Good tv for $1k

[Knavish]

Hey guys

Sorry for the annoying, "What's the best TV I can buy for $1000?" type questions. Hopefully you can give me some pointers. I've been trying to keep my eyes open for 2-3 weeks looking for a hot deal, but I really haven't seen anything that really stands out. I'm using it mainly for movies and console video games.

What I'd like:

• 46"-50" screen -- don't have room or $$ for much more
• 1080p -- probably not much visibly better than a 720p, but why not?
• LCD or Plasma -- Plasma is probably a better pic for the $$$ & people don't seem at all concerned with burn-in anymore. A local-dimming LCD would be cool, but I bet they're above my price range.
• 3D -- Personally, I think it's total crap I definitely don't want to pay extra for it.
• Net Connectivity -- It would be very convenient to stream Netflix. It's not worth more than ~$100, or else I'd buy a Roku, iTV, or HTPC. Nothing seems to stream Hulu, so I imagine I'll need to hook up a laptop or HTPC in any case.
• Ports -- I don't have any existing components, so I guess 3+ HDMI would be best.

What I see in the deals today:
LG 50PK250 50" 1080p 600Hz Plasma (from Anandtech Hot Deals)
-- $800
-- Cons: Only 2 HDMI, no network, seems like a *really* low end model.

LG 50PK550 50" 1080p 600Hz Plasma (Newegg)
-- $875
-- Cons: Must be same as above, but playing an extra $75 for a 3rd HDMI

Panasonic VIERA TC-P50G25 50-Inch 1080p (Amazon)
-- $965
-- Pros: Supports streaming media
-- Cons: $65 wireless adapter, Panasonic's black level problem last year
-- the 46" model is MORE EXPENSIVE than the 50

Samsung PN50C550 50" Class / 1080p / 600Hz / Plasma HDTV (Best Buy / Amazon)
-- $999 with a "free" bluray player
-- Cons: no streaming support, but that is supported by the wired bluray player. Maybe I could ebay the player for $100.

I'm trying to add some LCD's to this list. It seems hard to find LED LCDs that are > 42" for less than ~$1250. It seems like Plasma & LED LCD are on the same level, but the CFL-backlight LCDs are perhaps a step down?

Thanks for any advice!

 

[velillen]

I cant really help but just remember with Plasma's you really need to be able to control the light. bright rooms suck. Well if you can position it in a way to acoid the light coming in.

 

[Knavish]

I cant really help but just remember with Plasma's you really need to be able to control the light. bright rooms suck. Well if you can position it in a way to acoid the light coming in.

Is this because Plasmas are glossy or are LCDs just brighter?

 

[alcoholbob]

You did good. I've seen guys with titles of "I want the best [insert device] possible".

And then react in shock when people offer high end suggestions. "Are you guys crazy? Who spends that much money! I want I have like $200."

 

[poofyhairguy]

Just as a suggestion, I just recently bought a Samsung PN50C6500 from Amazon. It would meet all your requirements - 4 HDMI, streams Netflix, super thin, 2010 model, and is close to your price range. I love mine.

Currently the 6500 is $1199 on Amazon, but I got it for $1123 shipped the other day, and it was at that price not that long before that:

http://camelcamelcamel.com/product/B0036WT3XY

If you are willing to wait a week or two until the 6500 drops back down to that price then you will have everything you want. I wouldn't trade mine for any in its price range, and I really went looking locally at the listed TVs before I made my decision.

 

[alkemyst]

I cant really help but just remember with Plasma's you really need to be able to control the light. bright rooms suck. Well if you can position it in a way to acoid the light coming in.

It's a bit overrated...people survived with the same issues on CRT screens for decades.

A crappy LCD will also be washed out by overly bright sun coming in.

 

[velillen]

Is this because Plasmas are glossy or are LCDs just brighter?

The screens just seem more reflective. i dont know the terminology to use. My panny when turned off is like a freakin mirror. I can see me in the screen and the room. Just imagine if the sun was shining on it

 

[Anubis]

It's a bit overrated...people survived with the same issues on CRT screens for decades.

This, however some plasmas are worse then others, but nothing is worse then a CRT was/is

 

[Knavish]

...and this is what makes me worry about plasmas (from the Samsung PN50CN6500):

Displaying stationary graphics and images on screen, such as the dark sidebars on no expanded standard format
television video and programming, should be limited to no more than 5% of the total television viewing per week.
Additionally, viewing other stationary images and text such as stock market reports, video game displays, station logos, web sites or computer graphics
and patterns, should be limited as described above for all televisions.​

I bolded that txt btw. I realize this type of text appears in any plasma's manual, not just the Samsung. Maybe I should consider LCDs more.

 

[Anubis]

what do you plan on doing with your TV? burn in and image retention are not massive issues anymore,

90% of my TV use is gaming and my plasma is fine

 

[Knavish]

what do you plan on doing with your TV? burn in and image retention are not massive issues anymore,

90% of my TV use is gaming and my plasma is fine

Up to 50% gaming, the rest would be video.

I suppose this warning is more for people who would try to use it as a static computer desktop / billboard. It's just that 5% that scares me. I suppose there are many, many people out there who use these for gaming for more than 8 hrs a week. (If you left the tv on 24/7, then you're only officially allowed to game for 8.4 hrs a week with that 5% warning.)

 

[velillen]

I can tell you with my plasma (panny tc-p42c2) i have had no issues with burn in/IR. I play a lot of CoD MW2 for reference. Every so often you can notice left over elements but once you play a different video file or change menus they go away. And those elements are very faint, like i have to be less than 2 feet away to see them. I know my tv also includes "image scubber" that is just a white line that scrolls accross the tv. I'll run it if i have been playing a crap ton.

