Need to buy a TV

[Kershaw]

We don't buy used. ;)

.... except for cars, eh?

[keefy6]

For my eyes at the recent large showroom, the panny plasma's kicked butt.

I have upper middle class WAF to consider, so we bit the bullet and have one of the newer 65 inch Panny Plasmas with all the bells and whistles.

The sound in a large room is horrifying.

Back in the day I ran Sony G70 on 100 plus inch screen with HD content from a sat system and OTA through one of the early conversion Hughes boxes. It was spectacular, though dim by todays standards. I'm spoiled because I ran Brystons and B&W's etc with it, so sound was never an issue. Have not been able to rebuild the theatre room yet.

If there is a Panny in your size, the image with the Plasma, IMHO really was noticeably improved with much deeper contrast and true-er colors.

I'm told (not sure its true) that the Pioneer Elite tech guys were absorbed by the Panny company when that dissolved. I believe it.

If you're handy, I love the idea of repairing one of these, I noticed many online videos for DIY repairs of common problems, so specialized knowledge may not even be needed.

Good luck!

absolutely correct, the elite model brand and its tech was bought by Panasonic. Pioneer ironically, still makes Elite (DLP?) after stopping manufacturing in 09. the Kuro technology is not implemented in the Panny displays IIRC. I would need to read up to be sure though.

[Jand3rson]

Samsung. Anything Samsung.

/thread.

But seriously, trust me. I've been in this industry almost 10 years (home theater/cable), and I've never seen a TV that performed and lasted as consistently as a Samsung. I have 2 of them myself, and it's ALL I recommend to customers and friends. They have the most comprehensive, best looking, and most organized menus and settings, their remotes are high-quality, and the build quality on them is superb.

I've had my 50" Samsung DLP for about 4-5 years now, and the only thing I've had to do is replace the lamp, which was $60 and took all of 10 minutes, and blow the dust out of it every 8 months or so. My other is about a 7-8 year old 32" CRT flat-screen, and with an HD cable box running component video, even at 480p, the picture is incredible.

[HarukoE30]

Go for LED & Samsung or LG hands down, nothing else compares.

[e34john]

Have a Samsung led too.

But if I were you id wait till the day after the superbowl go to bestbuy and buy one of the returns, get a basically new tv for a discount

[keefy6]

Go for LED & Samsung or LG hands down, nothing else compares.

Samsung. Anything Samsung.



/thread.



But seriously, trust me. I've been in this industry almost 10 years (home theater/cable), and I've never seen a TV that performed and lasted as consistently as a Samsung. I have 2 of them myself, and it's ALL I recommend to customers and friends. They have the most comprehensive, best looking, and most organized menus and settings, their remotes are high-quality, and the build quality on them is superb.



I've had my 50" Samsung DLP for about 4-5 years now, and the only thing I've had to do is replace the lamp, which was $60 and took all of 10 minutes, and blow the dust out of it every 8 months or so. My other is about a 7-8 year old 32" CRT flat-screen, and with an HD cable box running component video, even at 480p, the picture is incredible.

i'm not going to hijack the thread, so i'll just say I disagree based on scientific data/comparison/lab tests done by industry ISF technicians proving the result remains the same. if interested, please see my previous link.

but hey we don't all have to agree, good luck OP:)!

[mrsleeve]

who are you again ;)

[M-technik-3]

http://www.sears.com/tvs-electronics-televisions-all-flat-panel-tvs/s-1231474403?lid=ob_sale&rioptype=LY&sid=IOx20130128SYRCELTARx0506712x2001647xLJ4MCEPROP&eml=99343517&ruid=2001647

[J3M93]

I wouldn't even consider Plasma with the quality of the LED's we get nowadays, i've got a a bravia nx800 and i honestly can't tell the difference between blacks when the tv is on or off, plus you won't have any ghosting issues that you do get with a plasma when you go LED so you could game without any worries

[InuFaye]

Pioneer stopped making plasmas in 2009. I own the last generation 50" Elite. (Paid 2500 for it in 2009).
Panasonic bought the patents and their engineers, but have only integrated the cheaper end of the tech that they used. (If rumors were to be believed Pioneer actually had the tech for absolute blacks in a plasma ready to go for the next generation TVs before they were shut down because no one wanted to spend 3000 dollars on a Plasma)

Now the new zt60 series looks like it could finally match the 9G Kuro in black levels, but we will have to wait to see if they actually do.

Also Sharp is the one using the Elite moniker now, but those TVs are still not anywhere near 9G Kuro in terms of PQ.

[Jand3rson]

i'm not going to hijack the thread, so i'll just say I disagree based on scientific data/comparison/lab tests done by industry ISF technicians proving the result remains the same. if interested, please see my previous link.

but hey we don't all have to agree, good luck OP:)!

Thanks for that highly technical and equally as helpful post.

[Axxe]

4 Samsung flat panels (not DLP or CRT) in direct family have all failed, repeatedly. YMMV.

[Jand3rson]

YMMV.

This. What works for some may not work for all. That's the problem with asking a public internet forum for product advice.

[Eurospec]

I would look into an LCD panel despite the much lower cost of plasmas nowadays. AVSforums/ Amazon are great resources for reviews once you've narrowed down your choices. I can't stress this enough... do your research. Also, keep in mind that no one brand is better than the other. A particular Vizio (not that I recommend one) for example may share the same components as say an LG or Samsung. In other words, don't shop one brand, but particular models of different brands. Good luck!

[Eurospec]

I would look into an LCD panel despite the much lower cost of plasmas nowadays. AVSforums/ Amazon are great resources for reviews once you've narrowed down your choices. I can't stress this enough... do your research. Also, keep in mind that no one brand is better than another. A particular Vizio (not that I recommend one) for example may share the same components as say an LG or Samsung. In other words, don't shop one brand, but particular models of different brands. Good luck!