LCD HDTV - recommendations ?

[nsd]

Hey peeps.
As the title says, I'm looking for a couple of recommendations in regard to an LCD HDTV, which I plan on buying for Christmas. I've found a few reviews of certain brands on Google, but I'm also looking for a few of your own opinions.
So here is what I want (aside from good quality and best bang-for-the-buck, of course :P):

- 26" - 32"
- under $2000 after tax (roughly $1800 max before)
- HD (not ED)

Currently I've been looking at the Viewsonic N3250W, which is currently on sale at Costco, and the Sharp Aquos LC26DA5. Any thoughts on those TVs, as well as other brands and models are greatly appreciated.
Cheers ;)

[temporalillusion]

I've got this one:

http://www.costco.ca/en-CA/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=10285568&whse=&topnav=&cat=3316&hierPath=79*3316*

And have been very satisfied with it. Do some searching for it here, there's quite a few good reviews.

[ProfessorChaos]

the aquos is known to be the best LCD display

i've seen the daytek in person at costco...looks great, too bad i dont have $1200. the viewsonic looks sleeek..i'd personally go with that one.

[PocketRockets]

the aquos is known to be the best LCD display

i've seen the daytek in person at costco...looks great, too bad i dont have $1200. the viewsonic looks sleeek..i'd personally go with that one.

Actually I believe that the Sony Qualia is known to be the best LCD display, but far out of the $2000 budget.

[nsd]

Hmm ... Daytek ... I sorta wouldn't risk that, it doesn't seem too reliable. Of course you can always take it back, but with the size of it, it seems like such a hassle.

[IVNP]

Should've try out that 26" widescreen Magnavox which was on sale at Best Buy for $799.99.... I was tempted to try it but alread got a 17"(plenty enough) for my room.

[D.NGUYEN]

The only ones I would buy is Sharp Aquos or the Sony Bravia series. These ones are getting top reviews. I work at futureshop and look at these all day. We have some 26" hooked up to regular cable and the quality still looks amazing. on HD it is just yah.....*drool*. The Sharp is what I would go with, since your getting a top quality panel at a few hundred dollars less than the Sony (manufactured with Samsung). I can hook you up with a discount at Futureshop if you want, just check the futureshop thread in off topic.

[nsd]

Thanks, I've PMed you.

[Elektronauts]

Aquos are nice, but cha-ching. The 45" 1080p/12ms Aquos is $6500 at Futureshop.

A couple of ~$2000 1080p LCDs worth looking at are the 37" Westinghouse (LVM-37W1) and the 37" Sceptre (X37SV-Naga). It's unfortunate that these two are available at Bestbuy.com and Costco.com but not to its Canadian counterpart. I've been waiting for an affordable 1080p LCD to come to the cdn market, but only the Aquos is available.

Westinghouse:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=6998378&type=product&id=1110265591243

Sceptre:
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?whse=&topnav=&prodid=11042448&ec=BC-EC877-CatHome&pos=13

Quick comparison of the Westinghouse/Sceptre/Aquos:

37" Westinghouse: no analog tuner/12ms/600:1/550cdm
37" Sceptre: NTSC tuner/8ms/1000:1/600cdm
45" Sharp: NTSC tuner/12ms/800:1/450cdm

For kicks I went to Etronics to see what the actual cost of getting the Westinghouse shipped to me (GTA) from the US.

$1599 USD
$1914.02 CAD
+US shipping and handling $55.67
+Int shipping and handling $242.16
+Custom Duties, tax, insurance $397.05
------------------------------------------------
Total $2608.90 CAD

The $300 shipping and $100 insurance doesn't seem like a bargain, but the price is still decent.

**edit**

Happened to find the Sceptre at Tigerdirect.ca for $2295+tax

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1646852&CatId=0

[nsd]

Damn 1080p seems SO sexy...