LCD or Plasma?
Ok, I'm finally taking the plunge, but haven't decided on whether to go LCD or Plasma, 702 or 1080. I'm looking most bang for the buck for a 40"-50" range.
WHADDYA THINK?
Here's some points
(1) I don't like fast motion blur or jaggies. From everything I've read Plasma is far superior, since the refresh raters are much higher. Only 240hz LCDs come close and they go for about a $500 premium.
(2) Plasma contrasts a tend to be better in dark rooms - which it probably how I'll be watching most tv.
(3) 1080 vs 720 - sounds like a no-brainer - but is it? From several studies I've read, people don't notice the difference between the two unless they are watching on sets bigger than 50", and even then will only notice the difference if they are actually comparing the two side by side. The higher resolutions add $200-300 to the price.
(4) Burn-in, which was the bane of earlier Plasma models, is pretty much a non-issue with newer models, and is almost always temporary.
(5) Life expectancy for both are usually rated at about 100,000 hrs. With my watching habits, you are probably talking about 75-80 years - I'm assuming that I"ll be long dead by that time.
WHADDYA THINK?
Here's some points
(1) I don't like fast motion blur or jaggies. From everything I've read Plasma is far superior, since the refresh raters are much higher. Only 240hz LCDs come close and they go for about a $500 premium.
(2) Plasma contrasts a tend to be better in dark rooms - which it probably how I'll be watching most tv.
(3) 1080 vs 720 - sounds like a no-brainer - but is it? From several studies I've read, people don't notice the difference between the two unless they are watching on sets bigger than 50", and even then will only notice the difference if they are actually comparing the two side by side. The higher resolutions add $200-300 to the price.
(4) Burn-in, which was the bane of earlier Plasma models, is pretty much a non-issue with newer models, and is almost always temporary.
(5) Life expectancy for both are usually rated at about 100,000 hrs. With my watching habits, you are probably talking about 75-80 years - I'm assuming that I"ll be long dead by that time.
Comments
Craig
I have been looking at various models in the stores, and there are some good looking LCDs, but the picture does fade as I move away from center. The big plasmas tend to cost more than comparable sized LCDs, but I think I may be willing to pay the extra.
As for repairs:
today, alot of cable channels are spitting 1080 at you. and i've seen a few blu-ray movies on 1080 that blow your mind.
the sinister issue at play is your stereo system. by all means, run your tv thru your stereo!!! THAT is night and day in movie viewing.
digression alert!!! in the first transformers movie, early on a helicopter comes into view and travels from right to left across the screen...if you have 5.1 or better, you actually hear the helicopter sound travel from right to left as well. some movies will really take advantage of the technology while older stuff will seem flat. if you do not connect your tv thru your stereo you are being mega-lame.
so, how many component/hdmi connections can your current a/v system create and then can your receiver handle it?
warning: do not buy hdmi cables at best buy for $50. that's a laugh - overstock or any other place on the planet sells them at reasonable rates.
also, monster puts out a surge protector that has a small footprint and works with the very little room behind the screen to insure the device is at great risk.
wall mount. don't try and find a piece of furniture to manage your tv and stereo equipment.
The bottom line: all HDTVs look pretty damn good, and the leading nerds are spending less than you might think. For example, the Senior Vice President of Advanced Digital Imaging at Panavision spent $3000 for a front projector (100-ish inch image) that would cost half of that now, and has a 42-incher in the bedroom. Manufacturers try to make it hard, but it just isn't. There were big differences back in the day, but for now, if a TV looks good to you, buy it and don't worry.
(For the record, I have both plasma and LCD now, and have had DLP more than once. Love 'em all. Even had one of those 3-gun CRT projectors that's the size of a small car. I'm definitely a TV nerd.)
Considerations:
1) Size matters. I never had a customer say "You're a weasel for selling me a set this big. Get it out." I had plenty say "You're a weasel for selling me something this small. How soon can you get a bigger one in?" The only reason I generally prefer plasma is that you can get a bigger screen for the same money.
2) Distance matters. The target for everyone involved in designing and manufacturing your TV, and for everyone who creates content for it, is you sitting 2.5 picture heights away -- and you're probably not. Generally speaking, a 42" picture is 24" high. Are you sitting 5 feet away? Didn't think so. If you're sitting more than 8 feet away, you're getting a lot less than you're paying for. I won't say "Don't bother," but I'm not kidding - they allow for a little more, but everybody designs for peak impact at 2.5 picture heights.
3) Resolution ONLY matters with distance. You can see for yourself on your computer monitor: the text at 1920 is so small that you HAVE to sit closer than when your monitor is at lower resolution. So in order to see the difference between 720 and 1080, you HAVE to sit no more than 2.5 picture heights, and ideally, much closer. It's hilarious to see a bunch of broadcast engineers with their nose to the glass of monitors at trade shows and the conferences where they set the standards we live with. The higher the resolution, the closer you to be in order to tell. In fact, most of the super-golden-eyed guys I know can't be 100% certain what resolution they're looking at, even nose-close. They know that too many other factors enter into the picture-quality equation.
Even then, differences in resolution are overrated. Among CBS, Fox, ABC and NBC: 2 are 720p, and 2 are 1080i. That's generally true for all the rest of the channels for your cable or satellite system. Both of these standards, and half a dozen others, are built into hardware decoders, and they all look great. Those engineering nerds make sure of it.
Size and distance, not resolution, are the top two factors, by a long, long shot.
