looking for a new TV

[giacona]

I currently have an old 32 inch tube tv and now that the prices are somewhat reasonable I am going to get either a plsama or LCD between now and black friday. I probally can't go much above a 40" due to me being only about 8 feet away from the wall.

I need to know what features and spec's I need to be looking for when purchshing? Which Refresh rarte to look for? What type of contract ratio? And anything else? Obviosuy it should have hdmi ports & be 1080P.

Also do I need to look for the same specs on either a plasma or lcd?

Does anyone see prices coming down any further from now to black friday? I am hoping to spend between 500-700.

Thanks

 

[Patrick_Wolf]

First thing you need to know is the contrast ratio is almost always over exaggerated because they list the dynamic contrast ratio which is only true if that "feature" is enabled. Though it's better to keep it off as it can cause more harm than good. Most LCD's have an actual contrast ratio of 1000:1 or lower. Plasma's generally have a much higher actual CR and deeper colors which provide an overall better picture.

Downside to plasma is they're heavier and consume the most power. Glare and screen burn-in are not much of a concern with today's plasma's AFAIK. Though if you're looking at Plasma's in a huge brightly lit box store the glare will probably be pretty bad which makes it difficult to make a decision.

Really the only specs you should be concerned with are the size, resolution, & inputs. Your eyes tell you the rest.

 

[clouso]

First thing you need to know is the contrast ratio is almost always over exaggerated because they list the dynamic contrast ratio which is only true if that "feature" is enabled. Though it's better to keep it off as it can cause more harm than good. Most LCD's have an actual contrast ratio of 1000:1 or lower. Plasma's generally have a much higher actual CR and deeper colors which provide an overall better picture.

Downside to plasma is they're heavier and consume the most power. Glare and screen burn-in are not much of a concern with today's plasma's AFAIK. Though if you're looking at Plasma's in a huge brightly lit box store the glare will probably be pretty bad which makes it difficult to make a decision.

Really the only specs you should be concerned with are the size, resolution, & inputs. Your eyes tell you the rest.

i dont really agree here..mb it was true that plasma's had better contrast ration then usual lcd's before but now with the led technologie the lcd's can have a very good contrast ratio and very deep colors and blacks!...the toshiba sv670u led series offers a better PQ and better blacks then most plasma's now..exept for the pioneer's...so i suggest for you to look for led hdtv's ..of course you have a 500-700$ budget for now but you should look for led for the fuure!

 

[bandphan]

i dont really agree here..mb it was true that plasma's had better contrast ration then usual lcd's before but now with the led technologie the lcd's can have a very good contrast ratio and very deep colors and blacks!...the toshiba sv670u led series offers a better PQ and better blacks then most plasma's now..exept for the pioneer's...so i suggest for you to look for led hdtv's ..of course you have a 500-700$ budget for now but you should look for led for the fuure!

And I don't agree with you there are only 2 LCDs that can hang with most plasmas and yours is one. The rest of the field is still lacking against most mid level plasmas. Why don't you study some accutal numbers and not just the shoot out your trying to cite.

 

[clouso]

And I don't agree with you there are only 2 LCDs that can hang with most plasmas and yours is one. The rest of the field is still lacking against most mid level plasmas. Why don't you study some accutal numbers and not just the shoot out your trying to cite.

i have been able to compare directly side by side the toshiba led the pana v10series and samsung plasma and the led just out performed then easily...blacks...white peaks..contrast and PQ was better and thats why i choose the led...i dont think pana really did a good job..the only plasma i saw (and i chekced a lot of them) that had better overall PQ was the pioneers..and i studied and auditioned a lot before making the purchace and making statements here..thx

 

[bandphan]

My I suggest pearl vision? After each has been calibrated to proper veiwing levels, then take a peek

 

[Patrick_Wolf]

i dont really agree here..mb it was true that plasma's had better contrast ration then usual lcd's before but now with the led technologie the lcd's can have a very good contrast ratio and very deep colors and blacks!...the toshiba sv670u led series offers a better PQ and better blacks then most plasma's now..exept for the pioneer's...so i suggest for you to look for led hdtv's ..of course you have a 500-700$ budget for now but you should look for led for the fuure!

Even though people say they're the same thing when the TV is simply LED backlit (no local dimming or the like), I don't put LED and LCD into the same category as many do. They're still ridiculously expensive and out of his budget.

Though with the power you'd save having an LED of today vs. an equally sized plasma... probably damn near pay for itself in a couple years.

 

[clouso]

Even though people say they're the same thing when the TV is simply LED backlit (no local dimming or the like), I don't put LED and LCD into the same category as many do. They're still ridiculously expensive and out of his budget.

Though with the power you'd save having an LED of today vs. an equally sized plasma... probably damn near pay for itself in a couple years.

you are right i was talking about led lcd's here..i agree that plasma is better then lcd's...but i really think that led is a lot better then usual lcd's at least with the toshiba..