"What's Better.. Plasma or LCD ?"

[Barbie_Swallows]

I'm gonna buy a new tv tomorrow, but i'm having trouble deciding if i should get Plasma or LCD. There selling a 720p, 42 inchs flat screen plasma tv for "$599.99" , and there also selling a 1080p, 42 inchs, flat screen LCD tv for "$649.99" at Best Buy. I like the plasma better cause its more brighter, with colours, and the LCD one looks alot darker. BUt everyone tells me that LCD is better quality, and plus it's 1O8Op and it's in full HD. They say that Plasma brightness fades away over time and also when u have lights around, it fucks up the colour on ur tv. Everyone seems to buy the LCD 1O8Op tvs... but i find the colour and brightness on Plasma alot more appealing. Please tell me which one is better and why, with good details. Thanks!




B@rbie Swallows

[tslisaparadise]

I'm gonna buy a new tv tomorrow, but i'm having trouble deciding if i should get Plasma or LCD. There selling a 720p, 42 inchs flat screen plasma tv for "$599.99" , and there also selling a 1080p, 42 inchs, flat screen LCD tv for "$649.99" at Best Buy. I like the plasma better cause its more brighter, with colours, and the LCD one looks alot darker. BUt everyone tells me that LCD is better quality, and plus it's 1O8Op and it's in full HD. They say that Plasma brightness fades away over time and also when u have lights around, it fucks up the colour on ur tv. Everyone seems to buy the LCD 1O8Op tvs... but i find the colour and brightness on Plasma alot more appealing. Please tell me which one is better and why, with good details. Thanks!




B@rbie Swallows

mines a 58 inch 1080p plasma samsung hd and the picture is awesome

[intowntonight]

Barbie,

your advice has been good. 1080P is better than 720P. This will matter more in the future, as more shows are created in 1080P. A TV can't show more quality than the camera recorded in the first place, so you might not see the difference right now, but you will over time.

I don't know about Plasma fade, but it might be true. Plasma pluses are brighter picture, especially blacker blacks. Better display of action pictures. Better viewing when not right in front of the TV. Plasma minuses are glossy screen which can have distracting glare in bright sunny rooms. Generate LOTS of heat (piss off in the summer if you don't have air conditioning).

Summary: if the room is bright, and you sit right in front of your TV, go LCD. If the room is dark, and you (Or guests) will have to watch form either side, and you don't care about the heat, go plasma.

In either case, 1080P is the way to go.

P.S. Lisa, judging from your choice of TV, you charge too much!

[tslisaparadise]

Barbie,

your advice has been good. 1080P is better than 720P. This will matter more in the future, as more shows are created in 1080P. A TV can't show more quality than the camera recorded in the first place, so you might not see the difference right now, but you will over time.

I don't know about Plasma fade, but it might be true. Plasma pluses are brighter picture, especially blacker blacks. Better display of action pictures. Better viewing when not right in front of the TV. Plasma minuses are glossy screen which can have distracting glare in bright sunny rooms. Generate LOTS of heat (piss off in the summer if you don't have air conditioning).

Summary: if the room is bright, and you sit right in front of your TV, go LCD. If the room is dark, and you (Or guests) will have to watch form either side, and you don't care about the heat, go plasma.

In either case, 1080P is the way to go.

P.S. Lisa, judging from your choice of TV, you charge too much!

lol i still cant figure out why i get paid what i do lol but seriously i only charge 200 when everyone else is at 300 and they seem to think its ok lol crazzzzzy

[far2crazy]

I'm gonna buy a new tv tomorrow, but i'm having trouble deciding if i should get Plasma or LCD. There selling a 720p, 42 inchs flat screen plasma tv for "$599.99" , and there also selling a 1080p, 42 inchs, flat screen LCD tv for "$649.99" at Best Buy. I like the plasma better cause its more brighter, with colours, and the LCD one looks alot darker. BUt everyone tells me that LCD is better quality, and plus it's 1O8Op and it's in full HD. They say that Plasma brightness fades away over time and also when u have lights around, it fucks up the colour on ur tv. Everyone seems to buy the LCD 1O8Op tvs... but i find the colour and brightness on Plasma alot more appealing. Please tell me which one is better and why, with good details.

1080p is the only way to go.

Depends on several things
First the room.
is it a bright room (will you be watching it in day light?)
if it is then LCD has benefits.

Second what are you watching?
movies with lots of dark scenes - plasma
sports or anything with lots of motion - plasma

LCD has seen more development recently but has a ways to go to catch up to plasma.

Your best bet for deciding is to actually go into the store and watch the TV for a bit. don't be afraid to ask them to put on a blu-ray disk for you to see. you should like the TV before you buy.

And lastly... I would not touch a TV that is under $700 for and stay away from Futureshop and Bestbuys house brands Insignia and Dynex.

for LCD you cannot go too far wrong with Sony (XBR-4 or XBR-5 lines), Sharp or Samsung (go with 42A550 or higher), LG also has a very nice one for $1000

for plasma Panasonic and Pioneer are awesome but you are paying for them. I love my Panasonic I bought this year
Samsung is nice too.

[kristopin]

thx

barbie thx for this thread and to all advisers. i was thinking about getting one in the next little while so all tips here are very helpful.

