Poll: Plasma or LCD

[Schfifty Five]

Originally posted by: TheAdvocate

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: TheAdvocate
I used to be a big plasma fan, but then I bought a 26" Samsung LCD for my bedroom. I'm in love with it now. Just waiting for its big brother to come down in price a little.

This set has DNIe (ehh... it's not that noticeable), and an extremely high contrast ratio (3000:1) compared to most LCD TVs (most of the ones at CC & BB are 500:1). A typical higher quality plasma has a 5000:1 contract ratio (or higher) for comparison.

The speakers arent bad either. It easily fills the room with full sound (at low volume) and does a very good job synthesizing surround sound.

How much did you pay for your 26"? I think that would be the perfect size for our small computer room which currently has a 13" tube TV.

That 40" is beautiful but $$$$

$900, and no, I havent seen that deal again since I got it. It goes for about $1,000-$1,500 now. You may want to try the 23" model too - which is plenty big for a typical 12x10 room. You can get that one for about $750. Worth every penny, IMHO.

I have been eyeing the 26" Samsung as well. It looks damn beautiful and shoot, where did you get it for $900? shipping/tax included? What was the deal?

Also, just a side note, don't ever take Contrast Ratios as a factor. All companies use different ways of determining a "contrast ratio" so just b/c samsung says 3000:1 while another brand says 1000:1 doesn't mean the Samsung has better PQ. Sometimes comapnies will use a certain way to calculate contrast ratio and pad it some just so it looks good "zomg 5000:1 contrast".

 

[Vette73]

^

For a little more you can get a 37inch LCD

http://www.buydig.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=SYNLT37HVS

$12xx after rebate (includes shipping and no tax for out of state)

 

[TheAdvocate]

Originally posted by: Schfifty Five

Originally posted by: TheAdvocate

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: TheAdvocate
I used to be a big plasma fan, but then I bought a 26" Samsung LCD for my bedroom. I'm in love with it now. Just waiting for its big brother to come down in price a little.

This set has DNIe (ehh... it's not that noticeable), and an extremely high contrast ratio (3000:1) compared to most LCD TVs (most of the ones at CC & BB are 500:1). A typical higher quality plasma has a 5000:1 contract ratio (or higher) for comparison.

The speakers arent bad either. It easily fills the room with full sound (at low volume) and does a very good job synthesizing surround sound.

How much did you pay for your 26"? I think that would be the perfect size for our small computer room which currently has a 13" tube TV.

That 40" is beautiful but $$$$

$900, and no, I havent seen that deal again since I got it. It goes for about $1,000-$1,500 now. You may want to try the 23" model too - which is plenty big for a typical 12x10 room. You can get that one for about $750. Worth every penny, IMHO.

I have been eyeing the 26" Samsung as well. It looks damn beautiful and shoot, where did you get it for $900? shipping/tax included? What was the deal?

Also, just a side note, don't ever take Contrast Ratios as a factor. All companies use different ways of determining a "contrast ratio" so just b/c samsung says 3000:1 while another brand says 1000:1 doesn't mean the Samsung has better PQ. Sometimes comapnies will use a certain way to calculate contrast ratio and pad it some just so it looks good "zomg 5000:1 contrast".

I bought it online - I cant remember the name now, but it was one of the bigger online vendors that specialized in LCD Tvs. I researched feedback on them for about a week before I bought it. Dont think I paid shipping, or if I did, it wasnt much, because the TV is pretty light for its size. Got it in about 3 days, no hassles, and it really was plug and play, about 10 minutes from my doorstep to being setup. I also bought an HDMI upconverter DVD player with it, but I think that was a waste of $. Ive watched DVDs at default and upconverted resolution and I cant tell the difference.

As for that 37" Syntax set - I'm sure it's a great deal and a good set, but I don't care for its looks and I wont buy something that I havent seen in a couple of stores first hand. I remember seeing the Samsung at CC, and the picture really stood out from the other LCD sets of similar size. Saw it somewhere else and got the same impression, just to be sure that it wasn't a setup issue at CC. Anyway, it's a great TV. I'm sure there are better ones, but this one wont leave you feeling ripped off.

 

[Dulanic]

Originally posted by: mindmaniac
This thread is hard to read, don't take most of these yahoos advice.

"Plasma does not burn in...once in awhile when u turn the TV on, you'll be able to see a logo you were watching last night for a couple of seconds before it disappears, but it's *never* perm."
While I favor Plasma technology, they can have permanent burn in. While normal TV viewers will probably never have to worry about it, I'm sure having a static image on there for two weeks will cause permanent burn in.

