Anybody got some advice on big TVs?

Watching this thread. We will be shopping for a 60" tv within the next few months.

Otto Maddox wrote: I found a 60" plasma, same price, for comparison.

That's a decent plasma (spec wise) with some drawbacks.

Full Specs

Disadvantage is that it only has 1 HDMI input. That will limit the amount of devices unless you are using a receiver to provide more inputs.

The other thing to watch is that contrast ratio. Notice how it says "Dynamic". Manufacturers have been increasing numbers for the contrast ratio and refresh rates but it isn't due giant leaps in technology, its a sales hook.

There's a good article here about how manufacturers have been fudging numbers to make the product look better and dynamic contrast ratios are a part of that.

FWIW (opinions are like tailpipes for people) I prefer Samsung and LGs over virtually every other manufacturer because the panels always seem to provide a much cleaner picture than Vizio, Sharp, or Panasonic. I bought a 40 inch first gen 120hz Samsung 4 years ago and it is still going as strong as the day I bought it.

In reply to The0retical:

Best Buy has the updated model of that plasma on sale for $999. It has 2 HDMI inputs. Not exactly ideal, but better.

After reading a lot of stuff on Crutchfield's website, I am leaning towards plasma. One thing I really like about plasma is that the technology has stuck around. On the other side, they had DLP, then LCD projection emerged, then LCD flat screens in a bigger size, now LED-LCDs. All that change makes me worry they are always about to come out with something better. And through all this, plasma has incrementally improved and stayed in the game.

In reply to Otto Maddox:

I've honestly got nothing against plasmas. I helped my father buy a 50" Panasonic when they reached the 3k price point some years ago (2003 maybe). That particular TV has weather the test of time very very well for how fast the technology has developed. Personally I prefer plasmas though the LED backlit (backlit being key) TVs have made great strides in the last 2 years particularly in the black department, refer to that link about the whole "dynamic" shenanigans. You are correct also that plasmas have stood the test of time much better than LCDs because the manufacturing process for LCDs has improved significantly in the past several years really catching up with plasma.

I will say though that if you have a plasma in a small room you will notice the heat it throws off compared to an LCD. Plasmas also have the disadvantage (or advantage if you view it that way) of the way that they go bad. An LCD will lose a pixel here or there as they age or something goes wrong with the screen. A plasma is comprised of several cells, which when something goes wrong (struck by lightning in my case) an eighth to a quarter of the screen will become discolored.

Also there is still the myth floating around that plasmas will need to be "recharged" not sure how that got started but its bull E36 M3.

All in all it will come down to figuring out what exactly you need and are willing to sacrifice.

If you want a small bezel with the OLED look to it, low heat, low profile, and are willing to give up some on the blacks an LED LCD is right for you.

If you do not mind the bezel, can dissipate the heat, and want truer to life coloring a plasma is the way to go.

Either way make sure it has enough inputs for your needs.

Also grab a Pixar film like Monsters, Inc, Finding Nemo et al.. There is a feature on their DVDs which you can use to calibrate the TV set. There is absolutely no need at all to pay someone to "calibrate" the color on the TV when they'll just use something similar to those little tutorials.

ya 2 HDMI sux if you've got a bunch of toys....

I don't have all these but Its not uncommon to 4 toys... maybe more... xbox360, PS3 (won't mention the blueray as ps3 plays it), HTPC or Streaming box, cable box

that being said... about $20 or so will buy a 3x1 HDMI switch.

that being said i've only got 2 HDMI and only use 1... but I use the xbox for my DVD and for my streaming box... no cable or anything else... i'll save 1 of the HDMI for a blueray and the VGA will be used for a HTPC down the road...

so there are work arounds... but it all depends on what works for YOU...

thanks for your posts the0retical.

I guess this is just a general question for anyone to answer...

is the "screen burn" still a potential issue with plasma TV's, or with the new technology is it really just a thing of the past? I have seen a few that have it pretty badly, but they are a number of years old. I of course would prefer that it doesnt happen, ever.

There's an article in the Wall Street Journal today about how flat screen TVs are kind of like Betamax. Every couple of years something new comes out to make everything else obsolete.

I saw another article in the local paper that talked about the rumors of the upcoming television from Apple - no one knows details but it's anticipated to be another step change in how people use their TVs.

Just to pipe up a little bit:
Plasmas use more energy than LCDs, particularly if the LCD is LED backlit.

Average plasma: 301 watts
Average LCD (standard): 111 watts
Average LCD (LED): 101 watts

200 watts x 2 hours a day makes a decent impact on your energy bill.

Crutchfields estimated yearly operating cost of their least expensive 60" plasma is $40 per year. Assuming the LED tv is 1/3 of that, it would save me $2 a month or so. Estimated of course.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_68960PV450/LG-60PV450.html?tp=36003&nvpair=FFScreen_Size%7c%5brank5%5d60%22+and+up#details-tab

I assume either is far more efficient than the 34" 200lb Trinitron Tank I am currently using.

I am excited that I finally got to upgrade OUT of one of these:

In reply to failboat:

$2 a month is about where the energy guide stickers have it too.

In reply to failboat:

Sorry I've been busy the last couple days.

Screen burn isn't much of a concern for domestic use anymore as most TV have a self dimming option to prevent that. You only really have to worry about screen burn if the TV is on an extended period of time, say several weeks at a time on full brightness, and have a static image on the screen like the stock ticker bars on MSNBC for example. The standard series of commercials mostly will take care if it anyway.

for burn-in... I was at walmart looking at their tvs and had a giggle when I saw how bad the burn in was on several of their display models (they where in demo mode so kept running the info about the TV on them... there was a sanyo in particular that was BAD

not normal people relevant... but was funny all the same

It's crazy how little the sales people at stores understand the technology they're shilling and how they treat display models. I'm a huge tech junky myself so even when I was working at Best Buy in college I would take some time to familiarize myself with how the tech works and what everything actually means. Honestly it's not even worth it most of the time to compare models in the store unless you can get them to hook a high def full digital source up to it.

It's embarrassing to ask some kid a few years younger than me something simple like "Can you explain the difference between a digital signal with HDMI vs an analog signal with component?" I know its baiting them to say something stupid but they crap they'll spew is amazing.

I guess most salesmen are like that though, I once asked a car salesman if the 370z manual gearbox housing was still cast iron like the 350z was and the end result was...interesting.