New TV Advice Needed

[RainMaker]

Now that I'll be playing the show most of the summer, I've decided it's time to invest in a better TV. I've got a real old projection HD TV in my living room that is just outdated now.

Is there anything I should be looking for? I'm guessing LCD over plasma. I've noticed from the ads that there are huge differences in price from one to another in the same size. I'm looking at 46/47in and 1080p. Hopefully with more than two HDMI ports.

One major question is that some have 60hz and some 120hz. I don't even know what that is but is there a huge difference in quality? Seems the prices go way up when talking about 120hz.

Any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am not very informed about TVs.

[JediKooter]

I've heard that plasma is soon to go the way of the dinosaur. That's about all I've heard lately, sorry, not much help other than that.

[stevew]

Wait a few months if you can. A lot of new stuff will be out within the next month or two.

[gstelmack]

120 Hz is new tech, so they are dumping the 60 Hz at cheaper prices to move it out. Since most TV is 60 Hz, and video games aren't running at 120 FPS anytime soon, I think this just helps with motion blur / compensation since they can update that fast. It's probably one of those things you won't miss if you haven't seen it. My TVs are an older CRT HDTV and a newer Vizio LCD that runs 60Hz and I'm happy with both. You can save a ton of money and get a great 60 Hz TV that you'll be happy with. Especially with companies like Sony and Sharp discounting their 60 Hz models so heavily.

If you want top-of-the-line, sure get one of the newer sets, but I'd save the money.

[stevew]

I've heard that plasma is soon to go the way of the dinosaur. That's about all I've heard lately, sorry, not much help other than that.

Doubtful. We are getting more plasma SKus this year than ever before.

Also unlike last year there aren't many closeout deals left on 08 models. There's not much inventory on those sets.

[stevew]

The Samsung 530/550, Sony V series and Sharp 65 series are probably the best of the 60hz sets right now. All are around 1300.

The best reasonably priced 120hz models are probably the samsung 630/650, the Sharp 85 and the Sony W/Z. The sharp is probably the least expensive of those.

For size to price ratio, the 55 inch vizio XVT is like 1800 bucks. Its a 120hz set as well. Only at Sams or Costco tho.

[RainMaker]

So what you guys are saying is that 120hz is a waste of money? I don't mind dumping money into this TV as I plan to use it for the coming years. But if I won't be able to tell the difference, I'll go with 60hz.

[stevew]

It's a cool feature but not worth breaking the bank over IMO. But any TV using it is probably going to have a better panel in contrast and color than a 60hz one as well. So there's more differences than simply refresh rate.

[Sweed]

We've got a 60hz 47" lcd. The only time I notice blur is on the fox soccer channel which is in standard definition. I've wondered if it would blur with a 120 hz tv?

Anything in HD has looked fabulous. Football, baseball, basketball, and hockey have shown no blur at all. While 120hz might be nice, for the time being, I'd save the money and go 60. When 120's get cheaper then I may pick one up and demote my current tv to the basement family room.

[DeToxRox]

Sony Bravia.

[CU Tiger]

I dot see plasmas going anywhere soon.
To me they are the better tech, I love the look of a plasma.
One day LCD will get backs close, and while they brag about their 120Hz 3 year old plasmas will keep right on humming in the 360Hz range....
Burn in is a thing of the past for all intents and purposes.

If you are a sports buff, or like NFL at all try to find someone who has the TV you are looking at (especially if its an LCD) and watch a game on it....I dont care what the revolving video clip looks like, your broadcast wont be blue ray quality.
I dont know a single sports fan with a 60Hz LCD that hasnt had a tinge of buyers remorse the first NFL game they have watched.

DLPs are dieing a fast death around here in everything but HUGE models but an LED ignited DLP is a NICE option for the $$$

[stevew]

The new plasma models we've received are alledgedly 600hz. And the upper series LCDs this year are 240hz.

Samsung has a new series of LED lcds out soon. I'm interested in seeing them but I have to think they'll be 3K for a 46 inch.

I really like Plasma more personally, but I have a Sharp LCD.

[gstelmack]

II dont know a single sports fan with a 60Hz LCD that hasnt had a tinge of buyers remorse the first NFL game they have watched.

Really? The only football issues I've had with my el cheapo 32" Vizio have been NBC's stupid broadcast issues, where folks locally were able to prove the original broadcast stream had the motion blur in it (sigh). Fox and CBS look awesome on the LCD.

Plasma can have better contrast ratios, but are overpriced for the very small gain. And the best LCDs are right there with them on picture quality.

