Plasma or LCD?

[dbair1967]

If this needs to be moved I understand...

Would appreciate anyone's input. I'm looking into flat screens...I hear there are some issues with both (Plasma the "burn in" and glare from light, LCD with viewing from angles). Are these issues still legit or have they addressed them?

I want to get a 40-42" flat screen for an average size room, not sure if I need bigger than that for that area.

Any input much appreciated

David

[Romo2Dez4six]

all i have is lcds so i say lcd:)

[JPM]

I think we are trading up for DMAC......



Will you be gaming on the TV or just watching broadcast/DVD ?

[Double Trouble]

How far will you be sitting from the screen, and do you have to have a screen you hang on the wall?

[dbair1967]

am sitting about 10ft or so from it straight out, but the couch is angled from where the TV will be and is probably 6-7 ft away...wont be hung on wall, have book shelf w/ tv area to put it on...no gaming for now

It seems Sony and Samsung have the brightest, most colorful picture's but I read alot of good stuff about Panasonic's flat screens as well...any input on brands also appreciated

David

[sacase]

I have a 50 inch samsung plasma. I don't have the link right now at work but there is a web site about plasma TV's that tells you how to tune them. If you get a plasma no gaming for the first 100hours. They tell you to put it on Discovery channel HD and let it run.

The picture is awesome especially if you have blu ray. Gaming is great as well. I have yet to try hooking up my PC to it.

I also have a 32 inch lcd in my bedroom. Its almost as good. The whole glare thing is overrated. Most plasma have an anti glare coating.

Large LCD's cost more than the same size plasma TV's at the larger sizes.

[JPM]

am sitting about 10ft or so from it straight out, but the couch is angled from where the TV will be and is probably 6-7 ft away...wont be hung on wall, have book shelf w/ tv area to put it on...no gaming for now

It seems Sony and Samsung have the brightest, most colorful picture's but I read alot of good stuff about Panasonic's flat screens as well...any input on brands also appreciated

David
All are good brands. I just bought a Westinghouse 42 inch 1080p LCD TV and the picture is so nice and clear with High-Def (RF cable), Blue Ray (HDMI), regular DVD(component cable) and Playstation 3 (HDMI).

[Big Country]

am sitting about 10ft or so from it straight out, but the couch is angled from where the TV will be and is probably 6-7 ft away...wont be hung on wall, have book shelf w/ tv area to put it on...no gaming for now

It seems Sony and Samsung have the brightest, most colorful picture's but I read alot of good stuff about Panasonic's flat screens as well...any input on brands also appreciated

David

I've heard that power consumption and heat output is worse with plasma...

The next TV I buy will be an LCD for darn sure.

Get the 120 Hz refresh rate, or LED backlit LCD tv for a perfect black background...

Check out this one... wouldn't this make for one helluva SB party.

LINK (http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/14/samsungs-70-inch-led-backlit-lcd-television-now-on-sale/)

LCD backlighting and 120 Hz refresh rates are the cream of the crop right now... as well as HDMI inputs and true 1080p high definition

[dannyboy]

I havea 50" Plasma from Pioneer and it is fantastic. I went to Best Buy and in looking at the various pictures, I ranked Pioneer the best. I have the same distance as you and 50" is perfect

[Spectre]

40-42 inches would be a great size for that viewing distance.

The best pictures in LCD are Sony, Sharp, and Samsung.
Panasonic and Pioneer are great plasmas with the above brands being good as well.

I recommend LCD personally. They are so bright and vibrant and the colors really pop. Plasmas often have a slightly better black level but LCDs have begun to improve greatly in that area. My Samsung 40" LCD has great black levels.

Plasmas are heavier and consume more energy. They also run hotter. Some of the best plasmas have the best picture in the market (Pioneer Pro). But that's if you want to spend upwards of 1500$. If not, LCD has the best TVs in the 700$-1800$, 32-46 inch.

The viewing angles and glare issues are a little overstated. I've never had any real trouble with either.

I highly recommend the Sony Bravia and Sharp Aquos LCDs. Also the mid-upper class Samsung LCDs.

[big dog cowboy]

I've heard good things about Vizio TV's so any imput you guys have about those would be great also!

Good thread David.

[theebs]

Plasma. Without question. Natural colors, accurate blacks, Higher response time.

Plasma is the way to go. I would reccomend panasonic because you can not beat there quality in the same price range. If you want the top end plasma buy a fujitsu or a pioneer elite. Not much difference in those and the nice panasonic line.

if your 10 feet away and sitting on angle that is another reason to buy a plasma. Plasma has an extremely wide viewing angle. Buy a 50 or 58 inch at that distance also. Buy the biggest you can afford, you can sit two feet from a good plasma while watching hd and it is clear.

