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POLL: DLP, ED Plasma, or something different under $2,000??

2159 Views 29 Replies 10 Participants Last post by xb1032, Mar 4, 2005

zac_haryy

Discussion Starter · Mar 1, 2005

Please take the poll of which you prefer:

Samsung HLN567W 56 inch HDTV DLP TV

PANASONIC TH-42PWD7UY 42" PLASMA TV

NEC 42" PX42VP3A HDTV Plasma Display TV

Pioneer PDP-424MV/NEC 42VP5 42"Plasma TV/Display

Zenith P42W46P 42" Plasma EDTV

Unless you prefer something else explain why also please. Thanks!

-haryy

Status: Not open for further replies.

1 - 20 of 30 Posts

tjk

· #2 · Mar 1, 2005

If you're getting the 56" Samsung for under $2,000, it's a steal. Remember that until the HD2 chip HLN's were replaced with the HD2+ HLP's, the thin-bezel (or "Tantus") Samsungs were around $4,000.

So for under $2,000, you will get true HD, a digital input (cost extra on the Panasonic), and an extra 14", which is a major difference in screen size. Plus, for the ease, convenience, or WAF factors, you'll have speakers on the TV. Yes, I would love to see an option on ALL TV's to not pay for speakers and just use my HT system, but to tell you the truth, when I'm watching Seinfeld reruns, I don't really need to run my A/V receiver. With the Panasonic or other ED plasma where the speakers aren't included, you have no choice.

This one's a no-brainer IMHO.

DJRobX

· #3 · Mar 2, 2005

I think most all consumer plasmas have built in speakers, and I'm sure others have digital inputs as well. For me digital input was not a necessity, component HD looks great, and I can always buy the card later if it becomes a necessity. We've never used the internal speakers on a TV when a surround system is available. I know plenty of "wives" who want to enjoy quality sound just as much as their husbands, as long as you can make it simple enough to control with a good remote. If you've got sleeping kids I can see where "turning off the boom boom" could be useful though.

For me the answer totally depends on where it's going. If you have a large room and you'll be sitting sufficiently far from the set, the DLP has a huge picture size advantage. In most cases, given these choices, I would prefer the DLP.

In some rooms with all the AV gear, bookshelves and such, the flatness of a plasma doesn't really offer a big asthetic advantage over a DLP. There are other rooms that really beg for a plasma, and even with DLP's small form factor, a DLP ends up looking like a "big box in the corner", while you could hang a plasma on a wall or on an articulating arm to really take advantage of a plasma's form factor.

I ended up waiting and saving cash for a 50" plasma. Because of the way my livingroom is laid out you can't get much bigger than a 50" rear projection set without it consuming the room. The fact that the DLPs tend to require some sort of floor stand would have made it even worse than a normal RPTV (the constraint is primarily the width, not the height or depth. Having the plasma on an articulating arm solved all kinds of problems. I sometimes long for a bigger picture, even with the 50".

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zac_haryy

Discussion Starter · #4 · Mar 2, 2005

Keep the posts coming....Thanks!!

-haryy

zac_haryy

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 2, 2005

I will be sitting at about a 13 ft distance at the max (If I sit on my couch the furthest away)....Basically I will be watching DVDs, playing games, and watching HDTV as well as SD TV.

-haryy

tjk

· #6 · Mar 2, 2005

Quote:

Originally posted by DJRobX
I think most all consumer plasmas have built in speakers, and I'm sure others have digital inputs as well.

The Panasonic noted above does not (I believe that's the commercial version). I'm a big proponent of not paying for speakers if you don't need to, but all other things being equal, it's a nice thing to have for casual TV watching, especially late at night (even more so if you are prone to fall asleep - the less thing on, the better). And you still have the added cost of a stand for the Panasonic, which will bring the final price closer to $2,000.

Bottom line is still that the Panasonic at that price is an O.K. deal, but it's right about the price one should pay for that TV. The Samsung is a steal. 6 months ago folks were happily paying double that for the TV.

yobob

· #7 · Mar 2, 2005

My viewing distance is relatively small, eyeball-to-screen. So I am going to get a flat panel and mount it on the wall to get it as far away as I can.

The Pio is a re-badged NEC, and has gotten a lot of raves over on the plasma thread. The Pany is a forum favorite.

I think you would prefer the PQ of the HD2+ chip over the HD3.

my .01 (worth half as much)

zac_haryy

Discussion Starter · #8 · Mar 2, 2005

Which have the HD2+ and which have the HD3??

-haryy

DLP-Dave

· #9 · Mar 2, 2005

The ones I know of that have the HD2+:

Mitsu 52525, 52725, 52825, 62525, 62725, 62825

Panasonic PT-50DL54

Samsung 85 series and 74 series

I think some Toshiba's have it too

zac_haryy

Discussion Starter · #10 · Mar 2, 2005

Doing a bit more research here is a very good page about the chips:
http://www.digiupdate.com/105_DLP_RPTV.html

-haryy

zac_haryy

Discussion Starter · #11 · Mar 2, 2005

So a lot of people are pointing towards the Samsung 56"........I checked out the optimal veiwing distance on the 42" Plasma and it is 10' and the 56" DLP is 14'....So a little bit of a differnce in veiwing distance. I really just want to get the best image that I can....How bad is the rainbow effect on the Samsugn DLP set?

