LCD or Plasma HDTV - what would you buy?

[Sombeech]

OK so it's time to save up for Christmas, I'd love to invest in an HD TV (finally). I'd like it to be >50", not 3D, and I'm leaning towards plasma vs LCD just because the reviews say it's less blurred motion, viewable better from all angles, more defined dark colors.... etc.

On the other hand the LCD models are thinner.

So now it's down to Hz. The Plasmas average 600Hz vs the LCDs at 120 - 240Hz. I assume it's just because the mechanics are different between the two technologies, and the higher the Hz the better for whichever type.

I'll be waiting for either Black Friday, or Cyber Monday most likely to look for a great deal.

Where would you guys look first? Would you feel comfortable with your huge TV being shipped across the country?

[ibenick]

I buy TV's for a living so I keep up with all of it closely. For a primary viewing area, I say plasma all the way. Great value, awesome picture quality, black levels are superb and motion blur is a non-issue. There are some really nice LED LCD's on the market right now that are comparable but the price premium is huge and all you really get over a good plasma is that super-thin frame.

For consumer plasmas, I'm a fan of Samsung but Panasonic has a better anti-glare coating, although it does suck a little out of the blacks so I would weigh the decision based on the room its going into. If you've got a wall of windows behind the seating area, the Panasonic glare coating will be invaluable. If not, the Samsung has killer blacks and still has decent anti-glare.

For local purchases, Costco is at the top of my list. They have the 90 day no questions return policy on TV's and they double the warranty to 2 years. For online sources, Amazon would be at the top of my list; really competitive prices, free shipping, no tax. I end up buying quite a few through them when things get backordered and we have cranky clients wanting things yesterday.

[jman]

I would get a LCD with a tv that supports up to 240Hz. Plasma is decent, but the power required is ridiculous and they get quite hot and they are heavy. They have their uses though.

I would get a TV that supports 1080p and is either Samsung, Sony, or LG. and this is of course as my main tv.
The only thing I would compromise is the Hz. I would compromise down to 120Hz depending on screen size and price.

Don't forget that you will need to buy a stand for it which will cost you another $100 at least.

Also something to consider is HDMI inputs. I use a receiver which holds up to 5, so my tv only needs 1 HDMI. But if you don't have a receiver than more the inputs the merrier (Xbox360 , PS3, Blu-ray player, home theater pc, etc.)

Btw, I had a Sony Bravia 46" and the viewing angle was near perfect at all angles and the contrast wasn't bad at all. And if you're not a videophile than you won't notice at all anyways.

[Iceaxe]

I own one 50" plasma (Panasonic) and two 42" LCD (Sony & Vizio). If its picture quality you want the Plasma blows the LCD away. It's one of those deals where after owning both for a period of time you can really see the difference.

Careful with Costco TV's (or any other appliance) they sometimes cut some whistles and bells to get the price down. Nothing wrong with that, but just be aware of the issue. You will notice it first off when a model number is only available at Costco. The model number is usually one letter different from what everyone else is carrying. One of the most common items I've seen on Costco models is they will eliminate one or more HDMI posts that the standard model will have.

Anyhoo.... that's my 2 cents...

[Sombeech]

Cool, good input.

What about ghosting, or burning in the images on plasma tvs? How long does it usually have to be on pause or have the same static image on the screen for this to happen?

[nelsonccc]

Cool, good input.

What about ghosting, or burning in the images on plasma tvs? How long does it usually have to be on pause or have the same static image on the screen for this to happen?

Hardly never. My samsung had pixel shift which helps alot. I routinely pause video games or movies for up to 15-30 min and have never in 3 yrs had any ghosting. Occasionally after watching a letterbox movie on a widescreen ill have a line. But I just run the scrolling white from the menu for a few minutes and it goes right away.

Love my plasma. HD movies and Xbox is amazing. Careful with plasma on ambient light. Mine is super reflective so if there is a lot of light in the room (like watching tv during the day with the blinds open) I get a lot of glare.

[Sombeech]

This will most likely go downstairs in the basement where it can get pretty dark

[Sombeech]

So for Plasma, is 600Hz pretty decent?

[oldno7]

I have the Samsung 55" 1080p 240hz 3D set.

It is great as far as I'm concerned, nothing else I have to compare it with. The 3D was something I dismissed as gimmicky, it's not.....

[Sombeech]

Speaking of 3D, that was another question. I'm not into the 3D thing yet but how do you like it? It's amazing how fast 3D became available for the larger screen TVs, I remember it available up to @ 20" a year ago.

And of course... you can disable 3D for regular viewing right? I surely hope so.

Is it worth it? Does media have to be filmed in 3D for this to work or can it convert any media to 3D? From what I can tell it's just a minor bump in price.

