TV's Plasma vs. LCD

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bigdaddy @ Dec 31 2006, 08:41 PM) [snapback]369096[/snapback]</div>

That's an expensive ethernet jack. I have an older slimp3, which is wonderful. slimdevices.com

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusenvy @ Dec 31 2006, 03:57 PM) [snapback]369028[/snapback]</div>

I just went for a 50" plasma.(Not Costco btw but online)
The energy statistics bothered me because indeed the stats for max consumption are much higher for plasma than for LCD.
What I found out though ,is that normally panels are viewed at a much lower brightness level than maximum.The plasma uses a corresponding lowered wattage when brightness is lowered.Whereas an LCD light source is always at maximum wattage consumption however much the image is dimmed. So in actual usage the energy consumption is comparable.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MarinJohn @ Dec 28 2006, 05:52 PM) [snapback]367810[/snapback]</div>

Consumer Reports did a thorough report on pros / cons of most brands / types just a few months ago. We chose plasma because of their report, but chose their 4th highest rated brand because it's at costco, and that trumped C/R's issue they had with the warranty.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusenvy @ Dec 28 2006, 03:57 PM) [snapback]367861[/snapback]</div>

Costco already has a six-month policy on computers.

A year ago, with no intent to buy a new TV, I was walking through the above-mentioned Costco and saw the most beautiful picture I had ever seen. They had taken the time to set up a proper display and the difference between plasma, LCD and DLC were instantly obvious. I bought a Samsung 50" DLC set that day and have never been sorry. The picture is still phenomenal. Let your eyes, not the specs, do the talking.

 

I had a 37" LCD and returned it. I now have a 42" Plasma and am very pleased. The LCD had blurring and poor viewing angle.

 

I had a Panasonic 42" EDTV for approaching 3 years. I tipped it over and cracked the inside glass. It broke my heart. It had a beautiful picture right up to the end. My finances weren't prepared for this but I had become spoiled and wasn't about to settle for less.

I shopped and researched extensively. I wanted something bigger, a 50". The 50" Panasonic plasma cost more than my budget was ready for (~$2,400 on sale at Sears). To my eyes the LCDs had a very crisp picture but lacked a feeling of realism and depth. I finally bought an $1,100 (on sale price) highly rated 50" DLP which had an amazingly beautiful picture in the store. After delivery though, I found it very hard to get and maintain realistic color and it would vary from channel to channel. Also, in general, I was spoiled by my past experiences with plasma. I sent the DLP back and exchanged it for the 50" Panasonic. My budget took a major hit for that decision but I am now experiencing a very realistic picture, at least to my eyes, with colors that are very natural with almost 3D like depth. Also, blacks on this TV have a solid black look, not a faded black like on the DLP.

Interestingly, Comp USA put that very same 50" Panasonic on sale a few days later for less than $2,000. I called my salesman who said, "I'll call you back in 15 minutes". 15 minutes later he called back and announced that he'd matched the CompUSA price and credited my credit card for the difference. I do love dealing with Sears.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(riva @ Dec 29 2006, 09:13 AM) [snapback]368181[/snapback]</div>

Sure, sorry for the delay.

After much deliberation I purchased a 50" Philips model 50PF9631D/37

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?sk...d=1142291917283

Operative word is "low end". Cheap stuff breaks before quality stuff.

I've been told Priuses don't have enough power to pass on the highway and that they require more extensive maintenance than normal cars. Thats not true either.

 

One word: 1080p

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1080p

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jonnycat26 @ Dec 31 2006, 05:57 PM) [snapback]369055[/snapback]</div>

So, I decided upon the Sony 34" KD-34XBR960 or the Sony 34" KD-34XS955, both tube TVs, both sony's finest resolution in a tube tv ("super fine pitch" horizontally, 1080i vertically) both out of manufacture for well over a year. I tried for a week looking for one online and locally (no retailer has them in stock, none locally for me on eBay). I was visiting a client in the country and decided to take a chance at a mom-n-pop store near their office. They had one! They had it in storage for 2 years and let me have it for $750 (almost 1/3 original list, less than the newer Sony models with inferior picture, and pretty much the used eBay price) just to get rid of it. We had to unbox it to get it in the prius. It barely fit. Took a lot of muscle and engineering (ramps) for me to get it in the house.

As I was driving home, I was thinking that surely both me and the Mom-and-Pops were laughing at the "sucker" we just dealt with.

I calibrated using the Avia DVD, hooked up to the BluRay on PlayStation 3 viaHDMI, and everything looks fabulous. The PS3 even upscales regular DVD to 1080 (so says Sony, not sure of the status, but the TV says the DVD signal is 1080i when playing DVDs from the PS3 and 480p from my crappy old DVD player) , so pretty much anything I have should look better.

I was also able to stick a $12 rabbit ear antenna from RadioShack onto it and I pick up every single HDTV channel in the Atlanta area.

At 200 pounds, it is the last tube TV I will probably ever buy, but was worth the effort to get it.

EDIT: I also picked up the Denon AVR-2807 and got rid of the ancient Denon receiver I was using. Biggest draw for me was my long term Denon experience, HDMI capabilities, and ability to take svideo, component,and HDMI in and spit out HDMI. It only has 2 HDMI inputs, which might be limiting in the long term but as a bridge from old video technology to newer format, it is perfect.