Currently, I have a Samsung 27" CRT HDTV, but I plan on upgrading to an HDTV soon. I'm having trouble deciding what TV is for me, though. Here's my situation:

--I live in an apartment, so size is an issue. I'd like to go to 50" if possible. I don't think I have room for rear projection (like LCoS), though personally I wouldn't mind that. I'm concerned with viewing angles. Right now I have one very wide row (couch plus seats to the side). I'd have to rearrange the room to have a couple rows of seats for a rear projection to be viable, I think.

--I plan on using the TV with an HTPC. Currently I have xbox media center and I use it a lot. When I listen to music, I usually have visualizations on. I don't plan on doing much browsing, though it'd be nice to be able to do that. I want to experiment a lot with using an HTPC, so I wouldn't mind having 1:1 pixel mapping.

--I prefer to watch in the dark when possible, though I don't mind the flexibility of at least being able to have lights on but dimmed down.

--Besides music, movies, and TV, I also play some games.

--I'm used to the PQ of my CRT. I've calibrated it as best I could with DVE and I like the deep blacks and vibrant colors. I wouldn't say the screen is "3D", but I like the quality. The last thing I want to do is compromise with picture quality. I don't like blacks that aren't black. My brother has a Panasonic AX-100 projector and while the picture looks great, I just wasn't satisfied with the black levels, even when the room is completely dark.


I "hear" that plasma looks better than LCD and gives better viewing angles, and it's also cheaper (in the 42-50" range). That's the main reason I've started thinking about plasma first. However, I do worry about burn-in and image retention. LCD seems to offer more flexibility, as well as 1:1 pixel mapping. Rear projection sounds like it could offer the best of both worlds, but given my room, I don't know if it's practical. Bulb replacement and price are also things to consider with rear projection (I'm primarily considering LCoS and not DLP because of the rainbows).

In the end, I think I'm going to have to compromise, but any suggestions would be helpful. I'd rather not sacrifice image quality, so perhaps the slight impracticality of rear projection may be worth it.

Thanks.

I have a 42" Panasonic plasma that I pretty much only use to view HD TS mpeg2 movies via my laptop (DVI->HDMI) and play videogames or Blu-ray movies on (PS2/PS3). I am very happy with the results. I have nothing to complain about other that the fact that my plasma lacks 1:1 and so I have to put up with overscan.

A friend of mine has a new 1080p SONY LCD and in comparing his to mine I prefer the plasma because of better blacks, and the uneven back lighting on his unit was also somewhat distracting at times.

For a HTPC; go with an LCD TV. Pick one that supports 1:1 pixel mapping so the left side of the start menu doesn't get cut off. You also won't have to worry about the static images from your HTPC burning in your screen. (Despite what the Plasma marketing would like you to believe "burn-in" is alive and well (I can send you pictures of my screen after playing Halo2 for the past 2 years...)) the new "anti-burn-in phosphers" in the newer Plasmas are only even advertised to provide "equal burn in as CRTs".. (after you follow the little *) Most all phospher-based TV technologies also perform pixel shifting and slightly move the picture around a pixel or two and this supposedly prevents burn-in... it doesn't; it just makes the burned-in objects fuzzy vs sharp. (again I can show you pictures of my set)

You seem fairly concerned about black levels so you're probably better off going with a 2007 model LCD that advertises a high contrast ratio. (Like the Sharp D92Us; if you are ok with a little banding... ;) You will also probably want to setup a "backlight" or "bias light" if you are going to be viewing an LCD in a really dark room. (LCDs are very bright, which is a good thing in a bright room but causes eye strain in a dark room; the bias light will also make the blacks look darker.)


Adam

Considering you like to watch movies in the dark, the plasma is a no brainer. No current LCD will compare in black levels. I use my Panny plasma for HTPC use often and have no issues. Very crisp and I've never had any image retention issues. What you've heard about plasma looking "better" than LCD is true. View both techs in the dark and the difference will be very clear. LCD is certainly brighter and doesn't have the glare issues plasma does, but neither of those sound like a priority in your case.