_ULY > Voice of C. Montgomery Burns
12/03/2014 at 14:39

this will help

or this sub blog run by opponauts

Voice of C. Montgomery Burns > Tohru
12/03/2014 at 14:40

You exceed my frugality.

Voice of C. Montgomery Burns > EL_ULY
12/03/2014 at 14:42

Thanks man, good stuff.

Steve in Manhattan > Voice of C. Montgomery Burns
12/03/2014 at 14:48

Buddy of mine has 4 of 'em - huge sports fan.

wizkashifa > Voice of C. Montgomery Burns
12/03/2014 at 15:03

Hitachi and Seiki seem to have decent deals, they run around $250. I was looking for a very similar tv for my dorm room on Black Friday.

Firewrx234 > Margin Of Error
12/03/2014 at 15:04

I had a 36" one...it weighed about 97 tons on one side and nothing on the other. It looked great up until the day I got gifted a flat screen then the boat with a screen had to go. We actually had to use a dolly to get it out of our house...

NotUnlessRoundIsFunny > Voice of C. Montgomery Burns
12/03/2014 at 15:06

thewirecutter.com has been helpful in the past, and do their own research as well as looking at other reviews to come up with their recommendations.

Here's their general TV section:

http://thewirecutter.com/leaderboard/tv…

And here's their pick for best 42", which comes in right at $399. They say:

A smaller alternative

VIZIO E420i-B0 42-Inch

If you can't fit a 50-inch TV, check out the smaller 42-inch E-series.

They discuss lots of other models, too. Worth a look.

Textured Soy Protein > Voice of C. Montgomery Burns
12/03/2014 at 15:14

I have a Vizio E500i-B1 50". It's got smart apps that don't work as well as my PS3, and "120 Hz" but only sorta-kinda, but I don't like the soap opera effect anyway so I just leave it turned off.

I still am very happy with it because the picture is great, much better than some far more expensive options. It has 4 HDMI inputs whereas many cheaper TVs only have 2, maybe 3. It has an analog audio output to hook up to my non-surround stereo. A lot of other TVs just have optical digital which is fine if you have a surround receiver or a sound bar with an optical digital input, but I've got a no-frills Onkyo stereo receiver with no digital inputs. It sounds great but I needed a TV with an analog audio output.

The sound on the tv was pretty decent before I hooked it up to my stereo. I've certainly heard much worse from other flat panel TVs.

The 40" in the same series is the E400i-B2. Best price looks like $379 shipped and no tax from B&H Photo Video .

Voice of C. Montgomery Burns > NotUnlessRoundIsFunny
12/03/2014 at 15:16

Great site bud, thanks.

Roundbadge > Voice of C. Montgomery Burns
12/03/2014 at 15:28

I understand it's over $400...but I'd suggest this Samsung. I bought mine in 2008 for $1300 (I think) and I still love it, except that it's not 120Hz. The linked TV is 120 Hz, better in pretty much every way, and costs 42% of what I paid for mine.

Coffey_stain > Voice of C. Montgomery Burns
12/03/2014 at 15:36

I bought a 42" Vizio from walmart about a year ago, paid around $425 with 3 year replacement.

I use it for the same things you plan to use it for and I've never had a complaint with it.

YellowGoat > Voice of C. Montgomery Burns
12/03/2014 at 19:25

You should be able to find a Magnavox for that price.

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > Voice of C. Montgomery Burns
12/04/2014 at 16:27

http://www.vizio.com/e3d420vx.html Vizio E3D420VX. It's a 42" 3D Smart TV with wi-fi, 1080p, and the remote has a full QWERTY keyboard on the back. I got mine almost two years ago refurbished for $420 or so. I'm sure you could find it cheaper now.