Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

Surround sound is next. I have a JVC 5.1 at the house now, but I want to upgrade that as well. Had to stay within a certain budget though. You know, hard economic times and all.

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

Just picked up the same blu-ray player from amazon. Along with a 1080p 60" DLP that I got for a pretty good deal from BB. I can't wait till they finally get delivered. Congrats on the buy BTW.

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

I prefer LCD to Plasma...Plasma burns out too easily and the picture isn't that much better. Just a little. But with the burnout it's not worth the hassel. My boy went through 2 plasma's before he would listen. Get an LCD.

I got a 46" Sony Wega LCD 720p. I've had it for 3 years. Got my bluray hooked up and Sony 5.1 surround sound. My tv still looks better than a lot, I am a expert at Calibrating for HD

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

Thanks. I really look forward to plugging all this stuff in and experiencing HD.

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

not to be a know it all but your boy didn't do something right. plasma half life (half point of brightness) is generally over 100,000 hours now. as for burn in with proper break in done (using a disc that displays solid color schemes for a certain amount of time) burn in is non existant. i've owned 3 plasmas so far, each one was upgrading resolutions and there is NO LCD that can touch the picture quality and speed of my pioneer. the technology for LCD's is not near as close to higher end plasmas yet and even with 120hz there is still crazy motion blur. if you've never had a good plasma you probably wouldn't know what you are missing. the LCDers who work with me are amazed when they see true 24hz reproduction with TRUE blacks displayed on the TV.

LCD has one advantage. it's cheaper. the cons everyone lists for plasma are generally sales tactics to get people into a set with a higher profit margin.

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

So what kind of cabinets/stands are you guys using? If you have it wall mounted; did you set up an entertainment storage unit underneath? I just got a 50" Samsung plasma for the family's Christmas, and I'm looking at all options. I want to be able to hide all the movies and kids games. Pics would be great.

I'm thinking about using a vintage credenza. Fits our decorating. Something like this:

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...edenzamstr.jpg

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

I haven't noticed any motion blur on my LCD.

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

i have even with the 120hz.

the fact is that LCD's have slower response time and longer processing time. if you've never had a plasma you wouldn't notice it.

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

:tpd:

I'll go even further and say if it's your first big screen or HD you probably would not even notice.

Before my plasma I had a 51 inch CRT. Coming off that I could barely stand the motion blurs on the LCDs in the stores and I couldn't get past the grayish blacks.

It was plasma or new generation DLP (I can see the "iris" in the older sets) for me and the aesthetics of a plasma was a better fit for us. :2

That being said I would get a 22 or 26 inch LCD for the bedroom in a heart beat but the prices on the smaller sets just aren't dropping low enough right now. I refuse to pay $350 for 22 inch when I can get a 32 inch for $400.

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

The company that installed my TV recommended a DVD player with HDMI and upscaling.They said the picture quality is just as good. Now I don't have a blue ray player to compare it to but my picture quality is awsome.

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

I've got an Oppo too, I got it last spring when I was still sort of waiting out the Blu-ray/HDDVD thing. I figured I might as well get a really good Dvd player while I still can. :r

It is a stellar player though.

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

I just (like Friday) bought one...

Panasonic Viera TH-50PX80U

Holy crap is this thing incredible... and it was a black Friday special... $863 (total, with tax) for a 50". The only concession I had to make was that Shell would be able to buy a new bedspread. Sounds like a fair deal to me... :D

http://c1.neweggimages.com/NeweggIma...187-045-07.jpg

I haven't tried watching it in the daylight yet (as I heard plasma's suck for that), but this has some glare-proof screen... we'll see how that goes.

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

I bought the 42" version of this TV so it's good to know that you like it. Another review to let me know that I made a solid purchase.

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

A few months ago, I bought this TV:

http://images.panasonic.com/static/m...th-50pz85u.jpg

It's a 50" plasma 1080 with a nice gloss black surround. The picture is really incredible and I've been very happy with it. I got plasma because the room I keep it in doesn't get huge amounts of sunlight and because I felt that even though LCD screens have improved plasma still has a higher quality picture especially when viewing action movies or sports.

The 3 years 0% interest financing Best Buy offered didn't hurt either! :tu

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

Watch out for that. I got a 6 months 0% interest deal when I bought my laptop. Even though I had payed the laptop off in 5 months, I was still charged interest.

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

I think you have to pay 5 minutes before they cut the bill or they charge you interest anyway.

:c

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

You got a damn good Blu-ray player. Seriously one of the better ones in that price tier. Congrats on that.