[CU Tiger]

I guess everyone's eyes are different, but on this V


Plasma can have better contrast ratios, but are overpriced for the very small gain. And the best LCDs are right there with them on picture quality.

You could get a 42" Panny for <$700

[cougarfreak]

I dot see plasmas going anywhere soon.
To me they are the better tech, I love the look of a plasma.
One day LCD will get backs close, and while they brag about their 120Hz 3 year old plasmas will keep right on humming in the 360Hz range....
Burn in is a thing of the past for all intents and purposes.

If you are a sports buff, or like NFL at all try to find someone who has the TV you are looking at (especially if its an LCD) and watch a game on it....I dont care what the revolving video clip looks like, your broadcast wont be blue ray quality.
I dont know a single sports fan with a 60Hz LCD that hasnt had a tinge of buyers remorse the first NFL game they have watched.

DLPs are dieing a fast death around here in everything but HUGE models but an LED ignited DLP is a NICE option for the $$$

Now you do. I paid $300 less for my Vizio 42" LCD vs. the Vizio 42" LCD that was 120hz. I haven't had a bit of remorse, and I watch a lot of sports.

[Passacaglia]

I love my 60Hz just great -- no regrets. When we were in the store they had basketball on, and I couldn't see any difference between the 60 and 120.

[evil homer]

i have a 42" panasonic plasma that i bought just over a year ago. the picture is stunning and sports such as football and basketball are unbelievable. when my dad bought a 46" sony LCD and compared his picture to mine while watching football, he was very disappointed in his screen. there was noticable motion blur and the picture was just not as sharp. i love my plasma and doubt i would ever buy an LCD.

[MizzouRah]

Sony Bravia.

+1

Samsung would be my 2nd choice.

If it were me, I'd get a 120hz.. I have a 46" Sony LCD that I love more than my wife.. ok j/k but I bought it awhile ago and the 120hz were not out yet. I love it.. I do see some bluring every once in awhile during a fast paced sporting event.. and it's not even something that's really noticeable.. but I wish I would have waited for the 120hz model.

If you're going to invest into an HDTV, I say get 1080p, 120hz, and well, I'm a huge Sony fan when it comes to TV's. Mine has 2 HDMI, 2 Component, VGA, and a composite I believe.

If you're on a budget, Visio is a good option.

I've been asked many times what brand TV I have... oh, and I would DEFINETLY choose LCD over Plasma.

[MizzouRah]

i have a 42" panasonic plasma that i bought just over a year ago. the picture is stunning and sports such as football and basketball are unbelievable. when my dad bought a 46" sony LCD and compared his picture to mine while watching football, he was very disappointed in his screen. there was noticable motion blur and the picture was just not as sharp. i love my plasma and doubt i would ever buy an LCD.

Everyone has different experiences, but my dad has a 2 year old Panasonic 42" plasma TV and his just crapped out. The picture is very dark... I just hope it's a cheap problem.

[RainMaker]

Ughhh....I'm convinced on going 120hz. I watch too much sports and might as well go the best. I did see some 240hz when looking but those are ridiculously priced.

[stevew]

I usually ask most of these questions

How much do you want to spend. How big is your room. How many windows. How far away do you sit. How big is your current set.

You might want to think about getting a better 40 inch set with better features if you don't want to spend top dollar on a good 46.

This is basically the worst time to buy. The new stuff comes out several hundred more than the older models average street price and it takes a long time for the prices to get better. Maybe there will be some sales close to the NCAA tourney.

[RainMaker]

I can wait, I'm in no real hurry. When is the best time to buy?

I would like to spend under $2000 with $1500 being optimal. The room is a decent size and I currently have a 52 inch TV that is huge and sits on the ground (not sure what those type are called). It's perfect size for this room though. The only reason I'd go 46 is because I will probably be moving in the next year or two and don't want to get a size that would be difficult to fit in a new place. Figure 46 is a fairly safe size for a living room.

[stevew]

At that price range a Samsung 650 or 750 would be a good choice. Amazon is probably going to have the best pricing. IF you have a lot of windows I will say that it does have a very shiny finish. A Sony Z series is also a good choice if you can find one.

Re: why its a bad time.

These sets are all discontinued and will be replaced with more expensive ones soon. Samsung was running very aggressive pricing around the super bowl, but not so much anymore.

[CU Tiger]

you have a rear projection ;)

One myth Ive already seen fly in this thread is you must have 1080...Im lazy tonight but search for the chart that shows size vs distance.

