Enamoured by Sony Today (1 Viewer)

[ColColt]

I hadn't really looked at TV's and what was out there in about ten years until recently when my old CRT died and I was forced into buying a new HDTV. I had to get a 32" as I knew it would fit perfect in my entertainment center.

Today I bought my first BR player and a few movies to try tonight but afterwards decided to stroll around a bit and found myself back in one of the rooms Best Buy has set up where they have a sundry of various brands and sizes of TV's and of course, soft, plush furniture for you to kick back a bi, if you're so inclined, and do a little drooling. I fell into that catagory and was quite taken by one TV in particular. It was a 65" Sony W850A. Not so much because of the size, but the clarity was superb, an understatement to be sure. The large Ottoman they had was perched about 10 feet away. I sat and watched for a while-couldn't help myself.

My question is this. Is there a certain distance from where you will be watching to where the TV is actually sitting that is better than another if a TV is a certain size? In other words, that 65" Sony I mentioned seemed the 10 feet was a bit close. Is there a distance a given size TV would look it's best? Secondly, is this a good TV for the $2400 cost?

 

[schan1269]

I sit 9 feet from a 103" 2.40 image(which is 110" 16:9)At 10" from 65...you were about 4ft too far.

 

[Type A]

Big question of preference. For example I couldn't stand sitting at the distances Sam indicates. Im more in line with your viewing distance preferences. Im very comfortable sitting 15' from a 65", mostly viewing 1.77:1 (16x9). I do sit 15' from a 106" but thats mostly 2.40:1 blu rays.

No I wouldnt drop $2500 on that 65" Sony when I could get this for less:

http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/panasonic-tc-p65vt60/4505-6482_7-35567314.html

 

[ColColt]

According to their review, "Panasonic has announced that it will no longer manufacture plasma televisions after 2013, making these TVs the last of their kind."

Is that to say plasma TV's are on the out? They did give it some high marks for dark room clarity but not so much in bright rooms-whatever their definition is of a bright room.

I think for me and the experience I had today, around 15' is a good distance for a 55-65" TV. A bit pricey, the Sony was a superb performer the five minutes I watched it. If it wasn't for the entertainment center housing not only my 32" TV, receiver, BR player and audio goodies that wall would be dedicated to home theater...maybe even a 55-65" TV. It would be an excellent spot for it and give me the 12-15' from it to the "viewing couch".

 

[schan1269]

Yep. Panny is dropping plasma(really old news. We've got at least 10 threads about it)Why is plasma dying?OLED. OLED (not to be confused with LED) is on the horizon. Produces its picture the same way plasma does. If DuPont has its way, we'll eventually have OLED at 50 cents a square inch.

 

[ColColt]

So, these up and coming "organic" TV's are to be even better than plasma or LED?

 

[schan1269]

LCD never caught plasma.But OLED will also kill off projectors. Except for those who will be doing AT screens.It is possible, with DuPont's method, to do AT OLED. That has everybody salivating.AT?(cause I know you are asking)Acoustically Transparent

 

[Sam Posten]

Don't hold your breath. =) Personally, I would advice everyone to wait 5 days and see what pops at CES, but expecting an OLED explosion is 2014 is liable to lead to disappointment.No idea WTF Panasonic is thinking getting out of Plasma at the same time they are pushing off their OLED partnership, but there has to be logic in the madness somewhere.http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57616297-93/sony-panasonic-said-to-have-ended-oled-partnership/

 

[Sam Posten]

LCD never caught plasma.

Cmon sam, that's REALLY disingenuous.LED never caught Plasma's Black Levels. They are pretty good in every other facet that concerns an average viewer. They DESTROY Plasma in the only metric that really matters, unit sales (and profit).

But OLED will also kill off projectors. Except for those who will be doing AT screens.

CRAZY TALK. OLED -MIGHT- eventually kill Projectors. In 2018-2020. Not any realistic time sooner.

 

[schan1269]

Like I've alluded before...2015 we can hope.Panny dropping everything, except the AE8000, tells me 2015.(of course...wishful thinking)

 

[schan1269]

2018 is an eternity in CE. The big tell will be when Panny shuts down Business Plasma(all sizes are still taking orders). When the 105" plasma stops taking orders...

 

[Sam Posten]

MAYBE, but talking someone out of looking for a new set because of 2015 pipe dreams (and not even caveating what you are saying to do so) seems really mean to me....

 

[ColColt]

It's hard for guys like me that are so far behiind technology to keep up with it all. I remember back around 1999-2000 I bought what was probably one of the first DVD recorders Best Buy got in. It was a Panny player/recorder that would play and record in DVD-RAM. Cost back then? A cool $1K. I still have it but nothing besides it will play DVD-RAM. An expensive paper weight.

Me thinks I'll never catch up to the advancements in video and home entertainment.

 

[schan1269]

It doesn't matter when you buy.Next year has something that didn't exist this year.Besides. OLED is out there...at 3-5 times the price of the plasma Type A linked.I did say "eventually" OLED would get to 50 cents sq ft.Where did I get that figure from? An article published around 2009.

 

[Sam Posten]

That is true for the most part, BUT the biggest announcements of the year in panels happens in a few days. It sets the tone for the rest of the year. It's worth waiting to see if there is anything particularly noteworthy worth waiting for or if you should watch for closeouts of this years stock or if you should get what's in your budget today knowing that tech will roll on of course but you won't be disappointed for not getting the latest and greatest.This matters most if you are considering the high end. Not so much if you are going for the middle of the pack bang for the buck models and NOT AT ALL if in the budget arena.

 

[Jim Mcc]

But OLED will also kill off projectors.

Sam, what do you mean by this?

When I can buy a 106" diagonal OLED TV for $1500 or less, let me know. Until then, you're dreaming.

 

[schan1269]

Do the math.Printed board OLED (not just DuPont) will eventually be pennies per square inch.A 120" screen at 50 cents is $3120.

 

[Jim Mcc]

Do the math.Printed board OLED (not just DuPont) will eventually be pennies per square inch.A 120" screen at 50 cents is $3120.

Like I said, when I can buy a 106" OLED TV for $1500 or less let me know. Until then, I will be loving my 1080p DLP projector.

 

[Sam Posten]

I think Sam is a lot more optimistic than most. He may be right, but so far I think his projections are years off. We'll see.I personally would counsel anyone thinking of buying a premium TV to watch the space but not put off buying today on the hopes that OLED is a market force in less than 3 years. Again, next week's press releases should be illuminating in this respect.

 

[Sam Posten]

Also, the day a 4k 120" OLED screen is available for less than $5k, I'll be first in line. See you in 2019.