Bonus check came in, time for a new TV

[Unheard]

I've decided to upgrade my TV now that I have some extra cash laying around. I've really been eyeballing this one (Samsung 42" DLP) whenever I go into the store.

Yesterday I finally had the guy hook it up directly to a upscalling DVD player (as opposed to the HD signal they have split between 50 TVs). This is where my excitement turned to disappointment. It seemed as if the TV didn't have a full range of colors. By this I mean gradient color transistions looked similar to a 16bit color monitor instead of a 32bit color monitor (only things I could think of comparing it too). It had a grainy cloud effect to it. Is this common to DLP's? Was something not setup correctly?

I'm looking in the sub-$1000 range. If anyone has other recommendations on a DLP/LCD/Plasma in this range please let me know. Thanks ATOT.

Update:

Went with the 46", got it home last night and hooked up the Comcast HD box and 360. All I can say is that picture quality is amazing in 720p, and is a world of difference over my Sony Wega 36" CRT. I highly recommend this TV to anyone looking in the $1000 range for a large screen.

 

[tk149]

I have no idea if this guy is correct, but I've seen lots of people in ATOT recommend AVS Forums as a source for all things TV related. This may explain why you're disappointed in the quality of the DVD, even though it's upscaled.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=477740

 

[potato28]

No 1080p?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

As I just mentioned in a different thread, I like to at least mention front projection as an option to consider.

If you have a dark room, that might be something you'd want to look into if you want something theatrical for your experience.

 

[FilmCamera]

Okay I have a 42" Samsung with an upscaling DVD player. It looks great.

However, you must realize that when you upscale, your video can still only be as good as the source. It's like taking an 800x600 wallpaper and setting it as the background on a 1600x1200 monitor. It won't look as good.

I have seen very little difference upscaling most DVD's to 720P. You will see a difference with an HD-DVD and player because the HD DVD's have a much higher video quality.

What DVD did you use to test it? If it was a copied DVD, they have usually been compressed. So you are taking the original video, compressing it and then blowing it up to a larger resolution through upscaling - it won't look all that impressive and you are likely to see the issues you describe.

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

How's your retirement fund?

 

[Quasmo]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
As I just mentioned in a different thread, I like to at least mention front projection as an option to consider.

If you have a dark room, that might be something you'd want to look into if you want something theatrical for your experience.

I know exactly how you feel... One you go front projection, you want to tell everyone. Gotta love it.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Quasmo

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
As I just mentioned in a different thread, I like to at least mention front projection as an option to consider.

If you have a dark room, that might be something you'd want to look into if you want something theatrical for your experience.

I know exactly how you feel... One you go front projection, you want to tell everyone. Gotta love it.

:thumbsup: this guy knows the score

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Quasmo

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
As I just mentioned in a different thread, I like to at least mention front projection as an option to consider.

If you have a dark room, that might be something you'd want to look into if you want something theatrical for your experience.

I know exactly how you feel... One you go front projection, you want to tell everyone. Gotta love it.

:thumbsup: this guy knows the score

I'm sure it's great, and I'd love to go that way eventually, but it'd have to be as a secondary theatre. Watching tv, doing homework/crosswords/whatever while watching etc is much better suited to at least a moderately-lit room.

But yeah, if I could have that AND a theatre, that'd be a sweet setup

 

[pennylane]

I second the front projection option... God I want a projector. If the flat panels had excellent picture quality (like that SED non-sense I hear about), I'd consider getting a smaller sized picture. But neither LCD/plasma/DLP have perfect pictures, so you'll have to compromise anyway. Might as well add a projector to the mix.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: silverpig

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Quasmo

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
As I just mentioned in a different thread, I like to at least mention front projection as an option to consider.

If you have a dark room, that might be something you'd want to look into if you want something theatrical for your experience.

I know exactly how you feel... One you go front projection, you want to tell everyone. Gotta love it.

