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Looking for a flat panel TV under $2000, need advice

post #1 of 11
1/21/05 at 8:09am
Thread Starter 
I am shopping for flat panel TV's. Both plasma and LCD are options. I will be using the monitor for both television and computer. For television, I will be watching mainly DVD's and DirecTV. HDTV is something I may get later.

I am looking for a 42 inch, but will consider something smaller. I know I will be buying a low end unit, but picture quality is probably what I am looking for most. I will be sitting as close as 2 feet from it at times so picture quality is a must.

My budget for a TV is $2000. I am currently considering this unit:

Quote:
NEC PlasmaSync 42VM5

Specifications:
Display Area 42" mm
Aspect Ratio 16:9
Pixel Pitch 1.08 x 1.08 mm
Resolution 853 x 480
Unit Dimensions (WxHxD) 40.1" x 24.0" x 3.5"

Features:
* Wide VGA (853 X 480), Anti-reflective filter
* Up to 5x5 matrix capability
* Portrait capability
* Long lasting up to 60,000 hour half life
* Best in class image quality and accurate image reproduction
* Unsurpassed product reliability and service
* Exceptional contrast and brightness no matter what the viewing environment
* Flexible features for any commercial application
* Exceptionally quiet operation

Additional Specifications:
* Active Screen Area 36.3" x 20.4", 921 mm x 518 mm
* Front Filter Type AR - Anti-reflective
* Color Processing 68.7 billion colors (4096 steps)
* Viewing Angle 160 degrees
* Horizontal Frequency Range 15.5 to 110.0 kHz auto, step scan
* Vertical Frequency Range 50 to120 Hz auto, step scan
* Input Terminals
o RGB 1 (analog): 15-pin mini D-sub (common use with RGB out, selectable)
o RGB 2 (analog): 5 BNC (RGB/HV) (common use with 5BNC Y/Pb/Pr input, selectable)
o RGB 3 (digital): 29-pin DVI (digital only)
o Video 1: Composite BNC x 1 (common use with video out, selectable)
o Video 2: Composite RCA x 1
o Video 3: S-Video 4-Pin DIN
o HD Video 1: 1 set RCA Component (Y,Pb,Pr/Y,Cb,Cr)
o HD Video 2: 1 set BNC Component (Y,Pb,Pr/Y,Cb,Cr) (common use with 5BNC Y/Pb/Pr input,selectable)
o Audio: 3 sets RCA stereo + external speaker jacks
* Output Terminals
RGB (analog): 15 PIN mini D-sub (common use with RGB1, selectable)
Video: Composite BNC (common use with Video1, selectable)
* Audio Internal amplifier, 8W x 2 output power
* External Controls 9-pin mini D-Sub, RS232

I have also looked at models from Akai and Panasonic.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Jim
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post #2 of 11
1/21/05 at 8:15am
Greetings

On the low end, Panasonic still does blacks better than the other two.

Regards
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post #3 of 11
1/21/05 at 8:19am
Yep, panasonic tends to be markedly better in the Extended Def Plasmas.

I don't think there are any 42" LCD or larger in that price range is there?
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post #4 of 11
1/21/05 at 8:49am
Thread Starter 
There are no 42 inch LCD's in that price range, but I am willing to go smaller if it means a much better picture. I was looking at a JVC 26 inch LCD for around $1500 I think.
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post #5 of 11
1/21/05 at 8:59am
The problem with smaller, is it can seem better just because of that.. It's smaller.

I'd go with the plasma and size myself. I would choose an ED Panasonic Plasma over any of the more bargain HD Plasmas I have personally seen. There is so much more to a display than the raw resolution it can produce.
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post #6 of 11
1/21/05 at 2:50pm
I would think a 42" ED plasma viewed at two feet would be pretty ?????grainey???? Not something I think I'd choose for close up computer work anyway.

Mort
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post #7 of 11
1/21/05 at 3:01pm
Thread Starter 
I have yet to see a plasma hooked up to a PC, so I have no clue what it will look like. I have duel monitor support and plan to have a 2nd 17 inch LCD for when I want to watch TV on the plasma and still work on the PC.

I went to Best Buy and Circuit City tonight and looked at some displays. The Panasonic ED's did seem to have a slight better picture. All the lower end plasma's I looked at did have slight artifacting, but all looked good to me, even up close.

I am still deciding.
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post #8 of 11
1/21/05 at 3:33pm
Greetings

Remember ... one does not buy a NEON and then complain that it performs like a NEON.

Regards
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post #9 of 11
1/21/05 at 10:40pm
"I will be sitting as close as 2 feet from it at times so picture quality is a must."

At 2 feet, a 42" plasma is out of the question.
The sreen door affect alone would be annoying, not to mention the resolution of the set when used as a computer monitor just wouldn't cut it.
You'd be able to see all the defects of the image being displayed. You might want to consider the HP L2335 23" LCD.
A true 1920x1200 HD monitor.
Just a thought.
Vb
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post #10 of 11
11/14/10 at 1:44pm

Jim,

 

You are confusing a computer monitor with a video display, which is quiet easy to do.  If you want a 42-inch display for TV and you aren't ready to show HDTV on it now - including BD movies - then WAIT and just purchase the size computer monitor you need, and it probably won't be 42-inches.  I have found that once the computer display gets above 23 or so inches that eye movement and placement of work objects gets to be a problem. So, while you think you may want a larger work surface, unless you  have entire areas of your surface where absolutely nothing is gong on and that doesn't bother you, go larger.  I also like being able  to pivot the display; something I can do at 23 inches, but not at 42 inches.

 

All that said, the native display of a 23-inch monitor these days should be 1920 x 1080.  It can be higher, but no lower at that size. Then, if you want to watch HDTV on your monitor, you can.

 

I have a 37-inch 1080 p monitor that I thought would make a great display, but it hasn't worked out that way because it simply has too much space. It's used for TV now.  I need to us my eyes microversions as I move across the screen, not macroversions that will lead to eye fatigue.

 

 

Good lkuck

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post #11 of 11
11/19/10 at 8:57am

I think he found the tv by now. lol

 

This thread was from 2005.

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