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Need large screen TV advice and opinions. (Need videophile advice)
7/18/07 | Self

Posted on 07/18/2007 7:55:12 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants

Okay, I am going to spend some of my mad money for a large screen HDTV. I want either a LCD or Plasma TV, no projection tv's. I want 1080p resolution. I'll have around $2000 to spend. What I need is advice on what is good, what sucks, what breaks, what keeps on working, plasma tv life expectancy, etc.

Hit me!


TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: hdtv; lcd; plamsa; unplugit; wasteofmoney
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To: Wheee The People

I recently purchased a Vizio 50” plasma and have been thrilled with it. I picked it up on sale at Circuit City for $1299. I have an older Panasonic console 32” HD that is still gorgeous. That is in my bedroom now.


61 posted on 07/18/2007 8:25:11 PM PDT by Right Angler
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To: Blood of Tyrants

Have a great LG 42” HD LCD. I see they are also available in the USA. Here in Oz, Plasma are becoming like the beta tapes versus VHS tape players. LCD’s are now outselling Plasma’s 10 to 1 and we expect plasma’s to become history. Even all the computer screens are becoming LCD’s.


62 posted on 07/18/2007 8:25:16 PM PDT by Aussiebabe
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To: Blood of Tyrants

Whatever you do, I think you should try and buy one that’s made in China. I know it will be difficult, but the quality...


63 posted on 07/18/2007 8:25:30 PM PDT by americanophile
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To: CanaGuy

You're absolutely right, Cana! But there are still some good cinema classics which is why this idiot keeps his idiot box!


64 posted on 07/18/2007 8:27:03 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (We all need someone we can bleed on...)
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To: redangus
Panasonic plasma. Best picture by far

While very good, they are second fiddle to Pioneer (since the 7th generation)
65 posted on 07/18/2007 8:27:24 PM PDT by WackySam
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To: Blood of Tyrants
VISIO, 42” LCD, from Wal-mart..$946.00 best by on the market..
Just got on e and am entirely pleased
66 posted on 07/18/2007 8:27:45 PM PDT by Robe (Rome did not create a great empire by talking, they did it by killing all those who opposed them)
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To: jdm
I sold my plasma for bigger plasma.

You get used to the bigger screen very quickly. After one month my wife wanted to trade up (sort of like or marriage).

I resisted.

67 posted on 07/18/2007 8:27:54 PM PDT by Mike Darancette (Democrat Happens!)
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To: Blood of Tyrants

With $2K, forget the 1080p.

Check cnet.com for ratings. (they will validate my 1080p comment)

In Feb. 2007 the Pioneer 5070HD was the highest rated 50”.
VisualApex.com has the best prices and reputation.
My experience was an absolute 10.

Figure out ahead of time whether you want a wall mount and which cables you’ll want. Cables are NOT a trivial cost.
Again, CNET will confirm the low end HDMI are just fine.

Good Luck!


68 posted on 07/18/2007 8:30:27 PM PDT by G Larry (Only strict constructionists on the Supreme Court!)
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To: divine_moment_of_facts

My 51” Sony WEGA has a better picture and sound than the Samsung DLP unit it replaced, at half the price.


69 posted on 07/18/2007 8:30:32 PM PDT by P8riot (I carry a gun because I can't carry a cop.)
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To: Vermont Lt

You are correct in the type of cable, but not in price. Monster, for example, is the biggest rip-off there is in regards to touting that you should buy their overpriced cables because somehow they are better. It’s not the brand, but the type of cable used.

In a nut-shell, any brand of the following will produce the same result; find the cheapest of these for the desired result:

HDMI - Offers both 5.1 sound and HD digital picture. Recommended for all HD applications such as HD DVD, HD Cable/Satellite.

Composite cables - Offers lower grade HD picture, but needs a separate cable for sound (usually audio cables that only offer stereo sound).

RCA cables - NOT HD, no matter what anybody says. These are always yellow for video, and read and white for sound (stereo sound only).

Coax (your normal cable TV wire) - Not HD with mono sound.


70 posted on 07/18/2007 8:31:06 PM PDT by BKerr (Thompson 2008!)
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To: Revolting cat!

