Low End HDTV

[velillen]

Well i think its finally time i get a real TV. Currently i have been using a dell LCD computer monitor for my "tv". With two options in the "hot deals" section i figured it was time to go ahead and get a cheaper one. Now before you go and say to just get a more expensive one....this is basically just a hold me till i get a theater/better tv/whatever and at that point would probably just become a bedroom tv set. Not looking for super feature packed or anything, just something to "get me by" for now.

I guess the facts you need to help decide (if more info needed/wanted let me know!)

-The room is pretty dark. it is a basement but has a large window. Really sun only comes through in the morning and midday (mostly while i am at work) Night time light gets through but isnt direct light.

-Most of my viewing is via downloaded tv shows. Most are 720p. Some are standard def, so play back of SD should looks good too.

-Right now the only thing i would have hooked up is a PS3. The gf is probably getting a Wii for her birthday but other than that something will be used for watching tv off the pc. Be it direct computer hookup or through PS3 or whatever. There is no reciever/home theater set up as of yet

-Does need to do fairly well at gaming. PS3 gets a fair amount of use and i am sure the Wii will too at first.

-Handle sports well. Besides the 5 or 6 shows i watch most of my viewing is soccer game. So should handle those well (though im sure any will)

-Most of my media collection on the pc is 720p.

I think that should be enough for starters. Now the two tv's that really caught my interest.

Sanyo Plasma 42"
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sanyo-DP42...86414024586038

Proscan 40" lcd
http://www.walmart.com/ip/ProScan-40...er=SyIrj13jmG8

Like i mentioned definitely not the top end but for the price cant complain. Looking at newegg (not the best i know) shows most other 40" to be ~150-200 more.

So out of those two what would people recommend? Not really looking to spend much more than that though a few extra would be fine.

Thanks in advance!

 

[smitbret]

Well, I can get a Samsung PN42C450 for $499 at a local store right now. Guaranteed that it'll knock the socks of of either of thos tvs.

 

[velillen]

thats funny i was actually just about to post about that set. Been looking since the end of the Tottenham/man City game. Seems like stepping up to 500 is pretty worth it.

As for the Samsung, seems to be the choice for being on sales. Theres the PN42C450 for 499 or the step down model PN42C430 for ~$40 cheaper.

While i browse the AVS forum's....anything anyone minds sharing about plasmas? Have a LCD upstairs (a sony 40" from few years ago) so know a bit about lcd but nothign on the plasmas

 

[smitbret]

thats funny i was actually just about to post about that set. Been looking since the end of the Tottenham/man City game. Seems like stepping up to 500 is pretty worth it.

As for the Samsung, seems to be the choice for being on sales. Theres the PN42C450 for 499 or the step down model PN42C430 for ~$40 cheaper.

While i browse the AVS forum's....anything anyone minds sharing about plasmas? Have a LCD upstairs (a sony 40" from few years ago) so know a bit about lcd but nothign on the plasmas

Here's some quick thoughts on plasma tvs:

The glare can be pretty bad on the lower end plasmas, especially the Samsungs, so make sure you don't put one in a room with a lot of windows or harsh lighting.

They use more electricity than an LCD of similar size.

You can get image retention (which is not to be confused with burn-in). You'd have to abuse or totally neglect a modern plasma to get burn-in.

The "Buzz" problem and "lightening blacks" problems are way, way, way overblown.

The only LCDs that can really claim to match the picture quality of even the bottom rung Samsung and Panasonic plasmas are the local-dimming LED LCDs.

Panasonics do have better blacks, but Samsung will get you better color. Everyone else (except Pioneer) is playing catch-up.

Don't get hung up on 720p vs. 1080p unless you decide to get into the 46"+ televisions, then take your viewing distance into consideration.

An LCD will look better in the store because its picture is brighter. Don't be folled by this.

A fourth "yellow" pixel means NOTHING but oversaturated yellow.

Don't get caught up in comparing contrast ratios.

Plasma displays handle fast motion much, much, much better than LCD. An LCD with 120/240hz does not really equate better handling of motion and to many people, it makes the picture look really funny.

There have been no real, substantial advances in plasma technology for the last couple of years or so. Mostly just improved power consumption and reduction of burn-in. It is a mature technology and you probably won't have to worry about the lateset and greatest plasma feature that comes out next.

I migrated from a 47" LCD to a 50" Plasma about eight months ago. I'm still in awe when I power it up in a dark room.

Good luck.

 

[velillen]

Well i bought the Panasonic. Was actually pretty up in the air on the samsung PN42C450B1D and the Panny TC-P42C2. the Panasonic rep was at the best buy store so had him and the best buy guy answering all my questions. Panny guy was nice cause he showed all the menu's and crap that the BB guy didnt really know about.

