Yes... Buy the Panny 42" EDTV on sale right now at Tweeter.com for $1300. Unless you sit closer than 10 ft to the TV - your eyes will not benefit from the extra pixels in HDTV. This is a GREAT set and holds its own against sets $3k or more.

This is an outstanding deal for someone who isn't anal about having the ultimate TV, but wants a high quality, great looking set.

http://www.tweeter.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2185214

I will give it a look

thanks

just picked up a 50" Sony LCoS 1080p rear projection tv. Do I need to buy an upconverting DVD player now? or should I wait it out and see which format (HD-DVD or Blue-Ray) wins the war?

Personally I'd go with the HD-DVD player now. A good upconverting DVD player will cost you around $200. An HD-DVD player will cost you less than $400. Compared to what you paid for the TV, what's $200? To top it off, the HD-DVD player upconverts better than most other upconverting players.

HD-DVD is dominating right now, and I think with that much customer penetration the format won't disappear anytime soon, even if Blu-Ray somehow pulls it out. In addition, the picture quality of HD-DVD is (currently) much better than Blu-Ray.

Check out the Amazon sales ranks:
http://www.thedvdwars.com/index.cfm

The #1 selling Blu-Ray disk is ranked 3,084. The #10 selling HD-DVD is ranked 1,187 (and the #1 ranked is ranked 111 - and was 50 yesterday). That's a lot of disks.

http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-HD-A1-DVD-Up...8&s=electronics

In addition, rumors are that lots of companies are starting to flip over to HD-DVD.... For example, Samsung has HD-DVD PC drive:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=729477

Panasonic is rumored to make an HD-DVD/Blu-Ray hybrid, and even Sony is rumored to be making a hybrid:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=729752

Rats fleeing a sinking ship? Stick with HD-DVD, it rocks.

CW

any idea if the Xbox360 plays HD-DVD? or upconverts? i just read something recently about an update that allows it to support 1080

In the next month or so, Microsoft is releasing an add-on HD-DVD player to connect to the Xbox360.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=726038

Cheap way to get into high-quality movies.

I have the HD-A1 HD-DVD player and it's absolutely AMAZING.

CW

nice

thanks for the info

Great info! I am finally looking for one of these myself and until recently was pretty much clueless to the real of the HDTV world.

Thanks for the info and thanks G.Host for directing me over here.

Whatcha gonna get???

Recommendation:

Panasonic Projection LCD.

Bought one about a month ago and VERY happy with my purchase. Excellent picture quality, wide viewing angle, and best yet, the price was right.

In May 2005, as a Divorce present, I bought a 52" Toshiba DLP (model 52HM84) Consumer reports rated it best in value which was $2500...My sister and a bunch of friends work at the Best Buy. I spoke with everyone and this was the best $$ for a TV; if you want to spend serious $$$, the new Sony Bravia's are definately worth it.

The DLP was more appealing because replacing a $300 bulb every 3 years, you get a new TV...the Plasma's, well they look great, the picture deteriorates and can't be fixed, most of the $$$ models are good for approx 70,000 hrs (if I remember correctly)...I just couldn't spend the $$ on them...The LCD was the other I was looking at more resonably priced than the Plasma and still a good picture...

It was bewteen the Toshiba I got and the Sony LCD, about $500 more than the Toshiba, (not the flat one - again a $300 bulb every few years)...looking at the pictures and playing around with the features between the 2 TVs; the Toshiba had a much better pic and was cheaper...I don't not regret my decision..DVD's look great and so do the DTV HD channels...The non HD channels even look pretty good using the HDMI...

I had pretty much written LCD off, but the current crop is actually very impressive. Still not even close to the Pioneer Elite Pro-FHD 1080 50" plasma that I saw at Best Buy a month ago....but the new Samsung LCDs are very, very nice. Westinghouse also makes a 1080p MONITOR - that is to say, it doesn't have a tuner....you need a cable box or some other source that you can connect via HDMI or component - that is a lot of bang for the buck. Rico has one of these sets and everything he's said about it has been positive.

The fact that I'm having such a hard time deciding on what to buy tells me that this is a great time to be in the market for a new display. I research the hell out of everything before I buy, and I can see pros/cons in all these options. If there were a simple solution, I wouldn't be planning to get BOTH a new projector and a plasma/LCD!

