[john1970]

Dear Everyone,

It appears that my 4 yr old CRT requires quite extensive repairs and I am considering of upgrading to a flat panel TV.  Given my luck with reliability I don't want to spend more than $800 to $900.  I sit ~10ft from the TV in a reasonably well-lit (but not brightly light room).  What TVs would you recommend?

Some that I am considering include:

1) Samsung 40" LED-LCD 60Hz: UN40C5000QF  Cost = $850
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung+-+40%22+Class+/+1080p+/+60Hz+/+LED-LCD+HDTV/9783542.p?id=1218173774549&skuId=9783542

2) Panasonic 42" Plasma: TC-P42S2  Cost = $700
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Panasonic+-+VIERA+42%22+Class+/+1080p+/+600Hz+/+Plasma+HDTV/9761068.p?id=1218168619373&skuId=9761068

Please recommend others.

Cheers,

John

[Phil A]

John - not sure if you are aware of this issue:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10447329-1.html


When I was looking for a bedroom TV at Costco in the beginning of the year, the fellow who worked there let me know about it.

[john1970]

John - not sure if you are aware of this issue:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10447329-1.html


When I was looking for a bedroom TV at Costco in the beginning of the year, the fellow who worked there let me know about it.

Thanks for the information.  Are the entry level LED-LCD decent or am I better going with a more traditional (CCFL) based LCD at this price point?

Cheers,

John

[silver_strings]

They are very decent I would get LED

[john1970]

Is it worth paying extra money for 120 Hz vs. 60 Hz refresh rate?  I only ask because Best Buy charges $70 for delivery for TVs less than $1000, but delivery is free for TVs more than $1000. 

The 40" LED Samsung @ 60 Hz is $850 + delivery = $920.
The 40" LED Samsung @120 Hz is $1100

Is the 120 Hz technology worth an extra $170.

Cheers,

JOhn

[kingdeezie]

John1970,

Get the plasma.

Many people will argue, including myself, that LCD/LED still hasn't perfected itself in any price range, and still can not reach the picture quality of plasma.

The rising black levels on the Panny TVs was blown slightly out of proportion. It was discovered by professional calibrators on AVS forum who used test equipment when they thought their blacks looked different.

I'm not denying it is a problem, however.

It effected people on varying levels, but it went from a handful of people who tested for it, and then spread all over the internet.

I bought my parents a Panasonic S1 last year for Christmas, 50 inch, and it still looks awesome. Have the blacks changed? Maybe, but for the money I paid for it, my parents are still extremely grateful. The newer models are supposed to have a more gradual shifting over time.

If you don't want the Panny, I am sure Samsung has a competing plasma at that price range as well.

And, even with rising black levels, I am willing to bet the black levels on that Panny plasma S2 would still destroy any black level performance you'd get on an LCD under 1500.

[Doublej]

If you watch a lot of sports, plasma is the way to go. I have 46" Samsung 120Hz and on fast moving scenes I still notice significant blur. it's definitely worse at 60 Hz.

I'd check out Paul's TV inside of Jordan's furniture. On the web they show a 42" Panasonic for $700 (with free delivery I think). They have also have a 40" Samsung 120Hz CCFL for $807. Both are highly regarded sets.

[soundbitten1]

I bought a 46' Aquos Sharp LCD/LED for $999 a few months ago, marked down from $1500. Very happy with it. I thought it might be too big at first but it turned out "bigger is better" in this case.

[Phil A]

I bought my TV for the bedroom system (and I have a complete surround set-up) to replace a 42 inch LCD which I moved to the kitchen.  I bought a mount that swivels out and handles TVs up to 56 inches around October of 2009 with a Costco coupon with the intent to get something in the 50-55 inch range.  I actually would have ended up with 54 inch Panasonic Plasma as they had a $300 instant rebate in December but part of the time I was away on vacation and there was too short of time for me to line up someone to help me with it.  Bigger definitely can be better.  I ended up with the Vizio 55 inch backlit (so it is about 4-5 inches deep) LED and am happy with it.  Got it with an instant rebate too at the beginning of Feb.  I wanted to grab a TV before they stuck things like internet connectivity into it which I figured I would get down the road in a Blu-Ray player or set top box.  I've heard the new Vizio side lit LED is slimmer and it has lots of those internet features but the black levels are not as good.  The only downside, other than the black level problem, I noted in looking at the Panasonic Plasmas was very limited adjustment to the picture available.  It's really hard to tell in a store with the brightness tweaked all the way up as to what it will look like in your room and what adjustments you will need to do.  While some people don't like Vizio, this is my 3rd set.  The 1080p 42 inch which is 5 or so years old still looks great.  It replaced a 32 inch 720p set that was a drop older and I moved it to a spare bedroom.  No problems with the 32 inch set, it is just your stereotypical earlier generation LCD that you can't get black level up to snuff. 

[Scott F.]

+1 

John1970,

Get the plasma.

Many people will argue, including myself, that LCD/LED still hasn't perfected itself in any price range, and still can not reach the picture quality of plasma.

I just went through the same scenario. For the past few years we've been watching a Mits DLP (Diamond series). Finally I got tired of the color shift as a lamp aged. I recently bought a smaller LED backlit LCD for our exercise room to replace an older [cheap] LCD. This got the upgrade bug biting for our home theater.

