4k TV purchase?

[mu_hilltopper]

So .. my 8 year old LCD TV went bonkers tonight .. screen goes off, won't shut off while emitting LOUD buzzing noise, freaking everyone out.

8 years doesn't seem that old, but google tells me TVs don't last long these days.

Question:  Should I bother repairing it?

Question: If not .. new TV: Should I dive in for a 4k TV? 

99% of our media is via cable TV, and so far, they don't offer 4k channels.  I suppose I could get a Roku 4 and stream 4k stuff, although I've heard there's just not that much out there.

Admittedly, we're not huge TV watchers, maybe an hour or two a night if we're lucky.

And another note:  42" screen is all that will fit in this spot.

To future-proof, or not?

[ChicosBailBonds]

I'm very involved in 4K right on the production side.  Cable just can't do it at a level that makes it worth it.  DIRECTV is going into it and will launch several dedicated channels, but the issue right now is content.  Many of the content providers aren't creating content in 4K.  The cameras are expensive, but more importantly the post production is REALLY expensive.  So there isn't a ton out there right now in 4K.  Netflix has it but you need a strong download bit rate speed to get it.

If I were you, I'd wait unless you can get something for a steal.  Yes, the prices have come down, but the difference between 1080p and 4K (Ultra HD) right now for non 4K content is so small, I'll bet you can't tell the difference.  Most people can't.   

I'd get a LED LCD TV and you'll be fine. 

[#UnleashSean]

1) No point in repairing, its no longer 1955. A new tv will get you exceptionally better quality over anything that came out 5 years ago, and will only be slightly more then what it would cost to repair.

2) 4k tv's are pretty good. I have a 44inch in my apartment in La Crosse that is super nice. Amazon has a ton of shows in Ultra HD (4k res) and I believe netflix also has a few. I also stream all the Esports onto it which still looks pretty nice. Though if your going the streaming route and want to take full advantage of the 4k you may have to upgrade your internet package. Default packages will not cut it and will eat all your bandwidth.

[ChicosBailBonds]

That size space is another reason I wouldn't get a 4K....just isn't worth it.  You'll have a harder time finding one to fit that size to begin with.

[#UnleashSean]

That size space is another reason I wouldn't get a 4K....just isn't worth it.  You'll have a harder time finding one to fit that size to begin with.

I have a 43inch. There are tons around 40.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I have a 43inch. There are tons around 40.

Understood, but the benefits don't come through as much on that small of a screen.  My point was that 4Ks abound on larger models, because that's where there benefits are going to be more prevelent.  Certainly didn't mean to imply you can't find one at that size, of course you can....but they are more prevelent in larger sizes.

[mr.MUskie]

The cost difference between a 4K and a standard HD is pretty small. You had this tv for 8 years. There's a good chance that over the next 8 years there will be considerably more 4K programming. I say check out the Black Friday specials on a 4K and go for it.

[GooooMarquette]

Admittedly, we're not huge TV watchers, maybe an hour or two a night if we're lucky.

Get an LCD and spend your money on things that are a more important part of your life.

[mu_hilltopper]

Pretty clear that 4k on a 42" tv is a waste...

[ChicosBailBonds]

Pretty clear that 4k on a 42" tv is a waste...

Yup, that was what I was trying to say earlier. 

[MUBBau]

Pretty good deal

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/lg/4517900.p?id=1219755712404&skuId=4517900

[MU Chi_IL]

I always found the product testing at http://thewirecutter.com/ to be good, cuts down on the research time.

[SaintPaulWarrior]

Pretty good deal

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/lg/4517900.p?id=1219755712404&skuId=4517900

60hz would not cut it for me on a 4K TV.  LG Trumotion 120hz is really 60hz.

http://www.rtings.com/tv/learn/fake-refresh-rates-samsung-clear-motion-rate-vs-sony-motionflow-vs-lg-trumotion

[#UnleashSean]

60hz would not cut it for me on a 4K TV.  LG Trumotion 120hz is really 60hz.

http://www.rtings.com/tv/learn/fake-refresh-rates-samsung-clear-motion-rate-vs-sony-motionflow-vs-lg-trumotion

I myself have never understood this hz battle on tv's. It doesn't seem to be the same as a hz refresh on a monitor.

I have myself a 144 hz monitor and can notice an insane difference in games and applications. But on a tv, is there even a point? No tv show goes over 30 fps. Game consoles do not go over 60. Is there a missing factor I haven't seen?

