Plasma or LCD? Which home theatre??

[TassieKiwi]

Taking the plunge and replacing the ancient child-ravaged 21" sony.

Any of you discerning gentlefolk spent large recently on this gear? I've fallen in luuurrve with the Poineer 43" plasma. ($4.5k). Bloke at work reckons LCD only way to go, new 40"Samsung $4k. Hardly Normal has a Yamaha package just under $1k - looks ok, nice speakers etc.
Which recordable DVD to buy??????Top box? Hard drive HDMI 7.1 fangly dangly HD digital iput hooflungdung. I used to keep up with all of this.

My head hurts. I have max $8k, its gotta last at least 10yrs, and sound good.

I would welcome any feedback from you lot.

Regards from (cold and windy) Tasmania

Dennis

[craigb]

FWIW I'm also considering a purchase of a flat screen teev this year.

I reckon that when the time comes I'll definitely go with LCD. They have superior picture quality I reckon.

A built in tuner means fewer boxes too imo.

[dazzler]

Hi TassieKiwi

Have u thought of a projector style for your home theatre.

Screen can be huge:eek: . We hook the one up from work for the footy onto one of the walls.

Cool

Just a thought.

cheers

dazzler

[namtrak]

Google this "plamsa vs lcd" there is tonnes of stuff on net.

Also try www.epinions.com

Cheers

[Ashore]

I went LCD thought it gave a better picture and was viewable as an angle to the screen, also I can plug a laptop into it and it becomes a big computer screen.

But whatever you decide on , LCD or Plasma get the dvd and other stuff in the same brand , less remotes & compatability should not be a problem

As to the projector , check out the cost of replacement lamps and remember you can't use/ see them in normal daylight , you will need a darkened room for daytime viewing


Rgds

[ozwinner]

If I was to spend money on a new setup I would seriously think of doing this.

http://www.lumenlab.com/forums/index...opic=5141&st=0

Al

[Bob Willson]

If you do decide to go LCD then make sure to checkout the various screen refresh times. The smaller the number the better.

[ozwinner]

If you do decide to go LCD then make sure to checkout the various screen refresh times. The smaller the number the better.

I would have though it was the other way around.
The higher the number, the more refresh rates per minute?

Al :confused:

[Bodgy]

TK

I'm afraid I don't remember the specifics, but I researched this issue in great depth and decided on the Plasma. All the info is on the Net but be prepared for your brain to hurt.

You also don't need to spend $8k. I got our 42" Plasma for $2500 and that was over a year ago. Prices are dropping like a lead balloon, now the R&D is paid off.

Whilst the purists will argue the merits of the brands, and they do have a point (but not a $2k point) there are only 3 manufacturers of the screens in the world. Sure the other bits are important, but the Net says the screen is the thing.

I'm ready to be corrected (inevitable, probably by Driver) but the $2K diff is somewhere around a week's or more work after the Gov steals their tax.

[Bob Willson]

I would have though it was the other way around.
The higher the number, the more refresh rates per minute?

Al :confused:

Yeah, you'd think so wouldn't you? But it is actually the smaller amount of time between updates.
So 12ms is better than 18ms

[woodbe]

Plasma looks great when new, if it's a good one. Spend time reviewing the actual performance of the screen on material you watch now, and also HDTV even if you don't have it now. Some of the Plasma screens I've seen are pretty horrible at playing jag-free high definition images.

The thing that's turned me off plasma is the heat they output (might be an advantage for some, but I find them pretty hot after they've been on for a while, and the fact that they are best when new, and they slowly deteriorate from then on.

For a TV, I'd go with a LCD. LCD's do lose brightness as the illumination tube gets old, but some of those are replaceable. The panels themselves do not deteriorate like plasma. The cost of LCD is also coming down and a war between LCD and plasma is starting, which is the reason for the Plasma price drop, not the R&D being paid off- Marketing runs pricing in the retail market, not the accounts department . LCD will win IMO because ultimately the manufacture, transport, warranty and running costs are less.

For movies and occasional TV, go with a projector, a reasonable one will nail any TV for size and involvement. You will be up for new globes after thousands of hours use, and they can be expensive. Ours is in it's third year on the original globe ($600) so it's not as bad as some make out, but maybe we don't watch it as much as some either.

woodbe.

[woodbe]

Yeah, you'd think so wouldn't you? But it is actually the smaller amount of time between updates.
So 12ms is better than 18ms

Yes. CRT monitors are rated in Hz, and higher is better. LCD in milliseconds, smaller is better. A slow LCD shows 'trails' following anything that moves on screen. Very distracting, but also not something I've noticed on any recent LCD.

woodbe.

[dazzler]

Hi TassieKiwi

Have u thought of a projector style for your home theatre.

Screen can be huge:eek: . We hook the one up from work for the footy onto one of the walls.

Cool

Just a thought.

cheers

dazzler

Hi Tassie

should have quantified this. If you are after a HOME THEATRE for watching movies then IMO the projector is the most cost effective/best value for size. For $2ish you will have a screen that almost fills the wall, add in a $600 surround sound, put it in your setup as a theatre and bobs your uncle.

Most lamps last for around the 2400 hours. Thats a lot of movies. Spare bulbs are expensive. Last one we had was $700.

If its not a Home Theatre then go with the other options.

If you are thinking of moving in the near future many removalists will not cover moving plasma's

good luck.

Has the cold arrived up nth yet. Snow on the mountain here

[savage]

Dennis,
I have recently bought a new TV, after all the pro's and con's of LCD vs Plasma, which I might add made my head hurt, I decided to have a look at DLP rear projection. The one I got is a LG, 134cm screen (bloody huge), picture quality is measured by it's ability to reproduce the color black, as this is what gives contrast and depth of picture.

There is a globe to replace, but unlike other types they last for 6000hrs +, and are only a few hundred to replace. Cost of TV $2100, including set top box (a must), I got it from Bing Lee, I didn't want the stand for the TV and negotiated a deal for the set top box as a swap. They where a bit pushy on the "extended warrenty" ($90), but I stood my ground and said I didn't want it, he offered it to me at half price ($45) so I caved, still a good deal and have not regreted it for a moment. Just my opinion!...

PS have a look here http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/dlp.htm

[Shedhand]

Cripes. Tassie and Daz, why are you guys blatting on about cold, snow etc. I was out in it all day today. Shorts and bare top until about 4.30.

On Plasma v LCD. If you go to a reputable dealer in such things you'll find that LCD is the recommendation. Less heat, longer life, more reliable. I decided they were both still way over priced so spent my hard-earned on a very nice widescreen Loewe CRT. I couldn't be happier. It'll last about 10 years and buy that time we'll all be watching holograms. And I'll be too old to care.