Resolved Question

Dumb or Smart TV ?

by | September 22, 2018 12:17 PM PDT

This is driving me nutty.
After reading reviews and watching them on YouTube ,I still can't figure out which tv to buy.
I have Comcast internet and cable . I don't have any cable boxes as I watch everything through my comps. I'm not looking to spend alot of money on this so I have also been studying tv deals on the Cnet Deal Site 

Now my Bro. tells me to purchase a Roku tv , and others tell me to purchase a Smart tv , but I don't understand why either of these would be better than what I can watch over my comps . ( scratching this old bald head )

Can I get an opinion here please ?

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9 Posts
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Clarification Request
What size & budget?
by Pepe7 | September 22, 2018 7:05 PM PDT

How else could we possibly assist without a baseline?

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Hi Pepe
by itsdigger | September 23, 2018 4:07 AM PDT

I'm probably asking too much for under a grand but I'm thinking 55 inch would be a good size but open to suggestions.

This room is 12x15 w/12 ft. ceiling and oak floor that may make a difference in the sound of the 2.1 stereo speakers you suggest to match with the Onkyo TX8255 stereo receiver already owned .

The tv would be on the north wall , there are two windows on the rear south east side extending 8ft. into the 15 ft. length.

I don't know if any of this info matters , but there it is. Thank you for your help

p.s , I bought the parents house on the south side and in the midst of remodeling and making plans .

Post was last edited on September 23, 2018 4:16 AM PDT

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Best Answer

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As a follow up
by | November 26, 2018 3:01 PM PST

Here's what I ended up doing
2 Dumb tv's 55 In.  and 65 in.
and for the best in the house This Smart 65 in.  .

I bought one for a Christmas gift but not sure which one yet

Thanks Guy's for your input .

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Answer
I went another way.
by Forum moderator | September 22, 2018 12:35 PM PDT

Since I use Amazon I went with their Amazon Prime Day deal on an Amazon TV. The TV with Fire TV inside. So far so good.

Your computer can do more than a Smart TV any day so there's that. But a smart TV costs about the same so it can be unsettling to those that want a low price by not buying a smart TV?

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PS. CNET's 55 inch line up.
by R. Proffitt Forum moderator | September 23, 2018 9:13 AM PDT
https://www.cnet.com/topics/tvs/best-tvs/best-55-inch-tvs/

At just under 1K there are only a few if one models there. The one in the 300 range is OK but will be slammed for many reasons. I won't get into that here.

The light in the room would have to be controlled no matter which set you get but the CNET list should be a good start.
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Thanks Bob !
by itsdigger | September 23, 2018 10:16 AM PDT
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I prefer this one
by Pepe7 | September 23, 2018 2:48 PM PDT
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That is a good looking tv Pepe
by itsdigger | September 24, 2018 6:57 AM PDT

I haven't even looked at any Samsung or LG's as far as it goes because of the bum reps I read here in the forums . Maybe I should reconsider .....

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Answer
CNET doesn't compare TCL S and R models directly.
by Forum moderator | September 23, 2018 10:32 AM PDT
https://www.cnet.com/reviews/tcl-65r617-2018-roku-tv-preview/ DOES cover the Best Buy 615 model and it's the SAME TV. Just the remote changes and drops the microphone in the remote.

I do use the mic on my Amazon Fire TV I picked up during Amazon Prime Day. It's not the brightest TV I've seen but for the money and since I am in a room on the North side (USA) it works very well. I wrote about it at https://www.cnet.com/forums/discussions/that-289-99-toshiba-50-inch-4k-ultra-hd-smart-led-tv-amazon/ There's a 55 inch model for not much today.

But your models should have better pictures than this one.

But back to the TCL models. I had to refine my google to https://www.google.com/search?q=65R617+vs+65S517

The cheaper model is EDGE LIT.
The higher price model is back lit with "120 zones".

My bet is the 65R617 will have a lot more power to handle a brighter room.
https://www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/tcl/6-series-2018-r617 seems to confirm this.
Also, check out https://www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/tcl/5-series-2018-s517
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