As a Plex user I'd recommend a used last-gen game console as a TV source. In my AV room upstairs I've had an XBOX ONE S for a long time and more recently I got a PS4 Pro for the spare room downstairs -- both at Gamestop. I have some games for both of them but I am more likely to game on Steam, Steam Deck or mobile.

Every Android-based media player I've had tried just plain sucks, the NVIDIA Shield wasn't too bad but at some point the controller quit charging. You can still get a game console with a built-in Blu-Ray player too and it's nice to have one box that does that as well as being an overpowered for streaming.

I have a HDHomeRun hooked up to a small antenna pointed at Syracuse which does pretty well except for ABC, sometimes I think about going up on the roof and pointing the small one at Binghamton and pointing a large one at Syracuse but I am not watching as much OTA as I used to. It's nice though being able to watch OTA TV on either TV, any computer, tablets, phones, as well as the Plex Pass paying for the metadata for a really good DVR side-by-side with all my other media.

As for TVs I go to the local reuse center and get what catches my eye, my "monitor" I am using right now is a curved Samsung 55 inch, I just brought home a plasma that was $45 because I always wanted a plasma. I went through a long phase where people just kept dropping off cheap TVs at my home, some of which I really appreciated (a Vizio that was beautifully value engineered) and some of which sucked. [1]

[1] ... like back in the 1980s everybody was afraid someone would break into your home and take your TV but for me it is the other way around

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Marsymars 4 days ago | parent | next [-]

What does a last-gen game console offer over an Apple TV if you don't care about games?

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joombaga 4 days ago | parent [-]

A DVD/Blu-ray/CD player and a digital TV tuner.

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PaulHoule 4 days ago | parent [-]

I think it costs less too, whereas a new or used PS5 costs more but doesn't add a lot of value -- there are roughly 15 exclusive games for the PS5 so it's not compelling if you have a gaming PC, but it is a nice package to sit next to your TV that does a lot and can stream games from the gaming PC. Personally I like a PS4 controller better than the Apple TV thing.

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joombaga 4 days ago | parent [-]

The PS5 unfortunately doesn't do DVDs or CDs though.

	▲	asdff 4 days ago \| parent [-]
		The launch edition doesn’t? I’m surprised vendors even sell a bluray drive that doesn’t have that capability. I guess sony wanted to cut every cent off they could…

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neilv 3 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Seconded. I've been doing a game console with monitor or dumb-TV for ages (PS2 Slim, PS3 Slim, PS4 Slim, PS4 Pro, PS5 Slim).

I also use this for occasional gaming, or I would've stuck with the PS3 Slim or PS4 Slim. Both of which would mount pretty nicely, with a VESA bracket, to the back of a pre-smart formerly top-of-the-line 1080p Sony Bravia TV (like I use currently with the PS5 Slim).

Were I not in minimalism culling mode of personal belongings right now (in case the current job search moves me cross-country), I'd be stockpiling a backup or two of this workhorse dumb-TV.

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wltr 3 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Do you mind elaborating on plasmas? I have entirely missed this technology, and wonder what’s about it.

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bookofjoe 3 days ago | parent | next [-]

I paid $5,000 in 2007 for the best TV you could buy at the time: Pioneer Kuro Elite 50” 1080p plasma. I’m still using it as my only TV. For the past 5 years I’ve been looking to upgrade/replace it with a state-of-the-art top-of-the-line 4k OLED/micro-OLED/quantum dot/etc. — but when I go to look at current screens, none match the almost 3D depth and beauty of my plasma display. So, I’m patiently waiting for my 18-year-old TV to stop working — but much to my amazement it’s never ever needed service! Edit: Smart TVs appeared in 2007-8; mine did not offer this “feature.”

	▲	bookofjoe a day ago \| parent [-]
		$5,000 in 2007 is equivalent to $7,800 today. Top of the line 2025 65" Sony Bravia 8 OLED: $2,300

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PaulHoule 3 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Deep blacks, smooth motion, wide viewing angle. Most people would say OLEDs are better, but some still say the motion is smoother on plasmas.

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wltr 3 days ago | parent | next [-]

What about their energy consumption? Aren’t they much hungrier?

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dpark 3 days ago | parent [-]

Power hungry and heavy as hell. I had a 55” plasma that weighed about 150lb with the base.

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bookofjoe a day ago | parent [-]

Refrigerators, stoves, and washing machines are also heavy as hell. Like our plasma TVs, once situated their weights are irrelevant.

	▲	dpark a day ago \| parent \| next [-]
		The weight of something that is typically mounted to a wall seems very relevant. Most TV mounts are not rated to hold the weight of a plasma TV. A poorly installed or insufficient mount could definitely fail. Plasma TVs not mounted to the wall are also concerning for safety reasons. A plasma TV tipped onto a young child would likely cause significant injury above and beyond what an LCD would cause. I loved my plasma but I feel like the weight was a real issue.
	▲	dragonwriter a day ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		Refrigerators, stoves, and washing machines are rarely suspended from walls or situated on consoles from which they could easily be tipped over; televisions, OTOH...

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vitaflo 3 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Motion is 100% better on Plasma because OLED's are just a stuttering mess at 24p because of instant response time. People love OLED blacks but the stuttering makes all of them look like total ass.

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Forgeties79 3 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Honestly my Xbox one S might be my favorite console I’ve ever owned. Certainly my most versatile.