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Gear / Technical Help => Playback Forum => Home Theatre & HDTV => Topic started by: BJ on May 21, 2008, 11:22:15 AM

Title: 1080p advice
Post by: BJ on May 21, 2008, 11:22:15 AM
so..it looks like my 8 year old Sony finally kicked hte bucket.  It had been going bad for months (color would turn to a nasty green at random times)...now, it won't even turn on.  Its time to purchase a new tv

any advice on these models?  They are all within 250$ of each other i think. Ordered from cheapest

LG 50PY3D1080p Plasma      $1899
Philips 2PFL7432D/37(w/ ambilight)      1080p LCD$1899
Panasonic TH-50PZ80U1080p Plasma$2199
Sony-Bravia KDL-52W30001080p LCD$2159 - Open Box Item(display)
                                     
Title: Re: 1080p advice
Post by: John Kelly on May 21, 2008, 11:24:59 AM
In my personal opinion the Panasonic will be the best option of those four, and would be my recommendation unless you were going to go with a Pioneer Kuro display (add another $1k to the price for those).  You won't be able to get the same quality of picture on the LCDs as you will on the Plasmas, and the Panasonic panels are much better than the LGs. 
Title: Re: 1080p advice
Post by: BJ on May 21, 2008, 11:32:13 AM
Quote from: John Kelly on May 21, 2008, 11:24:59 AM
In my personal opinion the Panasonic will be the best option of those four, and would be my recommendation unless you were going to go with a Pioneer Kuro display (add another $1k to the price for those).  You won't be able to get the same quality of picture on the LCDs as you will on the Plasmas, and the Panasonic panels are much better than the LGs. 

thanx for the confirmation, that is the one i was leaning towards anyway.  the sony being about 1k reduced for open box had me intrigued also.  i have 4 big windows in my tv room, but heavy curtains cover them...thinking i could leave them open tho with LCD instead of plasma..  i think Im picking up the panosonic at lunch :)  my onkyo should be here tommorow.  Woot^ for the new setup!
Title: Re: 1080p advice
Post by: John Kelly on May 21, 2008, 11:36:32 AM
The Sonys are nice (and some of the best LCD screens you can get), but if I'm spending that kind of money I definitely want a Plasma.  I think the Bravias are a bit overpriced to begin with...

+T for new toys!
Title: Re: 1080p advice
Post by: Corporate hack on May 21, 2008, 02:36:45 PM
Quote from: John Kelly on May 21, 2008, 11:24:59 AM
In my personal opinion the Panasonic will be the best option of those four, and would be my recommendation unless you were going to go with a Pioneer Kuro display (add another $1k to the price for those).  You won't be able to get the same quality of picture on the LCDs as you will on the Plasmas, and the Panasonic panels are much better than the LGs. 
As far as plasmas go I have owned both LG's and Panasonics and at this point I can't tell the difference except the black level is just a hair better on the panasonic that I've had, but seriously I'm nitpicking here.  That said, I regularly felt the LG was a better built piece of equipment just from mounting it and so on.
Title: Re: 1080p advice
Post by: spreadheadtom on May 21, 2008, 03:45:25 PM
For the money....you can't beat a Vizio.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11280378&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC|79|2341|3316|74672&N=4018657&Mo=11&No=5&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=74672&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&hierPath=79*2341*3316*74672*&topnav=
Title: Re: 1080p advice
Post by: John Kelly on May 21, 2008, 03:48:35 PM
Quote from: spreadheadtom on May 21, 2008, 03:45:25 PM
For the money....you can't beat a Vizio.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11280378&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC|79|2341|3316|74672&N=4018657&Mo=11&No=5&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=74672&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&hierPath=79*2341*3316*74672*&topnav=

Vizios are fine, but you definitely get what you pay for.
Title: Re: 1080p advice
Post by: spreadheadtom on May 21, 2008, 03:58:13 PM
Quote from: John Kelly on May 21, 2008, 03:48:35 PM
Quote from: spreadheadtom on May 21, 2008, 03:45:25 PM
For the money....you can't beat a Vizio.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11280378&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC|79|2341|3316|74672&N=4018657&Mo=11&No=5&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=74672&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&hierPath=79*2341*3316*74672*&topnav=

Vizios are fine, but you definitely get what you pay for.

true.


my 47" Vizio has a better picture than my friend's 40" Sony.
Title: Re: 1080p advice
Post by: John Kelly on May 21, 2008, 04:04:37 PM
Quote from: spreadheadtom on May 21, 2008, 03:58:13 PM
Quote from: John Kelly on May 21, 2008, 03:48:35 PM
Quote from: spreadheadtom on May 21, 2008, 03:45:25 PM
For the money....you can't beat a Vizio.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11280378&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC|79|2341|3316|74672&N=4018657&Mo=11&No=5&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=74672&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&hierPath=79*2341*3316*74672*&topnav=

Vizios are fine, but you definitely get what you pay for.

true.


my 47" Vizio has a better picture than my friend's 40" Sony.

