HDTVs!!

Murr · 03-19-2007, 11:27 PM

So I'm potentially getting a HDTV as a graduation present (yeah, yeah, I'm spoiled and got kicked out of nursing school cuz of one quiz!!! just kidding.. that thread was ridiculous though) and I wanted to see if any of you experts had 2 cents to throw in. I did a lot of e-research and going to do some instore looking this weekend just for subjective testing, but I figured some people might actually have first hand exp. with this sort of purchase.

Anyway, will see a lot of gaming and a good amount of standard def. usage so that's important (none of those shitty sd processors!). Viewing angle will be a pretty consistent issue - tend to end up with a decent group of people over on weekends, that sort of thing, and seating on line with the TV isn't plentiful so I've pretty much ruled out DLP. Parents have one at home and can't stand the viewing angle problems. I'd leaned towards LCDs initially but research somewhat dispelled the myths I'd heard about gas plasma and the price range on some of the plasmas is pretty attractive.

Main standout I've found is the Panasonic 42" TH-42PX600U plasma. Great reviews all around, about $1100-$1200 at the right stores. Don't know if anyone has one of the 42-50" panasonics and can comment on quality but I've only heard good things in general. Hopefully can hit a store this weekend to see how they stack up side by side with a comparable LCD.

LCD-wise, the prices seem more prohibitive. The only thing I could really find in the size range I was looking at (37" or 42") was the Sharp Aquos line which I've seen in person before and liked. They're a little pricier but the 42" comes with 1080p and generally good reviews, though I've seen some widespread concern about banding on grey scenes. Little wary of Westinghouse as far as quality goes. Samsung has some nice models but again, can get pricey (if only Sony would sell me a 40" XBR2 for like, a grand).

Anyway, any input would be appreciated - I always hear LCD are "better" for gaming but haven't seen any concrete proof of that, and I'm not one of those people who sees crazy epileptic lights on plasma screens.

Vorph · 03-20-2007, 12:36 AM

It depends on what you're going to do with it. I personally would get a LCD because that's the only option for getting a true 1080p display in that price range. If you're willing to settle for only having 720p/768p, then get a DLP or a plasma. Even with the advances in preventing burn-in, I still wouldn't buy a plasma for playing console games on.

prescient63 · 03-20-2007, 01:06 AM

I really wouldn't be that wary of westinghouse quality unless you have read something that I haven't. And, as far as I know they were the first company to come out w/ a quad? hdtv (like 4 times the resolution, very expensive, for oil drilling and mining) and the first 1080p lcd. At the least they are leading the inovation in that space. Anyhow, i haven't seen a bad review of that tv yet. I had a westinghous monitor, it was ok but nothing special. 1 dead pixel after 2years. I was pretty satisfied with it.

That said as far as plasma's go my brother, who sells tv's, seems to like the pansonics the best in their respective price range. I trust his opinion because after staring at tv's 8hrs a day he tends to notice shit that I would never in a million years pick up on. Plus he is to see what gets returned and has the most problems.

Lenas · 03-20-2007, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murr

Main standout I've found is the Panasonic 42" TH-42PX600U plasma. Great reviews all around, about $1100-$1200 at the right stores. Don't know if anyone has one of the 42-50" panasonics and can comment on quality but I've only heard good things in general. Hopefully can hit a store this weekend to see how they stack up side by side with a comparable LCD.

I got this tv about a week before the super bowl. I love it. I've had 10 hour sessions of FFXII and Gears of War on it, and no signs of burn in. Black levels are really nice, and with the dvi -> hdmi from my comp to the tv, it's something like 1900x1080 res, which is 1080p right? idk.

Tv is good. I recommend it.

Vorph · 03-20-2007, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lenas

I got this tv about a week before the super bowl. I love it. I've had 10 hour sessions of FFXII and Gears of War on it, and no signs of burn in. Black levels are really nice, and with the dvi -> hdmi from my comp to the tv, it's something like 1900x1080 res, which is 1080p right? idk.