[oldno7]

We really like 3D movies, some are better than others, of course. The TV pics up a 3D signal automatically, the rest of the time it is in standard 2D mode.
You can convert anything to 3D on the tv, but I hardly ever do that. The picture quality is unmatched if you ask me. People who first see it think it's somewhat TOO real looking.
Most stores will have package deals coming up, I would think. Ours came with 2 sets of glasses and a Samsung blu-ray 3D player.

[Deathcricket]

you kinda forgot to mention a price range you were looking for. But for me being a cheap bastard, I just went for the Costco 55" Vizio 240hz with 5 hdmi for $1500. Granted this was 2 years ago, and i'm sure the price points are different now, but I'm really happy with the purchase. I'm sure there are better TV's out there but how much you want to pay for the 1% better performance is also a good question to ask yourself.

One other thing you might want to look at is longevity. I heard plasma tv's burn out faster than LCD, not sure if that is any longer the case. My friend who bought a plasma back in the day had all these black dots on his screen from burnout, and my father in laws plasma died 2x, about every 6 months it seemed. So I never even considered looking at plasma (at the time). Again though, this is years ago so I'm probably not the best source for information. I'm sure if there is still a problem it will be reported and easily researched.

[Sombeech]

I'd love to grab something under $1000, hopefully in the $800 range. That's probably a stretch right now for something over 50" but hopefully the Christmas sales will provide some variety.

[oldno7]

I'd love to grab something under $1000, hopefully in the $800 range. That's probably a stretch right now for something over 50" but hopefully the Christmas sales will provide some variety.

I thought you were a 1%er.....:haha:

[rockgremlin]

Two things:

1. BEFORE YOU BUY ANYWHERE - CHECK OUT THIS WEBSITE: http://butterflyphoto.com/categories.phtml?id=5

THIS IS WHERE I PURCHASED MY 55" SAMSUNG LED HDTV, AND IT WAS AT LEAST $400 BUCKS CHEAPER THAN ANYWHERE ELSE!!

2. Whew!! That said, I'm sold on my 55 inches of LED love. I've had it now for going on 3 years with no problems, and the picture quality is outstanding. I recommend Samsung LEDs FTW.

[Sombeech]

OK so LED vs LCD.... LED is thinner, yes? What else?

[BLUEberryBOB]

Newegg has CRAZY deals around the holidays, its the best time to shop there.

[Sombeech]

Newegg has CRAZY deals around the holidays, its the best time to shop there.

What's your opinion on the recertified items? I assume they still come with the warranty?

EDIT:

“Recertified” products have been tested to ensure compliance with original manufacturer specifications, and MAY include a limited manufacturer warranty – see the item's product page for details.

[homerj]

OK so LED vs LCD.... LED is thinner, yes? What else?

Yes, thinner. Also LED has a much higher contrast ratio (darker blacks) than LCD and less power than LCDs or Plasmas. If you want to get technical, the LED TVs are LED backlit LCDs, whereas your normal LCD is CCFL backlit. From what I've read you get better colors on LED TVs than LCD.

[accadacca]

I went with LCD. I don't recall all the reasons, it was too long ago. I have a 52" Sony Bravia in my theater room. The picture quality is amazing. I bought it right before the 2008 summer Olympics started. It has been perfect without a single issue. I would highly recommend the Bravia line. I also have a 40" LG in my bedroom. It has an excellent picture as well. Then I have a no name brand 32" 720 in my living room. My kids mostly use that for streaming TV.

[Sombeech]

ok another question, I'd liked to use it for compressed movies, usually 720p. How does it look on a 1080p resolution, pixelated? Can you switch to 720 mode?

Sent from my Samsung Vibrant using Tapatalk

[jman]

ok another question, I'd liked to use it for compressed movies, usually 720p. How does it look on a 1080p resolution, pixelated? Can you switch to 720 mode?

Sent from my Samsung Vibrant using Tapatalk

What do you mean how does a 720p movie look on a 1080p, pixelated? Are you referring to upscaling?

Btw, unrelated to your question but my 46" Sony Bravia tv has a USB port, which allows me to plug in a flashdrive full of AVIs. I like that feature a lot, especially when I'm lazy.

[Sombeech]

What do you mean how does a 720p movie look on a 1080p, pixelated? Are you referring to upscaling?

Btw, unrelated to your question but my 46" Sony Bravia tv has a USB port, which allows me to plug in a flashdrive full of AVIs. I like that feature a lot, especially when I'm lazy.

Right, upscaling. And I will also have a permanent PC connected to the TV too so I can bring the movies in from a network drive.

[Deathcricket]

Naw man, you wont notice, it looks fine. Although when I do plug my PS3 in and get 1080p with some blue ray action ----------- Gawd damn dats a nice looking picture!!!!

[hike2kolob]

Funny you should ask. I just noticed this thread.

I have been wanting a new HDTV for some time. I had been researching this for months on http://www.highdefjunkies.com/forum.php and http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/.