Probably because he left it on factory default settings and didn't calibrate his picture at all.  A lot of the TVs, even the high end stuff like the Pioneers, come with horrible default settings. 
Title: Re: 1080p advice
Post by: BC on May 23, 2008, 01:51:54 PM
just something to consider, do you really need 1080p for the screen sizes and your viewing distance? You might be able to save a decent chunk of change if you go 720p/1080i.

My memory is a bit fuzzy but I think I remember seeing somewhere that if your viewing distance is more than 1.5x the screen size then 1080p does not offer a benefit  ??? . Can anyone else comment?

Title: Re: 1080p advice
Post by: John Kelly on May 23, 2008, 01:59:24 PM
(http://s3.carltonbale.com/resolution_chart.png)
Title: Re: 1080p advice
Post by: balou2 on May 26, 2008, 03:11:40 AM
Of the ones you've listed, the Panny is the winner in most A/V circles.  If you go Plasma, just don't forget to burn it in for 100 hours.

I bought a 50 in Toshiba Regza in December, and it is absolutely amazing.  I chose it over Panny, Sony and Samsung.   Money was not the issue...it was just a superior TV.  I think the price has come down to approximately your range.  Check that out too, as it is the 1080p, 120mhz.
Title: Re: 1080p advice
Post by: Ed. on May 26, 2008, 12:45:32 PM
ever think of dlp?  if you don't plan on hanging it on the wall it might be something worth looking into as I do believe its cheaper than both LCD and Plasma.

This tv was our first jump into hdtv and I think it looks better than a lot of plasmas and lcds I've seen.
http://www.hometheatermag.com/rearprojectiontvs/207rptvface/index6.html

Our second hdtv was last years sony bravia 720p 40" lcd for the bedroom, which I'm also quite amazed with.  Had to go lcd at that size, plasmas were hard to come by, but I think it was a good choice.
Title: Re: 1080p advice
Post by: spreadheadtom on May 28, 2008, 03:51:05 PM
John...according to that graph, optimal veiwing range for a 47" 1080p is ~7'.  Is that right or do my graph reading skills suck beyond imagination?
Title: Re: 1080p advice
Post by: John Kelly on May 28, 2008, 03:56:51 PM
Quote from: spreadheadtom on May 28, 2008, 03:51:05 PM
John...according to that graph, optimal veiwing range for a 47" 1080p is ~7'.  Is that right or do my graph reading skills suck beyond imagination?

Optimal for 1080p is the red line, so it would be more like 6'.  But as long as you sit within 8' or so you'll be able to notice a difference between a 1080p and a 720p screen.  8.5'+ and there'd be no reason to own a 1080p set.
Title: Re: 1080p advice
Post by: spreadheadtom on May 28, 2008, 04:38:57 PM
Quote from: John Kelly on May 28, 2008, 03:56:51 PM
Quote from: spreadheadtom on May 28, 2008, 03:51:05 PM
John...according to that graph, optimal veiwing range for a 47" 1080p is ~7'.  Is that right or do my graph reading skills suck beyond imagination?

Optimal for 1080p is the red line, so it would be more like 6'.  But as long as you sit within 8' or so you'll be able to notice a difference between a 1080p and a 720p screen.  8.5'+ and there'd be no reason to own a 1080p set.

sweet!  I'm in process of buying a new house and "my" room is 10' X 10'.  This is where I'll have all of my toys that are in my signature line below.
Title: Re: 1080p advice
Post by: willndmb on May 28, 2008, 08:07:43 PM
for me the chart isn't "right"
i have a 61" and sit 12 ft away and you can def see the difference between 480, 720, and 1080
Title: Re: 1080p advice
Post by: John Kelly on May 28, 2008, 08:19:01 PM
Quote from: willndmb on May 28, 2008, 08:07:43 PM
for me the chart isn't "right"
i have a 61" and sit 12 ft away and you can def see the difference between 480, 720, and 1080

That's about right then.  At 12 feet you should be able to see a difference between all of them, but you wouldn't be getting the full benefit of 1080p at that distance.
Title: Re: 1080p advice
Post by: Ed. on May 29, 2008, 11:00:16 AM
I'm 9' away from a 61" screen.  I'll take it!
Title: Re: 1080p advice
Post by: John Kelly on May 29, 2008, 11:54:26 AM
Oh and from what I understand that chart does not depend on your eyesight.  I.e. even though I have 20/10 vision the chart still applies to me, because there is a fixed "resolution" that your eyes can see at, due to the number of rods and cones and stuff like that. ;)