~52" HDTV Recommendations Needed ($1300)

[alimoalem]

Hi everyone.

So I've been doing some reading on this forum, and I was hoping you guys could help out.

Long story short, we needed a TV so when my dad went to Costco and happened to see the HDTV's at the entrance, he bought a 52" Sharp Aquos LCD from Costco for $1300 without tax (I don't know which model...I can get that Friday night). He told me if I find a better TV for the same cost, he's willing to return the Sharp. Our old TV was a 65" rear projection, but the room is kind of small. We just like having a big screen.

Here are some preferences/requirements:
* Before any recommendations, keep in mind: the room has lots of windows with no blinds. No, there is no option to cover the windows. (I think LCD is on top in this regard)
* 52" or bigger. I don't think he'd be willing to "downgrade" in size from the Sharp. Maybe 50" would slide.
* He's partial towards LCD's. He says Plasma has poorer picture quality and degrades. NOTE: Please don't post any links. I already know, and he won't read it. Please recommend plasmas if you know any, but they better be MUCH better, or there's no chance he'll consider it.
* 1080P. He will not go any lower.
* $1300 or less. I doubt he'd be willing to pay more (maybe if it's 56" or bigger, but even then no more than $1500).

From the research I've done, I think these are the best options:
LCD/LED
LG LH90 47" ($1299 at Sears).

LCD
Samsung LN52A650 ($1499 at B&H...cheaper anywhere else?)

Plasma
Panasonic 50" G10 ($1128.88 on Amazon. 54" doesn't seem worth the extra $500).

RECOMMENDATIONS PLEASE!! I'd really like to show him a 52"+ TV.

 

[Hopeless]

From what I've read, the Panny P50G10 is suppose to be a very good set. I'd be all over it except it's out of my budget. I've got my eye on the 50X1 after getting tax money.

 

[Blazer]

the 50" panny G15 plasma's have better antiglare coating than the G10's, under $1300.00 and free shiping.

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-TC-P...8673521&sr=8-1

 

[sivart]

You should be able to get any major brand name LCD (120Hz) in a 52" size for under $1300 (before tax). Just watch for the deals.

Plasma has a better picture quality, but if you are in a room with no way to close / cover the windows, LCD would be best. However, if the sun is shining directly in the window toward the TV, it doesn't matter which type of TV you have, you won't be able to see it.

I was looking at some Sharp's in Sam's club and they had a horrible off angle viewing picture. Even the cheaper Philips and Vizio did a lot better at off angle viewing.

 

[zerocool84]

You're ganna need to stay with LCD cus of all the windows.

 

[manimal]

Because of glare I would look at the lg or even a Z series sony. My local BB had the 52 xbr9 for 1399 last week.

 

[alimoalem]

So here's how it is for us...we do normal TV watching during the day. The TV will also be used for video games (X360). When it is night time, we can turn off the lights. We watch movies at night, and some X360.

I hope the next sentence makes sense. Is the difference between LCD and plasma in daytime (ambient light) greater, or the difference between LCd and plasma in nighttime (lights off)?

If you guys can give a recommendation for LCD and Plasma, I'd appreciate it. If there's a store nearby with no restocking fee, we might just buy both TVs, compare them, and return the lesser set.

Thanks for any and all help.

 

[alimoalem]

Can you guys list the Panasonic plasmas in order of quality?

So far, my understanding is X<S<G<V. Is this right? Where does U fit in?

Also, budget is $1500 max.

 

[sivart]

I have had a plasma for 3 years. The glare is no worse than my old 36" CRT Sony Tube TV. So, if you have glare issues with a tube TV in the room, you will have issues with a plasma. LCD should help some, but not eliminate all glare.

In the daytime, with a lot of light, you may find the plasma too dim (depending on the lighting when you calibrate the TV). You may also find the opposite true...too much brightness with the LCD during the evening (making colors look washed out).

 

[alimoalem]

Thank you for giving your personal experient sivart.

My dad is apparently really anti-plasma...not sure why. I'm thinking of buying one, setting it up in the family room, and letting him decide right there which one he "thinks" is better.

On another note, what do you guys think about the LG LH40/LH55/LH90? The LH90 is too expensive, but how do the other two compare to it?

Thanks

 

[slackerinabox]

Don't try to convince your dad one way or the other, just let him get what he wants.. Remember when nerds REALLY liked DLP rptvs? Yeah, I convinced my dad to get one and now he hates it.. I should have let him get an LCD, which is what he wanted. I know it's different then LCD/plasma, and I prefer plasma myself. One advantage of LCD seems to be that they're much lighter, and would be easier to wall mount

 

[alimoalem]

We're coming from a 300lb 65" rear projection TV...I don't think he cares about it being light . No, but seriously, we'll have this on a stand. It's not going on a wall.

