Which flat screen for under $2k?

[sdy284]

Well my dad is having a superbowl party & naturally, he wants a flat screen, so he went to me for the recommendation & I am asking my fellow audioholics (in this case, videoholics) what do you recommend? Basically he would like it to be wall hanging & no more than $2000. Suggest away

 

[BMXTRIX]

From what viewing distance? Above about 12 feet and I would get a 42" EDTV and be stoked with picture quality.

 

[sdy284]

From what viewing distance? Above about 12 feet and I would get a 42" EDTV and be stoked with picture quality.

well its going to go in the basement for the superbowl, then moved up into the living room afterwards & viewing distance there is about 6-8 feet depending on the location you're sitting

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Check this one out...

http://secure.syntaxgroups.com/products/detail.jsp?pid=LT37HVS

This is the one I got my folks for Christmas. They sit about 7' from the set. 37" is perfect, and that set comes with ATSC/NTSC tuners, as well as built in speakers. It's a flat screen, so it can be placed on a wall. Excellent HD picture, as well as SD cable picture. We put an antenna in the attic, and picked up all the local channels as well as 4 PBS stations - all available in HD at no charge. I paid $999 at Microcenter with a bunch of rebates. No issues with black levels or viewing angles. This is the same company featured by Audioholics at CES on their home page.

Also try http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_tlc.asp?CatId=37 for great deals.

 

[soundsfine]

syntax

I also got a Syntax LT37HVS. Mine came from Beach Camera online.

I agree with Buckeyefan. Amazingly good picture for being an "off" brand. The built in scaler is not perfect, but not bad either. HD looks great. The colors are very close and black levels are okay for an LCD. HDMI too.

It's got my vote.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

I wouldn't say "off brand." I called them yesterday to get an update on my rebate, and they said they've received over 40,000 in the mail since Black Friday. I've owned a Syntax LCD for over a year (pc monitor), and it hasn't even hiccuped. Never a dead pixel. This brand will take over the LCD market if competitors don't start reducing prices soon.

 

[sokrman14]

for best picture get the Panasonic th42pd50u ED plasma if you want a good plasma and a larger picture

 

[sdy284]

for best picture get the Panasonic th42pd50u ED plasma if you want a good plasma and a larger picture

i tell you what, that looks pretty damn good to me, is there anything else I (my dad) should be looking at?)

 

[GlocksRock]

why would you get a tv that doesn't support 720p?

 

[df4801]

Maybe because for his situation, it wouldnt make a difference in picture quality and would be hundreds cheaper.

 

[BMXTRIX]

why would you get a tv that doesn't support 720p?

I agree with the other poster. As per my original post a 42" plasma EDTV supports HDTV resolutions, and I believe the current lineup of Panasonic plasmas includes processing that handles 480i, 480p, 720p, and 1080i inputs.

Most of all - go into Circuit City or Best Buy and look at the Panasonic side-by-side with other displays. You will get a good feel for how great the image is.

I ended up getting a Samsung SPR-4232 because I wanted the plasma to be digital cable ready, which the Panny 50U is not.

I'm pretty happy with the Samsung, but do believe that the Panasonic, had it been DCR, would have been my choice.

If you don't need it to be digital cable ready - that would be my first choice.

 

[GlocksRock]

I see, I thought all EDTV's only supported 480p. If they support more than that, by all means get it.

 

[BMXTRIX]

I see, I thought all EDTV's only supported 480p. If they support more than that, by all means get it.

Yeah - that's a common misconception.

What's crazy is 42" 'HDTV' plasmas typically are only 1024x768 resolution. So, while they cost (typically) a grand more than the EDTV model - the EDTV has a resolution of 853x480 pixels - about half a million vs. 3/4 million with the HD model. Not really that much difference - and the HD model must use rectangular pixels and a bit more scaling to fit an image properly.

Bottom line is that side by side, from the real world viewing distance (not 3 feet!) most 42" EDTVs look darn near identical to 42" HDTVs with the same video source. (like ESPN HD or a DVD)

 

[sokrman14]

Yeah, go into a local store. Another thing I have noticed about ED's is that the color is usually greater. It seems as though a larger cell, with greater amounts of gas put off a slightly brighter (to me) image and more colorful. I think that the Panny is the best ED out. And a good point is that it can accept an HD signal, it just down converts it to the max resolution the TV supports. Detail is still very good.

 

[dloweman]

I agree with the others that the panny is the best edtv plasma on the market. That is the one that I want to get. I was just looking the other day at a store and the guy suggested the new sony 42" 3lcd rear projection tv. it is like 400 cheaper than the panny, and is an hdtv. Any thoughts on the sony lcd's? Thanks

 

[sokrman14]

The sony flat panel or RPTV LCD? In flat panel they are great if you want their XBR model. If looking at a way to save money on a RPTV, I also agree they are better than the others, unless you move out to DLP or SXRD or something like that.

 

[BMXTRIX]

The thing to keep in mind with rear projection DLP, LCD, or LCoS is that they are all bulb based technologies and will require a new $250+ bulb in just a few year. They can't be wall mounted really either. So, you lose out in potential aesthetics as well as in the long run, they could cost you MORE money for the same screen size. Rear projection is a great value on a budget, but it appalls me how close to plasma pricing some of the rear projection units run. Heck, for 2 grand you can go 100" diagonal front projection... if you have the right room for it.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Personally, I'd recommend HD over ED, and flat over projection. Technology is moving very fast, and with the advent of 1080p, ED and rear projection IMO won't be around as prices keep declining on LCD and plasma flat screens.