Recommend me some TV's

[goobernoodles]

I'm going to be looking for a TV within the next month or two. Looking for 50"+, not terrible in terms of glare (room has a massive window, and sunlight comes in - I should probably get thick curtains...) and within $1000-$2000. I'd like to stay on the lower end of that range.

I'm not sure what TYPE of TV I should go with as well, so some basics on that would be helpful as well.

 

[smitbret]

Plasma, plasma, plasma and get the thick curtains.

Samsung PN59D7000 @ $1,725.94 on Amazon. You can break into the service menu and turn it into a PN59D8000.

Leaves you some cash for the curtains.

If glare won't be an issue, there is simply no question where the bang for your buck is going to be and that's with plasma. Still the best picture quality available.

 

[thegimp03]

I'm a fan of the Panasonic 2011 3D lineup - VT30 (high end), GT30 (middle), ST30 (low, but very very close to the GT series). The deals on Amazon for the GT and ST have been very good, waiting for a deal where they offer the new 3d glasses for free packaged with the TV.

 

[Drako]

Plasma, plasma, plasma and get the thick curtains.

Get a Plasma, but not sure why you need thick curtains anymore. I certainly don't with mine.

edit: oh and get a Panasonic, not a Samsung.

 

[ImpulsE69]

I dont get the love for plasma, I have yet to see a plasma that had a picture I liked. Especially going over the 50" size.

 

[smitbret]

I dont get the love for plasma, I have yet to see a plasma that had a picture I liked. Especially going over the 50" size.

Have you ever checked one out that's not sitting next to an LCD in the showroom?

 

[Aikouka]

If you want a large TV on a budget, you can't go wrong with DLP. The ##738 and ##838 models also now natively support all 3D modes. Just a note, 738's do not support them out of the box. They must have their firmware upgraded, which can be done by you via a USB thumb drive. The 838's are fine.

http://www.amazon.com/Mitsubishi-WD-...2056841&sr=8-1

73" TV for ~$1350? Yes please!

 

[ImpulsE69]

Have you ever checked one out that's not sitting next to an LCD in the showroom?

Well, I have, and they are ok, but not any better than what I see in LCDs. I guess that is my point. You are GOING to compare them, even a CRT can look good off by itself with nothing to compare it to.

I'm not overly happy with LCDs either but I will say the higher end LED LCD's look pretty nice. I still think I'll go DLP though.

 

[smitbret]

Well, I have, and they are ok, but not any better than what I see in LCDs. I guess that is my point. You are GOING to compare them, even a CRT can look good off by itself with nothing to compare it to.

I'm not overly happy with LCDs either but I will say the higher end LED LCD's look pretty nice. I still think I'll go DLP though.

I just ask that because LCD/LED televisions, by nature, are brighter than plasma and because of that they are more eye-catching in the showroom. However, most of those tvs are in "blow-out" mode just for that reason and don't give a true idea of what it's really gonna look like in your living room or theater. A properly calibrated plasma will have truer and usually more vivid color, better highlight and shadow detail and a more "theater-like" picture than an LCD or LED/LCD. Only a local-dimming LED will be able to give you as even a picture from side-center-side and those will cost about 2-3x as much. If you talk to hard core theater buffs, sports fans and techno geeks, you'll find that 90% of them do their serious viewing on a plasma. I have a 26" LED in my bedroom that always impresses me when I watch it.... until I go upstairs and watch an HD feed on my plasma. There's other discussions like 120/240Hz and 3:2 pulldown issues that crop up with LCD/LED tvs, too. I have just never found a reason to not get a plasma except for glare and size availability issues.

That being said, if you are thinking immersive, large picture then DLP is by far the best bang for your buck. You can pick up a 73" DLP with awesome picture quality for nearly the same price as a 50" plasma with the same set of features. Make sure you check your viewing angles, though. Being off center is killer for DLP viewing. Check CostCo, because last time I'd read up on it, DLP TVs had a much higher failure rate than plasma and LCD/LED. The doubling of warranty that they do could be a good selling feature.

 

[videopho]

Being off center is killer for DLP viewing. Check CostCo, because last time I'd read up on it, DLP TVs had a much higher failure rate than plasma and LCD/LED. The doubling of warranty that they do could be a good selling feature.

73" DLP two years old and running...great!
Great for 3d gaming (PC) and 3d BR movies as well.
Will buy another in a heart beat may be a 92" this time around.

 

[ImpulsE69]

I have an "interested" preorder in for the 92" from a place that is supposedly having them for $4500. A number of people including myself have talked to the place and it is reputable and he claims that is the price, but we'll see when they come in. Google around and there is a forum that has the link to the place.

