Hi all,

I am looking for a new TV. I watch TV sometimes, but it will mostly be used for movies. Perhaps it's 50/50, but I don't really care what Comedy Central looks like. Most of the movies are DVD format, but I am sure that it will evolve to bluray. We also sometimes stream movies and shows from our Mac laptop via the VGA cable. We sit about 9' away.

I think my habits make the plasma a more practical choice, but I don't think I would be disappointed in any panel that we buy.

What would you guys to with $1,000?

You are in luck. The major TV manufacturers all dropped their prices at the beginning of this year. Now you can get Samsung, Sony, Toshiba, Phillps etc HDTV's for under $1000. I've been watching this market for the past 2-3 years and the falling prices (and a hefty tax refund) prompted me to finally act and get a TV last month.

I picked up a LN40A530 made by Samsung for $800, which is a steal. The A530 has been discontinued and replaced by the B530, but from what I understand the price is the same ($900 at most retailers) and its a great TV for the price, and I mean GREAT.

You can pretty much buy any mid-range Samsung, Toshiba or Sony TV between $800 and $1000 and be assured of getting a solid performing HDTV. Just go to the retail stores and compare the individual models to find the one you want. It all boils down to personal preference in the end. You can take advice in these forums, but eventually you need to go to the stores and look for yourself. Thats the absolute best way to find what you want.

How far away do you sit from your TV? I was thinking of getting a 46".

Nine feet is just about perfect. Not to far away to swallow up a 46" display, and not too close at all for a 60-incher.

Where do you sit in the movie theater? If you sit in the back row, go with the 46" (or 50" 720p, great value now). If you sit in the mid rows, get a 50-58" set. It's only $200 to go from 42 inches to 50 inches, but you'll have to double that to get the next eight inches (50" to 58").

I guess I sit in between the back and the middle somewhere. I like to look straight ahead when viewing if possible, so that puts me closer to the back.

I was thinking of a 46" LCD or a 50" plasma. I like the concept of better black levels on the plasma, but my friends Samsung 50" 720p plasma doesn't do very well with the black levels. How would a cheap 50" plasma compare to a 46" or so 1080p Vizio?

I'd go with the 50" 720p plasma. Maybe even the one you say your friend has. But if you don't like that one...

...Sears might be a good place to check all of them out. If you're fortunate, they will have all four of the 720p plasmas in the same area. They are usually friendly with the remote controls, so play with them and pick the one you like. Sears most likely will have an interest-free credit promotion on one or more of them.

I like the Panasonic plasmas, but I also have one other need, either for an analog audio output or a headphone jack. Both are rather hard to find.

Samsung has both.

Thanks, I think I might get the 42" Samsung plasma. By spec it has what I need, but I haven't seen the picture yet.

Thanks, I think I might get the 42" Samsung plasma.
Keep a 50" in mind. I got a Samsung plasma pn50a450 around Christmas, and I'm very happy with it. I sit 9.5' away, but 7' is still okay.

How do you measure your distance? My head is 9' away, but the edge of the sofa is 6.5'-7'. And we can always move the couch!

Well I went with a happy medium, 46" Sony LCD. Must have been a closeout or something, got a great deal!

first of all dont focus on resolution, i saw that you stated 1080p vizio, in my mind that vizio came in to your mind because it offerd 1080p. Dont do that.

second vizio is pos wont last long looks crap and probably will cost in the ballpark of same price of panasonic or samsung.

a 50" will be just fine for you if you sit within 10" or less. i have a 50" pioneer elite at 9ft and sometimes i get close like 6 ft when gaming.

look for a panasonic plasma first then a samsung plasma.

theirs no reason to get a more expensive technology (lcd) when plasma is 1) better 2) less expensive 3) lcd has more flaws and you may be disaspointed.

i know you said you bought an lcd already but just letting you know theirs more visable flaws like backlighitng clouds motion blurr motion resolution sample and hold mura ghosting smetering input lag viewing angles issues off axis among other issues.

hopefully you wont see that

I would like a plasma, but I couldn't justify the jump from 42 to 50, so I went with the 46 LCD. There was also a Panasonic 46 plasma, but it doesn't have the audio outputs that I need, and it was about 30% more money. I would love a pioneer elite, but I just can't swing the cash.

Whats wrong with 42" to 50"? its better man always is, i have a 42" panasonic that i had in the living room then i went with the 50" pioneer, and now it feels smaller i want to get the 60".

everyone here is going to tell you its going to feel smaller as time goes not the other way around.

and the pioneers are very inexpensive to what they used to sell, you might be luck to get 500 more on top of your budget for PDP-5010 at sams club but thats about it.

though it will be better then the newest panny sammy or sony in the 1k range.

Well I went with a happy medium, 46" Sony LCD. Must have been a closeout or something, got a great deal!

Panasonics 46" S series is going for around $1200 street no tax/free shipping. Is that too far out of your price range?

Panasonics 46" S series is going for around $1200 street no tax/free shipping. Is that too far out of your price range?

A bit, but I already ordered a different TV. I really liked the panny, but no analog audio out was a problem for me.

Whats wrong with 42" to 50"? its better man always is, i have a 42" panasonic that i had in the living room then i went with the 50" pioneer, and now it feels smaller i want to get the 60".

everyone here is going to tell you its going to feel smaller as time goes not the other way around.

and the pioneers are very inexpensive to what they used to sell, you might be luck to get 500 more on top of your budget for PDP-5010 at sams club but thats about it.

though it will be better then the newest panny sammy or sony in the 1k range.

I worked for Pioneer Elite dealer for years, and I am well aware of the benefits, but again it was just out of my price range even though they h ave come down in price a lot.

And there is nothing particularly wrong with a 50, but in my price range the options were not too good. Plus watching comedy central from the edge of my seat when I eat lunch puts me 6' away from gigantic standard def. I think I will be happy, for now, with the 46" Sony LCD.