Buying a new TV

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Sat Aug 15, 2009 11:54 pm

Anyone have links that might discuss the choices between plasma and LCD, and the different screen resolutions? My living room is about 18' x 24' and I sit about 12' away from my TV. Best comparisons I found so far: http://reviews.cnet.com/4351-12658_7-6583301.html and http://www.projectorpeople.com/resource ... jector.asp

Jawz posted this http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/09/10 ... reen-size/ in Brent's thread a while back https://www.speedguide.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=260192 and there's some good advice in both of those links.

Also looking at reviews http://www.youreviewelectronics.com/viz ... o-32-hdtv/

Looking at 32" and 37", comparing Sony and Samsung for image and Vizio for price. This will be just for watching regular DVDs, no gaming or HD cable or BR player. Heard good things about LG but don't remember seeing them in any local stores.

One question I have about going to Costco or Sears or Target and comparing all the different images...should I assume that all the TVs on display have been optimized for the best image possible or that they are all pretty much taken out of the box and plugged in?

I see expensive Sonys that have a good picture next to Vizios and Philips that seem to have much better image quality, it just depends on the store, other places the Sonys look better than anything else.

Indy · Post by **Indy** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 12:04 am

One thing that I look for when I look at a TV is the quality of the picture when there's a lot of action going on...look for sharpness of picture with motion on the screen, as opposed to sharpness of picture with very little movement on the screen - for me that's a big deciding factor in determining what set I decide on.

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 12:11 am

Indy wrote:One thing that I look for when I look at a TV is the quality of the picture when there's a lot of action going on...look for sharpness of picture with motion on the screen, as opposed to sharpness of picture with very little movement on the screen - for me that's a big deciding factor in determining what set I decide on.

But if these TVs need to be tweaked to look their best how much can I trust what I'm seeing? Or do they need to be tweaked?

When I walk into a store and look at all the TV's playing the same thing can I make an honest comparison based on what I'm seeing?

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 12:12 am

hmmm: http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.as ... =C&topnav=

Looks awesome but this is a hell of lot cheaper: http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.as ... lang=en-US

Indy · Post by **Indy** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 12:22 am

Humboldt wrote:But if these TVs need to be tweaked to look their best how much can I trust what I'm seeing? Or do they need to be tweaked?

When I walk into a store and look at all the TV's playing the same thing can I make an honest comparison based on what I'm seeing?

That's hard to say...if you were walking into a walmart or sam's or another big box store of the sort, I'd say they were probably just pulled out of the box. My suggestion would be to go to somewhere like Best Buy where they do make sure the TVs look their best and compare brands there. Then, make a list of the sets you like and comparison shop them either online or at the big box stores.

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 12:48 am

Everything I've heard or read is that Sony is about the nicest you can get, followed by Samsung, with Vizio as a very good and much cheaper but you get what you pay for.

triniwasp · Post by **triniwasp** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 2:52 am

Your mom looks good on my Sony

Unholy · Post by **Unholy** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 3:11 am

Humboldt wrote:When I walk into a store and look at all the TV's playing the same thing can I make an honest comparison based on what I'm seeing?

Stores like BestBuy "tweak" the cheap tvs to look like crap so that you will buy the better looking expensive tv. They also like to use splitters that make them look more like crap.

CableDude · Post by **CableDude** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 9:50 am

triniwasp wrote:Your mom looks good on my Sony

mountainman · Post by **mountainman** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 10:01 am

FWIW... the newer room on our house we built a couple years ago is 24' x 22' and we sit almost 12' away (1/2 way back). I got a 50" plasma and it seems just right. I was going to go 60", but at the time, those were much more expensive.

Not sure if the 37" or so will seem big enough once in your room. Have you done a cardboard cut out and hung it on your way to see what it looks like from 12' away?

Just my 2c.

Prey521 · Post by **Prey521** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 11:02 am

What's your budget? Sitting 12' away, 50" would be the absolute smallest that I'd go with 60" being optimal. I'm partial to plasma's myself.

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 11:06 am

I researched for 3 days before buying the one I have now.. a 52" Sharp Aquas LCD (high end model).

Plasmas have too many issues... if I had to buy one now I'd spend a little extra and get one of those LED TV's that just came out.

Also suggested to look at was onecall.com out of washington they were much cheaper with no sales tax to me since they weren't in this state which really helped out on the cost over top of the initial savings.

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 3:30 pm

I don't have the money or the room for the larger models.

Even at 12' my current CRT TV is only 26" diagonal view so anything will be a step up.

