HDTV- Plasma, LCD, or rear Projection? New TV help!

[maverick9six]

My DH and I are planning on getting a new TV when we move in July. I do not know the first place to look as far as research is concerned- any suggestions?
Also, is there any one single brand that is better than the rest?
I searched the threads before posting and I found a thread from Oct 05 that talked about the dangers of playing video games on a Plasma screen- is this true? My husband plays video games, should I be worried and consider that when shopping?

I appreciate any help, we would love to get the most TV for the bucks!

 

[mickman1962]

I searched the threads before posting and I found a thread from Oct 05 that talked about the dangers of playing video games on a Plasma screen- is this true?

not true

you can also kill a few hours/days here

HDTV Forums

 

[Fall1]

DH and I bought a HD-rear-projection LCD in December and we LOVE it! It's the Sony 40" Wega and we bought it at Tweeter. We had no idea when we started looking, but it really comes down to which picture looks best to your eye. Everything will look different to everyone so go to a store like Tweeter and have them put the same HD-channel on all of your choices and see which looks best to you. Good luck.

 

[seashoreCM]

the dangers of playing video games on a Plasma screen- is this true? ?:

True.

If the contrast or picture control is turned way up you will get image retention of bright steady material including station logos and stock tickers, on plasmas, CRT rear and front projection sets, and direct view picture tube TV's. Also when the shape of a movie's picture does not exactly match the screen, the boundaries could be noticeably "burned into" the screen

The safe level for contrast is no higher than 1/2 way up for plasmas and direct view tube sets and no higher than 1/3 of the way up for CRT projection sets.

On some TV's you need to adjust contrast, brightness, etc. separately for each input -- Video 1, Video 2, etc.

Most "1080p" TV's nowadays give a picture no sharper than "1080i" TV's unless they have a "1080p HDCP" input fed by a high quality source which can include ordinary 1080i programming but usually includes use of an external electronic add-on called a "scaler".

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[rie'smom]

Basically the difference between plasma and LCD is screen size. LCDs have smaller screens.

 

[Lynn CC]

We have 2 Pioneer Plasma/HDTV's, one is 50" and one is 42. My DS plays video games on the 42" with no problems.
We've had them over 2 years and LOVE them! We watch all sports on the 50" and it's like your right there. Great for Movies too!

 

[Psychodisney]

We have a Samsung DLP-very cool. Since you're moving to IL I'll put in a word for the best electronics/appliance store in IL. Abt in Glenview-they have a website but I'm not sure what it is. They deliver all over and beat everyone's price.

 

[Tinkerbelle32]

Yes, plasma tv's can have the image burned onto the screen if you play video games for a long duration.(everyday for 45-60 min. etc.) If your hubby is a hardcore gamer I would skip it. You also have to remember that plasma tv's run on plasma gas. Everytime you use the tv you are using the gas. As the gas continues to become less and less the picture will become not as clear, grainy, etc. Finally, once the gas is gone, the tv is shot. YOu cannot refill the gas. Our friends had a plasma tv. Sure the screen is great but 2.5 years later they are out buying a new tv again. Not worth the money , in my opinion. We just purchased a hi def- rear projection and love it. Good luck with your decision!

 

[DisneyWorld Delight]

Yes, plasma tv's can have the image burned onto the screen if you play video games for a long duration.(everyday for 45-60 min. etc.) If your hubby is a hardcore gamer I would skip it. You also have to remember that plasma tv's run on plasma gas. Everytime you use the tv you are using the gas. As the gas continues to become less and less the picture will become not as clear, grainy, etc. Finally, once the gas is gone, the tv is shot. YOu cannot refill the gas. Our friends had a plasma tv. Sure the screen is great but 2.5 years later they are out buying a new tv again. Not worth the money , in my opinion. We just purchased a hi def- rear projection and love it. Good luck with your decision!

We learned this also when shopping for a TV. Ended up getting 55" Sony WEGA, rear projection LCD. LCD's have bulbs that burn out after so many hours but they can be replaced. (If I am explaining my husband's info correct. If not, I'm sure I'll hear about it.) But that is the reason we went with LCD.

I thought it was alittle excessive, but I have ended up watching it more than DH! One nice perk is you can watch two channels at the same time, you can't hear them both, but you can channel surf while keeping an eye on what you're interested in. Or as we do, my daughter plays video games and I watch a show.

 

[Longhorns99]

Tip #1 Stay away from DLP TVs....The processor inside DLP televisions doesnt covert Analog signals very well.

Tip #2 Its a whole lot cheaper to replace bulbs inside a LCD when does dim then it is to replace the gas inside a plasma tv.

I would recommend any Sony SXRD TV (I have the 50 in office and 60in in family room). They are 1080P TVs with unsurpassed picture quality. You spend a little more but well worth the money if picture quality is important.

As far a gaming goes any LCD or plasma that is new isnt going to be affected by burn in from a gaming console unless used in excess of 4-5 hours continuously everyday.

Good Luck with whatever decision you make.