For example on a 46" TV the human eye is simply not capable (Ok I used hyperbole already in the never seen one happy comment, so I will clarify less than 1 in 1,000,000 people have an eye capable) of discerning the difference between 720 and 1080 at a viewing distance of 7'....stretch it to 9' and well I'll stat making 100 to 1 wagers.

Here is the best advice I or anyone can give, IMHO.

Do your own research decide on the single model you think you want.
Then read up on optimum settings on AVS, go to a store and set that model to those settings (take the potential intentional store de tune out) and let your eye tell you if thats the one.

[stevew]

Everything is 1080 except for the base model plasmas these days. But yeah, you can't really tell the difference. We have the new 720 and 1080 pannys at work and there's no logical reason to be spending 700 more retail price for the 50 inch.

[CU Tiger]

Everything is 1080 except for the base model plasmas these days. But yeah, you can't really tell the difference. We have the new 720 and 1080 pannys at work and there's no logical reason to be spending 700 more retail price for the 50 inch.


New models to be sure.....for my money
Panasonic Viera TH-42PX80U 42 Inch 720p Plasma HDTV - (TH42PX80U) - (037988241804) (http://www.electronics-expo.com/index.php?page=item&id=PANTH42PX80U)
That cant be beat.
Ive installed about 12 of these Panny's since Dec....the quality they put in the packaging surpasses what many other manufacturers put in their entire product.

[stevew]

Agreed. Best bang for buck by far. I can't see that being available too much longer as that model is discontinued.

The new replacement for that is 899 for now but I'm sure it will drop quickly. The older one sold real well at 700ish.

[MizzouRah]

All I can say is I 1080p movie is spectacular! :)

[dawgfan]

Bumpity bump.

Just moved into a new house and am in the market for a new TV. The room is a basement room, no windows. The couch is roughly 10' away from the TV stand against the wall. I'll mainly be using the TV as a monitor for my video-gaming and an upcoming purchase of a Blu-Ray player, but I may break down and get cable to feed my sports jones.

Have the new models come out already, or is this still an in-between time that is sub-optimal timing for buying?

Given that the room has no windows, does that mitigate any dark level advantages plasma has over LCD?

[RainMaker]

Update on my situation. I held out and am actually in line to win a 46" Sony Bravia TV in a contest held by a sponsor we promote.

[Peregrine]

I absolutely love my 42" Samsung LCD - really can't imagine having a better TV. Great picture, easy menus, and it sounds great with my Sony soundbar attached.

[MizzouRah]

Update on my situation. I held out and am actually in line to win a 46" Sony Bravia TV in a contest held by a sponsor we promote.

I love mine!

[Swaggs]

I am also a fan of Samsung. We got a 37' last Summer (my first HD television) for the basement and just got a 32" for our living room last month. Very pleased with both (although I am not a hard core console gamer -- I just have a Wii that I only play once every week or two).

[stevew]

Bumpity bump.

Just moved into a new house and am in the market for a new TV. The room is a basement room, no windows. The couch is roughly 10' away from the TV stand against the wall. I'll mainly be using the TV as a monitor for my video-gaming and an upcoming purchase of a Blu-Ray player, but I may break down and get cable to feed my sports jones.

Have the new models come out already, or is this still an in-between time that is sub-optimal timing for buying?

Given that the room has no windows, does that mitigate any dark level advantages plasma has over LCD?


The new models are out right now. Although they are a lot more expensive right now than last years models were towards the end. I'd assume you'd want a 120hz lcd. Right now the Sony V5100(midline sony with 120hz) is retail 1499/1799/2299 for 40/46/52.

Samsung B650 120hz LCD is 1699/2099 for 40/46. that's retail, I think you can find a better price than that.

I think you could go either way on the Plasma vs LCD, and you're gonna be happy.

Plasma's going to be quite a bit cheaper though. A 42/46/50" S1 1080p panasonic is 1099/1499/1599. Plus there's a bit of a stand rebate if you need one of those(200 bucks off)

Also there's some new LED backlit samsung TV's out new for this year. They're about 3 grand for the 46", but I know right now we're selling them for 600 off this week. Nice sets, very very thin. Off angle is a bit mediocre though IMO. Retails for the 6000 series(no media content) are 40/46/55 2599/2799/3699.

[ISiddiqui]

Considering that generally, plasmas are cheaper than LCDs and produce a better picture (deeper blacks and all), I'd lean towards getting one of those first.

[lighthousekeeper]

i want to be the last middle class american family without an HD tv.

how many of us are left?

[Travis]

Seems like a bad time to go for a 120 when the 240s are just starting (at least around here) to break into the market. Beautiful time to start getting the 60s as their prices go down, but I'm personally trying to hold off until the fall to see how much of a price affect the 240's end up having on the market.

