Any drawbacks to this plasma? Or this DLP LED RPTV?

[jlfirehawk]

First I get a 24% discount at hhgregg, so I need to stay at this store. Anyone see any drawbacks to this tv at all, mainly just using it for time warner cable and upscalling dvds. Video games are in the kids room on 32" lcd.
HHGregg Site

Just want to know if there is some reason not to get this?

 

[SLCentral]

It's not a bad set by all means, Hitachi makes a solid product that looks good. IMO, though, Hitachi plasmas REALLY need a professional ISF calibration to get even semi-accurate colors. Out of the box, at least from what I've seen, colors are extremely saturated (to the point where grass looks neon green), and is hard to fix just by user settings.

If you go with this set, I'd seriously suggest getting it calibrated. It runs between $300 to $400. I would also make sure that a pedestal/stand is included, if necessary. A lot of Hitachi sets, especially their 55" models, do not include stands, and cost anywhere from $200 to $400 for one.

For the best quality, I'd check out Pioneer, which HHGregg doesn't carry. They do carry Panny and Samsung, and their 1080p plasmas are both fantastic. A little more expensive, and only come in 50", so a little smaller, but will give you a better picture, IMO.

I have not personally seen that Hitachi plasma, but I have seen the 55" Director Series of last year extensively, as well as their new 50" 1080i models, and I wasn't very impressed, especially compared to the competition. The price is nice though, and a good calibration should significantly improve the picture.

 

[jlfirehawk]

Thanks for the opinion, what is hard is they are redoing their displays so it is a mess in the store right now. They do have an open box sony bravo(I think) 46" lcd for 1500. I will have to go back and take a look at the options just to make sure to compare this with the other brands they offer. They suck on their prices for wall mounts, 250 bucks, I plan on wall mounting but it looked like it came with the stand to put it on a table etc. I will just grab a wall mount off the internet.

 

[SLCentral]

Originally posted by: jlfirehawk
Thanks for the opinion, what is hard is they are redoing their displays so it is a mess in the store right now. They do have an open box sony bravo(I think) 46" lcd for 1500. I will have to go back and take a look at the options just to make sure to compare this with the other brands they offer. They suck on their prices for wall mounts, 250 bucks, I plan on wall mounting but it looked like it came with the stand to put it on a table etc. I will just grab a wall mount off the internet.

Is it a bright room? If it is, enough so that you get a glare on a CRT or glass surface, get the LCD. Otherwise, stick with Plasma.

Really cuts the argument of LCD vs. Plasma to one sentence, and I find it to be the easiest way to explain it. You will get a better picture quality out of a plasma for less money, especially at the 50"+ size.

 

[jlfirehawk]

Basement with very little outside light so controlling the light will be easy, it is a new house I bought and I will be moving next week, they had a big old school tv down there so it is the perfect size for a small theater. What about this tv as well: Samsung DLP LED 61" Samsung DLP
I am going back today to see if this is better or worse they did not have it hooked up yesterday with all the moving around so I am going back today. Any opinions on that one?

 

[Yourself]

The main issue people have been having with the slim set DLP's is geometry issues. If you get a bad one you'll know it because there will be a noticeable bowing of the screen. Check out the RPTV forum over at AVS forum; they go into depth about the pros and cons of this set.

Self

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: jlfirehawk
Basement with very little outside light so controlling the light will be easy, it is a new house I bought and I will be moving next week, they had a big old school tv down there so it is the perfect size for a small theater. What about this tv as well: Samsung DLP LED 61" Samsung DLP
I am going back today to see if this is better or worse they did not have it hooked up yesterday with all the moving around so I am going back today. Any opinions on that one?

I saw one of those at my local best buy, it looked good, no geometry issues at all.... I intend to buy one after I move into my new house...

 

[jlfirehawk]

I think I will stick with plasma, anyone seen or heard anything bad on this 60" vizio

Vizio 60

At costco I can get it for 100 bucks more than the other choices plus the warranty doubles and have 90 days to return it. It is either this 60" or the 58" panasonic.