Tv is good. I recommend it.

No, plasma TVs that are true 1080p (1920x1080) cost at least five grand. That particular one is 1024x768p (rectangular pixels to keep it widescreen). Anything over 720p is reduced with the scaler.

Soygen · 03-20-2007, 08:28 AM

I have the Westinghouse 42" 1080p and absolutely love it. My brother, who lives with me, has the Sharp Aquos 47"(or maybe it's 46"?) 1080p LCD and it's also very nice(he doesn't have any banding issues with it).

I don't think that the Sharp is $1000+ better than the Westinghouse, though. So if price is an issue for you, I would fully recommend Westinghouse. Keep in mind that the Westinghouse is a monitor, though and not a television. This really shouldn't matter, as I can't imagine someone wanting to plug a coax cable or antenna into a HD display.

I also have their 22" widescreen LCD for my computer and no complaints there either.

kogarne · 03-20-2007, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Main standout I've found is the Panasonic 42" TH-42PX600U plasma. Great reviews all around, about $1100-$1200 at the right stores. Don't know if anyone has one of the 42-50" panasonics and can comment on quality but I've only heard good things in general. Hopefully can hit a store this weekend to see how they stack up side by side with a comparable LCD.

I have the 42 inch. I did the research as you did and couldn't be more pleased with my purchase. It has a wide viewing angle and produces deep blacks.

I have limited game console experience with it, as I only have a PS2 atm. Even so, most newer games have settings that allow for widescreen that keep the image from being stretched out.

The only thing that bothers me about the set is that it doesn't have PiP.

Murr · 03-20-2007, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vorph

No, plasma TVs that are true 1080p (1920x1080) cost at least five grand. That particular one is 1024x768p (rectangular pixels to keep it widescreen). Anything over 720p is reduced with the scaler.

Panasonic actually has some true HD 56" and 50" plasmas coming out this summer, and they demoed a 1920x1080 42" screen at CES that will be released this year but no word on MSRP, though I doubt the 50" would run over 2500-3000.

Lyenae · 03-20-2007, 04:41 PM

Visit www.avsforum.com, you'll find better help there.

Murr · 03-20-2007, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lyenae

Visit AVS Forum - Home, you'll find better help there.

That's where I did a lot of research, but it's so bogged down in random shit and opinions that I was just hoping to get some personal reviews/recommendations, which I have. Thanks anyway, though.

Hippos II · 03-20-2007, 06:23 PM

Thanks for the link, I was planning on getting the Samsung Slimfit 3082 off of the freepay site, but apparently it has a ton of problems. Those forums tell me that when the newer models of the TV come out in about a week, then Samsung can just replace it with them for the cost difference (which is $0). Solid

Cuppycake · 03-20-2007, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murr

(yeah, yeah, I'm spoiled and got kicked out of nursing school cuz of one quiz!!!

Lame.

Murr · 03-20-2007, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cuppycake

Lame.

was a joke

Cuppycake · 03-21-2007, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murr

was a joke

Alrighty, I forgive ya =)

Phoenix · 03-21-2007, 12:13 AM

Buy.com - HANNspree Xv 37 inch Widescreen LCD HDTV - 37 with Tuner - JT02-37U1-000G

I just threw $670 down on that, 37inch 720p/1080i LCD. Comes with 3 HDMI inputs along with built in tuner with QAM.

