TV Advice: Plasma, LCD or LED?

[wolf]

My friend is working in TV-shop and they are doing the best calibration on most expensive TV's and the worst calibrated settings on the cheaper ones. Is someone came in and wanted to spend 500$ on TV, there is always better (more expensive and better calibrated) model. If they would calibrate colors on each TV properly, nobody would buy expensive TV's.

That's why 3D have best look, than LCD and at the end Plasma. If you would calibrate them properly, they would look similar.

well tbh mate thats a really dodgy business, I've worked in Australia in a store that sells many tv's (30+) and we never ever involved practices like that.

it seems like what you guys are saying is don't judge by what the TV looks like at all... and I think thats stupid, as you might well end up with something with fantastic reviews, but you hate it. and at the end of the day people want what they want.

again, all I'm saying is, as well as reading reviews and getting advice, it might well pay to go and have a look at that TV while its running, if you feel skeptical about the IQ settings, get the salesman to reset them or tweak them.

 

[CJCerny]

Calibration is very important. It generally involves turning up the contrast, and turning down the brightness and sharpness (as well as other fine tunings) from the default settings. Manufacturers tune their displays so that they stand out against the others in the store's bright lighting. When you get home, it's very important that you modify their default settings for your new purchase for use in your home. It's not terribly easy to do this. Having a calibration DVD helps. You can also pay a pro to do it for you in your home. I've found that the easiest way to do it is to buy a popular model that is often reviewed on web sites like Cnet and the AVSforum. Many owners post their calibrated settings for that model there--and I just enter them into my new TV.

 

[JATownes]

Kind of jumping in to this discussion late, but LED backlit is definately the way to go. And if I was in your shoes, I would be checking out the Samsung and LG Models. They have superb picture quality, and a great track record for low failure rates.

Good luck with your purchase, and congrats on getting a bad a$$ new TV.

 

[arroyo]

No, not the SAMSUNG!! I bought Samsung 40LEc650 and it had superb image quality but terrible input lag. There was no possibility to play any game on it. Everything was always 0.5-1.0 second later on screen than it was on my old monitor. I replaced it with Philips 40pfl5605h and I'm really happy. BTW. Samsung internet@TV is a CRAP!

 

[JATownes]

No, not the SAMSUNG!! I bought Samsung 40LEc650 and it had superb image quality but terrible input lag. There was no possibility to play any game on it. Everything was always 0.5-1.0 second later on screen than it was on my old monitor. I replaced it with Philips 40pfl5605h and I'm really happy. BTW. Samsung internet@TV is a CRAP!

Wow. This is the first I have heard of this issue. What input are you using? HDMI?

 

[wolf]

No, not the SAMSUNG!! I bought Samsung 40LEc650 and it had superb image quality but terrible input lag. There was no possibility to play any game on it. Everything was always 0.5-1.0 second later on screen than it was on my old monitor. I replaced it with Philips 40pfl5605h and I'm really happy. BTW. Samsung internet@TV is a CRAP!

solution, rename the inputs that you plug a pc or game console into as 'game' it will be a preset option and eliminate input lag.

I had this issue with my samsung when i first bought it, now I can play TF2 on it (no vsync 100+ fps) and still whoop ass. model is Samsung UN40B6000

 

[HookeyStreet]

Wow. This is the first I have heard of this issue. What input are you using? HDMI?

Yeah, same here. I always stick to Samsung and LG when I buy LCD TVs and recommend these 2 brands to everyone.

 

[niko084]

Plasmas suck up a lot of energy. Would definitely contribute to an increase in the electricity bill.

LCD TVs are good from what I know.

LED TVs are amazing, but expensive. The picture quality if you look at an LCD and compare them side by side, you will definitely notice the difference in clarity. And they also use up little electricity.

So, every TV has its ups and downs. I would say Plasmas have more downs and ups. So its a toss up between an LCD and LED.

New Plasmas are not very bad on the power draw, at least the decent ones.
My 42" 1080P Panasonic draws right around 200 watts, not too bad.

LCD's draw nearly as much as that, some even more.

LED's draw less but cost quite a bit more, but they look better, but there is some question as to color flaws, if you use all "white" LED's they are actually a blue tint, if you use RGB LED's there is question about one dulling out faster than the other and distorting your picture.

Up's and downs though without a doubt.

Here is my take, if you don't have small children around to break stuff get a Plasma, they look great and nothing can compare honestly.

If you have small children around an LCD maybe a better idea, they hold up better to abuse.
If money isn't an issue buy the LED one, I personally doubt the color flaws will be very apparent or quick to develop as some worry about, although it is technically possible.

