2. home-theater
  3. 1183419514

Follow Up On TV Querry For 2007 Purchase......

Hello Again All:

Remember a few months ago, I was inquiring about what would be the best TV to buy if I was buying a Plasma TV??? I was eyeing a Visio 42" Model at the time, and the consensous was that I should pony up and consider buying a Panasonic or a Toshiba (which I do not disagree with that assessment 100%).

Well People....... I'm still stuck (kind of).

Yesterday, after leaving my part-time job at a local shopping center in Prince Georges County, Maryland, I went to the new Circuit City that happens to be across the street from the mall I work at. I met a gentleman who seems to be QUITE knowledgeable about HDTV's in general, and he pretty much gave my ass a crash course on the difference between Plasma and LCD TV's. I am beginning to start saving up for the TV at the end of this month. Until yesterday, I was set to go with a Plasma as Plasmas as a whole seem to provide better blacks than an LCD model could ever dream of. But after looking at a Toshiba 42HL167 (a 1080p LCD set, mind you) hooked up to a Toshiba HD-A20 HD-DVD Player yesterday, I was stunned at the black level this set was producing, as well as the fast refresh rate this set was doing when it was doing a sports scene. This set was producing a picture that was close to any Plasma set that inside the store. If I didn't know any better myself, if I hadn't known that it was an LCD set yesterday, I would've said that had to be a Plasma set. The picture was so crisp, so sharp and so vivid, my jaw just dropped inside the store. After seeing that set, I also asked the saleman to show me the 720p variant (the Toshiba 42HL67) of the same set (so I can see if I can see enough of a difference to warrant paying an extra $400.00 for the 1080p version of this set (the 42HL167)), and quite frankly, I couldn't see that much of a difference off the bat. After looking at these sets yesterday, I still kind of want to go Plasma because of the quality of blacks they tend to produce. But after looking at these Toshiba LCD's yesterday, I'm starting to have second thoughts and starting to second guess myself.

I guess, the question I'm am getting at is are LCD as a class are really THAT good today (as far as picture quality, black level and fast refresh rates are concerned)??? Because these were the VERY things that LCD's took a lot a flack and criticism for in the past. Are the differences between LCD and Plasma really THAT narrow??? Because after looking at these two Toshibas yesterday, I am almost sold on the pictures these sets produce, and that's not to say that they're attractively priced to boot.

Any feedback on experiences between LCD and Plasma, as well as any opinions are appreciated in advance.

Thank you for your time.

--Charles--
128x128chaskelljr2001

Showing 4 responses by chaskelljr2001

chaskelljr2001's avatar
chaskelljr2001 OP
476 posts
 
Thanks to all who have responded so far, please keep the answers coming, as I expect more to come in over time.

"Htnovice" -- Thanks for the advice on a surround sound system, but I have one of those already. I have upgraded my sound system over the last 2.5 years.

It is as follows:

Headphones: Sennheiser HD-580 Headphones
Speaker System: KEF 2005.2 5.1 Speaker System Package
Audio/Video Receiver: Yamaha RX-V1600 "Natural Sound" Audio/Video Receiver
DVD Player: Denon DVD-2910 Universal Player
DVD Recorder: Toshiba RD-SX34 DVD Recorder w/160 GB Hard Disk
Cables: Monster Cable "M" Series
Power Conditioning: Monster Cable HTS-1000

Thanks again all for your feedback thus far. Keep it coming.

Regards.......

--Charles--
chaskelljr2001's avatar
chaskelljr2001 OP
476 posts
 
"Htnovice" and "Goatwuss":

In addition to the Toshiba LCD's that I have explained about in my thread, I do have a couple of Plasmas on my shortlist as well (a Panasonic TH-42PH77U (because of the Anti-Glare coating on the screen ($1,500.00)), a Samsung HP-T4254 and probably, an LG Model...... And in regards to Plasmas, I am leaning toward the "Panny"), the reasons being, the pictures tend to be sharper and more vivid as well as producing a better black (which is vital for the home theater experience) than LCD (but that's until I saw the Toshiba 42HL167 and the Toshiba 42HL67 last Sunday). But right now, I'm just not going to discount LCD's either.

But since I won't be getting the TV until about December (at least), I am going to take a look at all the options that are going to be out before then (which means I will be on the lookout for the Pioneers when they come out as well).

Again........ Regards.......

--Charles--
chaskelljr2001's avatar
chaskelljr2001 OP
476 posts
 
"Elevick":

Am I going to be using a 1080p source all the time???

No....... Not really. Well actually, I don't know really. I still have to determine whether or not I can tell a difference between 720p and 1080p. I know that if I opt for a 1080p set, then I would have to pay the $400.00 to $500.00 difference that a 1080p set would entail. And from what I am reading on this thread, it's going to be hard to tell the difference between 720p resolution and 1080p resolution on a 42" set be it LCD or Plasma. But from the outset, I know I'll be using regular DVD's with my new flat screen (the source is going to be a Denon DVD-2910 Universal Player (which upsamples to 1080i I believe)).

I will entertain the thought of adding an HD-DVD or a Blue-Ray DVD Player when the dust settles on the two formats, so the TV will have to be ready when I make the switch over from standard DVD to High Definition DVD (whichever format emerges).

--Charles--
chaskelljr2001's avatar
chaskelljr2001 OP
476 posts
 
Update to everyone here at the thread:

I hope everyone here had a good 4th of July w/o any unfortunate incidents.

But anyway, my shortlist of TV's is as follows for right now.

Plasmas:

1st Choice: Panasonic TH-42PZ700U (1080p w/Anti-Glare Coating On Screen) -- $2,500.00 (but will be less than $2,000.00 by X-Mas Time)

2nd Choice: Panasonic TH-42PX77U (1080p w/Anti-Glare Coating on Screen) -- $1,600.00 (but with fewer features than the "700U")

3rd Choice: One of the Pioneer Models (when I finally get to see one of them. When it comes time to buy, I may put the Pioneer model up against the Panasonic I may choose for a final face off before opening up the wallet and pulling out the plastic (which will probably be the championship))

4th Choice: Samsung HP-T4254

And for LCD's, the choices are:

(01). Toshiba 42HL67 -- (720p)
(02). Toshiba 42HL167 -- (1080p)

That's all for now.

Thanks for the feedback so far. Keep it coming in.

--Charles--
More to discover