Budget TV: Plasma or LCD

[mickey'sbud]

Looking at 43" Plasma 720p 600hz ($380.00) or 39" LCD 720p 60hz ($300.00). The Samsung and Panasonic Plasma's have great reviews. I'm scared my den will be too bright for the Plasma. Looking at off brand for LCD. Any experience or thoughts???? Thanks!

 

[tvguy]

Plasma is going to wear out faster than an LCD. These days I think LED is the only way to go.

 

[disneychrista]

Have to agree with TVGUY, not only that Plasmas are energy hogs.

Look for 1080 p with 120 refresh rate and personally I say stay away from VIZIOs. Yes they are less expensive but they are also not as good.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

We have a plasma... you are probably better off NOT getting a plasma.

I am always worried about the burn-in, DH played some XBOX on ours once and I thought the imprint would never leave, but it did eventually, thankfully.

 

[tasha99]

I think you get more value with plasma since similarly performing leds are more money. Permanent burn in isn't such an issue anymore and there is less lag time for gaming. (Don't ignore lag if the tv is for a gamer.) We have a Samsung plasma and love it.

 

[horseshowmom]

Looking at 43" Plasma 720p 600hz ($380.00) or 39" LCD 720p 60hz ($300.00). The Samsung and Panasonic Plasma's have great reviews. I'm scared my den will be too bright for the Plasma. Looking at off brand for LCD. Any experience or thoughts???? Thanks!

We LOVE our Panasonic plasma. My living room has a very large (almost) floor to ceiling picture window, and we haven't had a problem with it being too light. We've had no issues and have had it for a couple of years. Great TV!

 

[welovemike]

LCD is the best

 

[Jonathan Swift]

Plasma is a dying technology. The only main advantage to plasma is input lag for games.

May I suggest this model?

Sceptre 40" Class (38.5" Diag.) 1080p 60Hz LCD HDTV X408BV-FHD

It's only $299 and 1080p. I have it and it's great. Walmart has the same one (slightly different model number, because it's Walmart) here:

Sceptre 40 Class (38.5" viewable)LCD 1080p 60Hz HDTV, X409BV-FHD

for $278. Walmart is cheaper, but you have to pay tax, where NewEgg is just $7 shipping.

 

[wiigirl]

Plasma is going to wear out faster than an LCD. These days I think LED is the only way to go.

Agree...LCD would be my suggest also.

 

[foreUT]

I am voting LCD, too.

 

[ilovemk76]

Plasma is a dying technology. The only main advantage to plasma is input lag for games.

May I suggest this model?

Sceptre 40" Class (38.5" Diag.) 1080p 60Hz LCD HDTV X408BV-FHD

It's only $299 and 1080p. I have it and it's great. Walmart has the same one (slightly different model number, because it's Walmart) here:

Sceptre 40 Class (38.5" viewable)LCD 1080p 60Hz HDTV, X409BV-FHD

We have the 240hz LED. No burn in problem. No problem with keeping up with video games. It is a 3D model. 3D also need faster refresh.

Our friend was over two weekends ago they have got an LCD when we got the LED. He commented on how superior our picture was.

for $278. Walmart is cheaper, but you have to pay tax, where NewEgg is just $7 shipping.

240 Hz LED is the way to go.

 

[HM]

LCD, definitely over the Plasma. If you can get an LED, even better.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I think you get more value with plasma since similarly performing leds are more money. Permanent burn in isn't such an issue anymore and there is less lag time for gaming. (Don't ignore lag if the tv is for a gamer.) We have a Samsung plasma and love it.

Lots of misinformation posted in this thread. OP, go here:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/tvs/buying-guide.htm

 

[3boymthr]

I have a samsung and love it BUT it's an LCD not a plasma. We bought it in 2008 and it's still going strong.

If you are looking to use this TV all the time I'd go with an LCD 1080p 120hz or higher TV. The difference in picture quality between the 1080p and the 780p is HUGE (we have both- the difference in the HD pictures is astounding). If you can, save your pennies a little longer and go for higher def and the faster refresh rate. You'll be very happy you did.

 

[bumbershoot]

We got a great deal at Costco last December on a Panasonic plasma, and we LOVE it.

We have a very bright living room, and while we do sometimes call it our mirror on the brightest days, most of our TV watching is in the evening anyway.


We were very very very very careful for the first several weeks; we babied that thing like you would not believe. You have to sort of wear it in, and you have to be careful of burn-in in those early hours (many hours). I got GREAT advice from avsforums.com; definitely check them out if you want really solid reviews and real life experiences.

I've learned a lot about TV settings, and finally solved the mystery of why some TVs to me look like they are showing soap operas when they are actually playing normal movies. It's all about the settings! TVs in TV stores are on the "blast your eyes out with vivid colors" settings, and that's not what you want at home.


Anyway, if the plasma is getting great reviews by people, it's worth thinking about. Do a search for it on avsforums, allow yourself a few weeks to read it all and digest the info, and make your decision. And when you get home, change those settings!

 

[figment3258]

Not plasma

That's what my eh word tell me we have a great tv buti need to ak him excitably what we have. I can never remember these things

 

[seashoreCM]

Generally a new plasma TV (or a new direct view CRT TV) should not have the contrast set more than halfway. This by itself will probably prevent "burn in" on the screen.

The lower contrast setting also reduces the load on the power supply circuits and reduces heating so as to prolong their life too.

 

[mickey'sbud]

Lots of misinformation posted in this thread. OP, go here:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/tvs/buying-guide.htm

Thanks for all the replies. Especially, thanks for the link above. I read the consumer report and it was very interesting! It said to not overlook plasmas. It said the new plasmas don't have some of the old problems. It seemed to me the biggest draw back may be the reflection on the screen. They compared the reflection to be about the same as the old box tv's. The biggest advantage is price.

This is what I found...In my research of today's TV's, size for size, Plasma vs LED/LCD... the plasmas use about the same amount of energy... the thickness (depth) is the same (even less in some cases)... the weight is more, but only 6 1/2 lbs more (comparing a 43" plasma to a 39" LCD), but the plasma is also a larger screen, so the weight comparison may not be really that much.

Not sure which one we will end up with, but thanks to all of you for your advice and sharing your experience with me!

 

[dennise]

Do only the plasma tv's have glass screens. That would be a deterrant for me. My son purchased a 60" plasma in Dec 2011 and in Dec 2012 his children were flipping pennies, one went through the screen, that ended his tv. They are now watching tv on a 29".

 

[bumbershoot]

Do only the plasma tv's have glass screens. That would be a deterrant for me. My son purchased a 60" plasma in Dec 2011 and in Dec 2012 his children were flipping pennies, one went through the screen, that ended his tv. They are now watching tv on a 29".

When investing in something expensive like a big TV, it's a nice idea to consider insurance. Square Trade offers deals (that's who Costco used when we bought our plasma) on such insurance.

We also have MUCH stricter rules for behavior in the room with the TV now.