Calling TV geeks

[Electric Amish]

$4000-$4500
40-50" screen

What would you buy?

HD ready, of course.

Thanks.

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish
$4000-$4500
40-50" screen

What would you buy?

HD ready, of course.

Thanks.

I would buy that cool guy dabuddha a nice tv

 

[Electric Amish]

I wish it was for me....but it's a friend's parents...

 

[shuan24]

they make a LCD tv that big yet? thats what i would get.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish
$4000-$4500
40-50" screen

What would you buy?

HD ready, of course.

Thanks.

If you are limited to those sizes, I would look at a Panasonic plasma display. If you felt like saving some money or buying a larger screen, you can pick up a DLP rear projection TV from Samsung.

Sorry, I can't be arsed to look up some model numbers for you. I would, but I'm a little lacking in time right now.

 

[CalvinHobbes]

LCD or DLP. There are some nice ones out now. They're getting better and better. I still prefer CRT displays if you have the room for it. Nothing like a 65" widescreen HDTV.

AVSForum (my second home)

 

[purbeast0]

i would pick up the JVC D-ILA 52" TV. it retails for $3500 and was on sale this past weekend for $3300 at BB. i actually picked up a 50" tv this past weekend. i went with a 50" samsung for $2700. its a DLP rear projection tv. if you are looking to spend $4000 - $5000 on a 40-50 inch tv, then i would definitel go with plasma.

you can get a tv your size EASILY for < $3000. i personally would have gotten the JVC one if i had more $$$ but that just wasn't in my budget. that tv had such a great picture when i saw it, but i ended up with the 50" samsung, and i couldn't be more happy with it.

i would recommend a DLP over an LCD (if you don't go plasma). its just a personal opinion of mine from the past research i did over the past few weeks.

EDIT: or the newest samsung or mitsubishi DLP's are actually around $4000 and i did see those at Tweeter this past weekend. man those mitsubishi tv's are so awesome, just way out of my price range. i would go with a mitsubishi high-end DLP if i were you.

 

[Electric Amish]

The 42" Plasma are around $4500

I thought this looked pretty nice.

 

[CalvinHobbes]

I've never been a fan of JVC but there HD-ILA is very nice. Sony has some new technology that is really sweet. Not sure how long it will take before we see it on the <$20,000 products.

 

[irwincur]

What do they need and want? There are many options, some good, some bad. DLPs are probably the best all around but they better check it out first, if they see rainbows they may not want one. Up to 30% of people are turned off by DLP rainbows. LCDs are nice, but picture quality is junk, at least compared to the competition. Plasma's are also nice, but for the most part PDP technology will not be around for the long haul, and the TVs themselves tend to be crap. Mix that with non square pixels and they can look down right odd. CRTs are still around, and still offering the best overall image quality. If they have the room they should look at a nice high end 7" CRT RPTV, 7" is the size of the lens element. Why 7", because it is damn sharp, combine that with the other CRT advantages and you have the best TV possible. I believe that Mitsubishi makes RPTVs with 7" guns.

 

[JRVette]

Originally posted by: CalvinHobbes
I've never been a fan of JVC but there HD-ILA is very nice. Sony has some new technology that is really sweet. Not sure how long it will take before we see it on the <$20,000 products.

The reviews of the JVC HD-ILA are horrible (CNET for one). If it were me, I would buy the Toshiba 46HM94 DLP...as a matter of fact, I might just do that!

 

[Electric Amish]

Originally posted by: irwincur
What do they need and want? There are many options, some good, some bad. DLPs are probably the best all around but they better check it out first, if they see rainbows they may not want one. Up to 30% of people are turned off by DLP rainbows. LCDs are nice, but picture quality is junk, at least compared to the competition. Plasma's are also nice, but for the most part PDP technology will not be around for the long haul, and the TVs themselves tend to be crap. Mix that with non square pixels and they can look down right odd. CRTs are still around, and still offering the best overall image quality. If they have the room they should look at a nice high end 7" CRT RPTV, 7" is the size of the lens element. Why 7", because it is damn sharp, combine that with the other CRT advantages and you have the best TV possible. I believe that Mitsubishi makes RPTVs with 7" guns.

You have all the info I received. Something in the 40-50" size range and around $4000 price range. I'm sure they'll base their decision on the way it looks. They were just trying to find a starting point for shopping.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: irwincur
What do they need and want? There are many options, some good, some bad. DLPs are probably the best all around but they better check it out first, if they see rainbows they may not want one. Up to 30% of people are turned off by DLP rainbows. LCDs are nice, but picture quality is junk, at least compared to the competition. Plasma's are also nice, but for the most part PDP technology will not be around for the long haul, and the TVs themselves tend to be crap. Mix that with non square pixels and they can look down right odd. CRTs are still around, and still offering the best overall image quality. If they have the room they should look at a nice high end 7" CRT RPTV, 7" is the size of the lens element. Why 7", because it is damn sharp, combine that with the other CRT advantages and you have the best TV possible. I believe that Mitsubishi makes RPTVs with 7" guns.

I checked out their Model Selector and found the WS 48515. How can I tell if it has the 7" element? (i didn't se it mentioned in the spec sheet...)

