OT: Plasma Vs LCD Tv's

[Bob in Oakboro]

We are looking at buying a new large screen TV. I went through the archives and the last discussion was about a year ago, so I thought it would be good to update on this subject. How do the two types compare? Good Points, bad points.

 

[JDemaris]

Good information about reliabiltity issues and the pros an cons of LCD versus Plasma verus LED are available all over the place, including Consumer Reports. Same with pixel density versus picture quality.

What you will NOT find is info on the TV tuners themselves. That was once a big issue when many people used their own antennas. Now it is again.

Many people in the USA and Canada are finding out they can get better HD TV fron their own antenna than with cable or satellite dish -due to the digital changeover.

My point is - if you plan on using an antenna, do some research. With some new TVs, you cannot add channels manually and/or cannot do mutiple channel scans. If you have an antenna with a rotator -with some TVs it is impossible to get all the channels locked in. Also, some TVs will get channels that others miss due to tuner sensitivity or noise-ratio-rejection.

If you are on cable or satellite, then the tuner doesn't matter much. And, if you don't use Blue Ray, a cheaper 720P TV will do you fine.

 

[Anonymous-0]

The other issue is that an LCD is better were there is more light. Plasma requires more of a darkened room. I have a friend in the business and he recommended Samsung and I am very satisfied.

 

[Bob in Oakboro]

I forgot to say, that for the time being I will be using an antenna and not cable or satellite. The lighting may be an issue. I live in a woods and in the summer sunlight is not an issue, but in the winter it may be.

 

[Anonymous-0]

The LCD's are more resistant to impact damage than Plasma's.
The Plasmas refresh at 600 Hz while the old LCD's refreshed a 60 HZ. The new LCD's refresh at 120 and 240 Hz so the problem is virtually undetected now on the newer LCD's. The LCD's had a problem with tracking or trails in fast motion movies or sports like foot ball. It would leave trails as the object moved across the screen.

 

[Bus Driver]

Be prepared to haul and carry a plasma TV in the upright position ONLY. It has two sheets of glass with narrow space between. Laying flat may cause the glass to sag and touch or break. I bought a LCD for that reason.

 

[JDemaris]

Any antenna coax cable coming into the house ought to have a lighting surge surpressor in-line. It costs about $3 and if lighting hits, it blows and protects your TV.

 

[Russ from MN]

We have noticed that with our converter box, if we put in the channel manually it says no signal, if we do a scan it will pick it up!

 

[Bob in Oakboro]

Good point on the lightning. Our home is equipped with lightning rods because we have such a problem with it. Thanks for mentioning it.

 

[RayP(MI)]

Russ, may be that they"re broadcasting on another channel... We experienced that with local PBS channel. Supposed to be on channel 14, actually on channel 26, but reads out as being 14! This would explain why you could find it on scan.

 

[Anonymous-0]

heard the plasma sucks the electricity.

 

[Dick2]

We learned in our research before buying that plasma TV's fail earlier and more often than LCD TV's.

What we didn't learn at the time that some LCD TV's use more electricity than others. Go through the store displays and hold you hand in front of the flat panel. If it emitting heat, move on to a different brand. Buy one that does not emit heat; it uses less electricity.

We bought a Philips LCD, which emits heat. We also bought a Samsung LCD for the bedroom, which does not emit heat. Now we wish that they were both Samsung.

I put up a new fixed antenna, with an antenna signal booster. Fabulous images; we don't see any need for cable or satelite.

 

[Cliff (VA)]

Bob,

What part of the world are you in? My great Granddaddy lived in Oakboro, NC.

Cliff (VA)

 

[paul]

A computer controls things any more on digital signals. The computer needs to go find the signal. You can't just pounch them in & adjust the vertical hold any more.

Many stations have jumped around, from VHF to UHF and now back to VHF. It takes less power & so is cheaper to broadcast on VHF, so most stations 7-13 had to go up to a UHF channel during the swap over, but have returned or will be returning to their actual VHF number. These are the longer spikes on an outdoor antennea, or the 2 tall spikes on an indoor antenea. Quite a few stations are still moving around or building their 'real' broadcast antennea, and are still on a temperary station at this time.

On a cold clear morning before sunup, if you are in a high pressure, winds kinda calm - you try your scan & be amaqzed at the channels you get. Can be 200+ miles away....

Of course then they won't come in during more 'normal' weather. Here in southern MN, I've gotten central Wisconsin & central Iowa stations at times. Of course, these don't last & are only coming in at certain weather conditions & time of day....

--->Paul

 

[Bob - MI]

We did research and decided on LCD. We are, and have been for a while, Sony fans. Bought a 40" Bravia LCD about 3 years ago now and absolutely love it. It's a 1080P model and the only complaint that I have is the cable feed signal being lousy at times (not the fault of the set). DVD's are super-clear and the detail is amazing.

The bedroom now has a 32" 720P Sony that we got about 8 months ago. This one has a different tuner in it and it gets imbedded signals from the cable feed that the 40" doesn't get. I have High-Def channels and digital music on the bedroom unit that I paid about 1/3 as much for.

I can't say what would be best for you but I have always been happy with Sony products. Yes, they do generate heat at the screen but the flourescent bulbs all develop heat. Plasma sets have a reputation of shorter life and not as good in bright lighting. Plasma owners love their sets, LCD guys are the same.

Do research on-line and see what the ratings are. Black Friday deals are coming quickly and there will be good buys out there.

 

[Bob in Oakboro]

I am in Oakboro NC. My wifes family is from around here. We live along NC 205 near the Mineral Springs Church.

Bob

 

[Cliff (VA)]

My GGrandParents were M.L. (Martin) and Carrie (Brooks) James. James Drive is where their farm used to be. He was a Farmer and a Postman. They had a family of seven. Their oldest daughter Gi was my grandmother.

Your wife's family would most likely know them. GGrandpa died in the fifties after a bull got him. GGMa died in the late sixties. I vaguely remember her. My grandmother and her youngest brother Gerald were the last of the children to go in the nineties.

My mother always had fond memories of the James' and Oakboro. I don't get down there too often since none of the family is still living there.

Nice to talk with you. If your wife has any stories she wants to swap my email is open.

Cliff (VA)

 

[Brad Bucanan]

Hi Bob! We did a bit of research and finally bought a 52" flat panel Magnavox TV. Pros: Fantastic picture (to the point of showing the flaws in the talking heads) blacks are noticebly darker than on LCD, exceptional brightness. Cons: That set is heavy. Had to call my son to help me attach it to the wall, this set draws almost 500 watts when running so it dosn't sit with Spongebob Squarepants running all day. (comparable LCD uses about a hundred watts less).

Hope this helps

 

[Anonymous-0]

DON'T buy plasma!

When I retired 3 years ago, I bought a 42" Sanyo plasma TV from Walmart. Last summer, it puked. I checked, and it would have cost me $700 to repair! They DO suck more electricity and produce more heat. I wish I had done my homework better beforehand! I now have a 32" Visio LCD TV and like it a lot.