[dawgfan]

I think I'm leaning towards a plasma due to the viewing angle issue. C/NET likes the Panasonics - can you fill me in on the differences between the S1 models and the G10 models?

[stevew]

We only carry the S1 so I'm not going to be a ton of help on the G. I think its 200 more. Just from a quick site glance the one with the tru2way looked like the one that was worth the extra cash. I think the G supports video from an SD card.

[stevew]

panasonic S1 versus G10 - AVS Forum (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1129366)

[Glengoyne]

I dot see plasmas going anywhere soon.
To me they are the better tech, I love the look of a plasma.
One day LCD will get backs close, and while they brag about their 120Hz 3 year old plasmas will keep right on humming in the 360Hz range....
Burn in is a thing of the past for all intents and purposes.

If you are a sports buff, or like NFL at all try to find someone who has the TV you are looking at (especially if its an LCD) and watch a game on it....I dont care what the revolving video clip looks like, your broadcast wont be blue ray quality.
I dont know a single sports fan with a 60Hz LCD that hasnt had a tinge of buyers remorse the first NFL game they have watched.

DLPs are dieing a fast death around here in everything but HUGE models but an LED ignited DLP is a NICE option for the $$$

Exactly what he said. I mean this is exactly how I feel about plasma v LCD v DLP.

I'd add that for sub 50" sets, 720 is equivalent to 1080. If you look at serious reviewers, most admit that if you covered the model number, they wouldn't be able to tell the difference until you get to large sets.

[Galaril]

I know this is a big question but as far as the basic pros and cons on LCD vs Plasma they are?
Plasma is better for bright rooms with alot of sunlight and LCD are the opposite. And plasmas are btter for veiwing at angles. Wea re in the market for a 46inch HDTV our first this TV will be going in a large room back about 7-8 feet I guess with a lot of natural sunlight almost everyday. The primary use of it will be to watch sports and whatever my wife watches:) Would like to stay below $1500. Any helpf from some of you experts here would be appreciated.

[Galaril]

i want to be the last middle class american family without an HD tv.

how many of us are left?

Raises hand............Me too not yet but am planning it very soon.

[ISiddiqui]

Galaril, plasmas also have better black levels and are better at handling moving pictures.

I'd recommend a Panny plasma. 46'' should be less than $1500 (and probably closer to $1000).

[stevew]

I would hope all of you guys are ignoring the extended warranty pitches people are feeding you. IF you can't live without extra coverage, look into a Mack warranty.

[Peregrine]

Also, in general I have to say I was very happy with my TV purchasing experience from Amazon - do your research, then price your model there. The prices fluctuate a good bit, especially on TVs that have been out a while, but I ended up with a really good price by waiting a month or so and just checking the price daily. Plus I got free shipping. There are also great reviews on the site, many of which go into great detail about the TVs, so it can be helpful in comparison shopping.

[Galaril]

Also, in general I have to say I was very happy with my TV purchasing experience from Amazon - do your research, then price your model there. The prices fluctuate a good bit, especially on TVs that have been out a while, but I ended up with a really good price by waiting a month or so and just checking the price daily. Plus I got free shipping. There are also great reviews on the site, many of which go into great detail about the TVs, so it can be helpful in comparison shopping.


I have also heard amazon is really good too.

[stevew]

We might be having a bit of a friends and family sale at Sears on the 3rd. Probably only 5 percent extra off on TV's though, but if something comes out as a good deal I'll let you know. If I had to guess, there will be a 200 dollar price drop on all panasonic plasmas next month. Right now there's a 200 dollar instant rebate on installation, a wall mount, or a stand. Generally they just pass that savings along in sale prices and lowered retail after these things are over.

[Glengoyne]

I know this is a big question but as far as the basic pros and cons on LCD vs Plasma they are?
Plasma is better for bright rooms with alot of sunlight and LCD are the opposite. And plasmas are btter for veiwing at angles. ...

I think you've got Plasma and LCD swapped with regard to in room lighting. The plasma screen is glass, and even with the glare reducing materials they use, you will see some glare if there is a lot of light in the room. From some angles...laying down on the couch or floor, you see our chandelier prominently in our plasma screen. It can be distracting.

I agree with your take on plasma and viewing angles.

[flere-imsaho]

If you're going to go Amazon please also have a look at abt.com. Abt is a company local to me (north Chicago suburbs) and is a really terrific store with (usually) great prices and really great service. If you live in the Chicago area, you definitely need to check it out in person.

