OT: buying a plasma/flat screen, any ideas on the best one? Options

[Speedster07]

QUOTE (soupbone @ Nov 14 2005, 11:15 PM)

QUOTE (iamchappy @ Nov 14 2005, 09:08 AM) Depending on what it is used for and if you are able to control the darkening of the room consider a projector. I choose the projector and find it is way more pleasing to view than any tv i have seen. The plasma's and lcd are great if you enjoy tv viewing, if you enjoy movies or the experience of film like quality take a look at the projectors. HDTV on a projector watching football or the world series on a wall sized screen is awesome. I plan on replacing some of the tvs in my house with 26" plasma or lcd flat screens but they could never replace  or come close to the quality picture i get from my projector in a darkened room. I second front projection depending on your room and lighting. I have Sony VPL-HS10 w/ *90" screen* but considering Panasonic AE900. So for $2000 you can have a small "short or long throw" front projector that can be mounted on ceiling, coffee table, or even the back wall bookshelf. http://www.visualapex.com/lcdprojectors/LC...U&MFR=Panasonic Then use the wall or a cheap $150 screen.

I just bought at Costco on Saturday the SHARP XR-11XC DLP Projector it has 2000 Lumens and 2000:1 Contrast and XGA 1024x768 Resolution, not bad, shows very crisp on a 12 ft Screen, I also picked up a ONKYO TX-SR702 THX Select 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver. ya baby. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/beerchug.gif)
I'm experiencing some problems getting everything hooked up, (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/headbang.gif)
These products really make you feel stupid today. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/blink.gif)
Not sure if I'm keeping the Sharp, I'm willing to spend up to $3500 so if I find a better Projector and it's really that much better I'll trade up.
If you have and suggestions I'm all ears. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wavey.gif)

My .02 worth
Spend the money today, enjoy it while you can, up grade it when you can.
Have fun life is short.

[machina]

we put a 100" electric screen and NEC projector in the living room a couple years ago. Watch it once in a while for movies or the kids use it.

My big problem with going to flat panel TV is the 16:9 format. I actually like the wide format but 98% of what we watch is old 4:3 format (SAT TV, etc). I absolutely can't stand stretching out the image to fit 16:9 so you would end up with big black bars on each side of the picture with most programs.

Does the format issue bother anyone else?

[pfierb]

The Wall Street Journal had a good article last week on flat screen TVs ......can't remember which day it was although I think it was the weekend edition that you can access on line.

[Richard Casto]

QUOTE (meares @ Nov 14 2005, 05:30 AM)

i'm about to buy a plasma...i'm doing some research, but wanted know of any personal exper. in your purchases...which ones to buy/stay away from.....

I just realized that I don't think anyone asked what you will be using this for. Is this going to be in a home theature setup in which you probably will be lowering the light level and watching movies most of the time, or is this a direct replacement for a regular TV in which you are casually watching a wide variety of shows?

My opinion is that if it is a dedicated home theature setup, then maybe a projector would work best (as some have suggested). For a given screen size it is cheaper to use a front projector. Problem is that they are not as bright (if you project them up to a big theature size) so you have the have the lights dim or off. This doesn't work well for middle of the day viewing with light streaming in the windows. Also you have the cost, setup, etc. of screen, running cables, mounting the projector.

Something like the flat panel plasma, lcd or even the thin rear projectors make a bettter general purpose TV. Not the ultimate of a projector and screen, but easy to just setup, turn on and chill out. I just depends upon what you want to us it for.

Regarding the comment about the 16:9 comment above. It depends upon what you want to watch. I personally think that a few years ago the 4:3 vs. 16:9 was a valid argument. But today most prime time shows are produced in 16:9 at this point. But for a number of shows you still get 4:3. So it is something you should be aware of if you are getting a new TV. It seems like the number of 4:3 stuff that is being made today in the higher end TVs is becomming very rare. I personally watch 4:3 stuff stretched to fit into 16:9

[meares]

it's going over the fireplace in a room with a bunch of windows...i'm thinking of a 50".......philips lcd or panasonic plasma

[DougC]

Here's a usefull piece of advice.. Don't buy the Panasonic 50" LCD unit. I think it's PT50LC13 or something like that. I've owned it for two years now and the "F"ing bulb has just gone out for the 4th time. I'm absolutely livid about it. I have a 3 yr warranty from Sears but I want to take this set back for a refund or replacement. The bulb is supposed to give an indication of how many hours it has left but mine just dies and we have to be without the set for a week each time the (nonshallante) repairman has to order a bulb. BTW, those bulbs are expensive if you don't get a service plan. This darn TV was close to $3K and it goes out every few months. Manufacturers put a note in the warranty info too stating that bulbs (lamps) are wear items and will need to be replaced, to cover their ass. I won't be getting another Panasonic.

Doug C

[Allan]

QUOTE (MJHanna @ Nov 14 2005, 05:55 AM)

I could not stand to buy a plasma knowing their life span is about 8 -10 and when they go bad you just throw it way. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif)

I don't think I've ever owned a tv for that long.

