new tv's

Uncle Duke · 12-05-2005, 05:03 PM

my dad is getting a new television. he wants a 42" one. can anybody tell me whats the best bet for around 2k?

thnx

Gazz · 12-05-2005, 06:31 PM

I spent a looooong time researching TV's before settling on a Pioneer EDTV plasma. What TV will work best depends on how your dad is going to use it.

Long and short of it:

EDTV vs. HDTV: EDTV does better with regular TV signals than HDTV's do, as the native resolution is closer. We actually bought an HDTV and returned it for an EDTV because 70% of our viewing is regular TV and the HDTV looked like crap. EDTV also does very well with an HDTV signal. On the other hand, EDTV's are becoming harder to find and HDTV content is starting to pick up.

Hint: for watching movies, buy a DVD player that upconverts to HD; regular DVD players haver regular TV resolution.

Plasma vs. LCD flat screen vs. LCD rear projection: at this point in time, plasma gets my vote. Plasma's have a shorter lifespan than LCD's, but the new ones still last 15 years. LCD flat screens ghost and pixelate noticeably during fast action sequences - even the best ones. And the blacks aren't very black. LCD rear projection - especially LCOS ones - are really good. They take up a little more space than a plasma and the viewing angles aren't as good, but they look fantastic and come in larger sizes.

Brand: Pioneer or Panasonic, as far as plasma's go, are the consistently the best looking ones. Surprisingly, Sony's don't really measure up. The best thing to do is look at them all side-by-side (bear in mind that they are being fed an HD signal in the store, not a regular TV signal). Hitachi makes a really good LCOS rear-projection.

Good luck...also, there is a company in Richmond called Vision Plasma (I think) that sells a variety of plasma's and LCDs cheaper than Futureshop. In the end I didn't buy from them, but I talked to them several times and they seem legit.

sprinter · 12-05-2005, 06:41 PM

Try here

http://www.avsforum.com/

The best bet is to go and look at them.

To my eye it's

1. Plasma
2. LCD rear projection
3. LCD flat screen

Though 2 and 3 are catching up to Plasma.

At this point I would not even look at an EDTV. More and more TV content is going HD. Also many of the sets now have very advanced stretch modes for standard TV images.

Me I going to hold off until next year. Price have been falling and picture quality have gone up a lot this year. Next year it can only get better.

Uncle Duke · 12-05-2005, 07:13 PM

thnx guys .. I will forward this info to the old man...

Chief · 12-06-2005, 02:24 AM

what about dlp's
my pops is also wanting a new tv

Heatmizer · 12-06-2005, 02:40 AM

I'd avoid plasma, they don't seem to be real reliable from what I've heard from a few people. A friend of mine is the home electronics manager @ A&B and he told me to avoid them.

Then last night a bunch of my friends were having a conversation cause someone is looking at a new tv. One of my friends works @ Global, he spends 40+ hours a week looking @ tvs and comparing the on screen image to that from the camera, and he says flat out plasma's don't cut it. They've also had problems with every plasma they've had in the building. They have 200+ tv's in the building of all different sorts, and no one wants to work with the plasmas.

That's just my 2 bits, but I'll believe the guy that spends all week working with them. Oh ya, he also said that there's no way any plasma currently produced is gonna last more than 8 years.

Uncle Duke · 12-06-2005, 02:46 AM

your buddie sounds like he knows his business, so what does he like?

H@gg@rd · 12-06-2005, 03:01 AM

I have a Toshiba 46HMX85 46" widescreen HDTV. I love it. Doesn't have any weird picture problems when watching reular TV and the picture is crystal clear. It's a little out of the price range I think. It was 3500 with extended warranty and stand

syncro · 12-06-2005, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncle duke

my dad is getting a new television. he wants a 42" one. can anybody tell me whats the best bet for around 2k?

thnx

you still live with your dad?

Heatmizer · 12-06-2005, 03:29 AM

Well he likes Sony, but again because he spends all day looking at them he's a bit critical. He does say that they last the longest and have the best picture of all the brands they use @ work.

He has a Sony LCD 42" projection widescreen @ home and no problems with it as far as I know.

However, he only looks @ regular video. They don't play games on them and he doesn't play games on his @ home either, so can't say what'll happen in that environment.

My personal opinion is why spend a lot of money on a nice big tv? It's like investing money to get fat because you feel obligated to plant your ass in front of it after spending all that money on it.

pete · 12-06-2005, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by synchro

you still live with your dad?

do you ever have anything to say?

H@gg@rd · 12-06-2005, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heatmizer

Well he likes Sony, but again because he spends all day looking at them he's a bit critical. He does say that they last the longest and have the best picture of all the brands they use @ work.

He has a Sony LCD 42" projection widescreen @ home and no problems with it as far as I know.

However, he only looks @ regular video. They don't play games on them and he doesn't play games on his @ home either, so can't say what'll happen in that environment.

My personal opinion is why spend a lot of money on a nice big tv? It's like investing money to get fat because you feel obligated to plant your ass in front of it after spending all that money on it.

2 or 3 grand isn't exactly an investment

syncro · 12-06-2005, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pete

do you ever have anything to say?

sometimes

Patrick Bateman · 12-06-2005, 03:50 AM

Either way, make sure it's HDTV and Widescreen, most boardcasters are soon gonna make this their native broadcast format. Dosn't matter if it's DLP, LCD, or w.e.

