TV's - LCD, LED, or Plasma?

[underpants]

Any ideas or thoughts?

We are replacing our replacement tube TV (the big one died a few months ago) and I have been reading up on them but I was wondering if any of my fellow DU'ers had advice.

So far this is me research - a couple of articles linked there
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33199_7-57344058-221/led-lcd-vs-plasma-vs-lcd/

Apparently the biggest regret is not buying BIG enough. I was looking at a 50" Panasonic LED 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV - TC-L50EM60 ENERGY STAR at Sears for $550. I can get a 15% discount on anything at Sears - my stepfather is retired from Sears.

I generally want to know what I should look for and what I should not be suckered into in terms of models and performance. I can research the best deals once I know WHAT to look for.

The odd part is that since we have resorted to the 27' TV that was just sitting around we watch a LOT less TV....but we need a new TV and just before Black Friday would seem to be the best time to buy.

Thoughts?

[NYC_SKP]

1. The best deal I've ever made was on a returned LED 3D Samsung TV after Black Friday.

It was a 50" and ridiculously reduced in price.

Don't do plasma, they suck energy.

WiFi ready is a nice feature, but only if you're a really connected type of person.

Best value is likely an LCD, possibly more energy efficient and slightly better picture with an LED.

Don't even consider an heavy power sucking plasma.

More here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000127431

[MicaelS]

2. What type of programming do you watch?

If you watch primarily movies and in a darkened room, if you value picture quality above all else, then plasma is the way to go. They are heavier, use more electricity, and thus produce more heat. Only Panasonic, Samsung and LG make them. I bought a 55" Panny Plasma 3 years ago, and I love it. Plasmas are limited to 42" to 65". If you want bigger than 65", you're going to have to go LED.

LED would be my next choice. If you watch TV in a bright room, or watch a lot of sports, LEDs produce a brighter picture. If you want a REALLY big TV, then you can get an LED up to 90".

I would only buy a straight LCD if my budget was limited. And I would still take a smaller LED over a bigger LCD.

This guys nails it:

If you watch a lot of TV during the day, or have a room with lots of windows, LED LCD is probably best. If you watch at night, and want the TV to disappear into the background, plasma is probably best.

If you want a really exceptional viewing experience, consider buying, or making, a Bias Light to go behind your TV. I made one, and use it all the time.

[underpants]

3. We watch in a lighted room

The family watches movies and Sponge Bob. I watch sports and sitcoms.

Thanks for the advice.

[MicaelS]

5. Then go with an LED.

Get the biggest one you can afford, but Frequency matters, too. The higher the frequency, the less the chance of noticing any flicker in programming. 240Hz is better than 120Hz which is better than 60Hz. Don't get a 60Hz, get at least a 120Hz.

[Paulie]

4. I really like my plasma

It's in a corner with seats on the edges and the viewing angle that plasma has is awesome.

Not sure how the current LED lit LCD does with image ghosting but fluorescent LCD always had detectable ghosting to me as the refresh was so much slower. Noticeable all the time but extreme during fast moving scenes.

My old color corrected and tuned analog 3 bulb 55" Toshina theater wide rear projection had the best picture. But man was it huge. The 42" Panasonic Plasma had served me well even of the blacks are not as black as I would like.

Good luck!

[NuclearDem]

6. I've had a 50" Panasonic plasma for three years.

With the 5.1 system I bought afterward, I couldn't have chosen a better system.

[davidpdx]

7. Also make sure to see if the TV has ports for

a USB and a HDMI port.

[JCMach1]

9. minimum 2 HDMI ports!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

14. Yes, I use one for my DVD player and

the other one for my Roku streaming player.

[davidpdx]

16. Yep

With two HDMI posts you can plug in a DVD player and a computer at the same time. Then have a memory stick in the USB port. Add a wireless keyboard and mouse for your computer and you can sit in your chair while doing everything.

[benld74]

8. We have 1 LCD, 2 plasmas. I like plasma the best

[JCMach1]

10. 50" may be too big for some living rooms...

If smaller works in your setting, you can save a lot of $$$... 50" or more would look horrible in my living room!

be sure to get HD 1080 (or higher) NOT 720

If you do go smaller, spend the savings on a premium sound system. I have a wireless SONY system that kicks a$$.

I have had Plasma and LCD... both work fine. Some screens are just rubbish plasma, or LCD... compare compare compare with your own eyes.

[NewJeffCT]

11. If you're flexible on size

the old projection TVs are a lot thinner and use less energy than they used to, so you can likely get a bigger screen for a lower price than LED, LCD or Plasma. We bought a 60" TV from Mitsubishi a few years back that was priced like an LED TV that was under 50", and it had all the HDMI inputs, Wifi and 3D that all the top of the line TVs have.

Sports & video games are better on plasma than LED/LCD as they typically have a 600Hz refresh rate, while higher end LED and LCD TVs are 240Hz, and 120Hz is more common. We have an older LCD TV at home and we can't even play video games on it because it has only a 60Hz refresh rate.

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33199_7-57524894-221/what-is-refresh-rate/

[warrior1]

12. I got a 60" Samsung LED HDTV

for $999. at Best Buy. Really good deal

[sakabatou]

13. We have an LCD for the house

Yes, we have only ONE television.

[Texasgal]

15. I'm gonna say go with Plasma

the picture is better and they are cheaper. I have a 50' plasma that I've had for years, still as perfect as it was from day one!

[Revanchist]

17. You might find this site helpful when deciding on the size

http://www.displaywars.com/

This will allow you to get a screen with the same height as the old one, which can be handy if anyone in your household has poor eyesight.

[REP]

18. LED for energy efficiency; plasma for color

Personally, the color differences between an LED and a plasma don't bother me that much, but plasmas have much better black values than anything else. Since this is the sort if thing my husband does for a living, we have a plasma but had it been up to me, it would an LED.

[Orsino]

19. Those "smart" TVs have been getting smarter...

...full of apps and with cameras for Skyping, but I went for an ordinary Panasonic plasma (cheaper than comparable LED/LCD and with subtler color) monitor and got a hundred-dollar Blu-ray player with the apps and wireless built in.