Since I can't have a plasma...

[mywxrld]

I live at an altitude around 8,000-8500 feet (I live in Colorado). This pretty much means that plasma TV's are not an option. With that being said, I am looking at getting a new LCD. I currently have a 47" Vizio LCD which has been good to me but now the WIFE thinks it is too small. We have been looking at 52"-55" TV's but have been having some problems with decisions. So far we have looked at the 52" Samsung LN52B750U1F, the 52" Sony KDL-52Z5100, and the 55" Vizio VF551XVT. The only contrast ratio that the samsung lists is the 150,000:1 DCR and at which if that is the case the Vizio is 2,000,000:1 DCR but as we all know "dynamic" is not very dynamic at all. The Vizio is a "Full Array" LED LCD as opposed to the others being traditional CCFL LCD. This is where I need some help from everyone. Is there a brand you guys recommend over another and if so why? I kind of like the idea of the LED backlit (Full Array not the Edge Lit) but is there something I am missing with the Vizio? Please help a somewhat lost consumer figure this out(and keep the bashing to a minimum). Any input will be greatly appreciated.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Not really posting to offer advice on LCD's as I know little about them, but I am interested in hearing about how you came to the conclusion that plasma isn't an option for you due to your location.

This is the first time I've ever heard someone comment about this and I would love to know why that is (not the comment, but the fact a Plasma isn't recommended).

John

[HAMP]

Originally Posted by john72953

not really posting to offer advice on lcd's as i know little about them, but i am interested in hearing about how you came to the conclusion that plasma isn't an option for you due to your location.

This is the first time i've ever heard someone comment about this and i would love to know why that is (not the comment, but the fact a plasma isn't recommended).

John

+1

[Blu-ray Fanatic]

Originally Posted by mywxrld

I live at an altitude around 8,000-8500 feet (I live in Colorado). This pretty much means that plasma TV's are not an option. With that being said, I am looking at getting a new LCD. I currently have a 47" Vizio LCD which has been good to me but now the WIFE thinks it is too small. We have been looking at 52"-55" TV's but have been having some problems with decisions. So far we have looked at the 52" Samsung LN52B750U1F, the 52" Sony KDL-52Z5100, and the 55" Vizio VF551XVT. The only contrast ratio that the samsung lists is the 150,000:1 DCR and at which if that is the case the Vizio is 2,000,000:1 DCR but as we all know "dynamic" is not very dynamic at all. The Vizio is a "Full Array" LED LCD as opposed to the others being traditional CCFL LCD. This is where I need some help from everyone. Is there a brand you guys recommend over another and if so why? I kind of like the idea of the LED backlit (Full Array not the Edge Lit) but is there something I am missing with the Vizio? Please help a somewhat lost consumer figure this out(and keep the bashing to a minimum). Any input will be greatly appreciated.

Is Colorado under a energy crisis or what? They can't supply enough energy for plasmas? I don't get it. Elaborate for us.

[red_5ive]

Has to to with pressure since plasma sets are essentially gas-based. Didn't anyone ever listen to Spock?

http://www.plasmatvbuyingguide.com/p...-altitude.html

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by red_5ive

Has to to with pressure since plasma sets are essentially gas-based. Didn't anyone ever listen to Spock?

http://www.plasmatvbuyingguide.com/p...-altitude.html

Thanks for passing that along red_5ive! I never (obviously) knew that! You learn something every day!

John

[Sonny]

Ive known about the elevation limit of plasma for years.... move down the mountain a couple thousand feet and you will be good.

[connect42]

2 things:

1) Keep that wife. She sounds like a good one.

2) I just went shopping with my father-in-law to help him choose a new TV. I was pushing him toward a 47 inch LG LCD. He went with the 55 Vizio VF551XVT.
He wanted the biggest LCD possible, even though the LG provided a better picture overall. I helped him hook the Vizio up and here is what I found: the standard definition picture is horrible, the over the air HD picture is close to being good, the Blu-ray picture is phenomenal. They have called Dish about getting service with an HD package, so I can comment on that later.

[Sonny]

Also Panasonic plasmas are good at over 9,000ft now. The info your reading is a couple years old.

