Need a little help, maybe someone has an idea.

I've got a 3-4 year old Samsung 40 inch LCD. It was pretty top of the line at the time, 1080p, always had really really excellent picture and especially coloring.

A few weeks ago I noticed when I turned it on, the TV didn't always come on the first time it tried. It makes the little 'da da da' noise, the red light in the bottom right comes on, and the little light under the Samsung comes on. But the TV struggles. I don't have to rehit the on button, it just sits there and tries to come on repeatedly until it works. Now a few weeks later it's taking it 3-4 tries to come on each time.

Based off absolutely nothing, this seems like one of the very few things that I might look into getting repaired on a TV rather than buying a new one. Anyone else agree or have any ideas?

Assuming I can't fix it, I guess I'm looking at 40 inch Panny/Samsung Plasmas or a 40 inch 120hz LED. Will go cheaper this time. Prob 800 tops. Recommendations welcome.

I remember it being boomy, but acceptable. If the bass seems too much, I would unplug the subwoofer, and see what it sounds like without it. If there is EQ, or a way to change the volume of the subwoofer, in the system, then I would just lower the volume of the subwoofer a bit. I just remember it not being a "clean" sound, and that the Insignia one sounded more realistic. Still, I'm pretty sure it's a relatively solid choice, and will be much better than the sound from the TV.

Not sure if it's the same issue, but many Samsungs from that time period had issues with capacitors bursting. My parents' made a click-click type noise and wouldn't turn on at all. Was $100 to have it fixed. (Or you could solder in about 5 capacitors yourself for $10). Since yours turns on though, sounds like it could be something else.

Polk Monitor 70 Floorstanding Pair + Polk CS2 Center + BIC F12 or PL200 = $690-750

or Paradigm Atom Monitor v6 pair + Paradigm CC-190 Center + BIC F12 or PL200 sub = $705-765


which would sound better in a big room with tile floors. 50/50 movies/music

ZBTHorton,

CTH forum is likely to be able to give you better advice, especially if you video this happening on your phone and put it on youtube.

The TV is about done. Looking for a replacement.

Movely sports/TV. Few movies. Little gaming. No speakers in room, so sound is not irrelevant. Have no 3D glasses, not sure I'd ever get them. But for 70 bucks seems like it's dumb to not get it. Is there anything else the Panasonic offers?

Looking at

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung+...&skuId=2126339 (price is 799)

or

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Panasoni...&skuId=2120195

or

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Panasoni...&skuId=2120283


Whatcha guys think?

I always recommend plasma over LCD (or LED LCD) so would go with the Panny. I actually bought a Samsung plasma though over a Panny plasma.

Buying a new TV, would like the ability to stream netflix in fullhd and music too, should I get a tv with integrated internet or but a TV + a streaming media player?

Just me, I think buying an integrated intarweb thing is kinda dumb. Eventually your TV company is going to stop updating/adding new services etc and then what are you going to do? Obviously you can hook a new Roku XJS or whatever up to that TV but then you've just got that extra crap you paid for sitting there doing nothing.

Best idea is to just buy the TV you want based on picture performance etc and if it comes with intarweb stuff then great, if not, that's fine too because you're just going to go buy the roku to get that anyway.

REPOST from hsnl:

last time i posted in here i was pretty upset about my ****ed up tv. i hit it w/ a remote and then a week later there was a mini explosion inside the tv that fried it. anyways, that situation took a surprising turn for the awesome when i found out that theyre going to completely replace my TV at no cost to me. BRAG.

my TV is at the store and when I go there theyll exchange it "based on features". i am replacing a 50" Pioneer Kuro that I bought ~3 years ago. it still has the price sticker on the bottom, which is $4000. i know this TV was supposed to be one of the best on the market and probably still would be if they made them anymore (Pioneer got out of the TV game). specifically, it was one of the best plasmas (great for sports) and the blacks were incredible - it just looked ****ing awesome.

i had a couple questions and you guys own sweet TVs:

1) since this company doesnt even make tvs it could be tough to find an equivalent, and how well i do might depend on my approach. anything i should anticipate? tips?

2) whats a comparable tv nowadays? there are a TON of 50" TVs on the market, but im not really that great at telling the difference based on specs, and it can be hard to tell in the store. should i just aim for the most expensive 50" they sell?

thanks. enjoy listening to shad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Moge_dQPeU

I'm hoping for help with my bizarre experience.