Since we bought our house in 2004 we've bought the following there: HDTV, washer, dryer, vacuum, stove, microwave.

[lurker]

Yeah, Abt was great -- they let us be spazzes and return our tv twice with free delivery each time and price matching. (We got a Sony, then a Samsung, then decided the Sony was better.)

[dawgfan]

I would hope all of you guys are ignoring the extended warranty pitches people are feeding you. IF you can't live without extra coverage, look into a Mack warranty.
I'm about to pull the trigger on the just released V10 model from Panasonic. Can you expand on this thought? Are the extended warranties really not worth it, and what is a Mack warranty?

[stevew]

Basically, if I sell a 350 dollar 3 year warranty on a 1200 dollar plasma, our local store takes 175 dollars as profit. Then I get paid 32 bucks out of that. The other 175 gets kicked up into the Sears service, and approximately 90% of that is profit. Literally 3/4ths of any kind of staff meeting will be about us not selling enough warranties, us needing to use more tools to sell warranties, us walking customers who don't want to buy warranties.

So, it's essentially a sucker bet, IMO. I guess if your stuff does break outside of warranty it sucks, but I think the odds are going to be much more in your favor that it will not.

Mack's a third party extended warranty company that's been in buisiness forever. I don't believe the costs of their packages are that expensive, in comparison to a store's cost.

Dola, if you're going that high end, I'd at least look into an 850 plasma from Samsung, or one of their LED's too.
The b850 plasma is one of the best one's i've seen, and it's like an inch thick.

[dawgfan]

Basically, if I sell a 350 dollar 3 year warranty on a 1200 dollar plasma, our local store takes 175 dollars as profit. Then I get paid 32 bucks out of that. The other 175 gets kicked up into the Sears service, and approximately 90% of that is profit. Literally 3/4ths of any kind of staff meeting will be about us not selling enough warranties, us needing to use more tools to sell warranties, us walking customers who don't want to buy warranties.

So, it's essentially a sucker bet, IMO. I guess if your stuff does break outside of warranty it sucks, but I think the odds are going to be much more in your favor that it will not.

Mack's a third party extended warranty company that's been in buisiness forever. I don't believe the costs of their packages are that expensive, in comparison to a store's cost.
Good info as always, thanks Steve.

Looks like I'll be ordering the new Panasonic V10 50" shortly...

[stevew]

dola, i edited above. It might be worth you're while to check out the 850 plasma from samsung, it's pretty sweet.

[dawgfan]

dola, i edited above. It might be worth you're while to check out the 850 plasma from samsung, it's pretty sweet.
I did a bunch of research online, and these Panasonics are consistently rating just behind the discontinued Pioneer plasmas in terms of picture quality. Better yet, the THX mode on this line appears to be damn close out of the box to what you can get with professional ISF calibration.

[fantom1979]

I used to work for CompUSA and Circuit City and I completely agree with Stevew. If I sold a warranty, at least half of it was profit. I usually got around a 10% commission (spiff) for selling it. EVERY sales meeting was about extended warranties (or Technical Assurance Plan as CompUSA called it, or Extended Service Plan as Circuit City called it).

I highly recommend to everyone that I know that you pass on the extended warranty. More times than not, you save money by passing.

[dawgfan]

Update:

I ordered the Panasonic V10 a week ago via Vann's, got it Wednesday, watched my first Blu Ray movie last...

Ho
Ly
Shit

Simply stunning picture with 1080p source material, and the 24p playback works without flicker/flashing (unlike the rest of Panasonic's current line). Sports look very good, especially the HD 1080i channels. The 360 games of course look stunning.

Color me a happy boy!

[k0ruptr]

The Plasma vs LCD thing is all user preference, I prefer LCD just for the lower electric bill and less heat in the room. Plasma has a better picture/color generally I'd say though

[Izulde]

I've never heard of a Mack warranty before, but I will say that I almost always get the extended warranty on expensive electronic items.

The one time I didn't on a PS2, back when they were still high-priced, I got burned on having to get a new one.

And considering my tendency to have problems with electronics, especially computers, a lot of times the extended warranties have paid for themselves. Plus, the free batteries you get with a Best Buy extended warranty on computers and cameras usually make it worthwhile just for that alone, I think.

[stevew]

Never worth it. Its nothing but a money grab.

[k0ruptr]

Wouldn't it be worth it if it broke within the extended warranty period and they covered it? or would it still not be worth it? lmao

[stevew]

I'm just saying if its 90 percent profit for the offering company it is highly stacked against the customer.

[CU Tiger]

I'm just saying if its 90 percent profit for the offering company it is highly stacked against the customer.

