WAY OT! What's a good tv for Xbox?

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1872 Posts XTreme Poster

We don't watch tv, or subscribe to cable. We use the tv for xbox and watching videos. What should we replace our ancient set with for under $800? Under $500 would be even better.

Thanks,
Eric

chefjaredagcc · Since 12 Jul 2007 106 Posts Seaside Stoked

under 500 wont be good for the box, get a vizio from costco, got mine, 32 inch for 600, madden looks great

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

This is a great deal on a good set:

http://www.amazon.com/Westinghouse-LTV37W2-37-LCD-HDTV/dp/B000FBN13W/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-6447781-2717736?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1190271783&sr=8-1

pdxmonkeyboy · Thu Sep 20, 07 8:12 am

if you have an xbox 360, then you want to get something with at least 720p resolution, component video, and HDMI inputs on the back.

You can use the componant cables on your 360 and purchase an upscaling DVD player ($100-150) to "increase" the resolution on the screen by using the HDMI cable.

My advice though, TV's are not something you buy every other year. Spend the money for one that you will be happy with instead of getting something on the cheap and wanting more or regretting it a year later.

I could probably sell my Sony Wega HD tv is your interested. It's a 32", 1080i tube set. I have been super happy with it but want to go plasma. $400?

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

you'll need the xbox360 elite to make use of any HDMI cable with the xbox360. regular xbox360 only supports analog VGA output (like your computer monitor) and component and/or composite output.

what you want is something like the westinghouse that is inexpensive, will do 720p/1080i or 1080p and has a VGA input on it, then you'll be able to get full 1080p from the HD DVD add-on to the xbox 360. Also, i would only recommend getting an LCD TV if your primary purpose is for games, IMO. The VGA input is fairly important unless the set supports 1080p through the component interface which very few sets do, but if you go into a store to buy it, or look, you should be able to get an answer as to whether or not the tv supports 1080p through component and/or vga outputs.

IMO, getting a 1080p set is fairly important, because that is the max HD resolution and i think we're at the point, from a technology timeline standpoint, where 1080p is just now becoming almost affordable and is going to be around for a long time. The next technology is UHDV (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra_High_Definition_Video).

Your requirements for the TV may be different; if you plan on using the TV to watch HD DVD's then 1080p may be important to you. Then again, it may not; i am somewhat a technophile and even if i can't tell the difference on screen between 720p and 1080p, my little info button on my tv will tell me. Wink

The 360 is an upscaler itself but just for games. DVD's come through in 480p, which look just fine; HD DVD's will come through at the max resolution but that depends on the movie and the TV (which ever has the lower max resolution). Haven't played enough with my 360 HD player to figure out if it will upscale HD movies. IMO, an upscaling DVD player is not worth it. HD DVD players are the new technology that is going to be around for a while, and the HD DVD player add-on for the 360 is $180. HD movies look SO much better. The only problem with HD DVD's is that it is fairly difficult to buy or rent them in Hood River. Gotta go with netflix.

it is a good idea to get HDMI inputs but you probably wont put them to use unless you buy a PS3 or blue ray player or upscaling DVD player, but IMO i just dont think it is worth it to get an upscaling DVD player because you can already play DVD's on the 360.

I do agree with PDXMB on that if you can spend the extra $$$ on a set, it is worth it because this set will probably last you 7-10 years. At least that is what i figure the life expectancy of my new sharp aquos will be. The primary function of my TV is for games.

costco.com is a good place to go and find good prices on lots of different sets. I actually bought mine from circuitcity during labor day weekend and it was on sale. I would also recomend avsforum.com to find and read reviews on a particular set and my last bit of advice is to go into the store and look at the picture quality on the set and compare it with others to make sure you'll be happy with it. i've been doing research all summer waiting for price drops before i finally got mine a few weeks ago. I think for your price range you should be able to find a 32" or 37" 1080p set, you'll just have to look. If Jared says the vizio is good that is probably a good option as they are inexpensive like the westinghouse.

ok, enough, sorry for the novel.

pdxmonkeyboy · Thu Sep 20, 07 9:53 am

good post Magik, although I will disagree with one point. 99% of the people will not need to get a true 1080 resolution TV. They cost quite a bit more, there isn't THAT much 1080 content (although I'm sure that will change) and the biggest thing is that unless you are planning to get a 42" or bigger TV set, you will never ever ever notice the difference in pixel size.

But to be sure, an HDTV is not an HDTV as some REALLY pop and others don't. One thing is for sure, games, movies and especially sports in HD will blow you away!

Oh yeah.. a microsoft employee recently told me that gaming consoles will tend to shorten the life of plasma's so stick with LCD if your going to go falt screen.

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1872 Posts XTreme Poster

Great information--thanks. Sounds like the latest Vizio 32 to 42" diagonal LCD will work great?

Eric

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

I really like the Westinghouse, in fact I liked it so much that I bought a second one. Those TVs sit in-between the super cheap no-name brands and the real expensive name brands. Plus Westinghouse is actually owned by GE which is the largest company in the world, so I wouldn't call them a no-name brand. Thumb's Up

My buddy has a 1080p Sharp Aquos, and it looks fantastic, but looking on Amazon they are almost exactly twice the price of the Westinghouse. He's been over to my house and thinks the picture on my set is great.

Also I'd agree with PDXMB, unless you are going 42 or bigger you don't really need 1080p. Although good 1080p content on a 42" TV is incredible! However if I were to pick between a cheap brand 1080p set and a good 720p set at the same price, I'd chose the latter.

One more thing - the factory settings on most TVs can use some tweaking depending on the lighting in your room. Usually they are set up way too bright, so you lose a lot of contrast ratio. Try turning down the backlight a bit so you get true black colors instead of dark grey. One of the downsides of LCDs is that getting true black is real hard.

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1872 Posts XTreme Poster

bought the Westinghouse--thanks Phil.

Looked at live pictures on the Vizio and Sanyo. The Sanyo was better. Did not get to see the Westinghouse, but if it's good enough for Phil...

Mostly I got tired of thinking about it.

Eric

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

I think you'll like it. Thumb's Up

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1872 Posts XTreme Poster

Appreciate all of the advice.

Eric

pdxmonkeyboy · Thu Sep 20, 07 8:14 pm