[far2crazy]

The only media available in 1080p are Blue Ray disks.
Otherwise you will never use it.
It is even questionable whether you can even tell the difference with the naked eye.
No one will be broadcasting 1080p
Broadcast HD will be 720p, which means broadcast television/cable will never be higher than this in the immediate future. I have not heard plans to introduce 1080p broadcast, so probably at least 10 years off.

Broadcast is going to be 1080i
starts in February down the states and in 2010 here.
difference between 1080p and 1080i is that the lines are interlaced in 1080i (all odd numbered drawn then go back and draw all even numbered)

it is hard to see the difference between 1080p and 720p that is for sure. but the thing to note is that no one is making 720p TVs any more so that means you are getting older models.

Another bit of advice for people shopping, the best prices on TVs is not usually boxing day but superbowl.

[far2crazy]

Ya my 720p plasma also supports 1080i
Not sure if they all do.

nope.
yours is likely one of the ones that fell short of 1080p some do 1050 and they qualify for 1080i cert but not 1080p now. which is silly since the numbers are SUPPOSED to be number of lines.

which means it can do 720p just fine.

[vangogh]

Something else that is quite important to consider is that the older models
broadcasting at 60MHZ where as the newer models that are not much of a bargain at the moment ($200, to $300 off) are at 120 MHZ, less blur during action scenes.
Personally it's either Sharp Aquos 1080 p 120 MHZ full HD or nothing at all!
If you've been a Sony customer you'll definitely buy Sony again as they
do have their very own coloring that your eyes get used to it, and the Bravia W Series is quite FANTASTIC, but for me the Sharp Aquos is the KING!
No two sets of eyes see the same image the same way so it's again all your personal preference putting aside all the technical verbiage.
If the Plasma is more appealing to your eyes go with that, just don't set it close to the windows or your balcony door.
I am thinking that another massive price drop will be coming after the boxing day specials so if you're not in a rush, might be worth the wait.
Good luck

[Barbie_Swallows]

And lastly... I would not touch a TV that is under $700 for and stay away from Futureshop and Bestbuys house brands Insignia and Dynex.

I went to BEST BUY store, and they had Dynex name brand LCD, 1080p, 42inchs, for $649.99 & another Dynex 42 inch tv, plasma, 720p for $599.99. So why don't u think it's a good idea for me to buy a DYNEX name brand? Please explain! Also my friend told me to buy a tv that has 120 MHZ. Explain what the fuck is that? And what's a good number for contrast, One Million to 1 ?

[kristopin]

brand names

i am not sure about this but i remember a freind of mine that did buy a lazrge screen tv/monitor and he bought a store brand name at a reduced price. he told me he had researched the store names and found that they are actually made but some of the known 'brand' names and are cheaper versions that they put on the market to sort of beta test and that they are actaully very good units. i was thinking of a dynex 37".

cheers and good luck.

[far2crazy]

I went to BEST BUY store, and they had Dynex name brand LCD, 1080p, 42inchs, for $649.99 & another Dynex 42 inch tv, plasma, 720p for $599.99. So why don't u think it's a good idea for me to buy a DYNEX name brand? Please explain! Also my friend told me to buy a tv that has 120 MHZ. Explain what the fuck is that? And what's a good number for contrast, One Million to 1 ?

Dynex can be any manufacturer... it is whoever they farm it out to.

the 120 Hz is the refresh rate (the M is either a typo or your friend goofing) 120 Hz is the screen is refreshed 120 times a second, faster it can refresh the screen the better for you to see it. less then 120 you get motion blur. LCDs are 120 Hz now and plasma is 480 Hz. There may be some 60Hz TVs still out there... best to avoid.

For contrast ration you want higher the better. there are 2 contrast ratios, dynamic and true. Dynamic is a percieved contrast difference vs a the true measured amount. Million to 1 seems to be the buzz right now. anything over 30,000:1 true is good.

[far2crazy]

I bought a cheapie brand LCD (Insignia I think) from Best Buy and it quit working within 2 days. So I took it back and got a Sharp LCD.
They only have 1 year manufacturers warranty too, so you should buy a name brand for a little more and it will more likely last way longer.
Panasonic, Sharp, Sony, Samsung
Do not buy a Best Buy or Future shop extended warranty, they are way too expensive. The salespeople are morons too.
This time of year you should consider checking out the private Television dealers around. They have good deals, knowledge and cheaper extended warranties.

If you go to an authorized Panasonic dealer they are offering a 3 year extended from Panasonic. You can get futureshop to price match that one... nothing better then price matching free.

[kristopin]

good info

good post far2crazy, you have done your homework.

barbie if you have the time you can look at this link
http://reviews.cnet.com/televisions/...OCleftColumn.0

(hope this link is ok admin)

[far2crazy]

i am not sure about this but i remember a freind of mine that did buy a lazrge screen tv/monitor and he bought a store brand name at a reduced price. he told me he had researched the store names and found that they are actually made but some of the known 'brand' names and are cheaper versions that they put on the market to sort of beta test and that they are actaully very good units. i was thinking of a dynex 37".

cheers and good luck.

Its a toss up. When you get into the brands like this you have to know it down to the batch number it is out of. I have no idea how often they change their manufacturers but they also tend not to use the same parts they use in their own brands to cut costs... the less you can produce it for the better, with the added bonus that the failure rate does not reflect on your brand.

I work in an industry that does "Custom Products" for other companies so I am not pulling this one outta my ass.