Hdtv Time!!

[Drew]

OK the wife and I have around $1500 we're looking to spend on an HDTV. Right now, we're rocking the good old early 90's triniton :emo:

Info:

- No glare will be present as it's in a tv cabinet
- Seating is about 10~12 feet away
- Cabinet is 50" wide so it can hold a fairly substancial sized tv
- won't really be using it for games. Mostly just regular tv, movies and occasionally sports

We went and looked particularly at the new samsung DLP projection TV's. The 50" version would actually fit in our cabinet but I'm worried about it not having as good of a picture quality as plasma and less of a viewing angle.

The other one I'm leaning towards is the panasonic 42" 1080p plasma. There are 3 different 1080p models

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8501757&productCategoryId=abcat0101001&type=product&tab=2&id=1186004963573#productdetail
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp;jsessionid=FSVY4QWPYRVG1KC4D3FFAGI?skuId=8365841&productCategoryId=abcat0101001&type=product&tab=2&id=1177718059598#productdetail
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8365841&productCategoryId=abcat0101001&type=product&tab=1&id=1177718059598#productdetail

But can't really distinguish what's different besides the fact that the cheapest one has a 10,000:1 contrast ratio and the more expensive 2 have 5000:1.

Any help or suggestions? I'd like to stay 42" or bigger and 1080p is required.

[Jnic335i]

I love my Panasonic's 60inch I have a Plasma and Projection that are both 1080i. If I was you I would go with the Samsung or Panasonic. I love the look of the Samsung and that will be my upgrade in the near future ;):thumbsup:

Edit: I have seen 1080P and 1080i and I must say I can't tell a difference. But if you really want the new technology then get the 1080P if you want to save some money go with the 1080i

[jsta240]

i have a 62" toshiba dlp 1080i i love it but i do suggest you wait since the prices continue to drop. my mom just go a 1080p sharp aquos and it looked great
read the consumer reports

[easy2speed]

I bought a 42" LCD 1080i about 4 months ago for $900 shipped off EBAY. Shop around and keep that extra $600 for a good DVD player and some speakers.:dance:

[Drew]

the panasonic 42PZ77U got top scores for the 42" plasma category from consumer reports.

Apparently all the reviewers on amazon, circuit city and best buy are saying they did countless hours of research and they all ended up with either the Z77U or Z700U which is $30 more beacuse it has a different type anti glare coating on the screen.

[I want something fast]

JohnSS isn't in town or I know he would chime in here about his 50" Plasma he just bought. If you are looking for a good deal don't waste your time or money at Best Buy.

Go to AVS forums and read up over there, but in the mean time compare prices over at www.tvauthority.com Go on and look at the Plasma TV section and select all the ones you like and then click the button to compare to see the prices and the specs together. Definately a must see if you really want to consider you options. I was looking at Samsung 42" Plasmas on there for you that were $1200. For a little more money you can step into a 50" Pioneer.

There prices are the best I have seen around and they are licensed dealers of most major brands like Pioneer.

Amazon also usually has great deals on TV's and for your price range you ought to be able to get a nice sized plasma.

[jsta240]

i got a great deal on mine and bought at best buy. btw lcd has come a long way and makes plasma questionable with the fact of lower life of plasma comparably

[ActiveAero]

Panasonic makes some of the best Plasma's on the market that are really only outdone by some of the top of the line Pioneer units. They definitely seem to be far and away the best flat screen displays for the money, period, when it comes to pure picture quality. I haven't kept up with the TV scene in a few months but it should still hold true and I'm willing to bet the latest and greatest 42 inchers can be had for under your price range.


Oh and BTW at your viewing distance and the screen size limitation you have your not going to really be able to discern 1080p at all. I don't want to give a definitive answer because I'm no TV master but I'm pretty sure it's simply impossible for the human eye to discern that resolution at that distance for a screen of 50" or under. If you had a 50" screen and you were sitting just 6-7 feet away yes it would matter but after about 10' at 50" the human eye just can't do it, period. With a 42" screen you can pretty much forget it. The only way it could be an issue is if the TV's processor simply sucks trying to convert certain resolutions but that has nothing to do with the actual resolution it can display.


BTW also be sure get Digital Video Essentials disc and calibrate your new TV immediately. They come from the factory with extremely overblown settings to make them stand out in way over lit electronic showrooms. This is NOT anywhere close to accurate picture quality and can actually be very detrimental to a new Plasma if it's left like this. Of course most people with new bling bling flat panel displays have no clue how completely inaccurate the factory image settings are but once you see a properly calibrated TV you probably won't believe the difference.

[ActiveAero]

and makes plasma questionable with the fact of lower life of plasma comparably

False. Panasonic Plasma's HALF life's are 60,000hrs. That means if you left the TV on for 8hrs every single day it wouldn't reach it's half life for TWENTY YEARS lol.

