Specs of the dead TV:
10 years old, purchased new by me.
Sony Bravia KDL55HX800
55"
Nuts and bolts: https://docs.sony.com/release/.../KDL55HX800_mksp.pdf

Until it died, I had no real issues with this unit other than the occasional motion blur related issue, mainly while watching hockey.



I want to replace the dead TV with another 55" unit. It will be on a stand, not wall mounted.

I am not a gamer, I don't stream much and if I am watching TV, it is likely to be an old movie, a hockey game or some type of open wheel auto racing.

I run all my video inputs though a a A/V receiver and have one HDMI cable running to my current TV. I plan to do the same with my new unit.

Also, the replacement unit will start out as my primary TV, but will get downgraded to secondary use status in less than a year if all goes according to plan.

I don't need a smart TV, Alexa compatibility, Apple TV, etc. I won't use any of those things, but I understand that most new TV's will come with a lot of these features.

Motion blur and other similar visual issues annoy me as I do notice them.

I'd like to stick with Sony, Samsung or LG, but a persuasive argument could change my mind.

Budget is $1,000 USD or less. Preferably 20-40% less.

Ok SigForum, what do I need, and why?

We bought an LG OLED last fall. Incredible picture. That’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? I don’t know if any TVs are sold w/o the smart stuff. Costco sells the 55 for $1,449 with a great warranty. While it’s over your desired price range, it’s a killer set. My son has the 55 and I have the 65.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mcrimm,

R U a Costco member? We bought a 70” Samsung on sale a couple of months ago to replace a 55” TV, like yours, about 10 years old. We’re blown away by the difference in picture quality and thought the picture quality of the 55” tv was pretty good. Honestly, I’d recommend looking at something in that size range (70”) on sale. I think movie theaters are hearing their death knell and you’ll be watching first run movies at home. Hope you find something you like.

I would go to Costco, and look at what they have on sale.

Costco 55" TV

You are like a week late though, some of the best TV deals are Pre-Superbowl.

I've personally had nothing but trouble with Sony TV's over the last 15 years. I currently have a 65 inch Samsung and 2 55 inch LGs I am happy with.

Take a long look at the TCL Series 6 and 8 RokuTVs. Great performance and bang-for-the-buck!

Thanks for the input so far.

To give more details, I am currently size limited to a 55" based on where the TV will be located. Would love a larger TV, but can't do it right now.

I am a Sam's member, but not Costco.

quote:

Originally posted by celticwolf:
You are like a week late though, some of the best TV deals are Pre-Superbowl.

Yeah, tell me about it!

We've been happy with both Samsung TVs, but the newest one is HDMI or USB only.
Our other is around 10 yrs old & has component connections.

Sanyo, Samsung and Emerson are three brands that I am familiar with, none of them have ever given me any trouble.

The LG CX OLED's have the best picture in a darker room and are generally the highest rated TV with most of the reviewers. A little over your budget but like the earlier poster said, it's a killer TV. If you want THE best picture spend a little extra.

If you have a brightly lit room the Samsung QLED Q8 series are brightly backlit (instead of side lit) and have an Anti-reflective coating that REALLY helps with glare. The Q9's are even better. I have 2 OLED's including the CX and in a Bright room my QLED C8 works a little better as far as glare with the overhead lights on. VERY good picture but I don't like the remote as much.

If this TV is going to be a secondary TV I picked up a Roku 4K 55" TV for $249 at Costco. I'm sure Sam's has similar. They look pretty decent if you are looking straight at them. Where TV's really start to show their differences is in side angles. Cheaper TV's need to be look straight at. In a Narrow room it may not be an issue but in a wide room you can really tell. In the store walk to the side and look at the TV's from steep side angles and you'll see what I mean. The other big issue is glare and bright rooms. Samsung Q8 and Q9's are ahead of everyone else here. The Oleds are the bomb for black blacks and overall picture quality.

