[treasurelife]

I walked into a store today to check out different tv types and to try to pick my next purchase. I currently own a 32" LCD tv but was hoping to upgrade to something not only bigger but with a better quality. LCD tends to make everything brighter, while plasma maintains the normal color. LED is too new for me to know anything about =) The only thing I'm concerned about is that i know with plasma the image can burn into the screen. Is that something I should be really worried about? I don't want to buy this big tv and have it ruined in a matter of days. Also, I'm looking to buy between a 50'-55'. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[Phil A]

treasurelife, on 04 January 2010 - 03:06 PM, said:

I walked into a store today to check out different tv types and to try to pick my next purchase. I currently own a 32" LCD tv but was hoping to upgrade to something not only bigger but with a better quality. LCD tends to make everything brighter, while plasma maintains the normal color. LED is too new for me to know anything about =) The only thing I'm concerned about is that i know with plasma the image can burn into the screen. Is that something I should be really worried about? I don't want to buy this big tv and have it ruined in a matter of days. Also, I'm looking to buy between a 50'-55'. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Welcome to the forum - here are some takes, FYI

http://www.crutchfie..._flatpanel.html

http://reviews.cnet...._7-6583301.html


http://hd.engadget.c...plasma-in-2009/




Keep in mind technology always changes. LEDs are LCDs. Some LEDS are thinner than others as they are side lit vs. back lit.

I am also in the market for a set around that size for the bedroom to replace a 42 inch LCD (which I plan to move to the kitchen and take the 32 inch LCD and use it for my computer). I bought a swivel out wall bracket at Costco a couple of mos. back that will handle up to 56 inches and am waiting for a deal. They did have a Panasonic 54 inch Plasma at a good deal ($1.200) up until the middle part of Dec. Costco gives a 2nd year of warranty too. If you look at the Home Theater Deals, Costco does have some coupons between Jan. 7 and 24th. Besides potential burn in with Plasma (although that will happen only if you leave them with a static image over a period of hours), you need to make sure they are properly set-up for your room (the same can be said about any TV) as one tweaked for showroom brightness could cost you $100-150 more per year in electricity (on the same set). LCDs are more energy efficient. Blacks can be better on Plasmas but LCDs (and particularly LEDs) have gotten much closer over the past year. I'm hoping when Vizio comes out with their internet ready sets, they do something with the current pricing of their 55 inch LED. Costco is selling it for $1,900 now and has the 55 inch LCD for $1,350. As it is for my bedroom and I don't watch more than a few movies a year and it mainly is for late night on sleep timer, I can live with either. Much depends on properly calibrating a TV with the environment (light) in which you watch and the brand and kind of source input into it. Different playing won't produce identical images. There are discs and devices to calibrate TVs (and services of professionals too).

[poorcollegeguy]

Also with regard to burn in images ,make sure as soon as you get the tv you adjust the contrast down. A lot of these sets are shipped with really high contrast, because it looks better or makes them stand out on a show room floor. At least with rear projection crt tvs (like the one I have) this can cause damage to your tv pretty quick if any static images or graphics are left on screen. Using a calibration disc or the test patterns included on many thx dvd releases will help you set this, and other settings much more correct.

If you need wall mounts, check monoprice as well - I just hung a 32 inch lcd with one of their very affordable mounts and it was pretty easy.

I would suggest if you are looking mostly at costco or bestbuy type stores to try and get some good reviews from somewhere online. I think its hard, and maybe impossible to accurately tell how good a tv is in those types of showrooms.

[BluRay]

I have an LCD and definitely prefer it over a plasma (mostly because I also game on the TV and don't want it to get ruined by the graphics), but the LED's I've seen recently are impressive and might just be my next buy.

[treasurelife]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I'm definately starting to consider LED's. Granted, they are a lot more expensive, but they look so nice at Best Buy! I'm just going to keep shopping around until I find a great deal. Nothing beats a great tv at a great price!

[Smuckers]

Keep in mind that technology is improving every day. The differences, or rather the downsides of LCD and Plasma, are disappearing. Still, I go with the LCD which has improved its picture but is more for frequent use. Plasma is more for the weekend warriors or those who only watch TV a little bit per day.

[gundyrat]

Decent branded Plasmas have technology built in to nearly eliminate burn in on a plasma from pixals girating to displaying an all white image for a period of time
My son has a 42" sami and has a PS2 plugged into it and has no issues with burn in however his friend bought a cheap off brand plasma and had burn in issues
If i had to choose between LCD and LED back lit LCD the LED is the hands down winner contrast and black levels reminiscent of the old CRT days
but then again If in my room I'd choose something around 40ish for everyday use and a Projector and screen for the Theater big as life experiance

[poorcollegeguy]

gundyrat, on 29 January 2010 - 07:07 PM, said:

... contrast and black levels reminiscent of the old CRT days

What do you mean the old CRT days, I still have one of those. I just cleaned up the mirror and lenses a few weeks ago, looks brilliant again.

[gundyrat]

poorcollegeguy, on 29 January 2010 - 06:06 PM, said:

What do you mean the old CRT days, I still have one of those. I just cleaned up the mirror and lenses a few weeks ago, looks brilliant again.

I meant the ole CRT Tube Tv days Like my Sony 34"XBR

[Phil A]

treasurelife, on 07 January 2010 - 01:31 AM, said:

Thanks everyone for your comments. I'm definately starting to consider LED's. Granted, they are a lot more expensive, but they look so nice at Best Buy! I'm just going to keep shopping around until I find a great deal. Nothing beats a great tv at a great price!

If you're a Costco member, I posted under bargains and deals about the Vizio 55 inch LED at Costco with a $300 instant rebate through Feb. 7 making the price $1,599.99. It is backlit, vs. the sidelit thinner Samsung ones at Best Buy. It is the depth of a regular LCD. I may be picking it up tomorrow for the bedoom system to replace a 42 inch Vizio.

[Smuckers]

I'm still hooked on LCD since my TV is on almost nonstop. I'm going to look for a 50" to replace the 50" Mitsubishi I currently have. I might get a Samsung. That's what my sister has.

[Phil A]

Smuckers, on 30 January 2010 - 03:53 AM, said:

I'm still hooked on LCD since my TV is on almost nonstop. I'm going to look for a 50" to replace the 50" Mitsubishi I currently have. I might get a Samsung. That's what my sister has.

LED is an LCD - see the earlier posts in this thread

[gundyrat]

Difference between CCFL LCD and LED LCD