 

[maverick9six]

We have a Samsung DLP-very cool. Since you're moving to IL I'll put in a word for the best electronics/appliance store in IL. Abt in Glenview-they have a website but I'm not sure what it is. They deliver all over and beat everyone's price.

Thanks for the suggestion - I will try to look up the store- we are moving to Urbana/Champaign- is it close by?

 

[maverick9six]

You also have to remember that plasma tv's run on plasma gas. Everytime you use the tv you are using the gas. As the gas continues to become less and less the picture will become not as clear, grainy, etc. Finally, once the gas is gone, the tv is shot. YOu cannot refill the gas.

Holy COW! I had no idea!! Thanks for the tip!!

 

[maverick9six]

I would recommend any Sony SXRD TV (I have the 50 in office and 60in in family room). They are 1080P TVs with unsurpassed picture quality. You spend a little more but well worth the money if picture quality is important.

Good Luck with whatever decision you make.

Thanks! Funny you mentioned the SXRD- we went to Bestbuy yesterday and that is the one that caught my eye! I am researching them now. I found it is about $1000 cheaper to buy online than at a store like BestBuy, but I am not sure if it is safe to spend $3k via an online store....

oh yeah, Hook 'EM!!

 

[kehouse]

thanks for asking this, i went in best buy to look at tv's. i left there just shaking my head. the salesman said that most people don't like the speakers that come on the plasma or dlps so i would need to buy new speakers, and cables and.... on and on...
i think i'll just go to my local independent store. but at least now i have an idea what to look for.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I am shopping now. I did not like the rear pojections, as I hope to hang the TV on the wall, and also they seemed hard to watch from the side angles.

I find the LCD and plasma TVs (Hi def) BOTH to look wonderful. I am leaning towards plasma 42" Panasonic. It is $2249 at both Best Buy and Circuit City. I won't buy online, too hard if something goes wrong. I also am looking at Costco, they have a very liberal return policy on most items.

I read Consumer Reports, and they do not strongly favor plasma over LCD, or vice versa. Problems such as images burning in screen are said to have been corrected (according to consumer reports).

I will likely shell out the bucks for a 4 year extended warranty...... I am just nervous, I am not saying it's a good idea for anyone else.

GREAT deals at Best Buy on open box TVs, coupon on website for an additional 20% off in the store (only). I bought one (NOT high def, a standard TV for my teens room) and got a great deal (Toshiba 28" flat screen, with DVD and VCR built in) for $130!

But I still want a plasma for the family room (or LCD).

 

[ametaldiva]

not true

you can also kill a few hours/days here

HDTV Forums

The AVS Forums are the best forums I know of to research a new HDTV purchase. I am also moving in July and I just recently sold my 250 lb. CRT and purchased an LCD. I also have an Xbox 360, so I used their Audio/Video forums quite a bit for research too. I am pretty loyal to Sony as far as electronics go, but I ended up purchasing the Sharp Aquos 37" LCD because it seems to the best LCD going right now. Here's a link to it at Best Buy if you want to take a look: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7671726&type=product&id=1134702136830. I was working at Best Buy part-time when I got it a few weeks ago so I didn't have to pay the enormous price! It took a lot for me not to buy a Sony, but I'm happy with it and I think it's a great TV.

 

[tikilyn]

If you go with plasma I would spend the money and get an extended warrenty. We bought a 42" ED plasma tv about 7 months ago and we love it. We hung it on the wall and it's so pretty. Can you tell it's my baby!

The speakers on it are very crappy, but we also have surround for that theater sound. When looking into a plamsa make sure you know what you are getting. Some of them are monitors (they need a tv tuner like a cable box or a direct tv box) and some have auto tuners built in.

good luck and have fun!

 

[maverick9six]

I was working at Best Buy part-time when I got it a few weeks ago so I didn't have to pay the enormous price! It took a lot for me not to buy a Sony, but I'm happy with it and I think it's a great TV.

How much of a discount did you get for being an employee at BestBuy?

 

[Psychodisney]

No sorry , Abt is in the Chicago area.Have fun shopping!

 

[Aimeedyan]

We would not consider the plasma due to shortened lifespan.

We considered the LCD and the DLP. We went with the DLP (Samsung) mainly due to price; we were not in the market to buy at the time but our previous tube TV blew up one evening (smoke and crackling included, very exciting!) and we did not want to invest in another tube but we didn't have mucho $$ budgeted for a high dollar set.

We LOVE our DLP. We had no intention on hanging this one on the wall so the fact that it can't doesn't bother us. The price was good, too, when compared to the plasma and lcd. The picture quality is downright amazing and just as good (IMO) as the plasma and lcd. If the bulb goes out, it's about $250 if I remember right but we bought the warranty through Best Buy that will replace that bulb for us for the first 5 years if it goes out.

We've had this about a year and love it. When we purchase a tv for our game room we will likely get an LCD because we want to hang it; but for our living room, we wanted it just in an entertainment center.

TV shopping was a nightmare; there is SO much information out there it's overwhelming! Good luck with your choice!