TV shopping, need help!

[Shuie]

My POS Sony projection TV is about to die again and I have absolutely no appetite to fix it.

Id like a flat panel TV, but honestly Im afraid that TV technology has passed me by. DLP vs. plasma, etc, I have no idea what any of it means anymore. All I know is that its going to be a crisis at my house if the current TV dies before the replacement is here, and I want to be prepared instead of having to run out to Best Buy and buy something on impulse.

Im hearing a lot of radio advertisements for 42" LG flat panels for under $1500 from the local mom and pop stores. How much TV should I expect for $1500? Are the LGs crap? If you had $1500 to spend on a TV, what would you buy?

TIA

[rammstein]

My wife and I are in the midst of the exact same purchasing decision, at virtually the same price point.

My best advice is to go to the stores, and watch each screen for a LONG time. The resolution of the screen is the LEAST important factor, but the most heavily advertised value. Many sets with identical stats listed, but in the flesh there are differences.

DLP is a type of rear projection, also see LCD projection and LCoS projection (or SXRD in Sony-talk).

LCD flat panels- I HATED these. The pixels looked all smeary any time there was motion. Until I saw the better Sharp and Sony models. Particularly the nicer Aquos 42" screen. Its my favoritem but of course its also $2000, about $500 over my budget. So there are actually some sweet LCDs, but a bit high in price.

Again, just go watch all of them. Start there. I am still undecided.

[RickM]

I recently returned a lower priced plasma beause the price was $500 lower shortly after I purchased at Costco. It went from $2k down to $1499. They suggested I bring the unit back and rebuy at the lower price. (Go figure)

Anyway I got my money back and decided to freshen up my research. Boy am I glad I did.

A few reviews rated the Pioneer 50" plasma as THE best out there. I shopped prices on the net and went to a local retailer who matched the price. For a few hundred $$ more I have what is worlds away from the first TV. I love it.

Here's one review....

http://reviews.cnet.com/Pioneer_PDP_5070HD/4505-6482_7-31951817.html?tag=lst

If you prefer another technology or size you can check out the rest of the site.

[Shuie]

Thanks, guys. I've been reading.....

Is the following assumption valid?

Plasma is a better technology than LCD which is better than DLP.

I like the modular construction of the DLP stuff and the idea that replacing the light source or the color wheel essentially restores the TV to new again. All of this stuff breaks, so the cheaper or easier it is to fix, the better, IMO. Is the DLP technology far enough along that its worth buying now?

[azasadny]

We have had a Dell 37" LCD TV (Dell WD3201) for a year now and we're very happy with it. Phillips makes the TV and Dell puts their name on them and sells/supports them.

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by RickM
I recently returned a lower priced plasma beause the price was $500 lower shortly after I purchased at Costco. It went from $2k down to $1499. They suggested I bring the unit back and rebuy at the lower price. (Go figure)

Anyway I got my money back and decided to freshen up my research. Boy am I glad I did.

A few reviews rated the Pioneer 50" plasma as THE best out there. I shopped prices on the net and went to a local retailer who matched the price. For a few hundred $$ more I have what is worlds away from the first TV. I love it.

Here's one review....

http://reviews.cnet.com/Pioneer_PDP_5070HD/4505-6482_7-31951817.html?tag=lst

If you prefer another technology or size you can check out the rest of the site.

A few hundred more? Isn't the Pioneer 50" plasma about $3,500?

[MotoSook]

Her Sherman:

hmm..panasonic plasma or sony lcd?

In it you'll find:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/static/html/display-lcd-or-plasma.html

[motion]

I have a Vizio 42" LCD from Costco and am very happy with it. No evidence of smearing in fast action, but then again, I'm not looking very closely for it. Costco has the new 47" Vizio LCD with 1080i out now for $1800. Looks awesome. LCDs seem "brighter" than plasmas to me. Plasmas always seem dark and gloomy. Just my impression.

[Neilk]

I would get a TV that has a native resolution of 1080. Progressive would be best. I just wouldn't want to downconvert a 1080i signal to fit a 768 wide screen.

[EMBPilot]

check into bestbuyplasma dot com and plasmahouse dot com they have great prices, will usually beat any local price big box or not, and even after shipping.