One thing to watch on plasma's is light in the room, you don't want direct sunlight on the screen it will burn the phosphors and diminish the life of your screen quicker, plus if you are trying to watch it they glare really bad. Although in a dark room, nothing looks better.

 

[Wrigleyvillain]

Thanks guys I'm in the market and this is really helpful especially compared to the time I'd have to spend wading through posts at a TV or AV forum.

 

[brandonwh64]

I love my 52inch LG 1080P 120Hz TV, got it for like 1K last Christmas.

 

[Solaris17]

I love my 52inch LG 1080P 120Hz TV, got it for like 1K last Christmas.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d31/brandonwh64/HTPCsetup.jpg

lets be friends. we can join the 50"+ monitor club. nobody on these forums is going to "stunt" on us. lolz enjoy your 23" monitors pawns. im going to go play crysis in RL

 

[niko084]

lets be friends. we can join the 50"+ monitor club. nobody on these forums is going to "stunt" on us. lolz enjoy your 23" monitors pawns. im going to go play crysis in RL

You know I can honestly say I dislike playing games on my TV...
I also mostly play RTS games which probably makes a difference.

 

[Solaris17]

You know I can honestly say I dislike playing games on my TV...
I also mostly play RTS games which probably makes a difference.

it was a joke man

 

[niko084]

it was a joke man

Aw, I was hoping you were one of those guys who sat in front of his 50" popping off headshots screaming WTF PWND B****, and then take a slam off your beer and go back to pwning noobs with your theater system shaking the floors and cabinets.

That would be awesome and you should do it and make a youtube video of it.

 

[mdsx1950]

LED

Though if its too expensive, the next best thing you can get is LCD.

 

[pantherx12]

Kinda unrelated but wanted to join in with the plasma burn discussion.
A while ago I saw an advert for a free 42 plasma tv, was in 100% good working order.

Only as a prank whilst the owner was on holiday their flatmate put some gay porn on it, real filthy stuff and then simply paused it.

XD Leaving an image for the owner to find when he got home!

 

[niko084]

Only as a prank whilst the owner was on holiday their flatmate put some gay porn on it, real filthy stuff and then simply paused it.

That's funny, not a real problem realistically.

My plasma has hours and hours of gaming on it *with static images* and no burn in at all...

Older models were known for it, last fair group of years it's nearly non existent and most tv's these days do things like pixel shift or rotation to help stop any possibility as well, you don't notice it and it works.

 

[W1zzard]

Kinda unrelated but wanted to join in with the plasma burn discussion.
A while ago I saw an advert for a free 42 plasma tv, was in 100% good working order.

Only as a prank whilst the owner was on holiday their flatmate put some gay porn on it, real filthy stuff and then simply paused it.

XD Leaving an image for the owner to find when he got home!

nice idea .. on my (old) plasma (panasonic th42) i get some burn in when watching 4:3 stuff without scaling but it goes away within a few minutes of watching normal 16:9 content or leaving the no signal channel on for a min

 

[HookeyStreet]

I love my 52inch LG 1080P 120Hz TV, got it for like 1K last Christmas.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d31/brandonwh64/HTPCsetup.jpg

What you got that beast for $1000 nearly a year ago Was that from new? If it was, that was a BARGAIN!!!!

 

[Solaris17]

Aw, I was hoping you were one of those guys who sat in front of his 50" popping off headshots screaming WTF PWND B****, and then take a slam off your beer and go back to pwning noobs with your theater system shaking the floors and cabinets.

That would be awesome and you should do it and make a youtube video of it.

i have all that is required to do so. i havent done a video for TPU in awhile. maybe its time to dust off the rec setting on my cam ill turn the 5.1 up too and play crysis or hl2 deathmatch.

 

[HookeyStreet]

i have all that is required to do so. i havent done a video for TPU in awhile. maybe its time to dust off the rec setting on my cam ill turn the 5.1 up too and play crysis or hl2 deathmatch.

LOL I would watch it

 

[Wrigleyvillain]

Any thoughts on this Panasonic VIERA 42" Plasma? $700 is about my max budget at the moment...

Best Buy

 

[niko084]

Any thoughts on this one? $700 is about my max budget at the moment...

Best Buy

Awesome TV, especially for the money, that's pretty much the newer version of mine and I believe W1z's as well.

I have a few friends I recommended that TV and the previous years model to as well, they all bought it and love them as well.

 

[Wrigleyvillain]

Sweet so the girlfriend picked well! She's really good at online research and shopping

Thanks!

 

[W1zzard]

yup .. i have an older panasonic viera 42" .. was one of my best investments in the last decade
only mistake i made was i bought a 42" and not a 60" .. i have 60" space on my wall .. but back then i thought '42" is big enough'