Need large screen TV advice and opinions. (Need videophile advice)

7/18/07 | Self

[Blood of Tyrants]

Okay, I am going to spend some of my mad money for a large screen HDTV. I want either a LCD or Plasma TV, no projection tv's. I want 1080p resolution. I'll have around $2000 to spend. What I need is advice on what is good, what sucks, what breaks, what keeps on working, plasma tv life expectancy, etc.

Hit me!

[george76]

http://www.hdguru.com/

[expatpat]

that’s http://reviews.cnet.com

[Arthur McGowan]

I don’t own a television machine.

But if I did, I would want an LCD. Plasma TVs flicker—though nothing like a CRT. In my experience, they are brighter than is necessary or pleasant. I find the absence of flicker a big plus for LCD screens.

As far as I know, LCDs last longer.

[Publius6961]

Supposedly plasma fades over many years. I’d be happy if someone could squash that as only a myth, because it kind of bothers me.

I used to feel the same way, until my son appealed to reason.

All TVs fade with time; always have, always will.

Plasma and LCDs just do it at one fourth the rate.

So where's the problem? I stopped thinking about it after that....

[Arthur McGowan]

Be sure to get a name brand, like Sorny, Magnetbox, or Panaphonics!

[redangus]

It’s a myth unless you are going to own the TV for 25+ years and watch it at least 8hours/day. The new plasmas have a life of 60000 hours, i.e that is how long it takes for the screen to lose half its brightness.

[redangus]

check the price on that replacement bulb it may change your mind.

[CanaGuy]

Don’t you think it’s time to STOP WATCHING T.V.?

Here’s why:

- TV makes people SICK!!
- TV enslaves you and Saps all your creative energy!
- TV hooks you like DRUGS!
- TV is obviously a “Vast Wasteland.” (This is common knowledge)
- TV is just plain BAD for you physically, mentally, and spiritually.
- Watching it will cause you great unhappiness in life and you’re more than likely to get CANCER or some other weird disease!!

If you absolutely must have your media injection, why not just read a good book?

(from: R.Crumb, Zap Comix, 1968)

[mylife]

Thanks for the info

[hole_n_one]

FWIW, don't post any screengrabs of Tammy Faye Baker on FR that you might happen to nab.

[mylife]

bout $200

[gcruse]

You want contrast, black blacks and no burn in. That means DLP.

[Mike Darancette]

Samsung or Vizio from Costco.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks, interesting... Google results...

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20556847-2,00.html
http://www.i4u.com/article5383.html
http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/19/laser-tv-no-plasma-killer/

[ejonesie22]

As an avid Video/Audiophile I am shocked to make this recommendation:

Samsung.

Ouch, got to let that settle.

Ok, I shopped for 3 years before making the HDTV Jump, I wanted something to fit my Adcom/Magnapan (now Klipsch, cat issue)audio side. I had been using a Sony XBR tube because I only bought Sony Video. Thats what the studios use, that is what the signal is normally engineered with.

Sony has had issues since all the management shake up back in 2000 or so. Their commercial division is still solid but less of that engineering has filtered down to consumer line.

That sent me shopping, for months. Finally got a Samsung 52 Inch Plasma. That was after cruising both low end and high end stores all over the Southeast.

Even their entry level units are good product.

It hurts, trust me. Samsung used to represent crap. But they are going after the Big Boys and doing a good job of it.

[BKerr]

Ahhhh! Finally, I can answer something with expertise! I was an area supervisor for DirecTV, and the first person in my very large office with a Level III certification in Broadband technology and FCC certified....well, you get the point.

Somebody replied never buy Sony, but Sony has a great picture. However, they seem to have bad hardware that tends to break (such as the buttons, etc.).

For your price range, I would recommend any Panasonic plasma TV. However, any Hitachi will also have a great picture.

As far as Plasma versus the LCD: Plasma all the way! Back in the day, Plasma got a bad rap due to its 1/2 light/brightness age. However, due to technology, you could now run a Plasma 24 hours per day, seven days per week, for about ten years before reaching half-brightness. In other words, your picture will last the average user until around the year 2040 (by then you’ll be ready for a new TV no matter how cheap you are).

If you really want an excellent TV for an excellent price, find a Vizeo plasma TV. Vizeo is among the cheapest with excellent reviews from all of the major consumer reporting companies. I have worked on them personally and also have found them remarkable.

If you need any advise on hooking up cables, etc., feel free to contact me via private mail and I will be glad to send you advise and instructions.

[jdm]

I sold my plasma for bigger plasma.

[BreezyDog]

All of my AV questions (owners reviews) are answered here:

www.avsforum.com (audio video sciences forum)

Click on it. You’ll see. I can spend hours there

[CMAC51]

Supposedly plasma fades over many years. I’d be happy if someone could squash that as only a myth, because it kind of bothers me.

It is not a myth it is pure physics. Plasma drops to 80% of its original brightness in two to three years depending on the type of usage it gets. Most users are not aware of the gradual fade. Some users are bothered because of the lighting or angles in their viewing room.

[Petronski]

You are illin’.

LOL