About it being his choice, I agree. But he has a LOT of baseless hatred against plasma, and claims many things.
"Plasma has poorer PQ."
"It doesn't look as sharp."
"The colors aren't as good." (He admits the LCD he bought looks washed out and the colors aren't good)
"Plasma is the lesser technology; it's 40&#37; cheaper." (My brother told me he said this...if anything, I would go with plasma BECAUSE it's 40% cheaper...)
The list goes on. All the while, he claims all this, when his only experience with any flat-panel HDTV consists of his trip to Costco and finding an LCD at a price that he liked. He's not the type of person to research before he makes purchases. He just buys something, and keeps it till it breaks.

The problem with this is, if he buys a TV and in 5 years he wants to get a new one, ANY mediocre set in 5 years will be miles ahead of the old TV. That's what happened with his LCD purchase. He can't imagine there's something better than the LCD he bought because the LCD is so much better than our old TV.

With all that said, my motivation is that I do still use the TV. I try coming home on the weekends, and I'll be living at home for a year after I graduate in June, so I would like to also have the best television experience I can.

Anyway, I appreciate everyone's replies.

 

[whoiswes]

I just picked up a 54" Pansonic S1 (one step below the G10/G15 series) at Sears for 1099+tax. There's a 10% off offer if you use your Sears card and 8% Bing cashback as well, so you could be looking at sub-$1K for a 54" plasma.

Hooked it up last night and it's a GORGEOUS picture. Glare is no worse than my 46" Samsung LCD but the contrast, depth, and clarity on the plasma are an order of magnitude better than the LCD it's replacing.

If you can get in on that deal, it's a helluva price for a very nice panel.

 

[Hopeless]

Can you guys list the Panasonic plasmas in order of quality?

So far, my understanding is X<S<G<V. Is this right? Where does U fit in?

Also, budget is $1500 max.

The main models to pay attn to are:
720p X1
1080p S1, G, V, Z

They also make:
720p C1 & X14
1080p U1 & S14
These models lack features here & there.

Overall from my reading & some personal opinion
720p C1, X14, X1
1080p U1, S14, S1, G, V, Z
Even though the X1 is 720p, I'd put it right below S1 if looking at all together.

 

[rivethead]

Any LCD vs Plasma discussion needs to consider operating costs to be totally accurate.

One of the primary advantages to LCD is the lower energy usage and lower heat output.

Lots of articles on this, but if I recall corrrectly:

A 50" plasma will cost about $60-$70/year to operate
A 50" LCD will cost about $30-$40/year to operate
A 50" LED will cost about $20-$30/year to operate

Yes, I'm being very general. If you're in a warm climate (like I am - south Texas) you also have to factor in extra AC costs to cool the room of the extra heat from a plasma (and some of them are like a darn space heater).

 

[blackangst1]

Vizio 55" 1080p LCD at costco on black friday for $1150 is about the best deal you will find. The TV itself has gotten good reviews, no one else has 90 day no questions asked return policy, and 2 year warranty including concierge service free of charge. If something goes wrong, cal the toll free number, they will find a repair shop close to you, set the appt, send them out to fix it, or replace it....free of charge. It cant be beat.

If youre set on plasma (nothing wrong with it) I would consider Costco again for the warranty etc. I got a good deal last week on a 1080p at WalMart, but will taking it back to get one at Costco. (no I dont work for them, its just no one offers the warrantly and service they do. Period.)

If you have a Costco nearby of course lol

 

[StephenViles]

If you guys can give a recommendation for LCD and Plasma, I'd appreciate it. If there's a store nearby with no restocking fee, we might just buy both TVs, compare them, and return the lesser set.

Thanks for any and all help.

I know that BB doesn't have a restocking fee on tvs.

And

I know that the g15 definitely has a better antiglare than the g10.

If you can can get that LH90 for that price though Id snag it , thats one hell of a deal.

 

[alimoalem]

Whoiswes, I'm going to look into that. The jump from S to G might not be justifiable for $200. Then again, I haven't seen either TV in person so maybe it is...but thanks for letting me know about the deal.

Hopeless and Rivethead, thanks for the data.

Blackangst1, I agree, Costco is amazing. Btw, I'm not set on Plasma. From my searching, a 50"+ LED is out of the budget, and the general consensus is plasma > LCD for PQ.

I like what everyone has contributed, thanks everybody. I'm gonna talk to my dad and see what happens.

 

[Blazer]

dont just look at picture quality, ajustment menu, functions, TV tuner, things thats behind the scene [internals] can make big differences in build quality, my first was 32" Vizio plasma, which for its intended use it a great set and picture is great but lacks many menu functions and does suffer some reflection, but has a great tuner for ota, its now a bedroom set, the second was a Sanyo lcd, terrible ota tuner, poor picture with reflection problems and was hard to view from an angle [all lcd's have that problem], third was another vizio but a 42" and the tuner would freeze and become unresponsive which required a shutdown and cord pull and wait an hour, it was returned to Sams, not a good place to buy a TV, finally ordered a Panasonic through amazon, the wait was nail bitting but turned out it was my best investment for a HDTV, also gona get the extended warranty from Mac's, its cheaper and directly from source.

 

[alimoalem]

We ended up getting the Panasonic G10. Thanks guys.