looking to purchase a new TV. a true flat screen / plasma , HDTV, etc . . . what's the best available and the most reasonable price?

7/27/2006 12:35:37 AM

1. goto Iraq
2. Never come back

7/27/2006 12:41:03 AM

Pioneer is the best.

But it's the most expensive. What you consider the best at the next price point is subjective. All the TVs now by the main manufacturers look pretty decent (Samsung, Panasonic, Hitachi, and LG). The Samsung has the best black level of those, the panasonic has the best noise control, the Hitachi doesn't have as good black level or noise control, but has a very sharp picture with decent noise control, and the LG is middle of the road for all those factors. These are all flat panels.

7/27/2006 1:04:12 AM

If you're talking about best value for the price, the Olevia LCD TV's by Syntax are nice. Not as pretty as the samsungs definately, but much more reasonably priced.

7/27/2006 1:07:42 AM

gargs...

keep it desert, B. (In other words, not here.)


moron makes some good points, i like Sony too... i've seen some very good looking Panasonics

[Edited on July 27, 2006 at 1:16 AM. Reason : ]

7/27/2006 1:15:37 AM

Sony's LCDs are the best, I think, but they are not as large as the plasmas, and actually cost more/inch than the plasmas. LCDs also have more accurate color, and can't get screen burn in, but can have a tendency to pixellate, don't have as good color saturation, and don't have as good viewing angle as plasmas (which usually doesn't matter if you're sitting a good distance away).

7/27/2006 1:46:29 AM

LCD's don't have as good viewing angles? Really? I thought 178 degrees horrizontally and vertically was pretty much as good as it got.

7/27/2006 1:49:40 AM

That's viewing as measured by brightness. You have to look at how the colors shift, which is pretty bad, on ANY LCD. Even the nicest computer monitor is going to distort at about 45 degress off center. And what's even worse, a monitor that has excellent viewing sideways (as measured by color accuracy) is going to be significantly less good up-down (which is not a problem unless you're wall mounting it or putting it high or low).

This is one reason a lot of graphics pros swear by CRTs because the colors are the same, no matter where you're sitting.

This brings up another point... you can't really just look at the specs to determine how good a display is. One thing about contrast ratio is that there's not standardized method of measuring it, so each manufacture is able to do it differently. That's how come you see some displays listed as 10,000:1 that look as good, or worse than others listed as 3000:1. In general you can only consider contrast ratios within the same manufacturer.

[Edited on July 27, 2006 at 1:55 AM. Reason : ]

7/27/2006 1:53:06 AM

See I've never had viewing angle problems with my LCD tv, but then again it's a fairly large tv and in a the corner of the room. I suppose there's not that large of an angle one could really sit in.

7/27/2006 1:57:49 AM

If you want an entry level plasma, I'd go Panasonic. They are consistently rated the best. I've had the 42 inch for a year and love it.

TH-42PX50U , TH-50PX50U, TH-50PX500U

7/27/2006 9:15:58 AM

Go to best buy and look at the TV I now am proud to say I own.

HP PL4260N 42 Inch High Definition TV



Snagged it up this week with my discount but it was on sale in Best Buy for $1699.99 two weeks ago.



[Edited on July 27, 2006 at 10:16 AM. Reason : .]

7/27/2006 10:14:18 AM

I would look at the 57" Sharp Aquos.

7/27/2006 10:29:36 AM

i've always trusted the SONY brand. all of my current electronics are SONY and i've had them all for at least 5 years (VCR, DVD surround system, SONY VEGA 32", etc . . . ) some I'm a bit biased to trying something new.

but for and HDTV i'm willing to take a chance.

7/27/2006 12:38:55 PM

SONY products aren't as good as they used to be unless you're getting their top of the line stuff. And most of that is out of the price range of most mortals.

7/27/2006 1:11:02 PM

Samsung 50" DLP on sale for $1600 shipped: http://www.slickdeals.net/#p7852

THe best would be Pioneer Elite plasmas but you would be dropping a minimum of like $8,000 for the base setup.

7/27/2006 1:14:25 PM

The HPs have good detail, but they have the worst black level of any of the plasmas out now. And they also look like they're made out of really cheap plastic (and look ugly). But for something cheap, it would work. They also have detachable speakers (which is good because the stock ones are so big and ugly).

7/27/2006 1:51:15 PM

so for the price what's the best value. i was looking to get one for under $2500. nothing extremely fancing, but something that's an eye catcher and good quality at least 42".

7/27/2006 2:52:22 PM

For $2500, if you want a flat panel, look at the Samsung and the Panasonic plasmas and decide which one you like better.

7/27/2006 3:00:37 PM