LCD or OLED? - The TV Thread

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: Plasma or LCD?

After some serious thought, I am planning to go with either the Samsung LN55C630 or Sony Bravia KDL55EX500 LCD's. Both LCD's caught our eyes when looking around at various stores over the weekend. The LG 55LD520 55" LCD is coming in as a close third. The Samsung out of all 3 had the best picture from vivid colors. pop, and detail. If I can get one of these for $200-$300 less than the Sammy, I may go for it as CompUSA had the Sony for $1199, but the price has gone back up.

Are Samsungs the best for LCD's?

Sony and Samsung are 1a and 1b, IMO. Sony sets tend to be pricier.

[Scottdau]

Sony and Samsung are 1a and 1b, IMO. Sony sets tend to be pricier.

True. I like Sony, but it is a personal preference. Both are good TV's.

[SouthernBrick]

Re: Plasma or LCD?

We made our family room in the basement into a master bedroom over the summer. We moved everything in our living room upstairs, including the 50" DLP and there is not a lot of space in the living room. I have been toying around the idea of selling my DLP (w/ a spare brand new bulb) and getting an LCD or Plasma. The plan by getting the LCD or Plasma is to free up a whole bunch of space by the DLP and stand its on.

I was talking to a few people and they were telling me that newer Plasma's don't ghost anymore and burn-in isn't an issue being much better with still images. I see that I can get a 50" plasma (50" Samsung 1080p for $899 on sale) for much less than a 55" LCD (Samsung 1080p 120hz for $1499). We watch regular television shows, the news for about 45 minutes throughout the day (I worry about logos), my wife watches TV throughout the day, Blu-ray viewing, and I usually fire up the PS3 or 360 during the evening for about 1-2 hours depending on time. Because we have kids, I have to pause my gaming sometimes for 10-15 minutes if there is something I need attending to. Do they have screen savers on Plasma's?

The living room has a bay window with a lot of light during the day. The way the TV is facing, the window is to the left of it. The room is lightly dim in the evening since we have a lamp for lighting until I can install new lighting above the ceiling.

Do Plasma's still have to be broken in?

I can't pull the trigger till early December and I might even wait till around early next year..........but what do you guys think of the two? I have smaller LCD's at home already and love them, but wouldn't mind the plasma if its cheaper and can do the same.

I just bought a new plasma screen tv as a early Christmas present for myself just 2 days ago 42"(Just in time for Black Ops FTW). I am quite pleased with the tv I bought. It's a Panasonic Viera. If I had of waited I would have got a 47 or 50 inch but, when I see something I want I don't want to wait. I can't tell you which one is best because, I don't have another flat screen besides the one in the living room.

Had to adjust the color to cinema to brighten it up but, other than that its crystal clear.

[The Chef]

Re: Plasma or LCD?

I just bought a new plasma screen tv as a early Christmas present for myself just 2 days ago 42"(Just in time for Black Ops FTW). I am quite pleased with the tv I bought. It's a Panasonic Viera. If I had of waited I would have got a 47 or 50 inch but, when I see something I want I don't want to wait. I can't tell you which one is best because, I don't have another flat screen besides the one in the living room.

Had to adjust the color to cinema to brighten it up but, other than that its crystal clear.

Nice, Ive got a 50" Panasonic Plasma and love it. This rising blacks issue was something I heard about going in but also figured that since Im not a videophile I wont even notice it in all likelihood. What model did you end up getting if you dont mind me asking?

[SouthernBrick]

Re: Plasma or LCD?

Nice, Ive got a 50" Panasonic Plasma and love it. This rising blacks issue was something I heard about going in but also figured that since Im not a videophile I wont even notice it in all likelihood. What model did you end up getting if you dont mind me asking?

Viera, I believe is what it's called if I'm not mistaken. It rounded out to about 5 or 6 bucks over 500 dollars. That was really a solid price for me because, I was looking for something around that range at the time.

Edit: Found the recipe, 28.68 in tax. I hate taxes...so much.

[Kashanova]

Re: Plasma or LCD?

Change the aspect ratio.

not very reassuring.... thanks

[EnigmaNemesis]

Re: Plasma or LCD?

True. I like Sony, but it is a personal preference. Both are good TV's.

Yeah, some say they notice brighter "pop" colors on the Samsung's. And while that seems true, I notice their reds are too red. And Sony's color engine seems to be more natural, where Samsung seems over saturated.

You can not go wrong with either one. I too prefer Sony sets.

[mjb2124]

Re: Plasma or LCD?

Sony and Samsung are 1a and 1b, IMO. Sony sets tend to be pricier.

Yep... Sony can justify the higher price on name recognition only. My in-laws refuse to buy a TV that doesn't have Sony on the front. Of course, they are the same people who have a 42" Sony LCD HDTV in the family room, but no HD signal. It was funny because they kept raving about how great their new TV looked (first non-CRT TV...the CRT died so my father-in-law went out that day and bought this TV without doing any research). When I got over there to check it out, I had to laugh because they had no HD signal (looked worse than the CRT). I politely mentioned that they might want to get an HD box from their cable provider, but that fell on deaf ears as the TV "already looked great".

