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What's the best ~50" TV?

P

PaperclipGod

Banned
Trying to find a new TV is starting to make my head hurt... any recommendations for which type of set and which brand to go with? Looking for something around 50 inches.
 
I could go with any type of screen... is there a quality difference between those two? Is a projection better than a flat panel? Vice versa? No difference?
 
Both will look incredible with HD. The rear-projection is higher resolution (1080P vs. 720P), but you may/may not notice the difference at the correct viewing distance. The plasma has a lifespan of 50,000+ hours to half-brightness, which is incredibly long (20+ years with average viewing). The rear-projection uses bulbs, which need to be replaced every 3000-6000 hours (2-4 years with average viewing) at a cost to the user ($200-$300). The plasma is much thinner but much heavier as well and has a glass panel. The rear-projection is thicker but much lighter, and has no glass (which is better if reflection is a problem in your room).

Both of the items I linked are the best in their respective classes. You can't go wrong with either one.
 
Originally posted by: MadScientist
HDTV Buyer's Guide
Click to expand...

Good if you want to learn the basics, but it's incredibly outdated in an area that advances every 6 months in terms of features/pricing.

Originally posted by: engiNURD
pioneer plasma 1080p... awesomeness.
Click to expand...

I'd rather have 2-3x the number of 720P panels for the same price.
 
You'll probably want 1080p at this point. This leaves you with pricing as follows:

projection (Sony KDS-50A2000, Samsung HL-S5087W [5088W if you want a CableCard slot]): $1500-2000
LCD (actually, most of the current ones seem to have some problem or other): $3000-4000
plasma (Panasonic TH-50PF9UK or Pioneer PRO-FHD1): $4500-5500

Got money to burn?

(Edit to note: LCD doesn't come in 50", but 46" [and 47"] and 52". 46" prices are actually getting reasonable, if you can find a model you like. Maybe the next-gen D92 Aquos line from Sharp will be the thing to get -- avoid the D62s that are currently out, though; they look amazing but pretty universally seem to have banding issues.)
 
Originally posted by: s44
You'll probably want 1080p at this point. This leaves you with pricing as follows:

projection (Sony KDS-50A2000, Samsung HL-S5087W [5088W if you want a CableCard slot]): $1500-2000
LCD (actually, most of the current ones seem to have some problem or other): $3000-4000
plasma (Panasonic TH-50PF9UK or Pioneer PRO-FHD1): $4500-5500

Got money to burn?

(Edit to note: LCD doesn't come in 50", but 46" [and 47"] and 52". 46" prices are actually getting reasonable, if you can find a model you like. Maybe the next-gen D92 Aquos line from Sharp will be the thing to get -- avoid the D62s that are currently out, though; they look amazing but pretty universally seem to have banding issues.)
Click to expand...

Sounds like projection is the way to go then, eh?
 
First, I'd just like to say...FIRST POST WOO HOO!!!!
And second: I currently own a Samsung 50'' DLP. It has an amazing screen and cabinet, but, be warned:

I bought it mainly for video games and it turns out the Samsung DLP engine can cause great lag, to the point where it wasn't playable on the Wii and Xbox. It did work fine for the Xbox 360 however (because both the 360 and TV were 720p.) Long story short, figure out what you'll use it for and do alot of research about potential units. NOTHING beats seeing them firsthand, although granted it is hard to see video games being played on every model you're interested in.
 
Originally posted by: s44
You'll probably want 1080p at this point. This leaves you with pricing as follows:

projection (Sony KDS-50A2000, Samsung HL-S5087W [5088W if you want a CableCard slot]): $1500-2000
LCD (actually, most of the current ones seem to have some problem or other): $3000-4000
plasma (Panasonic TH-50PF9UK or Pioneer PRO-FHD1): $4500-5500

Got money to burn?

(Edit to note: LCD doesn't come in 50", but 46" [and 47"] and 52". 46" prices are actually getting reasonable, if you can find a model you like. Maybe the next-gen D92 Aquos line from Sharp will be the thing to get -- avoid the D62s that are currently out, though; they look amazing but pretty universally seem to have banding issues.)
Click to expand...

I'm curious, why is 1080P necessary "at this point"? You do realize that running 1080P material, a 720P plasma next to a 1080P plasma at 8ft will be hard to distinquish, right?

If he's got room, go with rear-projection. If he needs to wall-mount, or is space limited, plasma is the way to go. Or the guy may just prefer how plasmas render color versus rear projection TVs. Maybe he wants to keep his TV in a brightly lit room, where a plasma would excel vs. a rear projection.
 
...this could turn into a Plasma vs LCD, 😕 .... I have viewed a 50" Pioneer Plasma and seem to notice noise in the picture, almost like its constanly redrawing the screen. LCD (Samsung) seems very stable, no noticable redrawing, much cleaner whites. IMO these are the best brands to buy in their respective formats, and from what i hear on the grapevine, Pioneer will move into LCD soon.. 😎
 
Originally posted by: El Liberache
And second: I currently own a Samsung 50'' DLP. It has an amazing screen and cabinet, but, be warned:

I bought it mainly for video games and it turns out the Samsung DLP engine can cause great lag, to the point where it wasn't playable on the Wii and Xbox. It did work fine for the Xbox 360 however (because both the 360 and TV were 720p.) Long story short, figure out what you'll use it for and do alot of research about potential units. NOTHING beats seeing them firsthand, although granted it is hard to see video games being played on every model you're interested in.
Click to expand...
Is that an HLS- series with the "Game Mode" to eliminate lag, or an older HLR-/HLP- model that doesn't have game mode?

I've had a Samsung HLS-5087 1080p 50" for a bit over 6 months and am happy with it (A+++ would buy from again! 🙂 ). Check onecall.com and amazon.com for good deals on it.
 
Originally posted by: jpeyton

I'm curious, why is 1080P necessary "at this point"? You do realize that running 1080P material, a 720P plasma next to a 1080P plasma at 8ft will be hard to distinquish, right?
Click to expand...
Because of the need-for-the-latest-tech sense that's probably overdeveloped in any AT reader. And the fact that he may want to sit up close.

If he's got room, go with rear-projection. If he needs to wall-mount, or is space limited, plasma is the way to go. Or the guy may just prefer how plasmas render color versus rear projection TVs. Maybe he wants to keep his TV in a brightly lit room, where a plasma would excel vs. a rear projection.
Click to expand...
These seem reasonable, though worry about burn-in also puts LCD in. Or he could wait a year, by which point 1080p plasmas (and 50+" LCDs) should be reasonably priced.
 
@ Dave Simmons: It's an HLR...no Game mode.

OT: Some of my buttons don't work (i.e. QUOTE, REPLY) on this forum, but the rest do. Weird.
 
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