Our 8 year-old 40" Toshiba CRT RPTV (a 40H80, I believe) died today. I need to buy a replacement. I would like advice. Here's what I can tell you:

1. Price is not really an object. I don't need to buy an absolutely top of the line display, but don't want to buy a bargain basement display either.

2. We watch almost exclusively movies, on DVD (and perhaps soon, I expect, Blu-Ray/HD-DVD). We don't have cable at the moment, and probably won't get cable (or OTA HDTV) anytime soon. We don't play video games or watch sports (even when we have cable).

3. Wall-mounting is not an option. If I get a flat-panel display, I will need to buy a stand to put it on.

4. We sit about 9' from the display.

5. There is a ton of ambient light in the room - we live in a waterfront condo, and our living room has floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides. (The Toshiba was nearly impossible to watch in the summer until after 10 p.m.)

6. We had use of a Samsung plasma for about 6 months and the burn-in effects did not bother us. We have never owned a DLP display, but we have watched them, and have never noticed rainbow-type effects or experienced headaches.

7. We are prepared to buy a display larger than 40" if it makes sense, but never felt that 40" was too small.

8. I feel that I should buy a 1080p display, mainly because I don't intend on replacing this one for another decade or so.

Any help is appreciated. I'm on my way to Best Buy just to look at some TVs now (it's been eight years since I last spent any time thinking about buying a TV), but I know the advice I'll get here is a heck of a lot better than what I'm going to get there.

Thoughts? Advice? Should I be looking at projection technologies such as SXRD since I won't be wall mounting? Thanks in advance.

The SXRD is not bad, but there have been "green blob" issues. You might look at the JVC D-ILA series. They seem to be more successful with this technology. RPTVs, including DLPs, will give you the most bang for the buck, $s per inch wise. I have a 61" JVC D-ILA and am very happy with it. You can often find them at Costco or similar stores for $1500 to $2000. RPTV bulbs might last very roughly 3-5 years (6,000-8,000 viewing hours), and cost $200-$250. Easy to replace. And then you have a TV literally as good as new, PQ wise.

I'd recommend at least 50", or maybe 52"-56", for 9 feet.

I you are considering DLPs, also consider the particular model/brand's history of problems with the color wheel, assuming the model you look at has a color wheel.

LCDs or RPTVs will likely be easier to view in bright light than plasmas. Personally, the only reason I would consider a flat panel is for hanging on the wall. For a stand, I'd get an RPTV.

Thanks for the advice. Perhaps this is a naive question, but if projection is preferable to plasma/LCD but for wall-mounting issues, why are my local Best Buy etc. basically devoid of projection displays? The breakdown seems to be 2/3 LCD, 1/3 Plasma, with the occasional clearance projection model.

Hi Michael,

Your lighting situation would make a flat panel LCD a strong contender. Since you mainly use your TV for DVD viewing, I'd consider a Samsung or Sony 1080p set in the 40-52" range. I'd also consider a good upconverting DVD player (if your current DVD player doesn't have this capability) to maximize your DVD watching experiences on your new set until you decide to make the leap into a high def DVD player. Since $$$ is not a limiting factor for you, you can surely get yourself a top notch set.

As the previous poster mentioned, DLP RPTV's offer quite a bang for the buck, but, to my eyes, I prefer the picture on the flat panel LCD's. I currently have a Pioneer SD-533HD5 CRT RPTV. Right after I purchased it, I paid $500 to get it professionally calibrated. To my eyes, I prefer the picture on the flat panel LCD and plasma technologies over my CRT RPTV.

... if projection is preferable to plasma/LCD but for wall-mounting issues, why are my local Best Buy etc. basically devoid of projection displays? ....

Flat panels are sexier. No doubt about it, the appeal is there. But they do cost more. I preferred the display size of RPTVs when I shopped, especially considering the costs. Mine is only about 18" deep. Many are much shallower, even at 61". Almost bought a DLP back then.