"They don?t last nearly as long as other types of tv's, namely, LCD rear projection, the technology had not been refined enough yet."
Bull, have you ever factored in the bulb life of an LCD projection TV. The bulbs are only rated for around 2,000 hours half lives now with a steep $300+ price per bulb. Almost all current plasmas now are rated with a half-life of 60,000 hours. Let me do the math genius. Five hours of viewing a day.
Plasma = 32 years worth of viewing with an initial cost of say $2,600 for a great HDTV
LCD Projection = 1.095 years of viewing per bulb to get 32 years worth that would use 29 bulbs at say a very generous $150 = $4,350 worth of bulbs + the initial $1,800 for the TV.
Any third grader could obviously see that and LCD projection doesn't last as long and value doesn't exist. The same could also be said about DLP. Sure while you don't have to worry about burn in with these TVs changing a bulb every 2,000 hours seems to have a definite disadvantage.

Now to the matter of plasma or an actual LCD display. Two years ago I may have said LCD hands down since Plasma technology was lacking (short life, burn in) but now it really seems to have the advantage. Picture quality is absolutely stunning on these devices, even an EDTV if money is a factor and it is only being used for casual TV viewing. As far as I know all EDTV will accept the HD signal they just won't display it in 780 or 1080 lines, for parents they probably will never see the difference. LCDs though in the small application you are speaking about may be the best idea. And the smaller the LCD screen the better they seem to look. Most ghosting problems are gone now with current models and you don't have to worry about burn in.

Sorry I can't make a definite decision for you, and I hope I don't offend anyone too much but it needed to be said. Just because the guy at Best Buy told you something it doesn't make you an expert, in fact it's probably the wrong information.

While most of what you say is true... some of it is off too. Specifically LCD Rear Projections, where the hell did you hear 2000 hours for a lamp? It is typically 6-8000 hours, that is a ton more then the 2000 your saying.

Alot of the older front projectors had 2000 hour or so lamp life, but the DLP + LCD + LCoS rear projections for the past 2 years have offered atleast 6000 hours.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: saahmed
I would recommend LCD rear projection. But if it must be hung on the wall, definitely get LCD. It will last much longer. The plasmas have awesome colors and brightness. But, you most likely will not find a plasma HDTV. Most plasmas are only EDTV, which is the same quality as a progressive scan DVD. Also, the plasma we have for sale at my store is blurry around the edges of objects. The LCD's have very good picture quality and will last long as well, and they are much cheaper. But, make sure it says HDTV on it, though none of them have the built in tuner.

And we're off with another ATOT misinformation thread!!!

wahoo!

that being said from a display technology plasma is indeed superior if done well in terms of color depth, black level and yes even longevity. I find it difficult to believe one would be hard pressed to find a plasma HDTV.

the one thing LCD has going for it is price however.

That's the thing about plasmas, if enough people repeat lies others eventually believe them to be true.

Plasma's are cheaper than LCD's? really? that i'd like to see, most of the HDTV's i've been looking at, LCD's are the most expensive per inch.

of course i haven't seen many LCD's in excess of 42" either.

but in the 30 to 36" category, i'd go LCD without question.

 

[ivol07]

My vote: 37" Panasonic Plasma TH-37PX50.

8th Generation Panasonic Plasmas are great. Don't really have to worry about burn in anymore (unless obviously you leave you TV on a static image for hours at a time), colors are better than LCD, and blacks are WAY better than LCD. Just better PQ all together IMO.

Also, how far is your mother going to be sitting from this TV? She might not need an HDTV, if she's sitting 9 or more feet away I'll bet she won't be able to tell the difference from an EDTV. And it'll save her about $1k. I'm sure your mother is more interested in a good picture than being able to brag to her friends that she has a 1080p TV.

Edit: The best thing for you to do is read up (AVS Forums) and go down to a few stores and look at the models you're considering. All the specs don't really mean crap until you actually see how they look in person at the distance you'll be viewing at.

 

[RossMAN]

I really wish the Samsung 26" was closer to $799.

Our Westinghouse 32" LCD is nice but perhaps a little large for our small 12x10 room.

 

[mindmaniac]

Originally posted by: Dulanic

Originally posted by: mindmaniac
This thread is hard to read, don't take most of these yahoos advice.

"Plasma does not burn in...once in awhile when u turn the TV on, you'll be able to see a logo you were watching last night for a couple of seconds before it disappears, but it's *never* perm."
While I favor Plasma technology, they can have permanent burn in. While normal TV viewers will probably never have to worry about it, I'm sure having a static image on there for two weeks will cause permanent burn in.