Setting it up now so have to just wait a bit longer. Anything to know about breaking in a plasma?

 

[smitbret]

Well i bought the Panasonic. Was actually pretty up in the air on the samsung PN42C450B1D and the Panny TC-P42C2. the Panasonic rep was at the best buy store so had him and the best buy guy answering all my questions. Panny guy was nice cause he showed all the menu's and crap that the BB guy didnt really know about.

Setting it up now so have to just wait a bit longer. Anything to know about breaking in a plasma?

Good choice, I think you'll be far happier in the long run than you would have been with the Sanyo or ProScan. As far as break-in, go to www.avsforum.com and you'll find oodles of information and opinions on proper break-in. I think you can dig up a download site for a break-in DVD there, too.

The first couple hundred hours are the most important, so just try to avoid static images on it for too long. The biggest annoyance that I've run into is that SD 4:3 brodacasts on a 16:9 screen leave two latent lines on each side of the screen. It usually clears up after a few minutes of watching something fullscreen. Every so often, I liked to run scrolling bars for a few minutes to clear up any other potential IR. Otherwise, just sit back and enjoy. The tickers from ESPN, the Lifetime logo and the Xbar from my PS3 get stuck once in awhile, too. They go away with normal use. Like I said, just don't leave the same thing up for hours on end and you'll be fine.

 

[velillen]

Sweet thats pretty much what ive thought. Avs seems pretty split on break in. half seem to say theres no point on the newer plasmas. The other half still say you should. Got the warranty so meh ill just go with the straight into normal usage.

Did use custom settings from users on the avsforum which are quite nice, much better picture than standard. Only issue i have as of now is playing modern warfare 2 (ps3) it slightly cuts off the edges. Ingame the symbol for killstreak is cut off on right side and the time is cut off on left (only the minutes on time). The aspect is set to "full" though trying the others mostly made it worse cut off wise (which i suppose is expected with options like zoom)

 

[smitbret]

Sweet thats pretty much what ive thought. Avs seems pretty split on break in. half seem to say theres no point on the newer plasmas. The other half still say you should. Got the warranty so meh ill just go with the straight into normal usage.

Did use custom settings from users on the avsforum which are quite nice, much better picture than standard. Only issue i have as of now is playing modern warfare 2 (ps3) it slightly cuts off the edges. Ingame the symbol for killstreak is cut off on right side and the time is cut off on left (only the minutes on time). The aspect is set to "full" though trying the others mostly made it worse cut off wise (which i suppose is expected with options like zoom)

The only other break-in item you may want to be aware of is that Plasmas have a half-brightness threshold, typically 100,000 hours. That is, the phosphors in the plasma age and get dim over time. A half-brightness rating just tells you when you should expect it to be half as bright as when it was brand new. A lot of videophiles believe that if you take it easy and avoid too much brightness and contrast when the tv is new, your phosphors/tv will stay brighter longer. True or not..........???

 

[Gibson486]

Well, I can get a Samsung PN42C450 for $499 at a local store right now. Guaranteed that it'll knock the socks of of either of thos tvs.

yup. I bought it last night. You just have to work your ass off to find one without buzz.

Frys has it for 399.99 online, but shipping is $70. I think you can do in-store pick up.

Sears has it for 499.99 and you get a $50 gift card if you do the transaction online. If you do not want to do it online, you can have the option of using a sears card ans getting 10% off. if you do that, you do not get interest free financing though.

 

[0roo0roo]

There have been no real, substantial advances in plasma technology for the last couple of years or so. Mostly just improved power consumption and reduction of burn-in. It is a mature technology and you probably won't have to worry about the lateset and greatest plasma feature that comes out next.

Good luck.

hey well, kuro quality hasn't reached the low end plasma yet

 

[Drako]

hey well, kuro quality hasn't reached the low end plasma yet

Maybe next year Kuro quality will hit the high end again .

Anyway, good choice with the Panny OP :thumbsup:. Was looking at that TC-P42C2 this weekend to replace our 6 year old 720p 42" plasma.

 

[Gibson486]

Maybe next year Kuro quality will hit the high end again .

Anyway, good choice with the Panny OP :thumbsup:. Was looking at that TC-P42C2 this weekend to replace our 6 year old 720p 42" plasma.

Go up to the S2. Best Buy and Sears are discounting them heavily. When on sale, they are usually only $50 more than the C2.

 

[smitbret]

hey well, kuro quality hasn't reached the low end plasma yet

You got me on that one.

What I should have said was:

Plasmas have been around long enough that even a cheap plasma is still pretty good. Just wish Panansonic would do something with the Pioneer tech they picked up.