Plasma vs. LCD HDTVs
- Thread starter crabcake
- Start date
SmallTown
Football season!
save your money.
LCD's are still a couple years away from being a reasonable solution. High cost, and subpar performance have always hurt them. The technology is changing, and they are getting better, but give it another year or two.
Plasma. Nice pictures. Problem with "going bad". When they start to go bad, it isn't like you can replace a part here or a part there. When it goes, it goes. And again cost is a factor.
If you MUST have a TV that hangs on a wall, I would lean towards the LCD.
I researched like crazy last year on the topic, and the best bang for the buck was a 51" HDTV rear projection TV. Quaility is excellent, and the technology has been around awhile so no real "kinks" to work out.
Also with LCD and plasma, they offer a "truer" picture, which can be good, and it can be bad. They can make great HDTV feeds look incredible, but they can also greatly magnify a bad cable signal and look like complete crap. Another reason to buy a traditional rear projection, it will "soften" this affect.
LCD's are still a couple years away from being a reasonable solution. High cost, and subpar performance have always hurt them. The technology is changing, and they are getting better, but give it another year or two.
Plasma. Nice pictures. Problem with "going bad". When they start to go bad, it isn't like you can replace a part here or a part there. When it goes, it goes. And again cost is a factor.
If you MUST have a TV that hangs on a wall, I would lean towards the LCD.
I researched like crazy last year on the topic, and the best bang for the buck was a 51" HDTV rear projection TV. Quaility is excellent, and the technology has been around awhile so no real "kinks" to work out.
Also with LCD and plasma, they offer a "truer" picture, which can be good, and it can be bad. They can make great HDTV feeds look incredible, but they can also greatly magnify a bad cable signal and look like complete crap. Another reason to buy a traditional rear projection, it will "soften" this affect.
SmallTown
Football season!
Also, I spent ALOT of time on this forum while doing my research last year: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/
A world of information. Of course you have some of your typical "My brand is better than your brand" stuff, but overall a very informative group.
A world of information. Of course you have some of your typical "My brand is better than your brand" stuff, but overall a very informative group.
Plus the prices are falling like crazy. About 2.5 years ago I went for a bigscreen. 51" Plasma = $9,999.00. 65" Projection = $2,700.00 (guess which I bought). That same Plasma is probably around $4-5K now.
SmallTown
Football season!
I was strongly considering the samsung DLP models, VERY nice units. But I'm one of those people who can't watch a DLP for very long without getting a headache. Which I should have figured, because I have to wear reading glasses because my eyes don't focus quick enough. With the DLP's, my eye was catching the color wheel spinning (I assume that is what was causing it) and I would get a headache after only a few minutes. It was a shame, because I really liked there TVs.John Z said:
On a similar note, the LCDs have the "screen door effect", but if you have adequate distance between you and the TV, it shouldn't be a problem.
Tomcat
Anytime
If I understand what I read, a plasma screen may need "recharged" after years of use. Something similar to "screen burn in" (the reason you use a screen saver on your monitor) where you can still see the remnants of a picture after it is turned off. The plasma apparently won't reflect light or something along that line after awhile. Got the other half a 19" LCD for Christmas, she loves it 
dizzy
New Member
This might help
crabcake said:What's "DLP" and this "color wheel" you speak of?
sleuth
Livin' Like Thanksgivin'
One of the most important characteristics for these new tv's (at least for me) is the viewing angle.
I hate walking a few feet off to the side and not being able to see the picture. I like to be able to see the TV when doing other things sometimes.
When I buy a new TV later this year or maybe next year, it will be something with as close to 180 degree viewing angle as possible.
I hate walking a few feet off to the side and not being able to see the picture. I like to be able to see the TV when doing other things sometimes.
When I buy a new TV later this year or maybe next year, it will be something with as close to 180 degree viewing angle as possible.
crabcake
But wait, there's more...
Related article for those who are shopping ...
Tinkerbell
Baby blues
We have a 50" HDTV projection tv with an LCD screen. It's wonderful! Contrary to what I'm reading on this forum, the price was comparable to the DLP. It's not one that you hang on the wall, however, it is only 21" deep, and so it doesn't stick out from the wall alot like other projection TV's. It's MUCH cheaper than a Plasma (at least it was when we bought it 18 months ago - we paid $3200.00 ). Also, the picture is gorgeous and you can still see the picture very clearly from a side view, which is not true of the regular (and old) projection TV's. You can get LCD and plasma screens in flat panels, wall mounts, projection TV's, computer screens, HDTV's, etc. I don't know about DLP screens, but those are really nice too. Even those ours is not a wall mount, it has a completely flat screen just like a wall mount. Some people confuse LCD's as being the same thing as plasma, which they are not. Ours is a Panasonic. When the bulb burns out, it is replaceable, unlike Plasma. I do HIGHLY suggest the extended warranty, however, because it covers anything and everything, including bulb replacement. That's nice, considering the bulbs cost $300.00 each. That is the only drawback to LCD and DLP type tv's, vice a standard tube tv, they are expensive to maintain if you don't have the extended warranty.
crabcake
But wait, there's more...
I came across this Sony model and it looks like a pretty good model with lots of bells and whistles for a good price. Whatta you electronic guru's think? :shrug:
When you order online, the shipping is free and they offer an in-home delivery, set-up, installation deal that appears to be included in the price!
One of my biggest concerns (that I share with Sleuth) is the side-viewing issue ... if I'm not sitting front and center, I want to still be able to see a true image.
When you order online, the shipping is free and they offer an in-home delivery, set-up, installation deal that appears to be included in the price!
One of my biggest concerns (that I share with Sleuth) is the side-viewing issue ... if I'm not sitting front and center, I want to still be able to see a true image.
crabcake
But wait, there's more...
Why? :shrug: What does it not have/offer that I should reconsider?DoWhat said:
Keep in mind ... I'm not a full-time tv-watcher ... I want a big tv primarily for sports and movie watching ... not to hook up the computer, gaming, etc. I just want a big-screen tv that doesn't take up too much space and has good picture and sound quality. This one seems to fit that bill for a good price. :shrug: