LCD or Plasma?

Randy P · Aug 31, 2011, 09:58 PM

I need a new tv. I'm torn between plasma and lcd. I watch blu-ray and I'm a gamer. I've been looking at tvs from the futureshop website in the range of 50 inches and up. I'd rather not spend much more than one thousand dollars. Can you guys give me a hand please? Here are some links:

Plasma:

50" - 59" Plasma TVs : Plasma TVs - Future Shop

Lcd:

50" - 59" LCD TVs : LCD TVs - Future Shop

Any advice would be great

Judas · Sep 1, 2011, 01:04 AM

Heres the deal......

if you look at plasma... stick with the panasonic brand name..... TRUST ME... panasonic is the only plasma worth purchasing.

LCD zone...i would personally invest in a specific set of series in the LCD range from Samsung... while some other manufacturers have some "so-so" models... if your a blu-ray/gamer as you stated.... keep the 120hz/240hz+ AUTOMOTION PLUS feature as a must have for the tv.

While i would generally recommend avoiding many of the LED or even 3D tvs.. (or both)..... just make sure the one you look at has a proper LED display and not a elcheapo solution as the uneven brightness/blacks that look more cloudy grey will start to annoy the living crap out of you potentially, specially when you start to pick up on the variations in color saturation/brightness where there shouldn't be. Additionally i've seen some of these LED backlit displays just perform poorly in other areas... sure yeah, a thinner screen is amazing and the light weight and near ZERO power consumption is top choice.... but it's not worth sacrificing the display of choice specially if you plan on enjoying blu-rays and 1080p/720p gaming goodness.

Unfortunately i haven't taken a good look at the latest series from samsung but i've heard some good things about the changes they've made with the top tier tvs... however keep in mind those are nowhere NEAR cheap let alone "medium price value". Essentially your going to need to spend a pretty penny for a good one.

The only LED tv i'm aware of that performs SPOT ON perfect is actually samsungs FIRST LED HDTV.. which is the Series 9 55 inch top model which weighs a tonne and is pretty thick compared... reason being is the method of using LEDs, it has an independant led backlight system that actually will disable/turn off specific LEDS to produce PERFECT blacks and grey levels... and due to the design is very very good at uniformity. I think the latest 9 Series Revision C's have been quite amazing. Again this tv is still quite expensive making several lookings wonder why they can get a "newer" series that's lighter and "sapposedly" better for less usually.

I'd also suggest against buying from a retailer like that too.... including bestbuy and walmart and visions or etc and so forth.. essentially any big box store..... What they have in store IS NOT the same product that samsung or panasonic lists on their websites... and without drilling into the finer details of why that is.... well..... in the long run we can blame walmart for several of the not so nice things that have come about due to them.

Just a fair warning... (involves actual product quality, not to mention warranty policy differences.... Real retail vs Big box retail are completely different products even if they appear to have the same model/name)

Randy P · Sep 1, 2011, 01:43 AM

Much thanks

Randy P · Sep 1, 2011, 02:53 AM

Ok, if you had to choose between these two which would you choose?

1: Philips 55" 1080p 240Hz LCD HDTV (55PFL5505) : 50" - 59" LCD TVs - Future Shop

2: LG 50" 1080p Plasma HDTV (50PV450) : 50" - 59" Plasma TVs - Future Shop

asedsa · Sep 1, 2011, 07:41 AM

If you have to choose, go with Philips LCD, as Judas says if you want plasma go with Panasonic, I am sure their plasma are the best only objection is their TV design, but that is not big deal for me.

Randy P · Sep 1, 2011, 11:38 AM

Ok I'm convinced to get a Panasonic plasma. I am strongly considering this one: Panasonic 50" 1080p Plasma HDTV (TCP50S30) : 50" - 59" Plasma TVs - Future Shop

Do you know of any other sites where I can buy/get shipping in Canada?

Judas · Sep 1, 2011, 04:15 PM

where in canada are you?

I personally not a fan of shipping something so delicate, i always find a way to pick it up myself.

But i really would suggest you make a special trip if you have to, and visit futureshop and view those tvs yourself.. play with the controls and options of the system.. ALSO MAKE SURE when you look at the tvs.. to go into the system options and reset to DEFAULTS because futureshop and big box stores have a habit of screwing with the color/sharpness/etc so they can sell either slightly more expensive or older tvs and try to make some tvs look bad in comparison.

While i personally would continue to lean towards an LCD... the details on that philips looks good.. i would have to do a little bit of research into the finer details.

$1000 dollar budget leaves a little bit to desire though IMO....

Randy P · Sep 2, 2011, 03:35 AM

Yep the budget is always the killer...lol what can I say the ex wife gobbles it up. However, for now I think this is a nice step up from what I have. Thanks guys, as always, for the replies

oh and I found a review of this tv that lists optimal picture settings so I'm going to try that. All the best to you fine folks

Dude111 · Sep 3, 2011, 04:02 AM

I would do anything i could to get a CRT to be honest!!

In my opinion they have always produced THE BEST PICTURE,etc.........

Judas · Sep 3, 2011, 04:40 PM

i've still got one of the best CRTs ever produced sitting on my work bench for the simple reason that it supports every conceiveable resolution and refresh rate known short of buying something still available for a few thousand $$$.

either way.. the monitor almost was $1000 when i bought it way back when... and while it still have an amazing image..... a good quality LCD just simply cannot touch it's clarity and color reproduction. night and day.

OmegaRED · Sep 6, 2011, 02:27 PM

It sounds like you already got one but if I read that wrong you might want to look into getting a used Plasma. I paid $1600 for my 50" 3D Plasma from Future Shop last summer and just months ago saw it listed for half that on local used sites. I almost bought a 2nd one lol I couldn't believe people were selling them so low and only months old.

