Buyer Help: 52" to 60" TV Purchase

[EQ3282]

Hi All,

Here's what I'm looking for and willing to spend. I'd be open to any good TV (thought I like Panny, Sammy, and Sony), and I'd consider any size in that range (we'll be sitting 6 to 9 feet away from TV). Not sure about LED, as its still a new TV technology, but wouldn't rule it out. I know deals can be made on Plasmas, but not a plasma fan.

Size - 52" to 60"
Price - MAX would be around $1800

Basically looking for the best value, as top-of-the-line specks aren't truly necessary. Please supply reasons/specs behind your recommendation.

Thanks for the help!

[i-Dak]

Don't waste your money on those over-rated, and over-priced brands. Get this... http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/08/v...he-xvt-series/

[syncguy]

If your seating distance is 6' to 9', go for a good 1080P 60" set not anything less.

[EQ3282]

Originally Posted by i-Dak

Don't waste your money on those over-rated, and over-priced brands. Get this... http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/08/v...he-xvt-series/

i Dak, I'd rather stay away from Vizio. I have compared Vizio before (a friend has one of comparable size to my TV) and, even with 'just' my Sharp, I could notice a major difference. I think Vizio has a few years before it reaches a comparable level to other TVs. Plus, the price points aren't that beneficial to more established companies.

Syncguy, 55" ideal viewing distance is approx 8 ft away, so I am not sure setting my sights on the harder-to-find 60" sets is really worth the hastle for a few inches of viewing (could always move the TV closer).

[i-Dak]

Originally Posted by EQ3282

i Dak, I'd rather stay away from Vizio. I have compared Vizio before (a friend has one of comparable size to my TV) and, even with 'just' my Sharp, I could notice a major difference. I think Vizio has a few years before it reaches a comparable level to other TVs. Plus, the price points aren't that beneficial to more established companies.

That is all in your head! There really is no noticable difference between Vizio or any other brand.

[lojack1976]

There is a real difference. Vizio doesn't make a bad product, but don't believe for one second that their sets on par with the bigger names. If they were then they would charge more. Its that simple. When Samsung made junk they were cheaper than everyone else. Now they're not because they've improved their products. The same with LG who's prices have been climbing for the last two years. Sony doesn't command the prices they charge with name alone. Their rep was built by making quality products for years and providing some of the best customer service in the industry. Now, HERE's good deal for your money. Its big and its a great set for a good price.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by lojack1976

There is a real difference. Vizio doesn't make a bad product, but don't believe for one second that their sets on par with the bigger names. If they were then they would charge more. Its that simple. When Samsung made junk they were cheaper than everyone else. Now they're not because they've improved their products. The same with LG who's prices have been climbing for the last two years. Sony doesn't command the prices they charge with name alone. Their rep was built by making quality products for years and providing some of the best customer service in the industry.

I agree. It may look good out of the box and for a year or two after that, but how will it look 5 yrs, 10yrs down the road? I don't think the quality of their internal components are of the same high standard as the Panny, Sammy and Sony's of the world.

John

[xneox]

Originally Posted by lojack1976

Now, HERE's good deal for your money. Its big and its a great set for a good price.

Session expired.

But I would point the OP in this direction - Panasonic 54" G10 for $1549 shipped.. You can spend your budget's remaining $251 on...well, whatever the hell you want, knowing you got the absolute best possible display at that price point.

[lojack1976]

HERE's another link so you can access the site. Xneox recommended an excellent set too.

[xneox]

Originally Posted by lojack1976

HERE's another link so you can access the site.

Oh yeah...60" of THX loveliness for 1600 beans. Very nice indeed.

[Systemlord]

I would go for the Panasonic Plasma V10 50-65" inch sizes, they can really take advantage of 1080p/24Hz BD players with no film flicker!

Superb black-level performance with excellent shadow detail; relatively accurate color in Custom mode after adjustment; great color saturation; properly handles 1080p/24 sources without flicker; uses less power than previous 1080p plasmas, plenty of connectivity with four HDMI and one PC input. THX Certified, what more?

http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-t...-33490591.html

[lojack1976]

Originally Posted by xneox

Oh yeah...60" of THX loveliness for 1600 beans. Very nice indeed.

Yeah, and Buydig had it for $1599 shipped the other day. Talk about a deal. You can definitely do a lot worse. LOL.

