[frkksptn]

Anyone have any good information or sources for information on these? I've began thinking about getting a TV and don't know where to start. I want cheap, 42", 1080p. I also prefer trusted brands, usually.

What's the pro's and con's for plasma and LCD for movies, games, HD and non-HD. Do they have TV tuners to pick up broadcast stations?

[escolubtessen]

After comparing many LCDs and Plasmas I decided to go for a Panasonic 42" Plasma from the S10 series, and I love it. In my opinion SD content looks alot better than on LCDs (and 99% of tv here is SD), the colors look more natural.

It consumes more power than a simliar sized LCD, but the better IQ is worth it in my opinion. And my Plasma is passively cooled, it doesnt have any fans, so its literally silent.

Other than that I couldnt name any advantages of Plasma screens. I dont have a Phosphor lag, PC games rule on that screen. But LCDs are great for gaming too.

[JonnLeejsp]

LCD: slightly lower power consumption, no reflection, no burn-in, brighter, weighs less, newer tech

Plasma: faster response time, higher contrast, generally higher IQ

General recommendations:

Gaming - LCD (less susceptible to burn in from HP bars that sit there without moving)
PC Monitor - LCD (see above)
Movies, Sports, TV, HD Movies - Plasma (superior contrast, response time)

------

If the room the screen will go in has a lot of windows and natural light, LCD is recommended so you don't get reflections.

[grubnismarl]

Anyone have any good information or sources for information on these? I've began thinking about getting a TV and don't know where to start. I want cheap, 42", 1080p. I also prefer trusted brands, usually.

Generally I think at the cheaper end of the market plasma surpasses LCD these days.

What's the pro's and con's for plasma and LCD for movies, games, HD and non-HD. Do they have TV tuners to pick up broadcast stations?

I seem to remember reading a few years back that is mandated that the all have to have digital tuners built in.

LCD: slightly lower power consumption, no reflection, no burn-in, brighter, weighs less, newer tech

I don't really think burn-in is much of an issue with plasma these days. Image retention can still be an issue but it's reversible.

[JonnLeejsp]

I don't really think burn-in is much of an issue with plasma these days. Image retention can still be an issue but it's reversible.

It's much better than the past, but it still happens. And to reverse it, you kill your screen's lifespan.

[Nothatspecial]

Also, plasmas fade over time, which isn't an issue with LCDs.

[tutkarussia]

Also, plasmas fade over time, which isn't an issue with LCDs.

Wrong, LCD's fade just like Plasmas. The back-lights will dim over time in LCD's. Maybe will last longer with LED back-lights over the older fluorescent tube type, but it still will fade.

[frkksptn]

How hot do these things get? Are plasma's hotter than LCD's? If so, how much?

I plan on putting a 42" TV inside my armoire so there won't be a lot of air movement behind the TV.
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Lovely Wendie99

[jamisi]

How hot do these things get? Are plasma's hotter than LCD's? If so, how much?

I plan on putting a 42" TV inside my armoire so there won't be a lot of air movement behind the TV.

Plasmas get quite hot, at least my old one did. Hot enough to increase the temp of my room by 10F after 4-6 hours of constant use.

My new LCD is quite a bit cooler (despite being larger) than my old plasma. I remember going to the store to get the Samsung PN50B850 (the 1.2" thick plasma), and when I touched the back of the screen, I had to immediately withdraw my hand it was that hot. It was like touching a heatsink.

That said, the newer Panasonics are probably cooler than my old Samsung plasma, but still hotter than a top-level LCD.

[soryalomop]

My old Sony 40X3000 (god rest it's burgled soul) got so warm that when our boiler broke in the middle of winter my room was still a nice temperature if I left the TV on :P.

[mymnarorump]

Low End: Get Plasma

High End: Get LCD

[frkksptn]

Low End: Get Plasma

High End: Get LCD

So it seems for the price I want to spend, Plasma is my best option.

My goal is to stay as close to $500 as possible.... of course, I'd go up if the quality was worth it.
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ALASKA MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY

[jamisi]

So it seems for the price I want to spend, Plasma is my best option.

My goal is to stay as close to $500 as possible.... of course, I'd go up if the quality was worth it.

I highly doubt you'll find a 1080p 42" plasma for $500. Maybe a 720p screen.

[frkksptn]

I highly doubt you'll find a 1080p 42" plasma for $500. Maybe a 720p screen.

Yeah, $600 is about the cheapest I find.

What is the difference between LCD and LED LCD?
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LovelyWendie

[mymnarorump]

So it seems for the price I want to spend, Plasma is my best option.

My goal is to stay as close to $500 as possible.... of course, I'd go up if the quality was worth it.

$700 is more of the magic number.

42" Panasonic would be the smallest I'd aim for.

You could probably find a good used CRT for under $500 though.

[adactthrd]

I love my 42" panasonic plasma. Its a couple of years old now, but it still in my opinion has a better picture than even the newer lcd tv's. I installed a 55" sony led lcd a few weeks ago and really wasnt all that impressed with the picture quality. I have never cared for the picture on a lcd when watching tv or movies. even with all the fancy motion enhancers disabled completely I still just dont like the way the 120hz and 240hz tvs look. I think without them they produce a poor image, and with them turned on it causes a semi artificail 3d look to the image that I absolutely cant stand. It almost makes me feel like a am getting motion sickness from watching tv.

by the way my tv can be had for around $600 most places on sale, and is 1080p. only thing is that it has a nasty flicker when you enable the 24p mode on the ps3, but that is apparently a common thing with a lot of televisions.

[frkksptn]

I admit that I do keep coming back to the Panasonic 42" TV's. Seems like a reliable brand and they have models that fit my price goal.

It seems plasma is the way I have to go for my price range, but I don't know why, I'm hesitant to go plasma over lcd. Don't know why I feel that way.
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SHIP SALE

[mymnarorump]

I admit that I do keep coming back to the Panasonic 42" TV's. Seems like a reliable brand and they have models that fit my price goal.

It seems plasma is the way I have to go for my price range, but I don't know why, I'm hesitant to go plasma over lcd. Don't know why I feel that way.

Can you afford a good Samsung or Sony LCD for your price range? If not, get the Panasonic.

[adactthrd]

like i said, I love mine. But as said before, they do put off a lot of heat. You will notice some slight image retention if you are like me and fall asleep sometimes with a game on pause, or while watching a movie that goes back to a static image for the main menu on the dvd or bluray. But even with it being on a static image all night before, probably more than 7 hours, the image went away after about 10 minutes of watching something with a moving picture. just make sure that you have image reduction or whatever its called turned on.

otherwise in that size range, I have seen a few vizio 1080p lcds at sams or maybe it was costco for $600 or so, not sure about the quality, but its in your range.

[frkksptn]

Let you guys know where I'm leaning to. Thinking about the Panasonic TC-P42S1. It looks like what I want for as close to the price I want.
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The Cigar Boss