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Suggestions for a HDTV

S

SCSIfreek

Diamond Member
I might be purchasing a HDTV in the 42" or 50" range. I'm in no hurry but would like some of the ATOT HDTV experts to jump in and give me some recommendations. I've been reading up on the basic stuff on each and every technology but couldn't decide on what I should buy. Price range Max out at $5000 not a penny more but would loved to stay under $3000.

Things I'll be doing with my TV and my situation are as follow:

Watch local news and shows. (not often as I don't have much time other than weekends for 1 or 2 hours)
Watch DVDs <---rarely but it won't hurt to get something that could produce 16:9, 720p, 1080i, have DVI input, etc.
Might get a Xbox to test out the HD quality just for kicks.
Not a big fan of sports nor interested in getting HD cable ATM. But things could change.
Living room is 12'x12.5' <---Small living room.


I'm getting mix feelings about things like replacement lamps for projection TVs, calibration issues, black being gray, rainbow effect, etc.. After reading all thsse new technologies coming out, I'm more confused rather than informed. so I have came in here to ask for your help.

Here are couple things I pickedup while reading AVForums:

*lots of good comments on Samsung DLPs but reports of rainbow effect.
*Great things about Mitsubishi TVs in General.
*Sony are way overpriced.
*Hitachi are considered problem free in general.
*Toshiba are considered best bang for the bucks.
*Plasma are short lived not to mention overpriced.
*LCD are in a transition into bigger screens, plus common knowledge of trail effect, response time are too high, perhaps something <16ms would be great but cost a arm and leg.
*LCos(sp!) is new technology coming out which should be interesting.
*next best thing to get is a DVD player with DVI out put.


Add your comments 🙂 thanks in advance.
--Scsi


 
DLP is still the best even with all those problems you mentioned. They're not quite in the <$3k range yet, but should be this year.

Personally, I'll be waiting for a 1080p DLP before I jump in.
 
Originally posted by: Doggiedog
Hitachi 53SWX20B
Click to expand...
I think you mean Hitachi 51SWX20B... they don't make it in 53" 😉
This would be the one I recommend... simply because I own it. Havn't had a problem with it and it works great for my local news (in HD) and Xbox games (and ofcourse everything else as well).
FYI *most* Xbox games aren't HD... they're 480P just like progressive DVDs. NOT HD quality but do look better than 480i (reg TV).
 
Wag, you don't think LCoS will replace DLP? Toshiba already has a 1080p LCoS set for $5999.99!

As for SCSIfreek, I'd look into a 55" Mitsubishi Silver Plus RPTV, have it ISF calibrated and pickup either a DirecTV or a DISH HDTV receiver (or see if your local cable company offers HD service) and you're set!!

All of that (including the calibration) should bring you in at no more than $3500.
 
Originally posted by: Mutilator
Originally posted by: Doggiedog
Hitachi 53SWX20B
Click to expand...
I think you mean Hitachi 51SWX20B... they don't make it in 53" 😉
This would be the one I recommend... simply because I own it. Havn't had a problem with it and it works great for my local news (in HD) and Xbox games (and ofcourse everything else as well).
FYI Xbox games aren't HD... they're 480P just like progressive DVDs. NOT HD quality but do look better than 480i (reg TV).
Click to expand...

FYI, there are *some* games that are in 720p or 1080i. 🙂
 
I think you are wrong in your opinion of plasmas. There are lots of crappy plasmas out there, but you can get the latest and greatest Panasonic 42" EDTV panel for under $3000 shipped to your door. Granted, it will scale down HDTV sources (which may not be acceptable to you) but many (if not most) people are saying that from normal viewing distances (8-10 feet) you can't tell the difference between EDTV and HDTV resolution.

The latest round of Pannys have the best contrast ratio in the plasma world and have been pretty-much universally acclaimed.

Of course plasma is my only option due to space constraints in my living room. It would be nice to be able to consider other options, but such is life. Fortunately, that Panny EDTV is damn amazing (even regardless of the "cool" factor).