I read a study once where 65% of the cost of an extended warranty is marketing and 32% was compensation.....only3% was in repairing products....so you lose 97% of the time

[Izulde]

I'm just saying if its 90 percent profit for the offering company it is highly stacked against the customer.

And you know, that's fine. I'd rather have the extra security and if something -does- break, like what happens sometimes, one repair in the extended warranty period goes a long way to paying not only for that warranty, but other extended warranties.

I know a lot of people say you shouldn't get the extended warranties, but as far as I'm concerned, they're generally worth it.

[stevew]

Maybe I'm just biased today. I had to listen to a conference call this morning and them try to spin how a 299 warranty on a 719 dollar TV was good value for the customer.

If its less than 15 percent maybe. But I'm not inclined to buy anything that's not a swap out warranty. Those type you can exploit as a consumer. For instance you can basically get a new Ipod every new generation if you buy the 2 year replacement for 15 percent extra.

[Izulde]

Maybe I'm just biased today. I had to listen to a conference call this morning and them try to spin how a 299 warranty on a 719 dollar TV was good value for the customer.

If its less than 15 percent maybe. But I'm not inclined to buy anything that's not a swap out warranty. Those type you can exploit as a consumer. For instance you can basically get a new Ipod every new generation if you buy the 2 year replacement for 15 percent extra.

How many years is the 299 warranty?

[k0ruptr]

I'm on the extended warranty side as well, as a consumer and as a seller. working for wal-mart our extended warranties IMO are relatively cheap. for a 600 dollar tv its 60 bucks for another 2 years of warranty. If I'm making a purchase on something expensive like a tv, another 10% of the price is much worth it for 2 more years of warranty.

[stevew]

Bulb DLP TVs if you are a heavy watcher were generally worth it. IF it was unlimited replacement.

[stevew]

How many years is the 299 warranty?
3 years from purchase

[stevew]

I'm on the extended warranty side as well, as a consumer and as a seller. working for wal-mart our extended warranties IMO are relatively cheap. for a 600 dollar tv its 60 bucks for another 2 years of warranty. If I'm making a purchase on something expensive like a tv, another 10% of the price is much worth it for 2 more years of warranty.
That's not stupid expensive. I have to sell similar coverage for 2 to 5 times that amount.

[Kodos]

Today's TVs are pretty reliable. No need for the extended warranties.

[RainMaker]

Well we won a Sony Bravia 46 inch TV. It's a KDL-46S4100. From what I've been reading, the S-Series isn't as good as the other TV's they offer.

So my question is whether I should keep this or sell it and go with something better? The only major difference I saw in the specs was that this I believe is 60hz while better ones are 120hz. Now I'm thinking that this set is probably good enough for me to use. It's way better than what I've been watching (an old HD rear projection that I'm guessing is 7-8 years old). I would love a 52', but it seems like prices jump a ton when going from 46 to 52.

Is there anything negative I should know about this TV before busting it open and setting it up? If not, my next step is a new surround sound system that is needed before football season.

[stevew]

Exchange if possible.

That thing was a borderline stinker(read Wal Mart type TV).

I'd sell it, depending on what you got for it, and move to like a 46" V5100(09 model with 120hz), or to a Samsung 46b550(60hz) or 46b650(120hz)

Obviously it's not bad for free. Lower contrast ratio than most Sony TV's, and they put in a crappy graphics engine.

But if you don't mind kicking in 5-700 I think you can do a lot better.

[RainMaker]

I don't mind kicking in 5-700 dollars although I don't know if I'll be able to sell this one for more than $900 on Craigslist. I guess I'm just not sure if the difference really warrants the cost. I do watch TV a bunch, but I'm coming from an 8 year old rear projection HDTV. I'm just assuming that this one (despite being low end) would blow that out of the water.

My other thought is that if this is a serviceable TV, I can use it for the next couple years and thenupgrade down the line to one of the new LED TVs that should be coming down in price.

Is it really that bad of a TV?

[stevew]

If you have a lot of HD content it will be fine. If you saw it in a store near a lot of other options I doubt you'd buy it.

The LED stuff will probably come way down. The list prices are like 1800 with a retail of 2999.

It was just a TV that I didn't feel comfortable recommending to you if you were shopping where I work.

[Warhammer]

Let me ask this. For those of you with plasmas, do you worry about game consoles being played on your plasma? I ask due to burn in concerns, etc.

[stevew]

Panasonic-no issues with any of my friends anyways.

The only plasma I ever saw burn in was a beater vizio. I only ever sold that one cause it paid me a ton

It is basically a non issue.

