I went into an electronic store yesterday and saw two LG sets with a good price. First set is a 42 LCD (lc2d I think) at 1488$cdn and the second set is a LG plasma 42" (3cm model I think) at 1388$ cdn.

They are charging 158$cdn for the lcd to extend the warranty to 6 years.
They are charging 228$cdn for the plasma to extend the warranty to 4 years.

I'm currently own a rear view projection Toshiba (42") which supports 1080i. I like the picture quality of this set but the tv is taking a lot of space in my living room. I also have a CRT 31" in the family room. If I buy a new tv, I would get rid of the CRT and move the toshiba in my basement.

My current concern is that this generation of LCD probably have bad viewing angles and from I've seen in the store, the image of this plasma set was very dark.

Should I get one anyway or should I wait for the next-generation of products?

note: I'm on a tight budget.. if I buy something the price must be <= 2000$ cdn.
but I don't want to waste my money, if it's not worth anything.

The LC7D LG LCDs are reported to have better black levels and an overall higher contrast ratio, but I haven't seen any hard numbers to back that up.

FWIW, I'm perfectly happy with my 37LC2D, but waiting until next year is always advisable if you have the patience, as improvements will always be waiting in the wings.

If you're happy with an RPTV, it's unlikely you have any lighting or other issues that would make LCD more advisable than plasma.

Based on what I've seen from viewing angles, almost any current LCD will do as well as the RPTVs I've seen, but as I said before, things will only get better if you wait, whether your eventual choice is plasma or LCD.

there was a 42LC7D just beside of the 42LC2D, me and my girlfriend weren't able to see any difference in PQ. Nothing to justify the 500$cdn price difference!

It would be hard to see the better blacks (if they do indeed exist!) in a big box store. The LC2D doesn't look too good in "vivid" when you get it home. If you can, put them both in "movie" mode and change the color temperature to medium. At least on the 2D's that gives reasonably accurate color rendition, unlike the mode they usually have them on in store, which is extremely oversaturated and adding insult to injury has awful color balance.

There are a couple of threads in the LCD forum about the LC7Ds and a pretty darn long thread about the LC2D if you're really interested in the LGs. I think they're a good value, FWIW.

Whatever you end up deciding, be sure to buy it from some place with a good return policy so you can take it back and try another model if it turns out you don't like it.

Take it for what you will, but if you're not incredibly picky as far as PQ, the LC2Ds are perfectly watchable off axis, but apparent black level does suffer. As I mentioned before, I'm really happy with my LG, even having paid a few hundred bucks more when I bought it back in Februrary than one can get them for now that the LC2Ds are on closeout.

If you do end up getting an LC2D, try to get the LC2D-UE. It has an extra HDMI port, but more importantly, IMO, it offers 1:1 pixel mapping on the VGA port, so you can use the panel's native 1366x768 with no stretching if you hook it up to a computer or Xbox 360 or what have you. The -UD only has 1 HDMI port and only allows up to a 1024x768 computer mode, although you can set it to accept a TV-type input over the VGA port and use 1280x720, but there is overscan.

If you've ever seen a TV even close to properly calibrated, "Vivid (Dynamic, or whatever they call it)" will never look good. This stands true for in-store or in-home. The LC7Ds do have a better viewing angle than the LC2Ds. Honestly, you really do not need an extended warranty.

Whatever you end up deciding, be sure to buy it from some place with a good return policy so you can take it back and try another model if it turns out you don't like it.


the two stores I'm going have a 30 days 'no question asked' policy.

Take it for what you will, but if you're not incredibly picky as far as PQ, the LC2Ds are perfectly watchable off axis, but apparent black level does suffer. As I mentioned before, I'm really happy with my LG, even having paid a few hundred bucks more when I bought it back in Februrary than one can get them for now that the LC2Ds are on closeout.


