TV & Home Theater

[brian1985]

Hey guys just looking to get a smart tv. What are some of the top brands. I have been looking at Samsung but am open to other brands. I haven't exactly decided on a screen size yet. But I would not go smaller then a 40 inch. I should also tell you I have a Samsung galaxy phone if that makes a difference. Tia for the help guys

[Sam15 Valued Contributor]

Hey!

What, more specifically, are you looking for in a TV?  How important is 4K quality or 3D capability in your decision making?  Do you prefer LED/OLED?  We have a number of brands and sizes with varying features in our inventory, so these questions help us narrow down your options.

[brian1985]

I am brand new to the smart tv world. So I guess I don't really know what 4k is. Can you please explain. Also what's the big differences between oled and led? I will tell you I mostly watch sports and home improvement shows on tv. Movies would be the least thing watched but my son would watch some movies on it. Thanks for the help

[xl]

Thoughts....

• I would visit the Best Buy showroom and see what looks good to you.  Check screens to see if there are motion blur issues.  Don't just visit one store.... stop by a few stores as they are likely to have different models on display.
• What is consider "smart" may not be smart in a few years.  With affordable AppleTV, Roku, and Chromebox devices... you have smart TV content available to any TV.
• don't get too excited about the colours.... store TV's are often not calibrated... running standard or bright mode to get attention. I often set the TV to "movie" or "cinema" mode when I get my TV home.
• are you only interested in 4K... there's now 4K HDR for better images.
• Are you running rabbit ears? Think about your cable source.  Depending on where you are.... some may be providing limited 4K content now.
• Select Rio's Olympic events were recorded in 8K.  Japan hopes to have 8K common in 2020 for the Olympics.

[Sam15 Valued Contributor]

Okay, so in technical terms, 4K televisions have four times the picture resolution of 1080p HD quality (meaning the pixels are extremely close together and create a vibrant picture).  Unlike televisions with synthetic light-emitting diodes (LEDs), OLED uses an organic substance that glows when an electric current is introduced, reducing the thickness and weight of the TV.  You can read more about that here.

Simply put 4K has super crisp picture and color, and OLED tv's are thinner than LED.  To some, this is not a determining factor in the purchase of a new television, although it is a fairly noticeable difference in quality.

I would also suggest checking out any deals we have on BestBuy.com, where you can compare features and see any special pricing going on.  I echo what user XL said above in regards to visiting one of our stores to see some display TVs in person, as our store associates can help you pick the best TV that fits your needs.

[brian1985]

Thanks for the replies. I will not be using rabbit ears as we gave dish. 

[brian1985]

As far as features go on a smart tv are they all pretty much the same among all brands or do some brands have different features? Also I'm curious what sports mode is on a Samsung?

[Sam15 Valued Contributor]

Nearly all smart TVs give you access to Netflix or Amazon Instant, but some brands do vary in their inclusions/featuers of smart content.

According to Samsung.com, "You can use Sports Mode to get optimal picture and sound settings for sports events, making them appear and sound as if you are there. In addition, if a recording device is connected to the TV when you are using Sports Mode, you can use both the video recording and timeshift functions at the same time while watching the sports game, as well as watching the highlights extracted from the recorded sports game automatically or manually."

[brian1985]

I went to Best Buy website and have 2 tv that caught my interest. The first one is the Sony x700d and the second one is the Samsung 7000fxza.  Anybody have reviews on these? Is their any advantage to going with Samsung since I have a Samsung smart phone? I won't make a final decision until going to a store. Thanks guys

[Sam15 Valued Contributor]

There are multiple models for each of those. Can you provide the SKU's for both models? Individual model information can also be found on the product page under Specifications.