Since motion Blur bothers you try and find a TV with 240 Megaherz or an OLED. Oleds work differently than the 120 or 240 TV's since they write the whole screen at once. The Q8,s and Nano's both do 240 and motion blur isn't an issue. Some of the cheaper sets are 120 and even "simulate" 240hertz. Stick with real 240, even in a cheaper set.

FWIW I picked up my Samsung 55" Q8 for 1/3 off and below your budget by going to Nebraska Furniture Marts Closeout section. The salesman told me exactly why it was returned and the one I got was perfect, the only scratch was on the plastic protective covering and that's exactly what he told me.

The LG Nanocell LED's are very nice and you'll probably find a 55" within your budget. Not quite as good Anti-glare as the Samsung but usually a few hundred cheaper and I like their remote MUCH better.

All in all buy the LG OLED if you can stretch your budget a bit. Try a Samsung Q8 or Q9 if you have a bright room and can go a wee bit over budget or find a deal. Or you can get a good 55" TV for $300ish if you want to go cheaper and buy the better TV later..........


And FWIW no reason NOT to buy a smart TV now, I think most all of them are.

It's amazing how inexpensive TV's are nowadays.

You can get a 55 inch tv, as you mentioned, for really what is just walking around money.

Costco, Sams, wallymart, Target Stores Sunday Sale Ads, take your pick.
.

We used a lot of TVs in the Homeland Security situation room business, some freestanding and some together to make a simulated video wall.

All we ever used were Samsung and Sony as they had the best pictures at the time.

To get a little more more info you can look here https://www.rtings.com/tv/revi...best/by-size/55-inch

quote:

Originally posted by bald1:
Take a long look at the TCL Series 6 and 8 RokuTVs. Great performance and bang-for-the-buck!

Another vote right here. I've bought x2 TCLs and both have been stellar.

We're pleased with the 55" LG we bought at Costco last year.

Samsung QLED

quote:

Originally posted by myrottiety:

quote:

Originally posted by bald1:
Take a long look at the TCL Series 6 and 8 RokuTVs. Great performance and bang-for-the-buck!

Another vote right here. I've bought x2 TCLs and both have been stellar.

TCL is definitely what I'd recommend. TCL is routinely voted as "best bang for the buck", "best budget TV", etc. by most of the major interweb TV review sights. Their picture quality is nearly as good as the high end name brand TVs, for a fraction of the price.

However, getting one of their top tier 6- or 8-series definitely isn't needed, since the OP stated that it's going to be quickly downgraded to a secondary TV, and he isn't using it for fancier 4K or HDR content. (Besides, they don't even offer a 55" 8-series... 65" is as small as the 8s go.)

So I'd recommend the medium-tier 55" 4-series or 5-series. They don't have all the fancy cutting-edge bells and whistles of the higher tier 6- or 8-series, but picture quality is still great, and they are noticeably cheaper as a result.

4-series 55S435 for ~#350: https://www.amazon.com/TCL-Cla...-Roku/dp/B08GWBBH4R/

5-series 55S535 for ~$500: https://www.amazon.com/TCL-Dol...-Smart/dp/B0885N4FPZ

In fact, for the criteria as laid out in the OP, I'd honestly just go with the $350 4-series, then spend the rest of the TV budget on a nicer receiver/speaker setup, or use it as the start of your savings for the planned fancier replacement next year.

These are both Roku Smart TVs, but you don't have to utilize that if you don't want to. (As stated, it'll be pretty tough to find a non-smart TV these days.) These also both have the capability for Motion Smoothing and similar effects, as do all TVs nowadays, but you can turn that down/off in the settings if you don't like it.

If you're handy with a screwdriver and a soldering iron, you might be able to save yourself a ton of money. Search "Sony Bravia KDL55HX800" in youtube and there are videos on how to repair that model.

I have a 10+ year old Samsung 42" flat screen. About 3 years ago it would not turn on. $7.00 worth of capacitors and a $30.00 TCon board and it works like new. Still works great.

Good luck.

Only problem with TCL's is that they are Chinese Spy Hardware!