Patrick Sun
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- Jun 30, 1999
- Messages
- 39,612
Okay, after looking over the current TV landscape, I've come to the conclusion that a lot of changes have occured in just 2 years since I bought my Panasonic TH-50PX600U plasma set (now sitting in someone else's basement or room, due to its untimely liberation from stranglehold known as the Sun Domicile).
I really enjoyed the picture quality of that set, even if it was 720p, it still put out a nice sharp image (color/contrast/black levels, etc). I did look at the 1080p 50" plasma models (mainly Panasonic and Vizio, but the Panasonic pricing is still hovering around $1300-$1400 for their base 1080p plasma (TH-50PZ80U) and I didn't want to spent almost $1900 for their 800u THX offiering, or the 850u models, while it seems that Vizio offered some nice features on their new VXT505 plasma offering ($1200), the electronics seem a bit wonky at this time for purchase consideration, plus my Costco doesn't stock it anymore). The same goes for the Pioneer 5020 that has been cut down to $2000-$2200, I still just can't see myself spending that much to get 50" of viewing size. Not these days, 2 years ago, sure.
But now, I think my viewing habits have changed, and I can almost reconcile going with a DLP LED model because I want a TV I can abuse, and abuse badly, but not break the bank, and sadly, with Samsung getting out of the DLP biz, it looks like the 2008 DLP LED models are it (unless Mitsubishi hits a home run with their LaserVision TV technology, but initial reports haven't been too glorious).
LCD is still to expensive for large sizes above 52" (plus, I still find the backlighting technology to strain my eyes in extended viewing of the current LCDs), and again, my viewing habits have changed to the point that if I'm not on the couch watching the TV from 10 feet away, I'm watching it from my dining area 20 feet away (where my home PC is situated nowadays). From there I end up doing my web surfing and also watching what's on the TV in the background, so I've been really mulling over the Samsung DLP LED HL67A750 model. It's probably too much TV for my living room, but if I'm also watching it from my dining area, it's a much bigger image than my previous 50" TV viewed from 20 feet away. I've spent today moving things around to accomodate a larger sized screen (which meant raising the wire rack that hold my center channel speaker about 6" higher), and it'll be about 11" wider than my previous TV set as well, which will cut off a little bit of the hallway access, but worth it, I think.
The advantages of DLP LED's light engine is that it should be capable of same light output level for 60,000 hours (far longer than I intend on owning the TV set as that's 20 years of viewing 8 hours/day), and I don't have to worry about station bugs, 4:3 pillar boxes, any sort of image persistence or burn-in, or decaying image output (bulb DLP, or plasma). Granted, if I could get a 1080p 67" plasma for under $2000, I might get it over a DLP LED, but that's a pipe dream that may never happen. So, in effect, I suspect I should be able to abuse this TV if I inadvertently do so (fall asleep, leave it on all night, or play video games, watch one channel all day with bugs and tickers, etc.).
I understand that picture quality will take a hit (viewing angles, sparklies from silkscreen effect, etc.), but at this stage of my life, I think I can stomach the tradeoff for the ability to abuse it, while getting a big image that will be usable for my 2 main viewing situations. I will offer that I find the Mitsubishi diamond series to look a bit better, especially when you look at hair detail on people's heads, the Mits DLP (bulb-cased) seem to a look better that the DLP LED model, I'll even say that the bulb-based DLP for Samsung (A650 models) also provided better hair detail in the black levels, but I can live with it because I don't want to deal with bulb replacements or color wheels going ka-bloeey (which happened to an officemate of mine), plus I expect to do some tweaking with the video settings anyway.
Plus, going from 50" to a 67" nets me just almost 80% more image size. If I went with the HL61A750, that nets me 48% more image size over a 50" screen.
Online pricing and local pricing for the HL67A750 is dropping a bit, I saw it at Fry's for $1699 (plus another $100+ for sales tax), and online is between $1700-$1800 as well. I'm just wondering if I can hold out a little longer and pick one up for $1500 as the stores are sure to want to clear out their DLP/rear projection boxes for the sexier flatscreens for 2009. The prevailing online price for the 61" model is $1300-$1400 these days until stock runs dry, or if you lived in Texas and got in on the $999 deal at Conn's.
I think I might have read something about the 67" housing is a bit sturdier than the 61" housing, which might help in better geometry of the screen (if sagging occurs in the "box" of the TV). Also, just perhaps, a big set like this is harder to steal, unless the thieves brought a truck with them, because it ain't gonna fit in the backseat of a normal car.
