Need Help on Purchasing 50" Tv

[aaron010]

This is the first thread I have ever posted on this site. I have been reading this forum for over a year now. I currently have a 32" Insignia Tv, and I am looking to upgrade to hopefully at least a 50". I am a student and do not have to big of a budget, but I am receiving an insurance claim check that leaves with a budget of $1500 for a new Tv. I believe a LCD would most likely be out of my price range. Im trying to decide between a DLP or Plasma without knowing the pro's and con's of both. I use my TV mainly for playing games and watching Blu-Rays. So I don't need anything to high end. Any advice I could get from you guys would be alot of help.

[crazzeto]

For that size class I would go DLP to be perfectly honest... You'll find your self making too many compramises with LCD's and Plasma's... A nice Samsung LED DLP might fit the bill for you.

[MrAngles]

If you have a Costco membership I've found that they generally offer the best value in the $1000-$1500 range. Many people find the Vizio line to be a very good value, at under $1500 for a 50" 1080p display, either plasma or lcd. If you're interested in higher end name brands, Panasonic's line of plasmas is a good value as well, with a 50" 720p model for $1250 and 1080p for $1600 if I remember correctly.

[crazzeto]

Unless wall mounting is a big deal I'm thinking you'll still get better black levels and contrast ratios out of a DLP though. Plus since he's still in school I'm guessing he's a gamer, DLP's will have much better response times for that.

[aaron010]

I do not really know to much about the different types of Tv, just pretty much the basics. I thought I heard that plasma tvs at one point would eventually stop working after a few years; is this still an issue today? Also with DLPs is the lamp burning out an issue or should I go with one with a LED light source? But like I said earlier I have a 32" Insignia which I understand is one of the budget brands and I have no problem with the overall quality of that set, So im looking for something that is well within my budget but not overly cheap.

[rded]

If there's a frys by you then here:

http://shop4.frys.com/ShopCartServlet

The LCD is 52" and is $200(whoops) more.If you play a lot of video games then go with an LCD although "burn-ins" with plasmas are not much of an issue these days.

[crazzeto]

Here is a basic overview of TV technologies (very basic). Remember, more than just LCD's and plasma's exist in this world. This is a short benifit/drawback list.

LCD:
Positives
No burn in's, no need to worry about lamps, wall mountable, less power draw, cool running.

Negatives:
Typically poor black leveles, typically poor contrast ratios, slow response times - leads to "lip sync" issues in games like rockband in worst case, can also cause ghosting though ghosting issues are more or less totally resolved.

Plasma
Positives:
Great black levels, great contrast ratios, fast response times, best TV's in the world are plasmas.

Negatives:
burnin/IR issues possible, particularly with gaming, hot running (space heater), much bigger power draw, some Plasmas are worse than others in all these regards.

DLP:
Postives:
Very good black levels, very good contrast ratios, very quick response times (absolutly no lip sync), best value in large screen size class - 50" 1080P screen *will* fit in your budget, DLP's make for some excellent TV's, one of the worlds best gaming screens is a wrap around DLP.

Negatives:
Absolutly can not wall mount, unless you get an LED based display it will have a projector lamp which *will* need to be replaced in 2/3 yrs (range $99 - $250), most advanced display technology implemented in LCD - Plasma first, perhaps later on it trickles down to RPTV DLP's, RPTV no longer considered "sexy", though I bet a large one will still cause your friends jaws to drop esp when they see the picture.

[junglalien]

I'd keep checking here until one shows up in stock. Only TV to get better marks is Kuro.
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665165580
or if you want to go cheaper
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665164629

[crazzeto]

Originally Posted by junglalien

I'd keep checking here until one shows up in stock. Only TV to get better marks is Kuro.
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665165580
or if you want to go cheaper
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665164629

(to OP)
SXRD is another good direction to go.... The only minus side is the entire line was discontinued, on the plus sony is legally obligated to provide support for at least 2 years after EOL. I'm sure parts will be available for some time. Note it's worth mentioning these TV's also have projector lamps that also need to be replaced in 2 /3yrs (so you go into your purchase eyes open). I'm not sure about lamp costs, junglalien might be able to give you a good idea.

Again if the idea of lamp costs scare you for some reason (really, they do last a good while) then you do have the option of an LED DLP in which case the light source (and LED rather than projector lamp) will last the life time of the TV.

[thedude]

i use 2 have a 32" vizio 720p and i loved the pic on it! they are just now releasing the 2008 models and i know u said 50" but check this one out
http://www.vizio.com/productDetails....=1640&pid=1504

[junglalien]

Sony SXRD are so awesome you can't find them anywhere now. How many other old model/discontinued TVs the entire stock gets bought up? I was just looking for the lamp on ebay for my E3000 and I found one for about $130. According to calculations I shouldn't need one for 5+ years. In 5 years who knows they might cost $10.

[crazzeto]

Originally Posted by junglalien

Sony SXRD are so awesome you can't find them anywhere now. How many other old model/discontinued TVs the entire stock gets bought up? I was just looking for the lamp on ebay for my E3000 and I found one for about $130. According to calculations I shouldn't need one for 5+ years. In 5 years who knows they might cost $10.

Probably more likely they'll go up in price unless there are other TV's on the market using the same lamp, unlikely. I'm a little more unlucky with my toshiba... $250 lamp, but it's been holding up like a champ so far... And the quality of my picture is friggen amazing, esp when you consider I own a 50" 720P telivision.

Oh yeah, to the OP.... I also recommend picking up a DVE disc, either DVD or if you plan on having a bluray player (hopefully) the bluray version... This disc should get you in the ball park of where you want to be with calibration... Though on my TV I eye balled some contrast tweaks and now I'm extreamly happy with my picture.

[MrAngles]

For what it's worth, there seem to be no burn-in issues with my Panasonic Plasma screen. It did suffer from what the manual calls "image retention" (kind of like a temporary burn-in) when it was brand new, and there is a menu function that basically wipes the screen clean if that occurs. At this point (maybe 100 hours of breaking it in) I can leave a static image on the screen for hours without any such problems, however.

I honestly did not realize that DLP sets were still available at screen sizes under 65", they have been hard to find around here recently. I highly recommend a DLP projection screen over any LCD display for response time, black levels and an overall more "natural" looking image, and this one looks like a good value, although there may be better deals available.

[rded]

IMO, the panasonic plasma is the best deal. Very good PQ, easier to integrate into the home because its slim and sexy(can hang on wall) and $1500 at frys to me its a no brainer

[Blacklac]

Definetly go compare the differences between Plasma, LCD and DLP. In my opinion they all look really different. I just can't stand rear projection TV (although I haven't seen the Sony) and hate LCD's (even higher end ones like the Sony XBR's and Sammy 71 series). Motion blur from LCD's drive me insane. LCD's tend to also be softer compared to plasma.

I just love the picture from Plasma. Yes, they will heat up your room though!

Image retention can just as easily be found on LCD as plasma. Usually it is a calibration issues, or can be fixed by a setting change.