[Skitch]

Just replaced my living room TV today. Hhgregg has their black Friday prices already. Here's a 40 inch 4k for almost 40% off.

http://www.hhgregg.com/mobile/products/549504

[mu_hilltopper]

The goofy thing .. the TV is now working fine. 

With any luck, it'll quit on me just as 8K TVs are on sale.

[DegenerateDish]

As someone who works for a display company, my advice is it's not worth it to spend $ on any 4K TV/display less than 58".

8K will be out next spring (commercially). Consumer 8K is 2 years away. 2020 Olympics are going to be broadcast in 8K. Who will actually watch it in 8K in their homes...probably no one.

[ChicosBailBonds]

As someone who works for a display company, my advice is it's not worth it to spend $ on any 4K TV/display less than 58".

8K will be out next spring (commercially). Consumer 8K is 2 years away. 2020 Olympics are going to be broadcast in 8K. Who will actually watch it in 8K in their homes...probably no one.

Agree

[Benny B]

I myself have never understood this hz battle on tv's. It doesn't seem to be the same as a hz refresh on a monitor.

I have myself a 144 hz monitor and can notice an insane difference in games and applications. But on a tv, is there even a point? No tv show goes over 30 fps. Game consoles do not go over 60. Is there a missing factor I haven't seen?

Exactly.  Most of the 120 Hz TVs on the market today won't even support 120 fps, so Hz is nothing but complete marketing BS unless your TV is hooked up to a computer (with a killer graphics card).

[Spotcheck Billy]

here's a breakdown from this link: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2379206,00.asp

When you watch a movie on Blu-ray, it's a 1080p picture at 60Hz. The disc displays 60 interlaced or 30 progressive frames at 1,920-by-1,080 resolution per second of video. For movies that were recorded on film, the original footage is actually 24 frames per second, upconverted to 30 frames through a process known as 2:3 pulldown. It distributes the source frames so they can be spread across 30 instead of 24 frames per second. Those frames are then interlaced (combined and shuffled) to 60 "frames" per second to match the 60Hz refresh rate of the vast majority of TVs you can buy today. In the case of 1080p60 televisions, the frames are pulled down to 60 full frames per second, and both the players and HDTVs outright skip any interlacing step.

What About 4K?
Ultra high-definition television (UHD, or 4K) is still in its early stages, and while you can purchase a 4K HDTV you'll still have some problems getting any appreciable amount of media for it. The HDMI 2.0 standard has only just made 60 fps 4K video a consistent possibility for certain devices, and so much processing is already being used on simply displaying the much higher 3,840-by-2,160 resolution that interpolation and adding frames to make the action smoother hasn't been a major priority for HDTV manufacturers yet. Basically, if you want a 4K screen, don't expect it to break 60Hz for a while.

But Are Super-Fast Refresh Rates Worth It?
Enhanced refresh rates can go too far. While 120Hz refresh rates seen on most midrange HDTVs can work well, don't expect to see any real performance improvement from 240Hz refresh rates or, for many plasmas, 600Hz. More importantly, you should know when to turn these enhanced refresh rates off, and watch with the "default" 60Hz or 24Hz film mode.

Refresh rates and motion-enhancing modes higher than 60Hz can produce a surreal effect when watching movies and television shows. The additional frames and "smoother" animation looks different from what we're used to with TV and movies, making the footage appear strangely fast. For any sort of content where you watch people interact naturally, like comedies or dramas, this can be unsettling and you should consider turning off the motion enhancing mode and force the screen to display the picture at 60Hz. However, for sports and video games, those added frames can help reduce stuttering and blur, and the action will be easier to track.

As a general rule, if what you're watching involves seeing real peoples' faces as they talk, disable the higher refresh rate so they don't look like creepy dolls (also known as the "soap opera effect"). If what you're watching involves seeing real people run into each other (sports), or fake people attacking each other in an artificial environment (video games), keep the higher refresh rate mode turned on (though set to "low" or "medium" if given the option, because the most zealous motion modes can still make the picture look unreal).

[warriorchick]

Here is another "expert" opinion:

http://gizmodo.com/a-skeptics-guide-to-buying-or-not-buying-a-4k-tv-1744272556

[rocky_warrior]

Here is another "expert" opinion:

http://gizmodo.com/a-skeptics-guide-to-buying-or-not-buying-a-4k-tv-1744272556

Spends the whole article talking about why it's probably not important to buy a 4k tv, and then says he's leaning toward purchasing a 4k tv.