Plasma TV Opinions

[Folanator]

Originally Posted by jwinslow

Of the affordable plasmas (as in not Pioneer Kuro's), Panasonic is the clearcut best model from all research I've done. Samsung is the only close second, but sufers from judder.

Not too much picture differences between the different panasonic's (just feature sets).

I have judder around the middle, but only when I run fast.

I read that the new panasonic line has double the picture color half life of the older models. It is about 500$ more.

Grad, I have looked at the Pan, and it is beautiful. I think I might take the $500 and upgrade my Sirius TIVO to Hi-def and be happy.

Really looking forward to watching the Stanley Cup hi-def.

[exhawg]

Originally Posted by Folanator

I have judder around the middle, but only when I run fast.

I read that the new panasonic line has double the picture color half life of the older models. It is about 500$ more.

Grad, I have looked at the Pan, and it is beautiful. I think I might take the $500 and upgrade my Sirius TIVO to Hi-def and be happy.

Really looking forward to watching the Stanley Cup hi-def.

What's that??? Something you heard about in Obscure Sports Quarterly?

[Folanator]

Originally Posted by exhawg

What's that??? Something you heard about in Obscure Sports Quarterly?

Oh [censored] off. Hockey rules. It's BIG TIME TV on Vs.

[CleveBucks]

Never noticed judder on my Samsung. Some of the older ones had it, but from what I can tell upgrading the firmware fixes the problem on the older sets. Love my 50".

[exhawg]

Originally Posted by CleveBucks

Never noticed judder on my Samsung. Some of the older ones had it, but from what I can tell upgrading the firmware fixes the problem on the older sets. Love my 50".

My buddy has a 50 Samsung and it is the best tv I've ever seen in someone's house. I think it's around 3 years old now.

[Folanator]

Originally Posted by exhawg

My buddy has a 50 Samsung and it is the best tv I've ever seen in someone's house. I think it's around 3 years old now.

Just went to Sams and the Panasonics are all gone. Crap! Here is another option I am looking at.

LN-T5265FX - Samsung LN-T5265FX 52?? 1080p HD 15000:1 LCD TV
Price: $1777.00
Status IN STOCK

[sandgk]

If that isn't a refurbished unit then $1777 is a very good price.
HDTV Review
The "65" series is the last before Samsung went to 120 Hz refresh rates on their large screen displays.

[rocketman]

Get it. I have the "71" series and I can't really tell a difference when the 120Hz feature is on or not. In retrospect, I could have saved some serious coin by going to the 65 series, but oh well. Either way it's a kick ass LCD, and I love it - watching NBA playoffs on it... it's a little slice of heaven.

[BuckeyeMac]

I'm looking for a new TV for my apartment, but I don't have a ton of money. I'm looking to spend under OR around $800 with a service plan for a TV. I found this on Best Buy, is this a good deal??

Insignia® - 42" 720p Flat-Panel Plasma HDTV - NS-PDP42

[utgrad73]

Originally Posted by mstevmac

I'm looking for a new TV for my apartment, but I don't have a ton of money. I'm looking to spend under OR around $800 with a service plan for a TV. I found this on Best Buy, is this a good deal??

Insignia? - 42" 720p Flat-Panel Plasma HDTV - NS-PDP42

Try this. Shop the same TV on the internet. There are many suppliers. Then take in a couple of internet quotes in and ask Best Buy to match it. It worked for me, they knocked off several hundred dollars on a 52" Sharp that I bought. The idea is that you want to buy a TV locally, get the service plan and have it delivered (I borrowed a friends truck). Shipping one thru UPS or Fed Ex may not be the best thing to do if you want it all in one piece when it arrives.

[Taosman]

Service plans are generally not worth the money unless you buy a Volkswagen. They suck! It's just a way of retailers making more money.
The truth of the matter is customer service has gone the way of many other outdated things. It just doesn't exist for the most part.
Don't pay for it!

Go down in size to a 37in and look at a Visio 37. Circuit City and I believe Sam's Club have them. Walmart might also.

[sandgk]

Originally Posted by mstevmac

I'm looking for a new TV for my apartment, but I don't have a ton of money. I'm looking to spend under OR around $800 with a service plan for a TV. I found this on Best Buy, is this a good deal??

Insignia? - 42" 720p Flat-Panel Plasma HDTV - NS-PDP42

Try this - Price great - Quality questionable:

CNET's review of the Insignia TV:

The good: Inexpensive; accurate initial color temperature; solid selection of picture adjustments; clean design.
The bad: Unacceptable incidence of image retention (burn-in); produces a relatively light shade of black; some video noise; softer image with 1080i sources.
The bottom line: Serious issues with image burn-in spoil the Insignia NS-PDP42's appeal as an inexpensive plasma HDTV.

Plasma is coming down in price (hurray!) but you still do get what you pay for, and $699 is a steal - unless those burn-in issues are endemic. In which case, how much is a [censored]-poor plasma really worth?

In the interest of being fair and balanced - Insignia is also known to be LG's last year's model. (AVS Forum) LG has a reasonable rep.

[exhawg]

I don't know if you are married to plasma, I know I used to be. I got this TV (Olevia rather than Syntax, but it's the same TV) for $699. It has a great picture and I love everything about it if you are looking for quality on the cheep.

Micro Center Online - 242V 42" Widescreen LCD HDTV

[BuckeyeMac]

So I went out and got a Samsung 32" from Best Buy last Thursday. I hooked it up and it looks great. However I may have a problem with the audio. Whenever I change a channel, the audio and video comes up, but after a second of watching the channel fine, the Audio goes out like someone put it on mute. It goes out for about a half second then comes back on and everything is peachy until I change channels again. I am hooked up directly from the wall to the tv via cable cord (no cables boxes, etc). I must add that in between the wall output to the TV I have a splitter that goes to a tv in my roomates room for his tv which also has another splitter for our cable modem.

Is it the TV or what could be wrong?

[utgrad73]

Originally Posted by mstevmac

So I went out and got a Samsung 32" from Best Buy last Thursday. I hooked it up and it looks great. However I may have a problem with the audio. Whenever I change a channel, the audio and video comes up, but after a second of watching the channel fine, the Audio goes out like someone put it on mute. It goes out for about a half second then comes back on and everything is peachy until I change channels again. I am hooked up directly from the wall to the tv via cable cord (no cables boxes, etc). I must add that in between the wall output to the TV I have a splitter that goes to a tv in my roomates room for his tv which also has another splitter for our cable modem.

Is it the TV or what could be wrong?

You might need a cable amplifier. It boosts the signal when there are several things on at the same time. Try the new TV on with nothing else. Then add the other TV and then turn on the computer. My house has a couple of splitters. The main TV would pixelate until the amp was added. I'm surperise that the PC isn't on a separate line.