Buying a new LCD TV, any suggestion?

[mpact]

I am Canadian - Thinking to build my HT area in basement (plan to make use of an area around 20 x 25 ft). Due to busy schedule & budget, I may take up to a year (or at least until Christmas) to purchase the following components:

1. 1080p LCD TV
2. AV receiver
3. 5.1 speakers

I have my new Oppo BD-83 Blu-ray player hooked up to SHARPLC46D62 TV, and a crappy Denon AVR 689 receiver and Paradigm CT110 5.1 speakers in living room. Now it is being invaded by the kids playing Disney DVDs or just watching Treehouse TV every day.

Here is my plan - 1st of all, I want to buy a 46"+ LCD TV for below $2000 CAD budget. Any suggestions? I will move my Oppo BD-83 to basement and hook up via HDMI cable for the time being. Since I am on Rogers VIP program I have a free analog cable outlet in the basement (I know it sucks, but at least I got some channels). Whatever I will be watching, I expect temporary sound output from TV speakers.

Within the next 6-9 months, I plan to buy a new receiver (Marantz 6003?) and wanted to buy some good speakers. Listen, here is the little tricky part - I have a pair of Paradigm Studio 20 and I can use it either as the front or back channel (preferably back). Wanted to spend $3K or slight more for some good speakers that I can enjoy both music & movies. My Oppo BD-83 also plays SACD so wanted to make use of that too.

Back to topic, let's start with TV. Which brand/model would you recommend? I may (or may not) hook it up with Wii / PS3 as well.

Frankly speaking - I am not too happy with the picture quality of my SHARP TV. I had a SONY 32" and the picture quality is much sharper The SHARP seems to be too red and not displaying the details. SONY seems to be perfect except expensive. Samsung looks cool but not sure about Korean TV (I was more towards Japanese brands before). So any inputs welcome.

Thanks!

 

[bandphan]

Is there any reason you would consider some like the TC-P46G10 ?

 

[billy p]

Is there any reason you would consider some like the TC-P46G10 ?

Just remember our Canadain prices are not the same. In any case the lower U or S series from Panny would better suit that budget and rival any LCD in that price class...JMO.

Regards, Bill

 

[DaleAV]

Plasma will generally also give you an edge in viewing angle, better black level, less motion issues, and better viewing in darkened rooms (ala movies).

 

[AVRat]

You have a decent sized area, just wondered if something like the Mitsubishi WD-65737 would even be considered if it fit into the budget?

 

[rekced]

You want my suggestion? Go with plasma.

Something like this would do. Canadian prices are high! Whoa.

http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=10323321&search=Panasonic plasma&Mo=2&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-CA&Nr=P_CatalogName:BCCA&Sp=S&N=0&whse=BCCA&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=Text_Search&Dr=P_CatalogName:BCCA&Ne=4000000&D=Panasonic plasma&Ntt=Panasonic plasma&No=2&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1

 

[skaks]

I want to buy a new plasma TV.....if anyone have suggestion please give me

 

[DaleAV]

Panasonic for black level & reliability. Samsung for color accuracy. Pioneer Kruo for the best of color and black level if you can still find one.

 

[Patrukas777]

If you go plasma...Pioneer Elite (1st) and Panasonic (2nd)....
If you go LCD.... Samsung all the way! Sony themselves said they are about 1 1/2 years behind Samsung in technology. I have a 52'' Samsung LED LCD....crazy picture quality and color. Get it calibrated and the image quality is amazing. If I had to do it over again I would grab a Pioneer Elite...they are discontinuing them; however they will still support them. The main difference between the Pioneer and Panasonic are the black levels. Pioneer has a patented black cell and Panasonic has a dark brown cell....actually the area around the cell.

As far as LCD televisions go...most television manufacturers including Sony have Samsung parts internally. Like I said...go Samsung for LCD. Im not that big of a fan of 120hz or 240hz shananigans.... I got the 81 series Samsung LCD...I believe its 60hz. I prefer that model over the others...1080P quality is amazing. However, the standard kinda could be better...looks better in the 40'' and 46'' (Standard that is). I hate the 120hz and above look. Looses the cinematic feel/look...makes an epic movie look like a B movie.

 

[aberkowitz]

Another vote for Samsung. I haven't bought one in a couple years so I'm a bit out of date on the newer models, but as far as LCDs go they are my favorite.

 

[jostenmeat]

Im not that big of a fan of 120hz or 240hz shananigans.... I got the 81 series Samsung LCD...I believe its 60hz. I prefer that model over the others...1080P quality is amazing. However, the standard kinda could be better...looks better in the 40'' and 46'' (Standard that is). I hate the 120hz and above look. Looses the cinematic feel/look...makes an epic movie look like a B movie.

I believe you must be confusing refresh rate with frame interpolation. That's assuming that any given 120hz display is indeed doing a 5:5 pulldown of 24 fps, because it hasn't always been the case!

 

[Phil Taylor]

I'd go for the biggest Panasonic Plasma you can find that still fits your budget. Pioneer blacks are a touch better but Panny will give you damn near the Pio performance at a better price point. The Costco link above looks like a pretty decent deal but look around - you may find better. If you insist on LCD go with the Samsung line.

 

[mfabien]

May I suggest the following input in your decision making:

1- Percentage of movie viewing

2- Percentage of Sports viewing

A higher percentage of Sports viewing, vs movie, could favor a Samsung LCD with 120 Hz or 240 Hz AMP. That recommendation would increase a great deal if you plan to view Hockey because of the great white of the ice with a LCD.

 

[daniels_co]

did u thought about led TV?

 

[mfabien]

Came close to buy a 6000 LED LCD. But my observations viewing 6000-7000 and 8000 confirmed what I read in owners' threads concerning flashlighting, clouding and black spots in the four corners.

And CNET review of the B750, with CCFL backlight, scored it as a better choice than the present Samsung LEDs.

The present Samsung LEDs provide Edge backlighting. The forthcoming 9000 series (one firm is already taking pre orders on a model named 8500...) will have LED with local dimming backlighting (meaning the backlighting will no longer be coming from the Edge. That should correct the present problems which are present in more than half these LED units.