Plasma TV Widescreen?

AlexdeLarge · June 16th, 2008, 10:18 AM

I'm about ready to adventure into the widescreen TV. I want at least a 50"; nothing less. Help me out here. What brand name is the best? Most reliable? Best bang for your buck? Been looking at that Panasonic below, seems like a good one. Let me know what you folks think.
Thanks AlexdeLarge

Panasonic TH 50PZ80U 50" plasma TV
50" VIERA plasma TV, widescreen, 1080p (FullHD), HDTV

apicalbodscan · June 16th, 2008, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexdeLarge

I'm about ready to adventure into the widescreen TV. I want at least a 50"; nothing less.

Better look elsewhere then. Thia TV is actually 49.9" diag

MikeT · June 16th, 2008, 06:19 PM

I have a 42" Sanyo and am well pleased with it. At first I thought I had to much TV for th room but with th addition of a Bose surround sound system and a Direct TV HD Sat system it is perfect.the darks are dark and the light colors are perfect.

bedir than average · June 16th, 2008, 07:10 PM

I too went with a 42" We live in a smaller townhome, so didn't need larger, and went LCD because from our testing it had better viewing from angles.

John F · June 16th, 2008, 07:52 PM

OK, I'm speakin gfrom experience here that you need to be careful about not only the brand but the type of TV you purchase.

I say that because my parents bought themselves a rather generic LCD TV after their standard TV died and have ruined the LCD through their viewing rpactices as much as the TV ruined itself by being poorly made. The TV has "burn" marks on teh screen over the right quadrant -- helped along by my parents avoiding using the widescreen optiosn on teh TV and viewing standard cable channels more often than not with the TV. Also they use the TV too much and leave it running when not in the room.

Basically the image is dying a faster death with thanks to this.

If you're really ready to take the plunge, make sure your viewing habits aren't going to dominate life after you get the new TV. Learn the HD channel offerings from your TV provider, make sure you use teh majority of the screen and don't drop into the normal TV viewing habits of goign to standard channels that put the shows and movies in a standard 4:3 aspect ratio (though you can change the aspect ratio while on these channels so that the picture fills your screen, but it tends to distort shows that were made for the pan-and-scan format).

Also, respect it -- treat it like a computer monitor. Turn it off when you aren't in the room and what not or you'll get the screen burning out early. That's if you go with LCD instead of plasma. I have never had a plasma set so I do not know the common problems they face.

bigheadache · June 18th, 2008, 09:36 AM

I'm buying a 50 inch plasma. Mainly because I can get the plasma for several hundred dollars cheaper than a 50 inch LCD. They warn about heat and glare with the plasma. I watch an average of less than 2 hours a day, so I felt that the price was more important than the other issues.

AlexdeLarge · June 19th, 2008, 10:13 AM

I saw a Sony 46" (brand new) on display at Blockbuster of all places, and damn was that a clear picture. It was called something like Sky something or other....I'll have to think hard on that, best pic I ever saw

bigheadache · June 19th, 2008, 11:26 AM

I guess because of my eyesight, I've never seen a huge amount of difference in picture quality between models.

I bought a 50" Vizio Plasma last night. I watched a movie on it. I could see the point about more glare on the plasmas, but I didn't notice any excessive heat. the picture was great, now all I have to do is wait for the Dish guys to come out.

marshallz · June 20th, 2008, 01:11 PM

From an explanation from a buddy of mine, who deals in high-end audio and home theater:

LCDs have a bit more contrast, and are therefore better suited to well lit rooms. Plasmas have slightly less contrast, but slightly better resolution. Most material available at this time (even High-Def) can be fully appreciated on a 720p screen. The highest quality rez is 1080p, 1080i slightly lower. Plasmas have a bit better longevity, but among top brands, the difference is shrinking to negligible.

