+19 votes
by (2.7k points)
Anyone have to purchase a TV lately? The backlight on my junky TCL died, while I could fix it, I'll instead use this as a chance to replace it. Any recommendations from anyone? 55-60 inch, it's a very bright room, so screen glare can be a problem. Something with decent audio would be nice, I use a soundbar now. Obviously smart home integration a must, everything else I can Roku. Thanks
Anyone have to purchase a TV lately?

16 Answers

+14 votes
by (1.8k points)
 
Best answer
Whatever you do don’t buy Samsung I’ve had about five Samsung’s in the past couple years and all of them are wound up failing in someway or another and the firmware updates are complete garbage
by (2.7k points)
@pitman I was looking at the Samsung QLED as a possibility. Hoping the higher end ones might be better, what models did you have? If I got at Costco, it would have 5 year warranty at least.  
by (1.9k points)
@pitman never had an issue with any Samsung personally. I do prefer my Panasonic unit over Samsung
by (1.9k points)
Never an issue with Samsung neither.  
by (6.1k points)
@pitman guessing they are entry level if having that many issues. The one thing Samsung can make and is highly rated are TVs. There appliances are trash but TV’s are rock solid WHEN you go with the Q6 or ABOVE. If you are buying cheap entry level TVs you get what you pay for in ANY brand. If you spend under $500 on any TV 55 or above - you should consider it disposable. And - based on your firmware comment, I’m 99. 999% sure you are buying there cheapest bargain line because that firmware is in fact garbage, so you were buying tech that should have been considered “disposable”. I have a 65” TCL outside on the patio that I paid $400 for because I was putting it outside - a 65” tv for $400 is disposable and if it breaks in 12-18 months, oh well @dozier
by (1.8k points)
Yeah my TVs are the 7100. 4K 42” where like $550 last year. I know they are the higher end but still shouldn’t have the issues that I’ve had and one of them already had the screen flicker and dead pixels
+10 votes
by (3.1k points)
I was at Walmart yesterday and saw the TLC and HiSence TV's. I compared they pictures and found them both to unbelievably inexpensive. You could replace it with a 55 in for under 300
by (2.7k points)
@whaley0 I was really happy with my TCL, at first. Got it like 3 years ago in a black Friday deal, like 280 maybe. Roku built in, seemed great. Then I started getting audio sync issues, which Google says are common (and can't be fixed). Now the backlight. I feel like a TV should last more than 3 years. But I don't know if the Sony's and Samsung's are worth 2X 3Xs the price?  
by (3.1k points)
@dozier lol. I have a 1080 Sharp as my main TV. It won't die at 8 years old. But, in my bedroom I have a 55 in Sony 4k. I don't think it'll go soon either. I just can't justify some of the prices. I did see some Samsung 65's under 700. Just have to wait until this Sharp is done.  
+14 votes
by (1.9k points)
Dont cheap out. Get a Samsung.  
by (2.7k points)
@electoral I'm just not a fan of how Samsung always has to do their own thing with apps and whatnot. And I say that typing this on an S10.  Their products are solid though. You think better than LG and Sony, or same?  
by (1.8k points)
No Samsung is garbage. I’ve had several of their TVs over the past couple years and they always fail in someway or another and everybody I know has issues with theirs to.  
by (1.9k points)
My Samsung in our Family Room is 10 years old. Looks as good as it did the first day. #samsungforlife
+11 votes
by (1.7k points)
I have the LG C9 OLED. It is unbelievable. Leaps and bounds better then my friends Samsung qled. The sound is quite amazing also. Not cheap though.  
by (2.7k points)
@snug51948 how is the OLED in a bright setting? Do you have screen glare?  
by (1.7k points)
@dozier I'm staring at it now. We have a big slider behind us and just had a snow storm . When the tv is off there is a large glare on the tv but when you turn it on 95% of it goes away. I have no complaints.  
+11 votes
by (520 points)
I've had good luck with Vizio
by (2.7k points)
@unalienable2277 I've heard good things about their new micro led or whatever it's called. Haven't seen it myself though
by (610 points)
@dozier micro LED is future tech and not readily available yet. OLED is your best option at the moment
+14 votes
by (6.1k points)
Personally - I have 7 Samsung’s in my house. All range from 40” - 82”. The 2 82’s are Q7’s, a 65 is a Q7, and the others are all Q6’s couple 40’s and a 55 in the garage. If you are buying the entry level cheap Samsung’s there firmware is junk and components are inexpensive. If you invest in there higher lines you get what you pay for and it’s well worth it
by (2.7k points)
@avitzur how is the screen glare on the Q7, do you have any in very bright rooms? That's my biggest issue. And do you use a sound bar? How are the built-in speakers? Thanks
by (6.1k points)
