lcd vs plasma

[taters]

i just found this out and thought i would pass it on..hope im not the last one to find this out.....lcd tvs always looked like they had a better picture than plasma...so when i read that panasonic plasma won the best picture award at the consumer electronics show in las vegas the past two years i was surprised. the reason is. lcd looks much better in a well lit room than a plasma does in a well lit room... but put a plasma in a dark room and its apparent that the plasma is a better picture....one can't go far wrong with a samsung lcd but

[skinny_tom (aka boney)]

Do not fall victim to informational paralysis.

 

Find a screen size you like. Find a TV brand with a good reputation. Buy the cheapest one that fits your requirements. Be happy.

 

If you spend too much time trying to figure out "the best" purchase you will not be happy with what you bring home. Research shows you'll spend more too, even if you were trying to spend less.

[Firefight911]

Do not fall victim to informational paralysis.

 

Find a screen size you like. Find a TV brand with a good reputation. Buy the cheapest one that fits your requirements. Be happy.

 

If you spend too much time trying to figure out "the best" purchase you will not be happy with what you bring home. Research shows you'll spend more too, even if you were trying to spend less.

 

Sage advice!

 

Just went through this a month ago after my 7 year old 42" Plasma died. Replaced it with a 47" LED/LCD from Best Buy. Couldn't be happier and I saved a ton of money over "the best."

[ltljohn]

No matter what you buy you will find a better deal next week. I just happens that way.

[MotorinLA]

No matter what you buy you will find a better deal next week. I just happens that way.

 

This is the reason you should immediately stop looking around, once you've made your purchase...

 

 

 

IGNORANCE IS BLISS!!!

[ghaverkamp]

No matter what you buy you will find a better deal next week. I just happens that way.

 

This is the reason you should immediately stop looking around, once you've made your purchase...

 

I have a coworker who revels in tracking how much they've dipped since I bought my most recent set.

 

I tend to note that that's all well and good, for for the $400 or so I would have saved if I paid today, I've been watching in HD, while his waiting for best deal leaves him watching in SD.

 

And, of course, I wouldn't have saved $400, anyway. I would have bought bigger or more features or some such, most likely.

 

(And on the LCD versus plasma argument, I went plasma for my primary set, and there's no doubt that in bright sunlight, it's more easily washed out than my LCD sets. Frankly, I don't believe that most people can tell the difference in quality between either, so I'd go with what looks best at the size you want, unless you are one of those few who can actually distinguish the difference between a cheap set and a not-as-cheap set.)

[Mike]

I'm so ashamed to admit that I have an LED rear-projection TV.

[Redbrick]

We have a relatively new Samsung plasma and really like it but, as stated above, buy a good name brand LCD or plasma and you'll be happy....Take a look at Consumer Reports March 2011 issue...Lots of info and ratings there.....

[Natche]

From what I understand, Plasma can display blacker blacks, which provides better detail or contrast in movies, particularly those with lots of darker scenes. LCD TV's tend to have more grayish blacks and sometimes cannot reproduce the level of detail a plasma can. On the down side, I believe plasma uses more electricity to operate and is subject to screen burn in. The latter is not much of an issue unless you are playing video games on it or you watch the same network constantly, which would possibly burn in the little network logo they all put in the corner now.

 

I have an LCD - FWIW

[1MPH]

No matter what you buy you will find a better deal next week.

 

 

Murphy's Law.

[Mike]

The industry is always vying for the latest and greatest, but the fact is that within model ranges--let's say, for example, Sony 46" LED sets--you won't be able to discern a huge difference between a new model and the one it replaced. If you can find a deal on the discontinued model, it's probably your best bet.

 

The last I read, plasma sets tend to use about two to three times as much electricity as a comparable LED set. Of course, you can now buy nice plasma TVs for about the cost of a large bag of Ruffles, so the energy disadvantage over the set's life span may not offset the additional cost of an LED TV.

 

The last time I went through this exercise was a couple of years ago. I think the best advice is to pay attention to the number and type of video and audio interfaces, determine the price you're willing to pay, and get the set within that price range that looks best to you. Also, the amount of light in the room is worth considering. LEDs are brigher than plasmas, and also generally have matte screens, as opposed to the polished--and very reflective--screens of plasmas. You'll definitely want to go for an LED set if you are putting it into a room with a lot of windows.

 

You'll find great quality TVs from Sony, Toshiba, Samsung, LG, and many others. However, if you don't recognize the brand name on the set, I'd steer away from it.

 

Incidentally, I've bought my last three televisions from Costco. I'd guess that they don't have the most bleeding edge TVs that are manufactured, but the prices are very competitive and they have a very good warranty/replacement policy.

