Is this TV worth it?

Espy · May 16, 2013

So microcenter just sent out a big sale on TV's, and this one caught my eye: http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.aspx?sku=500215

I've read some bad reviews of older models but the only ones I could find on this item were pretty good. Anyone have any experience with this brand or thoughts?

sixpackshaker · May 16, 2013

I did buy a cheap TV before, I largely took it on faith that those TV's pretty much come from the same factories. I am a bit worried about Westinghouse because they only seem to be on showroom floors twice a year. Christmas and Kids moving off to the dorms for the first time...

strawman · May 16, 2013

If you can, go in and see it in person. Look at it from side to side and sit on the floor close to see if it has bad viewing angles.

If you can see the image and colors without distortion from all angles, and the image appears clear without streaking or muddieness then it's a decent deal.

The cheap tvs use low grade LCD screens, and while side to side may look ok, you often find that once you mount the TV anyone sitting on the floor gets bad colors and other image quality problems.

So if it looks ok in that regard, and you aren't interested in the high end features the expensive TV sets provide, I'd say its a good deal.

MindDetective · May 16, 2013

I've had a Westinghouse TV close to that size for 6.5 years (with built-in DVD player). I have only three minor issues with it: 1.) The screen res-zing for different display types is terrible. I can stretch the screen horizontally or not. 2.) The DVD player often defaults to displaying subtitles. 3.) One of the connector ports appears to have fried, requiring I get an HDMI cable and use a different port. It does seem to be very warm when on for a while but that hasn't been an issue yet. I look forward to replacing it, actually, but it looks like it is hanging in there for a while yet.

Espy · May 17, 2013

Interesting. The feedback I got from my friend who spends way to much time with TV's said overall Westinghouse are known to crap out pretty quick, so he said, eh, if you want a TV that will only last a couple years.

Our samsung has been going strong since 2005. Thats pretty damn good. I'm thinking I may just save up and get another one of those.

It's a damn good price though. I still might go look at it.

SpecialKO · May 17, 2013

Westinghouse is in a class of off-brand TVs (like Olevia and Vizio) that tend to be good in the bare bones category, but become immediately sub-par once you start looking for the higher-end of quality performance (like 120Hz and up, deep blacks, fine-tuning the image, and TV apps).

If you stick with the models of those brands that are bare bones, it's really hard to go wrong (I've had an Olevia 37" for 7 years and it's been rock solid the whole time aside from not having great blacks), but if you want something with a tad more performance you need to spend for a top class brand. I've been considering replacing my Olevia with a new Samsung or Sharp Aquos now that I'm much better off financially than I was 7 years ago.

strawman · May 17, 2013

Espy said:
Interesting. The feedback I got from my friend who spends way to much time with TV's said overall Westinghouse are known to crap out pretty quick, so he said, eh, if you want a TV that will only last a couple years.

Our samsung has been going strong since 2005. Thats pretty damn good. I'm thinking I may just save up and get another one of those.

It's a damn good price though. I still might go look at it.

I've had a westinghouse monitor (with video inputs, so it shares some lineage with their TVs) for over 5 years and it's going strong.

I suspect, like most things, it's a hit and miss affair, you can't paint ever product a manufacturer sells with the same brush. Some products are ok, some aren't. I've purchased plenty of things knowing they were low quality, and being surprised at their life.

It wouldn't surprise me of most of the westinghouse products are merely rebadged generic products made in Asia, which means it really is a crapshoot.

Espy · May 17, 2013

I think the biggest mental block now is that I'd feel like I'd really have to buy the 3 year protection plan in case it dies or the screen gets funky, and that puts it right back at the starting price.

sixpackshaker · May 17, 2013

Espy said:
I think the biggest mental block now is that I'd feel like I'd really have to buy the 3 year protection plan in case it dies or the screen gets funky, and that puts it right back at the starting price.

which you would buy no matter how much the tv costs.

Espy · May 17, 2013

sixpackshaker said:
which you would buy no matter how much the tv costs.

Maybe. Like I said, we've had this Samsung for over 8 years and not a single problem. In fact if it was 1080p (it's 1080i and my Apple TV stupidly doesn't play nice with 1080i) I wouldn't even consider getting a new one. So depending on what consumer reports says about what I eventually get I may not buy a protection plan.

SpecialKO · Jun 25, 2013

Didn't want to make a new thread as this one is already pretty close. So, I just picked up a decent raise, and as a reward to myself, I am thinking of replacing my 7 year-old 37" 720p/1080i TV. I'm a bit behind the times in what to look for, however, so I figured I'd come here and get some opinions.

Any thoughts on this one? I need to do some exact measurements to be sure, but looking at either the 46 or 50 inch.

sixpackshaker · Jun 25, 2013

SpecialKO said:
Didn't want to make a new thread as this one is already pretty close. So, I just picked up a decent raise, and as a reward to myself, I am thinking of replacing my 7 year-old 37" 720p/1080i TV. I'm a bit behind the times in what to look for, however, so I figured I'd come here and get some opinions.

Any thoughts on this one? I need to do some exact measurements to be sure, but looking at either the 46 or 50 inch.

If you buy that, you have to hook it to your gaming computer for a week before you move it back to the living room....

strawman · Jun 25, 2013

SpecialKO said:
Didn't want to make a new thread as this one is already pretty close. So, I just picked up a decent raise, and as a reward to myself, I am thinking of replacing my 7 year-old 37" 720p/1080i TV. I'm a bit behind the times in what to look for, however, so I figured I'd come here and get some opinions.

Any thoughts on this one? I need to do some exact measurements to be sure, but looking at either the 46 or 50 inch.

I'm afraid if need to evaluate it personally before giving you my opinion. Send me one and I'll let you know.

It has enough hdmi inputs. I didn't see a digital audio output, so you'll want to check on that if you want surround sound and need the TV to output to your sound system. It'll depend on your audio setup if you don't plan on using the TV audio.

strawman · Jun 25, 2013

Everything else looks good. Bright, 120Hz so you won't have problems with 24p content, 3D with active shutter glasses is ok.

SpecialKO · Jun 25, 2013

stienman said:
I didn't see a digital audio output, so you'll want to check on that if you want surround sound and need the TV to output to your sound system. It'll depend on your audio setup if you don't plan on using the TV audio.

Hmm. Not a deal breaker, as I tend to pipe things directly to my A/V receiver, and then to the TV. But still a mild consideration.

Thanks!