I'm picky with PQ but I'm also on a tight budget. Yesterday I went to visit two stores. In the first store, I saw the LG LC7D, found the image very bright and clear, but I could see compression details from a 7' feet distance. The clerk was advising me to go with the plasma, I asked why and he put the video feed on pause. He told me to inspect the hairs of a person that was in the scene. On the plasma TV, you could see all the details and on the LCD, it was like almost all black. I repeated the test 3-4 times and the result was always the same. From this moment I was sold to the plasma model.

I then went to the other store, they had like 3-4 plasmas and 20 LCDs in stock. I wasn't able to do the same tests but it was really hard even on a plasma to see all the details because of the store lighting. The guy was suggesting me to go with a LCD screen. They looked fine at this point. There was a panny plasma in the middle of a bunch of LCDs and the image was very dark and not vibrant.

I also went to a third store, but it was hard to compare the LCD and plasma since they are not in the same isle. I noticed on some plasma set that when the screen is pure white, it was more like a yellowish white. I didn't have time to play in the menu to see if it can be fixed.


I just don't want to invest 1.5-2k on something that is worst than my Toshiba RPTV (which supports 1080i).


If you do end up getting an LC2D, try to get the LC2D-UE. It has an extra HDMI port, but more importantly, IMO, it offers 1:1 pixel mapping on the VGA port, so you can use the panel's native 1366x768 with no stretching if you hook it up to a computer or Xbox 360 or what have you. The -UD only has 1 HDMI port and only allows up to a 1024x768 computer mode, although you can set it to accept a TV-type input over the VGA port and use 1280x720, but there is overscan.

it was the UE model, I saw 2 hdmi ports at the back, thanks for the info... I will probably hook a laptop and I also own a 360..


I just noticed in the newest threads that there is a new 120hz feature on newer LCD. At this moment I'm really wondering if it's the best time to switch. I know that there is no right time! :)

The thing is, both LCD and plasma has minor/major issues. It's really stopping me to get one, I fear it will be worse than my current Toshiba 42h83. I know that the higher end models may have less issues but my budget is limiting me to the lower end of the segment.

If you've ever seen a TV even close to properly calibrated, "Vivid (Dynamic, or whatever they call it)" will never look good. This stands true for in-store or in-home. The LC7Ds do have a better viewing angle than the LC2Ds. Honestly, you really do not need an extended warranty.

150$cdn for a complete 6 years, I think it's worth it (if I buy the tv).

I bought a Compaq laptop two years ago. The screen was perfectly flawless. After the first six months, the screen begun to have white clouds. They were growing in number and size. I was told it was the glue holding the different layers that was the source of the problem. Since it was under warranty they replaced the panel inside my laptop. The clerk let me saw the repair bill (that I didn't have to pay). The price of the panel was around 1200$ and I bought the laptop for 875$.

With LCD, you never know!!

the two stores I'm going have a 30 days 'no question asked' policy.



I'm picky with PQ but I'm also on a tight budget. Yesterday I went to visit two stores. In the first store, I saw the LG LC7D, found the image very bright and clear, but I could see compression details from a 7' feet distance. The clerk was advising me to go with the plasma, I asked why and he put the video feed on pause. He told me to inspect the hairs of a person that was in the scene. On the plasma TV, you could see all the details and on the LCD, it was like almost all black. I repeated the test 3-4 times and the result was always the same. From this moment I was sold to the plasma model.

That's typical of an LCD in Vivid or Torch (it's Daylight on mine) mode. Very bright but crushes the crap out of blacks and whites. It gives the false appearance of a higher contrast ratio.

The reason you were seeing compression artifacts on the LG is most likely that its sharpness control was turned up too high.

That's typical of an LCD in Vivid or Torch (it's Daylight on mine) mode. Very bright but crushes the crap out of blacks and whites. It gives the false appearance of a higher contrast ratio.

The reason you were seeing compression artifacts on the LG is most likely that its sharpness control was turned up too high.

so far, I've seen compression artifacts on all LCD matching my budget. LCD are extra sharp and plasma pixels looks too soft.

I will have to go back and play with the setting.

so far, I've seen compression artifacts on all LCD matching my budget. LCD are extra sharp and plasma pixels looks too soft.

I will have to go back and play with the setting.

wait...