So tell me about TVs

[Kim in Appalachia]

We have 2 TVs in our house, both quite old, one with a growing red spot. I had thought of replacing the larger one this coming Christmas with a flat screen. But today I was at Walmart and looking around.......and I really would like a new tv.

I still may wait till Christmas, but.....

 

Do I want plasma or LED/LCD? Do I need a Smart TV? We have a Roku and a Wii U for streaming. I don't want to spend a lot of money. I'm looking to get somewhere between a 42" - 46".

 

I need help, or I may just buy the TV I saw on Rollback at Walmart. (I'm not normally an impulsive person, like never. It must be hormones or something. :tongue_smilie: )

[Jaz]

We bought our first flat screen television last year and we were in a similar situation. We had a Roku and didn't want to spend a lot of money. We skipped the smart tv due to price and are glad we did. We purchased based on the screen picture (plasma for us). My dh did a lot of research but we eventually choose one of the first ones we looked at. I don't think you can go wrong with a new tv. The quality is so much better than the old ones. Enjoy!

[Kim in Appalachia]

Thanks! Why did you choose the plasma? I can't figure out if it's important.

[Mrs Mungo]

http://m.cnet.com/news/led-lcd-vs-plasma-vs-lcd/57344058?ds=1

[Kim in Appalachia]

I still can't figure it out. :)

 

We have a odd shaped room, so all seating is at a angle, making plasma better. But we also have 4 large windows with only sheers over them, so light is an issue (except at night of course). That would make the LED/LCD better. It seems like plane old LCD would not be great, especially because of our strange seating.

 

But it does seem like I shouldn't go buy that deal at Walmart. :(

[Spy Car]

Thanks! Why did you choose the plasma? I can't figure out if it's important.

 

 

If you care about cinematic aesthetics go for Plasma. The motion rendering, color, and blacks are far superior to LCD/LED.

 

LCD/LED handles motion very poorly. Often motion will create blocky artifacts (pixelization). The black levels are generally poor, they are bad off axis, and the color rendition tends to be very harsh and garish.

 

But LCD/LED is THE POPULAR CHIOCE. Why? Because in an in-store comparison eyes will go to the LCD/LED. Why? Because they are "brighter" (too bright, in fact, for all but the most extreme high sunlight situations). In contrast the Plasmas (in stores) seem relatively "dim" and the colors less "vivid" than the goosed up LCD/LEDs.

 

But the Plasma color, brightness, blacks, and motion rendering are really superior if you care about havng a natural cinematic viewing experience.

 

To be frank, most people don't have any taste, and actually like the overly-bright screens and shockingly glowing colors of LCD/LEDs. If you want football fields to look neon-green, get an LCD/LED. If you have an absolutely sun-drenched room with a lot of direct light for a screen to complete with an LCD/LED might make sense.

 

If you are a videophile and/or one who does not like the harsh unnatural look of LCD/LEDs (and can't tolerate the weird motion artificacts) get a Plasma.

 

Plasmas are the minority choice. The more one cares about image quality—and what that means—the more popular they are. But most folks do not care. Unusually for the "snobbish" choice Plasmas are usually cheaper n large sizes relative to high quality LCD/LEDs.

 

The downside of Plasma is they do consume more power. LCD/LEDs are more efficient.

 

If you're not really "picky," don't sweat it. Most people think LCD/LEDs look swell, and wouldn't trade. If you have a cultivated sense of taste, go for Plasma.

 

Bill

[Kim in Appalachia]

 

 

To be frank, most people don't have any taste, and actually like the overly-bright screens and shockingly glowing colors of LCD/LEDs. If you want football feild to look neon-green, get an LCD/LED. If you have an absolutely sun-drenched room with a lot of direct light for a screen to complete with an LCD/LED might make sense.

 

 

 

Bill

 

 

:lol:

 

Well, I do have taste, but I also have a bright room. I know what you mean about the funky colors. They drive me a bit crazy at my parents. That probably means I should go for plasma, but still, I'm worried about the bright light. We have a number of hours during the day that we can barely see our regular tv because of the sunlight.

