Plasma TV INFO wanted

[wrag]

any opinions on Plasma TV's?

Please give your info here.

someone I know is thinking of getting one.

[lazs2]

I like my 42 inch panasonic I got for the bedroom.   The picture is simply amazing to me.   HD looks almost 3d on it.

I bought an hdmi dvd recorder that upconverts dvd's at the same time and it really does make a difference... near HD quality from normal dvd.

lazs

[wrag]

Thanks

Will pass on the info..........

[morfiend]

plasma has a limited life time,20,000 hours or so.It cant be refilled and when used up the TV is junk. I'd suggest LCD and if money is no object look into 1080P,the native resolution is usually 1920/1080 or just over 2 million pixels. Yes LCD has a limited lifespan too but closer to 50,000 hours and the responce time are so low now that the problem of ghosting is almost completely gone.
 " Tom's harrdware" has some excellent comparisons between TV's,so you might want to check that site out. Do lots of homework so you dont have to rely on the salesmen's imformation,as they tend to tell you want you want to hear whether it's true or not!!!!

AH would look great on a 46 in 1080P lcd screen:aok

[AKIron]

Was an article in the papaer recently comparing plasmas with others. It was once thought that typical use would require the plasma to be refilled in about 7 years but that hasn't proven to be the case. I'm thinking of buying either a plasma or an lcd. Since plasmas cost much less and look almost as good I'm leaning towards plasma. However, I'll likely want to connect a pc. Anyone know what the difference will be?

[hyena426]

ya plasma has a limited life..great picture thou!! lcd's are ok:) but!!..they go black allmost if you dont have the tv set pointed right at you...but if your allmost pointed at it they have a real nice picture.

for a big tv..i going to go for the old projection 1080i tv's..get a huge screen for the price..{ my cousin has a sony that looks amazing}and they dont wash out as bad when your lookin at them sideways anymore:)..i think there the best bang for the buck right now...900 bucks or so,you can get atleast 50 to 60inches of tv set..sure it dont set flat against the wall,,but if your not worried about room..there a good price right now:)

[AKIron]

I have to disagree hyena about the limited angle viewing. I think a Samsung 1080p LCD has the widest view. Plasma is close with dlp coming in a distant third.

[hyena426]

I have to disagree hyena about the limited angle viewing. I think a Samsung 1080p LCD has the widest view

my cousin has a brand new lcd over his bed..just got it a month ago 1080i..it washes out pretty bad if your not lookin right at it...he didnt like that about it when i asked him how he liked it..said it was great long as your right in front of it. im not sure on the brand..but he usualy doesnt buy cheap

[AKIron]

Originally posted by hyena426
my cousin has a brand new lcd over his bed..just got it a month ago 1080i..it washes out pretty bad if your not lookin right at it...he didnt like that about it when i asked him how he liked it..said it was great long as your right in front of it. im not sure on the brand..but he usualy doesnt buy cheap

There is a lot of difference between brands and models. Pays to compare.

[hyena426]

There is a lot of difference between brands and models. Pays to compare.

just going threw the store you have a good idea of what washes out and what doesnt..i have to say most of the lcd's dont look super hot till your infront..then there amazing..just like a computer lcd..they wash out bad too when your at a angle...but hey..im not saying there all like that,,just the ones i seen:P

[Masherbrum]

Originally posted by AKIron
I have to disagree hyena about the limited angle viewing. I think a Samsung 1080p LCD has the widest view. Plasma is close with dlp coming in a distant third.

Plasmas have a wider viewing angle.

[AKIron]

Originally posted by Masherbrum
Plasmas have a wider viewing angle.

Some do. If you haven't looked at the newest Samsung and Sony models you might be surprised.

[Masherbrum]

Originally posted by wrag
any opinions on Plasma TV's?

Please give your info here.

someone I know is thinking of getting one.

Wrag, there is NOTHING wrong with a plasma TV.   Most will be "quick to point out about a life expectancy".    They speak of the earlier plasmas.   The current plasmas are equaled in life expectancy of the LCD's.

Plasmas have superior Black Levels, to the LCD's.  LCD's even under the most optimum of settings will give you dark grey.    

Plasmas are susceptible to "burn in", as is any other format.   You just don't pause the XBOX, etc for long periods of time.   The format bars on the sides will not burn in on the new one's either.

Plasmas are better in most situations because of the screen size.    Most people try to shoe horn a 50" screen into a room, and do NOT allow them 12-14 feet of room to the viewing position.   Sure, the TV is good, but if you don't take this into effect, it will look like chit.   Trust me, I rip on one of my friends constantly about this when I go over to his home.  

Stay away from Sony, they're quality issues right now are unacceptable.   Panasonic's, LG's, Fujitsu's and Pioneer are your Top 4 brands in Plasmas.

I'm looking at a $1500 LG that has an amazing picture for the money.

[Masherbrum]

Originally posted by AKIron
Some do. If you haven't looked at the newest Samsung and Sony models you might be surprised.

I will never buy a Sony, I'm sorry.    The XBRs will not have a better viewing angle than a plasma.   This is by design.  

Sony's have quality control issues by the truckload.   They also are the "Reddest" pictures of the TV's.   Panasonics have gone from 2nd in this catagory to out of the Top 5.  

Home Theater is my hobby.   I crave it, and digest it.   My wife calls me a dork, I still absorb it.  

Also, wrag, Consumers Reports does NOTHING, and will tell you NOTHING on "what TV to buy".

[AKIron]

Plasmas do look good and I'm not worried about life expectancy. I'm am concerned about how fuzzy a pc will look when connected.