I think plasma is horrid compared to LCD

my sister said it best........ Plasma is like looking out the window with it down to ur view, thats what you see

with LCD, its like looking out ur window with the window up ........NO shiny or reflection that you get with a plasma

I never really paid much attention to the reflective glass until yesterday. The sales guy at BB tapped on the glass of the plasma, and then ran his finger on the screen of the LCD to show me how it was actaully a liquid. I work nights, so a lot of my viewing will be when I get home in the morning before I lay down....so that's definitely another plus for LCD....no glare

I'm pretty much decided on a samsung LCD....the things are just beautiful!

Samsung has been making some great TV products, even when I was looking last year, I was impresseed with the picture...the Best Buy staff had lots of positives to say about it...

Do you have DTV? The HD stations look unbelievable, Hockey, basketball, Channel 95 during the baseball season is YES HD when the yanks are on...its wow, Thursday nights they have the NFL network games on HD on this station...

As I said...for me it was between the DLP or LCD...My gf was talking to one of her friends at work, they bought a plasma a couple years ago and they hate it...they wish they went with the DLP or LCD...

I'd probably buy the opposite of what they recommended....

I have digital cable right now, but I play to get either DTV or Dish when I move into a new place in a month or two. DTV has the sunday ticket, but Dish has the most HD channels, including NFL Network in HD. So I'm torn, cause I tend to work on sundays anyway....

I was very hot for a plasma tv until I saw how good the LCDs looked. I am planning to get more into gaming and I watch a lot of my tv in the daylight hours since I work nights....so the LCD sets have an advantage there. But honestly, I thought the samsung 1080p LCDs looked every bit a good as the pioneer and panny plasmas that I saw at BB. I compared them side by side and just found myself loving the Sammys.

At least they're right about SOMETHING!

I have to admit, though, Blu-ray is looking pretty good....I still plan to get that ever elusive HD-DVD player first, but the three BD demos I've seen have all looked amazing to me. I think the numbers clearly indicate that the BB folks are clueless when it comes to realizing who's winning the sales game, but BD doesn't suck

I almost switched to the Dish, due to the HD channels they have; but they didn't have Sunday ticket or YES, being a yankee fan...I need YES...On DTV with the HD package, the Thursday night games come in on channel 95 in HD

you are doing the right thing, reaserching it on your own..asking others for their opinions and then using you eyes to see what's best for you...

If I had to do it over again now...I would personally go with the Sony Bravia LCD's...if I was able to get a deal and swing the XBR version...it would be no contest...at the time I got my DLP...this was by far my best choice for the money...it holds up well during the day and with the lights on at night...you can also see a good pic from the side....The only complaint I have is when viewing whites you can see the texture of the projection screen...I have trained my eyes not to notice it as much....

Yeah, I have to agree....the sony's and the sammy's stood out at BB, with the Bravia XBR2 (or was it XBR3? I dunno) having an edge over the Sammy's. If this was going to be my main display, I'd jump up to the Bravia....but since my projector will be the centerpiece of my little HT area, I'd rather put the money toward that. I'll drop $1100-1500 on a Samsung lcd and I'll be good to go in terms of games, sports, and casual viewing.

I actually didn't even think about my baseball needs until you m entioned that. I thought the "YES" channel was like the Marv Albert network or something There WAS a channel down here called 'Bravesvision', which I watched all the time....but I think TBS canceled it and took over HD broadcasts themselves. I'll need to make sure I can get TBS-HD with whatever dish or cable system I choose. I don't have many baseball needs, but I do enjoy watching the Braves play....especially in HD

The newer releases don't suck (assuming they play, aka Speed), but I've yet to read a review saying that the PQ is *better* for a BD movie than it is for an HD-DVD movie (and I HAVE seen the opposite happen)

If current trends continue, everyone will be releasing movies on HD-DVD except for Sony.

CW

Yeah, and I think we both agree that if HD-DVD had the same backing among the Best Buy and CC drones as BD does, it would probably be no-contest. I was just shocked to see an HD-DVD player on the floor when i stopped in the other day!

As I mentioned in a previous thread, I am in the market (still havent pulled the trigger with all the different options)

Anyway, I just bought my XBOX 360 and can't wait to get to see it in HD!!

I am definitely looking for VALUE. Sorry, but I can't spend thousands on a TV.

I have Time Warner, and already have the HD box (wanted to be ready as soon as i got the TV), so I wont need a tuner built in.

I ordered a 37" no-name (Olevia) LCD. I still have a week in which I can cancel the order. I'm not considering this read projection HD monitor...

What do the resident experts think? Reviews seem positive for the most part...

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/RCA-52-CRT-...roductDetail.do

THANKS!

