Need help w/ 50" TV

[centaur21]

I have been looking to purchase a 50" HDTV, but there are so many choices and different opinions on each. It seems that every TV I research, someone has something negative to say about it which makes choosing one very difficult.

Therefore, I am looking to get some advice from this forum. As mentioned earlier, I am looking for a 50" and at this point, the price doesn't matter; well, to a certain degree it does, but I am just looking for a quality TV and then will decide if I want to pay the amount being asked for the TV.

Thanks!

[PioManiac]

1) What's your seating distance and viewing angles?
2) How brightly lit is your room, Lots of windows with no blinds?
3) What's your source material (standard DVD's, HD-DVD,HD cable/Sat,Standard Def TV, PC, Games...percentages?

[centaur21]

The seating distance is approx. 10' with a window that has a blind to my right.
My sources as of now are:
- standard DVD's
- looking to purchase a DVD player
- digital cable
- XBOX

Not sure what you mean my percentages. I am by far not a TV guru. This is basically my first purchase of a TV and looking to great a quality one.

[centaur21]

Oh, the viewing angle are probably straight on, 0 deg, to 25 to 30 deg on either side

[PioManiac]

By percentages, I meant how much SD TV vs HDTV vs DVD ...etc. ;)

I watch probably 60% HDTV (1080i/720p),
30% up-converted DVD's (720p) , 10% SDTV

No Gaming, No Blue-Ray or HD-DVD in my near future, Viewing at about 7'-8'
...so I was able to quickly rule out 1080p TV's and thought 768p would be sufficient

I also have a fairly dark dedicated Home Theatre room
with wide (up to 130º) viewing angles if I have company over.

...so I was able to rule out LCD,LCOS,DLP,RPTV

Plasma was my best choice, 50" was the size I wanted,
I Prefered Pioneers PQ (Picture Quality), dependability, and video processing abilty
over the competitions PDP offereings.

YMMV ;)

[PioManiac]

[QUOTE=centaur21]The seating distance is approx. 10' with a window that has a blind to my right.
My sources as of now are:
- standard DVD's
- looking to purchase a DVD player
- digital cable
- XBOX

Not sure what you mean my percentages. I am by far not a TV guru. This is basically my first purchase of a TV and looking to great a quality one.[/QUOTE]

If you prefer Flat Panel TV's
sounds like LCD or Plasma would work fine for you.

Here are "my" takes on the difference
(I'm sure to get grilled over this though)

LCD's are typically:

- better in brighter rooms
- work a little better for HD Gaming/PC's (higher res for less $)
- a Lot cheaper to go to 1920x1080 resolution (46"LCD)
....vs a 1920x1080 Plasma (50")
- LCD's typically cost substantially More if you to go up to 60"
- blacks can appear dark grey
- narrower viewing angles

Plasma:
- Darker room performance is Excellent
- Richer color depth
- Deeper Blacks than LCD
- 1365x768 resolution is cheap at 50" or 60" size compared to that size LCD
- Wider Vierwing angles

Most people will have a preference for one or the other
just by looking at them side by side.
Only you can decide which side you lean towards

At 10' I'd seriously look at a Pioneer PDP-6070HD for Plasma
If you decide LCD works better for you, the Sharp LC-52D62U

http://www.myhometheater.homestead.com/viewingdistancecalculator.html

;)

[centaur21]

Well, right now, I have an old crappy CRT TV that only has a connection for cable and that's it. I have the digitial cable box connected to it and that's it.

[PioManiac]

Well you should also budget for a good HD cable box,(with HDMI out)
and may as well get a newer updated DVD player that will upconvert
your standard DVD's to 720p or 1080i.

I got a Pio (w/HDMI output) Up-Converting DVD player for under $140
the same day I picked up my 5070.

Also may want to look into prices for HDMI cables,
Toslink Digital/Optical or Digital Coax for your Audio if you have an A/V reciever

I also bought a HT power bar with noise supression/ surge protection and R/F coax filters.

It can all add up in a hurry,
but its the best way to get the most out of your new HDTV purchase.

Good Luck :)

[centaur21]

I really appreciate the info!!! Thanks.