Chronus Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 (edited) My father's TV has died and he wants to get a new one for around 800GBP, so that automatically puts the Pioneer Kuro way out of range (unless someone is donating ). He's asked me to find out which is the best one to get for his price range. I'm leaning towards a rear projection DLP unit as it is cheaper, and you can get a bigger size. There is a 72" Samsung available for 780GBP, only problem being that it's in the US. I've found a smaller 61" Samsung DLP screen for 827GBP which I'll ask and see what he thinks. http://www.hdtv-news.co.uk/2008/08/04/sams...1a650-dlp-hdtv/ If not that, I think he'd prefer plasma, and down that route, I have read that Panasonic is next in line after Pioneer (and will be manufacturing the plasma units for Pioneer in future). After them perhaps Samsung/LG but it seems more of a crap shoot there. My father would want at least a 50 inch TV and I don't think the Panasonic plasmas are available in the correct price range. LCD I have mostly discounted, as I see it at the bottom of the TV range, although that would be an option if there was something just that good at the right price. My opinion's always been under 40" get LCD, 40" and up you can take advantage of plasma (they seem to produce a better black for one thing), and if you are on a budget and cannot afford a plasma, a rear projection TV will be a compromise to the plasma. From what I've gleaned, there are a lot of LCD panel manufacturers so it's easy for any no name brand to put together an LCD TV, while it seems that Panasonic are going to be the main plasma manufacturers. The general perception by the general public is that LCD is the best TV technology, which is why a big company like Sony stopped making plasmas. I remember Homer talking about the joys of plasma (and his Kuro) and Pugwash explaining a lot of how movies translate to the small screen of TV. I don't really see OLED being viable at the moment, though that is likely to be a big thing in the future, it only seems to be used in mobile phones at the moment. After a lot of reading, I've come to the conclusion full 1080p (1920x1080 resolution) is unnecessary on TVs smaller than 40" as the screen size is not large enough to get the full benefits. 1080i or 1080p is great for larger screens where you can really appreciate the viewing experience. Any thought and advice, and suggestions? (Also, rear projection TVs seem to be harder to find in the UK than in the US for some reason). Edited October 28, 2008 by Chronus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 The 40" Bravia LCD. My Brother-in-law has one and it's the best choice for the price. As for 1080 not being worth it at smaller sizes, that's complete rubbish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfreeman420 Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 Mitsubishi DLP is by far the best tV on the market. I have owned nothing but Mitsubishi bigt screens. The light guns last the longest out of any brand. I have a 55" widescreen HD rear projection for 5 years now and it is still going strong. Most other brands will need some kind of repair after 3 or 4 years. DLP is also the best picture available escecially for the money. The sad thing is they are phasing out DLP because everyone wants a flat screen. The picture on LCD's are very poor especially the blacks. Plasma is a great picture, but they get very hot and don't last more than 5 years. You will also see burn in on plasma's due to the heat. I would suggest a DLP by Mitsubishi before they are no longer available. Also you can go very large with a DLP and the picture will be just as good on a 65" as a 40". As for 1080 not being worth it at smaller sizes, that's complete rubbish 1080p is great for DVD's and blu ray but there are no tv signals that are broadcast in 1080p yet. Mitsubishi is the only TV that has a processor that will convert ANY signal to 1080p automatically. The technology is far superior. I know I sound like I work for them but I am very passionate about my electronics and Mitsubishi is one of the only brands that has never let me down. I also bought one for my mom 10 years ago (the old square 45" projection) and it is still running strong!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltatahoe Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 my suggestion -- go to AVS forum (they have subforums for plasma, lcd and dlp TVs) and read, read, read just like you would here when researching a new watch. best of luck deltatahoe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickey Padge Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 I would suggest the Samsung LE40A656A1F Series 6 40" LCD TV every time The picture quality is amazing, deep blacks, bright whites and smooth motion, with motion plus (interpolates extra frames to smooth motion). It is 1080p too, which is the best HD standard. I have one hooked into Sky HD at work, and nothing touches it for picture quality. Sound is average, but then all LCD/Plasmas have mediocre sound really..... In fact any Samsung series 6 over 40" would be an excellent choice, the smaller series 6 models do not have the same picture quality, as the screen tech is not quite the same...... 1080p is a benefit to any screen, it is all depending on the viewing distance, but if you don't have Sky HD, or a HD source (blu ray) for your TV, then you are missing out. If you have no plans to ever get a HD source, then most of the LCD TV's tech is a moot point, as the old CRT TV's are best with SD pictures compared to plasma or LCD.... I would not recommend plasma, as screen burn is still an issue, no matter what peeps tell you. A lot of screens in our store have screen burn and even the "screen wipe" built into the TV menus does not really help.... Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chronus Posted October 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 The 40" Bravia LCD. My Brother-in-law has one and it's the best choice for the price. As for 1080 not being worth it at smaller sizes, that's complete rubbish. He really wants a 50 inch if possible... he's bought a new house and is moving soon, so will finally get a new TV to replace the LG 24 inch LCD my sister's lent him most of the year. The through lounge is quite long I think .. 32 feet or so, but it will be kind of divided into two with a dining area and a sitting area with a TV at the top. The TV that went kaput was a Sony 32" screen. I know he has a tendency towards Pioneer or Panasonic at the moment... so I am looking! I'll relay any suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 1080p is great for DVD's and blu ray but there are no tv signals that are broadcast in 1080p yet. No, they're broadcast in 1080i. Just because you don't do 1080 in the US doesn't mean no-one does it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hyster Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 Can't help as I'm not up to speed on what is currently the best, I found AVforums a great place for advice when I bought a few years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chronus Posted October 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 (edited) Mitsubishi DLP is by far the best tV on the market. I have owned nothing but Mitsubishi bigt screens. The light guns last the longest out of any brand. I have a 55" widescreen HD rear projection for 5 years now and it is still going strong. Most other brands will need some kind of repair after 3 or 4 years. DLP is also the best picture available escecially for the money. The sad thing is they are phasing out DLP because everyone wants a flat screen. I haven't read this yet... I've printed it off for my dad to read on the train to work tomorrow It's about the Mitsubishi 60" DLP rear projection screen. http://www.hdtv-news.co.uk/2008/05/29/mits...d-60735-dlp-tv/ Back to the 1080p ... I've read that that is too expensive at the moment to broadcast signals and may never happen... who knows what the future will bring though. 720p will become standard though. [edit: seems like the UK broadcasts HD in 1080i according to Pugwash, will have to look this up at some point] As of now, there is only one game on the PS3 that has a native 1080p resolution (besides my dad's unlikely to play PS3...!) and Blu-Ray that uses 1080p.. something that is also an unlikely source for my father to use. More likely me with my Casino Royale (thanks Mickey!) Edited October 28, 2008 by Chronus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chronus Posted October 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 Info on rear projection: http://hometheater.about.com/cs/television/a/aarearprotv.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickey Padge Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 The picture quality on 50" plasmas for Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickey Padge Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 1080i will look fantastic on most modern 1080p TV's, as the TV will convert "i" to "p" anyway, as LCD's and plasmas can't display an interlaced (i) signal, only progressive (p). A cheap crappy TV will not convert an i signal well, and sometimes you can see interlace artifacts on the screen (tiny horizontal tearing around the edges of things on screen, more noticable with fast motion) 1080p is not a broadcast standard, but blu ray is 1080p, and that also looks supurb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest avitt Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 I've got both a Panasonic plasma, and a Sharp Aquos LCD. I prefer the plasma. It has deeper blacks, sharper contrast, a better viewing angle range, and seems to handle Standard Definition broadcasts better. BTW, I've had the plasma since about 2002 or 2003. It gets heavy use. There is no burn-in, or appreciable decrease in brightness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 Ok, let's clear one thing up before it gets confusing. 1080p is actually 1080p24, meaning 24 full frames (progressive) a second. This is the frame rate movies are filmed at. 1080i comes in two flavours: 1080i50 and 1080i60. These are interlaced (half a frame at a time) at 50 or 60 frames a second, meaning they can do progressive at 1080p25 or 1080p30. So, when people talk about 1080p, they're talking about movies in HD. When they're talking about 1080i, they're talking about TV. 720p is actually 720p60, which is full frame at 60fps. This is hands down the best option for sport and is about the same bandwidth as 1080i. 720x1280x60=55926 ~ 1080x1920x30=62208 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest avitt Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 Back to the 1080p ... I've read that that is too expensive at the moment to broadcast signals and may never happen... who knows what the future will bring though. 