Steve, I asked about Olevia in the thread you started below about buying an HDTV. AJ was the only one to respond and he didn't really know much about them. I am very close to picking up a 32 or 37 myself, as everytime I have gone into the stores the quality looks just as good if not better than the Sonys, Samsungs, etc.

The only negative I have heard about them was a HD channel mess-up that was occurring only with the 32" models. So far, I've heard nothing bad about the 37. I mean, it's not a top-end TV, but for the price it appears to have few complaints. Let me know how you like it cause I'm probably going to get one myself.

"Recommendation:

Panasonic Projection LCD.

Bought one about a month ago and VERY happy with my purchase. Excellent picture quality, wide viewing angle, and best yet, the price was right."

Price was right = $1400 give or take for a 52" Projection LCD, tax and delivery included.

plus $300 every three years to replace the blub. No thanks...

That's a hell of a lot cheaper than trying to get a plasma or flat LCD repaired.

And it's about $230, not $300.

So you can have a beautiful TV for 6 years total cost $1700 or so. Did I mention my set is 51"? Try buying a 51" flatpanel for $1700 even.

I own an Elite Pro150 FD (8th generation)60" plasma; my previous television was a Pioneer Elite Pro530--53" CRT Rear Projection. I used to sell this type of equipment. In terms of sheer black level CRT was the only technology that could produce "blacker than black" I got the Elite 60" plasma in Feb. from day one I was blown. For Christmas, I bough a TV for my parents, they wanted an LCD, 32-42" I bought a Panasonic...I forget the model. I was really enamored with the brightness and the true whites. The drawback was their off axis viewing. If you sat three feet off of center, the picture looked all washed out.

If you have the money get a Pioneer Kuro (9th generation are or are already out) That is the best video display on the market. Flat out hands down, one look (properly configured settings) and you will be hooked.

GO GET ONE!!!!!

I ,too, like Plasma displays better than LCDs for PQ, but I'm a bit cautious on them due to burn-in, especially with how it will work from playing hours of console games at a time.

Now that sounds like a great TV!

Here's a good story for anybody looking.

Went down to FL to see my dad a few weeks ago, who was waiting for me to buy a new TV. He wasn't sure whether to get a plasma or lcd, so I took him to the store and they had both sitting next to each other. I told him to look at the tvs and notice on the plasma you could see the reflection of all the lights and aisle of the store. On the LCD you couldn't see a glare. That made up his mind to go with LCD.

So we went to Sears and they had a 46 inch Samsung for like $1600. They were sold out. Went to Circuit City, same thing. Best Buy, same thing. We looked at other tvs in that price range and the sales guys were of little help saying Samsung was the best in that price range. They also had similar Samsungs (but lower quality/older models) but were charging the same price! Plus, they wanted a hundred bucks for the 2 year service plan. We even looked at some open box "specials" that were only like $100 off the regular price.

So we gave up and had to run into Walmart for groceries and in the back, we saw a 47 inch Philips 1080p lcd that was a store model for $900. The lady said they wanted to get rid of it so she gave it to my dad (who at this point was fed up with tv salesmen) for $800. We took it home, set it up, and my father was amazed at the picture and has been ecstatic with the purchase ever sense. Oh yeah, he got a 3 year service plan for $35 or so.

Moral of the story, you're not going to know the difference between a Samsung, Sony, Philips, or Vizio once its home in your living room unless you're a trained professional or have an amazing eye, so don't buy into the comparisons and hype in the store.

Wow, what does something like that cost?

I've decided on a 58" Panasonic Viera plasma TV (58PZ800U). It's highly rated by both CNET and Consumer Reports. While the Pioneer Kuro Elite probably is the gold standard, it's a lot more expensive and this set is close to it in quality (the only thing I've heard is better on the Kuro is it has deeper blacks). I've heard that the picture beats any LCD (to combat motion blur, LCD's are now being offered in 120Hz, which only adds to their expense) and there's no "looking out a window" effect. The old drawback of burn-in is no longer a problem (there is pixel-shifting technology to prevent images from staying static in one area for too long). The only thing that gets me is power consumption is more, but I'll have to deal with it.

Actually, power consumption generally isn't higher and in some cases is actually less. The reason is that for an LCD, it uses the same amount of power regardless of what's on. With a plasma, it uses more power when the screen is brightly lit (ie: a sunny Miami scene), but uses much less power in dark scenes (ie: Batman Begins).

http://hdtvprofessor.com/HDTVAlmanac/?p=406

I've always preferred plasmas to LCDs for PQ. However, how are they for gaming? Is it a serious threat to get burn-in, and would an LCD be the better choice here?

