I'm hoping I can get some help here as I start to research my next TV (I'm sorry if this question has been answered recently-within the last three months. If so, please point me to the link-and yes I did search before posting).

I am looking for a tv...and, at the risk of sounding trite, the bigger the better (50"-60". 70"? if it doesnt get TOO crazy in terms of price).

My primary uses will be gaming (PS3 and 360), Hi def DVDs, and regular and Hi def cable content (Comcast HD: sports, auto races, Discovery Channel...a wide variety of habits). When I go to BB, CC, Magnolia's and look at other tv's I can see the 'blocking that occurs with fast moving objects on many LCDs and Plasmas. I have not looked at too many rear projection sets because of my dislike (bias?) of off angle image fading but because of this thread: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=695922 I have decided to give RP a chance, on the hopes that I will get a great picture at a reasonable price. I have not experienced the SDE or any other viewing anomalies with any other display technology; but truthfully I've not intently looked for it.

My living situation is a single guy in an apt now (will probably make the move to a house in the next 3-4 years; also eyeing some cars as well...I like the new Audi S5 :), but that's for a different board). My apt has a TON of light via very large windows. I have venetian blinds-no curtains (single guy, remember? :) ), so glare could be an issue. I am willing to make reasonable modifications to the apt to reduce the glare (ie-closing the blinds...but I don't want to have to buy heavy black velvet curtains to reduce ambient light to 2% of normal or anything like that).

My HD viewing history consists of a Sony XBR 960 (non-calibrated, which I still have, but in storage right now) and a small 24" or so Samsung LCD (model number unknown; its basically a stopgap until I get my Sony and/or this new tv and then I'll give it to my lil bro)

I would prefer a set that has good off angle viewing (it irks me when I stand a few degrees off center and the picture fades away). I like to fall asleep watching tv and doze during during football games etc, so burn-in/image retention or what ever you want to call it is a concern of mine. I don't care about wall mounts etc; the tv may end up on the floor or on a table.

I have a concern about tvs that have moving parts or need to be babied long term (I don't/wouldn't have a problem with a break in period) , so tvs that require moving color wheels or replacement bulbs don't make me overflow with enthusiasm. I heard a little about Samsung's LED light engine doing away with bulbs and that laser technology is supposedly up and coming. I have tried to do a little research about these technologies, but I haven't found too much info.

Thanks in advance for the help. If there are other considerations I should take into account (as I read these boards more and more, I realize that all technologies require some compromise and that my viewing habits will direct me to a certain technology), please let me know. (I will also post this in the LCD and Plasma forums as well).

Well, based on your comments, I believe you have eliminated every display technology from your choices.

If you just want to go for best quality picture, start with the Samsung and Mitsubishi DLP sets and the Sony SXRD sets. Yeah, they have bulbs (I'd still avoid the LED sets), but none of these technologies are perfect.

I too am looking to buy a good 60 inch(or bigger) set. There are so many advantages/disadvantages of all these sets. I just want to know what is the best picture for the money , period.

CRT-RPTV if you can find one, period! Dave

I'ld probably go with a Mitsubishi or Samsung DLP. Perhaps a Panasonic plasma with an antiglare coating.

Or if you're willing to do what I've done...get some blackout curtains and run a projector. 60" is small when you can have 80"+. It really takes gaming(I have a 360) to the next level

I too am looking to buy a good 60 inch(or bigger) set. There are so many advantages/disadvantages of all these sets. I just want to know what is the best picture for the money , period.

For the best picture for the money , beween Mit, sam and sony it's so close that it comes down to personal choice,as like you said it's so many advantages/disadvantages of all these sets.

If you're looking for the best DLP/ LCoS picture for the money, then you should also consider the Toshiba 65HM167.

Ya I was kinda looking for specific model numbers. I mean just in samsung alone there are like 3 different models I am looking at. The Led version hlt87 , the regular hlt67 , and the hls somthing or other and that's just samsung.

Well, specific models vary depending on exactly what you want for extra features. As I said, I'd avoid LED sets right now and there's no reason not to buy a 1080p set. I'd also avoid the Toshiba since they announced they are getting out of rear projection TVs.

One thing you need to figure out is if DLP rainbows bother you. If they do, you have to go for one of the LED sets or one of the Sony SXRDs. I'd go for the Sony (and I did because I do see rainbows) but some people would rather have technology than the best picture.

...Yeah, they have bulbs (I'd still avoid the LED sets), but none of these technologies are perfect.

