new HDTVs... what to get?

[u3b3rg33k]

We've got a 32" LG 1080p TV here, and tbh, it rocks. At first I thought the intelligent sensor stuff was a gimmick, but now I really like it. It does a good job (the way it's set up) adapting from sunlight to bright room, to no lights on.
If I was going to get myself a new one, I'd look at the LED backlit models, mostly because I'm not a big fan of CCFLs, but it's not a huge turnoff, especially for something that's not mobile.

The only downside (to ALL flatscreen TVs) in my opinion is the sound. Unlike our SD WEGA TV (which I swear has a built in subwoofer), there's just no room in that packaging for good speakers. If you're not planning on doing much more than regular TV viewing, you'll be happy with it, but if you want to watch movies / play games / turn it up, get a separate sound system.

The specs for that TV are 10Wx2, which I'm certain is peak, not RMS.

[E30 Wagen]

LED backlight, at least 120hz, and 1080p. Let your wallet and your eyes decide the rest.

[z31maniac]

The only downside (to ALL flatscreen TVs) in my opinion is the sound. Unlike our SD WEGA TV (which I swear has a built in subwoofer), there's just no room in that packaging for good speakers. If you're not planning on doing much more than regular TV viewing, you'll be happy with it, but if you want to watch movies / play games / turn it up, get a separate sound system.

Do people really drop the coin on bad boy TVs and NOT have a surround system?

[skateimitation]

x2 on the Panasonic

Check out the new G2's

[TheEtaUnderdog]

sony had a sick patent on there tube tv technology, thats why they were better. Unfortunately, in the new market they don't have such a luxury. I'd say samsung or vizio. Most companies get their screens from sammy or pana, fyi

[Restoman]

I'm in the TV boat myself. 50"-58", plasma or LCD LED, At least 120 hz if lcd, all below 1200 before tax. Black Friday should shock the market good. We are going to wait until the sale papers come out to decide. In the mean time we have been studying what's needed and what's not.

[Restoman]

BTW, Sony just pushed it to far with their prices and not really staying on top of the market.

[Todd Black 88]

have a LG PK550. Good price point, 1080p and looks good.
Its a little big for your application at 50", but I'm sure they make a 42.

[Devil Inc]

I'm enjoying my 47" Vizio, 1080p and 120Hz. I bought last spring.

[Nairb]

I have both Samsung (21") and Sony (42") HDTV's in my house. They are both superb screens, but I would have to go with the Sony for style, ease of use, and picture quality.

The best thing you can do is figure out your price range, read a lot of reviews on the interweb, and decide what you want from there.

I got a pretty sweet wall-mount off of amazon that's pretty universal for >$40. I think it was a cheetah mount or someting? I would suggest that was well if that's the route you're going.

EDIT: Avoid Vizio.

[pureaudio]

I'll be buying one pretty soon here for my office conference room. Was gonna pick up the Samsung 40" at Costco but with black Friday so close I think I'll wait. I'm glad this thread came up though cause now I know sorta what to look for.

We were going to put a projector in there but with TV prices so cheap now it just makes sense to do that.

[StereoInstaller1]

I'll be probably one of the few voting for panasonic pro plasmas, one of the best displays out there by far, check out avsforums, tons of info. Best place to buy them is at visualapex.com

If you aren't gonna play video games, go Plasma. If you are gonna go Plasma, go Panasonic.

My 5 year old Plasma still kicks the shit out of most any "cheap" LCD. It will be replaced soon with a Panasonic 50" Plasma, then the 42" moves to the bedroom.

Why Plasma? Plasma has a color called "Black" and none of you LCD guys have seen it. The best LEDs of today are coming up, but so is Plasma. Neither compares to a good CRT yet, BTW.

There is also a thing called "Motion" (AKA "Movement") and few LCD guys have seen that either. Again, CRTs still kick the crap out of either, but Plasma has a HUGE advantage even over a 240Hz engine.

If you are gonna play video games though, go LCD. Pixel shifting does wonders, but still...no way.

[z31maniac]

Luke, could you go a bit more in depth about LCD vs Plasma for gaming? I do use the PS3for a few racing games and such and it's our Blu-Ray player as well.

[mrsleeve]

Nother vote for Samsung

But I still have a 36in Tosh and Sony VEGA CRT's as primary TV's. We have a 37" Vizzio but its ehhhh

[StrokedSix]

If you aren't gonna play video games, go Plasma. If you are gonna go Plasma, go Panasonic.

My 5 year old Plasma still kicks the shit out of most any "cheap" LCD. It will be replaced soon with a Panasonic 50" Plasma, then the 42" moves to the bedroom.

Why Plasma? Plasma has a color called "Black" and none of you LCD guys have seen it. The best LEDs of today are coming up, but so is Plasma. Neither compares to a good CRT yet, BTW.

There is also a thing called "Motion" (AKA "Movement") and few LCD guys have seen that either. Again, CRTs still kick the crap out of either, but Plasma has a HUGE advantage even over a 240Hz engine.

If you are gonna play video games though, go LCD. Pixel shifting does wonders, but still...no way.

The only thing that shies me away from Plasmas is that I've read that they do not do as well with bright ambient light and they show a lot more reflections. The room the TV is going in has lots of windows... but then again, we don't watch much TV during the day except for sports on weekends.