720p will become standard though. [edit: seems like the UK broadcasts HD in 1080i according to Pugwash, will have to look this up at some point] Here in the US, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, and most of the cable networks are broadcasting in 1080i. In fact, ABC and ESPN are the only stations that I know to be broadcasting in 720p. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chronus Posted October 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 I've got both a Panasonic plasma, and a Sharp Aquos LCD. I prefer the plasma. It has deeper blacks, sharper contrast, a better viewing angle range, and seems to handle Standard Definition broadcasts better. BTW, I've had the plasma since about 2002 or 2003. It gets heavy use. There is no burn-in, or appreciable decrease in brightness. Isn't Sharp a majority shareholder in Pioneer? I've also found this site for reviews of TVs... they seem to like Plasmas. There seem to be 2 main TV reviewers and one of them loves plasmas. http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/televisions/0,39030229,1,00.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheswick Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 I've got a 50" Panasonic Plasma and it is a fantastic set, the best I've seen bar none. Most sources say the blacks are better on the kuro but set up in my house it's hard to pick apart my set. Its the THPZ800. Now you wouldnt get this set for that money but I think you should find a 50" 720 Panny for that money, and it will be reliable for many years and the best quality for the $$ IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest avitt Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 my suggestion -- go to AVS forum (they have subforums for plasma, lcd and dlp TVs) and read, read, read just like you would here when researching a new watch. best of luck deltatahoe This is the best advice posted yet. 5 or 6 years ago, when I bought my first setup for OTA HD TV, I spent a lot of time on the AVS forums. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luisik Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 You may find also interesting information here : http://www.ultimateavmag.com/buyersguides/ http://www.avguide.com/buyers-guides Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specialvat Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 Working in electrical retail, but not on the sales floor I find the old saying is true you get what you pay for. Most of the tvs use other brands boards anyway, dlp never took off really in our shop too bulky. At min Lg 50lg5010 and lg 50lg6010 are popular not seen a faulty one yet 7 series samsung high ticket but seem reliable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notimetowaste Posted October 29, 2008 Report Share Posted October 29, 2008 I've got both a Panasonic plasma, and a Sharp Aquos LCD. I prefer the plasma. It has deeper blacks, sharper contrast, a better viewing angle range, and seems to handle Standard Definition broadcasts better. BTW, I've had the plasma since about 2002 or 2003. It gets heavy use. There is no burn-in, or appreciable decrease in brightness. I agree. I've had a Samsung Plasma that gets a ton of use since 2004 and it has no burn in, or any other problems. It has an excellent bright picture and wide viewing angle. I have a wide room with lots of sunlight and the plasma was perfect for it. The cheaper plasmas tend to have poor contrast and color problems. I would avoid a cheap plasma. DLP projection televisions have a great picture and are inexpensive for a large size. Main drawbacks are a narrow viewing angle and they aren't as good in a well-lit room. LCD seems to be a good option for those in a bright room and need a wider angle than on a DLP. Their picture quality has really improved in the last few years and the price has come down for large LCDs. I would first choose the type of tv based on the characteristics of the room then focus on size and model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shundi Posted October 29, 2008 Report Share Posted October 29, 2008 I brought one of these for the living room...awesome for the price point: http://www.y2incusa.com/sonygrandwegakds-6...ectionhdtv.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chronoluvvv Posted October 29, 2008 Report Share Posted October 29, 2008 i got a 52" sharp LCD after my 47" samsung big screen kicked the bucket for the 4th time in 4 years i did read up on avsforum.com & came away with this anything under 42" and you're wasting the HD signal so might as well get a loss-leader 32"-37" CRT @ that point most folk can't even tell the difference between 720p and 1080p on a 42" so i'd like the 50+ sizes LCD works better in well-lit rooms while plasma displays black colors better both plasma and LCD have their advantages/disadvantages so pick one tech that you'll be comfy with when it comes to LCD, get Sony or Sharp ... when it comes to plasma, go for Pioneer or Panasonic lastly comparing telly sets side-by-side @ the showroom is never a good idea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hung Well Posted October 29, 2008 Report Share Posted October 29, 2008 The pioneer plasmas are amazing but you are not going to get one for Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chronus Posted October 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2008 The pioneer plasmas are amazing but you are not going to get one for Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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