Quote:
Originally Posted by dd3mon
The amount of misinformation here in this thread is easily on the level of the misinformation given about headphones in computer/hot deal/any other forums. Please go read AVS forums or some place far more informed than here on TVs.
1) LCD TVs have drastically improved but still can't quite compete with a modern plasma display in the areas of black level and contrast. (Totally opposite information has been given here for unknown reasons).
2) EDTVs will cover all your standard definition DVDs in terms of resolution and in fact standard definition content (SD) will look better on an EDTV than an equivalent HDTV of the same size/manufacturer due to less scaling, but the difference in the newest models (especially Panasonic) is very slight (scaling algorithms are getting much better).
3) The point has been made (and ignored by the original poster) that HDTV content is now broadcast OVER THE AIR (OTA) - meaning without cable or satellite - just with an antenna as TV was in the old days and still is by some.
I've been doing research for buying a 42" Plasma for my parents, and have determined through multiple knowledgable sources (ie: comparative reviews) that Panasonic plasmas are leading the market in terms of picture quality at the moment. EDTV or HDTV versions, a current (8th generation) Panasonic plasma will serve you well. I would recommend the HDTV version to someone unless the money was very important to them now (which doesn't make much sense if you're spending this much on a TV in the first place) - because HD content (over any medium, pre-recorded movies, TV in any form, games, etc) will be mainstream well before the TV will be put out of use.
If you're set on buying a TV now that's my pick - but for my money I'm waiting since my old $300 25" Tube 4:3 set still works fine and gives a great picture. Upcoming SED technology from Canon has me excited for one, also falling prices & improved quality plasma/lcd screens are a given as well.
Tip for the future - don't ask questions like this here. The average person here knows good facts about headphones/amps/sources/etc and probably some other totally random other subjects, but will most likely have strong opinions on most other things as well.
-dd3mon
|
CLIFF NOTE:
www.avsforum.com <--- go there
for over 40" TV go with plasma over LCD. Not worth it right now, but soon LCD TV will dominate because of how close they are getting in picture quality added to the low cost of making the TV and price outcompete plasma in a few years. That is until LcOS comes in. Right now plasma is the best outside of gaming (due to slight burn in even with all the advancements its noticeable when gaming for many hours, which doesn't apply to your case so ignore). Also LCD TV can carry more pixels, lower power, lightweight, improvements in color, can be much thinner, no burn in, etc are good reasons to get LCD now, but contrast is already becoming very close (sharp & sony new LCD have great contrast), and the only problem for LCD would be black level and color due to leaking... which LcoS claims to fix and match in all other areas with LCD along with better color.
Get the panasonic plasma if you can (a lot of locations it is sold out), if you can't find it go with the pioneers (both with the latest generations).
And get HDTV for goodness sake... it should last about 5 years and HDTV will be mainstream and SDTV will be history no matter where your getting your source. You also realize that Asia (china, japan, korea, etc) are more advanced then the US... if you've been there most of their channels are in HD and SD will be history sooner then US. Once the US gets rid of SD, its all HD from there and if their watching TV from China it will also be in HD, maybe sooner then US becoming entirely HD. In most cases they are probably right now downgrading the China source which in HD to SD and sending it to you via satellite. This will change in a few years.
All this is to say that HDTV for satellite china source will most likely be a reality sooner then you think because the source is HDTV already and broadcasting HDTV is no longer a big issue, its just a matter of transferring the same source quality instead of the hassle of downgrading to SD.
Normal TV will also be more and more HD and DVD's will be higher quality very soon. Technology is moving fast and articles saying get EDTV are usually a couple of months old and if they do the research again, more and more reasons will come up to get HDTV over EDTV.