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: Mwilding

Originally posted by: irwincur
What do they need and want? There are many options, some good, some bad. DLPs are probably the best all around but they better check it out first, if they see rainbows they may not want one. Up to 30% of people are turned off by DLP rainbows. LCDs are nice, but picture quality is junk, at least compared to the competition. Plasma's are also nice, but for the most part PDP technology will not be around for the long haul, and the TVs themselves tend to be crap. Mix that with non square pixels and they can look down right odd. CRTs are still around, and still offering the best overall image quality. If they have the room they should look at a nice high end 7" CRT RPTV, 7" is the size of the lens element. Why 7", because it is damn sharp, combine that with the other CRT advantages and you have the best TV possible. I believe that Mitsubishi makes RPTVs with 7" guns.

I checked out their Model Selector and found the WS 48515. How can I tell if it has the 7" element? (i didn't se it mentioned in the spec sheet...)

That's a 7". Only their 73" models, plus their 65" diamond series uses the awesome 9" guns.

 

[flot]

Of all the options available now why oh why would you recommend an RPTV with CRT guns?!?

Obviously you don't have enough info, but for that $ I'd say they should go with a DLP or LCD projector (most people will be happiest with those for a floorstanding set) or if they want to wow their friends go with a plasma, I think you should be able to pick up a 50" in the mid $4000s.

Of course the catch is that in all honesty, TVs are going to change a lot over the next 1-3 years. A better piece of advice would be for them to spend $2500 now (which will buy a nice 50" RPTV) and save the other $2000 and use that towards something that will probably be substantially better in 2006.

 

[TechnoKid]

HLP5674W - 56" Tantus

http://www.digiupdate.com/105_DLP_RPTV.html

 

[mikeford]

Buying a HUGE piece of furniture, and somebodies TV seems to me a big mistake. Give them a nice card and take them after Xmas with you to buy one THEY like.

Before you go, do some research, and measuring where the tv is supposed to go (so that outlets etc are ready).

BTW keep in mind that by buying this, you are also going to be giving 24/7 lifetime support.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish
$4000-$4500
40-50" screen

What would you buy?

HD ready, of course.

Thanks.

I would get a bigger screen.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: KnightBreed

Originally posted by: Electric Amish
$4000-$4500
40-50" screen

What would you buy?

HD ready, of course.

Thanks.

If you are limited to those sizes, I would look at a Panasonic plasma display. If you felt like saving some money or buying a larger screen, you can pick up a DLP rear projection TV from Samsung.

Sorry, I can't be arsed to look up some model numbers for you. I would, but I'm a little lacking in time right now.

seconded, choose 1 - window like plasma display or more real estate.

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish
The 42" Plasma are around $4500

I thought this looked pretty nice.

For a $4500 plasma purchase, I'd personally go for the 50" Panasonic TH-50PHD7UY. Awesome plasma.

Originally posted by: JRVette

Originally posted by: CalvinHobbes
I've never been a fan of JVC but there HD-ILA is very nice. Sony has some new technology that is really sweet. Not sure how long it will take before we see it on the <$20,000 products.

The reviews of the JVC HD-ILA are horrible (CNET for one). If it were me, I would buy the Toshiba 46HM94 DLP...as a matter of fact, I might just do that!

Unfortunately, trusting C|Net for HT display reviews is like trusting PETA for reviews of the best steakhouses.

Originally posted by: flot
Of all the options available now why oh why would you recommend an RPTV with CRT guns?!?

Each technology has its advantages and disadvantages. When calibrated correctly, CRT based RPTV's have excellent black levels (best ones short of CRT front projectors), high resolution (up to 1400 pixels wide for the best 7" CRT's, up to 1650 pixels wide or so for the best 9" CRT's), very smooth picture, no ghosting, no digital artifacts, no bulbs to replace, and are priced well. All of that adds up to an excellent picture, better than DLP, LCD, D-ILA, plasma, and everything else FOR MOST APPLICATIONS. It all depends on your viewing perferences, in your viewing room, with your source material.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Apex

Originally posted by: flot
Of all the options available now why oh why would you recommend an RPTV with CRT guns?!?

Each technology has its advantages and disadvantages. When calibrated correctly, CRT based RPTV's have excellent black levels (best ones short of CRT front projectors), high resolution (up to 1400 pixels wide for the best 7" CRT's, up to 1650 pixels wide or so for the best 9" CRT's), very smooth picture, no ghosting, no digital artifacts, no bulbs to replace, and are priced well. All of that adds up to an excellent picture, better than DLP, LCD, D-ILA, plasma, and everything else FOR MOST APPLICATIONS. It all depends on your viewing perferences, in your viewing room, with your source material.

I think agree with you Apex. If size isn't a concern I'd go with tried and true CRT as well. Everytime I walk into a store the best looking picture is always on a Mitsubishi.

<-- Wishes for more then his 32" Toshiba non-HD set.

 

[cerebusPu]

this reminds me...my old CRT TV has a pink lower corner. its been bothering me alot lately. I dont feel like buying a TV yet though. i have to wait till i can afford something large.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: cerebusPu
this reminds me...my old CRT TV has a pink lower corner. its been bothering me alot lately. I dont feel like buying a TV yet though. i have to wait till i can afford something large.

rotate your TV or move to a different part of the house. earth's magnetic fields ya know.

 

[cerebusPu]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: cerebusPu
this reminds me...my old CRT TV has a pink lower corner. its been bothering me alot lately. I dont feel like buying a TV yet though. i have to wait till i can afford something large.

rotate your TV or move to a different part of the house. earth's magnetic fields ya know.

hahah..i just went to rotate the TV. the pink corner went away....but i have to face the TV against the wall.

lol...so thanks spidey for helping me fix the TV. but ummm....i need to figure out a new spot cause i cant watch it when its facing the wall.

 

[amol]

40" Samsung LCD - $5000

50" Samsung DLP - $4200