Help me pick an HDTV!

[DOUBLE WING]

Hey guys, so I decided after I get stuffed and watch the Boys stuff the Saints, I'm going to go try to brave the black friday crowds. I'm no expert on HDTV's but I'm looking to make my first purchase. Please let me know what you guys think of these three...

40inch Sony Bravia 1080p/120 Hz - http://www.howards.com/details.cfm?c=120&b=9&s=121&id=jc02i0200bvvvs (on sale for $764 tomorrow)

LG 50inch Plasma 1080p/600 Hz - http://www.howards.com/details.cfm?c=120&b=18&s=124&id=ji10h0012jqmic (on sale for $497)

Panasonic Viera 40inch Plasma 1080p/600 Hz - http://www.howards.com/details.cfm?c=120&b=8&s=124&id=jb18n4903dyagh (on sale for $388)

 

[DOUBLE WING]

Another store has this one for $997 with a free Blu-Ray player - http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-UN46C6.../dp/B0036WT4C4

A little out of my price range and I know the line at that place is going to be insane, but I'm assuming it'd go to the top of the list? So I'm mainly asking about the first three. Thanks!

 

[kmp77]

40" is too small for your main tv. You'll regret it.

 

[MonsterD]

Out of those I would get the Samsung with the blu-ray player.

40" is enough for my second TV but I got a 46" Samsung and love it.

 

[MonsterD]

Off the top of my head, there is going to be a 40" Westinghouse at Target I believe for 400 bucks or something, maybe 3XX, can't remember.

Also someone has a 50" base Panny plasma for 700 bucks, look that one up because that sounds like a pretty good one.

 

[DOUBLE WING]

Yeah, I do think 40 is a little small..although I'm just in a small/decent sized apartment and am mainly going to use it for football watching and video games.

That store that has the 40 inch Bravia also has the 46-inch for $898.

MonsterD - i think you're talking about Best Buy..they do have a really good Plasma deal but I fear what the line is going to be like there.

 

[adamc91115]

My only advice would be to go with Plasma over LCD.

 

[DOUBLE WING]

My only advice would be to go with Plasma over LCD.

Why is that? I've heard from people that LCD is better, but I'm interested to hear differing opinions.

 

[CATCH17]

My friend and Aunt and Uncle have an LG and the picture is incredible.

 

[TheDallasDon]

I think that a plasma cant be reparied and a LCD can, but I know that a plasma will burn the image on the screen if u pause stuff 2 long and that LCD has a way longer life then a plasma

 

[Warick]

A year ago, I wanted an LED LCD, but ended up getting a 42 inch Panasonic plasma, and don't regret it at all. The picture quality is amazing, and looks more natural than my friends 46 inch LED (Samsung).

One of the things I've heard about plasma, and was reluctant to buy was the burn in. The guy I talked with at Best Buy (this guy seemed to really know his stuff), told me that's not really a problem with plasmas anymore, unless you leave it paused for a month, and even then you just do a screen wipe, and it's gone. I let my mom have this tv, and she has it on 24 hours a day, and I've never noticed any burn in problem with it, and the picture quality is as good now as it was the day I bought it.

Another problem I always heard about plasma is heat output. I haven't noticed that with my tv. It does put out some heat, but nowhere near the furnace like heat I was told it would put out.

If you watch a lot of sports (I watch a lot of hockey, and football), play video games, etc., get the plamsa. Faster refresh rate than lcd, so you don't have the pixelation, and ghosting common with lcd. Also, plasmas have truer blacks than lcd (even the LED), so you have a more natural looking picture. That and the lower price, you just can't beat plasma.

A friend of mine told me tonight that best buy is selling the Panasonic 50 inch for like $699 tomorrow. I'm half tempted to go pick one up, but I want a 63 inch plasma for my living room.

 

[kmp77]

A friend of mine told me tonight that best buy is selling the Panasonic 50 inch for like $699 tomorrow. I'm half tempted to go pick one up, but I want a 63 inch plasma for my living room.

Make sure it's a true HD resolution. Some of the cheap panasonic's have 1024 or so horizontal pixels!!! bleh

 

[adamc91115]

I think that a plasma cant be reparied and a LCD can, but I know that a plasma will burn the image on the screen if u pause stuff 2 long and that LCD has a way longer life then a plasma

Old myths... Plasmas can be repaired if needed... which won't be likely with a decent one.

New plasmas won't burn in. Even my 3 year old Panasonic never got burn in after leaving my Xbox 360 paused for hours overnight.
Also, the lifetime of plasmas is nearly similar to LCD's. Well over 60k hours, which is about 7 years of 24/7 use.

LCD's picture quality (for the most part), cannot compare to plasmas. Even the new LED's don't compare. They just don't have the same black level or contrast ratio (which is almost infinite on most new plasmas).

 

[67CowboysFan]

I got this one http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...-details.asp?EdpNo=6660068&csid=ITD&body=MAIN a few months ago. I love it.

 

[tomson75]

I think that a plasma cant be reparied and a LCD can, but I know that a plasma will burn the image on the screen if u pause stuff 2 long and that LCD has a way longer life then a plasma

That was like 8 years ago. New plasmas don't suffer those drawbacks anymore.....and their pictures tend to be more accurate and deeper. Plasma is the way to go over 50" IMO. Samsung and LG FTW.

Also, to the OP....the second one you listed as being on sale for $429 pops up as $799. Still not a bad deal....just not a great one.

 

[theogt]

How bizarre is it that you can get a 50" plasma television for $500?

If you didn't take advantage of that sale, you're crazy.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

I bought a Samsung 42" Plasma TV about 3 years ago (probably a thread in here about it) and I have never had problems with burnt in screen.

I still have an old CRT that is on its last legs, so I will be in the market for a Flat Screen and I will defiantly go with a Samsung Plasma, depending upon the price.