Now in the market for 40"-42" flat-panel HDTV.

Vanity | February 15, 2010 | RayChuang88

[VRWC For Truth]

Stay with Samsung, Sony, LG, or Vizio for LCD. Panasonic for plasma.

[RayChuang88]

The problem with my family room is that behind me is a big glass screen door. Even though it has a full height curtain to block out some ambient light, I do have some concerns that a 42" plasma may "wash out" during the day, especially in mid to late afternoon.

As such, I'm still leaning towards the Sony KDL-40EX500 as my first choice, though I'm going to Fry's at their special darkened screening rooms and see if I can find a better model.

[RayChuang88]

Okay, scratch the Toshiba. I’m going to use the Sony KDL-40EX500 as my “reference” and see what how the other models compare.

[oh8eleven]

If your main concern is power usage get an LCD
I believe LED TVs use the least power, but still cost a small fortune.

[CalvaryJohn]

Being ignorant of the particulars, I can still say I love Panasonic products.

[philetus]

To keep the cost down , this might be worth a look, or not.
and I have no connection with them.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4517143&Sku=T24-4232

[oh8eleven]

My advice would be: Don''t go to showrooms to compare picture quality. That tells you very little.
Surely, you jest.

[MamaB]

I have a 62” Pioneer with all of the electronic stuff that goes with it. It is usually on 18 hours a day even when I am not watching it. The only trouble I have had with it is when the power goes off, the sound is up in the 190 range when I turn it back on. I just mute it until I get the sound back to normal. BTW, we bought it in 1996. I have 2 other newer and smaller ones but one is a Samsung and the other one is another brand which I can not remember right now. Have the huge Martin surround speakers too which are not even hooked up. I was in a motel recently and they had an LG and the picture was outstanding. First time I had seen one.

[MamaB]

Mine is the 62” Pioneer Elite which we got in 1996. We have been really happy with it.

[martin_fierro]

Check out this month’s Consumer Reports if you can.

[Varda]

I used to have my plasma in a room with a sliding glass door, 4 windows and two skylights. I did have to close the blinds and block one skylight (light directly onto the plasma) but even then there was tremendous ambient light in that room. Washout wasn’t a problem.
I bought an LCD for my father-in-law because brightness was his #1 want. His nursing home room has a wall of windows they never close the blinds. It’s a Phillips and he’s very happy with it.

[Varda]

No it’s true. Showroom sets are always set in torch mode with white levels set to the max. This is necessary because they need to overcome store lighting. Once you get that set home where you don’t have harsh overhead lights you will be able to evaluate things like black levels and ease of long term viewing.

[ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton]

Don’t get a plasma. The picture is too blurry.

[MosesKnows]

seriously in the market

Go high end.

There are many highly rated LCD televisions available. An advanced version will supersede virtually every one of them in a few months so buy units with advanced features.

Look for 240 Hz refresh and LED backlighting and big. Possibly add Internet movie streaming.

Even with these new features, later models will have something you wish you had. Consider what is coming; Organic Light Emitting Diode displays thinner than a credit card, DLP HDTV in 3D, wireless media transmitting, and features we don’t even know we want at this time.

An alternative that also has merit is to buy a lower cost Visio, which is an excellent television, and wait it out. If you are buying a 32 inch or smaller screen you don’t need 1080P, 480P is fine. People have got along with 60 Hz refresh just fine for many years. You may find great sales as the stores have to sell off inventory to make room for the latest. All the new features you now see in a few models will soon be standard in all models.

Capitalism's competition and resulting economy of scale ensures we will always be able to buy the absolutely latest possible technology at the absolutely lowest possible price. That is unless a menace to the nation persuades us that a socialist agenda will improve us. Be grateful, not spiteful, that there were people who could afford these televisions before you could. Their ability to afford them when they bought is why you are able to afford them now.

God bless America and God bless Capitalism in a Republic guaranteed by America’s Constitution.

[ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton]

That is exactly been my experience with a 47 inch sharp. It look beautiful on HD but with lower quality input you can really see the flaws.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Got TV advice buying advice from here on FR and it helped. The VIZIO suggestion is also great for bedrooms. Was told here that more that a 32 inch in such a room is a waste and they were right. Got a nice 32 in 720P VIZIO at COSTCO cheap and can tell little difference from my 42 in 1080P SONY Bravia, my main TV.

No matter what Hz TV one buys, make sure it says true 120-Hz or 240-Hz ( refresh rates ).

[oh8eleven]

Once you get that set home where you don’t have harsh overhead lights you will be able to evaluate things like black levels and ease of long term viewing.
Ease of long term viewing?
Once you get the TV home, you've bought it and then what? You take it back again and again until you find the one you like?
You're buying a TV, not a new pair of socks.

[ElectionInspector]

go with the Panny plasmas. They cannot be beat.

+1 ... have the 50” plasma and its great for my #1 use, sports viewing via Dish...

ymmv

[Varda]

By long term viewing I mean whether the set causes eye fatigue after a couple of hours. I agree with you, once you've bought a set it's yours unless it breaks within warranty period. People take sets back, sometimes for frivolous reasons. I've seen people brag (on-line) that they've taken month old sets back simply because a newer model was announced. Fortunately that web site had plenty of posters chastising people for doing that. Costco had to change their return policy because people abused it.

[MosesKnows]

480P is fine

480P is not fine. I meant to say 720P is fine.