Just Tell Me What to Get: Bedroom TV
A reader writes: I just redid my bedroom and I'm aching to get rid of a bulky 20-inch TV that just doesn't look right in the new setup. Since I won't be watching TV all the time, I'm not terribly concerned about picture quality, but I would like to be able to get a wall-mounted HDTV and a somewhat decent picture out of it. I also don't want to spend more than $600. Just tell me what to get!Hey reader: We love crisp HDTV in bed just like anyone, but we also know a good deal when we see one. That's why we're fans of the Syntax-Brillian Olevia 32-inch LCD TV. It's a slim flat-panel LCD HDTV that will mount on your wall and give you access to all of your cable or satellite company's HDTV programming. What's more, it comes in an attractive, low-profile case and looks good in any recently-remodeled bedroom (our significant others don't mind it, so it passes that test).
The Olevia sports all the latest inputs, so you should be future proof for a good while. It has 1 HDMI input (the latest & greatest), a VGA input (for computers), a component input (for older HDTV sources), and a composite input (for things like VCRs and game consoles).
Keep in mind that if you want to wall-mount this TV, you'll spend around another $70-80 for a bracket, although it does come with a table stand. In addition, don't expect the super amazing picture quality that you would find on bigger name brands (extremely accurate colors, contrast, even brightness), but you'll be hard-pressed to find any major problems for basic bedroom viewing. Extra bedroom-friendly features include an alarm clock, sleep timer, and headphone jack. At around $525 (street price) you should be easily under $600 by the time you're installed. Good luck!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
carla said 3:06PM on 4-12-2007
The TV they refer to is an HD Ready TV. Not an HDTV. Gotta cough up a few more bucks for the actual HDTV.
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ted plottner said 3:04PM on 4-12-2007
My 17in LCD DELL SCREEN QUIT WORKING AFTER 2 YEARS.....[ONE YEAR OUT OF WARRANTY]----THESE CROOKS[Dell]told me if I SEND THEM ANOTHER 300 DOLLARS THEY WILL SEND ME A REFURBISHED REPLACEMENT WITH A WHOLE 90 DAY WARRNTY---I asked them if they thought I was crazy?????A electronics tech told me my tv/monitor was 'fried' inside and a small box that is between the monitor and computer must have failed???I am not a fan of LCD TV'S...
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Stacy said 3:22PM on 4-12-2007
I have Syntax-Brillian Olevia 32-inch LCD TV and it is a great TV. AND it is in my BEDROOM! My father is a distributer of electronics, LCD and Plasmas and this TV has a much better picture than some of this tvs. I would not compare it to our sony plasma downstairs but it is much better than some of those other LCD's that cost 1000 for 32. We only paid 500 on sale at circuit city. ( the Olevia, not the sony)
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GO TO GUY said 3:37PM on 4-12-2007
BUYER'S BEWARE!!!!! I HAVE BEEN IN THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY FOR OVER 25 YRS. AND THERE A LOT OF NEW PLAYERS OUT THERE AND NOT ALL OF THEM CAN BE TRUSTED!!! MOST LIKELY TO CRAP OUT EARLY ARE ANY OF THE CHINESE PRODUCED PRODUCTS!!! O BE SURPRISED!!! YOU BUY CHEAP YOU GET CHEAP!!! DON'T BE SUCH STUPID NAIVE CONSUMERS!!! CONSULT ME, I'LL SET YOU STRAIGHT. CONSUMERS WAKE THE HELL UP!! STOP ALLOWING THE BIG COMPANIES TO STEAL YOUR HARD EARNED$$
GO TO GUY
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Bill said 3:23PM on 4-12-2007
It is an HDTV, no hd ready. and it has 1080i
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Bill said 3:24PM on 4-12-2007
It is an HDTV, not hd ready. and it has 1080i
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D. Sullivan said 3:37PM on 4-12-2007
I bought a 42" AKAI- 1080P LCD from Shop NBC. It was delivered in time for the super Bowl in February 2007. The set lasted approximately six(6)weeks. While watching it in mid-march there was a loud hum then it totally died. I called Shop NBC. Their reply, "It is more than 30 days in the home call,AKAI". AKAI's response initially,well it could take ten (10) days to two (2) weeks for them to send authorization to the local authorized in-home repair location. It took two days for the auth.However, the authorized repair said "I don't know why they tell people in-home, these TVs must be repaired on a bench their is no way to fix it in the home" Consequently, I cannot come to pick it up until the following week. If you want to bring it in it could save days. I am 63 years of age. I had to then get help to bring it in.( Just to try to expediate the repair). The location is seven miles away from my house. It is a storefront about 12 feet wide loaded with other televisions. You must walk through a three foot wide gauntlet of televisions to find only a father and son TV repair operation. The verdict - the power unit burned out the manufacturer told them it would take about an additional two (2) weeks for the repair location to get the part. As of today April 12, 2007 the repair location still has not received the part. He will check what happened to it. Still waiting!! Thanks Shop NBC, Thanks AKAI, You really stand behind your product. Totally Disgusted!!
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Vickie said 4:12PM on 4-12-2007
Never EVER buy electronics online or from a shopping network. ALWAYS shop for electronics at a bricks and mortar store. That way, if anythng goes wrong, you can talk to the local techs, sales people and store manager and get a response. It's also one reason I don't buy Dell products. If something goes wrong, you end up talking to someone who doesn't speak English very well, and you have no other recourse but to deal with people via the phone or online. It's easy to get sucked into paying low prices from home shopping shows and web sites, but in the end, you get what you pay for. And when it comes to electronics, it doesn't pay to be cheap!
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Mark Jantzen said 4:43PM on 4-12-2007
I have a 50" LCD Sony grand Vega with built in HD tunner, picture in picture, hdmi input plus all the other gizmo connections(up to 7 inputs) It also has a built in cable card slot and memory card slot for digital camera display. Paid about $2500 for it 2 years ago and still going strong. It is 18" deep and weighs 75Lbs.(Remember it is 50".) Full 1080i display. I recommend it to anyone. (Also remember LCD's last about 5x longer than a plasma.)
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chester pfeifer said 6:20PM on 4-14-2007
yes i had a 1990 dodge van verry good ,mistake i got a 2003 that has been nothing but junk,i,ve had it to dealers many times for bad cracking and noise in front end ,with no results no wander more are buying hondas which will be my next one
chester pfeifer
galion ,ohio
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chester pfeifer said 9:05AM on 4-13-2007
thank you chester pfeifer
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Robert said 5:01PM on 4-12-2007
this comment is for mark, your 50"lcd is a projection tv, which isn't even close to the lcd and plasma flat panels that are being discussed
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Mark J said 5:06PM on 4-12-2007
Robert, It is lcd rear projection but you obviously have not seen it with an HD or Blue ray program in use. It is comparable.
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Mark J said 5:09PM on 4-12-2007
FYI 3.28 Million dots res (1042168 pixels)on the 50" sony
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Robert said 5:14PM on 4-12-2007
so mark , your gonna put a 50" lcd projection tv in your bedroom?? and if you had to get a blu ray disc player to get a great quality picture well you just spent another $900 or more
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Mark J said 5:21PM on 4-12-2007
No I bought a ps3 for the games the blue ray disk player is a bonus. I have the HD channels on my cable that I bought for the movies. But I'm just giving out information you spend as much as you want for as small a TV set you want. I'm not going to argue with you I have an ex wife. But really you can buy what you want I'm just letting the people know that a good quality set is out there.
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Arlene said 5:25PM on 4-12-2007
We have this TV for our daughters room and it's great! Much better than our 60" and my neighbors plasma :o) Just b/c it's not a "well known" company Olevia ROCKS!!!!!!
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Kerry said 5:28PM on 4-12-2007
The Olevia brand HDTV in the 32,37 and 42 inch sizes are Consumer Reports "Best Buy", beating out Sony, Samsung and all the rest. Just look at last months Consumer Reports magazine. And, they're less expensive than any of them.
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Mary said 5:46PM on 4-12-2007
Buyer's beware, there is a site BIDZ where you can bid for any article they offer, I went to jewelry. You bid, win and get the article which is described according to them, you return it (they allow returns), but, it is then again judged by them whether if fit the description or not, naturally, according to them it did, so they charge a restocking fee of 15 percent. Calculate when you bid $800 for something, return it and then lose 15%. Who wins? And you just paid one hundred dollars for a lesson "do not bid or buy anything you cannot see" " don't take their word for it" . You have no bargaining position!
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Konrad said 6:21PM on 4-12-2007
I bought a 50" Pioneer Elite, HD1, 1080p (progressive scan}, there is nothing on the market that will beat it. I mounted it on the ceiling and it is phantastic
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