:thumbsup: this guy knows the score

I'm sure it's great, and I'd love to go that way eventually, but it'd have to be as a secondary theatre. Watching tv, doing homework/crosswords/whatever while watching etc is much better suited to at least a moderately-lit room.

But yeah, if I could have that AND a theatre, that'd be a sweet setup

Yeah, it helps that I don't really watch regular TV anymore I suppose I could use one of my 2007FPs as a TV if I wanted to though heh.

I agree that it's not an idea setup for casual / background watching though. When you want an at-home alternative to going out to the movies though, it's hard to beat

 

[Quasmo]

yeah, front projection is only decent in a moderately well lit room, if you install it in a room that can be lit well, you'll actually find yourself keeping all the lights off. I love my projector, but "almost" wish I had a crt projection TV for brighter conditions.

 

[DaveSimmons]

I briefly considered that Samsung, but this year's 42" has an inferior screen and electronics compared to the larger 720p models (according to AVSForum and other reviews).

I'd suggest a cheap plasma or a LCD for the 42" size, or go large and get a 46" or larger Samsung but not the 42".

I'm happy with my 50" 1080p Samsung, and it's been offered by Amazon recently _much_ cheaper than what I paid for it (model HLS-5087). 50" sounds big, but I find the size perfect at about a 7' distance.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
I briefly considered that Samsung, but this year's 42" has an inferior screen and electronics compared to the larger 720p models (according to AVSForum and other reviews).

Yep I would get the Samsung 46" over the 42" DLP

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000F2P31E/

 

[Midlander]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Quasmo

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
As I just mentioned in a different thread, I like to at least mention front projection as an option to consider.

If you have a dark room, that might be something you'd want to look into if you want something theatrical for your experience.

I know exactly how you feel... One you go front projection, you want to tell everyone. Gotta love it.

:thumbsup: this guy knows the score

Are you guys an item now??? :laugh: :beer:

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Midlander

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Quasmo

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
As I just mentioned in a different thread, I like to at least mention front projection as an option to consider.

If you have a dark room, that might be something you'd want to look into if you want something theatrical for your experience.

I know exactly how you feel... One you go front projection, you want to tell everyone. Gotta love it.

:thumbsup: this guy knows the score

Are you guys an item now??? :laugh: :beer:

Not afaik

 

[Unheard]

Ok, well the 46" was also an option I was looking at. Front projection is out of the question as it is going in a casual environment, not a hardcore theater. The reason I'm not looking @ 1080P is because of cost, and my eyes can't tell the difference on anything smaller than 60" or so.

Someone asked about the DVD. It was LOTR Twin Towers, and was an original DVD, not a backup.

 

[Unheard]

Update:

Went with the 46", got it home last night and hooked up the Comcast HD box and 360. All I can say is that picture quality is amazing in 720p, and is a world of difference over my Sony Wega 36" CRT. I highly recommend this TV to anyone looking in the $1000 range for a large screen.

 

[j00fek]

for the ck

 

[Reckoner]

Hmm... I have an amazon 25% off amex wishlist coupon that I could use towards this... is it really that good? Is the silver stand really that clunky looking?

 

[TheAdvocate]

I still cannot comprehend how large the DLP fanbase is on ATOT. The picture is subpar, the viewing angles are atrocious, and you have to buy a bulb every two years or so. Plus the thing is as big as a love seat and weighs more.

Flat panel plasmas and LCDs are so cheap now. DLP was just an affordable alternative "bridge" technology, but still has a loyal following after the products it competed with have dropped dramatically in price. Makes no sense whatsoever.

But at least 5 DLP owners will flame me for pointing this out. That's fine if you want to defend inferior technology that passionately. Whatever floats your boat.

 

[mzkhadir]

Originally posted by: TheAdvocate
I still cannot comprehend how large the DLP fanbase is on ATOT. The picture is subpar, the viewing angles are atrocious, and you have to buy a bulb every two years or so. Plus the thing is as big as a love seat and weighs more.

