Plasma TV recommendations?

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08-01-2006, 09:50 PM
altiain

Plasma TV recommendations?
Well...

We've decided to put the old "fatboy" 32" HDTV upstairs in the gameroom at the new house, so we're looking for a new TV for the downstairs living room. I'm not much of a videophile or electronics junkie, so I don't really know what to look for in a TV. Here's what we're looking for:
- Flatscreen plasma TV
- 36"-46" in size
- "Reasonably" priced (< or =$3k)
- Good quality (duh!)
I don't need to have the biggest TV on the block, and I'd be more inclined to get a smaller but better quality unit than to go for maximum size. This TV will either sit on top of the entertainment cabinet or end up mounted to the wall over the fireplace. Any recommendations?
08-01-2006, 10:17 PM
Majik

I bet Sammm can answer some questions for you, he did a ton of research on the subject. I didnt go with the plasma because of the reliability problems some have had issues with.
08-01-2006, 10:25 PM
tailchaser

Before you sink the $$$ for a Plasma, come take a look at my DLP...
08-01-2006, 10:32 PM
Treibenschnell

We also have a DLP and love it. In fact, after seeing ours, TC bought his!

Plasmas are great if you can afford to replace them every several years... they're not worth the hassle. Even on our news set we use DLP's.
08-02-2006, 05:21 AM
sammm

Plasma has a great picture, but if they break you have to throw them away. That's a lot of money lost because they can't be repaired. Rear-projection is probably half the cost of plasma.

It's hard to go wrong with rear-projection LCD or DLP IMHO. I chose LCD, but was very close to picking DLP until I saw them side by side. I went with Sony LCD and Samsung has a great DLP. It is possible to get too large a screen for the area it will be in, though 46" is probably on the small side these days.
08-02-2006, 05:55 AM
altiain

Okay guys, enlighten me - what's the difference between LCD, DLP, and plasma? Personally, I don't care if it runs on Hamster crap, as long as it has a good picture and is light and thin enough that I can potentially hand it on a wall in the future.
08-02-2006, 06:15 AM
Dave04

Being as I work for the DLP® company... I'm obviously highly biased...

If you'd like to know how the DLP works, go to the site: http://www.dlp.com and on the left side under "What is DLP® Technology", click the "Launch the Demo" button.

Also, go watch TC's set... he's got the 3rd gen DLP engine, the 4th gen's are out now and are the only (I think) HD set capable of running 1080p. In either case, they look really great.
08-02-2006, 06:39 AM
Bell

Here are the basics. Found it helpful when I started shopping.

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com...ying-guide.htm

Ended up with a 61" Panasonic rear projection LCD. Very happy with it.
08-02-2006, 06:56 AM
Majik

Quote:

Originally Posted by altiain

I don't care if it runs on Hamster crap, as long as it has a good picture

Congratulations that is the first time anyone has ever made me spit something on my screen. Now my nice new LCD had milk on it! :clap: :clap:
08-02-2006, 08:18 AM
altiain
So let me sum up the advice so far...
- Plasma = bad
- DLP = good
- If I buy a DLP TV I help keep Dave in a job. :wink:
- If I want a non-plasma TV that I can hang on a wall, LCD is my best option.
So far, so good? Also, what exactly does 1080p mean, and why should I care about it? What relationship does that have to the maximum screen resolution (like 1366x768 ) I see listed for TVs, and should I even care about the max resolution?
08-02-2006, 08:31 AM
tailchaser

1080p = 1080 lines of native resolution (or max, if you prefer). Probably doesn't mean much to you unless you're looking for a 56+ inch screen, as the odds of folks with our quality of eyesight seeing any scaling from 1080p content (currently just HD-DVD/Blu-Ray content) down to 720p.

OTOH, a 4th gen Samsung DLP running 1080p is still cheaper than a 720p plasma from upper-tier manufacuturers. The quality of the electronics that process the picture are probably more important than the light show itself, no matter what technology. For example... we saw a Hitachi running the same 2nd gen light engine in Bean's TV, but with lower quality processing... It had noticeable edging and color aberrations that don't exist on the Samsung.
08-02-2006, 08:41 AM
Nexus Flux

If you want to read up on all the different technolgies and their pros and cons this is by far one of the best guides I have come accross. It's not short so you may want to grab a cup of coffe or a beer or something.
08-02-2006, 08:43 AM
Treibenschnell

Here's a good glossary for terms you may hear during your shopping...
08-02-2006, 10:04 AM
Dave04
Quote:
Originally Posted by altiain

If I buy a DLP TV I help keep Dave in a job. :wink:
Well... that decides it then doesn't it? Thanks Ian!
08-02-2006, 10:07 AM
Treibenschnell

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave04

Well... that decides it then doesn't it? Thanks Ian!

One word - Discount?

::Clown::
08-02-2006, 10:13 AM
Dave04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Treibenschnell

One word - Discount?

::Clown::

That would be TI Proprietary information... but it's been known to happen. ::Angel::

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nexus Flux

If you want to read up on all the different technolgies and their pros and cons this is by far one of the best guides I have come accross. It's not short so you may want to grab a cup of coffe or a beer or something.

Some real good info on this site, but sadly, it's horribly out of date. Some of the things they quote as future trends have been in the market place for 6 months or more.
08-02-2006, 11:19 AM
onething

Just to add to the confusion:

The guys at Best Buy talked me out of buying a DLP last month. they seemed to think something big was coming in Sep.
08-02-2006, 02:12 PM
altiain

Quote:

Originally Posted by onething

Just to add to the confusion:

The guys at Best Buy talked me out of buying a DLP last month. they seemed to think something big was coming in Sep.