-haryy

xb1032

· #12 · Mar 2, 2005

zac_haryy,

Be aware that if you play games much that plasma is not immune to burn in. Burn in will not occur on a DLP. The HLN 56" will not. It can also be used as a good PC monitor too. If you have the money and if you have a good electronics store that will negotiate on price you could probably get a 52" DLP with an HD2+ set for around $2500 (like the Mitsubishi DLP or Toshiba). The HD2+ sets are brighter and have better black ratios and better contrast. Well worth the money (at least to me). I had the Samsung HLN617W and sold it and owned both the Toshiba 62HM84 and Mitsubishi 62725 and I can say that both of those TVs were much better than the Samsung HLN. The Mitsubishi beat it in every category but the Samsun HLN won over the Toshiba with features but not picture quality.

RaveD

· #13 · Mar 2, 2005

Quote:

Originally posted by zac_haryy
So a lot of people are pointing towards the Samsung 56"........I checked out the optimal veiwing distance on the 42" Plasma and it is 10' and the 56" DLP is 14'....So a little bit of a differnce in veiwing distance. I really just want to get the best image that I can....How bad is the rainbow effect on the Samsugn DLP set?

-haryy

Not sure where you are getting these figures for optimal viewing distance. For HDTV the viewing distances are closer than you describe.

As far as rainbow effect, that's something you really must judge for yourself. If you can see them, and they bother you, DLP is not for you. It's not a matter of "how bad" it is; all DLPs are susceptible to it.

DLP-Dave

· #14 · Mar 2, 2005

Zac,

The rainbow effect is a combination of individual and TV. You may not see any rainbows on any DLP set. That is probably the most likely situation. If you do see them, certain sets do reduce them, and these are the sets with the highest speed color wheels. I know that the Panny and the HD2+ Sammy's have 10800 rpm color wheels, which are the highest I know of for released models. Older models probably have slightly slower color wheels, which will increase your chance of seeing rainbows.

Overall, the Panasonic seems to have a reputation of having the least rainbow effects.

Be aware that even if you see rainbows, there is a good probability that they won't bother you that much. I see them pretty rarely but they are not very bothersome to me at all.

zac_haryy

Discussion Starter · #15 · Mar 2, 2005

The way that I was told to get the optimal veiwing distance was by taking 42" times 3 = 126....Then you take 126/12 and you get 10.5 Feet....and that is suppose to be the optimal veiwing distance....Thats what I was told at least unless they were wrong?

-haryy

NVboy

· #16 · Mar 2, 2005

Since it seems you won't sway from your selections, the only thing left for you to do is go to a store and see them for yourself. I will say again that at 14' you will NOT want a 42". That would leave only the Samsung. But, you have to see it yourself, meaning you have to demo these things at 14'.

zac_haryy

Discussion Starter · #17 · Mar 2, 2005

I live in a little town and the closest BB is about 1 hour away....I am heading over there tonight but the last time I went there they only have one ED Plasma display and that was a maxvent and the picture didnt look all that good on there and I am blaming the brand on the picture. That's the only ED Plasma that they have over there and everything else is a HD Plasma....But I will give it all a good look tonight.

-haryy

TheGrub

· #18 · Mar 2, 2005

I sit 13 feet from a 52 in Toshiba DLP. Before i bought my first big screen TV, i did not realy want to go bigger then 42 or 46 inches....

Now that i have the 52, i wish i got something bigger when i watch DVD's, HD or play Xbox...

So my vote is for the Samsung DLP !

xb1032

· #19 · Mar 2, 2005

Quote:

Originally posted by zac_haryy
I live in a little town and the closest BB is about 1 hour away....I am heading over there tonight but the last time I went there they only have one ED Plasma display and that was a maxvent and the picture didnt look all that good on there and I am blaming the brand on the picture. That's the only ED Plasma that they have over there and everything else is a HD Plasma....But I will give it all a good look tonight.

-haryy

Be aware the the Samsung HLN is last years model and won't be on display at Best Buy unless they have an openbox model. The closest match for viewing purposes would be the LG DLP which has the HD2 chip I believe. Still, that LG has more detail and is brighter than the Samsung. Also, the Samsung HLNs were plagued with a greenish tint. Much more greenish than any of the DLPs today. Read the previous Samsung HLNs for details. Even if $2000 is your maximum, if you can wait the new 720p Samsungs are due out this month which means you could possibly get a current Samsung with the HD3 chip for around that price range. I'd do a lot of research before you purchase. Again, after basically having the same set you are looking at (mine was the 61" version at ~13 feet away), I personally suggest getting a current set with a HD2+ version or the HD3. They are much better than the HLN believe me. However, if you're not that particular about picture quality then the Samsung may be for you. I just can't see someone purchasing these sets without seeing them first. Yes, $2000 is a decent price but you'd get a lot more for about $500-$700 if you can afford it. And if you wait a short time, it MIGHT not be that much.

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zac_haryy

Discussion Starter · #20 · Mar 3, 2005

I just got back from BB and got my JVC taken back with no problems at all. I now am definetly seeking out to find and buy a TV once I figure out which set I want. I was camparing there ED Plasma's Vs. the HD Plasma's....They only had two ED Plasma sets.....One was a Maxvent and the other was a Pannasonic set (Model #: TH-42PA25) both of the images that these sets were producing didnt look that great compared to the other HD Plasma's around it....I was trying to figure out if this was because of the sets they had there....I have never seen that plasma since I started my search so I was wondering if that was a pretty old set or what? Also a lot of people have told me that it is hard to tell the difference from an ED Plasma Vs. an HD Plasma set....I am believing these people because I personally think that those sets at BB were older models and not as good as the newest models out. Please let me know what you guys/gals think....Thanks!

-haryy

1 - 20 of 30 Posts

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