[EQ3282]

Please don't turn this into a 'Oh, that's a nice set. But check out this one too!' It makes future posters lose touch with the original topic, and leads to posts just trying to one-up the previous post. Its already led to Systemlord posting a link for sets WELL outside of my price range (by $500). And it seems people aren't reading my full initial post.

Aside from that, the other options do look nice, but...

As for plasma...here are my honest thoughts:

Picture - I know the picture brightness dips over time (after just one year of 'average' use, brightness can dim up to 7%). I am aware that the half life of most plasmas these days are 60,000 hours + (along the LCD lines), but it is a concern. With LCD, dimming isn't as great a concern in the short term. Though this set will be in a finished basement, its still something to think about.

'Dying' Breed? - Sony has already jumped out of the Plasma game, and there are rumors that other companies aren't far behind (with LED technology becoming the new focus). Is it wise to invest money in technology that may not be around, en masse, in maybe 2 to 3 years? Doesn't bode well for possible future repairs and such.
An indicator of this: Plasma prices have fallen well below LCD prices as of late. Trying to get rid of remaining stock?

Plasmas aren't 100% out of the picture, but I'd need some reassurance (aside from knowing black levels are better, picture is 'sharper' in reference to motion blur and the like, etc.). There's a local store that has some nice plasma deals as well.

[xneox]

Originally Posted by EQ3282

Picture - I know the picture brightness dips over time (after just one year of 'average' use, brightness can dim up to 7%). I am aware that the half life of most plasmas these days are 60,000 hours + (along the LCD lines), but it is a concern. With LCD, dimming isn't as great a concern in the short term. Though this set will be in a finished basement, its still something to think about.

The neo-pdp panel in the new Panasonics has a half-life of 100,000 hours (that's 35 years at the American tv-watching average of 8 hours per day). Not quite "along the LCD lines", and not really a concern anymore.

'Dying' Breed? - Sony has already jumped out of the Plasma game, and there are rumors that other companies aren't far behind (with LED technology becoming the new focus). Is it wise to invest money in technology that may not be around, en masse, in maybe 2 to 3 years? Doesn't bode well for possible future repairs and such.

This has been discussed at length...honestly, with technology advancing as exponentially as it does now, it doesn't matter what you decide to buy. It'll be obsolete well before it reaches the aforementioned half-life. Knowing that, most here opt for the best quality they can buy within their budget. Given that an LCD-based display has to employ multiple additional technologies to approach the level of picture quality inherent in a plasma display, thus rendering the best sets twice the price, the end result is almost always plasma.


People here are giving their honest opinions and recommendations. If you want a display that will give you the PQ of a XBR8 at half the price while lasting significantly longer, buy a plasma. Otherwise, settle for less to have the warm, comfy feeling of signing on for a technology that may last an extra couple years, but will ultimately be replaced like everything else.

[lojack1976]

If you prefer the picture an LCD produces then that's the only reason to choose it over plasma. Your concerns with plasma are unwarranted. First, Sony has been out of the plasma business for awhile now, and as I recall their sets though good picture-wise weren't the most reliable sets. I remember there being a whole host of issues with the Sony plasmas.

Anyway, all three of the remaining major manufacturers have stated in announcements earlier this year that they are fully committed to the technology and they have no plans of abandoning the plasma market. Panasonic in particular has invested heavy in plasma technology even developing new manufacturing facilities.

Even Hitachi who earlier this year announced that they were exiting the plasma market has appeared to have reconsidered that position since they have just announced three new plasmas for the Japanese market. All of these companies are producing plasmas with panel lives that equal or best the vast majority of LCD's out there. The dimming of a plasma panel just isn't a concern anymore.

The lower pricing of plasmas has nothing to do with the clearing of stock. The cost of making plasmas has been declining a lot faster than the cost of making LCD's. I myself used to be an LCD man, but I now own two plasmas and I just couldn't go back to LCD. To many things hinder the picture IMO. Black levels on some are equal to some plasmas, but poor viewing angles and an uneven picture will not do it for me anymore. I've just become accustomed to a much better viewing experience.

[SellmeyourDVD]

Originally Posted by i-Dak

Don't waste your money on those over-rated, and over-priced brands. Get this... http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/08/v...he-xvt-series/

LMAO!!! every person who commented on that TV in that link made fun of it. Did the 240 hz get you excited or something?

[DarkhovaHT]

52 Inch Sharp LED TV 1,759.00