Could you be any more vague, Grandpa? ::Razz::
08-02-2006, 03:07 PM
rx7gslse

Quote:

Originally Posted by onething

Just to add to the confusion:

The guys at Best Buy talked me out of buying a DLP last month. they seemed to think something big was coming in Sep.

because the pimply Best Buy sales guys are obviously the best sources for new technology.. I liken them to car salemen on technology details for cars ;)

you want the info, go to the techies.. http://www.avsforum.com/

different choices fit different people's needs.. I love the DLP sets myself, because I don't need to hang it on the wall.. However, LCD glass is what's helping (well, hurting) my company stock right now :)

FWIW, there's a vast amount of overstock on LCD TVs in the market right now. You should be able to catch some pretty good discounts. They built a TON of inventory worldwide for teh world cup games and the sales never really materialized.
08-02-2006, 03:16 PM
Treibenschnell

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave04

That would be TI Proprietary information... but it's been known to happen. ::Angel::

::EvilBana ::Banana::
08-02-2006, 09:48 PM
gabkwong

Altian,

Pick up a copy of the Sept issue of Consumer Report. It has a small review of this.
08-03-2006, 08:41 AM
pliablemoose

Supposedly the prices are set to drop again this fall/winter if you can hold off a bit.

I like the DLP, myself but there is the matter of the ~$300 bulb burning out.
08-03-2006, 09:09 AM
Treibenschnell

Quote:

Originally Posted by pliablemoose

I like the DLP, myself but there is the matter of the ~$300 bulb burning out.

I currently have four DLP's on 24/7 for almost 2 years straight and have yet to have any bulb issues... much less any other issues.
08-03-2006, 11:07 AM
Tim the Teacher

Quote:

much less any other issues.

.....you have issues, just not with the televisions::Clown::
08-03-2006, 11:51 AM
Treibenschnell

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim the Teacher

.....you have issues, just not with the televisions::Clown::

This coming from the guy with an intercooler but no blower... hmm... :punchout:

::Clown::
08-03-2006, 12:16 PM
POS Racing

So do tell about the bulbs in a DLP unit?? What is average life expectancy??

Can I get the bulb at Lowe's??
08-03-2006, 12:20 PM
Titus

Quote:

Originally Posted by POS Racing

Can I get the bulb at Lowe's??

For the best selection in bulbs, you should really try the local nursery. ::Clown::
08-03-2006, 12:25 PM
Treibenschnell

Quote:

Originally Posted by POS Racing

So do tell about the bulbs in a DLP unit?? What is average life expectancy??

Can I get the bulb at Lowe's??

I've heard anywhere between 5K to 20K hours... it really depends on use. Our set DLP's have been on for nearly 2 years now. I'm not about to do that math.

However, with our home set, as long as I work in the industry, I'll always have an extremely cheap source of DLP bulbs. Again, though, I have yet to have the need to buy one...
08-03-2006, 12:32 PM
Dave04

Quote:

Originally Posted by pliablemoose

I like the DLP, myself but there is the matter of the ~$300 bulb burning out.

If you're paying $300 for a bulb, you're getting ripped... boss just got one for his samsung for $120... and that's after 4 years use.
08-03-2006, 12:42 PM
tailchaser

Quote:

Originally Posted by Treibenschnell

I've heard anywhere between 5K to 20K hours... it really depends on use. Our set DLP's have been on for nearly 2 years now. I'm not about to do that math.

However, with our home set, as long as I work in the industry, I'll always have an extremely cheap source of DLP bulbs. Again, though, I have yet to have the need to buy one...

There are 8760 hours in a year... Samsung usually says 8,000 hours per bulb, if pressed. You usually get plenty of warning before the bulb actually goes that its time has come via warning lights on the front of the set, so you can order one off ebay. :-)
08-03-2006, 12:49 PM
Treibenschnell

So currently I'd say ours are doing above average...
08-03-2006, 12:56 PM
Titus

Quote:

Originally Posted by Treibenschnell

So currently I'd say ours are doing above average...

With some bulbs, I believe the on and off causes more wear than continued use. Being that your work ones never go off, it is possible that they may have a longer life expectancy.
08-03-2006, 01:00 PM
Treibenschnell

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titus

With some bulbs, I believe the on and off causes more wear than continued use. Being that your work ones never go off, it is possible that they may have a longer life expectancy.

That's a good point... also, be aware that the DLP sets have a very specific and automatic warm up/cool down process. It serves to prolong the bulb life.
08-03-2006, 03:54 PM
Bell

Quote:

Originally Posted by Treibenschnell

That's a good point... also, be aware that the DLP sets have a very specific and automatic warm up/cool down process. It serves to prolong the bulb life.

Here's an example. The mostest, stupidest engineering known to man. On my TV if you use the power button on the remote it will run the fan and cool the bulb for 2 minutes. If you use the power button on the front of the the tv, the big one that says power under it, located just above the volume and channel buttons; you turn the TV off using that button and it is a "quick shut down" running the fan for only 30 seconds and burning your bulb out in 2 months. Freakin Panisonic idiots. Moral of the story, read and follow the owner's manual.
08-03-2006, 04:16 PM
Treibenschnell

The Samsung will shut down properly using either button...

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