I know your happy now, but, I suspect that you’d be happier living in China or North Korea.


71 posted on 07/18/2007 8:31:56 PM PDT by hole_n_one
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To: Blood of Tyrants

I have a Samsung DLP,love it.


72 posted on 07/18/2007 8:32:02 PM PDT by linn37 (Phlebotomists need love too.)
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To: SteveMcKing

Heavy? DLP projection weighs about 1 lb


73 posted on 07/18/2007 8:32:22 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: SteveMcKing

DLPs are actually very light. They are basically empty boxes. I can pick up my 55” Sony Grand WEGA by myself.

DLP technology has won many technical industry awards. In February 1997, the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences chose DLP technology to project the Oscars, and it has been used ever since. In June 1998, DLP Products won an Emmy for outstanding achievement in Engineering from the Academy of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Hornbeck, the inventor of DLP technology, also received an Emmy. In October 2003, DLP Products received two Emmys for Technology and Engineering in consumer rear-projection TV.


74 posted on 07/18/2007 8:34:07 PM PDT by Kirkwood
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To: hole_n_one

And you can go back to Cuba, where the likes of you belong! (Or else I’ll call La Migra.)


75 posted on 07/18/2007 8:34:28 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (We all need someone we can bleed on...)
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To: misterrob
A coworker just bought a samsung LCD 1080P 46" widescreen from Amazon and got a good deal. The contrast in 15,000 to one. He loves the tv.

A lot depends on what you want. You have to ask many questions like Where will you put it? On the wall, on a stand etc. How big is your room?

DLP or LCD screens will not suffer burn in. I think Plasmas are better than they used to be for burn in and possibly have eliminated it.

A good place for reviews is CNET.com. I think Audioreview.com or stereoreview.com is another place to look.

I have a 55" Mitsubishi rear projection widescreen (Top of the line Diamond Model) that I purchased on Labor Day, 2000. I have had no problems at all with it. Rear projection can suffer burn in from screen logos and other static images.

Costco does sell some very cheap sets, but I don't know how long they will last. Another coworker bought a cheap DLP set made in China. It has been repaired twice so far. The light lasted less than a year.

76 posted on 07/18/2007 8:36:18 PM PDT by I Drive Too Fast
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To: mylife

If you buy one of the new LED-based DLP TVs, there is no bulb to burn out.


77 posted on 07/18/2007 8:36:56 PM PDT by nhoward14
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To: Mike Darancette
Actually in some models Sony uses a Samsung screen.

Odd fact, Sony was some what late to the whole plasma thing.

They were still hustling Trinitron and did not get in the game for a couple of years.

78 posted on 07/18/2007 8:37:49 PM PDT by ejonesie22 (Hillary has already beat Rudy, She is the better cross-dresser.)
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To: Kirkwood

DLP is what the movie Theatres use


79 posted on 07/18/2007 8:38:02 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: Blood of Tyrants
I earn my living designing the chips for the next generation HDTV specifically the chips that will be in the new generation of laser based HDTV (LHDTV)... BTW we have an operational 42 inch 4.5kP prototype in our lab. Of course we have "special stuff" to play on it. I am now in the middle of designing the HQV (Hollywood Quality Video) chip for the new laser based TV ... you can find previous versions of the HQV chip in Samsung HDTV Toshiba HD-DVD and Blu-ray. Here's the deal ... and I probably would know ... Laser based LHDTV will BLOW AWAY todays HDTV. It requires much less ... very much less power to operate. So much less that it doesn't need the heavy transformers found in todays TVs. So instead of weighing 300 lbs ... the same size set might weigh 50 lbs. The LHDTV doesn't need much cabinet depth so it can be very thin ... the screen size is not limited either. The Laser LEDs have a life of 300,000 hours+ ... basically they will last a life time AND lastly ... they are in-expensive in comparison to todays plasmas, DLP and LCD

So my recommendation ... hang on till Xmas ... that's when they are slated for the first release. And look for the HQV logo on the front ... if only cause I help design em

80 posted on 07/18/2007 8:38:08 PM PDT by clamper1797 (Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club 72-73 ... USS Midway Va-93 Blue Blazers)
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