The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: billt on April 15, 2010, 03:31:43 PM
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Our 61" Sony Rear Projection is going on 10 years old this year. I'm trying to get educated about these new models, and it's very confusing. When it goes, I don't want to have to go buy blindly in a bums rush. Plasma's were all the rage a few years back, now I'm seeing them really discounted compared to the newer LED and LCD models. Sony even has LED-LCD. Mine is not wide screen like the new ones. Who has what, and what do you like? I'm just wondering what the advantages and disadvantages are with each. For example I heard Plasma's don't last as long??? Bill T.
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Boy, the money never ends with you ;D
IMO LCD is the way to go. I have a 46'' Sony Bravia LCD and am very happy with it. Samsung also makes a great product. You are right about Plasmas..... they will also start to burn the picture into the screen if you watch the same channel long enough. They are also not as energy efficient as LCDs (Save mother earth and all) Do your research and learn what all the Tech jargon means so that you can actually compare apples to apples (resolution, Hz, Contrast Ratio, etc). Here is a good read on the basics that will get you up to speed:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Electronics+Promotions/HDTV-Basics/pcmcat197600050000.c?id=pcmcat197600050000
See also:
www.google.com ;D
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Boy, the money never ends with you
I'm not going to be buying for a while, hopefully. I just want to be prepared. I've got the same concerns with my 13 year old A/C system and refrigerator. ??? Bill T.
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What is DLP?? Bill T.
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I'm not going to be buying for a while, hopefully. I just want to be prepared. I've got the same concerns with my 13 year old A/C system and refrigerator. ??? Bill T.
Then just wait as long as you can. Prices of LED-LCDs are dropping fast and they look liek they are much better then regular LCDs... right now they are still about twice the price.
What is DLP?? Bill T.
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=what+is+dlp&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&fp=467c3568f2eec009
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I have a Vizio 52" Plasma, great picture but they need air, they get warm, most of the ventilation is circ fans on the back, not the best deal for a wall hang option.
I also have a 42" LCD Toshiba, much cooler operating temp, better suited for a wall hang application.
Most of the new sets will already be HD equipped, the pixels and frequencies are mostly hype, unless you really want to count the nose hairs of Michael Bane on the Outdoor Channel.
Don't get sucked into an HDMI cable as the S-Video, or Component cables come with the TV's. You really won't be able to tell.
P.S. if you get one with a USB port, (most do now), you can interface your computer right to your TV via aux. inputs.
Than you can read how much we "hate" you on the big screen..... ::)
Than you'll get sucked into Blu-Ray, and so on, and so on, and,.......wait,.....this is billt?
Just go get another rifle,.... ;)
DLP, is the "latest, greatest" projection screens....Prices will steadily fall over time, just wait until the blowout sales this fall, after all the economy is "recovering" so well and all,.... :P
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Don't get sucked into an HDMI cable as the S-Video, or Component cables come with the TV's. You really won't be able to tell.
HDMI cables do make a difference especially with gaming. Just dont pay store price:
http://www.saysuncle.com/2010/04/12/hdmi-cables/
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HDMI cables do make a difference especially with gaming. Just dont pay store price:
http://www.saysuncle.com/2010/04/12/hdmi-cables/
I do agree there. When I first got my PS3, I hooked it up to an LCD with the normal AV cables. Later I got an HDMI so I could watch high def Blu-Ray on it. I did notice a difference in clarity.
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BTW.... Watching The Masters in 1080 this year was almost a religious experience :o
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BTW.... Watching The Masters in 1080 this year was almost a religious experience :o
It looked fine on my 20 year old RCA too! Besides, it was free!
Technology is rapidly beginning to advance beyond my ability to give a shit! Pretty soon, they'll be giving them away, I'll buy one and then they'll come up with some other doodad that I won't bother to buy until they're coming up with another better doodad and then that doodad will be replaced by a new fangled thingy that will eat the old doodad for breakfast and poop out a newer, better, cooler doodads younger cousin.
Do you see a pattern here?
Save your money, buy another rifle!
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Technology is rapidly beginning to advance beyond my ability to see!
OLD!
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NOT SO OLD!
Give it time young man! Give it time!
It takes a lifetime to get this ornery!
;D
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Give it time young man! Give it time!
It takes a lifetime to get this ornery!
;D
*Getting off the lawn as quickly as I can
;D
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Bill,
You should do some research on another addicting forum.....AVS Forum, a forum for audio and videophiles. Once there you will have access to a knowledge base that remarkably extensive to say the least. You can go to the Plasma page as well as the LCD and LED pages that will really guide you well.
Essentially, the vast majority of videophiles agree that the finest HD television sets ever made were deemed so because of their outstanding black levels which translate into a jaw dropping picture. Specifically, the Pioneer Elite Kuro plasma TVs have held this honor for years, albeit at a very high price. Only plasma has attained these inky blacks and, although recent LED sets like Samsung and Sony have improved prior dark gray levels offered by LCDs, they can't approach those offered by the best plasmas.
