Plasma Recommendations.

zybar · « **Reply #20 on:** 8 Nov 2009, 03:05 pm »

Quote from: Wayner on 6 Nov 2009, 12:31 pm

OK, but the 2.5K+ Sony XBR LCDs are 240hrz refresher rate (120 seems to be a better view on action ), but I haven't seen a Plasma for a while.

Wayner

BTW, there is a lot of debate about the value of the higher refresh rates. Most people and reviewers have stated that they struggle to see ANY difference between 120hz and 240hz. I would include myself in that category and personally feel it is more about marketing than performance.

George

bummrush · « **Reply #21 on:** 8 Nov 2009, 03:34 pm »

I have a Hitachi 42 in plasma,2 yrs old,performs perfect.Looked at Sony LCD's ,picture was absolutely no better and in fact worse then the Hitachi,If you watch ,really and this includes almost any scene at certain points ,the motion of plasma compared to lcd is clearly with plasma,no comparison,sports with plasma much better.
Probably marketing with the numbers bs. I think at the time i bought mine Hitachi still made all their own glass,,so that did influence me a bit also.

Charles Calkins · « **Reply #22 on:** 8 Nov 2009, 03:37 pm »

I just bought a Samsung PN50B650 plasma TV for $979.00 from Vann's. $979.00 was the total cost. Very impressive picture. Real easy to get it up and running. I looked TV's for over a month. Some of them that had a decent picture were very expensive. I must have read every article and rating I could about TV's. This one was very close to the top in rating. I have other products made by Samsung and all of them have been reliable and trouble free.

Cheers
Charlie

P.S.
George:
Spent at least an hour looking at a TV demo regarding 120 and 240hz. I thought I could see a very,very slight difference. I said "I thought"!!!!

bprice2 · « **Reply #23 on:** 8 Nov 2009, 05:10 pm »

About a month ago I purchased a Pioneer KURO 60" (PDP-6020FD), which many consider to be one of the better plasmas. I purchased at Best Buy where the price of the KURO had been reduced from $5k to $4K. $4k was not in our price range, but the salesman at Best Buy let us know that they were also trying to move their showroom display model and offered it to us at an out-of-box price of $2k. This is what I purchased and am very happy with it. I don't know if this is repeatable, but if anyone is interested in this set and thinks it is out of their price range, you might try calling around and asking about show room demos.

Crimson · « **Reply #24 on:** 9 Nov 2009, 02:00 am »

This forum is great. The Pioneer 151FD and Samsung 46B650 will be great additions to this archaic two-channel household.

Thanks all.

gitarretyp · « **Reply #25 on:** 9 Nov 2009, 02:04 am »

I'll second the Samsung 650 series suggestion. This one is my second Samsung plasma, and I've been very happy with both.

JP78 · « **Reply #26 on:** 9 Nov 2009, 03:48 am »

It's really hard to beat a Pioneer KURO in terms of quality. I haven't seen any other display that compares, regardless of technology. If you can get away with not needing a built-in tuner or speakers, the 500m/600m is a screaming good deal.

rydenfan · « **Reply #27 on:** 9 Nov 2009, 09:40 pm »

Also, if you do not need the stand and speakers and stuff that the PRO151 comes with, the Pioneer 600M monitor can be had for a steal right now.

zybar · « **Reply #28 on:** 9 Nov 2009, 09:44 pm »

Quote from: rydenfan on 9 Nov 2009, 09:40 pm

Also, if you do not need the stand and speakers and stuff that the PRO151 comes with, the Pioneer 600M monitor can be had for a steal right now.

Can you point to any great deals?

George

rydenfan · « **Reply #29 on:** 9 Nov 2009, 09:53 pm »

Quote from: zybar on 9 Nov 2009, 09:44 pm

Quote from: rydenfan on 9 Nov 2009, 09:40 pm
Also, if you do not need the stand and speakers and stuff that the PRO151 comes with, the Pioneer 600M monitor can be had for a steal right now.

Can you point to any great deals?

George

http://www.avindemand.com/index.php/pioneer-krp-600m.html

these do not come with all of the ISF features available but calibrators can unlock the software now using controlcal which makes this virtually the same set as the 151

I am thinking hard about pulling the trigger

TF1216 · « **Reply #30 on:** 9 Nov 2009, 10:18 pm »

I purchased my 600M from AVinDemand.com. They do not offer a warranty with the plasma. Dealing with them was pleasurable though. They were awesome.