@dozier  the Q7 82” is in the living room and loft - my loft only has a single window above the TV so it’s amazing. The other 82 is in our living room - it’s a 2 story room with 6 windows on the wall to the left of the TV and faces west so we get the evening sun - the glare does exist, but, it isn’t terrible and unwatchable. The pic brightness of the Q7 cuts though it pretty well, but I’d be lying if i said it was some magic screen that had zero reflection
by (6.1k points)
@dozier also check out rtings. com for any model your interested in - they have a reflection test and picture examples for most tvs they rate and test
+13 votes
by (470 points)
Backlight in my pricey 3DTV went. We replaced the TV. I've a few very cheap USB-powered LED strips from the pound shop (aka dollar store) I'm very tempted to use those to fix/replace the backlight. V cheap sport if it works.  
by (2.7k points)
@avitzur Murphy I actually did that on an old broken 19 inch, just for fun. Plugged in the USB that came on with the power. Kids used that for a while.  
+13 votes
by (1.1k points)
Sony is the best for home automation integration it uses an Android os.  
+13 votes
by (3.5k points)
Just bought a 65” Sony x950g. Easily the best tv I’ve ever owned and I also have a 75” Samsung QLED. For movies, this Sony blows away my Samsung. Now my Samsung is used pretty much for gaming only. The Sony is super bright and does fantastic in well lit rooms. Black levels looks ridiculously good. I hate android and this is an android tv so it took me some getting used to the menus but absolutely love it.  
by (460 points)
I had a 40" Sony die about a year ago. It was ten years old. Damn thing weighed 50 pounds and was thick, but man, never had an issue with it.  
by (3.5k points)
@constrain27438 yeah I can tell the next time I make another tv purchase, without doubt it will be another Sony.  
by (460 points)
I paid almost $1k for mine in 2009. For ten years of use, that's pretty good. Especially considering what I could get now from Sony for half that price.  
by (3.5k points)
@constrain27438 yep for sure. I’ve been incredibly impressed with the PQ of this tv.  
+8 votes
by (6.3k points)
LG OLED, the best, brightest I've ever seen, about 2. 5 years old. Kids watch it with the built in speakers, adults turn on the the reciever for full speaker system. They send out firmware updates, never know if it's for the apps or the TV because I'm not there when the kids say yes, but I hear about it every now and again. It's their super thin, no bezel model. 55" C7 4K Ultra HD. About $1600 then.  
by (2.7k points)
@dispassionate so no complaints about the brightness? I've read the QLED is better than OLED for brightness, but haven't seen them side by side. Glare probably is dependant as much or more on the screen covering.  
by (6.3k points)
@dozier if you have Costco or any big box store, go there as they do not have viewing rooms so it will be bright and should have all the different brands. It is in a room with an east facing sliding glass door, don't have any complaints. When I researched this model I read that OLED was great and QLED was an imitation and not as good. Don't remember where that but in stores I agreed.  
+10 votes
by (1.3k points)
I always buy Vizio too
+9 votes
by (2.1k points)
I have a 27 foot ceiling in my living room and the wall is entirely windows, so glare is a huge problem. A standard LED isn't going to help with any type of glare. The new LG OLED's though have light absorption technology. It won't eliminate the glare, but it'll reduce it by 80% or more. It's expensive though. I just bought a couple month ago the 77" one.  
by (6.1k points)
@chavira 3 story living room.  
by (2.1k points)
That's far from a 3 story.  
by (6.1k points)
@chavira Traditional custom homes. 9’-10’ first floor 2x12 2nd floor header with 3/4 floor Second floor at 9’ We are 20’ for 2 stories and you add another 7’ you are damn near 3 full stories. I mean you could be a millionaire. but a 2. 5 story wall of windows. ‍♂️. Just an observation
+12 votes
by (1.3k points)
Usually LG and Sharp, also some Sony TVs have lower gloss screens to reduce glare but also impacts the contrast ratio when the light in the room is dim. The curved screens can also reduce some glare because of the curve.  
+6 votes
by (380 points)
Just bought the Samsung 6 series at best buy 50in and OMG let's just say I'm getting another one real soon to put in my office
+11 votes
by (2.7k points)
Thanks everyone for the advice. I went with the Samsung Q7 from Costco. Great so far. I actually like the OTA guide integration with streaming channels, I wish TiVo would have done that years ago.  
+5 votes
by (250 points)
Have you seen a Philips tv with ambilight, like 55pus7304, there is a version with better sound too.  
by (2.7k points)
@mweru35045 I really like that ambilight, I don't know how practical it is, but I do want something like that.  
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