Flat panel plasmas and LCDs are so cheap now. DLP was just an affordable alternative "bridge" technology, but still has a loyal following after the products it competed with have dropped dramatically in price. Makes no sense whatsoever.

But at least 5 DLP owners will flame me for pointing this out. That's fine if you want to defend inferior technology that passionately. Whatever floats your boat.

I just bought the samsung 50 dlp 1080 hdtv. I haven't tried the 1080 yet but 720 does look amazing on it. The samsung weighed 66 lbs or less. It was very light to pick up and move.

 

[pmoa]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Quasmo

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
As I just mentioned in a different thread, I like to at least mention front projection as an option to consider.

If you have a dark room, that might be something you'd want to look into if you want something theatrical for your experience.

I know exactly how you feel... One you go front projection, you want to tell everyone. Gotta love it.

:thumbsup: this guy knows the score

I also decided to hold off on upgrading my television. The more research I do the more i like front projection, but this is going into a somewhat large bedroom, not in the living room. So the decision may be the 55" sony XBR LCoS with 1080p

 

[TheAdvocate]

Originally posted by: mzkhadir

Originally posted by: TheAdvocate
I still cannot comprehend how large the DLP fanbase is on ATOT. The picture is subpar, the viewing angles are atrocious, and you have to buy a bulb every two years or so. Plus the thing is as big as a love seat and weighs more.

Flat panel plasmas and LCDs are so cheap now. DLP was just an affordable alternative "bridge" technology, but still has a loyal following after the products it competed with have dropped dramatically in price. Makes no sense whatsoever.

But at least 5 DLP owners will flame me for pointing this out. That's fine if you want to defend inferior technology that passionately. Whatever floats your boat.

I just bought the samsung 50 dlp 1080 hdtv. I haven't tried the 1080 yet but 720 does look amazing on it. The samsung weighed 66 lbs or less. It was very light to pick up and move.

The HL-S5087W?

In all seriousness, message me again in 24 months when you have to shell out another $250 for a new bulb.

There is no perfect HDTV, but if I were gonna buy a projection set, I'd get an SXRD. As it is, I probably paid less for my 42" 1080p LCD than you paid for your Sammy.

 

[Unheard]

Originally posted by: TheAdvocate

Originally posted by: mzkhadir

Originally posted by: TheAdvocate
I still cannot comprehend how large the DLP fanbase is on ATOT. The picture is subpar, the viewing angles are atrocious, and you have to buy a bulb every two years or so. Plus the thing is as big as a love seat and weighs more.

Flat panel plasmas and LCDs are so cheap now. DLP was just an affordable alternative "bridge" technology, but still has a loyal following after the products it competed with have dropped dramatically in price. Makes no sense whatsoever.

But at least 5 DLP owners will flame me for pointing this out. That's fine if you want to defend inferior technology that passionately. Whatever floats your boat.

I just bought the samsung 50 dlp 1080 hdtv. I haven't tried the 1080 yet but 720 does look amazing on it. The samsung weighed 66 lbs or less. It was very light to pick up and move.

The HL-S5087W?

In all seriousness, message me again in 24 months when you have to shell out another $250 for a new bulb.

There is no perfect HDTV, but if I were gonna buy a projection set, I'd get an SXRD. As it is, I probably paid less for my 42" 1080p LCD than you paid for your Sammy.

You don't mention the fact the Plasma's have burn in, and both Plasmas and LCDs suck in rooms where you don't have low lighting scenarios. The bulb life on DLPs are expected @ 5 years. $200 every 5 years is not a deal breaker by any means. But $2000 every 2 years that your plasma gets burn in is.

As for being as big as a love seat, and weighing as much, have you ever seen and or picked up a DLP? Mine is no more than 1 1/2' thick and weighs in around 60lbs. I can pickup the side of the TV with 1 finger.