What TV would you Buy?
 

Looking at various options for a new TV in the gameroom! Not sure this is the right board to post this on, but anyway what would you tech guru's suggest I buy. Plasma, HDTV. What is the best set for the buck performance/price. Obviously, i would be hooking my GL2 up to it to play back footage. Anybody?????? I would like to keep the price tag around 3K and get something in the 50 inch range. Thanks in advance as usaul. :.).

I recently got a plasma TV. After lots of thought, reading and eyeball time at the stores I decided to go with EDTV instead of HDTV. There was a significant price difference between the ED and HD screens, and I felt the images looked pretty similar. In fact, I think it's better for DVD's (my main interest) since they don't have to scale the 720x480 anamorphic image to 1280x720.

I ended up with a Panasonic 37" Viera for around $2,000:

http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs...y=Plasma%20TVs

I really felt the larger screens would be a little overpowering for the room I want it in. This has turned out to be a good choice, very bright vibrant picture (4000:1 contrast ratio). I am not subscribing to any HD service, but my cable company passes the network HD channels through on the cable anyway. Even at the ED resolution (852x480) you can tell the difference between HD and SD broadcasts... The PBS HD channel has some impressive stuff.

With your budget for a 50" screen I think you'll need to look at rear projection models... 50" plasma ain't cheap ;-)

You could get a nice Sony LCD HDTV in that price range. That way when you are ready for HD, you will have it.

You aren't going to get anywhere near a Sony 50" LCD for $3,000. Maybe a 30" for that price. Plasma is generally less expensive for flat screen TV's, although DLP rear projection units will be cheaper still, if you don't mind the size/weight.

Boyd,

I paid $3299 for my 60", so I figure that a 50" should be well under that. If you want 5.1 Dolby sound it costs a bit more.

They are not 1080i, but rather, 1280X720 - but they look great.

Are you talking about flat panel direct view Sony LCD TV's? Or some sort of LCD rear projection TV? What is the model number?

I think we're talking about different things; Sony doesn't even make a 60" LCD panel, and the 42" screen costs $10,000. Here is their whole line of LCD's:

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTE...d&Dept=tvvideo

I think you're talking about one of these probably:

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTE...s&Dept=tvvideo

They are certainly a good value, but not the same as a direct view flat panel. They're bigger, heavier, not as bright, much lower contrast ratio, and have a narrower field of view. But if "size matters," then they do give you a lot of bang for the buck :-)

You are correct, of course. I don't see the point in spending a fortune on a direct view at that size. A 60" rear projection LCD or DLP works great. I admit it is 20" deep, but that is about the same as the older 32" set it replaced.

And it handles a lot of ambient light very well. I have a LOT of windows in my TV room. My wife was not interested in my idea of bricking them all up.

When I moved to a new home 3 years ago, I promised myself that my next TV would be a flat panel after hauling my 27" Sony WEGA CRT ;-) My 37" plasma is heavier than it looks, but is still manageable, and it fits in my car...

I would suggest taking a good look at some DLP's; Panny, Mitsu, and Sammy at least. $3K may be entry level, but they're the best bang for the buck in my book. 47 or 48 inches or more, for that money, IIRC.

I'm new to the HD thing but yesterday in walmart I saw a 30" (maybe 32") 16:9, HDTV for $684........There were a few different brand names (phillips, sanyo...) ranging in price from $684 up to $799. I realize these models are not the ones being discussed here but the prices sure seemed reasonable for what you'd get.
doug

.....that 32" Sanyo is rather well regarded as an "economy" set, they've got an INCREDIBLY long thread (25-30 pages) about it at www.avsforum.com
which is an equally diverse and reputable source in itself........though I doubt this is the type of set being inquired about here.