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Best TV for approx. 300? 25"-"27

I need a new TV for the bedroom, I do not need bells and whistles, picture would be first of importance.

I am not fixed at 25"-27", I could consider smaller. (Actually, my wife would prefer a smaller TV, but you know us guys, we want to go for the bigger version!)

I went to Circuit City last night planning to purchase a Panasonic, I have heard good things on their longevity. I was specifically going there for the CT-27G6, $289. I left with a JVC AV-27D302, $349. The JVC showed much more detail IMO and all the Panasonics I looked at seemed dark, the JVC simply seemed to have the better picture, except it was a bit grainy. I thought, maybe foolishly, it was just a store issue.

The one I brought home seems to be a bit grainy as well. There seems to be a flaw in the picture, so I am planning on returning it, but I am not ruling out exchanging it for the same TV.

I was just seeking the collective wisdom of this forum.

Thanks
brianmgrarcom
psychicanimal
1,738 posts
 
I used to work at a high end video store--my advice is to find a salesman you can trust and choose TV size considering the distance you will be from the set. The general rule of thumb is 4 times diagonal picture, so (4 x 27" = 108"); 108"/12 = 9 feet. That's your recommended viewing distance.

I would not buy Panasonic over Sony WEGA...

I bought my first TV set ever back in October--a 27" WEGA. I called the owner of the store I used to work at and told me I made the right choice of TV. He gave me the proper order to fine tune a TV (I had forgotten--I'm an audiophile!).

Here it is:

1) Color OFF
2) Brightness
3) Contrast
4) Sharpness

Get the best B&W picture you can.

5)Color ON
6)Tint
7 Drop brightness
8)Work on high resolution settings

This is a no-brainer if you follow it step by step and take your time. Steve Blumenthal of Gallager TV is a master at this. My TV was fine tuned in just a few minutes with no need for any 'special' DVD. Back in those days we didn't have any DVDs or LDs to tune the TVs!

After setting my TV I rented Water World and played it through my JVC XV-S45 DVD player and those water scenes (both above and under) were just stunning!
bmpnyc
713 posts
 
Why not take that 10 year old Mitsu, put it in the bedroom, and treat yourself to a nice new Sony WEGA? It will certainly be an improvement over the Mitsu, and your living room gets a stylish upgrade!
bmpnyc
713 posts
 
Why not take that 10 year old Mitsu, put it in the bedroom, and treat yourself to a nice new Sony WEGA? It will certainly be an improvement over the Mitsu, and your living room gets a stylish upgrade!
brianmgrarcom OP
1,317 posts
 
Believe you me, if we had the money, I would purchase a new and larger TV for the living room!! That will have to come at another time.
kotta's avatar
kotta
649 posts
 
In my opinion I would stick with the JVC. Exchange it. If
the same grain appears there's the possibility it's in your line. Also, the smaller the picture tube, the less noticable
will such things be. If you're accustomed to viewing a 13/19
or 20" set (you don't mention your previous T.V. size), then
you move up in size to a 27" you will notice more imperfect-
ions. bill
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