[nVmatrix]

I am getting ready to buy a new 42" and my budget is to be under $1000 but I am torn as to which TV to get... It will be used for HD TV 60%, BluRay 20% and gaming 20% of the time roughly. The Philips and Panny are what I narrowed it down to but was wanting some input from u guys.


Edit: I did see a Sammy LN40A630 for alittle more than I wanted to spend but how would that compare also?

 

[nVmatrix]

nobody?

 

[SystemShock2]

The Panny and the Sammy are both really good. I'm not as impressed by the Philips sets I've seen, but they aren't awful or anything.


It's really up to you to go and view the sets extensively and decide for yourself. Panny plasmas and Samsung LCDs have different 'kinds' of pictures, one isn't necessarily hugely better than the other, some of it is personal preference.


The Panny plasmas I've seen seem (to me) to be a tiny bit dim, and a tiny bit soft. But they also have a very 'natural' looking picture (some would call it 'accurate'), and seem to excel at making Blu-Ray movies look a lot like what they did in the movie theatre.


Samsung LCDs, on the other hand, seem to have superior brightness and sharpness... a very punchy, 'wow' sort of picture, almost better-than-real (especially in the A650 models... your A630 is toned down slightly due to the non-glossy screen). But some ppl don't like 'better than real', to them it looks unnatural.


You're really going to have to view the sets a LOT for yourself, and come to your own decision regarding stuff like that.


Oh, and if you're going to game on the plasma, might want to read up on burn-in issues. They can be avoided, but it's best to know what's up.

 

[nVmatrix]

I went to BestBuy today to take a look and I would have to agree with what u said. The Panny had a very natural look that wasnt overly bright, very easy on the eyes. The sammy was very bright, almost to a fault. There were some sking vids on the HD's and the snow was overexposed I had to dim the sammy down alot to give it a nice look. But the Panny seemed very good. One thing I like was the Panny was right next to a Pioneer Kuro and it gave it a run for its money.

 

[SystemShock2]

Yup. It's all down to what you personally like. Try to view all the sets on your short list at least twice, though. "Be sure", an' all that.


I will say, in a room that has to deal with a lot of natural light, and where you're going to do a lot of daytime viewing, a brighter screen (i.e. LCD) could be for the best. Preferably one with a non-reflective screen, like the A630.


But hey, there's always blackout drapes.

 

[nVmatrix]

I like the 630 too. The thing is that I'am trying to stay as cheap as i can. I was going to get a BluRay player if I can keep everything under $1300. The thing that appeal about the plasmas is the no ghosting or image blur. lol, this is going to be a tought choice.