[MB330]

Originally Posted by findtom

If money is no issue get a 335i.

[dzenno]

Originally Posted by findtom

If money is no issue get a 335i.

Wow, didn't realize that..thanks for the advice

[Asiann]

Love the Sony and all of their products. Almost everything I have is Sony. I have the 50 inch model before the XBR came out. I love it especially in HD. The bulb you have to change down the road is only like $260 so won't have to change that out for a while. I had a software update because of a problem with the TV and the tech came out and stuck his thumb drive and updated the software at my house. Now that's service! They also happen to have a repair store here. Sony is a trusted name with quality products! Just like buying a BMW. There may be better cars but you stick with what you like!

[Juve29]

I just bought a Hitachi Plasma 42". I debated between Panasonic and Hitachi. I ended up choosing Hitachi because it had more inputs than Panasonic and it had more pixels (1080).

Initially I wanted a Pioneer, but unfortunately my budget did not allow me to get one. So far I'm very happy with my purchase.

I prefer Plasma to LCD, the image seems clearer on the plasma. Furthermore, a lot of reviews recommended plasma over LCD.

[txusa03]

like bruno said, do some honest research and do not fixate on "sony" like I do with BMW.

[nostrum09]

Originally Posted by dzenno

Fading problem with Plasmas is exactly what I'm afraid of. I don't like DLP because of the bulb change every so often. I like LCDs because of this.

So far from what I've seen Sony Bravias seem to be the best choice, not just design wise but also picture wise.

What will be your uses for the TV, and in what kind of environment?

Also, if the only reason you don't like DLP is because of changing the bulb, Samsung has an LED backlit DLP TV.

[nostrum09]

Originally Posted by jadeddjay

lcd: sharp aquos line.. newer ones are all 1080p, i just ordered the 37" lc-37d9u, theres also an lc-46d62u i think thats 46"

if you really wanted a plasma i hear the pannys really good but for all practical purposes i would get an lcd

Careful with 1080p. It's possible to buy a 1080p TV whose inputs only accept 1080i -- the image is upconverted to 1080p, but that's not as ideal as 1080p source into 1080p input.

The newest ones do have 1080p inputs, but I wouldn't trust your average BestBuy employee to know the difference, so try to check online, first.

[Josh49]

Personally, I think Samsung has the best looking plamas on the market. And the price of Samsung isn't retardedly (this might be a word?) inflated like Sony pricing..

PS. I love Sony products. I have a vaio, cybershot, a clie, I think sony is awesome. But their flat tv's aren't that good/cost 2x more than other brands that look better.. (Just my opinion)

[txusa03]

Originally Posted by Josh49

Personally, I think Samsung has the best looking plamas on the market. And the price of Samsung isn't retardedly (this might be a word?) inflated like Sony pricing..

PS. I love Sony products. I have a vaio, cybershot, a clie, I think sony is awesome. But their flat tv's aren't that good/cost 2x more than other brands that look better.. (Just my opinion)

When you say "look better" you talking about the images it produce/replicate or you talking about the design look of the TV unit?

[drkeng]

Sound & Vision October issue just arrived with the Pioneer Elite 50 inch plasma on the cover with the headline "Plasma Envy."

Bottom line from the article: "the top of the flat-panel TV food chain."

$10,000 list price listed as a disadvantage, but that's not for us BMW owners, right?

From the article it doesn't sound like it has the separate media box to hook everything into. It describes "input connections on the back."

Interesting that they say if you sit farther back than 6 ft (seems close for a 50" screen) you lose the effect of 1080p.

[Josh49]

Originally Posted by txusa03

When you say "look better" you talking about the images it produce/replicate or you talking about the design look of the TV unit?

Images. I think for some comparable models (size and model-wise), I like the look of the Samsung picture better than Sony. I don't really look at the design of the tv around the screen too much, but I have to say there was one Sony design I was in love with for a long time. The picture and TV speakers were suspended in a clear piece with the Sony emblem and power icon being lit by downward firing LED's. That was one incredible looking TV...

I think the best way to shop for a TV is to go to the store and look at them. I don't care what the specs are whether it has 7403893ign, 38429iugfhj, th2894498jgg, a 100,000e90:1 contrast ratio, the best way to pick them out is to go and look at them. Look at them from different angles, different distances, and block out the brand names in your head. You'll know which tv looks the best at that point, it'll be very clear which one to get... Only look at the sizes you're interested in... Also, if the price of the one you pick is too much, wait a while.. It'll go on sale, or you'll get coupons or something in the mail..

[txusa03]

Originally Posted by Josh49

Images. I think for some comparable models (size and model-wise), I like the look of the Samsung picture better than Sony. I don't really look at the design of the tv around the screen too much, but I have to say there was one Sony design I was in love with for a long time. The picture and TV speakers were suspended in a clear piece with the Sony emblem and power icon being lit by downward firing LED's. That was one incredible looking TV...