Uncle Duke · 12-06-2005, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by synchro

you still live with your dad?

no, but he asked me about this, and I thought Id ask the dudes here , as we have the diverse bunch and all..

12-05-2005, 05:03 PM	#1
Uncle Duke goes around comes around Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: ziration nation Posts: 7,381 Rep Power: 16669757	new tv's my dad is getting a new television. he wants a 42" one. can anybody tell me whats the best bet for around 2k? thnx

12-06-2005, 02:24 AM	#5
Chief Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vancouver Posts: 3,167 Rep Power: 26881	what about dlp's my pops is also wanting a new tv __________________ brokezors

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12-05-2005, 06:31 PM	#2
Gazz Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 1,219 Rep Power: 42604	I spent a looooong time researching TV's before settling on a Pioneer EDTV plasma. What TV will work best depends on how your dad is going to use it. Long and short of it: EDTV vs. HDTV: EDTV does better with regular TV signals than HDTV's do, as the native resolution is closer. We actually bought an HDTV and returned it for an EDTV because 70% of our viewing is regular TV and the HDTV looked like crap. EDTV also does very well with an HDTV signal. On the other hand, EDTV's are becoming harder to find and HDTV content is starting to pick up. Hint: for watching movies, buy a DVD player that upconverts to HD; regular DVD players haver regular TV resolution. Plasma vs. LCD flat screen vs. LCD rear projection: at this point in time, plasma gets my vote. Plasma's have a shorter lifespan than LCD's, but the new ones still last 15 years. LCD flat screens ghost and pixelate noticeably during fast action sequences - even the best ones. And the blacks aren't very black. LCD rear projection - especially LCOS ones - are really good. They take up a little more space than a plasma and the viewing angles aren't as good, but they look fantastic and come in larger sizes. Brand: Pioneer or Panasonic, as far as plasma's go, are the consistently the best looking ones. Surprisingly, Sony's don't really measure up. The best thing to do is look at them all side-by-side (bear in mind that they are being fed an HD signal in the store, not a regular TV signal). Hitachi makes a really good LCOS rear-projection. Good luck...also, there is a company in Richmond called Vision Plasma (I think) that sells a variety of plasma's and LCDs cheaper than Futureshop. In the end I didn't buy from them, but I talked to them several times and they seem legit.

12-05-2005, 06:41 PM	#3
sprinter I Like Pie Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: On The Edge Of The Universe Posts: 1,758 Rep Power: 921747	Try here http://www.avsforum.com/ The best bet is to go and look at them. To my eye it's 1. Plasma 2. LCD rear projection 3. LCD flat screen Though 2 and 3 are catching up to Plasma. At this point I would not even look at an EDTV. More and more TV content is going HD. Also many of the sets now have very advanced stretch modes for standard TV images. Me I going to hold off until next year. Price have been falling and picture quality have gone up a lot this year. Next year it can only get better.

12-05-2005, 07:13 PM	#4
Uncle Duke goes around comes around Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: ziration nation Posts: 7,381 Rep Power: 16669757	thnx guys .. I will forward this info to the old man...

12-06-2005, 02:40 AM	#6
Heatmizer Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Langley Posts: 14,459 Rep Power: 0	I'd avoid plasma, they don't seem to be real reliable from what I've heard from a few people. A friend of mine is the home electronics manager @ A&B and he told me to avoid them. Then last night a bunch of my friends were having a conversation cause someone is looking at a new tv. One of my friends works @ Global, he spends 40+ hours a week looking @ tvs and comparing the on screen image to that from the camera, and he says flat out plasma's don't cut it. They've also had problems with every plasma they've had in the building. They have 200+ tv's in the building of all different sorts, and no one wants to work with the plasmas. That's just my 2 bits, but I'll believe the guy that spends all week working with them. Oh ya, he also said that there's no way any plasma currently produced is gonna last more than 8 years.

12-06-2005, 02:46 AM	#7
Uncle Duke goes around comes around Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: ziration nation Posts: 7,381 Rep Power: 16669757	your buddie sounds like he knows his business, so what does he like?

12-06-2005, 03:01 AM	#8
H@gg@rd Here today hell tommorrow Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Tattoo Parlour Posts: 477 Rep Power: 10	I have a Toshiba 46HMX85 46" widescreen HDTV. I love it. Doesn't have any weird picture problems when watching reular TV and the picture is crystal clear. It's a little out of the price range I think. It was 3500 with extended warranty and stand

12-06-2005, 03:29 AM	#10
Heatmizer Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Langley Posts: 14,459 Rep Power: 0	Well he likes Sony, but again because he spends all day looking at them he's a bit critical. He does say that they last the longest and have the best picture of all the brands they use @ work. He has a Sony LCD 42" projection widescreen @ home and no problems with it as far as I know. However, he only looks @ regular video. They don't play games on them and he doesn't play games on his @ home either, so can't say what'll happen in that environment. My personal opinion is why spend a lot of money on a nice big tv? It's like investing money to get fat because you feel obligated to plant your ass in front of it after spending all that money on it.

12-06-2005, 03:50 AM	#14
Patrick Bateman Registered NBR 'nutjob' Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 8,329 Rep Power: 0	Either way, make sure it's HDTV and Widescreen, most boardcasters are soon gonna make this their native broadcast format. Dosn't matter if it's DLP, LCD, or w.e.