Newbie needs TV advise

BrianTwig · 06-05-2006, 12:30 PM

I am a newbie and know virtually nothing about TV's, new technology, features, functions, etc... Last time I bought a TV was in 1997.

The one thing I know is that I will not buy a rear projection TV under any circumstances. I just can not stand them.

I have a budget of $2,000 +- a few bucks.

With the size of the room it will be in and the seating distance, I need at least 42". Over 50" and the budget is too small. So I have been looking at the following and am seeking advise, experience with, and comments on the following.

50" Vizio Plasma HD Monitor model P50HDM.
http://www.vizioce.com/site/products...ct_p50hdm.html

42" Vizio HDTV Plasma Model P42HDTV10A
http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/nav...=5&item=338729

There are a variety of Phillips 42" Plasmas that meet my budget. Such as the PF5321D, and 42PF7320A to list a couple.

How about the HP PL4260N HDTV plasma?

The TV will be used primarily for regular TV viewing. Not a big movie guy. Obviously some movies will be viewed on it from a DVD and the occasional VHS. But it going to be primarily regular TV viewing.

Thanks for your help and advise. I really appreciate it.

Jack Briggs · 06-05-2006, 02:12 PM

Brian, RPTVs have changed vastly since 1997. High-definition images make a serious difference. So do not be so quick as to rule them out.

BrianTwig · 06-05-2006, 02:25 PM

Thanks Jack. I have been out in the stores looking at TVs for quite a while now, but not with serious intentions as I can wait a while. Don't need one "now" but will in the near to not so distant future. The RPTVs are just not for me or my eyes.

Gregg Loewen · 06-06-2006, 08:35 AM

so you want to buy a marginal panel vs a great RPTV (DLP or LCD) ?

Arthur S · 06-06-2006, 08:49 AM

Brian

If you simply cannot live with an RPTV of any kind, the Vizio 50 would be my choice among those you have listed. From my reading, fan noise was a problem with those. Many people who bought them got the fans replaced by Vizio with a home visit by a contract tech.

There is a huge thread on the Vizio 50 over at AVS Forum. Enough there to keep you busy reading till you are ready to buy

.

**HTF Ads**

Joseph DeMartino · 06-06-2006, 02:35 PM

Quote:

The RPTVs are just not for me or my eyes.

Brian:

You simply cannot judge how a DLP, LCD RPTV, LCoS or HD CRT-RPTV is going to look in your home by looking at the floor displays in a typical "big box" store. The sets are all hideously misajusted out of the box, and you're looking at them under horrible lighting conditions. Imagine the first time you saw your wife or girlfriend you could only see her in a funhouse mirror, wearing clown make-up under green light. Think you would have given her a second look?

What, specifically, do you not like about RP? (Given that each RP technology has its own pros and cons, which different people react differently to, I'm curious as to what objection could possibly apply to all of them.

)

If you think you'd like something a bit bigger than a 42", seriously consider a good microdisplay RP set. Check some out at a high-end home theater showroom if possible, not a Best Buy or Circuit City if possible, so there's a chance you'll be looking at a properly adjusted set, or maybe even a professionally calibrated one.

Regards,

Joe

BrianTwig · 06-06-2006, 03:53 PM

Joseph (and Gregg),

I appreciate your response and fully understand what you are saying. Maybe things have changed recently, but every RP tv I have ever seen at someones home, under actual viewing conditions in a house have just not been to my liking. And the off axis viewing has always been terrible to me.

My familyroom and Kitchen is basically one giant 2,000 square foot room, and I watch a lot of TV from the kitchen area and that is off axis pretty strong. So the "side angle" viewing has been 90% of my objection to RP TVs. Always got washout and a glare obfuscating the picture. And to make matters worse, the wall opposite the TV has a direct west alignment and the freaking sun sets in my giant windows and french doors. WAF will not allow for blacking out these windows.

Also, the stands that these things usually go on are not for my lifestyle and living conditions. Can the RP TVs go on a regular "bench" style TV stand? I have far to much AV equipment (receiver, DVD, VHS, Satelitte, CD, and other goodies) to go on one of those stand, and it needs to be in a closed cabinet because of a 2 year old, dogs, and new born coming that all have sticky fingers and touch stuff that is out in the open.

Now, I did stop at Sams Club today to buy dog food while I was at lunch and ran across a 56" JVC HD-ILA LCOS TV. I was shocked at how good the picture was, especially from off axis. This TV has changed my direction and made me consider a RP TV with LCOS.

Joseph DeMartino · 06-06-2006, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Can the RP TVs go on a regular "bench" style TV stand?

Microdisplay RPs, unlike CRT-based systems, don't require bulky cabinetry under the screen as part of the set. They aren't much bigger than flat-panels in terms of the head-on view. They're just deeper. (And even at that they are nowhere near as deep as the old CRT-based TVs.)

Quote:

Now, I did stop at Sams Club today to buy dog food while I was at lunch and ran across a 56" JVC HD-ILA LCOS TV. I was shocked at how good the picture was, especially from off axis. This TV has changed my direction and made me consider a RP TV with LCOS.

Did I mention that I own a 56" JVC HD-ILA in a room with west-facing sliding glass doors (which I can somewhat darken with vertical blinds) and two light wells in the ceiling?

I have the 720p version. The 1080p LCoS sets from JVC and Sony are even nicer, but not enough to justify the added cost, in my humble opinion.

Available at Best Buy with a nice metal and glass under-set TV stand for under $2400. (That's where I got mine last year.) I still have that same stand, still in the box, as I preferred going with a wall unit. I'll probably use the stand that came with the JVC for my bedroom LCD flatpanel when I finish rennovating the condo. (Have the spare bedroom/home office and the master bedroom and bath left to go. *sigh* Never try to rennovate a place you're still living in.

)

Regards,

Joe

TomCL · 06-06-2006, 04:43 PM

Plasma is my choice for a future purchase. This is after reading endless complaints online about the $200 bulb in the DLP/LCD models burning out after one year or less.

Too me, it just doesn't make sense to have to deal with that.