Care to expound as to why you say to avoid the LED DLP sets?

Well, based on your comments, I believe you have eliminated every display technology from your choices.

If you just want to go for best quality picture, start with the Samsung and Mitsubishi DLP sets and the Sony SXRD sets. Yeah, they have bulbs (I'd still avoid the LED sets), but none of these technologies are perfect.
Hey Jay..am I being too picky? I don't want to have to buy a new TV for about 5 years (I love tech and TVs, but I don't want to be one of these guys who buys a new tv every time a new model is announced). If you had to list tech priorities, what would you list?

Care to expound as to why you say to avoid the LED DLP sets?

The LED sets have had a number of issues, look through the owners thread so you can get a feel for what has been going on. I suspect all these things are just teething pains which will eventually get worked out in future models, it just doesn't seem worth it right now when the only benefit over LCoS is not having to replace a bulb.

Hey Jay..am I being too picky? I don't want to have to buy a new TV for about 5 years (I love tech and TVs, but I don't want to be one of these guys who buys a new tv every time a new model is announced). If you had to list tech priorities, what would you list?

Since none of these technologies is perfect, if you are too picky you end up with nothing.

Expecting 5 years from one of these TVs is reasonable. That's what I expect with mine. I simply went for best picture quality at a reasonable cost. Knowing that at some point I'll have to replace a bulb doesn't thrill me, but the picture quality is worth it and it's better than having the brightness level drop without being able to do anything about it.

I have looked through the LED owners thread. However, I don't have time to look through 200 pages of comments. From the 3o somthing pages I did read I saw great feedback. I owned an HLR model from samsung and I never saw any rainbows. I really want a fast tv for my gaming. I play ps3 and 360 and my old hlr only upconverted and would not receive a 1080p signal(Even though it said 1080p on the freaking tv set in the upper right hand corner).

I just don't want to buy another tv and have somthing hidden again ruin my purchase. I got about around $3000 and I just want personal unbiased opinions of some great all around tvs that people own and would like to share their honest advice about what's good/bad about them. Product numbers please so I can look them up.

The LED sets have had a number of issues, look through the owners thread so you can get a feel for what has been going on. I suspect all these things are just teething pains which will eventually get worked out in future models, it just doesn't seem worth it right now when the only benefit over LCoS is not having to replace a bulb.

ok, thanks..I have a LED DLP with zero issues and I have read all of the pages on the owners thread...a small number of complaints compared to how many are sold...

best pq out there now are the high end pio plasmas. very expensive and not available with screen larger that 60". also burn in is an issue for you so they're out.

lcd pq is just not on par with the best microdisplays yet. so if pq is what is driving your choice, i think you have to go with rear of front projection.

take some time and watch a dlp for at least 30 minutes, 60 would be better. see if you are affected by rainbows or eye strain from these sets. if you do, you should probably go with sony's lcos. i wouldn't get a jvc lcos set as they are getting out or rp models. future support could be an issue.

if dlps don't bother you, then the mits and sammys are highly regarded. sony's xbr2s from last year are considered by many to have the best pq for the buck. if you can still find one you can't go wrong with one of those. prices should be at clearance levels. new sony xbr5 is due out next month. the sony a3000 is out now and most owners report they are most pleased.

it all comes down to what you think looks best. tweak the setting on each set on display at the store to get what you think is the best pq on each set and compare. even better, bring a blu ray or hd dvd with you and set it up and watch the same source material on each set. you'll get a pretty good idea what looks best to you.

good luck.

Samsung HLT-6187S or 6189S if you can afford it.

Two years ago I bought an LCD. It was okay, but I typically watch movies late at night with a minimum of light in the room. Anything that's a dark scene ends up looking gray unless you have light in the room. After always having a CRT, an LCD is absolutely horrible for that use.

Last year I bought an SXRD. I got it for the non-reflective screen, large size and small weight, reasonable price and power usage compared to plasma, and because I certainly wasn't buying another LCD. A year later after ISF calibration I can still see silk screen effect, but it works for low-light viewing a lot better than the LCD ever did. Now I'm thinking of getting another one, just bigger.

One trend the past couple years has been that generally toward the end of November or start of December prices fall on the new models. If you want a good deal, then there are going to be some models that are being replaced. If you want a horrible deal though, the A3000 or XBR5 SXRDs and Samsung HLT-6187S or 6189S will never go for more than from now until around the end of October or so.