And as for the wife... :r:r:r

I'm beginning to see your logic on that one :D

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

Just consider the fact that a 50" Plasma is gonna weigh about 200 lbs, so make sure the table is rated to carry that much weight :D

Never and I mean never, put one on top of a glass table. So consider that as well.

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

Mine weighs <80lbs... a lot of them that I saw were pretty light (considering what and how big they are).

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

Thank you. Sorry for the off topic post!

Weight is still a concern; even though the specs say it only weighs 82lbs. with the stand. Just curios as to how many of you are hanging yours -vs- setting them on a stand. I have this nightmarish thought of it crashing down off the wall.:rolleyes:

Just got confirm' that the TV is in!:dance: Now to get this cabinet done(decided to build one out of poplar and do a zebrawood veneer); and get it hooked up! Hope it's easy!!

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

my 50inch is hung on the wall. no problems holding my entire 200lb body weight. it screwed into the studs with 6 by half inch screws in multiple places. never had a concern with it falling off ever.

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

No kidding?

My 42" weighs like 100 lbs and the 50" I was looking at was like at around 175ish.

200 lbs was exaggerating I guess, but that seems odd that they don't weigh as much as they did a couple years back. Mine is built like a slab of concrete in the back. The heatsinks must be made of lead :D

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

We have a 40" LCD hanging in our kitchen.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...an/WifesTV.jpg

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

This is a great and timely thread. I'm interested in moving up to a bigger tv.
It appears the longevity issue has been put to rest. One thing that has been mentioned is the heat dissapation of a plasma, would be alright in the winter but not so good in the summer. Any input on this would be appreciated.
Thanks for the input

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

If you have central air, then don't even worry about heat output at all.

In the hottest months of summer... (this is in Oregon though :D )... where we have no AC... the most I have to do is keep a fan going, but I need that regardless of the TV or not as it's so hot out.


In the winter though, it seems to help heat the place nicely. Personally I think adding a few extra people to the room for movie night puts more heat in the room than the TV, but that's me.

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

Plasma for overall picture, but bang for the buck go for LCD.

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

i'm in FL and summers are hotter than balls. never had any problems with the heat.

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

You should actually buy the PS3 because you can not only have a game to play but it also plays the HI DEF movies,,you get 2 birds with one stone. From what I read the BluRay will go the way of the LaserDisc in another year but PS3 will be around a bit longer.

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

I believe the number was like 2 million blu-ray discs sold in the month of October this year alone.

A year ago, it was barely 400,000 in the same month.

The Dark Knight is going to be the first movie to ship over 1 million discs.

Player prices are constantly hitting the sub 200$ mark and Blu-ray sales were clearly evident EVERYWHERE this black friday.

Blu-ray isn't going anywhere.... as much as people love to think.

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

+1 for the Blu-Ray. The best non-PS3 player.

Try cnet for all your questions. I love this site. Great job with TV reviews, too.

http://reviews.cnet.com/best-blu-ray-players/

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

Regarding LCD screens have a tendency to blur images, that was true for older generation (higher pixel response) LCD screens. On newer models it is almost negligible. Just as negligable as the "burn in" issues on Plasma now.

Viewing angles are also siginificantly better on newer LCD sets now.

Regarding life expectancy, it is reassuring to know you will most likely get 60,000 plus hours with an LCD. Great point to consider if you are looking for a work horse TV in the well lit family room that the kids are going to punish.

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

Personally I look forward to the day that I actually pick up a Blu-Ray player. But that date will have to wait on two things - one I get the basement remodeled (with new tv set and theater system - and the most important - when I can burn my own Blu-Ray movies.



I have never noticed any blurring on my Sony Bravia. But yes I have seen it on other sets.

Plasma verse LCD - two different types cause one is not perfect for everyone. I tend to pause what I am watching quite often - sometimes for an hour or so. I also have my computer hooked up to it - can't do that with a Plasma. So really each person needs to decide what's best for them.

That said - once the basement is remodeled I will buy a Plasma for that room. Lighting will be lower, no computers hooked up to it - no games connected to it.


Ron

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

Blu-Ray burners are becoming cheaper and cheaper by the day my friend :D



Actually with today's technology you can my friend. Most HD DVR's as well as Blu-Ray/DVD players come with a screen saver function so that even if you do pause for an hour, the set is still fine. ;)

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

here's the only thing i will comment on about LCD's again. i still see blur. when i purchased my pioneer mid-way through the year all the manufacturers had released this years models LCD's and i ended up trying 5 of them out at my house before i decided LCD was not for me. all had motion blur issues especially with 24p play back on blu-ray. some were over processed causing the film to look fake or sped-up. some were too laggy and comparing two LCD's side by side one would sometimes be almost a quarter second behind if not more. keep in mind a plasma doesn't have a 4ms response time like LCD's do, they are way way faster than LCD's.