[stevew]

Dola
True burn in is very hard to achieve. Image retention that goes away over time is possible I suppose.

[JS19]

Let me ask this. For those of you with plasmas, do you worry about game consoles being played on your plasma? I ask due to burn in concerns, etc.

I haven't had a problem. Hope I didn't just jinx myself. I know nothing about the issue, so I just role with it. Not sure how effective this is, but there is screen burn protection option.

[dawgfan]

Let me ask this. For those of you with plasmas, do you worry about game consoles being played on your plasma? I ask due to burn in concerns, etc.

I wouldn't leave a menu screen or any screen with a static image up on your display indefinitely, but for most games a plasma should be fine. Many of them come with image retention negating features - for example, the Panasonic I bought has a feature where the pixels of the screen can orbit every minute (something you won't even notice happening).

Some people suggest that certain measures be taken with plasmas over their first 100 hours or so of use to minimize image retention potential, but if you listen to Panasonic reps they'll tell you they put their displays through 100 hours of "breaking in" in the factories before they ever get to your house.

I think so long as you don't abuse your plasma display and it's a pretty good make (Pioneer, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony) you should be OK for gaming.

[stevew]

Unless it was a system foul up, Sears is running the 42 X1 720 plasma nex week for 599. It is a panasonic plasma. If you want to go HD and not spend a ton this would be a good purchase. Or ideal for a bedroom or secondary set. They do dick around with quantities so I can't control that. I should know if it is legit on Sunday. Would be perfect if you are tired of watching SD at your parents house with fathers day soon.

[RainMaker]

Have a question for some of you TV gurus. I kept the TV set I won (Sony S4100) and hooked it up and noticed that I'm getting these light spots when the screen is black. It's tough to explain. It isn't a small pixel being out, but instead a faint looking smudge that is in several parts of the screen. It is mostly along the sides and top of the screen and there doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason to its placement. I don't notice any problems when I'm watching TV, but when a scene is black or credits come up, it is noticeable. Now that I've seen it, I'm looking for it and it's driving me a little crazy.

So first off, does anyone know what this is? I've read stuff about light spots and potentially an issue with the light engine. Since it's rather faint I'm hoping it might be something simple with my settings or a cheap fix.

My other question is in regards to warrantines. Since this was a prize, I don't have a receipt for it. I did register the TV, but I doubt they give a crap about that. I'm assuming they probably won't cover me under the 1 year warranty.

So I've essentially tasted the good life with a much better TV and can't go back. I also don't want a broken TV in my living room considering I use it a lot. Since the TV isn't real expensive on the market, paying $600 or whatever to fix a light engine doesn't make much sense. If it was smaller I'd just delegate it to a bedroom or my office, but at 46 inches it's just not a good fit. So I'm in a shitty spot right now and hoping it's either an easy fix or Sony doesn't give a shit about receipts for warranties.

Anyone have any advice here? You would be a savior.

[dawgfan]

This is an LCD TV, right? I wonder if those light spots are possibly damage from someone handling the screen directly - I know at work some of our LCD monitors have been damaged when someone grabbed the screen with a thumb or finger when trying to pick them up and move them. Although in those cases, usually the damaged area is dark...

[stevew]

Is it just the tv source, or is it when you watch a DVD also

[gstelmack]

It sounds like bleed-through which can be a common problem with cheaper LCD panels. Read monitor reviews and people will regularly talk about whether or not a monitor has this issue.

[gstelmack]

You can try turning down the brightness/backlighting setting (they are often the same thing on LCDs). That will dim the bulbs which may make it less noticable.

[RainMaker]

It's not the TV source since it does it when nothing is connected and the monitor is just on. The backlight setting does reduce it a little bit, but not much.

Is the bleed-through something that is fixed on warranty or is it just something you have to live with on crappy TVs?

[stevew]

I'd take some photo's of the problem(higher res, not camera phone), and post them on avsforum. They might be able to better help.

It may just be a problem you have to live with.

[RainMaker]

I'd take some photo's of the problem(higher res, not camera phone), and post them on avsforum. They might be able to better help.

It may just be a problem you have to live with.

I'll try doing that. When I turn the blacklight to minimum, it almost completely goes away. I wonder if it's just the backlight that's doing it and I'm just not used to a backlight on a TV. I am coming from a 10 year old rear projection HDTV so this is a little foreign.

[SteveMax58]

Not my specific field of expertise, but sounds like the display panel (or screen) itself. May not be a monumental pricetag to replace, but likely more than free. Not sure but I'd also suggest avsforum for that kind of question.