I made the mistake of buying a cheap panel a few months ago (jumped on the Planar 42" when Dell had a sale). That thing was awful. Fortunately it also had a defect so Dell paid for the return shipping (likely $100 or more) and gave me a full refund. I learned my lesson there. All plasmas are not created equal. But if you want the best 42" panel available, all signs point to Panny. The Pioneer 50" panels are also pretty-much universally liked.

l2c
 
Originally posted by: conjur
Originally posted by: Mutilator
Originally posted by: Doggiedog
Hitachi 53SWX20B
Click to expand...
I think you mean Hitachi 51SWX20B... they don't make it in 53" 😉
This would be the one I recommend... simply because I own it. Havn't had a problem with it and it works great for my local news (in HD) and Xbox games (and ofcourse everything else as well).
FYI Xbox games aren't HD... they're 480P just like progressive DVDs. NOT HD quality but do look better than 480i (reg TV).
Click to expand...

FYI, there are *some* games that are in 720p or 1080i. 🙂
Click to expand...
Yah I know... guess I should have said *most* games aren't HD. 😉


 
Originally posted by: luv2chill
I think you are wrong in your opinion of plasmas. There are lots of crappy plasmas out there, but you can get the latest and greatest Panasonic 42" EDTV panel for under $3000 shipped to your door. Granted, it will scale down HDTV sources (which may not be acceptable to you) but many (if not most) people are saying that from normal viewing distances (8-10 feet) you can't tell the difference between EDTV and HDTV resolution.
Click to expand...
WTH is saying that??? They're morons!

EDTV is 480p (or, the same as progressive scan DVD).

I can tell a whale of a difference between a DVD at 480p and the same movie on, say, HBO HD or Showtime HD. BIG difference!
 
Originally posted by: conjur
Originally posted by: luv2chill
I think you are wrong in your opinion of plasmas. There are lots of crappy plasmas out there, but you can get the latest and greatest Panasonic 42" EDTV panel for under $3000 shipped to your door. Granted, it will scale down HDTV sources (which may not be acceptable to you) but many (if not most) people are saying that from normal viewing distances (8-10 feet) you can't tell the difference between EDTV and HDTV resolution.
Click to expand...
WTH is saying that??? They're morons!

EDTV is 480p (or, the same as progressive scan DVD).

I can tell a whale of a difference between a DVD at 480p and the same movie on, say, HBO HD or Showtime HD. BIG difference!
Click to expand...
Probably a FOX employee. We all know FOX Enhanced Widescreen football is just as good as true 1080i HDTV football right? Right???
rolleye.gif

😉


 
Originally posted by: Mutilator
Originally posted by: conjur
Originally posted by: luv2chill
I think you are wrong in your opinion of plasmas. There are lots of crappy plasmas out there, but you can get the latest and greatest Panasonic 42" EDTV panel for under $3000 shipped to your door. Granted, it will scale down HDTV sources (which may not be acceptable to you) but many (if not most) people are saying that from normal viewing distances (8-10 feet) you can't tell the difference between EDTV and HDTV resolution.
Click to expand...
WTH is saying that??? They're morons!

EDTV is 480p (or, the same as progressive scan DVD).

I can tell a whale of a difference between a DVD at 480p and the same movie on, say, HBO HD or Showtime HD. BIG difference!
Click to expand...
Probably a FOX employee. We all know FOX Enhanced Widescreen football is just as good as true 1080i HDTV football right? Right???
rolleye.gif

😉
Click to expand...

I was about to edit my post and include the uproar caused by FOX's then-decision to do 480p for football 😉
 
Originally posted by: conjur
WTH is saying that??? They're morons!

EDTV is 480p (or, the same as progressive scan DVD).

I can tell a whale of a difference between a DVD at 480p and the same movie on, say, HBO HD or Showtime HD. BIG difference!
Click to expand...
Don't shoot the messenger! If you go to the plasma forum on avs you will see tons of people who have done head-to-head comparisons who say that a 42" HDTV panel and a 42" EDTV panel really don't look much different at 8-10'. Others do, but not the majority (from what I've read).

I think the difference is that the source material is 1080 or 720 scaled down (and Panny has a helluva scaler) versus native 480 source material. Or maybe it boils down to seeing what you want to see. I dunno as I have not been fortunate enough to do a direct comparison. I'm just reporting on what people have said over there.

At the same time, someone who uses the set for mostly DVD viewing would be better off going EDTV due to the resolution matching up practically pixel for pixel.

Of course all of this is moot if you're talking about non-fixed-pixel displays (which I suspect you are). Native resolution is unfortunately a fact of life with LCDs and Plasma, but scalers can do remarkable things.

l2c

 
Originally posted by: BigSmooth
Looks like benchiu got a good deal on a new 50" Panasonic LCD if that interests you.
Click to expand...