4) Audio matters. Some people will argue that this matters most! Why? Test after test after test agrees: better audio will make you think that the picture is better...even if it's not. This is true even when comparing HD to SD. A moderately priced surround rig + SD > HD with the built-in speakers. Your mileage will vary...a little...but seriously, spend a little money on a surround system. Doesn't need to be much. TURN IT UP. Seriously. It will make a big, big, big difference.
If you have a surround system that you've been using with SD, don't even think about upgrading for now. Maybe for years. Spend the money on a bigger set.
And TURN IT UP. You'll be amazed at how much more you enjoy your TV with the surround sound even a little louder. Preferably a lot.
5) In addition to LCD and plasma, take a look at DLP rear projection from Mitsubishi. You can get a 73" 1080p set that's only a foot deep that will blow your mind. Absolutely startling, and an okay price. While you obviously need a little more floor space, it's virtually NO more floor space if you plan to have your HD set in a cabinet. Of course, you can't hang it over the mantle.
6) Consider front projection. This is easier and cheaper than you think. You can get a killer 1080p picture for little more than $1000, and most people can easily get a 100" picture, often more. If you have a white wall, you'd don't need a screen. My personal installations have been about half and half, and I've loved 'em both. I use whichever is easier.
One of the coolest things is that, when you're not watching TV, you don't really SEE the TV. No big chunks of black glass and plastic taking up space.
While some of this is industry-standard stuff (no messing with the 2.5 picture heights, and turn up your audio), most of it is my opinion, and worth what you paid for it. If I was buying a new set today...and who knows? There's still time...I'd go with one of the Panasonic 50-inchers. I just saw one for $799 that I think is killer. That said, there are some insane deals in the 60-inch range. If you have the space, don't ignore this category...and once you see how much bang you get for your buck, you might MAKE the room. :-)
Bottom line: there was a time that you could be really sorry if you made the wrong choice...and there was a time when NEITHER plasma nor LCD was a good choice. Now, they both are. The only thing you might regret is buying too small.
And don't wait to buy. There will always be something better, and it has the annoying habit of showing up immediately after you buy. Who cares? Because the only other regret you might have after buying a new HDTV is that you waited so long. Now is a great time to buy whatever looks good to you.
- If the fonts are too small on your screen it is not because your resolution is too high. It's because the dpi setting is too low for the resolution. Unfortunately most systems do not automatically correct this (and it used to be a real pain to do it manually).
- ABC, FOX, ESPN, and National Geographic Channel transmit in 720p. Pretty much every other channel is 1080i.
But it really doesn't matter much these days. A quick look at Best Buy shows that they have 63 models in the 40"-49" range that are 1080p and only 5 that are 720p.
Excellent advice overall.
he went big on samsung with blu-ray trappings...i think it's in the digital v. cable thread.
reminds me of a final in college...after the test i had to have this dialog with the prof:
ummm. i studied my brains out.
and i know i aced the final.
but...ummm...anyone with a pulse could've aced it. next time you put the final exam in multiple choice format up on the screen you may want to make sure that all the correct answers are something other than choice a.
They are probably made in the same Chinese factory as the monster cables.
Just bought 3 more for around $2 a piece
Use this code:
MLC1933503121640N
At this link, and the price drops to $6.99 for a 3 pack with free shipping.
Craig
I'm glad I picked it up when I did - this week they have the smaller version of the same model "on sale" without the Playstation 3, the Game or the Movie got as part of the package deal, for only about $70 less than I paid for the whole shebang - the TV I bought is going for $1300 by itself this week.
Unfortunately, I got lasik surgery the same week, so I have been trying not to overdo it with the eyes.
I bet! I"m watching on a 20-inch CRT. I was out looking at sets again today, and the difference between the 42 and 46 is more than I would have thought, so I'm in the market for a 46 inch or larger. Price will be the final decider. I need to decide soon.
i ended up with the samsung 23" for $249 off amazon...model 2333HD. by golly, it's a 1080p tv as well. so, while the big screen is downstairs and hooked up to the stereo (in 5.1) - the monitor can now double as a 2nd tv. i'll prolly get a portable blu-ray player (or external drive) to start sampling blu-ray movies off this monitor...who knows, mebbe frogkopf will haggle with me over the ps3 device.
I've been to Best Buy twice in the last month and both times the exact same set I bought has been "on sale" for the price I paid for the TV, a Playstation 3 with an extra controller, a Wii, a movie, and a PS3 game combined.
I will probably never have a Playstation or Wii -- just not into the games.
Craig
Agreed. You can actually follow the puck in HD. I just replaced my 8-year old 52" Hitachi rear projection HDTV with a 63" Samsung plasma, and the difference is staggering. Watching the NFL playoffs last weekend was pretty good too.
Hockey isn't a big sport here. When my daughter was a student at U.K., the kids used to go to midnight hockey games. Reason for the lateness? The lack of popularity. She loved the "approved" rowdiness of the atmosphere.
Craig
Our new TV is in the basement. It's huge, but it hangs on the wall instead of sticking out three feet like the RPTV did, so it has actually freed up a good bit of floor space. It also weighs about 115 lbs, while the last one was probably 250. When I first hung it on the bracket, I thought it might be too big for the room, but I got over that fairly quickly. The poster above who said "size matters" wasn't kidding. The biggest challenge now is keeping my kids an appropriate distance from the screen when it's on.
i do miss dbd's banter during world cup soccer.