hd tv's plasma vs projection

[Siebert Outdoors]

Well guys, I'm going to buy me a new tv.  The old one I have came from fred flintstone years ago.  These are the 2 types I'm looking at.  I'm looking for suggestions on which one to buy.  I want a 42" screen.

[llPa1nll]

I by no means am an expert at this type of subject. My advice go into the store and look at them side by side. I think if you do that you will go with the plasma. I think that they are just so much cleaner and crisper for picture quality.

[KU_Bassmaster.]

I like the bang for your buck of projections.  And they way they are today, they are darn near as slim as LCDs

And for my taste, Plasma TV's are too bright, but some people like that.

Also consider the room your going to put it in.  If it gets a lot of sunlight, I think I read that Plasma is better than a projection (I know my projection can be difficult to see in the daytime)

[burleytog]

For the price, the plasma just isn't there.  I looked at them quite a bit last winter, but ended up with a 50" Sony LCD projection set.  I was worried about sunlight in the TV room, but it hasn't been a problem.

Check out the Sony SXRD.

[flechero]

I have a Samsung 42" plasma, and it has a great picture.  (KU- the brightness is adjustable)

My only complaint is that after it's been on a while, it gets super hot.  (much hotter than a regular tv.)  

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I was at a Best Buy in Harrisburg, PA. The sales person told me that plasma TV's were not designed to have video games played on them. Something about the game burning a permanent image into the screen.

I dont know how accurate that is or how knowledgeable that person was, but something worth checking in to.

They also said that this would not be covered under the warranty, due to user error of course.

Wayne

[ssaB_htuoM_egraL]

If you can afford a higher end Plasma (Pioneer Elite) I would go with it.  I am very happy with the one I purchase and the picture has a lot more fine tunings then the lower priced ones.  If you can't I would look into the Sharp Aquos, thes are very nice LCD's with a great picture as well.  I am not a fan of the projection because of many other problems you can have (I know, have had projection and they always want to fix it rather then replace it) with the many parts involved.

This is just my opinion but I spent a good 2 months researching and found the Elite to be the best for the $.

[cart7t]

I work on these things for a living. Here's my 2 cents worth on the matter.

Plasma's - Don't buy if you're a gamer, they are susceptable to burn-in.  Whether the set has a white wash feature or not you'll be spending time running the feature if you spend some time gaming.  They do get hot. Picture quality is the best of the new types of sets but they do have a slightly higher failure rate than say an LCD.  BUY THE SERVICE CONTRACT.

LCD's - They've come down in price but they're still the most expensive per square inch of viewing area.  Pixel lag or response time, whatever you want to call it, is still an issue and I'm talking about even the most expensive, fastest response time LCD's.  It's just an inherit nature of that technology that will never change.  The sets do get warm.  OK for gamers except the pixel lag issue.  BUY THE SERVICE CONTRACT.

DLP, LCD, LED rear projectors - Since you're going with only a 42" screen this would be an option but not the first choice.  DLP's and LCD rear projectors still use lamps which blow out.  At $200 and up for a new lamp, it's an expensive maintenance item though it is customer replaceable.  The LED projector by Samsung is too new in the field to make a call on.  No lamp but they also don't make it in a 42".  Watching a DLP set you're susceptable to seeing a rainbow effect.  Not everyone can see it but it is definitely bothersome for those that can.  LCD sets also suffer from the same lag that the their flat panel counterparts suffer from, just on a different scale.  On all three of these sets you will have viewing angle issues. BUY THE SERVICE CONTRACT.

If I was buying I'd buy a Plasma.  Of course, I'm not a gamer, if I was I'd probably go for an LCD if you're only talking about a 42" screen size.  

As for brands?

Avoid any company that you've never heard of.  Any company that was around a long time ago and suddenly is now back in business again like Westinghouse, Admiral or Crosley.  Avoid Best Buy's Insignia brand unless you buy a service contract and don't mind being without a set for awhile.  Stick with names like Panasonic, Mitsubishi, Sony, Samsung, LG, Zenith, Toshiba or JVC.