My new Panasonic plasma TV just happend to arrive today.

Here is what I found out.

For plasma, the best two brands are Samsung and Panasonic. Look at the Samsung D7000 and D8000. For Panasonic look at the ST30, GT30, and VT30 series. The ST30 is a great value and the VT30 is probably the best plasma currently available (that or the D8000). You could get a Panasonic 50ST30 in your price range.

I wasn't worried about 3D either but all the best 2D panels have the newest 3D technology in them, which enables them to provide better 2D picture quality. Get one with 3D even if you don't ever use it.

I bought online through Amazon direct (sold directly from Amazon, not a third-party through Amazon). They have free delivery to your room, they don't withhold sales tax and they have a 14 day price match guarantee and you can return it to them within 30 days if you want.

Samsungs are said to have slightly better color accuracy and Panasonics have better black levels (dark scenes look really detailed and black and not hazy gray like some bad LCD's). Last years Panasonics had rising black levels (over time they would get lighter), but this years 2011 models (30 series) have this fixed.

Plasmas are best in dark rooms with stunning picture quality, but they aren't nearly as bright as LCD's. Plasmas handle motion much better than LCD technology for sports. They are power hogs and slightly thicker than LCD's. The models I listed above are quite thin however.

Many people prefer the very bright colors of LCD (I include LED's when I refer to LCD's, same technology, different backlight, LED rather than flourescent). They often look the best when brightness is cranked up in the overly lit showroom. Plasmas can seem dim by comparison in these lighting conditions, but don't be fooled.

LCD's are very thin and have very low power consumption, especially LED's. However, they can suffer from some issues like brightness uniformity issues, blooming (brights bleeding over into blacks), flashlighting (bright lights shining through blacks from corners from edge lighting), picture degradation from off-axis viewing. The best TV currently available is said to be the Sharp Elite (an LED tv) which evidences very few of these issues. It has excellent contrast ratio, black levels and overall picture, but does suffer from off-axis viewing degradation and currently has a color decoding issue with cyan (blue can show as purple). It is also too expensive in my opinion. Sony's 929 and Samsung's D8000 are also very nice.

These are the TV's that qualified for the best TV's of the year (Panasonic VT30 (plasma); Samsung D8000 (plasma) Samsung D8000 (LED); Sharp Elite (LED) and Sony 929 (LED).

For value, I hear good things about the Vizio XVT series (LED). Styling is not that great and Vizio sometimes has quality issues. In the end, if you like what you see and like the price, if it looks good to you, go for it.

If your room is not too bright and you can get away with a plasma, I would do that. Samsung D7000 or Panasonic ST30 should be in the price range you want to pay. Buy online, it's cheaper and you don't have to fit it in your car.

Good luck!

[hike2kolob]

One other thing regarding image retention. Recently it had been almost a non-issue with plasmas. However with the recent 3D technology, people are reporting that it is more of an issue again. Static images (logos, box scores, gaming menus, black bars for movie format or SD format) can result in image retention but I understand they do fade. With some care to mix content it shouldn't be a problem.

[Retro1957]

I like the plasma picture better. The plasma TV's take more energy, don't last as long as LCD/LED and run on three different types of gases to create the great picture.

Even though I like my friend's plasma a bit more than my LCD, I would recommend the LCD. Yes, the picture isn't quite as good and the blur is an issue at times. With TV's having 240 hz, some of the blur should go away.

The main thing is to stick with a name brand and do your homework. The picture is a bit like litening to a sound system and music. Everybody's ears and eyes are a bit different.

I have been seeing in the Best Buy ad - Panasonic Plasma 50 inch TV's for under $600.00. I paid $2,750.00 for my Sony 52 inch LCD 4 years ago. Technology and better pricing have come a long ways!

You will be happy either choice you make.

[blueeyes]

So Beech... what did you decide on? Kinda in the market now and have been following this thread.

[Sombeech]

I snagged a Toshiba 55" LCD on cyber monday from Best Buy for $799 :cool2:

First thing I did:
































50098

[blueeyes]

Nice!:2thumbs: I am having troubles deciding. Too many choices.

[accadacca]

I snagged a Toshiba 55" LCD on cyber monday from Best Buy for $799 :cool2:

First thing I did:
































50098

:lol8:

That's awesome...

[bigred72]

I have screen envy

[blueeyes]

I did it! I bought my first TV ever. 60" Sharp Aquos... size matters. WOW! This is going from 32" hunk a JVC

Thank goodness my brother-in-law was in town. That box would never have fit in the back of the Forester. We bought a Roku as well. Playing around with it not sure I will keep that little thing but we will see.

[oldno7]

WOW--Chere's is bigger than Justin's......(and mine)

[blueeyes]

Oh yeah! Daniel Craig looks good on 60" mmmm mmmm nummy!

Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk

[live2ride]

Awesome man, good choice