Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Buying a new tv, help

Hey All and especially regulars,

I'm looking to buy a new tv. I know nothing, it's not audio so i'm not well versed. Help me out...QLED? 4k? OLED? Upscaling? No idea what any of these mean. Hoping to keep it under $1500 CAD regular price or in other words, around $1000. I'd like something at 65 to 70 inches, 75 is a bit big perhaps. This is for regular tv watching in the big living room and occasional movie, not high end home theatre. My main priorityis a tv that lasts a long time, i dont want to be replacing it in 3 years. What are some better brands? When im in the stores theres ones that look "pale" and "dark" others look bright and lovely. Go easy on me, if it was audio i could talk the talk but video, im a total beginner. So if you are a tv buff and know your stuff and like sharing, im listening! Thanks and happy weekend.

Haven’t checked for a few years but back then I think 4k 65” TVs were the sweet spot in value. If you’re not a videophile then most TVs in that price range are going to be fine. Most tv will last more than 3 years … unfortunately some units will fail before then …. My Samsung tv lasted over 12years before going south, My LG is still going strong at 4 but my epson projector died at just 2 … I’m expecting it’s replacement to last much longer

There are better forums for this question. I'm not sure if this is kosher, but here's a couple I visit from time to time:
https://www.hometheaterforum.com/community/forums/displays.60/
https://www.avsforum.com/forums/lcd-flat-panel-displays.166/
https://www.avsforum.com/forums/oled-technology-and-flat-panels-general.40/

Thankyou both for your replies. Cork I’ll check those out, this is the only forum I’m in, time to look at others too I guess.

After more searching, it looks like you get a mid grade tv for $1000. Looks like $2000 gets you a better tv.

I’ll keep hunting and decide what’s important.

Thanks.

Kodiak, Just an FYI … most people are not videophiles … They setup their TVs by taking it out of the box and turning it on. A videophile will spend hours adjusting it for the best picture it’s capable of … and like our hobby … only another videophile will notice ….The avg consumer wouldn’t know the difference unless the out of the box color was outrageously off. Guess I’m trying to say … You can spend some big money chasing after something you don’t really care about … most of these sets are pretty good.

Mic drop rrlev. You’re totally right. My biggest priority is that it lasts a reasonable amount of time. I’m confident anything we get will be far superior to our 15 year old Panasonic. I’m not a videophile, at all. I’ve been watching movies in our “ home theatre “ in the basement on our ancient 55 inch Sony and it’s great!! But needs to be bigger. I’m saying, you’re right. I don’t need or want the chase. I’ll find one that’s the size we want at a price we can swallow. Besides if I spend too much on the tv I’ll never get the new TT cartridge and phono pre I want or my ep500’s I’m “ saving up for”! Now that stuff matters for sure.

Any brands to totally avoid?

Ps. Good deal and service you got on that Epson projector. That’s good service. Nice.

I selected my 65" 4K TV's screen size based on whether it could occupy a 40º field of view from my primary seating position. I regret nothing.

https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/measuring-the-sky-by-hand.html

For a long-lasting, vibrant 65-70” TV under $1,500 CAD, go for a Samsung QLED or Sony 4K LED. Both brands offer bright, durable options, ideal for general TV and movie watching. LG’s QNED or a TCL/Hisense QLED could also fit your budget with solid picture quality. Look for a 4K TV with good brightness and contrast—Samsung and Sony are top picks for reliability and brightness in well-lit rooms.

Thanks for this! I’ll keep that in mind, I’m still shopping the deals right now.

Black Friday is around the corner … your timing is perfect

Happy to report back that we got our new tv. It’s a Samsung
Qled Q60d.

$750 CAD.

I went down a rabbit hole of tv specs and after re emerging I realized that any tv I get is going to be waaaaaaay better than the one I’ve had for 12 years. I also realized I’m more into audio and that more money spent on tv means less money to spend on audio hobby.

It’s still sitting here in the box. I bought it a week ago. I’ll get it going by Christmas break…probably.

Congrats
Always fun getting something new…

Thanks!!! Exactly, it’s fun!!!

Great job

I popped over to the local Best Buy and forgot how fun Black Friday and Boxing Day could be.

I stopped going years ago because I'm far pickier than most consumers, I'm at a life stage where I'm replacing things rather than adding, and the stuff I do want costs more than I can afford.

Buying used can be as fun if not more so than new… especially if you walk away with a deal … and you might get that unaffordable something you really wanted

(and for those who care … you’re not adding to the landfill)

It's fun, until you discover the shit's busted.

Mojo, if you can’t check it out to your satisfaction don’t buy it. If you don’t have the expertise (or someone in the know) to check it out don’t buy it. Hopefully the price you paid takes the age, condition, and limited/non-guarantee into account.

I buy a lot of stuff new but I also buy stuff refurbished and used depending on my comfort level on what it is and where/who I’m buying it from.

I’ve shared this thought before elsewhere in the forum, but I’ve had GREAT success with buying used audio gear. There is some really great gear out there and conscientious sellers too. I’ve a massed quite a bit of good ( to me it’s good anyway ) good stuff that I’d be waiting to buy if I hadn’t gone with used. I’ll probably end up replacing it but at least I get a chance to try stuff out.

I’ve bought all of my axiom speakers off the refurbished site or the b stock.

I get giddy when I see a used ad with good photos, an excellent product description, how it relates to competitive products, why they're letting it go, AND a reasonable price.

It almost makes me feel like it's awaiting its next custodial owner, someone who will also treat it with love and respect because they're fully aware of its true intrinsic value.

Unless it's a car. Then there's no getting around duty cycles. Because I tend to drive those until the wheels fall off, despite my love and respect.