Plasma vs. LCD (or any other format)

**jetguy5150** · 11.02.06, 04:43 PM

Ok...did a search and didn't find any definitive answer to this question on the links and I know we have some technical gurus on here. So the scoop is...more details to follow but I am getting separated in January/February and my first item of business is to buy a new TV. 50" minimum. I am going on that divorce rule of, to determine the size of your new TV, start with a 27" and add 2 inches for every year you were married. (27" + (2 X 9)) = 45". I know that is a little short of 50" but I am including a few years we were together before marriage....

So the question is, do I go Plasma or do I go LCD? Or, are there other technologies that are not currently $20000 that I should consider? Cheers!

**broken9500** · 11.02.06, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by jetguy5150

Ok...did a search and didn't find any definitive answer to this question on the links and I know we have some technical gurus on here. So the scoop is...more details to follow but I am getting separated in January/February and my first item of business is to buy a new TV. 50" minimum. I am going on that divorce rule of, to determine the size of your new TV, start with a 27" and add 2 inches for every year you were married. (27" + (2 X 9)) = 45". I know that is a little short of 50" but I am including a few years we were together before marriage....

So the question is, do I go Plasma or do I go LCD? Or, are there other technologies that are not currently $20000 that I should consider? Cheers!

If you're looking for something you can mount on a wall go with LCD. Plasma screens do not have a very long lifespan...has something to do with the ionized gas that creates the picture losing its static charge after a while...aslo, they weigh a freaking ton and are quite fragile. And in case you were curious about the picture quality, dollar to dollar LCD screens are much more crisp....but you have to compare apples to apples. Of course a 10000 dollar plasma running a high def signal through 10000 dollars of a/v equipment is going to look better than a 500 dollar LCD on rabbit ears...

That said, i think DLP televisions, particularly the Samsung models, are THE finest television you can buy. They are the only television capable of producing pure black and have the widest color spectrum. The largest one is going to run less than 5000 bucks, last time I checked so it's a much better deal than plasma or LCD. The lifespan is approximately 20 years and at that point all you have to do is replace the bulb. This replacement is possible for the consumer, from what I've been told. The bulb is supposed to cost around 100 bucks...not bad to rejuice your 5000 TV. These are very light televisions, you can pick them up, slide them around to clean or plug in cables without a lot of hassle, but they are thicker than LCDs and plasma which makes mounting them on the wall impossible...but they are definately the way to go. If you have any other questions or whatever, just shoot me some mail.

**Rocket** · 11.02.06, 05:05 PM

In larger screens, plasma looks much better than LCD. They have deeper black levels and generally higher contrast ratios. The shelf live of both a plasma and LCD are limited, but it will take about 15 years to really notice the picture beginning to darken.

If cost is an issue the DLP televisions look great and are somewhat thin. Agree that the Samsung is best. Note that there are maintenence issues on these as well... those little mirrors need to be cleaned every now and then.

I have a 50" Panasonic commercial grade plasma on the wall and the realism is astonishing.

Get a 5.1 or 6.1 surround sound and you'll never go to the theatre again.

**Limecuda** · 11.02.06, 05:40 PM

My 50" Samsung plasma has been good and mounted on the wall pretty easily. I paid $3500 a year ago so I'm sure they are cheaper now. I play alot of games and burn in has not been an issue. Only problem I have has nothing to really do with the tv but the lack of hd channels currently offered in my area. Once you watch an hd channel and then switch to the standard S it looks terrible. I got the tv I just need the rest of the world to catch up.

**WinterlessIceness** · 11.02.06, 05:42 PM

This might be helpful, I just searched:
http://www.vhlinks.com/vbforums/show...6578&highlight

And my parents got a projector TV which had a waaaaaaaaaaaaaay better picture than either LCD or plasma in a much higher price range. The size of it is obviously the issue, but not comparing to price/quality. I personally can't stand anything LCD.

**Lodewijk** · 11.02.06, 05:44 PM

I don't think anyone's mentioned "burn in" yet...................Plasma screens are subject to this when the TV is left on one screen for a long time....the image gets permanantly burnt into the screen and causes shadows.

Might be something to think about if you're going to have kids around, I've got 4 teenagers and didn't want to leave my $2000 tv in their hands !

**evans5150** · 11.02.06, 05:45 PM

For around $2300 right now at Circuit City you can get one of the best 50" televisions on the market. The Sony SXRD 2nd Generation (KDS-50A2000). Here is a link on CNET to the 60" version...but the review applies to the 50".

http://reviews.cnet.com/Sony_KDS_60A...-31901232.html

If you can afford the size and price you could upgrade to the 60" SXRD 3rd Generation (KDS-60XBR2). There is only a 60" version of this one out right now...but the first generation of this TV was named #1 by numerous magazines and websites.

http://reviews.cnet.com/Sony_KDS_R60...-31901228.html

This is the only line of televisions out there right now that actually ACCEPT full 1080p. There are many 1080p tv's out there that upconvert everything but none other than these that actually accept the 1080p signal (blu-ray, ps3). True, there aren't many sources out there for 1080p but they are on the way. Why be stuck in the LCD and Plasma world of 720p?? Go FULL HD if you're going to do it...and the price is definitely right!!

http://reviews.cnet.com/4323-6531_7-...5.html?tag=txt

**Fan4Life** · 11.02.06, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by broken9500

If you're looking for something you can mount on a wall go with LCD. Plasma screens do not have a very long lifespan...has something to do with the ionized gas that creates the picture losing its static charge after a while...aslo, they weigh a freaking ton and are quite fragile. And in case you were curious about the picture quality, dollar to dollar LCD screens are much more crisp....but you have to compare apples to apples. Of course a 10000 dollar plasma running a high def signal through 10000 dollars of a/v equipment is going to look better than a 500 dollar LCD on rabbit ears...

