I'm about to buy a new TV. Plasma or LCD?

Question

I've heard good things from both sides. We are looking at 50". Does anyone have a brand or type to suggest? Also, does it matter much whether you get a 720p or 1080p?

Answer 1

Don't waste your money on plasma.  LCD is cheaper and last longer.

Like Stephen stated, get a Sony. Get a full 1080p set, if you can afford it.

Check out what Consumer's Reports has to say about plasma vs. LCD.  And compare Sony to

http://www.consumerreports.org/

Sony BRAVIA KDL-52V4100 52" LCD TV

Consider either one.

Sony BRAVIA KDL-52V3000 52" LCD TV

Also note that Sony's televisions that come with a "V" in the model number are their best TVs.

http://www.pricegrabber.com/

http://www.shopzilla.com/

Answer 2

Panasonic makes the best plasma TVs around.  Samsung and Sony makes some of the best LCD TVs around.

If you can afford it, 1080p is the better set to have because it is quickly becoming the standard and it will be far longer till it's outdated.  At less than 50 inches you really don't notice any difference between 720p or 1080p.  At 50 inches or greater the difference between a 720p and 1080p set become more apparent.

The advantages of plasma over lcd is picure quality, viewing angle, and price usually (more so the larger you go.)

The advantages of lcd over plasma is better blacks and no burn in.

If I were buying a tv today it would probably be plasma because we have three couches and two of them are offset far to the side of the television.  If we were positioned mostly in front I would probably buy an lcd.

For a LCD TV I'd suggest a Samsung LN52A650 or the Sony Bravia KDL-52XBR2.

For a Plasma TV I'd suggest a Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ800U.

All three sets are top notch with some of the best pictures you can find. You won't regret purchase of any of them, although for the price I feel the Panasonic and Samsung are by far the better deals.  The Sony is nice, but very very expensive.

Answer 3

I would personally get an lcd, they produce better darks and light colors, they last much longer then a plasma but they are about quarter of an inch thicker then a plasma if that matters to you ha ha, for some people they can notice the difference between 720p and 1080p, with 1080p the picture will be alot sharper not much sharper but its noticible for me for some people they cant tell a difference, for brands i would recommend Sony, Samsung, LG, Panasonic, I have a samsung 32" 1080p lcd and its excellent, i have had no problems and the picture is very sharp and clear, but just compare and see what you like, hope this helps answer your question

Answer 4

Sony. Get a full 1080p set, if you can afford it.

If you are switching from analog, even a 720p set will look so much better than what you are used to (assuming you are connected to a high def source of some sort).