Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Fulmar on May 09, 2009, 01:23:00 PM
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Currently I'm in the market for an HDTV. The current Philips 27" in my living room has done its job for about 9 years. However, the 19" Samsung LCD 720p I have in the bedroom makes the wife and I want to upgrade. Plus the cable jack is going bad on her, the signal through it is bad causing B/W picture when its used or bad signals with garbled picture. I'm stuck using the 1 set of RCA jacks it has. Anyways, I've done some homework, set a budget, but I'm looking for opinions.
Requirements:
$1000 or less budget - pretty strick with this
37 - 42"
Plasma - preferred over LCD
1080p, no 720p (for reasons explained later)
Must be available at a local retailer, i.e. Best Buy etc. for pick up.
In a fairly short amount of time, I will be building an HTPC for internet access/movie - bluray/music etc playback on this HDTV. 1080p's resolution makes a quite a bit easier to use software like MediaPortal and general Windows use when needed. A PC Input/VGA plug on the TV is not required since the motherboard I am using has an HDMI plug.
What I've found through some digging and is readily available at local stores here. I realize my want for a Plasma at that screen size, 1080p, and price is fairly difficult, thats why I would settle for LCD, but have not a lot of experience with them (as in watching sports/movies/other stuff), other than the small bedroom one I have.
If I do go with LCD, 120hz is out of my price range at that screen size. I much prefer the color and blacks to a Plasma. Anyways, these are two I've found. I'm open to any opinions.
Panasonic Viera 42" 1080p Plasma
TC-P42S1 (not the P42U1)
~$1000
Specs etc
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889187115&Tpk=p42s1
Samsung 40" LCD - 60hz
LN40B550
~$950
Spec etc
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889102259&Tpk=ln40b550
I prefer the Samsung brand, but their Plasmas are out of my size/price range. Also, this TV offers more color options etc.
Yesterday I did visit some big box retailers before I picked these two out. So I have not hunted them down in store to see what they really look like. I've only read reviews.
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I had my eye on a 40" sony bravio lcd 1080p the last couple months. But my computer blew few weeks ago so there went that idea. o yeah the price was right around 1000. I think I was looking at samsungs too.
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Dad just got this 1. very good pic and color. Heis happy with it.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_05775509000P?vName=Computers+%26+Electronics&cName=Televisions&sName=Flat+Panel
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I've had good luck with the Vizio line.. available at Walmart / Sam's / Target.
main page: http://www.vizio.com/
42"-49" products: http://www.vizio.com/productCatalog.aspx?id=1504
the 42's are around $700-850
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Panasonic Plasma's are tops in this price range. I would consider on having you drop the extra jack on a 1080p Panny, as opposed to buying an out of date 720p.
If you're going LCD, I strongly recommend a 37" Samsung over any other brand 42".
I would avoid Sony TV's at all costs, they are overpriced and use the cheapest components available out of ANY brand out there.
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The Panasonic I picked out and as listed above, is a 1080p.
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The Panasonic I picked out and as listed above, is a 1080p.
Oversight on my part Fulmar, I apologize. :rofl
Plasma's have a better picture than any LCD. Provided you have a darker room, the black levels are ALMOST as good as a traditional CRT, but not quite. LCD's "blacks" are never "black", regardless of tweaks made or attempted.
I'd go with the Panny.
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Oversight on my part Fulmar, I apologize. :rofl
Plasma's have a better picture than any LCD. Provided you have a darker room, the black levels are ALMOST as good as a traditional CRT, but not quite. LCD's "blacks" are never "black", regardless of tweaks made or attempted.
I'd go with the Panny.
Someone tould me to go LCD. My question is, Is a LCD more reliable long term? Also can you use plasmas as a CP monitor?
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Someone tould me to go LCD. My question is, Is a LCD more reliable long term? Also can you use plasmas as a CP monitor?
Ivan, you can use the current generation of Plasmas as a PC monitor. Most folks still dog them from the 1st two generations that had severe burn in issues.
I don't see a huge advantage anymore over "reliability" either, as compared to the first generation of plasma's that "leaked". It was new technology at the time and took some time to iron out the wrinkles. They've done it.
LCD vs Plasma, is a "Ford vs Chevy" BS war to most. All I can do is try to properly and without bias give honest advice with personal experiences. Although I will rip apart Bose and Sony at a moments notice. Those two are the lone exceptions, because they are a waste of money, at the expense of "slick marketing and piss poor quality".
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I have an LCD but if I had to buy today I'd get a plasma. Colors are lovely with plasmas.
Mind you Im very happy with my 42" Toshiba LCD 1080I. Im a videographer and Im still in awe of some HD content. Mainly nature shows and sports.
At the time Panasonic LCDs were hot and a good value. I dont see how you could go wrong with a Panasonic. But do go shopping and keep an open mind. Buy the set whose picture you really like.
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While LCD's have come a long way in the last couple years, bang for the buck plasma will yield a better image IMHO and Panasonic makes a solid panel.
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The Samsung LCD 19" I have in the bedroom is nice and bright with pretty good colors. The only thing I would worry about with LCD's is this 60Hz vs 120Hz business. Every time I walk into Best Buy and I see the TV display that has the split screen of 120 vs 60 I can never notice any real difference. Maybe its just me or maybe I didn't stare at it long enough or maybe the content they were showing (non sports) was the issue. I do love me some Football.
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As a contractor I go into alot of peoples houses.
And while there are a few high def TVs that have a great picture Panasonic and Samsung are two of them.
The High def TV of any kind plasma or LCD that I've consistently seen have the best picture from house to house, under different lighting conditions is the LG's.