I went on a quest to replace our old 62" Mits. After spending countless hours on showroom floors [literally] in the setup menus doing visual calibration on the floors, I settled on a plasma. For all of the flat panels I played with, each and every time the plasma outperformed every LCD that sat next to it. No matter how much time I spent trying to get the color and black levels to look right, I could never get an LCD to come close to the natural color rendering of the plasma.

Plasmas have their issues. They generate a modest amount of heat, the screens don't have the 'pop' of an LCD and they don't work well in a bright room. Given the right room, a plasma simply can't be beat for proper color, low level detail and natural image rendering. We ended up getting the 63", 600 Hz Samsung. My calibration guy said that the Samsungs have really made long strides in engineering and reliability. He said they 'snap in' with out much work.

If you decide on an LCD. shoot for a 240Hz refresh rate. It makes a difference on heavy action scenes.


Think of a plasma as high resolution audio for your eyes.

[TheChairGuy]

John, your search dovetails mine of only 3+ months ago: http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=80563.0

It was a breakthough $999 at the time, it's now $899....but oddly (as it was new only 3 months ago) discontinued: http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=80563.0

I like it, but don't love it...but for $1000.00 including delivery I could hardly say I'm unhappy.

Had I to do over again, I'd likely buy a Panasonic S2 Plasma set (the room is not all that bright) or a LED-LCD with 240Hz rate (per Scott F's comment) as the lag/blur is sometimes frustrating with this TV.

Had I to do over again, I'd likely buy this one today for the same money as I paid: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Panasonic+-+VIERA+/+46%22+Class+/+1080p+/+600Hz+/+Plasma+HDTV/9887962.p?id=1218189764765&skuId=9887962

John

[john1970]

Dear Everyone,

Thank you for the advice.  I went to Paul's TV in Jordan Furniture and they had the 40" Samsung LED-LCD with 120 Hz refresh rate for $999 including free delivery and disposal of the old TV.  The stand measured perfectly to just fit directly on top of my center channel speaker.  Needless to say I made a purchase and it will be delivered next Saturday.

Just a minor update, I called Paul's TV and changed my purchase to the more traditional CCFL version TV to the LN40C630.  According to televisioninfo.com this 40" monitor rates the best overall and for $797 in-store I decided to save myself ~$200.  The LN40C630 is back ordered, but I should have it this Saturday.  This is one of the TVs that Doublej recommended.

Best,

John

[Phil A]

Congrats on the purchase.  The way I figure it, digital or video changes rapidly to the point that 5-7 years down the road it is either getting long in the tooth or not worth a major repair.  I could have lived happily with either choice in my bedroom system.  It was for the same reason I didn't go super high end on the projector in the basement system (I have a better one in the main system).  I bought it two and a half years back and if in a couple of years I either upgrade the main system projector or decide to get a better one I didn't break the bank.

[shawnbaden]

Get the plasma.  Got the largest Panasonic PxxS2 you can afford or fit in your viewing space.  The 42", 46", and 50" are all no-brainers to me.  Incredible bang for the buck.

42" Panasonic for $735 shipped:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0036VO70Y?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

46" Panasonic for $868 shipped:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0036VNSZO?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

50" Panasonic for $900 shipped:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0036VO7WM?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

I've had a 37" Panasonic plasma for 5 years now and I haven't had a single problem.  It still looks amazing.  That unit has been retired from the living room to the den and been replaced by a 50" Pioneer Elite PRO-111FD 1080P plasma.  The Elite's picture is flat out beautiful.

Go with whatever you feel comfortable with but here's another vote for plasma.  I don't think you will be disappointed if you pick one up.

[bummrush]

Plasma, ive had a Hitachi for 3 yrs,those Panasonics at those prices are pretty  incredible.Like they say for sports go for plasma,and anyway images are always moving to begin with  ,so why would you not go with plasma?

[john1970]

Hi Everyone,

Well I changed my selection for a third (and final time).  I went $100 over the budget, but I feel for the price I paid that the Panasonic TCP42G25 series plasma was a reasonable purchase.  It will be delivered on Saturday.  It was the limited viewing angle of the LCD that made me change my mind.

Best,

John

[kingdeezie]

 

Plasma is sweet, and the G series is nice. Enjoy it!

[zybar]

Hi Everyone,

Well I changed my selection for a third (and final time).  I went $100 over the budget, but I feel for the price that the Panasonic TCP42G25 series plasma.  It will be delivered on Saturday.  It was the limited viewing angle of the LCD that made me change my mind.

Best,

John

Nice choice John.

Have fun enjoying the picture.  Don't forget to calibrate it (using DVE bluray) once you get some hours on it. 

George

[Berto]

Hi Everyone,

Well I changed my selection for a third (and final time).  I went $100 over the budget, but I feel for the price that the Panasonic TCP42G25 series plasma.  It will be delivered on Saturday.  It was the limited viewing angle of the LCD that made me change my mind.

Best,

John

Smart move. More natural skin tones/everything on the Panny plasmas.(compared to most LCD's) I'm LOVIN mine

[John151]

Good call!    I have two 37" Panny Plasmas which I am very happy with.

Now match that up with a Panny Blu-Ray player and you will be set,  The Panny A/V products communicate over the HDMI connection (Viera Link) to give some basic automation, such as turning off the DVD when you turn off the TV, pressing  play on the DVD causes the TV to tune into the DVD HDMI connection.  I also have a Panny A/V receiver, which sits between the BD and the Plasma - they all work very well together.  Oh, and the receiver sounds great (for a receiver)!