Plasma or LCD? Price trends? New technology?

11/22/05 | Don't_Tread_On_Me_888

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

Please offer your expertise and research into the "State of the High Definition TV".

Is plasma or LCD the way to go?

I heard that most of the makers bring out new models in the April-May period next year. Will prices for 2005 models plunge then after New Year's?

What manufacturers offer superior quality?

Should one wait a year or two due to rapid change in technology?

When will the technology advancement in HD TV slow?

Best Buy has a 42 inch plasma from Panasonic for about $2900. What types of prices are you seeing out there for various size LCDs and plasma?

Why would anyone buy a rear projection DLP?

What regualtory changes are happening re the government involvement over spectrum and HDTV standards?

For those of you in the industry, please offer your expertise on these and other questions one should consider before purchasing.

For others not in the industry, please offer your research into these andother need to know issues re HDTV.

[Samwise]

Thank you for that wealth of information. I think I'm convinced to wait until Spring, too. Our current television works great when we thump it just right. :^)

[dc27]

I just bought a Sony Grand Wega 50" rear projection LCD. I absolutely love the picture.

[bigsigh]

Is plasma the only one thin enough to hang on the wall?

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

I believe LCDs are even lighter than plasmas and are probalby hung on the wall more than plasmas are.

[bigsigh]

Is it bacuse they are smaller? It seems until recently, plasma was it in the above 42" market for thinness.

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

I read reviews on that and the reviewers raved about it. Some people go for the flat panels just so they could hug the wall. One room I want a HDTV in that will not be an issue, but the other room I need a wall hugger flat panel, or at least one like yours if it does not stick out that much.

What is the total depth?

[Cedar]

"Who watches Peruvian soccer anyway?"

Or even American prime time TV?

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

Not sure if this is true but I was told that plasmas weigh more than LCDs, although if true, should not prevent wall mounts. The industry encourages wall mounting for the "cool" factor.

I saw a 42 inch plasma that weighed 82 pounds and a 42 inch LCD that weighed 60 pounds. I am not sure if this is a consistent thing or not. Either way, it does not matter as the hardware and mounting procedures still allow either one to be wall mounted.

[bigsigh]

Thanx.

BTW I'm not going for the cool factor. I'm in a small condo and it's about space and function.

[dc27]

The depth of the tv is 16" It fits nicely in the corner of my living room. I forgot to mention that the sound system is great too. Good luck.

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

Re the sound system:

The larger and deeper rear projection DLP type HDTVs usually have far better sound systems built in due to their size allowing that. When you have a really thin LCD or plasma, you just can't get good speakers and amplifiers in that small space.

The answer is that the better LCD and plasma units have jacks and are designed to be hooked up to an external amplifier and external speakers, just like a sound system is hooked up. Good speakers are often bigger than the TV itself, plus the amplifier, so you end up with a need for space still, but the LCD or plasma is so thin that it fits on a wall like a painting.

In my case , I have two large, high quality Klipsch speakers and room for an amplifier, and about 90 inches between the two speakers to mount a plasma or LCD on the wall (I wish I can afford the $25,000 or so for the 90 inch model).

The other thing to consider is if a speaker of amplifier goes bad in a rear projector system, can you even open up the TV to get to it, or if so, how difficult is it to replace a part like that and how expensive? With external sound units, ease of new speakers or amplifier is a snap, and usually of far better quality capability. You are resigned to the original type of sound system parts with a rear projector.

Regardless, there are some excellent units like yours on the market, and your model is at the top of many reviews.