I can't even imagine having a 50"

Gixxer · Post by **Gixxer** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 7:24 pm

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/mon ... index.html

morbidpete · Post by **morbidpete** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 7:27 pm

i have alway been a fan of plasma. i think the blacks and smoothness are better then lcd. they are damn heavy and hot tho. and use alot of power. Generaly better picture overall i think. but after looking at the LED's at BB this weekend. OMG! they are amazing!

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 4:17 am

Humboldt wrote:I don't have the money or the room for the larger models.

Even at 12' my current CRT TV is only 26" diagonal view so anything will be a step up.

I can't even imagine having a 50"

But you're going from regular to widescreen. I wouldn't go with lower than 42" because they wont offer that much to you until around that point.

Rainbow · Post by **Rainbow** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 11:26 am

Don't overlook Panasonic. I have a Panasonic Plasma going on 3 years now and I love it. Panasonic is one of the few companys that make their own displays.
I have 2 other lcds and the Panny stands out by far.

Prey521 · Post by **Prey521** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 11:29 am

Rainbow wrote:Don't overlook Panasonic. I have a Panasonic Plasma going on 3 years now and I love it. Panasonic is one of the few companys that make their own displays.
I have 2 other lcds and the Panny stands out by far.

If I were going for another plasma, Panasonic would be my first choice if I were on a budget.

tarpoon75 · Post by **tarpoon75** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 12:07 pm

I'd be careful about going to places like costco and such. They are constantly getting "b stock" and refurbished units and selling them as new, that's how they sell them so cheap. I think there was 18 billion in electronic returns they got to go some where.

tarpoon75 · Post by **tarpoon75** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 12:08 pm

Sava700 wrote:I researched for 3 days before buying the one I have now.. a 52" Sharp Aquas LCD (high end model).

Plasmas have too many issues... if I had to buy one now I'd spend a little extra and get one of those LED TV's that just came out.

Also suggested to look at was onecall.com out of washington they were much cheaper with no sales tax to me since they weren't in this state which really helped out on the cost over top of the initial savings.

What problems do plasmas have?

Rainbow · Post by **Rainbow** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 12:12 pm

tarpoon75 wrote:What problems do plasmas have?

Yea I was wondering the same thing, because so called "burn in" is just a myth.

Prey521 · Post by **Prey521** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 12:19 pm

Rainbow wrote:Yea I was wondering the same thing, because so called "burn in" is just a myth.

Burn in isn't a "myth", especially with older panels, but newer generation plasma's have anti burnin tech to prevent it. Plasma's drawbacks are weight, can get hot and they draw a lot of power. But image quality wise, it can't be beat.

Rainbow · Post by **Rainbow** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 4:11 pm

JBrazen wrote:Burn in isn't a "myth", especially with older panels, but newer generation plasma's have anti burnin tech to prevent it. Plasma's drawbacks are weight, can get hot and they draw a lot of power. But image quality wise, it can't be beat.

Burnin HAS been a myth for at least the last 4 years. When they first came out it was a problem but with the subsequent generations of displays they quickly took care of it.

loop2kil · Post by **loop2kil** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 4:54 pm

JBrazen wrote:Burn in isn't a "myth", especially with older panels, but newer generation plasma's have anti burnin tech to prevent it. Plasma's drawbacks are weight, can get hot and they draw a lot of power. But image quality wise, it can't be beat.

1 . burn is doesn't exist with anything purchased from this point forward.
2. weight - who gives a crap...once it's hung the weight thing is moot.
3 . power usage and heat - only a minor issue to me.
4. your last point about image quality is correct.

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 4:58 pm

The Bottom Line on Burn-In

Plasma TV burn-in is not an issue that should cause undue concern in the average user. With a modicum of caution, most plasma TVs will probably never have a problem with image retention. A viewer may experience temporary ghosting, but this is not cause for alarm.

http://www.plasmatvbuyingguide.com/plas ... urnin.html

Also:

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6449_7-6844370-1.html

So its not a myth and does exist, its just very unlikely that a TV used in the home will experience it.

Prey521 · Post by **Prey521** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 5:06 pm

Rainbow wrote:Burnin HAS been a myth for at least the last 4 years. When they first came out it was a problem but with the subsequent generations of displays they quickly took care of it.

Which is why I mentioned older panels. The way you made it sound in your post that I quoted, I thought that you were implying that it's never been an issue.

Rainbow · Post by **Rainbow** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 5:18 pm

JBrazen wrote:Which is why I mentioned older panels. The way you made it sound in your post that I quoted, I thought that you were implying that it's never been an issue.

Never say Never

SlyOneDoofy · Post by **SlyOneDoofy** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 8:06 pm

The lighting in the store makes a difference....I wish I had the article but most stores have higher lighting than you will have in a home setting. This will not show how LCDs aren't a true black and such if they are cheap models.

I use a 37" westinghouse for a monitor for drafting and the blacks are not very black.