Be aware that the 500M/600M have shipped with cracked screens. AVinDemand and their shipping service does inform the driver to allow the buyer to inspect the panel for mechanical damages before leaving. They will not wait for you to turn the screen on.

Jon L · « **Reply #31 on:** 9 Nov 2009, 11:12 pm »

Quote from: gitarretyp on 9 Nov 2009, 02:04 am

I'll second the Samsung 650 series suggestion. This one is my second Samsung plasma, and I've been very happy with both.

I just bought Samsung PN58B540 58" 1080p plasma from local Costco. Samsung has instant in-store rebate of $300 going on until Nov. 15, which brings the price to $1650 + tax.

Fantastic PQ.

sdeen · « **Reply #32 on:** 17 Nov 2009, 07:50 am »

It will also help if you compare the LCD TV ratings of various brands provided that you want to get the best bang for your buck. Just a suggestion.

mark kovach · « **Reply #33 on:** 11 Dec 2009, 01:31 am »

Best picture out of the box at comprable prices is usually a plasma. But after ISF calibration in the house the head on viewing can be really close from LCD and DLP. Since plasma will soon be a dinosaur, prices are plummeting and you can get a great deal on one, making it more of a value than 2-3 years ago. If you don't pay too much for electricity like we do in NYC, then all that extra money you will spend over the life of the set shouldn't bother you. If you are particular about your picture then ISF calibration about every 15-20K hours is a must as the picture does degrade, but can be brought back up a few times before it hits the point of no return.

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #34 on:** 11 Dec 2009, 01:46 am »

I bought a 50" Samsung plasma for $1,150 a couple weeks ago.
Very happy with it so far. I would have bought an LCD, until the salesman made comment about children's fingers and the screen of an LCD.

There's WAY too much risk of damage to the sensitive LCD screen compared to the glass like plasma screen. No brainer for us folks with kids in the room.

You can actually "draw" on the screen of an LCD and see the pixels "black out" momentarily behind your finger. I didn't know that.

Bob

jimdgoulding · « **Reply #35 on:** 11 Dec 2009, 02:01 am »

My brother in law has a Pioneer plasma. I bought an '09 Panasonic plasma. His color palette is richer cause I think Pioneer has the best blacks in the business. I paid less for a 50" than what he paid for a 42". I've read Pioneer is gonna quit making them but Panasonic will continue. I'm sure LED technology has improved tremendously. LED sets will reflect light and fade off axis, tho, but they are more energy efficient. There are deals all over the place on Panasonic models. LED keeps going up unless I'm mistaken. You can read reviews on CNET.

Phil A · « **Reply #36 on:** 11 Dec 2009, 02:56 am »

I noticed Costco has the 54 inch Panasonic for $1,199.99. I am in the market for a new bedroom TV (I have a 42 inch 1st generation 1080p LCD that will go to the kitchen and replace a 32 inch 720p LCD) and I am tempted. I have a mount for that size already sitting there. I do use the TV mainly for sleep timer at night so I am considering an LED due to the energy efficiency. I do have a Blu-Ray player in the bedroom system but only watch a couple of movies a year in there. I guess sometime in the next month or so I'll make up my mind. If Costco still has sets left, it is very tempting at that price point

MaxCast · « **Reply #37 on:** 11 Dec 2009, 12:16 pm »

Keep dropin, baby

I'm holding out for two things, 60" under $1500 and of coarse the cash to pay for it.

wait a minute I'm supposed to be saving for a new preamp.

ctviggen · « **Reply #38 on:** 11 Dec 2009, 01:18 pm »

Quote from: Phil A on 11 Dec 2009, 02:56 am

I noticed Costco has the 54 inch Panasonic for $1,199.99. I am in the market for a new bedroom TV (I have a 42 inch 1st generation 1080p LCD that will go to the kitchen and replace a 32 inch 720p LCD) and I am tempted. I have a mount for that size already sitting there. I do use the TV mainly for sleep timer at night so I am considering an LED due to the energy efficiency. I do have a Blu-Ray player in the bedroom system but only watch a couple of movies a year in there. I guess sometime in the next month or so I'll make up my mind. If Costco still has sets left, it is very tempting at that price point

You have a 42 inch TV in your kitchen? What do you do with it? That is, why would you want a TV in your kitchen?

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #39 on:** 11 Dec 2009, 03:18 pm »

So you can cook with Rachel Ray. aa