Needing to buy a good quality 19" LCD TV

[mrsilv04]

My folks are wanting to wall mount a 19" LCD TV in their RV to upgrade to digital, and to save some space at the same time.

I have to admit that I've never bought an LCD TV before. Since this will only be used a few days of the month, a high dollar/feature rich unit isn't necessary. A good picture and good sound are the requirements.

Right now, the leader is a Philips, model 19FPL3505D. It can be bought for $149 at W*M. I'm partial to the Philips line from past experience... but that's the only thing that is swaying me at this point, plus the price is around what they were wanting to pay for one (target $150).

I went and checked out the display at the local W*M. The picture quality and sound quality are good, plus the picture seems to hold up better than the others that they had on display, when viewing it at an angle.

Any other suggestions or recommendations as to models, or functions that I should be looking at?

 

[motorguy222]

Samsung is rated high and was picked in a Popular Mechanics test a while back.

Sanyo seems to be a pretty good product and Vizio isnt bad either.

 

[tchguy]

Get an LED LCD TV, the LED backlight lasts longer, is brighter, and uses almost 50% less power than a regular LCD TV.

As far as brands, Samsung, Visio and LG are brands with better reputations. Here is a 19" LED LCD TV

Consider a slightly larger set if they have wall space. A 22" will look a lot bigger than a 19", and be about the same height as an old 19" CRT TV. Here is a 22" LED LCD TV

 

[RTexasF]

In that price range I doubt it really matters. Go larger if at all possible.

 

[mrsilv04]

Originally Posted By: RTexasF
In that price range I doubt it really matters. Go larger if at all possible.


Where it is to go, I'm limited by the size of the wall.

 

[Spazdog]

Make sure you listen to it first.

I just needed a small tv to play instructional videos on at work. Saw the cheapest Emerson's picture and thought to myself, "That'll work."

Got it back to the shop and hooked it up. Showed the first client the instructional video.
Picture? good. Actually better than I had anticipated.
Sound? Absolute garbage. Remember that tiny 9v powered transistor radio you had back in the early '70s.? It sounded better. Much better. It's that bad.

 

[mrsilv04]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog
Sound? Absolute garbage. Remember that tiny 9v powered transistor radio you had back in the early '70s.? It sounded better. Much better. It's that bad.


After buying a laptop that apparently has those same speakers... I've put a higher priority on sound.

I went and listened to the Philips, and it had the best quality and loudest volume of all of the 19 inch units.

 

[OVERKILL]

Get the Philips. I've had the best luck with their LCD's.

 

[mrsilv04]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Get the Philips. I've had the best luck with their LCD's.


That's right. You do like the Philips displays. I remember that now.

 

[97tbird]

once you watch a wide(er) screen format (wider than 16:9) movie (with black borders on top and bottom), you'll see how small a 19" can be and how little you actually have as far as image area goes.

Please reconsider and go for at least a 32".

I was considering 32" and I am VERY glad i went with 40"

Samsung and Panasonic are my fav brands for LCDs, with Toshiba after that.

 

[doitmyself]

Not sure why you guys are recommending LED and/or larger TV's when he stated he only has room for a 19" for an RV installation and a budget in the $150 range??????

So much changes in the market from year to year that you can't rely on brand recognition like years ago. With Phillips, it seems that you are basically buying a Funai television (U.S market) or Chinese TPV (Europe market) with the Phillips brand name slapped on. They have dropped out of the TV mfg. segment almost entirely:

http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/columns/2011/04/hdtv-almanac-philips-quits-the-tv-business.php

This degradation of former well regarded brand names is growing like cancer. It makes me think of Cub Cadet, Troy Bilt, and Toro (big box models) made by MTD.


A "good" TV at your price range will be hard to find. Look for left over last years models. If you really want to research, go to the AVS forum.

IMO (only), the top tier TV's are Sony, Samsung, and Panasonic. There are a few others that compete below this level, then you have the "lower tier" brands like the Phillips (Magnovox, Emerson, Sylvania are the same co.) At AVS, it seems (to me) that Vizio is the up and coming independent budget brand. But, opinions vary (Ford vs. whoever).

Or, like already suggested, at your price range, maybe just pick the one that appeals to you and go with it.

Good Luck!

 

[RTexasF]

Good point on the sound/volume level. A great picture doesn't make up for not being able to hear the darned thing.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: doitmyself
Not sure why you guys are recommending LED and/or larger TV's when he stated he only has room for a 19" for an RV installation and a budget in the $150 range??????

So much changes in the market from year to year that you can't rely on brand recognition like years ago. With Phillips, it seems that you are basically buying a Funai television (U.S market) or Chinese TPV (Europe market) with the Phillips brand name slapped on. They have dropped out of the TV mfg. segment almost entirely:

http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/columns/2011/04/hdtv-almanac-philips-quits-the-tv-business.php

This degradation of former well regarded brand names is growing like cancer. It makes me think of Cub Cadet, Troy Bilt, and Toro (big box models) made by MTD.


A "good" TV at your price range will be hard to find. Look for left over last years models. If you really want to research, go to the AVS forum.

IMO (only), the top tier TV's are Sony, Samsung, and Panasonic. There are a few others that compete below this level, then you have the "lower tier" brands like the Phillips (Magnovox, Emerson, Sylvania are the same co.) At AVS, it seems (to me) that Vizio is the up and coming independent budget brand. But, opinions vary (Ford vs. whoever).

Or, like already suggested, at your price range, maybe just pick the one that appeals to you and go with it.

Good Luck!




My experience has been with their computer monitors, not their TV's. I assumed (it appears incorrectly) that their TV's were similar to their LCD computer monitors.

Btw, it is "Philips" not "Phillips"

Mobil not Mobile eh? LOL!

 

[spasm3]

I don't know how old you folks are but check the size of the channel and volume . Some TV functions like what channel its on etc are hard for him to see especially if you are limited to 19 inch.

 

[ddrumman2004]

I will never own a Philips/Magnavox LCD television again. We had one that we purcahsed from WalMart that died after a couple years. Same with a Sylvania that we bought from Sears....it died after a year and a half.

I bought a Sony Bravia this time around.

Now we also have a Sansung 19" LCD tv on the wall in out bedroom, for noise mostly, and it's going on 3 years of age and runs every night for at least 4 hours. Wife has to have the "noise" it makes to go to sleep.