Judas · Sep 6, 2011, 04:32 PM

depending on the plasma.... there isn't a lack of 3D 50" plasmas floating around that are sevearly flawed or failing repeatedly...

OmegaRED · Sep 6, 2011, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judas

depending on the plasma.... there isn't a lack of 3D 50" plasmas floating around that are sevearly flawed or failing repeatedly...

Samsung was the top selling 3D Plasma maker of 2010 and their C7000/8000 series was solid. Future Shop has an exclusive on these and sold a ton if you get one in any size it is a top notch tv with very few flaws (barely any changes on 2011 models). Obviously the Panasonics were rated better but I don't see as many of their top models listed on the used sites so people must hang onto them.

Best part about getting used Plasmas from Future Shop is that their receipts are easily transferable so it's easy to have it serviced under warranty.

Judas · Sep 6, 2011, 05:30 PM

personally getting futureshop to service anything at all has been a nightmare and unreliable.. or just shotty at best... and thats IF they do it within a month..

otherwise the wait time exceeding 5 months was pretty rediculious

And the best example is knowing someone personally that futureshop somehow managed to "lose" a 60+" plasma tv...... something obviously not easily missplaced like their laptops they seem to have a habit of "losing"

Liqourice · Sep 7, 2011, 02:36 AM

I don't know. I'm perfectly happy with my Samsung LED 3D. Though, it's only 40" so perhaps the LED backlight works better on it than it does on bigger screens.

Judas · Sep 8, 2011, 04:41 PM

for many people it's hard to tell without having several referrences to compare with.

I just know i've had several people that have the 3D LED or various other "higher" series LED tvs from many manufacturers... that have walked in and saw the 6 Series or 9 Series LED tv and have their jaws drop because there tv just don't show near as good a picture they claim...

Even people that are hardcore plasma enthusiasts are drawn to the 9 series LED tv because it has the snap and brightness/blackness that the plasamas tout as their advantage.

Aug 31, 2011, 09:58 PM	#1
Randy P HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 489 Rep Power: 49 System Specs	LCD or Plasma? I need a new tv. I'm torn between plasma and lcd. I watch blu-ray and I'm a gamer. I've been looking at tvs from the futureshop website in the range of 50 inches and up. I'd rather not spend much more than one thousand dollars. Can you guys give me a hand please? Here are some links: Plasma: 50" - 59" Plasma TVs : Plasma TVs - Future Shop Lcd: 50" - 59" LCD TVs : LCD TVs - Future Shop Any advice would be great __________________ You only go this way once.

Sep 1, 2011, 01:43 AM	Thread Starter #3
Randy P HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 489 Rep Power: 49 System Specs	Re: LCD or Plasma? Much thanks __________________ You only go this way once.

Sep 1, 2011, 02:53 AM	Thread Starter #4
Randy P HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 489 Rep Power: 49 System Specs	Re: LCD or Plasma? Ok, if you had to choose between these two which would you choose? 1: Philips 55" 1080p 240Hz LCD HDTV (55PFL5505) : 50" - 59" LCD TVs - Future Shop 2: LG 50" 1080p Plasma HDTV (50PV450) : 50" - 59" Plasma TVs - Future Shop __________________ You only go this way once.

Sep 1, 2011, 07:41 AM	#5
asedsa HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bosnia and Herzegovina Posts: 245 Rep Power: 58 System Specs	Re: LCD or Plasma? If you have to choose, go with Philips LCD, as Judas says if you want plasma go with Panasonic, I am sure their plasma are the best only objection is their TV design, but that is not big deal for me.

Sep 1, 2011, 11:38 AM	Thread Starter #6
Randy P HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 489 Rep Power: 49 System Specs	Re: LCD or Plasma? Ok I'm convinced to get a Panasonic plasma. I am strongly considering this one: Panasonic 50" 1080p Plasma HDTV (TCP50S30) : 50" - 59" Plasma TVs - Future Shop Do you know of any other sites where I can buy/get shipping in Canada? __________________ You only go this way once.

Sep 2, 2011, 03:35 AM	Thread Starter #8
Randy P HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 489 Rep Power: 49 System Specs	Re: LCD or Plasma? Yep the budget is always the killer...lol what can I say the ex wife gobbles it up. However, for now I think this is a nice step up from what I have. Thanks guys, as always, for the replies oh and I found a review of this tv that lists optimal picture settings so I'm going to try that. All the best to you fine folks __________________ You only go this way once.

Sep 3, 2011, 04:02 AM	#9
Dude111 An Awesome Dude Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 425 Rep Power: 61	I would do anything i could to get a CRT to be honest!! In my opinion they have always produced THE BEST PICTURE,etc.........

Sep 6, 2011, 02:27 PM	#11
OmegaRED Relapsed Gamer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ottawa , Canada Posts: 5,688 Rep Power: 173 System Specs	Re: LCD or Plasma? It sounds like you already got one but if I read that wrong you might want to look into getting a used Plasma. I paid $1600 for my 50" 3D Plasma from Future Shop last summer and just months ago saw it listed for half that on local used sites. I almost bought a 2nd one lol I couldn't believe people were selling them so low and only months old. __________________ E Penis Specs: <------------- See System Specs

Sep 7, 2011, 02:36 AM	#15
Liqourice HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Stockholm Posts: 1,702 Rep Power: 98 System Specs	Re: LCD or Plasma? I don't know. I'm perfectly happy with my Samsung LED 3D. Though, it's only 40" so perhaps the LED backlight works better on it than it does on bigger screens.