Thats what I wanted. But it was just out of my budget for the size I wanted (50")
Alll that being said. Someone over in NK gave me some really good advise when I was looking for mine.
Get the best one you can afford. And once you get int into your house when its not sitting next to 20 other TVs to compare it to.
Its gonna look great no matter what.
I ended up getting a Vizio and am completely happy with it. This July I'll have had it two years and I still go "wow"
Also you may notice that if you go into different stores. the same TVs may look different from one store to the next.
I noticed in one store a panisonic that looked better then a Samsung. and in another store it was reverse. Same brands, same models.
What some stores often do is tweak the pictures on the sets they are trying to push.
And there are all sorts of things you can do to set the TVs up for a better picture
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Vizio Has been good to me, 50 inch Plasma is all I could ever want, Battle of Britain is Awesome on a big HD screen. :cool:
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I went with the Panasonic TC-P42S1.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889187115&Tpk=p42s1
I'm very impressed with it with good stock speakers. A noticeable gain in black performance compared to my Samsung LCD.
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I went with the Panasonic TC-P42S1.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889187115&Tpk=p42s1
I'm very impressed with it with good stock speakers. A noticeable gain in black performance compared to my Samsung LCD.
You made the best choice with your money. You cannot do better than that Fulmar. Enjoy your Plasma. :rock
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i like the vizio's my 32" HDTV i loved when i get the money gonna look into a 50"
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hmmm tigerdirect just had a flyer for a 42" Westinghouse closeout from a hotel chain that ended up with a couple thousand extra TVs. It's a $1250 tv for $579.99.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4633249&Sku=W330-4210&SRCCODE=WEM1925TT&cm_mmc=Email-_-Main-_-WEM1925-_-text
I have no idea about the quality, but the price... I almost got one even though I'm already happy with the TV I have.
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Westinghouse uses poor panels and doesn't offer many "Advanced Setting Controls", as most of the other brands. Also, even at stores I have noticed "off-axis" viewing to be atrocious when compared to other LCD's.
Good price, but you'll still regret it.
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I haven't really looked at a Westinghouse TV in a while. But I imagine they're build quality and performance is similar to their LCD monitor line, which is fine for someone that checks their email or whatever. As much as I use my computer and need it for my profession, I want something HQ.
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Also, even at stores I have noticed "off-axis" viewing to be atrocious when compared to other LCD's.
That's another thing I love about my Samsung LCD..... the side-viewing is almost perfect. I can watch it standing almost directly beside the TV from the other side of the room and it still looks good.
(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/electronics/cat-500/Samsung/detail-pages/samsung-lcd-2008-toc.jpg)
Bloody brilliant TV.
The only thing about that I do not like is the slow menus.... that can be frustrating.
For you yanks with lots of channels, that could be annoying (unless you change channel through your sat box or something and watch TV through an AV channel on the TV unit)
It doesn't bother me too much, I don't switch from TV to HDMI etc too often... but that's the only bad thing about it.
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That's another thing I love about my Samsung LCD..... the side-viewing is almost perfect. I can watch it standing almost directly beside the TV from the other side of the room and it still looks good.
Yep. Right now I'd say that if you can afford a Pioneer or especially a Pioneer Elite Plasma, you have the best TV period. Panasonic is a rung down and by no means a slouch. Pioneers just use the best components possible.
If you're going LCD, the best is Samsung. Mitsubishi got very lazy about 4 years ago and they will never top Samsung. Samsung took their experience in PC Monitors and kicked the HDTV door open.
Heck, if some remember the Loewe Aconda 38"s a few year back, they had the best picture. The funny thing was, that you could get a ProScan 38" (RCA) and have the 38" tube glass which Loewe rejected (and the picture was damn good for $1,000 less). I almost convinced the wife to let me get a Fujitsu plasma though. It's a shame they bowed out, they used to be #2 in Plasmas.
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If you're going LCD, the best is Samsung. Mitsubishi got very lazy about 4 years ago and they will never top Samsung. Samsung took their experience in PC Monitors and kicked the HDTV door open.
I paid $2999 (AUD) for my 46" Samsung LCD... which is a Series 6.
178° view angle baby.... ooooooohhh yeah.
I really need to get a proper 7.1 sound system for it..... but it's just not going to happen now that I'm back on a uni budget.
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I paid $2999 (AUD) for my 46" Samsung LCD... which is a Series 6.
178° view angle baby.... ooooooohhh yeah.
I really need to get a proper 7.1 sound system for it..... but it's just not going to happen now that I'm back on a uni budget.
You ever want to get one, give me a budget and I'll work the Currency Exchange for you.
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Thanks very much mate, I appreciate that. I'll be sure to drop you a line when I'm in the market for a sound system upgrade. :salute
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Masher:
If you were going to get a large screen say 50 inch or so and use it for both{tv&comp} but mostly as a computer monitor what would you get?? I was leaning towards a LCD panel but I see plasma has come along way since the burn in issues. I'd like to say price isnt an issue but I'm not that vain,on the other hand I am looking at the higher end units.
So your input on this,pro and con would be much appreciated.....
:salute
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Masher:
If you were going to get a large screen say 50 inch or so and use it for both{tv&comp} but mostly as a computer monitor what would you get?? I was leaning towards a LCD panel but I see plasma has come along way since the burn in issues. I'd like to say price isnt an issue but I'm not that vain,on the other hand I am looking at the higher end units.
So your input on this,pro and con would be much appreciated.....
:salute
PM sent. :rock
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From my experience LCD and Plasma have too many issues. I chose Dlp and have not looked back. I am more than happy with my Samsung 60".