Hi all, my dad is retiring next year and I'm planning on buying him an HDTV as his retirement gift. Initially I was just going to buy him a 52" LCD, but when I told him about it he said that seemed too small. I guess he has a neighbor who has a 65" projection HDTV and he wanted something like that. I told him he probably wouldn't be happy with a projection TV given the PQ isn't quite as good as other mediums, plus they're just massive. He really wanted something of that size so I suggested looking into plasmas. So I've been looking around for plasmas and i have fallen in love with the 65" Panasonics and the 60" Kuros. We had set a budget of about $3500 max. I was hoping the 65" Panasonics would drop in price by next year and had even bought the base stand for it (at a very good price).

Now I talked to my dad today and he said he didn't want a plasma because it was too reflective. Now he's thinking about a 52-60" LCD. The only 60+ LCD that reasonably priced is Sharp (shudder). Otherwise that only leaves 52" Sony LCD (since new Samsungs also have reflection issues). Sony doesn't really make any reasonably priced LCD's over 52". Well, true this is my dad's TV, but he was really excited about having a big TV and now he's opting for a smaller one (maybe due to my mom). I have to admit I'm a little disappointed. Even though it's not my TV I was excited about building my dad a really nice home theater system. I've already gotten speakers and an AVR. I just needed the TV which I was waiting until next year to buy since that's when he's retiring. We have a fairly large living room. There a nook for the TV that's about 80" wide. The back couch is about 20 feet from that nook and there are windows directly opposite to where the TV would be. Do you guys with plasmas directly opposite windows have issues with reflection that decrease your overall viewing enjoyment? Will next years plasmas be much improved in anti-reflective technology? Are we with windows in our living rooms doomed to small LCD's or (shudder) large Sharp's. Please say it ain't so.

Hi all, my dad is retiring next year and I'm planning on buying him an HDTV as his retirement gift. Initially I was just going to buy him a 52" LCD, but when I told him about it he said that seemed too small. I guess he has a neighbor who has a 65" projection HDTV and he wanted something like that. I told him he probably wouldn't be happy with a projection TV given the PQ isn't quite as good as other mediums, plus they're just massive. He really wanted something of that size so I suggested looking into plasmas. So I've been looking around for plasmas and i have fallen in love with the 65" Panasonics and the 60" Kuros. We had set a budget of about $3500 max. I was hoping the 65" Panasonics would drop in price by next year and had even bought the base stand for it (at a very good price).

Now I talked to my dad today and he said he didn't want a plasma because it was too reflective. Now he's thinking about a 52-60" LCD. The only 60+ LCD that reasonably priced is Sharp (shudder). Otherwise that only leaves 52" Sony LCD (since new Samsungs also have reflection issues). Sony doesn't really make any reasonably priced LCD's over 52". Well, true this is my dad's TV, but he was really excited about having a big TV and now he's opting for a smaller one (maybe due to my mom). I have to admit I'm a little disappointed. Even though it's not my TV I was excited about building my dad a really nice home theater system. I've already gotten speakers and an AVR. I just needed the TV which I was waiting until next year to buy since that's when he's retiring. We have a fairly large living room. There a nook for the TV that's about 80" wide. The back couch is about 20 feet from that nook and there are windows directly opposite to where the TV would be. Do you guys with plasmas directly opposite windows have issues with reflection that decrease your overall viewing enjoyment? Will next years plasmas be much improved in anti-reflective technology? Are we with windows in our living rooms doomed to small LCD's or (shudder) large Sharp's. Please say it ain't so.

In the 60"+ sizes there are a few options. The new Mitsubishi Laservue is a solid option at 65". The Panasonic 65" Plasma will defiantly drop in price next year. The Pioneer 6020FD is always a solid option and the new 55" Samsung 950 is an amazing set, granted it is under 60". The best for the least reflection is the Mitsubishi, but the plasma is the better picture. Tough choice but I would say either the Panny 65" when the price goes down of the Mitsubishi Laservue.

If he's happy with his neighbor's TV, then buy his neighbors' TV. :) Or just get the same one-

If he's happy with his neighbor's TV, then buy his neighbors' TV. :) Or just get the same one-

I don't think I'll let him do that. Projections are okay, but the PQ just doesn't match a flat panel. I know him and I know he'll have buyers remorse when he really sees how much better flat panels are. I would definitely think he would choose the 65 Panny, so I'm stunned he'd opt for a smaller LCD simply because of the reflective issue. BTW I was at BB yesterday and saw the 65pz850u. OMG I was in love. It was playing some CG animation cartoon and good god it was unbelievable. Maybe he's not quite as picky as I am, but I'd hate for him to "settle" on crap.

I don't think I'll let him do that. Projections are okay, but the PQ just doesn't match a flat panel. I know him and I know he'll have buyers remorse when he really sees how much better flat panels are. I would definitely think he would choose the 65 Panny, so I'm stunned he'd opt for a smaller LCD simply because of the reflective issue.

You could buy him some curtains with it to cut down reflection. :D

You could buy him some curtains with it to cut down reflection. :D

Well, there are curtains and no direct sunlight really goes through those windows, and yet still the reflection is an issue. I am a little worried the back lamps near the couch would reflect off the screen. I can't have him watch TV in the dark all the time.

Well, there are curtains and no direct sunlight really goes through those windows, and yet still the reflection is an issue. I am a little worried the back lamps near the couch would reflect off the screen. I can't have him watch TV in the dark all the time.

Hmmmm? Well, there are ways to move the lights so that the glare is not so bad. Also mounting it with a tilt wall mount would help as well.

Hmmmm? Well, there are ways to move the lights so that the glare is not so bad. Also mounting it with a tilt wall mount would help as well.

I guess that's true. I'll have to take him to a B&M store to check out all the options. Maybe he'll come to see the light (no pun). There are very reasonable plasmas available now. Sammy PN63A650 for $3600 shipped. Pioneer 6020FD for $3800 shipped. Sigh... The next gen large LCD's are going to cost an arm and a leg. Including the new Sharps which should improve on their previous incarnations. I don't know why but every 65" Sharp I've seen, including the 94U have looked awful compared to other flat panels. Maybe they're just not calibrating them in the store correctly.

The Samsung 550 is Semi Matte I believe. You may still be able to find some of last years Panasonic Plasma that had the Matte finish.

The Samsung 550 is Semi Matte I believe. You may still be able to find some of last years Panasonic Plasma that had the Matte finish.

I don't think either of those produced a large (>52") screen size unfortunately. I'm hoping the new Sharps will be excellent in quality and price, but I have a feeling they'll be too expensive even if they work out all previous issues. My only other hope is that the neopdp's from Panasonic have improved anti-reflective screens.