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General discussion

(NT) Plasma, LCD or DLP - What to do - help?

Aug 6, 2005 3:34PM PDT

I have been looking at these systems for over a month and I can't decide which is the most cost effective, while offering the best product.

I have narrowed it down to Pan. 42PD50, Sony KDF 60we655 and the Toshiba 46HM84.

I have read that the half life of plasmas is about 20 years - is that right?

And how long do lamps in the other units last? $200 for a new lamp in the Toshiba every 3 years is a little much.

I'm looking for experts views and the general viewers opinoin> I need to make sure I get it right - my wife is only giving me one chance and if I blow it - it'll be long time before i get to spend this kind of money on the entertainment equipment again.

One last thing, do electronics stores usually have big sales on labor day weekend?

Discussion is locked

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Plasma, LCD or DLP - What to do - help?
Aug 8, 2005 1:50AM PDT

You didn't include your budget or links to the TVs.
" According to Panasonic, for example, its 2005 plasmas have a life span of up to 60,000 hours before the panel fades to half-brightness, which equates to more than 27 years of watching 6 hours of TV every day."
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6463_7-5023901-3.html?tag=dir
Yes the down side LCD and DLP projectors is lamp replacment.
Just make sure that any TVs your are looking at HAVE a HDTV tuner!

"my wife is only giving me one chance and if I blow it"
Make sure that you have good and comfy couch!!!John

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Sony KDF
Aug 8, 2005 4:12AM PDT

I bought the 55 inch version of the Sony LCD RP set you mentioned. It's really fantastic. Buld rplacement is a reality but at 4,000+ of veiwing time, you're looking at about 5 cents per hour replacement cost. Plus many extened warranties cover original bulb replacement over the first 2-3 years, depending on the plan.

If you have cash, most people would say that plasma is the way to go. But the price break of getting a DLP or LCD set vs. plasma will buy you a stand, a decent home theatre system, and a few bulbs.

Good luck and I'm sure your wife won't be disappointed with whatever set you get.

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Tough Choice Here...Sony And Toshiba Are HD, Panny Is ED...
Aug 8, 2005 6:07AM PDT

...Yet the Panny is plasma. If you could swing it, I'd recommend you expand your search and look for a HD plasma set. I really despise the fact that DLP's look awful off axis with decided shifts in screen brightness and color changing hue when you move off axis even a tiny bit. It's like you have to be superglued to your chair to realize their potential. Absolutely unacceptable to me. i want to be able to have a set that at least three or four people from all around the room can see equally well. The only technologies that allow for this are good old old fashioned CRT or plasma. Don't buy an ED set. In a year or two when literally everything is HD you'll likely regret it.
Like I said, if you can swing a few extra bucks, go for a decent 42"-45" HD plasma. Five years down the road the difference of a few hundred bucks won't even be something you'll remember. But you'll have the right set in front of you!

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Off axis
Aug 8, 2005 6:29AM PDT

The LCD RP sets don't have the same problem as DLP sets when you are off the horizontal center axis. I can sit six feet away from my Sony LCD RP at an angle greater than 45 degrees on the horizontal axis and don't notice any reduction in brightness. At an angle greater than this you wouldn't enjoy a CRT or plasma set either due to foreshortening of the screen image.

LCD RP is not quite as forgiving of deviation from the vertical axis but 95% of the veiwing time you're seated anyway.