BTW, LCD's should last longer than 60k and plasma are way above that marker for half life now.

if anyone is still wanting to learn more i'd highly recommend avsforum. i've been a member there for more than a few years now.

current setup

denon 1909
klipsch rf-82's
klipsch rc-62
klipsch rs-52
klipsch R-2650-C
Epik Castle sub
Gik acoustic panels and a few bass traps
Pioneer 5010
samsung bdp-1500 (won it at work :) )

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

They look blurry to me, too.
I just flat don't like them for a whole bunch of reasons. I'd rather have a tube when it gets right down to it.
It's a matter of preference, I suppose. I say that because I wouldn't have an ED plasma, either. It looks like I'm watching tv through a screen door.
I can't tell a quality difference between most plasmas, although some dlp's really suck.
All my tv's (2hd plasmas and one dlp, all toshiba) have "cable clear" software that cleans up bad cable signals beautifully. Even the worst channels look decent.
At this point I'm a full throttle Toshiba fanboi, but they've earned it.
They're good stuff. If it weren't for Toshiba I'd definately have Samsungs because I like their picture, too.
I've heard wonderful things said about Panasonic but I just don't like their picture the way I like Toshiba and Samsung. Samsung stuff is a lot more expensive or I'd have bought them in the first place.

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

How do you like the 1909? I have the 3808CI upstairs and was looking at the 2808CI or the 1909 which I really like also for the downstairs.

I joined AVForums a while back when trying to figure out some programing on the 3808 but never posted the question(s). My electrician (certified Denon dealer/installer who I bought it through) stopped by to help and went through my whole setup for me.
But I have done a whole ton of reading there over - boat load of info.


Ron

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

I know - keeping an eye on them :D
Doubt I will get to the basement until next summer - so I have a while.


I have Cox cable and their DVR - which will actually blank the screen out. They are finishing up installing the Verizon Fios lines on my street - so looking to change over as soon as it's ready. Suppose to have been available last month. Looking forward to at least tripling my internet speeds - :ss


Ron

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

i love it, dynamic volume is great for everyday TV watching. i got a great deal on the unit at the time from an online dealer and it was like 25$ over cost as a promotion. way more than enough to run my high sensitivity speakers.

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

i had brighthouse before and now i've got fios. i get a ton more channels in HD but the picture quality is all really the same.

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

I currently have 75 HD channels - with exactly four HD movie channels - one each of HBO, Showtime, Cinemax and Starz - :mad:


Ron

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

I recently got the 988, (same thing as the 2808CI basically but branded for the big box stores)

You can get a 988 or 2808 for about 50 more than the 1909 and it is a FAR superior piece of equipment than the 1909 (Burr-Brown DAC's, etc).

The only advantage the 1909, or any of the 9 series may have, is Dynamic volume which the 8 series didn't have. For me the 988 was a better choice.

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

i almost bought the 2808, i played then at the local shop over and over again and i couldn't hear the difference. i could hear the difference when dynamic volume was engaged for normal tv watching. i ended up with the 1909.

the problem with receivers is that they are like cigars. one person can hear a difference while the other can't.

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

While I agree that, to date, people like Dynamic Volume, as a matter of the hardware and software features the 1909 isn't in the same class as the 988/2808. No way I was going to spend the same amount of money on a machine that is way outclassed just for one feature, when there were a TON of features the 2808 has that the 1909 doesn't, and from a technogical/hardware standpoint the 2808 is far superior.

The real comparison is the 2808/988 to the 2809, which is simply the 2808 with Dynamic Volume added to it. My GF scored the 988 for $500 for me as a xmas present. Best price for the 2809 right now, if you can still get the Black Friday price, is $750. Not worth it to me for her to spend half again as much for one single feature that's unproven. To get the 988 at $500 when a year ago it was selling for $1,200 is an absolute steal. A year or two from now I'll be able to sell it for what she paid for it and upgrade again if I want, while a year from now I'll be able to grab a 1909 for around $250.

For me it wasn't really a difficult decision, but everyone has their own wants and needs.

Re: Plasma or LCD?
 

Didn't know that - but the 2808 was my first pick and top of the list. I haven't shopped price yet as my basement isn't done yet. Just making my list and planning on what wires and cables I'll need to be running - :D

Isn't that the truth! For me though - I don't have the "have to keep up with the Jone's" syndrome. The 3808 just replaced my old JVC setup from 1985. Matter of fact I just gave my daughter the JBL's from that setup which still crank to take back to college with her.

So hopefully the 3808 will give me the same years of service.


Ron