Cool and thanks. That makes the decision that much easier. Actually I first settled on the 58" Panny because of the ratings and because CNET's TV power usage guide said it was "good" versus most of the other plasmas, which were "bad." But then I read that that was based on making the picture as dim as possible. I guess I can deal with a little more power usage.

BTW, I can get the TV, including shipping, for $2589. If anyone knows where/how I can get it for less (outside of stealing it), I'd appreciate it.

From everything I've read, you don't have to worry about burn-in at all. Now there IS something known as "image retention" or IR. If you watch something like CNBC all day (with the scrolling banners on the bottom of the screen that remain static all the time), then even the "pixel shifting" won't help because all the pixels are the same. However, IR goes away over time if you start watching other stuff -- burn-in is permenant.

It should work fine for gaming, but I'll admit that I haven't tried it aside from some occasional Wii gaming.

Like with anything, the key is moderation. Don't spend hours watching the same channel, or gaming.

Hey guys, do me a favor

I'm thinking of picking up a 42 or 46/47 inch sometime in the near future after the holidays. If you see anything for under $1k (not looking for top of the line super home theater or anything, just a decent 1080p) give me a shout

Plasma or LCD?

How far away do you sit from the TV? If it's over 7 feet, you won't need a 42" 1080p set because you won't see the difference. That's what I have in my living room.

http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/09/1080p...to-screen-size/

No preference



Depending on the seat, roughly somewhere between 3 and 8 feet

Checkout CNET.com. You can find a lot of good stuff there.

BTW, I just pulled the trigger on the Panasonic I mentioned above. It will actually cost me $2594 ($5 more) because the other site/store doesn't include the (what I assumed should be included) pedestal base, which costs $299 extra. Good thing I caught that before I ordered!

Edit: I'm in the process of trying to cancel my order. I think prices will drop a lot after the New Year so I'm going to hold out a little longer. They surely won't go up.

We just ordered the Samsung LN52A750 from Amazon, less than $1900 with no tax and free shipping!

We went for this Sony 40" 1080p LCD model at Sam's over the holiday. $997. Link. This is similar to an S-series model there that was going for $1400 earlier in the year.

Not the best, not the worst. The picture on HD programming is just fantastic; watched the games yesterday and it was out of this world how much more you notice. Sound is great (I've had ear problems this year, tho). We're all over-the-air reception and the digital tuner isn't too bad; there's a few channels that the converter box was getting that this doesn't, but on the same token, the channels are now coming in much more consistently/locked whereas the converter's signal was at times jumpy. (My discussion of DTV transition-related activities can be found in another thread, but let's just say I went to heroic lengths antenna-wise in our precise location).

And I may check out a picture calibration DVD. This model has Vivid, Standard and Theater picture modes that aren't so great out of the box... blacks seemed a little washed-out before I did some playing around with the picture controls last night. Or see if my nephew has a Pixar/THX title that I've read all have an optimizer in the Special Features sections. Link. Probably not the greatest calibration, but for our purposes.... (Anybody who can comment on this? Fez?)

Still tinkering with connecting some of our older equipment. DVD player, despite a component connection maxes out at 480p. Progressive is better than 480i, but not much. Probably going to go in for an upconverting DVD player in the near future... maybe the Sony Blu-Ray. (The price of that at Sam's has already gone up by $50 post-holiday ). Haven't tried yet to connect the tube to our older receiver.

To the person who thinks that waiting will drive prices down, don't count on it. Prices of teevees always go up after the holidays through the Super Bowl, and this year there is the digital conversion in Feb. which might push more people to pull the trigger. Best time to buy is during the holiday, especially this year.

I was "the person," and while a lot of places have jacked-up their prices, I can still get it for $2594. But instead of the place I was going to go with (which has a rep of scamming people by substituting refurbies and poor business practices in general), I'm getting it from Amazon. Their rep is great and they deliver with "white glove" shipping, which means the delivery guys bring the set in, set it up, and take away all the packing materials.

You'll love it. We got the 650 version a couple weeks ago. Fantastic tv.

Latest update: I just bought the TV online today for $2408 (!), with regular truck delivery (no white glove, which I didn't think was worth almost $200). I plan on being home when it's delivered and inspecting it to see if it's been refurbished/returned (the site says every product they carry is brand new, but you can never be sure...) and I'll probably give the delivery guy $20 to help me bring it in, wait to take it out, and plug it into the outlet and the cable into it, to make sure it works right.