I suspect margins are higher for these higher priced flat panel units. RPTVs, as a percentage of the market, are declining, I believe, as the price difference between them and flat panels decreases. It's easy to say all RPTV technologies will be essentially off the market within say, 5 years. And that plasmas won't last much longer. But truthfully, probably ALL current display technologies will be gone within 10 years or so, as OLEDs and other technologies mature. I fully expect TV display technology to become cheap again, in 10-20 years, as cheap as CRTs became before they (basically) disappeared from the market.

if you buy under a 50 then dont worry about 1080p. over 50 then get 1080p. as far as dlp i would go with a plasma intead. here is a short list i would look at around 50 inch. plasmas: pioneer 5080hd, panasonic 50700u. lcd : sony 52xbr4, sony 52w3000

Check this chart out (http://s3.carltonbale.com/resolution_chart.html). It basically states that in order to see any more than 720p resolution from a 1080p TV, even with 1080p sources, you'd have to move closer than nine feet, or make the TV bigger than 50 inches.

So, to save some cash, the best TV for your $$$$ is the 46" Sony KDL46S3000. It's a 720p LCD with amazing PQ.

Thank you to all for the input. I have three specific questions:

1. What's the situation with black levels and LCD displays? My understanding is that LCDs have an inherent problem with getting anything close to true blacks.

2. Am I crazy for thinking that plasma produces better picture quality for film sources? After shopping around a bit today, it's obvious to me that plasma looks better to my eyes than LCD, at least in the store.

3. If the only reason to choose LCD is the ambient light in my living room, are there are no plasma displays with low-gloss screens?

Thank you to all for the input. I have three specific questions:

1. What's the situation with black levels and LCD displays? My understanding is that LCDs have an inherent problem with getting anything close to true blacks.

2. Am I crazy for thinking that plasma produces better picture quality for film sources? After shopping around a bit today, it's obvious to me that plasma looks better to my eyes than LCD, at least in the store.

3. If the only reason to choose LCD is the ambient light in my living room, are there are no plasma displays with low-gloss screens?

1.) While this is true to some extent, with the best LCD's, unless you watch TV in total darkness, you won't see it.

2.) If you are OK with plasma drawbacks (burn-in, IR, buzzing, not as bright), then by all means, buy a Kuro. They are beautiful.

3.) Some claim is be anti-reflective. They are better than nothing, but a far cry from a flat LCD screen.

Again, thanks. I just can't get over my preference for the look of plasma.

I think I've narrowed it down to the Sony KDS-55A3000 (SXRD) and the Panasonic TH-50PZ77U (plasma with anti-glare). The Panasonic is available locally, which is a plus, whereas I'd have to import the Sony from the U.S., but the Sony strikes me as better value, especially as I need a TV stand anyway.

Any final thoughts?

Samsung 5064.

Samsung 5064.
Stay away from Samsung or LG - they are cheaper up front, but quality is not as good as Sony, Mitsu, etc.

Again, thanks. I just can't get over my preference for the look of plasma.

I think I've narrowed it down to the Sony KDS-55A3000 (SXRD) and the Panasonic TH-50PZ77U (plasma with anti-glare). The Panasonic is available locally, which is a plus, whereas I'd have to import the Sony from the U.S., but the Sony strikes me as better value, especially as I need a TV stand anyway.

Any final thoughts?

For what it is worth I am returning my Sony 40W3000 LCD tonight for the Panasomic 42PZ77U (the 42 inch version of the Panasoic you are looking at). My main problem with the Sony was fast action in video games and movies (to some extent). I demoed the Plasma last night with my own Xbox360 and DVD's and it looked brilliant and dealt with motion much better than the sony. I can't speak to the anti-glare as I have not had it in my own home yet, but interms of Picture Quality I am in love with the Panasonic thus far.

To me the best picture for movies comes from a plasma display. (this is my opinion of course).

Cheers

Lot's of people prefer plasmas, with their higher color gamut, deeper blacks and similarity to CRTs. But more prefer LCD. It's whatever you're happiest with- no "wrong" decision here.

I doubt plasmas will be on the market 10 years from now, but then what current technology will be? Their share of the market is declining, I believe, but you can get a TV you'll be happy with for at least 5 years. By then, who knows what will be for sale, and how low the prices will go?

2.) If you are OK with plasma drawbacks (burn-in, IR, buzzing, not as bright), then by all means, buy a Kuro. They are beautiful.I've had 4 plasma displays in my house, and I've never heard so much as an inkling of any "buzzing" from any of them. I'm not saying it doesn't ever exist, but I doubt if it's as common as you make it sound.

And you'd really have to seriously abuse or neglect your set to ever cause any permanent "burn-in" in this day and age.

I believe the buzzing is more pronounced as your altitude increases. I understand they don't sell well in Denver.