Shoofin

I'm re-doing my living room, changing the entertainment center, getting new couches, etc....I'm going to be spending a bit out of my budget, and I figured I may as well redeem some AMEX membership rewards points and just get the TV from there. I've never used any of the points and it just keeps accumulating.The unit that will be holding the TV gives me up to 42" of sizable TV to get. It also forces us to get rid of our flat tube 32" TV (It's too fat and heavy to fit on the table we are buying for the new system) and upgrade to an LCD/Plasma. I did enough of my own researching to decide that I'd rather have an LCD over a Plasma. I've been looking around a bit, as well on Consumer Reports website. They have these 3 TV's that I'm looking at that are in the range of points that I have to spend, except for the last one, which wasn't rated as high as the first two anyway. Tell me what you think I should go for...Mind you the TV viewing is about 15' from the couch.

Samsung LN40A550 (40") Highest rated in the 40-42" range - Least points to redeem of the bunch
http://www.samsung.com/us/consumer/d...LN40A550P3FXZA

Toshiba REGZA 42XV540U (42") I'm short a few points but can make it up quickly
http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/televisi...model=42xv540u

Sony Bravia KDL-40V4100 (40") Most points to redeem, about 40,000 points more than I have
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665376315

Mind you I'm not a TV watching fanatic, not a technical specs critic, but I want something good, reliable and that won't disappoint.

I'm leaning more towards the Toshiba. Am I wrong?

CR Results:


If I didn't use my points, I think i'd go for the Vizio V042LF (http://www.vizio.com/productDetails....=1694&pid=1504)
What do you think?

Sarlacc

Samsung

csmeance

samsung FTW !

if you are still shopping around, Go to chain places like rooms to go if you have em in your area, they are phenominal.

stogie1020

CR is a tough critic for a lot of items, but subjective things like TVs and mattresses I tend to look more for the entire body of reviews than CR. Check here for your models and see what you can expect:

A550 - http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1005722

Sony - http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1036642

Shoofin

Spoke to my father's friend, who is an electronics distributor to see what he has to offer, he doesn't have any 42" displays, only 46". The only 42" he has is the Panasonic TH42PX80 Plasma (42"), he says he has a great price on it for me for $810. The price sounds good, but I don't know if I want to spend the money in place of just using the points....This sucks...

http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/Panasonic-TH42PX80/

Ashburner

CC has the 42LG50 for $1000 instore pickup... looks like a pretty good deal.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/produ...keycode=777592

Ashburner

If your gonna use points, go with the Samsung.

Sarlacc

I'll make it easy. Don't go plasma. specially cheap ones.

Scrib

I have last year's models of the Samsung and Sony and I'd say the Samsung has a better picture.

Pete1burn

+1 for Samsung. Especially in that size range.

chill_dog

Samsung.

JediMindTricks

samsung.

i have the 40" 530 model, and it's great.

Moog-Type-S

Sammy

AdamNJ

Make that 9 votes for the samsung. You can get the LN40A650 (better then 550) for 1375:
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-LN40A6...0386878&sr=8-1

Shoofin

Ordered the Samsung... AMEX shows delivery "within 4 weeks", which sucks...let's hope i'll get it sooner than later..

I'll post pics when I get it, and with the current redesigned living room that I am re-furnishing....

GIBSON6594

Good choice, I just bought the 46in 650 series Sammy. The reviews are outstanding on it.

TS_eXpeed

Good choice!

I'm not too familiar with their LCD's, but I know their plasmas are top notch quality wise behind more expensive brands like Pioneer. I would imagine their LCD's have similar quality.

tommystyle86

iTrader: (2)

I've also got a 50in samsung plasma. its and awesome tv and i wouldn't give it up. next tv will be a 60in. so i would say samsung but i also had the samsung blue-ray surround sound to go with it. they sync up with each other.

Moog-Type-S

^^ PM the op. He would love to hear about it!

chill_dog

TS_eXpeed