What's my best option

[genpat]

Looking for opinions on the best TV to get in the 40-42 range (might consider 46 as well) 1080p. Would like to keep it near $1000, but if it goes not too much higher it should probably be alright. Main function is Xbox 360 and likely Blu-Ray

Thanks friends

 

[boomhower]

Do you have a preference of LCD vs. Plasma?

 

[gar655]

Panasonic 42" plasma.

 

[Falloutboy]

Originally posted by: gar655
Panasonic 42" plasma.

this, and I wouldn't bother with 1080p tbh just get a 720p one since at that size you really can't tell the difference.

 

[kalrith]

I would very highly recommend the new Panasonic G10 series. Here's a link to a review on the 50" version. Here are the prices from Amazon:

• 42" for $1100
  46" for $1400
  50" for $1511

Basically at those sizes and prices, no other TV compares. I would personally scrape the money together for the 50", but that's a 50% increase to your budget. You can easily compare the sizes of different TVs at tvcalculator.com. Note that the screen size does not increase linearly. In other words you would think than an additional 8" from 42" to 50" would be a 16% increase (8/42), but it's actually a 42% increase.

 

[s44]

Originally posted by: Falloutboy

Originally posted by: gar655
Panasonic 42" plasma.

this, and I wouldn't bother with 1080p tbh just get a 720p one since at that size you really can't tell the difference.

Not unless you're all the way across the room.

I don't know about the "average eye" but at 8 feet it's pretty obvious to me.

G10 is a good choice. You can get Toshiba LCDs (very good) for less though -- the Egg has 46" for $1000 and 52" for $1400. Real estate makes a big difference.

 

[kalrith]

Originally posted by: s44

Originally posted by: Falloutboy

Originally posted by: gar655
Panasonic 42" plasma.

this, and I wouldn't bother with 1080p tbh just get a 720p one since at that size you really can't tell the difference.

Not unless you're all the way across the room.

I don't know about the "average eye" but at 8 feet it's pretty obvious to me.

G10 is a good choice. You can get Toshiba LCDs (very good) for less though -- the Egg has 46" for $1000 and 52" for $1400. Real estate makes a big difference.

I'm wondering if the problem with 720p for a lot of people is more with the TV settings and source than it is with the actual resolution. For example, when I looked at the Pioneer 5080 in Best Buy, I have to admit that I saw a lot of pixelation even at 10 feet away. However, I knew what the professional reviews said and the fact that the source and TV settings at Best Buy are most likely crap, so I bought the TV anyways. I experienced none of that at home. My main seating is 9 feet away, and my side seating is 6 feet away. If I look for it, then I can see some limitations in the resolution at 6 feet away, but I see absolutely none at 9 feet. If I don't look for it and I'm watching a high-quality source, then the picture looks amazing even at 6 feet away.

 

[genpat]

Thanks for all your replies. I really like the looks of those Panasonic G10s, and they're definitely in the fore-front at this point. Does anyone else have some opinions? I have no qualms for neither plasma nor LCD so fire away at what you think is the best for the money.

I have also been looking at the Samsung LN40B550 as it is a pretty nice LCD (so I've heard). If you have ideas, post them, I'd rather have five+ options than one or two

Thanks

 

[pontifex]

I just got a Vizio 42" 1080p 120hz TV from Dell and it f-ing rocks! It was on sale for $849 but not sure if it any more.

 

[boomhower]

Good deal, Dell has had a lot of them recently. That's a nice TV for what you paid. How are you liking the 120Hz, I keep hearing conflicting accounts.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: boomhower
Good deal, Dell has had a lot of them recently. That's a nice TV for what you paid. How are you liking the 120Hz, I keep hearing conflicting accounts.

Marketing...don't spend more unless it's like $100 difference. When I was looking at TVs I got a 60Hz LCD for $848 and the 120Hz model was $1200. Pretty big difference in price.

Also on 720p vs 1080p I can tell the difference with a calibrated set running a Blu-Ray.

Also if you hook your PC up obviously 1920x1080 is superior. That functionality is not everyone's thing though.

I'll take 1080p simply because the cost difference is very minimal these days. A few months to a year ago you used to have to pay a steep premium for 1080p vs a comparable 720p set. Now, not so much and besides why be limited by resolution regardless of whether or not you can see it? Think about it this way, in 5 years do you know what you'll be watching? Your TV will still be around more likely than not. That's me.

 

[s44]

I've heard that 120hz frame interpolation magic does make console games look better... Never played on one, though. Besides that, it lets you have frame-perfect (24p, no judder) playback of movies on Blu-Ray (and perhaps over TV if the set can do a perfect inverse telecine). Not worth a huge price difference (going from 42" to 46" or 50" is far more worth it), but pretty nice.

Samsung LCD is, of course, very nice but as I said I'd consider Toshiba LCD as well. Just a step below Sony/Samsung in quality and noticably cheaper so you can get a bigger set.