Flat Screen TVs
 

I am considering buying one of these and have heard that I should look at LCD and not Plasma as the former are 'better'.

Can anyone enlighten me on the pros and cons of each and situations where one is more suitable than the other?

This really isn't true; both technologies have pros and cons.

In general terms, LCDs:

• Have smaller screens (37" max in the consumer marketplace)
• Have higher resolution (note that this makes zero difference unless you are wathing HD with an HD set-top box in which case the point is probably moot because you can't see much definition on a small screen anyway).
• Cost more (around 150% higher)

Plasmas have:

• Bigger screens (60" max for consumers)
• Are slightly bigger/heavier
• Use more energy & create more heat
• Cost less
• May have shorter life

The image quality is more-or-less the same among later-generation models of both types. Older plasma displays had serious problems with black levels - they are unable to do true black; the darkest they get is a muddy gray color. This bothers some people terribly; others not so much. It makes me crazy. LCD sets suffer from this problem but to a lesser extent - I consider them watchable. Note that current plasma displays pretty much have this problem licked, as there are fourth-and-fifth-generation models in the market now.

In terms of big-screen bang for the buck, a 42" ED plasma (can display HD signals but they will be scaled down to 848x480 - still about double what your current TV can display) a set based on a third-generation panel that has decent (but not great) black levels can be had for slightly over $2000. Check TigerDirect for an AKAI (Mitsubishi). Gateway has just released a new 4th-generation model with built-in tuner for less than $3000. The ~$2500 ones you see in Costco from Sampo, et. al, are junk - 1st-gen panels with horrible blacks and lots of background noise in the picture.

In terms of absolute best picture quality, an HD-capable plasma will win. I am partial to Panasonics for their incredible black-level detail and accurate color temperature, but others that are well respected include Pioneer and Sony. You can pick these up in the $4000 range.

I don't see an LCD set being viable at all, with one exception: you want something small. LCD sets (which are basically laptop displays) in teh 15"-20" sizes can be had for less than $1000. But they are really only suited to bedroom/kitchen/desktop use.

Whatever you buy, do yourself a huge favor: set the thing up correctly. Out of the box, all TVs are going to be calibrated for maximum brightness and a very blue color temperature. This theoretically gives them an edge in showrooms but causes several problems: it significantly reduces the life of the set, it completely destroys any fine details in the picture, and it gives everything a pukey blue cast. Spend the money on a copy of AVIA (or rent it if you can) and invest an hour in following the step-by-step procedure to accurately set up and calibrate the set. I can't fathom watching a TV in "nuclear" mode after getting used to one that actually looks like film.

------------------
-alan in sitges, home of the new, improved Si-Re-Do

Wow alanw - thanks for such a detailed and reasoned reply. I am much better informed now - and will try and learn more about the details.

Thanks again.

This recent article on MSNBC is also interesting. They don't seem to think the time is right to jump if you can wait a few years.

http://www.msnbc.com/news/995322.asp

Both the NYT (11-27-03) and the WSJ have had definative articles on TV's and were almost as complete as the nice one above by alanw. They too recommended holding off buying for a while.

MisterNice

Here is a Flat Panel to consider.

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTE...AShop_GrandWEG A&Dept=tv&Boutique=wega

I am considering a 50” Grand Wega for my family. From what I have seen, these TVs offer fantastic picture for less than the Plasma. These are also HD as well. I have only started my research so the jury is still out. Right now, this is where I am leaning.


[This message has been edited by RobotDoctor (edited Dec 10, 2003).]

Good grief, I cannot get the link to post without the space at the end of the string. Go to www.sony.com then select the following menues on the screen for electronics/television/WEGA Showcase/Grand WEGA for the link to the Grand Wega projection Flat Screens.

[This message has been edited by RobotDoctor (edited Dec 10, 2003).]

I don't get it - how can it be both LCD and rear projection?

It's LCD projection (as opposed to LCD direct view, which is what the earlier remarks were about). LCD projection is the same way many of the small portable video projectors work, except in this case they do it internally and use lens(es) to bend it around to make the case small. I don't know exactly how they do it inside the case, but it's one of their newest models.

Side note: Most if not all of the large Sony TVs (anything 32" or 35" or so) sold in North America are made at Sony Technology Center-Pittsburgh. Even the glass for the CRTs (starting from sand) is made there.

I'm not convinced by Plasma/LCD just yet. For me a GOOD tv AND a GOOD projector/screen are worth more. A decent DLP projector is just $2500 and has a much larger format than the most expensive plasma. Add a good motor driven projection screen ($500) and a ceiling mount for the projector and you've got the ultimate home cinema.

When plasma/LCD hits the $1250 range I'll look again, but considering a decent large flat panel runs around $12500 I'm going to wait a bit longer...

I would recommend checking the plasma forum at www.avsforum.com to find a wealth of information about these sets. I bought a 42" Panasonic plasma EDTV (852x480 resolution, not true HDTV) last Feb and it has been great. Discounts (particularly from Dell, who sells these as monitors) can drop the price under $3000 for a quality set.

If you can, try to go to a high end store and see a couple of sets side by side to get an impression of how they look. I found the Pioneers had great color but the contrast was poor. I also found the opposite was true for the Panasonics, as they had really great black levels. Also, you can investigate if you can get by with EDTV or want HDTV. I found that EDTV looked nearly identical from beyond 6 feet, so I saved $2000 and went with the EDTV set.

If you're looking to get a new set and go HDTV, by all means look at plasma. You can buy a wall mount and then you save money and space by not needing a piece of furniture for the set. Projection systems are nice too, but you need to get the room REALLY dark to see the blacks well, which is why many people use them for dedicated, windowless theater rooms (like in a basement).

Actually, the newer projection systems (DLP, LCD) do a great job with blacks, even in brightly lit rooms. I have my Sony GWIII (3rd generation rear projection LCD) in a standard room and use it just fine, even in full daylight. GORGEOUS set. No, black levels aren't "perfect", but they're quite acceptable, and I don't have to subdue the room lighting to watch the set.

On a related note, there are two types of "LCD" TVs out there. There's direct-view LCD, which looks great but is only available in sizes up to about 30". There are also LCD projection TVs, which go up to 70" nowadays. I opted for a 50" set, and it's fabulous. It's projection, but this isn't your old heavy CRT-based projector -- 18" deep and 82 lbs.

Not that ANY of these options are really "travel technology"...

[This message has been edited by GregLeg (edited Dec 11, 2003).]