[seanery]

QUOTE (Headrage @ Nov 15 2005, 12:04 PM)

QUOTE (MJHanna @ Nov 14 2005, 05:55 AM) I could not stand to buy a plasma knowing their life span is about 8 -10 and when they go bad you just throw it way.  :o I don't think I've ever owned a tv for that long.

I've got a 36" JVC crt that I bought in 92. I've also got a 32" RCA that I bought in 90. There's a 5" GE in my kitchen that my folks bought new in 1987. There are more, but not nearly as old (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

[Jeffs9146]

QUOTE

The bulb is supposed to give an indication of how many hours it has left but mine just dies and we have to be without the set for a week each time the (nonshallante) repairman has to order a bulb. BTW, those bulbs are expensive if you don't get a service plan.

You should try getting a power conditioner. You may be getting voltage spikes or your house may be running hot +120v.

Power

[soupbone]

I have a HTS1000. It does helps with video but really made a difference with audio quality.

http://www.monstercable.com/power/productP...Theater%20Power

[Katmanken]

I read the Saturday Nov 12 Wall Street Journal article last week.

They said buying the plasma/flat screen is the tip of the iceberg...

In fact, they called the article "The Elephant in the Living Room"

Cited needing $250 worth of cable$

And up to $675 to run the cable$

They come with small sound systems necessitating buying a BIG $500-$1000 $urround $ound to go with the plasma/flat screen...

AND the $15 more a month upgraded cable service

Then the TIVO don't work well with the screen so you need about $400 for a special HI-D digital recorder with TIVO..

And the wall mount bracket is $200

And fights on who gets to use the screen for X-box, News, whatever

And regular DVD's look like crap- 480 lines on a 1080 line screen

And the colors are adjusted off so you have to pay to get that tweeked.......

And a 1-5 second channel surfing delay....

AND...

Not a very complementary article....

Ken

[iamchappy]

DYI and save, these things are very easy to hook up, HDTV signals are free over the air and also produce the highest quaility picture. A good antenne is all thats needed.

[soupbone]

QUOTE (iamchappy @ Nov 15 2005, 01:53 PM)

DYI and save, these things are very easy to hook up, HDTV signals are free over the air and also produce the highest quaility picture. A good antenne is all thats needed.

Worried about ugly cables, WAF!, or drilling holes in the wall?

Use flat ones and paint over it. http://www.decorp.com/

Whoops yea and over the air HDTV PCI Tuner cards for PC are $65.

[jhadler]

Seems a lot of people already have weighed in here, but I thought I'd add a little info...

There are a host of issues to look at, but cost is always a consideration. Size for size, res vs res, plasmas are still cheaper. Are they better? Well, that's a matter of debate. But here are some things I can tell you...

CRT's (conventional TV tubes), are very capable in a multitude of lighting situations. There is generally one specular and one diffuse surface. "Specular" meaning "mirror-like". So if there's a light source in the room, it will reflect an image of that source. Diffuse meaning just that, it reflects a fuzzed and/or reduced (or eliminated) source.

LCD's are GREAT in rooms with ambient light sources, there are generally NO specular surfaces in the display and the diffuse reflector surface is generally AR coated (meaning it will retartd or eliminate altoghther, reflections.).

Plasmas generally have not one, not two, but THREE specular reflecting surfaces. Which means that unless you're putting it in a home theater, with very well controlled lighting, you're GOING to get reflections and glare on the screen from light sources in the room. What does that mean? It's better in the dark...

Another thing, Plasmas tend to suffer the same problems that CRT's do with regards to high contrast images. Put a white square on a black background, and you get a very high contrast image. Lot's of manufactuters like to claim a 500:1 contrast ratio, and that's usually how they measure it. Now, reverse that and put a black square on a white background, and you start to deplete to white heavilly. In many cases, your contrast ratio could drop to as little as 40:1. LCD's don't suffer this effect to anywhere near the same degree, and can deliver more consistent images depending on lighting.

My preference? I wouldn't know, I couldn't afford either right now... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/sad.gif)

If anyone's interested, here's a really great spot to learn all you never wanted to know about flat panel displays...

http://www.fpdl.nist.gov/tips.html

I just started doing some work in this project, and it's really cool. A nice change of pace from lasers and detectors and stuff... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif)

-Josh2

[Rand]

Personally, I wouldn't worry about the lifespan of the technology. Ten years from now there will be something new, and it will cost less.

Whenever I go look at all the units at a large electronics store, there are definitely a couple that stand out to me... I wouldn't buy one sight-unseen.

How far are you from the Fry's in Duluth? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif)

[Jeffs9146]

QUOTE

Cited needing $250 worth of cable$ And up to $675 to run the cable$

If you are worried about cables purchase one with a built in tuner!! Problem solved with a set of RCA plugs, cable & power. All of which are cheep and you would need them with what ever you purchase. The one I got has a chip you can purchase form ComCast that will give you all of the channels and HDTV. The only thing you cant get direct to the tv is PayPerView but another RCA to the cable box and the problem is solved.

[boxstr]

If anyone is interested in a 42" Dell, plasma, brand new in the box. $1850. Located in Portland Oregon contact me.
Craig C. Laughlin