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Need help making TV decision

I'm looking to replace my ancient Proton 27" CRT with something new. I've poked around AVS forum and CNET but still feel confused and underinformed. Would welcome advice here and pointers to other sources of information.

Here's our situation:

-- Can accomodate up to 40"-42" wide display
-- Use Comcast digital cable box through TiVo box as main source; also DVD
-- TV (not DVD) probably 80% of viewing
-- Viewing distance is about 8 feet
-- Can accomodate the depth of a CRT or rear projection, but a flat panel would be just fine (will sit atop 40" AV cart)
-- Don't need built-in audio as I route audio signals through an AV receiver
-- Price not too much of an issue

So....LCD, Plasma, DLP or CRT? HD or ED? One of my main fears is that I will get a set that kills on DVD or HD but leaves me unhappy when I watch an old movie or a Seinfeld rerun or any non-HD TV program. There's also the issue of our addiction to TiVo and the absence of an HD TiVo box for digital cable (as far as I know).

Thanks for any guidance you can provide.
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tlday
137 posts
 
The new 40" Sony Bravia XBR LCD is quite impressive. Can be had for $3k.
maineiac
649 posts
 
The best plasma I have ever seen is a B&O beovision, it looked phenomenal on DVD and HDTV. This will test your version of price not really mattering. I think it is like $10K for the 42" model.

As for pixelization, I think this is a function of the broadcast. My TV will not do it on most channels with fast action NFL football, etc, but others will be bad, especially NBC.
djf62
1 posts
 
Get a 40"+ Plasma. The prices are right now and the pictures are great. You'll be happy. Nothing against the DLP (I have a 60" Sony SXRD) or LCD (3 around the house from 15"-35") but the right plasma will give you the best blacks outside of a CRT with the best veiwing angles and I've never had a plasma pixelate on moving images unlike a LCD. I have 2 plasma, a 50" Pioneer Elite Pro 1110HD 2 years old and a Marantz PD4280U which is 5-6 years old. TV's aren't like our Dad's none of them will last 15 years and the technology will change in 3 years anyway. You can wait on the sidelines and keep looking down the pipeline but I'm not sure what that gains you and at what cost/price difference.
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drubin OP
3,274 posts
 
In the 40" plus plasma space, there is a commercial version (no tuner, no audio) of the Panasonic 42" for around $2400. Somewhat limited input options. Also a Pioneer for about $1K more. Any opinions on these? Fujitsus are supposed to be great but are much pricier. Hope to spend less than $3500.
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
I recommend the Panasonic TH-42PD50U 42" Diagonal Viera Plasma EDTV - it will give you best viewing on regular non-HDTV and DVDs/Tivo....and it still does a fair job of down scaling HD source. It has an HDMI input aswell, which may become standard in the future....

Colour and contrast is impressive and signifcantly better than other TV's, LCD or Plasma or rear projection, in that price range....best value I have seen...no wonder it is one of the most popular TV's last year and this year.

Currently available full HDTV Plasma/LCDs with all the pixels necessary to display full 1080 HD signal are very expensive and any scaling of source pixels to screen pixels (up or down) is best avoided and, worse, some HD sources are 720p as well as 1080 to complicate it all further for screens with fixed pixels. If you want best quality for all sources then the 5 year old CRT Sony 36XBR400, which was top of the line at the time, still does a great job without scaling problems but it is a heavy beast and will not like speaker magnets getting to close - but you might be able to find one second hand at a good price...
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