[2Fast4Radar]

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/widgetContent.do?oid=198797&c=1&cm_re=main%20marquee-_-thanksgiving%20countdown-_-link1&linkid=j13459594k1971&affiliateid=k1971&mid=sduidp0t661502

[jsta240]

the 60,000 hours you are quoting is manufacturers stating 60,000 hours under optimal, but highly unlikely, conditions. Instead they are more likely to last 20,000-40,000 hours. Whereas dlp that typically lasts 80,000-100,000 hours. with those numbers the dlp at this half life is 30 years of life rather than 15 with plasma. either way you will probably be looking for a new tv anyway before.

[I want something fast]

The plasma life debate is dead. I don't care what anyone says, LCD's will dim after a long enough time. Hell my LCD that I bought last year is already dimmer than it was when new and so is my laptop screen. I have heard all the nay sayers to plasmas for years now, and have heard little to no stories on AVS forums about them just going dead after 4 years. Most people that were early adopters are just now getting around to buying another and not because theirs died but because the connections weren't working properly anymore or because they didn't have the picture quality of the newer models.

DLP is rediculous, who the hell wants to fool with a bulky un wall mountable TV that if you lean the wrong way or bump while moving throws the mirror alignment off. Not to mention that spending 175 dollars to replace a bulb after 3 years of use is not really something I would be interested in.

[tig488]

ive got all 3, panny 42" plasma, panny 32" LCD, and a panny 50" rear proj DLP. yes, i like panasonic.

to be honest, the picture quality is best on the DLP with HD. yeah its bulkier, and you dont get as good a veiwing angle as with the others, but the good thing about the DLP is that you can go bigger without the picture quality going down, less pixelation, no screen door effect, no shadowing.

i dont mind replacing a bulb, ive had my DLP almost 3 years now, the way i see it, you spend 200, and get a new TV basically.

[ActiveAero]

I guess I have to chime in now with my CRT FTW comments.

One of my best friends, who's a pretty big tech head, just recently purchased one of the new 60" Pioneer Plasma's. Well he's been at my place the past few nights playing around on my decently calibrated XBR CRT. The first words out of his mouth when I got home "This TV is freaking amazing" lol.

I can put up a black screen in a movie or video game and you won't even be able to guess if the TV is on or not. CRT black levels FTW.


That being said the TV is only 34" and weighs 196lbs, literally, lol. Gotta pay the price somewhere. :P

[tig488]

i agree with you too, CRTs have amazing picture quality, probably the best, but they are heavy as hell.

[Drew]

yeah I remember when I worked at sears back in 02, the first hdtv sony widescreen CRT's came out. They weighed SO much but man alive they smoked every other hdtv we sold.

[Byrd]

This is what i'm getting here in the next couple weeks. It's not a plasma but i've seen the mitsubishi clone of this and it's amazing. Can't beat the price or the reviews you see about it either

http://www.beststopplasma.com/productdetail.asp?level=3&catid=20&productid=1736&crtag=cr

[Drew]

How about this one?

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/productDetail.do?oid=188919#CustomerRatings

Best buy wants $2200 for it!!

[Drew]

Well the deed is done. After reading the AVS forums, it seems the sharps are plauged with banding.

I read through a 116 page owners thread and just pulled the trigger on a Panasonic 50 inch Plasma.

http://shop3.outpost.com/product/5184096

$1,199.00 in the cart and $1304 shipped.

Visa-clause is going to give me the beating of a life time at the beginning of the year :(

But.... I got the wife's blessing on the purchase so all is well. Time to start saving up for whoever can make a decent dual format hd dvd player that plays both hd and blue ray... or just buy a PS3 and gran tourismo...

[tig488]

make sure it comes with the correct hookup cards. sometimes they dont at the internet sites. i ordered one and paid for it, then found out it didnt come with the correct cards, they were gonna charge me another 200, until i bitched enough and got the order canceled.

very nice price for that size and HD. thats 200 cheaper than any other internet vendor. even the really cheap sites.

[Drew]

This is the back of it.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-VwfFbbD7F2T/App/Product/Item/Photos/Default.aspx?i=13350PX75U&g=146350

[easy2speed]

Have fun unpacking it. They pack it 5 inches thick on each side with styrafoam snowflakes. I probably still have snowflakes in the house.

[Drew]

I guess that's a good thing... I'm worried about who they use to ship with. I've read on the AVS forums that transporting plasmas on their back or face down is a serious no no.. and I'm sure that if it's ups or fedex they could care less.

[I want something fast]

Drew you will love that TV great choice and price. I think you will love thatPlasma because it is closest to having a CRT.

[xamraci]

I guess that's a good thing... I'm worried about who they use to ship with. I've read on the AVS forums that transporting plasmas on their back or face down is a serious no no.. and I'm sure that if it's ups or fedex they could care less.

Fed-ex in Montgomery REALLY doesnt give two fucks...UPS less likely to let you get fucked sideways...but fed-ex just loves to fuck your shit up:bullshit: