LCD or Plasma Tv?

[Ozz]

Got HDTV, now the screen is not full, need a new television,
any suggestions?
Size; medium to large
Brand; love Sony, but not stuck on it
I know there are real bargains out there now, we will research costs.
But what type?
Thanks.
Ozz and Sue

[Jolu]

Ozz, On your sat receiver remote is there a format button? If there is play with that button and you can change the tv picture size.
That is the way mine works for my older tv.

[TLightning]

Check out the Dec issue of Consumer Reports...big article on TVs.

[Ozz]

Jolu, Thanks, I tried that, but found out that my Sony is HDTV ready, but will not show full screen.
Tom, I did read up on it and determined that LCD would be best for me, we move fassst, we are on the way out to Nebraska Furniture mart (In Kansas) to possibly buy a Sony Bravia XBR series KDL 46" LCD TV.
We will move the old Sony to the bedroom, give the monitor we have there now the the neighbor kid.
Thanks for the ideas.
Ozz

[billaero1]

OZZ,
Where did you find room for a 46"er? I'm thinking about replacing the tube type in my 2955RL but a 32" LCD is about all I can crowd into that area. I may still have a little hanging out in the transition between dining area and lavatory. It will be interesting to see how you mount yours. Good Luck

Bill

[exav8tr]

Jim, there may be a button on your remote that says Aspect ratio also, on the newer TV's you can change the aspect ratio between 16:9 (widescreen) 4:3 square box (regular TV), maybe a zoom or two also. Then again, maybe you don't. Just a possiblilty.....BTW, this could be under your set up also.

[Ozz]

Bill, It is actually for our 'stick house', many have replaced the Tv with a neat LCD, or Plasma sets but I don't know what size they went with.
Phil, we tried that, but when the (3rd) set of cable guys came out today, they said my Sony was HDTV ready, but not a true HDTV, thus the black at the top and bottom, and that made all the football players tiny on the screen. Not good for my elderly eyes... SO, we just bought a 52" Sony Bravia XBR1080p. A beauty. This monster should give some pretty good viewing. We got a $1,000 off deal we couldn't refuse. It was just a few hundred dollars more than the 42".
We pick it up the 24th...early.
Live in Missouri, bought it in Kansas, from Nebraska Furniture Mart.
Ozz

[exav8tr]

Good for you Jim, You're one that can't wait for Christmas either, lol. Cathy says I always go out and buy my Christmas present in November so we don't do Christmas gifts anymore. A nice dinner and church is our Christmas. (Unless we're home with the kids). Wow, with a 52 incher, I wouldn't even need my glasses.....Throw in some surround sound and you could show first run movies...... Glad you got it worked out.....

[bsmeaton]

Thats the one I'm holding out for! Waiting to see what happens with the pricing, as they still seem to be hovering around $2,400.

I never did understand the pro-con of LCD vs Plasma.

[noneck]

Ok, sounds like you made a commit, so....1080p is a must for large TV to get all that HDTV can supply. Plasma was once the ultimate but downside was the ghosting...this has been "fixed" over the years and proven out in use of these as test bed in Airport terminals. LCD is more efficient but suffered from angle viewing issues...this too has been "fixed".
Last year I purchased an Element (right...off brand) Plasma 52" from Circuit City 1080p at $1,000.00...like being there...oh, and the other interesting thing is those actors aren't so perfect looking!!!

[Gary Christy]

Ozz
Does that modle have 120Hz refresh. On LCD that smooths out fast action. Plasma tvs dont have that problem. Just bougth a 42" 120 Hz. My christmas present, its still in box, hop e to installthis weekend. Sure you will enjoy it.
MERRY CHRISTMAS to all Gary

[sailer]

Ozz we are looking at a 46 Brava 1080 with blue rae , hook up by the geek squad and a 3rd item with the 120hz refresh for 1999.00 at best buy or a big tv guy here in fl .. i am waiting for the 1st of ther year , i think they will go down more , this sony also has the no glare screen as we have the 42" outside on the linia and watch football in the sun with no shadow,, you will love that sony , the guy next door just got a viszo 47 at costco for 999.00 but sony is still 1999. .. they will come down sailer

[Ozz]

Brad, try this site: http://tiny.cc/Compare I did a couple hrs of cramming before the 'Buy quiz' at the store, I think I got it right. We bought it for $2200. They were selling like cheap Tacos. I think that one is the top of Sony's line. (Maybe the second down) Walmart had a 46" for $1281.00, but it was a 'S' series, one step above the entry level unit, an office model.
The 'going out of business' Circuit City's price was $1449.00.
noneck, you have done your homework on them.
Yes Gary, it does. I understand they program a blank frame between frames to smooth out the action.
exav8tr, My wife said she will not have to wear her glasses now, I will have to hook up my surround sound to it, I guess it has a really good sound system on it, 2 speakers and a Woofer.
It will simplify Christmas shopping for the both of us, that's the end of it.
Can't wait.
Ozz

[SlickWillie]

OZZ, is that the Nebraska Furniture out by Cabelas? Man that is a heck of a store out there. Went in it when I was in Lansing a few years back. Most anything you need.

[wersqu]

One of our local tv stations in Milwaukee just did a story on tv's. Their suggestions were to stay with a brand name tv. They stated the Better Business Bureau gets several complaints about off brand LCD's & plasma's lasting just about as long as their warranty period is. There were also several complaints about how warranty's were or were not handled. I have a 52" Hitachi LCD in my stick home with the extended warranty. I have had service out to our home 6 times including a $250.00 lightbulb not covered. This tv at the time was rated as one of the best. I just extended the warranty for another 3 years due to it's track record. We have had excellent service but without the service contract we would be looking at another tv in just 3 years. As we paid over $3,000, we would be spending over $1000.00 a year for a tv that would have to be replaced after just 3 years, and this tv doesn't bounce down the road.

[Rondo]

OZZ- Keep that money coming back to Nebraska! Our multi billion dollar man back here can use that extra you've sent him! Berkshire Hathaway owns NFM now you know! Big sale every year when they hold the stockholders meeting here in Omaha! Glad you brought this thread on since I'm looking for a new set also and was wondering what to buy! Think I'll buy my own Christmas present this year!!
Hope it isn't as cold down there as it is here! It's -1 right now and no highs over 28 for this week at all with snow coming in tonight!
Well back to the thread!

[jjackflash]

quote:Originally posted by bsmeaton

Thats the one I'm holding out for! Waiting to see what happens with the pricing, as they still seem to be hovering around $2,400.

I never did understand the pro-con of LCD vs Plasma.

Brad, we have a 61" Pioneer Plasma and a 46" Sony Bravia XBR1080p
LCD,they both have beautiful pictures but if I had to do it over again I would go with LCD instead of the plasma. The big thing with me about the plasma, is viewing is best when in a dark room were as the LCD is good in either light,Plus the LCD you can freeze the picture all day long and not damage anything,with the plasma you can't freeze the picture very long for fear of burning a image in the screen.The plasma IMO won't last as long as the LCD.

[Delaine and Lindy]

We have Samsungs 46" LCD 1080P in the living area and a 42" Samsung 1080P for the bedroom. The 5th wheel has a 37" Samsung and a 19" Samsung both are 780P most broadcast aren't in 1080P but I recomend the 1080P's. We will upgrade the 5th wheel with 1080P's when they become available. I think May was when they begin to sell 1080P's in the 37" Samsungs. We also at one time had a Plasma 50", I do prefer the LCD's even though the Plasma had a good picture. We got the stick house LCD's off the internet and saved a lot of money. Yes the LCD prices are down. We have had Sony's in the past. GBY....

[Ozz]

Will, yes it's there, you wouldn't recognize the area there. I went over to change out 6 big hail damaged condenser coils on 15 ton rooftop units for another A/C company, I didn't recognize it. The NASCAR track is there as well as a very large shopping center: (Legions-mis-spelled,don't know how they spell it) they have every name you can think of plus some new ones,Hooters is even there. They are still building, they had a Casino coming, but it canceled because of the crummy economy.
Tim, we always pass on service contracts, but with this set, I bought one. I got a 4 year. Sony does not cover everything, and there would be a $100.00 service charge to come to the house, also, you would have to package it and ship it back to a repair site if that kind of repair would be needed. They even cover the $80.00 remote, (as you already know, but some may not) I think in some instances it is a good idea.
In the greater Kansas City area we have plenty of good repair companies, not like poor Carolyn way up north, with few to chose from.
Rondo, you should have seen the display models they have, there must have been over 500 sets on display, we bought our Montana reclining love-seat there, as well as our recliners in our 'stick house', old Warren has a good investment there. Yep, it's warmed from 6 yesterday to 18 this morning, but it's snowing, streets are covered and it's kind of pretty. Later today, I have to go and fix a furnace in a neighbor's garage.
Jack, I read where the Plasma may burn an image in, and the life of the set is half as long, (under certain conditions) when the broadcasters leave their logo on the screen all the time, that would be an issue. I noticed the cable provider sets a timer, the picture blacks out after awhile and a moving notice comes on; "Press any key to resume" this is probably for the Plasma sets.
Delaine and Lindy, we have a Sony now, it has been a very nice trouble-free set, so we went with what we knew. I will move the old Sony to the bedroom. I have a cable box in there, it's a HDTV box, but without a recorder in it.
Of course, I will now have to buy a LCD for the Montana, when the time comes it will also be a Sony.
Ozz

[Waynem]

I have a 42" Panasonic Plasma in the family room her at the stick house. Bought it 4-5 years ago when they were about first out. You don't even want to know what I paid for it, but30 days later I got a $1200 rebate because they went on sale.

Knock on wood, I have never had any problems with it. The picture is fine for us. It is an EDTV (TH-42PA20) that at the time was a few $K less than HDTV, which was just coming out. We also have 3 LCD's in the stick house, a 32, 26, and 20 inch. I really don't see much difference in quality when viewing any of them, but maybe I just need glasses.

However, the plasma definitely runs on the warm side of the scale and keeps the family room warm - even in the summer. LCD is a lot cooler.

If I were to replace the FR tv it would either be another Panasonic, or a Sony Bravia. Whe have a Blue Ray player. (I just have to have all the new technology - and the only reason I have not upgraded the tv is DW will not cut the purse string she hangs on to.)


Edited: I have left our plasma tv in the pause mode for over 30 minutes while on a phone call with no adverse results.

One thing about both types of tv's is the side bar when viewing in a "normal" configuration that does not fit the sides. The side bar can burn in after prolonged use in that mode (need to define prolonged use) We always use the "stretch" mode on the satellite system. Yes, it makes the people look a little fatter, but then that flatters me!! It is something we have gotten used to. More and more of the HD broadcasts are filling the screen. When watching DVD's or rented Satellite movie you may be restricted to their screen size definition, like letterbox, where the top and bottom has a line. Not much to do about that except play with your DVD or tv settings to see if you can make if full. I have been able to do that on some broadcasts and DVD's. You just have to experiment. Most sets have a "factory reset" if you get to far out of line.

If your receiver/DVD has an HDMI output and your tv has the HDMI input, it is by far the best quality, and on most systems provided audio. Think "one cable."

I recently had a VCR/DVD Recorder combo go south and it was under warranty. I picked up a Panasonic and am using it for the 32 inch HDTV in the BR (stick house) I fed the output of the satellite (Dish Network) to the Combo and the HDMI to the tv. It is an upconverter so it actually up-converts to 1080P (P stands for progressive scan and you tv must be capable of it - 1080I stands for interlaced scan, which most tv's are or have both. Check your manual.)

As I stated in the original post, I cannot tell the difference on the LCD and Plasma. My older plasma gets good viewing from all angles. The LCD does also. But I am seldom sitting that far off to the side that it matters. Technology has improved significantly for both products.