"They don?t last nearly as long as other types of tv's, namely, LCD rear projection, the technology had not been refined enough yet."
Bull, have you ever factored in the bulb life of an LCD projection TV. The bulbs are only rated for around 2,000 hours half lives now with a steep $300+ price per bulb. Almost all current plasmas now are rated with a half-life of 60,000 hours. Let me do the math genius. Five hours of viewing a day.
Plasma = 32 years worth of viewing with an initial cost of say $2,600 for a great HDTV
LCD Projection = 1.095 years of viewing per bulb to get 32 years worth that would use 29 bulbs at say a very generous $150 = $4,350 worth of bulbs + the initial $1,800 for the TV.
Any third grader could obviously see that and LCD projection doesn't last as long and value doesn't exist. The same could also be said about DLP. Sure while you don't have to worry about burn in with these TVs changing a bulb every 2,000 hours seems to have a definite disadvantage.

Now to the matter of plasma or an actual LCD display. Two years ago I may have said LCD hands down since Plasma technology was lacking (short life, burn in) but now it really seems to have the advantage. Picture quality is absolutely stunning on these devices, even an EDTV if money is a factor and it is only being used for casual TV viewing. As far as I know all EDTV will accept the HD signal they just won't display it in 780 or 1080 lines, for parents they probably will never see the difference. LCDs though in the small application you are speaking about may be the best idea. And the smaller the LCD screen the better they seem to look. Most ghosting problems are gone now with current models and you don't have to worry about burn in.

Sorry I can't make a definite decision for you, and I hope I don't offend anyone too much but it needed to be said. Just because the guy at Best Buy told you something it doesn't make you an expert, in fact it's probably the wrong information.

While most of what you say is true... some of it is off too. Specifically LCD Rear Projections, where the hell did you hear 2000 hours for a lamp? It is typically 6-8000 hours, that is a ton more then the 2000 your saying.

Alot of the older front projectors had 2000 hour or so lamp life, but the DLP + LCD + LCoS rear projections for the past 2 years have offered atleast 6000 hours.

Every quote I've seen on a spec sheet has still rated them at an average of around 2-3 k hours. I'm not too stubborn to admit that I may be wrong, technology does change. The one thing I fear most of current DLP/LCD projection TVs though is the supply of these bulbs in say 5 - 15 years?

 

[rh71]

I went to BestBuy to check out what's out there these days... the Plasma HDTVs are ridiculously SWEET. Better color and sharpness than the LCD counterparts. But as already mentioned, the difference is price. I'd go for the LCD if I were buying for your mom, but if it were up to me, plasma, baby.

 

[Schfifty Five]

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: saahmed
I would recommend LCD rear projection. But if it must be hung on the wall, definitely get LCD. It will last much longer. The plasmas have awesome colors and brightness. But, you most likely will not find a plasma HDTV. Most plasmas are only EDTV, which is the same quality as a progressive scan DVD. Also, the plasma we have for sale at my store is blurry around the edges of objects. The LCD's have very good picture quality and will last long as well, and they are much cheaper. But, make sure it says HDTV on it, though none of them have the built in tuner.

And we're off with another ATOT misinformation thread!!!

wahoo!

that being said from a display technology plasma is indeed superior if done well in terms of color depth, black level and yes even longevity. I find it difficult to believe one would be hard pressed to find a plasma HDTV.

the one thing LCD has going for it is price however.

That's the thing about plasmas, if enough people repeat lies others eventually believe them to be true.

Plasma's are cheaper than LCD's? really? that i'd like to see, most of the HDTV's i've been looking at, LCD's are the most expensive per inch.

of course i haven't seen many LCD's in excess of 42" either.

but in the 30 to 36" category, i'd go LCD without question.

Ummm....did you just contradict yourself?

 

[fstime]

Plasma > LCD in picture qaulity, PERIOD. I know first hand the blacks on a LCD will simply not look right, it's mostly noticable if the TV is displaying a shadowy area. Personally, I didn't care much for the greens either.

With some of the new Plasmas, burn in is no longer such a major issue.

 

[JacobJ]

lcd

 

[Aktham]

wait for SED

 

[LukFilm]

Plasma. I have 50'' HP PL5000N and it's amazing.

 

[LikeLinus]

Plasma by far. Picture quality puts LCD and DLP to shame. My family and I LOVE our 50"!

 

[ShadoWing]

LCD definitely. Plasma gets burn in...spend the lil extra for an lcd it's worth it

oh, and definitely get High Definition too....that's definitely worth it for the movies