My cable company has its local customer service desk inside a retail audio/video store. The a/v store has an excellent reputation for customer service and carrying top tier products while the cable company is, well, a cable company.

My friend has an old CRT TV fed directly by a cable (i.e., no cable box) which is split off from the main cable from the cable company leading to several other units in her small apartment building.

My friend is about to break down and buy a HDTV. She doesn't want to get a cable box/DVR since current cable is included in the rent and she's happy with basic cable. She mostly wants the HDTV for movies via Netflix but would appreciate high definition for shows like American Idol, Dancing with the Stars and so on.

My own nearby home has the same cable company feeding a cable box with high def service. A few years ago I lived in Southern California and was able to get high def for basic channels (CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC, some PBS) with a cheap indoor antenna pointed towards Mount Wilson.

So I'm the a/v store looking at new TVs and ask the clerk at the cable company desk if my friend will get any high def stations with the basic cable but no cable box. She says no.

While I'm back looking at the HDTVs I start to wonder, thinking of my old Southern California experience. I ask the a/v clerk what I asked the cable company. He says "yes, you will get high def with a basic cable but without a cable box".

I'm perplexed but eventually wander over to the cable clerk and refine my question. I ask, "Look, I'm not asking about classic basic cable channels such as ESPN, Discovery and so on; I simply want to know if the main network stations such as CBS, FOX, etc. will come in high def without a cable box?" She repeats "No they will not". Now I mention the different answer I got twenty feet away under the same roof. She says we aren't the same company.

Now I'm feeling really, really weird.

I go back to see the a/v clerk and he emphasizes that he is right. Now I tell him about the other answer I just got from the cable clerk and ask "Can't you guys get together and resolve this so customers like me can get a warmer, fuzzier feeling?" From his expression I get the impression this "cable desk inside an a/v store marriage" isn't working so I leave the store still feeling weird.

At my house I have a minor brainstorm. I disconnect the cable leading into my cable box and plug it directly into my HDTV. I reset the input and have the HDTV scan the channels. It pulls in about 120 channels (about what you get with basic cable). I check out the channels. CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and a few PBS type channels all come in a high def version (along with a low def flavor). I'm sure because it looks like high def and it says things like 720p or 1080i when the channel first appears. Yeah the channel assignments are weird (e.g., FOX HD is something like 64.1 but that can be fixed with assigning favorites and labels using a menu on most HDTVs).

At this point I'm 90% sure the a/v clerk is almost right and the cable company is full of .....! I say "almost right" because he didn't make it clear that I won't get channels like Discovery and ESPN in high def without a cable box.

How can I get closer to 100% sure without getting inside this bad marriage?

PS After writing this Googled this thread and realize my experience is common.

Edit to note that hooking up an antenna is not an option. Apartment is in a basement in an old stone mansion with walls built to withstand cannonballs.

The local cable company here would send HD channels over QAM so you could get them without a box, BUT they A) claimed they didn't deliver any HD channels without a box and B) would routinely switch what channels were available and what channel numbers they were assigned.

Eventually they just quit sending anything in the clear and they require everyone to use a converter box now.

In any case, I think you're way over thinking it. Just plug the TV in. If no HD channels come through then go get a box. I'm not sure why you're hand-wringing so much.

thanks pvn.

The HDTV hasn't been bought yet. Want (no have) to stay away from a cable box since there are other issues I can't get into regarding the landlord and tenants apartment (i.e. this has nothing to do with price of the cable box service).

Well, regardless I don't see what your options are. You have to have a new TV presumably, and I doubt you're considering going out and buying an old standard-def tube. So just get the TV and hook it up and you get what you get.

tenant is my gf. old tv works but is sup-par for movies and when people drop by for American Idol whatever. she claims she doesn't need to get a new tv; in her social circle (upscale, sort of society/preppy/old money types) they rarely admit to watching much tv even though they do in reality. i think she would really appreciate a better one if it got high def for AI and DWTS and it's cheap given what she spends on clothes etc. she also worries what a 46" LCD would do to her very beautiful decor - of course it might be me who ruins the decor.

I think I'll just deplete 10% of my already depleted BR and get one although jewelry would be the smarter option. if the cable company keeps changing the channel assignments that do broadcast in high def without a cable box hopefully i'll be around to re-tag the favorites list on her TV. she's worth it .