03-19-2007, 11:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
Murr Token Gnome Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Chapel Hill, NC Posts: 1,814 +11 Internets	HDTVs!! So I'm potentially getting a HDTV as a graduation present (yeah, yeah, I'm spoiled and got kicked out of nursing school cuz of one quiz!!! just kidding.. that thread was ridiculous though) and I wanted to see if any of you experts had 2 cents to throw in. I did a lot of e-research and going to do some instore looking this weekend just for subjective testing, but I figured some people might actually have first hand exp. with this sort of purchase. Anyway, will see a lot of gaming and a good amount of standard def. usage so that's important (none of those shitty sd processors!). Viewing angle will be a pretty consistent issue - tend to end up with a decent group of people over on weekends, that sort of thing, and seating on line with the TV isn't plentiful so I've pretty much ruled out DLP. Parents have one at home and can't stand the viewing angle problems. I'd leaned towards LCDs initially but research somewhat dispelled the myths I'd heard about gas plasma and the price range on some of the plasmas is pretty attractive. Main standout I've found is the Panasonic 42" TH-42PX600U plasma. Great reviews all around, about $1100-$1200 at the right stores. Don't know if anyone has one of the 42-50" panasonics and can comment on quality but I've only heard good things in general. Hopefully can hit a store this weekend to see how they stack up side by side with a comparable LCD. LCD-wise, the prices seem more prohibitive. The only thing I could really find in the size range I was looking at (37" or 42") was the Sharp Aquos line which I've seen in person before and liked. They're a little pricier but the 42" comes with 1080p and generally good reviews, though I've seen some widespread concern about banding on grey scenes. Little wary of Westinghouse as far as quality goes. Samsung has some nice models but again, can get pricey (if only Sony would sell me a 40" XBR2 for like, a grand). Anyway, any input would be appreciated - I always hear LCD are "better" for gaming but haven't seen any concrete proof of that, and I'm not one of those people who sees crazy epileptic lights on plasma screens.

03-20-2007, 08:28 AM	#6 (permalink)
Soygen 100% Pure Soy Monk Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL Posts: 6,327 +25 Internets	I have the Westinghouse 42" 1080p and absolutely love it. My brother, who lives with me, has the Sharp Aquos 47"(or maybe it's 46"?) 1080p LCD and it's also very nice(he doesn't have any banding issues with it). I don't think that the Sharp is $1000+ better than the Westinghouse, though. So if price is an issue for you, I would fully recommend Westinghouse. Keep in mind that the Westinghouse is a monitor, though and not a television. This really shouldn't matter, as I can't imagine someone wanting to plug a coax cable or antenna into a HD display. I also have their 22" widescreen LCD for my computer and no complaints there either. Last edited by Soygen : 03-20-2007 at 08:31 AM.

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03-20-2007, 12:36 AM	#2 (permalink)
Vorph Never Go Full Retard Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hell Posts: 5,859	It depends on what you're going to do with it. I personally would get a LCD because that's the only option for getting a true 1080p display in that price range. If you're willing to settle for only having 720p/768p, then get a DLP or a plasma. Even with the advances in preventing burn-in, I still wouldn't buy a plasma for playing console games on.

03-20-2007, 01:06 AM	#3 (permalink)
prescient63 You can't blame women for what they do wrong in the same way that you can't blame a dog for what it does wrong. Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,484 -5 Internets	I really wouldn't be that wary of westinghouse quality unless you have read something that I haven't. And, as far as I know they were the first company to come out w/ a quad? hdtv (like 4 times the resolution, very expensive, for oil drilling and mining) and the first 1080p lcd. At the least they are leading the inovation in that space. Anyhow, i haven't seen a bad review of that tv yet. I had a westinghous monitor, it was ok but nothing special. 1 dead pixel after 2years. I was pretty satisfied with it. That said as far as plasma's go my brother, who sells tv's, seems to like the pansonics the best in their respective price range. I trust his opinion because after staring at tv's 8hrs a day he tends to notice shit that I would never in a million years pick up on. Plus he is to see what gets returned and has the most problems.

03-20-2007, 04:41 PM	#9 (permalink)
Lyenae Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 2,055 -48 Internets	Visit www.avsforum.com, you'll find better help there.

03-20-2007, 06:23 PM	#11 (permalink)
Hippos II Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 684 -3 Internets	Thanks for the link, I was planning on getting the Samsung Slimfit 3082 off of the freepay site, but apparently it has a ton of problems. Those forums tell me that when the newer models of the TV come out in about a week, then Samsung can just replace it with them for the cost difference (which is $0). Solid