4 LCDs, Pick one and tell me why.

[FuzzyReets]

Hi folks. I'm in the market to maybe upgrade my 5 year old Plasma. Most people are telling me not to but I don't understand why. I am mainly interested in PQ, black levels, etc. I don't care about Smart TV or 3D. This TV is really meant to be an upgrade to my existing Samsung PN58C550 58" Plasma. I'm hoping to leverage some maybe new technologies that have happened in the last 5 years (i'm assuming) to get some more wow factor back into my movie watching. I might be jumping the gun but that's what I'm here to figure out. I don't want to pay for 4k yet because there is no content really. I do however, want to buy one when it makes sense which I'm guessing isn't for like another 5 years? Anyway, I don't want to spend a lot now to have 4k be mainstream in three years and ruin my investment but I don't feel like my current TV will be "good enough" to get me until 4k arrives. Hopefully that makes some kind of sense.

So my budget is basically 1200ish. Yes i know that's not a lot but again, just holding myself over until 4k.

I'm thinking about these four models:

1. LG 65LB6300
2. Vizio M652I-B2
3. Sharp LC-65LE643U (hard bad things about black levels)
4. Samsung H6203 (heard bad things about black levels)

I know I know these are not top of the line, but again, I'm just considering a "tide me over to 4k" set.

Any thoughts are appreciated. I would love to get a discussion going about this. Thank you.

 

[3db]

I went into Futureshop (a BestBuy subsiduary) and compared a Samsung LCD with a new Vizio 70" M series and between the two, I did not notice any difference in PQ between the two. The blacks were inky black with good black level resolution. LCDs have come a very long way and would equal all but the very best plasmas in PQ.

 

[j_garcia]

Vizio M series are very good, however they still aren't as good as the top Samsungs IMHO. Samsung simply has the best panels, but then it depends on the levels you're looking at - the least expensive models, I'd say the Vizios are a better bang for your buck. LG shouldn't even be on your list.

 

[lsiberian]

I still would wait, but I understand the burn. I'd probably opt for the Vizio.

 

[tyhjaarpa]

I would stay with plasma. In my experience plasma has best picture in your budget still. If you at least doubled your budget then LCD's will get around the same or go with amoled, but that costs even more..

 

[j_garcia]

News flash: plasma is dead. OLED prices will come down, but that is still at least a year out before we really start seeing reasonable prices for the masses.

 

[FuzzyReets]

Wow. can't wait to see the backlash from the Plasma is dead comment.

 

[lsiberian]

Wow. can't wait to see the backlash from the Plasma is dead comment.

You will be waiting a while. It's definitely dead.

 

[FuzzyReets]

You will be waiting a while. It's definitely dead.

Haha. Okay why are you telling me to keep my Plasma then?

 

[j_garcia]

What backlash? There are no longer any manufacturers who will be making plasma going forward. CRT was even better than plasma and that's gone the way of the dodo too; better is irrelevant when it comes to big business. Sorry, but if they can't sell it at a profit, then no matter how good a thing is, it won't be around long.

 

[afterlife2]

Take a look at the Samsung Plasma F5300 Series TV - 64” peeps at AVS Forums seem to like them. http://www.samsung.com/us/video/tvs/PN64F5300AFXZA

 

[GranteedEV]

Haha. Okay why are you telling me to keep my Plasma then?

Plasma is dead. Their minimal profit margins and average sales did not justify their manufacture so they are no longer made by either Panasonic or Samsung - the two premier plasma brands.

However - they were, and continue to be, the superior display technology until OLED has undergone many more years of maturation (and even then, OLED is still inherently inferior in terms of motion resolution).

 

[Cos]

1. LG 65LB6300 (I have the 47" in my bedroom black levels are poor)
2. Vizio M652I-B2 (I have heard that Vizio has some of the worst customer support if you have a problem)
3. Sharp LC-65LE643U (hard bad things about black levels) Don't know about this one but Sharp makes reliable TVs
4. Samsung H6203 (Really poor Contrast levels) from what I have read

 

[j_garcia]

I had no problem with my Sharp right up until it was stolen I'd honestly say Vizio has probably passed them for panel quality though I've heard the same about their customer service.

 

[jcparks]

If you are just holding out till 4k why do you need a new TV? For movie watching with a 1200 dollar budget I just dont know if you will do better then your 5 year old Plasma. Your going to loose your black levels, and the superior refresh. The only time you will get a better picture from LED is maybe during the day, but who wants to watch movies when the sun is out? I would hold on to that plasma. LG is doing big things with OLED right now and their prices are dropping really fast, give it a year and a half to two years...

 

[Steve81]

Well if nothing else, this thread is well timed for me I'm looking at LCDs in the 60" range to replace my current 46" set. Thus far I've checked out the Vizio P and M series at Best Buy, but given the motion blur, blooming, and inconsistent lighting at the corners of the screen I noticed, I've scratched them off the list. The pricier Samsung displays looked good to my eyes, though I need to spend more time looking at them and the other options there.

 

[j_garcia]

Unless you're trying to save a few bucks, go with a Samsung. I've heard their customer service isn't that great either, but we have an old 32" Sammy that is over 15 years old and still works fine.

 

[Steve81]

My current set and its predecessor (still kicking) are both Samsung as well, and I've never had any trouble with either. Fortunately my wife is fully on board with this upgrade, so something like the UN60H7150 is definitely doable.

 

[3db]

My Vizio is still alive and kicking for 5 years now despite having a load of washing machine water pour through the top and exit at the bottom.

 

[darien87]

My Vizio is still alive and kicking for 5 years now despite having a load of washing machine water pour through the top and exit at the bottom.

OK now that's a story you HAVE to tell.