Name brands to avoid: Philips and especially RCA!

[Replica.]

Cart7 told you everything you need to know.   Especially the part about avoiding RCA, without a doubt the worst TV I have ever purchased.  The RCA of today is not the RCA of 20 or more years ago, since Thomson electronics bought RCA thier quality has fallen fast.

[jdw174]

I have a rear projection Pioneer 52" that is now about 6-7 years old.  It's an HD model (if I had any HD).  The picture is great and I've no complaints.....except that my recliner sets off to one side a bit.  That does compromise the picture somewhat.  It's made to be watched "dead on"....not off to one side or another.  Likewise with the sound.  The speakers in that set rival many stereos I've heard and if you're setting directly in front of it it's almost like having surround sound.

[bighed]

I bought a 42" Samsung HD DLP TV back at Christmas time for about $800.  It's got an awsome picture with very vivid colors and is light enough for one person to carry.  Watching Discovery HD on it is a real pleasure!  A coworker bought a high end LCD at the same time for more money and his has crapped out already.   I got mine at Best Buy here locally.  They had a whole room off to the side (Magnolia ???) full of real expensive HDTV's most of which were the DLP's.  The guy in there said DLP was the best bang for the buck.  He also said the cost of replacing the lamp (covered by the $100 extended warrantee) was no more than the increased electric cost of a plasma.  big

[cart7t]

Cart7 told you everything you need to know.   Especially the part about avoiding RCA, without a doubt the worst TV I have ever purchased.  The RCA of today is not the RCA of 20 or more years ago, since Thomson electronics bought RCA thier quality has fallen fast.

It's worse now.  A Chinese comglomerate has bought the majority share of the consumer electronics division from Thomson.  RCA's are basically just some Chinese junk now and I do mean junk.  Too make matters worse,  this new conglomerate no longer feels the need to support RCA stuff sold less than 10 years ago so don't be surprised if you're an RCA owner needing repair on a 6 or 7 year old TV and the repair shop comes back and says the parts are NLA.  

[jb_from_texas]

I bought a 42" Samsung HD DLP TV back at Christmas time for about $800. It's got an awsome picture with very vivid colors and is light enough for one person to carry. Watching Discovery HD on it is a real pleasure! A coworker bought a high end LCD at the same time for more money and his has crapped out already. I got mine at Best Buy here locally. They had a whole room off to the side (Magnolia ???) full of real expensive HDTV's most of which were the DLP's. The guy in there said DLP was the best bang for the buck. He also said the cost of replacing the lamp (covered by the $100 extended warrantee) was no more than the increased electric cost of a plasma. big

i also bought a DLP (Samsung 46 inch) in late 2005.  I looked at everything, and at the time (might be different now) here is what I found:

Plasma - was too expensive and the life span was too limited (gas burns out and you throw the TV away)

LCD - had a ghost effect...like when you move your mouse real quick on your computer and the pointer has a trail behind it.  This has a negative effect on quick action scenes.

LCD projection - nothing really bad to say.

DLP - has a lifetime as long as you want, assuming you change out the lamp when needed.  I suspect mine will go another 2-3 years before i need to do that.  My lamp will prob run $200.  By then i might want something different anyway.

Not sure if plasma still has it's limited life or if the LCD has the same issues.  Do your homework.

Also, the kind of room (light or dark) can make a huge difference.  check into what is rec for each.

And whatever you do, subscribe to your local HD service.  Without it you're wasting your money buying an HD TV.

[Siebert Outdoors]

well guys heres the update.  I went in looking for a 46" and came home with a 50" dlp.  Well I dont have it they have to deliver it.  The 46 was the same price as the 50 in the same exact tv just bigger.  So Whats a guy to do.  Bigger is better eh.  The guy at best buy told me the same about the lamp module which I was ok with since he told me the draw backs of plasma.  Especially since I like playstation.  So I bought that and a surge protector.  Later this week I'm going back for the ext. warranty I do believe.

[burleytog]

A surge protector is useless. Get a UPS.  Provides surge protection, battery backup and protection against electrical noise.

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