I have yet to convince the wife that we need a 92" though lol

One other thing of note I should probably point out: The new Diamond models (including the 92") have a glossy screen. From what I've read, the new pictures are much better on these than last years models, however they are highly reflective so if you have a lot of lighting you can't control, those models may not be for you. I am hoping we get one on display around here soon.
..

 

[goobernoodles]

If you want a large TV on a budget, you can't go wrong with DLP. The ##738 and ##838 models also now natively support all 3D modes. Just a note, 738's do not support them out of the box. They must have their firmware upgraded, which can be done by you via a USB thumb drive. The 838's are fine.

http://www.amazon.com/Mitsubishi-WD-...2056841&sr=8-1

73" TV for ~$1350? Yes please!

Intriguing...

How long do DLP TV's last? That, and where could I get a stand that would hold that beast? It needs a spot for a medium-large sized center channel speaker.

 

[Aikouka]

Fry's actually had a sweet deal the other day on the 82" Mitsubishi DLP for $1500. This is in-store only, and it looks like there's a Fry's in Renton, WA, which based on a Google Maps search is rather close to you.

http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/56310

I checked Fry's availability online and it said they still have them in stock if you're interested. You may want to call the store first to make sure. There were people in the thread that posted about the TVs being listed as available, but all that's left are floor models.

Intriguing...

How long do DLP TV's last? That, and where could I get a stand that would hold that beast? It needs a spot for a medium-large sized center channel speaker.

I own two DLPs and they've been fairly good to me. But one thing to keep in mind is that unlike a lot of TVs, DLPs DO have moving parts in them. The two different parts are the DMD Panel and the color wheel. You may find reports of either of these going bad, but it's not terribly common unless the TV is rather old. My DMD Panel was starting to go bad in my Samsung DLP (purchased in 12/2006), and I was able to repair it for ~$180.

Bulbs can also go, but for most people, they will last for 3+ years. For example, my Samsung is still on the original bulb after nearly 5 years. Replacement bulbs are around $80 to $100.

This is the TV stand that I use with my 65" DLP:

http://www.amazon.com/Techcraft-HBL6...dp/B00149XUZS/

It'd probably work even with an 82" DLP since only the stand portion of the TV (which is maybe 60% of the width of the TV) has to fit on the TV stand. The same company does sell a larger stand meant for 80" TVs, but it's also twice the price!

 

[gorb]

This is what I would buy if I had a 2k budget:
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-VIER...dp/B004MME76A/

+ some blackout drapes/other light control options.

But if you are looking for a HUGE display on the cheap, Mitsubishi DLP is the way to go.

 

[gar655]

DLPs offer a lot of screen for the price and look good as long as you sit directly in front of it and exactly in line horizontally. DLPs have near zero tolerance for off axis viewing. Plus they're not very bright- dimmer than plasma I think.

 

[the DRIZZLE]

I'd strongly advise against a DLP unless you need a monster size and don't have the budget for a plasma. They aren't even in the same league in terms of picture quality.

 

[smitbret]

I'd strongly advise against a DLP unless you need a monster size and don't have the budget for a plasma. They aren't even in the same league in terms of picture quality.

This is wrong.

 

[goobernoodles]

I ended up picking up a 60" Panasonic TC-60PS34 for ~$1200 after tax at Costco. I've only had a chance to watch a few minutes of Avatar and haven't even touched any color settings (if someone could direct me to directions on how to roughly calibrate a plasma, that'd be great) but so far, it's awesome. It didn't look as bright as LCD/LED's at the store, but it looks beautiful back in the house. Glare doesn't seem to be as much of an issue as I thought it would be. If anything the glossy LCD we had before was worse.

Batman Begins on Blue-Ray tonight to test out the system.

60" Panasonic TC-60PS34
Panasonic XR-55 Receiver
Onix X-MTM Mains
Onix X-CS Center
Onix X-LS Rears
HSU VTF-15H 15" Subwoofer

I'll take a picture tonight. Definitely need a new TV stand PRONTO.

 

[smitbret]

Congrats on the new purchase. Even though many people claim that it's unnecessary, it's not a bad idea to "break-in" your plasma. Check www.avsforum.com. They have some great guides on how to do this. You can also get settings to help calibrate your picture or you could pick up a calibration DVD. You'd be surprised at how much different it could look when it's done "right".

 

[goobernoodles]

Just watched Batman Begins. I'll let you guys know when the boner subsides. 4 hours is unsafe, right?

 

[gorb]

Haha. Nice tv, and nice system overall