The Pioneer company ceased production of televisions in 2009 to the dismay of the world's videophiles and remaining stock has been swept up. The good news is that the new reigning champion, Panasonic, has purchased the rights to the Kuro technology and hired many of their people so expect the quality to continue and improve. Take a look at the Panasonic V series, this year's just came out and next years' will be Kuro technology. I bought a 54" V10 about 10 months ago and Panasonic Blue Ray player and it is about as good as it gets, absent a Pioneer. It was less than half the price of the Pioneer Kuro for about 5 percent less black level so an outstanding value at around $2,000. Also, the new Panasonic PDP panels were introduced in 2009 and use a small fraction of the energy of all previous plasmas and are nearly as stingy on power consumption as LCD panels. The PDP panels also have a 100,000 hour half life so they are good for years.
For those looking for HDMI cables, the only place to go, as I learned on AVS Forum, is Monoprice.com. The best AV cables made for about 80 percent less than Monster HDMI cables, which are a rip off that is almost criminal. Further, if you are in need of ink jet printer cartridges, you should check out Monoprice.com
Good luck Bill, but next years' Panasonic plasmas will be something definitely worth waiting for if you aren't in a hurry.
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$2,000.
I paid WAY less for my Sony, and I still damn near got a boner while watching The Masters. Yes, I know LCDs dont come close to plasmas for aspect ratio
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This May I will have had my Panasonic 42" HD widescreen plasma for 2 yrs, it is a 720p not 1080, I love it, it has tons of inputs and out puts on the back and front, I like having some inputs on the front for cameras, video and games, mine even has an SD card on the front for reviewing pictures. It was 1100 out the door with a 5 yr extended warranty. It sits on a base on my dresser in the bedroom, so lots of cooling area around it. It weighs 80 lbs so easy to move.
In may 2006 I bought a Mitsubishi, 52"HD LDP, 1080P, with all the bells and whistles, picture was very good, but the 780p Panasonic is better. At 18 months, the Lamp went out, 500.00 from Mitsubishi >:(, I did not have an extended warranty, replaced the lamp, but now I know, if you let the lamp go out to the point, you get no picture, it takes out the lamp drivers, 600 - 1,000 fix. After reading all the info from previous owners, this is common and Mitsubishi could care less. I will never buy another LDP or Mitsubishi product, except maybe some old used audio equipment. I still have the TV and will probably get it fixed, just don't know when.
I never went for extended warranties before, but on a 1k or better investment, and it only costs like 80.00, I will from now on.
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I paid WAY less for my Sony, and I still damn near got a boner while watching The Masters. Yes, I know LCDs dont come close to plasmas for aspect ratio
You can only imagine what could have happened to your quasi-boner had you watched Phil putt out on 18 through a Panasonic V Series 1080p Plasma HDTV. :o
Here's some idea........... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CO3Ifdm9lVY
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LED - LCD is what I would get
also make sure it is 1080 HDMI and 100Hz panel
this is my set up
the TV is a 32" Philips LCD that is 100hz with 3 HDMI
(http://gallery.mac.com/philw/100147/IMG_0796/web.jpg)
the HiFi is a Sony Muteki 7.4 Surround everything is connected with HDMI including a computer I have sitting behind the TV and all though the amp apart from the Wii
(http://gallery.mac.com/philw/100147/IMG_0795/web.jpg)
I personally won't be getting a 3D TV's are a bit of a waist of time at the moment.
I could not get larger than 32" as it needed to fit in to the cabinet we got ages ago
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I think plama gives the best picture. Go for a high refresh rate. Get all of your prices from newegg and bestbuy off the internet then check out...yes, ...SEARS on the internet. Sometimes Sears beats them both. I picked up a pair of Samsung 52 inch plamas Christmas 2008 and I saved $500+ per set buying from Sears, hence the two instead of one. Plus Sears supports our troops and their families...so I gotta get that plug in. Hit and miss on selection, but see about Overstock.com just in case...and they support Wounded Warrior Project.
On the HDMI cable....it makes life so much simpler when you plug in VCR's, DVD's, sound systems, etc...makes it worth it but stay away from Monster Cables...I agree that their pricing should be a criminal offense. Buy an HDMI cable just for reasons of hookup and control.
Really, LCD or Plasma are both good, plasma is hotter uses more power but better picture. Just watch that refresh rate and compare during action scenes...if a vid begins to look "watery" then it's not refreshing quickly enough.
My 2 cents.
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One of the posts made a point of saying that his plasma needs a lot of air as it tends to get warm. That warmth is energy that you get to pay the electric company to use. Tenant of mine got a new plasma and doubled his electric bill. Of course, he's a fat slob who watches the tube nearly all the time. Normal usage would still see an increase in electricity. I'd vote for and LED-LCD, but, as was also said earlier, they're coming down in price with every passing month. But, since the dollar is also coming down in value every month, it could be a wash.
Submitted for your consideration by,
Crusader (who watches tv on a 12-year-old box that's been paid for since I got it and won't get replaced until it dies) ;D
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Crusader (who watches tv on a 12-year-old box that's been paid for since I got it and won't get replaced until it dies) ;D
I'm not alone!
I have five myself. Newest is about 10, oldest is a 19" Magnavox circa 1980. Best picture of the five!