Yes I have looked at the Panasonic LCD multimedia. It didn't impress me a bit other than the size and cost. Don't get me wrong as this Panny has lots of great features and hands down the best deal for a 50" LCD RPTV. I'm looking for more options. 🙂 If my budgets are tight on $3000 then the Panny LCD would be my first choice but If i could get a Plasma for $4000 I might have to think about it. thanks for the info BigSmooth


--Scsi
 
LCOS or DLP, fixed pixel displays are the large screens are going.

I haven't seen a LCOS display yet, but the Samsung DLP I saw blew me away. For all my uses, HDTV, DVD, PC and XBox gaming, it seems the almost perfect solution. On top of that they're light and easy to move. My current 30" 16:9 CRT weighs almost 200lbs! 1080p support would make them perfect.

I suspect 1080p DLP displays will be <$3000 in 18-24mos.
 
Remember, the Samsung DLPs are fixed @ 720p, which is good, but sort of a compromise. 720p fixed pixel is just a stopping point, DLPs @ 1080p will be the standard.
 
since you say you don't watch DVDs very often I think you should definitely make sur eyou can get a decent HDTV signal where you live. There's no point spending that much on a TV right now if you can only get a few channels. If you watched DVDs it'd be a different story since some people (like myself) bought an HDTV almost exclusively for watching DVDs. I've yet to watch any HDTV on my set due to availability and the expense of the set top boxes.
 
Originally posted by: Shiva112
since you say you don't watch DVDs very often I think you should definitely make sur eyou can get a decent HDTV signal where you live. There's no point spending that much on a TV right now if you can only get a few channels. If you watched DVDs it'd be a different story since some people (like myself) bought an HDTV almost exclusively for watching DVDs. I've yet to watch any HDTV on my set due to availability and the expense of the set top boxes.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah...meant to mention that in my original post. I saw the profile as SCSIfreek being in CA and assumed he had a good shot at getting reception.
 
Originally posted by: Wag
Remember, the Samsung DLPs are fixed @ 720p, which is good, but sort of a compromise. 720p fixed pixel is just a stopping point, DLPs @ 1080p will be the standard.
Click to expand...
That's all fine and good, but what sources are out there (or will be in the future) that play at 1080p?
 
Originally posted by: conjur
Originally posted by: Shiva112
since you say you don't watch DVDs very often I think you should definitely make sur eyou can get a decent HDTV signal where you live. There's no point spending that much on a TV right now if you can only get a few channels. If you watched DVDs it'd be a different story since some people (like myself) bought an HDTV almost exclusively for watching DVDs. I've yet to watch any HDTV on my set due to availability and the expense of the set top boxes.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah...meant to mention that in my original post. I saw the profile as SCSIfreek being in CA and assumed he had a good shot at getting reception.
Click to expand...

Most of the time you need an outdoor antenna no matter where you live since HDTV needs a stronger signal than standard. Since I live in an apartment on the 1st floor I'm SOL for getting HDTV.
 
Originally posted by: Shiva112
Originally posted by: conjur
Originally posted by: Shiva112
since you say you don't watch DVDs very often I think you should definitely make sur eyou can get a decent HDTV signal where you live. There's no point spending that much on a TV right now if you can only get a few channels. If you watched DVDs it'd be a different story since some people (like myself) bought an HDTV almost exclusively for watching DVDs. I've yet to watch any HDTV on my set due to availability and the expense of the set top boxes.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah...meant to mention that in my original post. I saw the profile as SCSIfreek being in CA and assumed he had a good shot at getting reception.
Click to expand...

Most of the time you need an outdoor antenna no matter where you live since HDTV needs a stronger signal than standard. Since I live in an apartment on the 1st floor I'm SOL for getting HDTV.
Click to expand...

Nah...I live in a townhome and can get reception with an indoor antenna and my elevation isn't that hot. The house I used to be in was at 750' elevation and that was the highest in the area so the attic antenna was fine. Granted, I still did a horizontally stacked array on the roof for some DTV/TV DXing 🙂
 
It doesn't matter that there are no 1080p HD broadcasts at the moment, it is part of the HD spec.

A 1080p display will be able to not only handle the full resolution of 720p broadcasts, but the full resolution of 1080i as well. I can't wait to see 1080i content on a true 1080p display. The difference should be akin to a interlaced DVD player compared to a progressive one.

For PC gaming it will be great too. 1920*1080 anyone?🙂
 
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