 

[velillen]

It's a bit overrated...people survived with the same issues on CRT screens for decades.

A crappy LCD will also be washed out by overly bright sun coming in.

All i know on that is when i had my plasma i first just set it up. The sun was coming through the window directly at the screen and i could hrdly see anything. Our LCD upstairs (and older sony) is in the same orientation with more window exposure and can handle the sun much better. Downstairs it was unwatchable. upstairs LCD it more than watchable.

Of course once i put the plasma where it would go, which is on the wall with the window (ie no direct sunlight possible) it became watchable at all time.

 

[Mermaidman]

I just bought this Panasonic plasma for $850 delivered. Very pleased so far. I'm glad I went with plasma instead of paying more for LCD/LED.

Panasonic S and G series have an anti-reflective layer that works quite well. My living rm has lots of sun, but even so, reflections are minimal. (LG plasmas have terrible reflections, and the difference compared to the Panasonic was easily evident when I compared them at Frys.)

 

[Anubis]

I just bought this Panasonic plasma for $850 delivered. Very pleased so far. I'm glad I went with plasma instead of paying more for LCD/LED.

Panasonic S and G series have an anti-reflective layer that works quite well. My living rm has lots of sun, but even so, reflections are minimal. (LG plasmas have terrible reflections, and the difference compared to the Panasonic was easily evident when I compared them at Frys.)

I dont remember if its all LG models but the PK550 is a mirror the 950 might be better

 

[Gibson486]

I would not discount the LG for being a "low end model".

That Samsung is a 5 series. For 1080p TV, that is Samsung's low end model also.

 

[dbk]

sony kdl46ex701 sam's club $1k

 

[Knavish]

I would not discount the LG for being a "low end model".

That Samsung is a 5 series. For 1080p TV, that is Samsung's low end model also.

Yeah I would think the screen itself is the same quality for a whole range of models. I think that most plasma vendors sell *maybe* two different models of 50" screens. Based on these two screens, the separate several different 50" TVs by changing features like # of inputs, ability to stream, remote, etc.

It looks like LG has a 600 Hz 3,000,000:1 screen in the 50PK250, 50PK540, 50PK550, and 50PK750. The 50PK950 says 5,000,000:1, so maybe it's a different screen.

The features change as:

• 50PK250: $800 2xHDMI (seems like an odd model b/c it is not available on LG's English language site)
• 50PK540: $798+99s&h same as previous + 1 HDMI
• 50PK550: $870 same as previous+ USB Media Input
• 50PK750: $920 same as previous + 1 HDMI + Network Streaming + "THX Certification"
• 50PK950: $1345 same as previous + upgraded contrast (maybe a different coating, maybe just software?), includes wireless internet dongle

 

[Narmer]

Those Panasonic black level issues were highly overrated. Sensationalism at its worst. Samsungs are ok. Stay away from LGs if you value quality. Now that Pioneer is out of the plasma game, Panasonic is seen by many as the best.

 

[Anubis]

it was not overrated when you could measure and see the 3x increase in black level

they seemed to have fixed it for 2010, or at least extended the amount of time it takes to happen, Cnet has their G series over 1500 hours with no BL rise

Floating blacks is a new issue, G series and lower, can be very annoying depending on how sensitive you are to it and what you use the TV for

 

[djnsmith7]

I own a 58" Samsung plasma & a 42" Insignia plasma, which is actually a Samsung & they're both excellent displays. Samsung makes incredible products & I haven't seen anyone beat them yet.

Plasmas produce the most natural pictures I've seen on a display. LCD is always playing catch up to that & the marketing mumbo jumbo (120hz vs 240hz) hasn't fooled me yet.

LED is a different story. Kind of a cross between a plasma & LCD, with a picture superior to LCD & borderline plasma, with more "pop", if you will.

Stare at both for a while. See if you can get a store to play the same scenes of the same movie on both types & decide for yourself.

 

[Knavish]

I own a 58" Samsung plasma & a 42" Insignia plasma, which is actually a Samsung & they're both excellent displays. Samsung makes incredible products & I haven't seen anyone beat them yet.

Plasmas produce the most natural pictures I've seen on a display. LCD is always playing catch up to that & the marketing mumbo jumbo (120hz vs 240hz) hasn't fooled me yet.

LED is a different story. Kind of a cross between a plasma & LCD, with a picture superior to LCD & borderline plasma, with more "pop", if you will.

Stare at both for a while. See if you can get a store to play the same scenes of the same movie on both types & decide for yourself.

I'm still wondering if edge lit LED is comparable to plasma. I suppose I need to go to a store and take a look.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

I just bought this Panasonic plasma for $850 delivered. Very pleased so far. I'm glad I went with plasma instead of paying more for LCD/LED.

Panasonic S and G series have an anti-reflective layer that works quite well. My living rm has lots of sun, but even so, reflections are minimal. (LG plasmas have terrible reflections, and the difference compared to the Panasonic was easily evident when I compared them at Frys.)

JR.com charges $140 for standard 3-5 day shipping. You would be remiss to not buy from Amazon which is $900 but with free shipping.

 

[airdata]

I don't have model numbers..... But I walked into SAM's Club the other night and was immediately drawn to the tv's.

This Philips 40'' LED was really nice. About $800. T hen I walked around the corner and there was a Samsung 40'' LED model about $850... Very very nice.

There are lots of deals out there though w\ the LED's and 3d sets coming out. You can easily get a 50'' plasma for $700ish

 

[Mermaidman]

JR.com charges $140 for standard 3-5 day shipping. You would be remiss to not buy from Amazon which is $900 but with free shipping.

Hmm--J&R had free shipping when I ordered two weeks ago, and the price was actually less than $850 at that time. I guess free shipping is not a given for that vendor.