[K_Williamson42]

Get a sony XBR and you'll be very happy!

[red_5ive]

Originally Posted by John72953

Thanks for passing that along red_5ive! I never (obviously) knew that! You learn something every day!

John

No problem, John. Only reason why I knew that is because I was researching plasmas some time back and happened on that information. I don't know how accurate the numbers are in that article as it's been a while since I read on any of this, but it gets the point across - and like another post mentioned Panny's are up to 9,000 ft. now. Technology just keeps getting better.

[mywxrld]

According to my GPS the official elevation is 8752 feet. Being so close to the maximum altitude recommendation I still have a hard time buying something that may or may not work. The "hum" that it produces if it doesn't work the wife will hear and she will definately let me know about it. If it does not work I have a 45 min to an hour drive (Denver is the closest major city) to solve the problem, whether it be get a new one or get the money back.

[mywxrld]

Originally Posted by K_Williamson42

Get a sony XBR and you'll be very happy!

Any particular reason why the Sony over the Samsung?

[Steve]

Originally Posted by mywxrld

According to my GPS the official elevation is 8752 feet. Being so close to the maximum altitude recommendation I still have a hard time buying something that may or may not work. The "hum" that it produces if it doesn't work the wife will hear and she will definately let me know about it. If it does not work I have a 45 min to an hour drive (Denver is the closest major city) to solve the problem, whether it be get a new one or get the money back.

What's the altitude difference between where you live and Denver? If it's close, and if a display model works in the store with no problems then I don't see why one wouldn't work just as well in your home.

[RBBrittain]

Originally Posted by fireman325

What's the altitude difference between where you live and Denver? If it's close, and if a display model works in the store with no problems then I don't see why one wouldn't work just as well in your home.

Everyone knows Denver's elevation--5,280 feet, or exactly one mile. (Edit: The article linked earlier says 5,295 feet, but that's not a big difference.) That's almost 3,500 feet lower than the poster's elevation.

[mywxrld]

Originally Posted by rbbrittain

everyone knows denver's elevation--5,280 feet, or exactly one mile. (edit: The article linked earlier says 5,295 feet, but that's not a big difference.) that's almost 3,500 feet lower than the poster's elevation.

+1

[Steve]

Originally Posted by RBBrittain

Everyone knows Denver's elevation--5,280 feet, or exactly one mile. (Edit: The article linked earlier says 5,295 feet, but that's not a big difference.) That's almost 3,500 feet lower than the poster's elevation.

Originally Posted by mywxrld

+1

Gotcha.

[dobyblue]

The difference between 8,500ft and 9,000ft is only 2kPa.
You're at 74kPa, the panel is rated to 73kPa to work properly, or 9,000ft.
Call Panasonic, if they vouch for the panel then your return should be hassle free. I think risking a 1 hour return drive is worth it for a V10 panel.

Heck I've driven 1.5 hours just to get to the nearest IMAX cinema for TDK.

[callas01]

I was in the local Vizio dealer (Costco) and was looking at the LED they have there and next to it was a Samsung(CCFL LCD). While the PQ I thought was good on the Vizio the Samsung next to it actually had a more real-life look and the colors seemed to me to still have better overall accuracy, blacks were about even I'd say. Of course they are not calibrated and the lighting sucks, but just standing there it seemed to me that there was still a better picture from the Samsung then the Vizio. IF it was a blind test and I didn't know which was which, I probably couldn't have told you which one was which right away, but the longer I was looking the more I noticed little things that made me think, Vizio- getting better, but still not as good. Esp. when considering that it took Vizio to produce an LED backlit TV to match a Samsung CCFL LCD...

I would vote for the Samsung. Sony too, each one looks about as good as the other, you just usually save a little $ buying a Samsung over the Sony.

[MrFattBill]

Originally Posted by mywxrld

According to my GPS the official elevation is 8752 feet. Being so close to the maximum altitude recommendation I still have a hard time buying something that may or may not work. The "hum" that it produces if it doesn't work the wife will hear and she will definately let me know about it. If it does not work I have a 45 min to an hour drive (Denver is the closest major city) to solve the problem, whether it be get a new one or get the money back.

I've driven almost 2 hours one way for a video game peripheral before

Bill