I think the best way to shop for a TV is to go to the store and look at them. I don't care what the specs are whether it has 7403893ign, 38429iugfhj, th2894498jgg, a 100,000e90:1 contrast ratio, the best way to pick them out is to go and look at them. Look at them from different angles, different distances, and block out the brand names in your head. You'll know which tv looks the best at that point, it'll be very clear which one to get... Only look at the sizes you're interested in... Also, if the price of the one you pick is too much, wait a while.. It'll go on sale, or you'll get coupons or something in the mail..

I have one thing to add, I agreed you should go to the store and just look at all of them (the best way to compare). But I was told and have read that you should also consider what format you are primarily watching on. It makes a big difference if you watch DVD all the time, then you should be looking into a tv that are built to handle dvd or 1080 format or what ever format. That is why I am so confused (what format is available now and what format is going to be readily available in the future).

[Brunotheboxer]

Originally Posted by drkeng

[
Interesting that they say if you sit farther back than 6 ft (seems close for a 50" screen) you lose the effect of 1080p.

actually, thats about right for a 50 incher.

[hotsand5]

Well for $10,000 you can get the new pioneer plasma 50" with 1080p. If money is not an issue, and quality is still important, then you can get a Zenith 50" ---made by LG for about $2400. I have one, and love it. Let us know what you get though...but my heart has always been with Pioneer.

[hotsand5]

Originally Posted by Josh49

Images. I think for some comparable models (size and model-wise), I like the look of the Samsung picture better than Sony. I don't really look at the design of the tv around the screen too much, but I have to say there was one Sony design I was in love with for a long time. The picture and TV speakers were suspended in a clear piece with the Sony emblem and power icon being lit by downward firing LED's. That was one incredible looking TV...

I think the best way to shop for a TV is to go to the store and look at them. I don't care what the specs are whether it has 7403893ign, 38429iugfhj, th2894498jgg, a 100,000e90:1 contrast ratio, the best way to pick them out is to go and look at them. Look at them from different angles, different distances, and block out the brand names in your head. You'll know which tv looks the best at that point, it'll be very clear which one to get... Only look at the sizes you're interested in... Also, if the price of the one you pick is too much, wait a while.. It'll go on sale, or you'll get coupons or something in the mail..

Josh, the only problem with that is the store is going to set the picture of the certain TV's the way that they want to sell certain TV's. You ever wonder how they never provide displays for the remotes for plasma TV's now??? The common buyer has no ideal that the picture setting--even the auto. settings can be changed to look a lot better than they really are! Try to read some reviews online about what others said about their tv's. That might help a little bit more too.

[Josh49]

Originally Posted by hotsand5

Josh, the only problem with that is the store is going to set the picture of the certain TV's the way that they want to sell certain TV's. You ever wonder how they never provide displays for the remotes for plasma TV's now??? The common buyer has no ideal that the picture setting--even the auto. settings can be changed to look a lot better than they really are! Try to read some reviews online about what others said about their tv's. That might help a little bit more too.

Yes, I agree, always do a lot of online reviews..

To be honest I have never heard of stores skewing picture settings to make certain ones look better than others. Do you have first-hand knowledge of this, or is it conspiracy theory (I don't mean this in a mean way at all, I'm just curious if that's your theory, or if you own a Circuit City for instance and instruct the managers to do this) If this was the case, you would think the more expensive Sony models would be tuned to look better, but in fact (last time I was looking at larger LCD's), I really think the Samsung looks much better.. Again, this is just my observation..

In any case, I think the OP has some good info to go find an awesome TV and invite us over for the SuperBowl...

[larryn]

People have different preferences, but I would highly reccommend doing some of your own research. I would start here. AVSForum is the defacto enthusiast site for this.

If you can swing it, go for a 1080p with a high contrast ratio display. Getting blacks that look black, and whites that look white, while preserving details of the lesser shades are characteristics of some of the best displays. The good news is that there are more and more of the better displays, andnot as many of the lesser quality displays these day (though they certainly exist).

Plasma has great contrast and a beautiful pic, but can suffer from burn in. LCD displays are getting better and better and do not have burn in issues. DLPs offer a great picture as well, but are projection tvs and are generally 10"-20" deep at the size you wanted, and are not wall mountable.

The link I provided has an overview and user reviews of all of the current (and very soon to the market) displays available to you. Plus all of the tvs are discussed, beyond the reviews. Read, learn, go see for yourself, and enjoy what you wind up with.

[Viral]

well, if you're in Toronto then EVERYTHING will be expensive. Plus, many people on here are trying to compare plasma with LCD.

If you're set on Sony Bravia, the only real gauge for comparison you have is the Sharp Aquos. Both are equally as good (from the many reviews/people I've heard from), just depends on how picky you are about certain differentiating factors.

[Brunotheboxer]

^ yes i agree, the AVS forum is very good.