Two of the top pieces sold by CSA audio boutique in Montclair, NJ:

Samsung 50" plasma
Pioneer Elite 60" plasma
Sharp Aquos 42" LCD (the Aquos line is apparently the best of the LCD sets)

June 16th, 2008, 10:18 AM	#1 (permalink)
AlexdeLarge Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: England Posts: 1,409	Plasma TV Widescreen? I'm about ready to adventure into the widescreen TV. I want at least a 50"; nothing less. Help me out here. What brand name is the best? Most reliable? Best bang for your buck? Been looking at that Panasonic below, seems like a good one. Let me know what you folks think. Thanks AlexdeLarge Panasonic TH 50PZ80U 50" plasma TV 50" VIERA plasma TV, widescreen, 1080p (FullHD), HDTV __________________ I've been a bad boy again Now I've been a bad boy again And all the trouble that I'm in Makes me a bad boy again John Prine

June 16th, 2008, 06:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
MikeT Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,588	I have a 42" Sanyo and am well pleased with it. At first I thought I had to much TV for th room but with th addition of a Bose surround sound system and a Direct TV HD Sat system it is perfect.the darks are dark and the light colors are perfect. __________________ You can lead a man to Congress, but you can't make him think. Milton Berle

June 16th, 2008, 07:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
bedir than average Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,258	I too went with a 42" We live in a smaller townhome, so didn't need larger, and went LCD because from our testing it had better viewing from angles. __________________ I'm sorry I left for a while. I needed a vaction, and then work changed substantially. I'm over 50 hour weeks, plus two hours a day of commuting time. A few weeks ago I launched my own blog about Seattle Sounders FC and Life in Puget Sound. I won't be by these parts often as my focus has changed. Sorry about the unannounced retirement.

June 16th, 2008, 07:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
John F Administrator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tampa Bay area, Florida Posts: 2,510	OK, I'm speakin gfrom experience here that you need to be careful about not only the brand but the type of TV you purchase. I say that because my parents bought themselves a rather generic LCD TV after their standard TV died and have ruined the LCD through their viewing rpactices as much as the TV ruined itself by being poorly made. The TV has "burn" marks on teh screen over the right quadrant -- helped along by my parents avoiding using the widescreen optiosn on teh TV and viewing standard cable channels more often than not with the TV. Also they use the TV too much and leave it running when not in the room. Basically the image is dying a faster death with thanks to this. If you're really ready to take the plunge, make sure your viewing habits aren't going to dominate life after you get the new TV. Learn the HD channel offerings from your TV provider, make sure you use teh majority of the screen and don't drop into the normal TV viewing habits of goign to standard channels that put the shows and movies in a standard 4:3 aspect ratio (though you can change the aspect ratio while on these channels so that the picture fills your screen, but it tends to distort shows that were made for the pan-and-scan format). Also, respect it -- treat it like a computer monitor. Turn it off when you aren't in the room and what not or you'll get the screen burning out early. That's if you go with LCD instead of plasma. I have never had a plasma set so I do not know the common problems they face. __________________ The more they over think the plumbing, the easier to stop up the drain.

June 19th, 2008, 10:13 AM	#7 (permalink)
AlexdeLarge Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: England Posts: 1,409	I saw a Sony 46" (brand new) on display at Blockbuster of all places, and damn was that a clear picture. It was called something like Sky something or other....I'll have to think hard on that, best pic I ever saw __________________ I've been a bad boy again Now I've been a bad boy again And all the trouble that I'm in Makes me a bad boy again John Prine

June 18th, 2008, 09:36 AM	#6 (permalink)
bigheadache Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roswell, NM Posts: 947	I'm buying a 50 inch plasma. Mainly because I can get the plasma for several hundred dollars cheaper than a 50 inch LCD. They warn about heat and glare with the plasma. I watch an average of less than 2 hours a day, so I felt that the price was more important than the other issues.

June 19th, 2008, 11:26 AM	#8 (permalink)
bigheadache Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roswell, NM Posts: 947	I guess because of my eyesight, I've never seen a huge amount of difference in picture quality between models. I bought a 50" Vizio Plasma last night. I watched a movie on it. I could see the point about more glare on the plasmas, but I didn't notice any excessive heat. the picture was great, now all I have to do is wait for the Dish guys to come out.

June 20th, 2008, 01:11 PM	#9 (permalink)
marshallz Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: North Jersey Posts: 1,296	From an explanation from a buddy of mine, who deals in high-end audio and home theater: LCDs have a bit more contrast, and are therefore better suited to well lit rooms. Plasmas have slightly less contrast, but slightly better resolution. Most material available at this time (even High-Def) can be fully appreciated on a 720p screen. The highest quality rez is 1080p, 1080i slightly lower. Plasmas have a bit better longevity, but among top brands, the difference is shrinking to negligible. Two of the top pieces sold by CSA audio boutique in Montclair, NJ: Samsung 50" plasma Pioneer Elite 60" plasma Sharp Aquos 42" LCD (the Aquos line is apparently the best of the LCD sets)