The only reason I can imagine buying an lcd is if you plan on playing video games. They have poor contrast, slow response times and you will see the screen door effect when watching sports because of it.

Plasma is the way to go. Dont worry about burn in anymore, its almost non existent. If you buy a fujitsu, pioneer elite or a higher line of hitachi you can wash out the screen with a white screen that basically defaults back to the original powering up. The only thing is when you do that it eats up like 2 to 4% of the life of the panel. Dont worry about burn in though. Unless you leave the tv on over night with a dvd menu on the screen you wont get burn in.

IF you do get a plasma here are some tips. First things first make sure you set your tv to stretch standard def pictures so you do not have the bars on the side. Turn down the brightness, sharpness and picture setting...particularly on a panasonic, crank that sharpness and brightness way down.

Good luck shopping! iF you look around closely all retailers and crutchfield(I highly recommend crutchfield for purchasing consumer level electronics) anyway if you take your time and look around Hitachi, panasonic and the regular line of pioneer 720p plasmas are being blown out at ridiculous prices because they are pushing 1080p. They can charge more for the 1080p because of the perception that they are better tv's but the 720p tv is great. My parents and my sister bought a 50 inch panasonic that was 720p like mine for 1199 in february. Ridiculous price. I paid more than twice that in oct of 06. Dont let any salesmen bully you into needing a 1080p tv either. Fox and the nfl network broadcast in 720p and cbs, nbs and espn broadcast in 1080i. So unless you plan on buying a blu ray player there is no need today to have a 1080p plasma.

[theogt]

LCD is certainly better. Plasma is cheaper. You can get a 40" in either for a reasonable price, so I'd go with LCD.

[dbair1967]

appreciate all the info guys...thanks!

David

[Danny White]

I have the 50" Panasonic Plasma... the TH-50PX60U. Got it a little over a year ago. It's fantastic. No complaints.

I did a lot of comparison shopping and ended up buying it from the internet store Newegg because they had a free shipping offer at the time.

[heavyg]

I bought a vizo 36" lcd last year. Hated it. Put it right back in the box and took it back. I ended up buying a Mitsubish 56" rear projection DLP 1080P HD. I LOVE IT!!

[REDVOLUTION]

LCD.... I am Plasmatic.

[burmafrd]

Just go to various dealers and watch a lot of screens. Pick the one you like the most. That is what matters.

[Dallas]

Plasma. Only Plasma TV's.

We have 4 in our home. 2 50" Pany's and 2 42" Panys.

Panasonic or MAYBE Samsung. Those are the only 2 I would ever purchase.

[Rowdy]

Plasmas have the best picture but anyone who states that burn in is almost non existent anymore is wrong even by today's plasma standards.

[Dallas]

Plasmas have the best picture but anyone who states that burn in is almost non existent anymore is wrong even by today's plasma standards.

I have gamed for hours and hours and hours and hours on mine. I have checked it every month and I haven't a ghost image one.

Of course it's an industrial model and not a regular home Plasma.

[Rowdy]

I am sure you are part of the majority with non-issues. Its just that there are some out there without the pixel orbiter technology or pixel shifting technology that might cause someone an issue. Burn in isnt covered under warranty.

With that, I look forward to getting a plasma to replace my 55inch LCD in the future.

[ChldsPlay]

I say DLP myself. LCD's are ok, but a bit too bright for my tastes, and if you get too close to them they look awful. Plasma's have just never looked right to me, except for the extremely expensive ones they always look like they have a haze effect over everything.

[trickblue]

I've heard good things about Vizio TV's so any imput you guys have about those would be great also!

Good thread David.

I had a Vizio 42" in my bedroom. Packed that puppy up and took it back. I have a Sharp Aquos in there now and it looks really nice.

[tomson75]

I have a 50 inch samsung plasma. I don't have the link right now at work but there is a web site about plasma TV's that tells you how to tune them. If you get a plasma no gaming for the first 100hours. They tell you to put it on Discovery channel HD and let it run.

The picture is awesome especially if you have blu ray. Gaming is great as well. I have yet to try hooking up my PC to it.

I also have a 32 inch lcd in my bedroom. Its almost as good. The whole glare thing is overrated. Most plasma have an anti glare coating.

Large LCD's cost more than the same size plasma TV's at the larger sizes.

I have the exact same set ups, and I agree 100%.

Go Plasma, and buy yourself a surround system with the money you save.