I just got a 42" plasma LG from bestbuyplasma, i dont even watch much tv, and i must say, with HD service from the cable company, DVI/HDMI wires connecting the box, and DVDs over just component cables its like a whole new experience watching TV!! its FUN!

and to echo what Neilk said above...
few things to consider, my TV is 720p / 1080i, 'i' is interlace, lately 1080p is becoming more wide spread, p is for progressive, it is a TRUE high def signal, where the interlace are pixels 'filled in' by the video processor of the TV itself. eventually all cable and high def will be 1080p. and although i havent seen it myself i understand there is a big jump in clarity from 1080i to 1080p. so it may be worth getting a set that supports 1080p rather than a 1080i 720p set for down the road satisfaction. regardless of what you get, your going to love it.

one more thing... avoid the temptation to mount your TV at picture height. the MIDDLE of my TV is about 50 inches from the floor, although its much lower than standard picture height, if i could lower it just 4 more inches i would but its too late. make a template from the cardboard box it comes in and stick it on the wall and sit on your couch and look at it. i did that and i still ended up a hair high.

GOOD LUCK!!!

[RickM]

Originally posted by lendaddy
A few hundred more? Isn't the Pioneer 50" plasma about $3,500?

I was able to get PC Richards (local retailer) down to $2600. Some places were selling for more than $3500.

As an option I also added an extendable 2 year warranty for $225. I chewed them down on the the price of that as well. It pays to shop.

I know it's more than my initial outlay for the cheaper Maxent model but I figure the extra $$$ is well worth the 10 years or so of enjoyment I'll get. The difference in picture quality is astonishing.

IMO, the order of performance Plasma, LCD and DLP is accurate. Of course the technology does not dictate absolute performance. Some LCDs look much better than similarly priced plasmas.


BTW, according to CNET the Vizio 50" is best value in class @ $1800. If I wasn't able to get the Pioneer as low as I did I would have seriously considered this unit http://reviews.cnet.com/Vizio_P50HDTV/4505-6482_7-32025344.html?tag=pdtl-list

[lendaddy]

That's a fantastic buy Rick, well done I love the Pioneer stuff, very well made and generally well ahead of the competition.

[RickM]

Originally posted by lendaddy
That's a fantastic buy Rick, well done I love the Pioneer stuff, very well made and generally well ahead of the competition.

Thanks and I agree. I recall seeing the 50" Pioneer Elite plasma at Best Buys several years ago. My jaw hit the ground...not only from the picture quality but from the $10-$11K price tag. The technology has sure gotten alot cheaper.

Shoot I remember paying $2300 each for my 32" Sony XBRs. Nowadays they make great bedroom sets.

[Shuie]

I looked at a Samsung HL-S5086W 50" DLP HDTV today and I think thats the route Im going to take. Great reviews, no recalls, and I think I can get it shipped from Amazon for less than $1500 with the stand. Thanks again, everyone. I appreciate the help.

[1973911s]

Shuie,

Spend a little time at avsforum.com, lots of discussions on this.

I broken down and got the 70" Sony RPTV and am in love.

[MBAtarga]

I didn't see it mentioned above - if you are placing this in an area where window/light glare is a problem, you don't want plasma. The screens are glass and reflect just like a window/mirror. LCD screens are plastic and don't have this issue. I bought a Sharp AQUOS LCD from Cosco just 2 weeks ago, and am very pleased to date.

[Shuie]

Thats a good point. There is a lot of light in this room and it has been an issue with TV's in the past.

Im still trying to understand the resolution of the TV and what my cable company is offering for HD. This one is rated as follows: 1280 x 720-pixel resolution; 2500:1 contrast ratio; 3-line digital comb filter.

The bulb is user replaceable on this Samsung also.

[1973911s]

Shuie,

When looking at sets in store, they have the pictures turned up all the way, which isn't always good for the set, so you might want to get your hands on the remote, and play with the settings.

Michael

[MBAtarga]

That is a 720p set - it isn't capable of the highest resolution 1080p. I couldn't justify spending the extra 500$ so we bought a 720 as well.

[Neilk]

Check this one out before you buy anything...