I guess I've talked myself into the 67" DLP LED model, eh?
I really enjoyed the picture quality of that set, even if it was 720p, it still put out a nice sharp image (color/contrast/black levels, etc). I did look at the 1080p 50" plasma models (mainly Panasonic and Vizio, but the Panasonic pricing is still hovering around $1300-$1400 for their base 1080p plasma (TH-50PZ80U) and I didn't want to spent almost $1900 for their 800u THX offiering, or the 850u models, while it seems that Vizio offered some nice features on their new VXT505 plasma offering ($1200), the electronics seem a bit wonky at this time for purchase consideration, plus my Costco doesn't stock it anymore). The same goes for the Pioneer 5020 that has been cut down to $2000-$2200, I still just can't see myself spending that much to get 50" of viewing size. Not these days, 2 years ago, sure.
But now, I think my viewing habits have changed, and I can almost reconcile going with a DLP LED model because I want a TV I can abuse, and abuse badly, but not break the bank, and sadly, with Samsung getting out of the DLP biz, it looks like the 2008 DLP LED models are it (unless Mitsubishi hits a home run with their LaserVision TV technology, but initial reports haven't been too glorious).
LCD is still to expensive for large sizes above 52" (plus, I still find the backlighting technology to strain my eyes in extended viewing of the current LCDs), and again, my viewing habits have changed to the point that if I'm not on the couch watching the TV from 10 feet away, I'm watching it from my dining area 20 feet away (where my home PC is situated nowadays). From there I end up doing my web surfing and also watching what's on the TV in the background, so I've been really mulling over the Samsung DLP LED HL67A750 model. It's probably too much TV for my living room, but if I'm also watching it from my dining area, it's a much bigger image than my previous 50" TV viewed from 20 feet away. I've spent today moving things around to accomodate a larger sized screen (which meant raising the wire rack that hold my center channel speaker about 6" higher), and it'll be about 11" wider than my previous TV set as well, which will cut off a little bit of the hallway access, but worth it, I think.
The advantages of DLP LED's light engine is that it should be capable of same light output level for 60,000 hours (far longer than I intend on owning the TV set as that's 20 years of viewing 8 hours/day), and I don't have to worry about station bugs, 4:3 pillar boxes, any sort of image persistence or burn-in, or decaying image output (bulb DLP, or plasma). Granted, if I could get a 1080p 67" plasma for under $2000, I might get it over a DLP LED, but that's a pipe dream that may never happen. So, in effect, I suspect I should be able to abuse this TV if I inadvertently do so (fall asleep, leave it on all night, or play video games, watch one channel all day with bugs and tickers, etc.).
I understand that picture quality will take a hit (viewing angles, sparklies from silkscreen effect, etc.), but at this stage of my life, I think I can stomach the tradeoff for the ability to abuse it, while getting a big image that will be usable for my 2 main viewing situations. I will offer that I find the Mitsubishi diamond series to look a bit better, especially when you look at hair detail on people's heads, the Mits DLP (bulb-cased) seem to a look better that the DLP LED model, I'll even say that the bulb-based DLP for Samsung (A650 models) also provided better hair detail in the black levels, but I can live with it because I don't want to deal with bulb replacements or color wheels going ka-bloeey (which happened to an officemate of mine), plus I expect to do some tweaking with the video settings anyway.
Plus, going from 50" to a 67" nets me just almost 80% more image size. If I went with the HL61A750, that nets me 48% more image size over a 50" screen.
Online pricing and local pricing for the HL67A750 is dropping a bit, I saw it at Fry's for $1699 (plus another $100+ for sales tax), and online is between $1700-$1800 as well. I'm just wondering if I can hold out a little longer and pick one up for $1500 as the stores are sure to want to clear out their DLP/rear projection boxes for the sexier flatscreens for 2009. The prevailing online price for the 61" model is $1300-$1400 these days until stock runs dry, or if you lived in Texas and got in on the $999 deal at Conn's.
I think I might have read something about the 67" housing is a bit sturdier than the 61" housing, which might help in better geometry of the screen (if sagging occurs in the "box" of the TV). Also, just perhaps, a big set like this is harder to steal, unless the thieves brought a truck with them, because it ain't gonna fit in the backseat of a normal car.
I guess I've talked myself into the 67" DLP LED model, eh?
