New LCD/Plasma TV.

[APoc184]

Yes, I know there has been numerous threads about this topic but I can't seem to decide based on those threads.

My parents' TV died this weekend and after me and "the boss" talked it through we decided to give them our 74cm CRT and buy ourselves a LCD or Plasma screen.

Size is not that important to me. I viewed a few this weekend at Game, DionWired, etc and although a 42" is nice I think it is a bit too big.
A 32" is about the equivalent of our 74cm CRT and has always been more than big enough.

We only view SD DSTV and once in a while DVD's. And I will not be using it for any HD content. Not in the near future anyway.
We also sit pretty close to the screen.

So my questions are (my current choice in red)

Do I go for a HD Ready or Full HD? (Seeing that I will not be using HD content anytime soon) HD Ready

32" or 37" or 42"? (IMO 42" will be too big for our needs) 32" maybe 37"

LCD or Plasma? (Not many Plasma's on the market in my size range) LCD

 

[gifs]

At 32" full-hd is definately not required and plasma is not an option.

I would go with a Samsung or Sony (can't remember the model numbers) for about R6000. They have better scaling engines then the no-name brands which is especially important when you will only be wathcing DSTV.

Here is a chart which can help you decide what size TV you need.
http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/09/1080p-charted-viewing-distance-to-screen-size/

 

[hoegh]

yip, your choices are spot on IMO, push for the 37'' if you can but sometimes the price difference from a 32'' just isn't worth it

 

[rpm]

I would strongly suggest a 40'' or 42'' LCD: Look out for good specials on Samsung/LG/Sony. You will pay around R 6k for a 32'' while you may well get a 40'' or 42'' for between 10k and 12k, especially if you are happy with HD Ready.

 

[gifs]

If you want to go 40", you can probably get the Samsung 40A550 or Sony 40S400 on special for about R10-12k as rpm said. Both are very good TVs and they are Full-HD as well.

 

[APoc184]

Thanks rpm.

My biggest concern is if I go as big as a 42" that my DSTV will look crappy.
We sit a maximum of 4 meters from the screen. Usually about 3 meters.

I had a look at the 42" Sinotec FULL HD LCD at Game. Very nice TV and it actually looked better than the Sony's and Samsungs.
And the fact that it comes with a 5 year Guarantee is a big + for me.

They also had a special on a 42" HD Ready Plasma for R7499.00.

From what I have read the Plasma's offer better picture quality.

Now I am confused again.

 

[APoc184]

http://www.game.co.za/portal/game20...tryleaflets/rsa/leaflet-rsa-2009-07-06-02.gif

 

[Dolby]

If you're looking at under 40", 99% will be LCD anyway ...

So one question out the way

 

[SirFooK'nG]

I run a 42" LCD and can sit up as close as 2m from the screen (not that I usually do - norm is about 4m) and pic quality is great! Only on the lower quality channels, where they are squeezed for bandwidth do u notice pixilization. But u can see that just as much on a 72cm CRT.

 

[APoc184]

I run a 42" LCD and can sit up as close as 2m from the screen (not that I usually do - norm is about 4m) and pic quality is great! Only on the lower quality channels, where they are squeezed for bandwidth do u notice pixilization. But u can see that just as much on a 72cm CRT.

By lower quality channels you mean????? SABC?

I watch 90% sport on DSTV and the fiancee watches Mnet and Discovery the other 10% of the time.

edit: What 42" do you have?

 

[Goobie]

I'm not impressed with SD DSTV on a 40" Sony full HD LCD. Too much pixelation for my taste.

 

[SirFooK'nG]

It seems that the MM and Mnet channels take priority for quality, the rest bump up and down as they like. (SS channels usually are good to). I have a Saunsui, had it for a year and a half. It has developed a problem recently (very feint vertical line right down the center). Went back to the factory for a week. They have not figured it out yet, so the brought it back to me while they are waiting for a test part. If they cant fix it, I get a refund or new replacement (I love my 3yr guarantee).

 

[APoc184]

I'm not impressed with SD DSTV on a 40" Sony full HD LCD. Too much pixelation for my taste.

That's my biggest concern. I am not even considering HD DSTV and if the quality is poor I would rather settle for a 32".

Was in Game yesterday and I think they were playing SABC 1 through DSTV on all the sets. Quality was pretty poor and blurry around all objects. Also the text was very blurry and pixelated on the edges. This was on all TV's except a few where the contrast was set very high. But then all colors look horrible.

I wonder if they will play Supersport 1 on all the sets if I ask them.

 

[mercurial]

AFAIK, it's better to get a plasma, because DSTV shows much better on those than compared to LCDs.

 

[Goobie]

AFAIK, it's better to get a plasma, because DSTV shows much better on those than compared to LCDs.

are all plasma screens so reflective, or do you get ones that are matt like LCD?

 

[APoc184]

AFAIK, it's better to get a plasma, because DSTV shows much better on those than compared to LCDs.

I also understood it like that. But finding Plasma's smaller than 40" is a mission and it looks like the 42" Plasma's are pricey. Except for the Sinotec at Game and then there is a 42" Samsung Plasma at Makro for R8999.00.

What does the market look like regarding new technology and prices dropping on current technology?

LED? OLED? Will they cause prices of LCD's and Plasma's to drop in the very near future?

 

[JK8]

I also understood it like that. But finding Plasma's smaller than 40" is a mission and it looks like the 42" Plasma's are pricey. Except for the Sinotec at Game and then there is a 42" Samsung Plasma at Makro for R8999.00.

What does the market look like regarding new technology and prices dropping on current technology?

LED? OLED? Will they cause prices of LCD's and Plasma's to drop in the very near future?

Everything without Motionflow and a high contrast ratio is under 15k.
I wouldnt suggest Plasma.

This debate can go on forever...

 

[APoc184]

This debate can go on forever...

I know and it has me worried. The old lady can only go without 7de Laan for so many days.

I will pop into Menlyn again after work and ask them to play my content on all the sets. Will have to make a decision pretty soon.

My gut still tells me 32" HD Ready LCD.

 

[SirFooK'nG]

honestly, plasma/lcd much the same. the newer plasma's are really nice. LED is newer technology wise, but still damn expensive! Prices have come down a lot since I bought my LCD, I can get a 46" Sansui for the same price that I bought my 42" a year and a half ago. So i guess in the next few years LED will force the rest down in price.

Back to LCD vs Plasma, my old man has a samsung 42 plasma and it really is sharp, i could almost swear the pic looks crisper than my LCD, but i could be wrong. Either way if u have the right distance setup, should make no difference, unless u run HD. I cant honestly say now which is genuinely better. Almost too little for your eye to notice anyway!

 

[JK8]

I know and it has me worried. The old lady can only go without 7de Laan for so many days.

I will pop into Menlyn again after work and ask them to play my content on all the sets. Will have to make a decision pretty soon.

My gut still tells me 32" HD Ready LCD.

I would also suggest Dion Wired, they good, sales people know a bit more than others.

Also when you checking the screens, make sure you find out what type of feed they using, sometimes the HDMI cable will be plugged into a tv and the one right next to it will have a standard feed, the HD feed will obviously have the better picture quality, regardless of the make and model of tv.