[lcrain]

Hey guys, thinking about buying a new TV. I looked around and it didn't really help, there are too many options. So I have a few questions.

What is the difference between LCD, and Plasma? Which is more desirable?

I guess I want 1080p but it seems that the 720p is much cheaper. I can notice the difference, but the price difference is enticing.

Where is the best place to purchase one for the best price. I went to Sams club and it seemed they had some really good deals. A couple 1080p LCDs about 42in for right around 1000$, which seems to be a great deal. Also went to circuit city where they had a panasonic 42in plasma for 1200, but it came with a panasonic blu-ray player. Any other places I should look, or things I should look for?

[kabalm18]

Originally Posted by lcrain

Hey guys, thinking about buying a new TV. I looked around and it didn't really help, there are too many options. So I have a few questions.

What is the difference between LCD, and Plasma? Which is more desirable?

I guess I want 1080p but it seems that the 720p is much cheaper. I can notice the difference, but the price difference is enticing.

Where is the best place to purchase one for the best price. I went to Sams club and it seemed they had some really good deals. A couple 1080p LCDs about 42in for right around 1000$, which seems to be a great deal. Also went to circuit city where they had a panasonic 42in plasma for 1200, but it came with a panasonic blu-ray player. Any other places I should look, or things I should look for?

52" Sony XBR, that's what I have.

[rroof]

Some generalizations:

Plasmas have better colors and darks/contrast. LCD are brighter and work best in bright rooms, but can have "ghosting" if you watch sports a lot (plasmas don't have this problem). LCDs are a little cheaper than plasmas (of "equal" models). Don't worry about contrast ratios as they mean virtually nothing and are often totally inflated.

Price no object: Pioneer Kuro Plasma set. Price an object, the Panny plasma sets are great. As for 1080p vs 720p/1080i. If you sit close you can tell or if you get a very large set, but otherwise, most people can't tell much of a diff. Also, have to use Blue Ray (PS3 or otherwise) to see it. HD broadcasts are 1080i max.

If you have a room with windows, are are looking around the prices you mentioned (forget the Pioneers!), I'd go with a nice 42" LCD of your choice.

I have a Sony LCD, Samsung LCD and Panny Plasma. The Panny by far has the best picture done right (no small task).

[lcrain]

Would I regret it if I bought a 50in 720p over a 42in 1080p for around the same price?

[kabalm18]

Originally Posted by lcrain

Would I regret it if I bought a 50in 720p over a 42in 1080p for around the same price?

What is your budget? What brands are the 2 TV's you are talking about?

[kabalm18]

Do some research here. http://reviews.cnet.com/televisions/
It helped me when I was looking.

[Tondtar]

Originally Posted by kabalm18

What is your budget? What brands are the 2 TV's you are talking about?

Yes, you will. All TV broadcasting will be done in 1080p in near future and then you have to buy a new TV.

Check out Costco...They have some good deal occasionally. Two weeks ago they were selling Two (2 - not one!) 46" Sharp Aquos 1080p LCD TV's for $1,999. I am sure more will be on the way with Holiday shopping coming up soon.

[335e92tx]

You should consider your viewing location. At distances around 10 feet, TVs in the 42-47" range are definately able to fully enjoy most content. It also depends on what content you plan on viewing - are you planning on many movies? If you really like lots of sports then 55-65" ranges are good and they generally require 1080P.

Probably the most generalrules of thumb is that when you get in the 55+ range, you really want 1080P. As you start spreading out the image, 720/1080I will get fuzzy.

Another source - http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=6

[PaulBailey@ltbmw]

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=184668

[titaniume90]

Originally Posted by kabalm18

52" Sony XBR, that's what I have.

Same here, awesome T.V. still amazes me everyday. I don't like the aesthetics of the new XBR6 though. The new Samsung LN52A650 is an amazing tv and its a lot cheaper than the sony xbr.

[Blake]

LCD is the way to go. sony is the best picture quality out of all of them, but samsung comes a close second. (and what i mean by picture quality is how it looks to the eye, sony is much crisper than any other brands IMHO.)

[batchelorc]

SONY LCD FTW... Plasmas can get burn in. They say they won't, but they do... I've seen many at work that are jacked up

[san~man]

I dislike LCD pictures.

[Blake]

Originally Posted by san~man

I dislike LCD pictures.

still favor cathode ray tubes?

[lkn]

blackfriday if you're willing to go through the crowed waiting.

[its ray den]

yes.. burn in can still happen on plasmas, but that's only after having the image on the screen for many many many hours. something that most likely will never happen at home. the plasmas in my office have some burn in too, but that's because they play the same videos and slides over and over all day, every day for a month at a time.

bottom line, plasmas are still good for the home. don't worry about the burn in.

[MrSteak]

Rule #1: Don't skimp out on quality.

1.Sony
2.Samsung
3.LG

Plus you might as well wait for "Black Friday" since there'll probably be a shit load of deals on TVs.

[SlammedR8]

I just got a Sony XBR-4 40' LCD - 1080p. WOW!!! I LOVE ITT! BEAUTIFUL PICTURE!


My sister got a 52' XBR-6...and the guy who sold us told me , not much of a difference other then the built in sound system in the XBR-6 is better (but neither of us care because we both use 5.1 Surround Sound Systems)

I also like the look of the XBR-4 (with all the glass around the entire TV vs the XBR-6 which only has glass at the bottom of the TV

[nissan]

Um, broadcast TV won't be going to 1080p in the near future. It won't be at 1080p for most of the useful life of a TV you buy now. 1080p is only relevant if you're watching at closer distances and/or if you're watching movies where 1080p/Blu-ray looks amazing.

LCDs outnumber the amount of plasmas at most retail stores just b/c they look brighter to the avg viewer. IMO, plasmas have the best pic quality out there w/way better black levels. In plasmas, Samsungs have great colors, Panny's have better blacks, and LGs are a nice compromise between the two. Viewing the 3 side by side, I found the Samsung to be better (and worth buying over the other 2) b/c the color was that much better (even after adjusting all 3 sets).

Don't be in a rush to buy, esp w/this economy -- you'll be seeing good deals in/around Xmas for sure. It's not too hard to find a 42" 1080p Panny plasma these days for under $1000 if you wait for deals. Last week, Vanns had one for $950 including a Blu-ray player and 2 movies. If you're on a budget, you won't be able to notice a difference in pic quality betw. 720p & 1080p if you sit farther away from the TV. It's easy to find 50" 720p plasma these days for ~$850.

[san~man]

Originally Posted by blakepilot

still favor cathode ray tubes?

Nope. 58" Pana Plasma.

No matter how good they advance LCD technology, I still see the pixels.

[ScottyGams]

pioneer elite 50" 1080p plasma... but I'm a video snob

[lcrain]

Whats everyones opinion on Vizio, a friend of mine told me that they are just as good as everything else, just don't the name recognition you would get with sony or others. I'm pretty sure I have narrowed it down to a 42in LCD 1080p. Like I said Sams club has 3 or 4 in with those specifications for under or right around 1000, can I do better than that if I wait?