Author Topic: 80-year-old Friend Wants a Big HDTV (Read 588 times)

Halo · « **on:** December 31, 2006, 04:59:11 PM »

A friend's wife called and wants me to select a good big-screen high definition TV for her to buy her 80-year-old husband. She mentioned plasma but is open to suggestions.

I have a 42-inch Sony LCD projection HDTV which her husband likes and which has served my wife and I perfectly for two years. I'm tempted to recommend a similar set for him, but want to make sure I'm not missing anything new.

I read the Consumer Reports December issue which includes an excellent HD for the Holidays special section. CR picks LCD rear projection TVs as Most Bang for the Buck, always my main criterion.

His viewing distance probably will be six to eight feet, same as for my 42-inch Sony. So I doubt if he would want a larger size, but might if distance is more like eight to 12 feet.

My inclination is to recommend a Toshiba, Samsung, or Sony 42-inch or slightly larger rear-projection LCD as preferred by Consumer Reports. What do you think about those possibilities? Any other suggestions?

Will also need to recommend a good 5:1 surround system speaker system. My present sound system is fine but a hodgepodge over the years. Do any of you have a favorite 5:1 surround sound system to recommend that would mesh nicely with the type of HDTV discussed above? Plus a DVD player.

I'm leaning toward buying from Best Buy and having them set up the whole system. My friend's wife is VERY picky and I don't want to get in the middle of any setup dilemmas; it's challenging enough being asked to recommend a system.

What do you think? Remember, it's for an 80-year-old guy who is the nicest guy in the whole world with a really picky but well-intentioned wife.

Golfer · « **Reply #1 on:** December 31, 2006, 05:30:04 PM »

is his wife 24 years old and a bikini model?

Chairboy · « **Reply #2 on:** December 31, 2006, 05:31:45 PM »

If I were to purchase a new HDTV, I'd be most interested in a DLP projection TV, there are some that are almost as thin as plasma/LCDs, and the picture quality is fantastic. Prices are good, and they take up less space than the projection monster I have now.

sluggish · « **Reply #3 on:** December 31, 2006, 05:59:24 PM »

I'll concur with chairboy. DLP will definately give you the most bang for buck. I personally think they have a better picture than either plasma or LCD. They have a much better black level and a very film-like quality. I have a 50' RCA and love it.

As far as a sound system goes, how tech savvy are these eighty year old people? Your best bet might be for a HTIB or one of thos Bose (yuck) systems. Otherwise go for an Onkyo reciever with HDMI switching and Paradigm speakers. For a DVD player you want to get an upconverting player. You will see the difference with an HDMI cable. I would stay away from blu ray or HD DVD until they figure out which one (if either) will be the standard.

DREDIOCK · « **Reply #4 on:** December 31, 2006, 06:07:09 PM »

The main problem I have with profections is unless your looking at it dead on straight ahead the picture looks screwed up.

You cant look a the things at an angle and get a great picture.
Least I havent seen any that you can

so unless you have your living/family room set up like a movie theater
And most people including myself dont
I dont see. for me personally a rear projection as an option

1K3 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 31, 2006, 08:14:19 PM »

How big is his living room? You would not want to buy a very large TV for your small living room.

sluggish · « **Reply #6 on:** December 31, 2006, 10:01:38 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by DREDIOCK
The main problem I have with profections is unless your looking at it dead on straight ahead the picture looks screwed up.

You cant look a the things at an angle and get a great picture.
Least I havent seen any that you can

so unless you have your living/family room set up like a movie theater
And most people including myself dont
I dont see. for me personally a rear projection as an option

While that was a problem with older units, they seem to have corrected most of it with the newer models. I can sit at nearly a fifty degree angle to my set and still see the picture fine. And talk about bright... wow.

Toad · « **Reply #7 on:** December 31, 2006, 11:01:30 PM »

Halo, Santa brought my wife a new Samsung DLP.

It is simply amazing and I cannot imagine it wouldn't satisfy the pickiest wife.

Contrast is 10,000 to 1 which makes for eye-popping color. It has the lastes DLP chip from TI, 1080 progressive resolution, a new color wheel setup, etc., etc., etc..

They are even about $200 less than when I bought mine two weeks ago due to the post-season sales. They are, IMO, the very best bang for the buck right now.

sluggish · « **Reply #8 on:** December 31, 2006, 11:37:28 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Toad
Halo, Santa brought my wife a new Samsung DLP.

It is simply amazing and I cannot imagine it wouldn't satisfy the pickiest wife.

Contrast is 10,000 to 1 which makes for eye-popping color. It has the lastes DLP chip from TI, 1080 progressive resolution, a new color wheel setup, etc., etc., etc..

They are even about $200 less than when I bought mine two weeks ago due to the post-season sales. They are, IMO, the very best bang for the buck right now.

Yup, mine is now $600 less than I paid for it less than a year ago...

DREDIOCK · « **Reply #9 on:** January 01, 2007, 01:23:07 AM »

Hey. anyone know exactly when the HD standard for all broadcasts is supposed to go into effect?

In short or perhaps I should say more specific.
When exactly are all our regular TVs going ot be completely obsolete tot he point where they cant be used?

1K3 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 01, 2007, 01:38:55 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by DREDIOCK
Hey. anyone know exactly when the HD standard for all broadcasts is supposed to go into effect?

In short or perhaps I should say more specific.
When exactly are all our regular TVs going ot be completely obsolete tot he point where they cant be used?

It might be this year or 2008.

If you have an analog TV, you will have to...

1. Buy a new TV of your dreams
2. Keep that old TV and buy a receiver that will convert digital signals to analog signals.

crowMAW · « **Reply #11 on:** January 01, 2007, 01:40:40 AM »

Is he asking for 5.1? The reason I ask is thinking about my own father who is nearly 80. His hearing is not what it used to be, and finds my surround sound system frustrating...specifically, he finds that if the sub is on at all that the sound is muddy for him. Turning the trebble all the up helps but then does not sound as good as the tv's speakers alone.

rpm · « **Reply #12 on:** January 01, 2007, 02:11:05 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by DREDIOCK
Hey. anyone know exactly when the HD standard for all broadcasts is supposed to go into effect?

In short or perhaps I should say more specific.
When exactly are all our regular TVs going ot be completely obsolete tot he point where they cant be used?

Here in the U.S., Congress has passed a law marking Feb. 17, 2009 as the cutoff date for analog broadcast television. As long as you have a cable or satelite box analog TV's will still work.

Chairboy · « **Reply #13 on:** January 01, 2007, 11:26:59 AM »

Yeah, the cut-off date only affects people who still use rabbit ear antennas and over-the-air broadcast.

Habu · « **Reply #14 on:** January 01, 2007, 11:49:00 AM »

Get a 50 inch Panasonic Plasma. Best bang for the buck. I own 2 of them. Great tv's.