What is the best LCD/Plasma TV and best deal?

[Stoic]

My wife has announced we have enough in the budget for a new TV (in addition to our 12yr old Sony). We're talking in the 2K-3K range $-wise but I'd be happy for a good deal in the sub-2k range. Does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks in advance.

[TommyO]

1. What sized TV are you looking for?

The 2-3K budget will get you a very good 50" plasma TV (Costco recently had a 50" Panasonic for just $1999, but it looks like it's sold out now). My personal choice for my place is a 42" Panasonic plasma which I saw at Costco for just $1199 recently, though I think it's back up to around $1399 right now.

[Stoic]

10. Probably in the 40" range

Although we're going to have to move the TV cabinet to the basement because it only fits the 32" tv we have now.

[spinbaby]

2. Do you really want one of those huge ones?

Our 32" seems more than big enough for ordinary viewing and you can get 32" HDTVs for under $1000 now. What I would do if I had that kind of money to spend is to buy a TV in a smaller size and invest the remaining money on one of those theater-quality sound systems and an HDDVD or Blu-Ray player.

[Avalux]

3. Olevia makes a great product -

I know someone who has purchased this one - incredible deal - great TV. If you don't mind ordering online -

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16889022030

[WritingIsMyReligion]

4. The WIMR household just got a 50" Vizio plasma.

It's great, in my uneducated opinion. I have no idea how much it cost, though; I think Papa WIMR got it at Circuit City. He said it was really marked down in one of those pre-Christmas sales.

I know almost nothing about plasmas/LCDs, though, so don't take me seriously. It could be that my dad got a shitty TV. :P

I think size matters, though. La mere et le pere are RE agents, and they say that some idjits buy TVs that are way too frickin' big for the space.

:hi:

[Rosco T.]

5. Best rule of thumb I've heard...

- if you watch more fast-moving sports, get plasma

- if you watch more movies/normal TV, get LCD

LCD runs much cooler and a longer service life.

If you can afford it, get a set that does 1080p natively.

Get an Oppo DV-981HD Player, it will do an AMAZING job of making old DVD's HD quality (review here: http://www.consumerelectronicsnet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=91872)

Wander over to your nearest Costco. Take a look at the VIZIO line of TV's. They have a NO DEAD, NO STUCK PIXEL policy (on their LCD).

I have a friend who had a problem with one (nothing is trouble-free. Ever) and after calling them,
two days later FedEx was at his door with a new one and a label for pickup at his convenience on the old one.

[NJCher]

6. a discussion by someone who knows

I have a student who wrote a paper on plasma vs. LCD. He's a tech who installs home theatre systems. If you want a copy of the paper, I'll send it to you if you just PM me with your e-mail addy.

When I read the paper, I asked him for a digital copy because it was a thoughtful discussion of which type to get under which circumstances. I intend to use it myself when I'm ready to buy my next TV.



Cher

[Deja Q]

7. Wow!

Anything that's got a faster MS timing (5-8MS), is 24-bit, and whose contrast ratio is 1000:1 or better (e.g. 1600:1, 3200:1, 10000:1, et al) would be a decent deal.

Of course, make sure the el cheapo monitor has HD, DVI, and other ports for future expansion. A lovely model I nearly bought didn't have a DVI port so I couldn't use my computer on it. :( (in either case, CRTs are better for graphic designers anyway...)

[Redstone]

8. Plasma TVs are socially irresponsible, because they're power hogs.

Some can use as much as 1000 watts of power. The electric companies in California are actually worried about the number of plasma TVs being sold.

Redstone

[jmowreader]

9. I wouldn't get the Philips 50" plasma

We sold sixteen of these and about fifty of the 42" Philips plasma.

We got three returns on the 50" and none on the 42". Okay, only one of the three returns was because of the quality of the product--one someone dropped then waited until our easiest manager was on duty, and the third was returned by the cops because someone stole it. How you steal a 50" plasma TV: load it on a cart, haul ass toward the door as fast as you can and flash a receipt at the cashier next to the door. The cops had him pulled over before he got out of the parking lot. There's a reason we put the boxed TVs in plain sight of the cashiers.) But even so, we had both TVs set up next to each other playing the same movie (over and over and over and over) and the picture on the 42" is much nicer.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. My dad just got a 42" Philips.

I have nothing to compare it with, but the picture looks great and it does a lot of cool things. I like the Ambilight feature, it makes it easier to watch in a darkened room. It's really heavy, though. I can't imagine how anybody could steal one; we can hardly even move it.

[gr8dane_daddy]

12. Have you considered looking at DLP technology...

technology is becoming more affordable. Try checking out a DLP theater if they're in your area...movies look great with it.