[gstelmack]

Is the bleed-through something that is fixed on warranty or is it just something you have to live with on crappy TVs?

The latter. It's a big indicator of the quality of the panel. See Backlight Bleeding: An LCD Problem (http://www.pchardwarehelp.com/guides/backlight-bleeding.php), and you can search on the term to find more info.

[stevew]

A panel issue is likely to be very expensive.

See what the experts say. And get in touch with Sony.

This was not a very good model so an issue with bleeding would not be shocking. Like I said earlier, they built it exclusively for price point to sell at wal Mart.

[RainMaker]

The latter. It's a big indicator of the quality of the panel. See Backlight Bleeding: An LCD Problem (http://www.pchardwarehelp.com/guides/backlight-bleeding.php), and you can search on the term to find more info.
That is exactly the problem I have. It's not horrible but something that did catch my eye. I know the TV isn't a good one but for free, it destroys my old one. I've been saving up to move to a larger condo or buy a 3-flat to rent and it just doesn't make financial sense at the moment to sell it and buy a more expensive one.

I will hit up Sony though and see if they can do anything to fix it. It's under warranty I guess and the worst thing they can say is no.

Thank you all for your help on this.

[CleBrownsfan]

Anybody see any good 4th of July sales? I'm possibly in search mode for a new TV for the basement.

[stevew]

There are some sick deals tomorrow from 6 to 9 at Sears

Sammy LCD and Panny Plasmas

Only good deals with Sears card.

A 55 LED is 2299(or possibly its 2399 bad memory)minus 10% for event. Then minus 10 for Sears card. Then minus 5% for event
So like out the door for under 1900 plus tax(this is the 6000)

There's more than that if you were looking at a model I can get you a price tomorrow morning

[stevew]

The 40 lED and a 50S plasma from panny are both roughly a grand after tax

[stevew]

I just lost a post. Anyways really good deals on Panny/Sammy tomorrow 6 to 9 at sears. Have to use A Sears card but potential for 2 10percent deductions plus a 5%. Off really good sales prices.

[Scarecrow]

If anyone's interested in a mid-sized (32") LCD for $299.99 today....

http://www.woot.com/

[RainMaker]

If anyone's interested in a mid-sized (32") LCD for $299.99 today....

http://www.woot.com/
Nice, been thinking of getting a cheap one for my office.

[RainMaker]

Does anyone have any suggestions on a home theater system? Looking at anywhere from $300-$600 that includes speakers. Saw the Sony Bravia system which I thought might sync up nice with my TV but am really not versed in what to look for at all.

This is the one I am fancying.

Amazon.com: Onkyo HT-S6200 7.1-Channel Home Entertainment Receiver/Speaker Package with Dock for the iPod: Electronics (http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-HT-S6200-7-1-Channel-Entertainment-Receiver/dp/B002C73WS6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1251438853&sr=1-1)

[stevew]

are you pre wired for speakers? do you want to take the time to set up the rear channels?

I have a soundbar, which suits my needs to be lazy.

Onkyo stuff is nice though, I had one previously.

[RainMaker]

By pre-wired, do you mean inside the walls? If so, then no. I do have a setup where the wires won't really be visible though.

Also, is the setting up of the rear speakers tough? I assumed this was just a home theater in a box and somewhat easy to setup. The thing I liked about this was the 4 HDMI inputs as well as the good reviews.

Sorry if I'm not understanding your terminology right. I am really a novice in anything but computers these days.

[stevew]

If you can hide the wires to the back easily, that's what I meant. Setting the thing up should be easy, most have some sort of mic/auto config setup.

It's a nice looking system.

[RainMaker]

Thanks. It's more than I wanted to spend but I couldn't really find anything decent that had that many HDMI ports. I also kind of liked the iPod docking station that comes with it.

[CU Tiger]

That Onkyo receiver is nice for its price point.
The Yamaha rx-v765 would give you a nicer balance and a good bit more user friendly control.

As for those speakers, i'll just say it is a fairly nice receiver....

[CU Tiger]

Dola....even the v465 would get you 4 inputs, superior sound balance andd it should be available TYD around $210

Of course speakers not included, but you dont want yamaha speakers anyway unless you go Japan versions or ultra high end

[RainMaker]

I ended up with the Onkyo system. Now I'm a little confused with the speaker setup. It's a 7.1 and the rear speakers don't work for anything i have.

Is this normal and will they only work with items that are 7.1 sound. I was under the impression that there was a way to get the rear speakers to produce something. If not, I might hold off on installing stands on the back wall for them.

Any advice on this?