OT - Televisions

Submitted by 909Dewey on

Help me Mgoboard, you're my only hope.  I am in the market for a new television.  It looks like everything is 1080P anymore.  I don't really care about 3D or Smart TV.  All I really want is a 60 inch screen at a good price.  So what recommendations do you have?  Is it ok to get plasma now?  Suggestions?  I look to the wisdom of the hive mind.  

Committed

June 9th, 2013 at 7:51 PM ^

Samsung is the leader in the market for TV technology. Panasonic is a good choice for the money. With Sony, you pay a premium for the name...



I have a 50 inch plasma...Awesome.

Also, a 36 inch Sony, Google TV.



The google TV is my computer downstairs.

cbuswolverine

June 9th, 2013 at 8:20 PM ^

Keep an eye on Slickdeals for TV deals that get upvoted big, then read the comments.  A lot of people there really know their stuff when it comes to TV pricing.  You'll find something soon enough.

South TX MFan

June 9th, 2013 at 8:22 PM ^

Panasonic plasmas are rated as the best tv's for a reason. Visit a site specifically for A/V equipment and see for yourself. Over the past 3 years I have ditched all my LCD/LED tv's for Panasonic plasmas. The picture quality, color accuracy, black levels, off angle viewing, and ability to handle motion is second to none. Add in the fact that they are cheaper than their LCD counterparts (in regards to like sizes and features) and it's a no brainer.

the_ricker

June 9th, 2013 at 8:30 PM ^

I'm a big fan of the Samsung Eh6000/6003 series. No 3D, no smart apps, just a simple quality tv. If you're patient you could get the un60eh6000 or 6003 for under $1000 (check edealinfo.com for sales).

Bromigo

June 9th, 2013 at 9:02 PM ^

If you just looking for size, it sounds like you are, Projector is the way to go. I have my Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 8350 throwing 115 inches of glory and it rivals the plasma in the living in terms of picture quality.

 

jonvalk

June 9th, 2013 at 10:22 PM ^

Agreed. If size is the main thing, not features, then a projector is best.



I, personally, have a 60" Sony LED w/Gorilla Glass front. Got it on sale a year back for $900. Amazing picture w/no light bleed and plasma-level blacks. Best purchase in a LONG while.

Y0ST

June 9th, 2013 at 11:30 PM ^

just finished my "budget" home theater. have a BenQ 1080p 3D projector and a 106" Elite screen. combined they were $1300. picture is great but the size is simply amazing.

WestQuad

June 9th, 2013 at 9:04 PM ^

My father-in-law had two Plasma TVs  (sony and a panasonic) burn in the image.  He got rid of the Sony 5 years ago and it must have been 10 years old at the time.  The Panasonic he only had for a few years.

BlueMan80

June 9th, 2013 at 9:05 PM ^

I bought a 58" Panasonic plasma for my man cave in the basement. It was THX certified/calibrated. I could never quite get the contrast balanced, so I got it professionally calibrated. I am thrilled to watch that TV every time I turn it on. Best TV for hockey I've ever watched. No issues finding/tracking the puck. I'm sure they've improved the light output of plasmas, but I would stay away from one for a room like my family room that has a wall of windows on one side.

The new LED TVs are nice, but the edge lit models (those sexy thin panels) can have problems with uniformity of screen brightness. I have a trusty Samsung 46" LCD TV at my vacation home and the picture is great. Supposedly, Samsung has implemented local dimming for their higher end LED models, but it is hard to judge how well it works in a store with bright harsh lighting and every TV cranked to max brightness. CNET reviews are a reasonable help. AVS Forum is a good place to go to see what people think about specific models and to also hear about problems/issues.

Finally, I bought a Sharp LED TV (when they had those crazy deals around Thanksgiving) as a house warming present for my son and while the picture is certainly acceptable, if you look for it, you can find a few bright spots in the screen. Also, Sharp's image processing is not the best. His TV shows some motion blur even though it is rated at 120fps. So, I wouldn't put any Sharp tv on my list of models to shop.

B-Nut-GoBlue

June 9th, 2013 at 9:55 PM ^

Oh how the mighty have fallen.  I find it intriguing not ONE person here has mentioned or suggested a Sony.  No opinion either way, just an observation!

M-Wolverine

June 10th, 2013 at 2:26 PM ^

But Sony was far and away the best pictures of the various options for a long time.  I still have my 60" rear projection, and it still looks better than most out there. And their thin screens were crisper when they came out too. They were more expensive, but there was a difference. But it doesn't seem as big a point of emphasis for Sony currently. 

k1400

June 9th, 2013 at 10:04 PM ^

I bought a Panasonic 60" plasma a couple weeks ago.  Absolutely the best TV I've ever had in terms of picture quality.  Blue ray discs are so sharp it almost gives you a headache.  Some scenes look 3D without 3D glasses.  All sports show really well... hockey is amazing, as well as football.  I put on the Under The Lights game the other night..... DVR'd a HD replay.... looked fantastic.

From what the sales guy told me, Panasonic is the best plasma for picture quality with Samsung close behind, and Samsung has the best features.  For me picture quality trumps all, so I went with the Panasonic.  100% satisfied with my choice.  

Cali Wolverine

June 9th, 2013 at 10:23 PM ^

Panasonic tvs got much better a few years back because they took over the Pioneer technology once Pioneer stopped making there tvs. The new ultra thin Samsungs are also pretty incredible. Generally if u want the best picture quality and. Reliable tv, get Panasonic or Samsung.

ClearEyesFullHart

June 9th, 2013 at 11:53 PM ^

I've been following quite a few sales on eBay...Plasmas, LCD, LED...There are sets going for half off because of scratches on their case...That's the way I'm going for the basement. Just stay away from projection and projectors...You don't want to deal with buying/changing bulbs every year.

Edit: This 70inch LED on Amazon looks pretty sweet
http://www.amazon.com/VIZIO-E701i-A3-70-inch-1080p-120Hz/dp/B009SJNTIY/…

tpilews

June 10th, 2013 at 1:30 AM ^

I've had my Panasonic plasma 720p for around 5 years. Have loved this tv. Really no reason to upgrade at this point as my cable provider doesn't broadcast in 1080p anyway. I do watch some ripped blurays here and there but not enough to necessitate a change.

BlueGoM

June 10th, 2013 at 6:10 AM ^

upvoted because why downvote this?  he marked it OT,yeah?

I've got the same 27 inch tube tv that I bought in '97.  Since Michigan won the NC that year I refuse to change.