Plasma VS LCD?

[kaydee457 13]

What about the organization they reference?

According to the Imaging Science Foundation, a group that consults for home-theater maufacturers and trains professional video calibrators,

Perhaps they are acquiring their opinions from the same technical article I read?

Well, ISF are big on calibrations and they know their stuff. I just find it odd they make such statements that are so easily disputed. Debating contrast can easily get confusing. For example a 10,000:1 ratio (my TV) means that the black is 10,000 times darker than the white. When you really think about it, what if absolute black is achieved at 1000xwhite. Then wouldn't that mean the 9000 extra amount to nothing?

Since the 9000 in between doesn't mean that it can articulate more within that black/white range, because that function is handled by your screen's gray scale processer.

Intersting. I thought that the "black" that the human eye discerns is a function of the "white" that it sees, and processes and if the "white" >> the black then your eye, or brain doesn't recover.

Sort of like the flash from a camera that opens your iris and blinds you. I thought that contrast ratio had that effect on your vision.

Seems like that would distort your vision. I don't think it's a form of visual psychology.

But that's how contrast is supposed to be processed by the eye......or at least the way I've been taught. Your eye averages, and then adjusts to the image levels, both white and black. The whiter/brighter the average image, the blacker the blacks.......

[mRx 16]

You guys are in the "technical" weeds here.

How about a translation into a 42" size product recommendation? Plasma or LCD, and brand/model#?

That would be a big help.

lol sorry bout that William.

Well, are you set on a max of 42 inches?

Are you firm on a LCD/plasma?

Primarily what sources do you plan on viewing?

A side note:

(Since HD-DVD is going announce its giving up the format war, Blu ray will become the sole High definition disc)

[William33 110]

Sources: HDTV (Cable--still buried in a contract) and DVD.

We were thinking of this product:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Hitachi-42-...roductDetail.do

Although it was $1229 yesterday...

Either way, we plan to go with: Sony, Samsung, Toshiba, Sharp or Hitachi.

I am starting to warm-up to the idea of a DLP, as GaryC pointed out. My sister has one and cannot stop promoting it.

[kaydee457 13]

Sources: HDTV (Cable--still buried in a contract) and DVD.

We were thinking of this product:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Hitachi-42-...roductDetail.do

Although it was $1229 yesterday...

Either way, we plan to go with: Sony, Samsung, Toshiba, Sharp or Hitachi.

I am starting to warm-up to the idea of a DLP, as GaryC pointed out. My sister has one and cannot stop promoting it.

I'm surprised to see a plasma at 42"...I guess it must be 37" and below that's mostly LCD?

Anyway, you can't go wrong with any of those mfg's but you need to pay attention to the spec's.....

Plasma's aren't very reliable, and use a lot of power. If you decide to go for a plasma then get the service contract.

They also have a glare problem. Why not do a Goggle search on HDTV and read about the differences between DLP, LCD, and Plasma.......

[isleta521 5]

Sources: HDTV (Cable--still buried in a contract) and DVD.

We were thinking of this product:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Hitachi-42-...roductDetail.do

Although it was $1229 yesterday...

Either way, we plan to go with: Sony, Samsung, Toshiba, Sharp or Hitachi.

I am starting to warm-up to the idea of a DLP, as GaryC pointed out. My sister has one and cannot stop promoting it.

If (when) the DLP bulbs burn out (I believe some have more than one) , replacing them can be expensive. And there have been some DLP bulbs that become obsolete after time which could render your DLP usless from what I have seen with DLP projectors. Again, our toshiba 42" 1080 has great color, clarity and reception which we just purchased a month ago for under 1200.00.

[mRx 16]

Sources: HDTV (Cable--still buried in a contract) and DVD.

We were thinking of this product:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Hitachi-42-...roductDetail.do

Although it was $1229 yesterday...

Either way, we plan to go with: Sony, Samsung, Toshiba, Sharp or Hitachi.

I am starting to warm-up to the idea of a DLP, as GaryC pointed out. My sister has one and cannot stop promoting it.

I was once firm on an LCD HDTV. I was actually at Best buy in the checkout lane with one! I walked away though, to think about it. Glad I did.

I personally have a Sony KDS 55 A2000. At that price and for the features it offered, (1080p, multiple HDMI inputs), a similarily loaded LCD would cost that and only be 42 inches. So by choosing the TV I did, I basically got 13 more inches for free, without sacrificing any quality.

But this is entirely your decision. As Gary said, LCDs and plasmas are getting better. My brother has a 42inch Toshiba LCD that he got for 15 hunny. He loves it.

So whatever you do, make sure you research it fully. And definetely check out AVS forum.

Good luck Will!

[Cassandra+Yuibi 0]

A friend of mine works at Best Buy and has said that when they turn the Plasma TV's off at night they all have the image of what was playing stuck on them. Ick.

We have a 32" Sharp AQUOS LCD and I love it. NO GLARE! Maybe it's just me, but considering the massive amounts of windows (facing east no less) in my house, I appreciate finally not having glare on my TV from 9am to 6pm.

[GaryC 7]

Sources: HDTV (Cable--still buried in a contract) and DVD.

We were thinking of this product:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Hitachi-42-...roductDetail.do

Although it was $1229 yesterday...

Either way, we plan to go with: Sony, Samsung, Toshiba, Sharp or Hitachi.

I am starting to warm-up to the idea of a DLP, as GaryC pointed out. My sister has one and cannot stop promoting it.

If (when) the DLP bulbs burn out (I believe some have more than one) , replacing them can be expensive. And there have been some DLP bulbs that become obsolete after time which could render your DLP usless from what I have seen with DLP projectors. Again, our toshiba 42" 1080 has great color, clarity and reception which we just purchased a month ago for under 1200.00.

Thats why I went with the 3 year warranty from CircuitCity. For $200 I got an in home full warranty that covers the bulb. If, at the end of 3 years, I didn't need a new bulb they will send me one free of charge. Pretty sweet deal considering I got a 50" TV for $1000. I am satisfied.

[isleta521 5]

Sources: HDTV (Cable--still buried in a contract) and DVD.

We were thinking of this product:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Hitachi-42-...roductDetail.do

Although it was $1229 yesterday...

Either way, we plan to go with: Sony, Samsung, Toshiba, Sharp or Hitachi.

I am starting to warm-up to the idea of a DLP, as GaryC pointed out. My sister has one and cannot stop promoting it.

If (when) the DLP bulbs burn out (I believe some have more than one) , replacing them can be expensive. And there have been some DLP bulbs that become obsolete after time which could render your DLP usless from what I have seen with DLP projectors. Again, our toshiba 42" 1080 has great color, clarity and reception which we just purchased a month ago for under 1200.00.

Thats why I went with the 3 year warranty from CircuitCity. For $200 I got an in home full warranty that covers the bulb. If, at the end of 3 years, I didn't need a new bulb they will send me one free of charge. Pretty sweet deal considering I got a 50" TV for $1000. I am satisfied.

Sounds like you have your bases covered.