[marcopolo]

We have one of each, and without doubt consider the plasma to have a better picture. Why, you might ask, did we buy an LCD set? Because it was for a bright room where a plasma would not perform particularly well. If you have the right room for it, plasma would be my first choice. I also find the restricted viewing angle of the LCD to be quite annoying. Nothing like a good hockey game on a plasma set. All that said, if someone's moving up from an SD set, either will be light years ahead in picture quality.

[markgoodrich]

I'm so ashamed to admit that I have an LED rear-projection TV.

 

Turn your chair around. You'll be able to see the picture.

[Huzband]

I'm so ashamed to admit that I have an LED rear-projection TV.

 

You ride an ST, & yet you feel bad about THAT?

[HairyCannonball]

What's a TV? Izzat sumptin you can watch talking pictures on?

 

[Joe Frickin' Friday]

What's a TV? Izzat sumptin you can watch talking pictures on?

 

Cute. There's a lot of crap out there, but there's some good stuff, too. Someone who enjoys the sensory overload of a motorcycle ride probably also enjoys the immersive experience of a large flat screen displaying well-crafted HD content from a Blu Ray disc; I know I do.

 

We picked a Panasonic 65" plasma screen almost two years ago. I haven't really seen the price come down since then. If the room is brightly lit, or if you have a light source behind you, you'll see reflections in the screen, but with controlled levels of room light, the picture quality is great. No regrets.

 

I've been curious to observe the actual power consumption, but haven't bothered to do so yet. I have a Kill-A-Watt meter that I've used to check out other devices around the house; one of these days I'll see what kind of power the TV really draws...

[Mike]

I'm so ashamed to admit that I have an LED rear-projection TV.

 

You ride an ST, & yet you feel bad about THAT?

 

I'm just a lost soul . . .

[questrider]

50" Panasonic plasma here. It's a non-3D model because I feel it's both a gimmick and a novelty that will eventually run its course. I'm an audio/videophile-aholic (anyone know a good 12-step program? ), so the deeper blacks are very important to me. Also, I use my rectangular living room the wide way so viewing angle was equally important. I got it through Amazon back in the fall for just under $1000 with free white-glove shipping and couldn't be more happy with it. After careful calibration it has a pristine, beautiful picture that finally matches my stupid* better-than-most-theaters (except for IMAX, of course) 7.1 JBL surround sound system. Blu-rays look and sound amazing.

 

Of course, YMMV. It all depends on how anal-retentive you are with your viewing and listening experience.

 

* "Stupid" because it cost nearly three times as much as the TV and I bought it about 6-7 years ago. But no regrets: I love it!

[EddyQ]

I've been curious to observe the actual power consumption, but haven't bothered to do so yet. I have a Kill-A-Watt meter that I've used to check out other devices around the house; one of these days I'll see what kind of power the TV really draws...

 

Check HERE .

Donno if your model is on the chart. There are a few Panasonic plasma units smaller than yours that top 500W.

[SK_in_AB]

New purchase of both in the last 3 months. Basement reno and need for a teens's viewing room - we got a Panasonic 54" plasma. Great picture esp on blue ray movies.

 

Upstairs family room with lots of south windows - the 6 year old samsung LCD blew out a week after the new tv arrived downstairs (Murphy arrives!!). There we picked a 46" Samsung LCD because of reflection concern. Very happy with both, and hoping I don't have to buy again for 8 years.

 

BTW anyone want a 36" Toshiba CRT TV - it only weighs about 250# (thats wet fully gassed up to go!) I think on craigslist there worth ~$25 if you deliver or you can pay someone to pick it up.

 

 

[Bullett]

BTW anyone want a 36" Toshiba CRT TV - it only weighs about 250# (thats wet fully gassed up to go!) I think on craigslist there worth ~$25 if you deliver or you can pay someone to pick it up.

 

 

Hey. We've got a 36" Panasonic CRT 1080p to share with some lucky folks as well. Weighs about the same as yours. I wanted to take the chainsaw to it, but my resident chemist said it would release too many toxins.

[Lmar]

In our area of Alberta we have an electronic recycling depot. I have recycled an old 27" TV, a couple of old printers and a microwave. There is no cost and helps get rid of some of the old stuff.

[skinny_tom (aka boney)]

BTW anyone want a 36" Toshiba CRT TV - it only weighs about 250# (thats wet fully gassed up to go!) I think on craigslist there worth ~$25 if you deliver or you can pay someone to pick it up.

 

 

Hey. We've got a 36" Panasonic CRT 1080p to share with some lucky folks as well. Weighs about the same as yours. I wanted to take the chainsaw to it, but my resident chemist said it would release too many toxins.

 

Ask the local fire station if they have a use for it. They have to buy their own stuff you know, and in many cases wouldn't mind replacing that 1981 24" TV in the gym with something a little more up to date.