It's funny because everyone has their favorites when it comes to this stuff - even those that have no idea what they're doing like my in-laws. I'm definitely a Samsung fan based on good past experience. My best friend swears by Sony. IMO, they both do very good things only slightly different.

[Scottdau]

Yep... Sony can justify the higher price on name recognition only. My in-laws refuse to buy a TV that doesn't have Sony on the front. Of course, they are the same people who have a 42" Sony LCD HDTV in the family room, but no HD signal. It was funny because they kept raving about how great their new TV looked (first non-CRT TV...the CRT died so my father-in-law went out that day and bought this TV without doing any research). When I got over there to check it out, I had to laugh because they had no HD signal (looked worse than the CRT). I politely mentioned that they might want to get an HD box from their cable provider, but that fell on deaf ears as the TV "already looked great".

It's funny because everyone has their favorites when it comes to this stuff - even those that have no idea what they're doing like my in-laws. I'm definitely a Samsung fan based on good past experience. My best friend swears by Sony. IMO, they both do very good things only slightly different.

I agree Mike. My next TV will probably be a Samsung. Though I have always had Sony.

[RoyalBoyle78]

Re: Plasma or LCD?

After some serious thought, I am planning to go with either the Samsung LN55C630 or Sony Bravia KDL55EX500 LCD's. Both LCD's caught our eyes when looking around at various stores over the weekend. The LG 55LD520 55" LCD is coming in as a close third. The Samsung out of all 3 had the best picture from vivid colors. pop, and detail. If I can get one of these for $200-$300 less than the Sammy, I may go for it as CompUSA had the Sony for $1199, but the price has gone back up.

Are Samsungs the best for LCD's?

be careful with those sonys, I had to return mine from some bad clouding in the corners before I returned it last year, and the sound was not to loud.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Plasma or LCD?

With any tv, it depends on the series. Not all Sonys, Samsungs, LG's, etc are the same. Some series are better then others. Like the Bravia 2 series for Sony is tight, the non Bravia Sony tvs aren't however. Same thing with Samsung, the 360 series were tight.

For DLPS, from relatives I have heard Mistisubisha is the brand to get.....And gamecock you know I am still eyeing that 73 inch Mistisubisha for $1500 LOL. My living room is big enough, it is 25 feet long and 12 feet wide.

Over all I like Samsung, LG and Sony. Sony is the pricest brand out there though. More important thing to look at is to make sure the tv has the features you are looking for. Like the number of HDMI slots, componets slots, USB slots, PC slots, where they got those slots. Some brands have them all on the back, some have them all on the side and some have them in both places.

I know one of my friends bought a 55 inch LCD, he wanted to mount it on the wall, but all the slots for connecting stuff was in back of the tv right in the center of the back at that. Which meant he had to buy a wall mount that stuck out from the wall, instead of one of those low profile wall mounts. Because there was no way he could plug anything in with a low profile mount, it was too close to the wall.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Plasma or LCD?

I still love my Vizio LED, it's backlit and the picture is stunning (to me) in my room. Compared it to Sony and Samsung, couldn't justify the $500-700 more for the name when to my eyes, the Vizio looked just as good if not better.

[Pete1210]

Re: Plasma or LCD?

I like the Vizio TVs too. I have a 37" LCD. When the bulb on my Toshiba DLP goes again, I will probably replace that with another Vizio.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Plasma or LCD?

With any tv, it depends on the series. Not all Sonys, Samsungs, LG's, etc are the same. Some series are better then others. Like the Bravia 2 series for Sony is tight, the non Bravia Sony tvs aren't however. Same thing with Samsung, the 360 series were tight.

For DLPS, from relatives I have heard Mistisubisha is the brand to get.....And gamecock you know I am still eyeing that 73 inch Mistisubisha for $1500 LOL. My living room is big enough, it is 25 feet long and 12 feet wide.

Over all I like Samsung, LG and Sony. Sony is the pricest brand out there though. More important thing to look at is to make sure the tv has the features you are looking for. Like the number of HDMI slots, componets slots, USB slots, PC slots, where they got those slots. Some brands have them all on the back, some have them all on the side and some have them in both places.

I know one of my friends bought a 55 inch LCD, he wanted to mount it on the wall, but all the slots for connecting stuff was in back of the tv right in the center of the back at that. Which meant he had to buy a wall mount that stuck out from the wall, instead of one of those low profile wall mounts. Because there was no way he could plug anything in with a low profile mount, it was too close to the wall.

I love DLP's and they come really close imo to producing that excellent CRT-like image quality. After 4+ years I have not had to replace the bulb on this one and the picture still looks really good. I have noticed it degrade a little bit, but not too bad. If we had the extra space upstairs, I would not be getting rid of this yet.

BTW, which LCD did your friend get that had the issue with the panel/wall mount?

For a 55", how many feet should you be sitting away and how high should the TV be mounted to the wall for that size? I was reading that it should be eye level on the mount, but was not too sure.

[RoyalBoyle78]

Re: Plasma or LCD?

I love LG, I have a 50" Plasma for my TV needs like sports looks fantastic, my gaming is done on my 32" LG LCD TV that I use also use as my PC monitor for my mac. That's my little gaming station, love it too.


My Plasma


My gaming Station