If you are seriously considering the purchase of a flatscreen TV of any
description, the best advice I can give you is to know what you're asking
and seeing in the showroom.
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
Plasma panels also
do not suffer from any viewing angle issues, which can be a problem with
LCDs, particularly if you are thinking of wall-mounting, as most will then
need to be angled down towards your sitting position.
Yes, but... I'm surprised at the wide viewing angles of many LCDs, even
close to the screen. It no longer seems to be a problem, unless the
mishpoche has gathered to watch.
You should also be aware that there are several 'resolutions' of screen and
drive to take into consideration. Almost all TV showrooms both here and in
the US, tend to have the sets running on at least an HD picture, and often a
BluRay picture. This makes them look very good at first glance. Problem is
that in normal day to day use when you get it back home, you are going to be
watching standard resolution terrestrial broadcasts on it, and on many sets,
these look pretty dreadful, and it is the reason that so many people are
disappointed with their purchase when they get it home, and think that it is
not what they saw in the store.
Yes and no. Most sets do a poor job upconverting 480i to 1080p, and the
result can be smeary. The solution is to get cable, with many programs
available at native resolutions of 720p or 1080i. The image quality can
equal Blu-ray.
BluRay is a full HD source. This is handled fine by most sets, but be aware
that if the TV is just HD compatible rather than "Full HD", then the native
resolution of the actual display panel, will again not match the resolution
of the signal, and downscaling will take place within the TV to make them
match.
It depends. I have a 32" 720p set in my den, and it has no trouble with
1080i signals.
So, if you are a film buff, and likely to watch stuff on BluRay, you should
consider a set with a full HD panel resolution (1920 x 1080). If it's a
large screen you are wanting...
....and wanting it you will be...
...consider a plasma over an LCD. Whilst these are still more expensive than
LCD, world recession has caused the prices of them to tumble over the last
12 months, and Panasonic gives very long warranties with them.
"Home Entertainment" magazine gave a near-frothing-at-the-mouth review to a
48" Panasonic plasma that goes for $1500.
One final point -- don't be overly impressed by the brightest set. Look
critically at the image, with a variety of material.
By the way, I've seen the Samsung "LED" set repeatedly at Fry's. I don't
like it. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it looks "garish". This
might be the way the sample was set up, or it might be inherent. If I were
buying an LCD set, it would probably be a Sony.