[Spy Car]

 

 

:lol:

 

Well, I do have taste, but I also have a bright room. I know what you mean about the funky colors. They drive me a bit crazy at my parents. That probably means I should go for plasma, but still, I'm worried about the bright light. We have a number of hours during the day that we can barely see our regular tv because of the sunlight.

 

You have a classic conundrum.

 

Taste (Plasma)

Off-axis viewing (Plasma)

Sun Drenched Room (LED)

 

It is not like Plasmas are "dim." But LEDs are ridiculously bright. This can make ones eyes bleed (figuratively speaking) in normal situations (and at night). But in a really bright room the LEDs will win on light output.

 

Some stores have good exchange policies. Otherwise you will have to choose if you optimize for day-time (cut through the sun) viewing, or optimize your evening viewing. We have a large bay of three floor-to-ceiling East-facing windows in a room that gets flooded with morning sun. An LED would give more "punch" to morning viewing (something we rarely indulge) but, for me, the trade-off would not be worth it. We like watching films, and having them look the way film-makers intended them to look. LCD motion artifacts make me insane (but most people have no idea what "motion artifacts" are).

 

You will need to compromise something. Know what is most important to you. Watch LCDs. Do the motion artifacts disturb you? If not, you will not be happy. But if you don't notice it, don't create problems for yourself.

 

Whatever set you get, it is worth learning a little about set-up and calibration, as even with LED one does not lave to live with "Vivid" as the brightness/color option. This is the way it will come (competes well in store lighting—super bright, super unnatural colors) but it can be improved.

 

Good luck.

 

Bill

[Jaz]

I agree with Bill. His advice about adjusting whatever television you purchase is key.

[Kim in Appalachia]

Well, I want the plasma. Now I'm trying to decide between the 43" and the 51". The 51" would have to be mounted on the wall, our table is not big enough. :) My dh is away at a conference and I seem to do impulsive things like this when he's gone.

 

Bestbuy has the 51" as the deal of the day, but a $100 wall mount ups the price (plus I may need new window treatments...... :D ).

 

And all this is because I'm feeling frustrated. We can't afford to redo our carpets or finish off extra space upstairs, so I'm wanting a new toy. (I know it's stupid. I'm a finance person; I know the logic is bad). I don't even watch tons of tv. But this fall, my kids are not going to do US swimming (which will be weird). And I will actually be home, really, for the first time in 6 years, in the evenings. We could watch shows and rent movies.

 

So I'm sitting here trying to decide if I should hit that "buy" button. My dh has been too busy to even talk much with me (except to tell me he went paddle boarding and was going for ribs) so if I buy it, it's his fault. :lol:

[Spy Car]

How far from the screen will you sit?

 

Even a 51" screen is on the "small side" of big screens these days (much less a 43"). On the other hand, if your sitting close you might not want to be overwhelmed.

 

Here is a ling to the Wiki article that has a bunch of screen size vs distance recommendations (some of which conflict).

 

One other thing to consider, if you can put up a TV antenna (or already have one) the picture quality of (free) over-the-air broadcast television is far superior to cable or satellite. If you go to the website "TV Fool" you can enter your address and see your broadcast coverage and what sort of antenna might work for you.

 

Bill

[Kim in Appalachia]

We sit between 5 to 9 feet away from the screen (it's a big room, with the couch at an angle to the tv, and the love seat flat against the perpendicular wall, other side of the room). I won't go bigger than the 51", the price would be too high. Right now we have a old style 32" (i think) tv. This will be a hugh jump up for us.

[Spy Car]

We sit between 5 to 9 feet away from the screen (it's a big room, with the couch at an angle to the tv, and the love seat flat against the perpendicular wall, other side of the room). I won't go bigger than the 51", the price would be too high. Right now we have a old style 32" (i think) tv. This will be a hugh jump up for us.

 

 

One difference between old sets (4x3 aspect ratios) and new sets (16x9) is that the diagonal measurement gets stretched out in the new sets. So a 32 inch old set would be much taller than a 32 inch HDTV. KWIM?

 

Bill

[Kari C in SC]

We have a 60 inch that I love. We got it 8 years ago, so it is not all flat and sleek. I still love it. I would definitely go bigger. There is an 80 inch at SAMs club that I drool over.