That said, i think DLP televisions, particularly the Samsung models, are THE finest television you can buy. They are the only television capable of producing pure black and have the widest color spectrum. The largest one is going to run less than 5000 bucks, last time I checked so it's a much better deal than plasma or LCD. The lifespan is approximately 20 years and at that point all you have to do is replace the bulb. This replacement is possible for the consumer, from what I've been told. The bulb is supposed to cost around 100 bucks...not bad to rejuice your 5000 TV. These are very light televisions, you can pick them up, slide them around to clean or plug in cables without a lot of hassle, but they are thicker than LCDs and plasma which makes mounting them on the wall impossible...but they are definately the way to go. If you have any other questions or whatever, just shoot me some mail.

Agree with the DLP comment, you can get a 60-70 DLP for under 4000, the only pic you will find better is a HIGH end Plasma and I mean HIGH end, and for a 50 plus inch Plasma in that price range you are running more then the 70 plus inch. On another note side by side, a Toshiba DLP kicks a Samsung DLP in every area. If you go LCD, it has to be a Sharp Aquos, they are the best LCD out there, if Plasma go either Panasonic or Pioneer as they actually make their own where allthe other makers are made by the same 3 or 4 companies, just branded differently. Oh and as far as those so called 1080P Sony's...Alot of screen drag.

**Rovus** · 11.02.06, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by broken9500

If you're looking for something you can mount on a wall go with LCD. Plasma screens do not have a very long lifespan...has something to do with the ionized gas that creates the picture losing its static charge after a while...aslo, they weigh a freaking ton and are quite fragile.

This was the reason why I went with an LCD over a Plasma. I was told that because Plasmas run on liquid gas that the moment it decides to break down...it becomes unrepairable. Whereas LCDs can be fixed.

**emm5150** · 11.02.06, 09:28 PM

Silly question Jet but, do you play video games or will you be playing video games on this new TV? If so, you can't get a plasma, LCD or rear projecton. I bought a 56" rear projection this past March and my uncle got a 50" plasma a few mont5hs later, my TV looks just as good as his....and I can play my Madden on it!!!

**nitefly5150** · 11.02.06, 09:56 PM

I went into Sam's for formula and diapers and left with a 61" DLP. Why? It was $1150. It had been a demo, but was manufactured this year and was over half off. It is 720p - I'm sure 1080 is great but this looks damn good. Couldn't pass it up for the price. I'm not pushing Samsung DLPs, just relating my experience.

http://billsworthlessobservations.bl...sams-club.html

BTW - I don't play video games, but it has a video game mode.

**JMJ** · 11.02.06, 11:43 PM

dude buy a sony 50" xbr lcd or buy the xbr2

sony is always in the top 2 or 3 of consumer reports. i have a sony and the thing is fucking beautiful

plasmas are overrated

**muffdiver** · 11.03.06, 01:18 AM

I would have to agree with jmj....I actually have a plasma and an lcd in the bedroom and I can't see the fucking difference, but I did just get some glasses a while ago...

**jetguy5150** · 11.03.06, 07:30 AM

Originally Posted by emm5150

Silly question Jet but, do you play video games or will you be playing video games on this new TV? If so, you can't get a plasma, LCD or rear projecton. I bought a 56" rear projection this past March and my uncle got a 50" plasma a few mont5hs later, my TV looks just as good as his....and I can play my Madden on it!!!

I don't play a lot of video games now but once I am sitting at home by myself I can see that being something that creeps back into my routine. Video games, beer and pizza. The trifecta!

Thanks everyone for the info. Believe it or not it actually did clear some things up that were once very blurry. That's what I like about the links...you ask...you get answers. And thanks for the link to the other thread Mish... not sure how I missed that when I did a search.

Keep weighing in everyone. I have a couple months before I make the purchase so if anything new comes to mind let me know. Cheers.

**jetguy5150** · 11.03.06, 07:33 AM

Originally Posted by nitefly5150

I went into Sam's for formula and diapers and left with a 61" DLP. Why? It was $1150. It had been a demo, but was manufactured this year and was over half off. It is 720p - I'm sure 1080 is great but this looks damn good. Couldn't pass it up for the price. I'm not pushing Samsung DLPs, just relating my experience.

http://billsworthlessobservations.bl...sams-club.html

BTW - I don't play video games, but it has a video game mode.

I read your blurb about your trip to Sam's. Funny shit man. I love the idea of releasing homeless people into one of these places with $100. Classic.