http://www.amazon.com/VIZIO-M43-C1-43-Inch-Ultra-Smart/dp/B00T63YUTE
You can find it for a really low price if you look around. not the best monitor, but for watching blu-ray's, its really pretty solid. Nice contrast and black levels. Colors are really accurate after a calibration as well.
This looks to be one of the cheapest (and also highest rated as far as the actual panel goes) 4K TV's I could find period. 60Hz, thin bezels, HDMI input, decent design, (relatively) low price, and 43". Hope this helps
VIZIO M43-C1 43-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV (2015 Model) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T63YUTE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_PkDJwbQ2TFRXV
Well, it's not a monitor just a 40" TV, it was about $550 three years ago but you can get 40" tvs for like $300 these days. It's just the right size for where I sit to be able to use it both for text and for gaming comfortably.
Going to upgrade it to a 4k TV of similar size when I get my tax refund. There's a 43" Vizio 4K tv on Amazon for like $530 at the moment. Really looking forward to it, once I can afford it.
For those of you not willing to buy this because it is 60 HZ Native, here is an alternative, that...isn't bad for being 120Hz and 4K. http://www.amazon.com/VIZIO-M43-C1-43-Inch-Ultra-Smart/dp/B00T63YUTE/ref=sr_1_5?s=tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1436993834&sr=1-5&keywords=vizio+4k&refinements=p_n_feature_keywords_three_browse-bin%3A7688788011
Older UN40EH5000 (cheap at the time)
Anyway, they do plan on getting one of the vizio 4K tv's since they are also cheap, and costco extends the warranty on TV's purchased from them.
(was thinking about something in this range http://www.amazon.com/VIZIO-M43-C1-43-Inch-Ultra-Smart/dp/B00T63YUTE/ref=sr_1_1?s=tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1436849472&sr=1-1&keywords=4K+tv
http://www.amazon.com/VIZIO-M43-C1-43-Inch-Ultra-Smart/dp/B00T63YUTE
Not a great monitor, but a really solid TV. You can find them on sale often for pretty cheap. Nice black levels, contrast, and solid color reproduction.
I'm using a 43" Vizio TV.
I think most tech (Phones, tvs, computers, gaming systems) isn't BIFL for a few reasons, Moore's Law being the biggest reason. Technology gets better all the time. My general suggestion for people is:
Unless it's for work or you fit a niche market/need. Never buy the most expensive and never buy the cheapest. The sweet spot for an established category with competition is in the 1/3rd to 2/3rds price range. (For you, I'd be saying forget about the $100 WalMart tv, but also forget about the $2600 new Samsung/LG high end tv).
Name brands in the middle should have a pretty good life span. I wouldn't say "no question about it, it'll last 10 years," but I think you can be confident any of them will last for 5-8+ years.
As far as specific model recommendations?
I have a 43" 4K Vizio I love. (M43-C1, retail is $500-600 | Amazon - M Series. Black Friday had it under $400) it got Wirecutters pick for best TV around $500. Great picture, it upscales 720p and 1080p content, great contrast. The extra resolution will make it a lot better as a monitor, especially at closer proximity.
Vizio's 40" 1080p model can be had for under $300. (E40-C2 | Amazon - E Series) I don't have any first hand experience with this tv but it does have pretty good reviews.
Edit: Added links.
Here. It's 4K, but the price is good, and just don't use the smart features if you don't want.
"lower end", smaller sized TVs are not very good TVs to begin with, from any brand. some recommendations, however:
http://www.amazon.com/VIZIO-M43-C1-43-Inch-Ultra-Smart/dp/B00T63YUTE/
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-UN40JU6500-40-Inch-Ultra-Smart/dp/B00TWFHDAO/
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-UN40J6200-40-Inch-1080p-Smart/dp/B00U9U8XSC/
$599 is the MSRP for the TV. It's been reviewed by several sites and they all agree that it's one of the best 4K tvs this year. http://www.amazon.com/VIZIO-M43-C1-43-Inch-Ultra-Smart/dp/B00T63YUTE
4k TVs and 4k Monitors have plummeted in price.
I was responding to this statement.
>Unless you have a really expensive tv, you're going to lose quality.