LCD or not LCD

[kybearfuzz]

I've been thinking about buying a new TV for my living room. I've checked on some prices for different flat screen televisions, but am still teetering on whether to get an LCD or Plasma.

Any thoughts or opinions on which is better or worse? Any particular brands you'd recommend or warn me to stay away from? Glowing stories? Horror stories?

Comments

[ricksf.livejournal.com]

Been doing similar research and have settled on LCD. Picture quality isn't quite up to the best plasma sets but the LCD lacks the overheating and sensitivity issues of plasma.

Try CNET for reviews of various manufacturers. The ones that have impressed me most in the stores are Sony (pricey), Samsung, and Panasonic.

[jguy70.livejournal.com]

Actually from what I understand, LCD now has a much better picture than Plasma with some damn high contrast ratios. I think it's slam dunk for LCD at this point. Particularly when you factor in the power and cooling requirements of plasma.

I heard there was a plasma soon to be released that took 1 megawatt to power. 1000 watts!

That, my friends, is the HUMMER/SUV of TVs.

[ursaloco2.livejournal.com]

Wal-Mart has a 32" that's $498 every day.
I believe it's a Panasonic. The display model is lovely.

[anziulewicz.livejournal.com]

I've heard that plasma screens generate an AWFUL lot of heat, and they are still pretty expensive. If it was up to me, I'd go with the LCD screen, I like the way the picture looks, very crisp.

[lukebacca.livejournal.com]

Some manufacturers have stopped making Plasma displays entirely, and are focused wholly on LCD.

We have a 40" Sony Bravia KDL-40V2500 and it's nice (and expensive), but the backlight is "cloudy", which that particular model is infamous for. You only really notice it when the picture is solid black, though.

If you can afford it, go for a 1080-Progressive set. If you're shopping on the cheap, there are tons of good quality 720-Progressive sets out there for less than $1000.

[book-of-daniel.livejournal.com]

I've been looking for a while myself and I can honestly say Samsung blows just about everything else away because of their high contrast ratios. Sony is very close but a lot more expensive.

Samsung is not cheap either unfortunately...

Addendum about plasma

[ricksf.livejournal.com]

A bit more about plasma -- My work client talked themselves into buying 4, 50" Panasonic plasma display units some 4-5 years ago (when plasma was much more cutting edge). The unique aspect is that these units are run 24/7 (i.e. Dr. Destructo mode). One unit blew up shortly after the warranty expired, the other 3 have had smaller issues but are still alive. Picture quality is spectacularly sharp, color is accurate. Three of the units were mounted in a smaller room here. The heat the units generated was so extreme that the roof mounted A/C unit had to be upsized!

Bottom line, I like LCD, for a reason!

[benjiej.livejournal.com]

I'm about to be making the same decision. I now have a 40" Samsung projection, which I love, but I'll want a flat panel for my new place. I really think a 37" would be best, but there aren't many of them. As of now I'm leaning toward a 40" Samsumg LCD, but I don't think I can spring for the 1080, but I think the 720s will be fine for me.

[divos-voids.livejournal.com]

we just purchased a new 52-in sony bravia lcd. granted, it's not being delivered until thursday. but the 42 we have has been great for the 6 months we've had it.

yes, the sony is more $$$, but when i did the side-by-side comparo, and based on past experience with the bravia line...it was worth the extra cash.

of course...right now sony is offering 12 months same-as-cash, which certainly is worth looking at. we just put the $$ aside that we have for the tv, let it earn interest for the year, then pay it off and pocket the interest.

good luck! it really comes down to your personal take on it all.

[dmbrian.livejournal.com]

You just took all the work outta this for me.. we were out tonight looking around and I was going to pose the same question on here..lol Seems like most everyone agrees on the LCD.

[chrisglass.livejournal.com]

Quite pleased with the Toshiba Regza LCD HDTV purchased a while back.

Never read any compelling reasons to jump to the plasmas.

[xkot.livejournal.com]

LCD is much more practical in terms of heat and power consumption. Plasmas have nice pictures but are quite delicate. LCD technology has been around for ages and is very stable.