Thread: Another guy who can't decide on a TV - HELP!

Originally Posted by lindseybp

I agree 46" might be too small for your viewing distance, etc. I would try to go 52" or 55". There is nothing wrong with getting the Sony 55V5100, I think it's a good tv for the price. Sure it may not have quite as nice of a picture as some of the more expensive tv's on your list but unless you have them side by side in your house you will not care and would never know. Getting a free PS3 or blu-ray player is a nice bonus also. You just need to look at them in person and see if you find a large enough difference between the Sony and the other to justify an additional $500+ potentially. Tough call but definitely try to see the ones in person that interest you.

Here are some prices to help you sort things out. This is based on what displays I would buy. (prices are approx)

1. Panasonic 58" V10 2250.00
2. Panasonic 54" G10 - Under 1600.00
3. Panasonic 50" G10 1100.00
4. Pioneer KRP 500M - (haven't priced them out, but I think they are around 1600.00??)
5. Samsung B8500 - 3300.00

The LG and the Toshiba are fantastic displays from what I've heard. I just haven't spent enough time researching or looking at them. Based on what I see above, NO question I'd go with the 54" G10 or perhaps even the 54" V10. The 500M is a the best of the bunch, but I would almost go with the extra size since the rest are FANTASTIC displays.

Originally Posted by Minbari

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. The $2500 max budget is just for the TV. I'm really between just going cheap with something like the Sony 55V5100 or really look at the group around $2500 - the LH90, The Tosh 670, Panny 65S1, 54 or 58 V10.

I fear that a 46" set will be too small for our room size and viewing distance.

My concern with the LH90 is how does it handle motion - football, racing - etc.

I love the size of the 65S1 but have read many reports of color inaccuracy and iffy adjustability.

The whole plasma question is really about reflections - i have a lot on the old CRT - but it's nowhere near as large as the sets in question.

CC (the other admin of the board) owns a Kuro elite in his living room He has NO shades and HUGE open windows surrounding his living room. He can attest the same thing.

I was in Sony's store and I cannot tell you how bad the reflections were with their TV's. I own both technologies and I was the BIGGEST LCD fan for years, and I'm telling you I have never once questioned the reflections of my Plasma's. NOT ONCE. Again, all displays are going to show reflections. No display is "reflection proof". I am just saying the wrap for years with Plasma's was they were to dim and were horrible with lighting. I personally think that is NO longer the case, especially with this years new Panasonic's.

I was able to see the 55LH90 at a BB today and had them put in my copy of Diva - as I wanted to see what the intro at the old opera house looked like and how the diva looked on stage and in close up.

It's a pretty dark movie and the LG looked pretty good - unfortunately I haven't been able to see any of the Pannys on anything other than the store feed.

I was able to see a Samsung 50" 860 plasma at a small local dealer - it's going for around $1500 - it looked okay - certainly better than any of the CCFL or edge-lit Samsungs - but no one around here has an 8500. - Still think it's too much $ for me.

Thanks for the suggestions.

After the HiGloss vs Matte screens debate today I was forced to go to Bestbuy Magnolia and recheck well the only thing I can say is Pioneer has the best glare filter screen but the rest of them SUCKED I could watch programs reflected from other displays the Magnolia room is carefully constructed so as to reduce as much ambient light as possible ....It just wasn't happening. So I stand by my original declaration.

Originally Posted by davidjschenk

Yeah, I certainly won't dispute that. The Panasonics and even the Samsung LCDs do have very shiny screens that reflect a lot of light. The Samsung LCDs do seem to be able to minimize it to a fair extent, but I'd still take the Pioneers over them for reflectiveness. The Panasonics seem the least forgiving (I've not tested the Toshiba LCDs on this, so I can't speak about them).

Really, I think it's a question of how one intends to use the tv and what pisses one off more. Some people will put up with reflections in order to get smooth motion. Others will give up on motion to avoid reflections. It's very much a matter of personal tastes regarding what you can and cannot live with. That's why I'm such an advocate of going to a storefront and testing the various tvs for oneself--ultimately, no one but Minbari will know what really trips Minbari's trigger.

Yours,


David

Agreed, I make it a point that any buyer audition a display personally and not just buy based on recommendations only, because it has to satisify you the buyer in the end.

Originally Posted by topr

This makes me think a little ways down the list[

ATTACH]2077[/ATTACH]

Those are the reflections of which I speak, that BLT claims do not exist ?? but then again he wears Polarized sunglasses at night doesn't he?

Originally Posted by ImRizzo

Those are the reflections of which I speak, that BLT claims do not exist ?? but then again he wears Polarized sunglasses at night doesn't he?

And that's an LCD above in topr's pic!!!! My argument was stating that Plasma's aren't any worse when it comes to reflections. When I say that I never had reflection issues, doesn't mean my displays didn't show reflections, I'm saying it was never to a point where it was an issue or concern. I did say all displays have some reflection, but Plasma's are no worse than LCD's these days. I guess I'm spoiled with my Kuro's, because I never really see them. Are they there? Oh I'm sure they are, but not to the point where I notice them, and I stand firm on what I said earlier. "I have ZERO issues with reflection with my displays". It's just like saying Plasma's don't handle well lit rooms. I say BS to that as well.

As far as BT's picture in the display, Come on now, the display isn't even turned on. of course your going to see some reflection.

I did the same thing Rizz did this weekend and checked out displays at the Sony store as well as Best Buy. I did NOT once see where an LCD handled reflection better than any plasma.

Originally Posted by topr

This makes me think a little ways down the list[

ATTACH]2077[/ATTACH]

That's beautiful! (NOT) The only reflections I see on my LH90 is when the TV's off.

Originally Posted by BUYLONGTERM

And that's an LCD above in topr's pic!!!! My argument was stating that Plasma's aren't any worse when it comes to reflections. When I say that I never had reflection issues, doesn't mean my displays didn't show reflections, I'm saying it was never to a point where it was an issue or concern. I did say all displays have some reflection, but Plasma's are no worse than LCD's these days. I guess I'm spoiled with my Kuro's, because I never really see them. Are they there? Oh I'm sure they are, but not to the point where I notice them, and I stand firm on what I said earlier. "I have ZERO issues with reflection with my displays". It's just like saying Plasma's don't handle well lit rooms. I say BS to that as well.

As far as BT's picture in the display, Come on now, the display isn't even turned on. of course your going to see some reflection.


I did the same thing Rizz did this weekend and checked out displays at the Sony store as well as Best Buy. I did NOT once see where an LCD handled reflection better than any plasma.

I'll bet you had those sunglasses on again, I was in the Sony store yesterday also and some of the displays did show reflective surfaces but for the most part the better protion of Sony LCD have a matte screen diminishing reflections far better that Plasmas. Pioneer Kuro's have the best anti glare coating, as do lot of the other Pioneer Plasma sets, but almost ALL of the panasonics were highly reflective, that is one of the was that they contribute to the very crisp image on their displays. If you look at those Sony and especially Samsung or other LCD panel competing for that sharper image, you will find they have a shinier screen surface too, which lends to promoting a sharper. brighter image.