Plasma Questions - New Member Needs Help!!!
kfccon123 -- Fri, 02/24/2006 - 01:43
I have decided on a plasma. I think I want a display instead of a TV to get more for my money because I will need an audio system anyway and I have DIRECTTV.
Can I go commercial? Willing to spend the money, but am concerned about rapidly developing new technology, i.e. 1080p, making current models selling for a premium now, clearance items within months. 50" seems to be perfect size.
Any suggestions, advice and recommendations on brands, models, etc., will be much appreciated.
Have you downloaded the TPV Editor's Choice 2005 article (it is under AVguide Recommends)?
If by "display instead of TV" you mean a monitor with no integrated tuner, I agree, as long as your DirecTV service includes HD programming. Another thing to consider is whether or not DirecTV will offer local HD channels in your area; if not, an integrated HD tuner (or an outboard terrestrial tuner) with rooftop antenna is a good thing, as long as there are terrestrial HD stations broadcasting in your area. Finally, I would not rely on any display's internal audio system, so avoiding that is fine.
At a size of 50 inches, I wouldn't be concerned about 1080p; you can't see the difference between that and 720p at a seating distance of 10 feet. But in terms of waiting for sales as 720p sets are blown out in favor of the new 1080p models, that might be a viable strategy, though, as you point out, it probably be several months before most of that happens.
As far as bargain plasmas are concerned, I'm fairly keen on the V, Inc. VIZIO P50 HDM 50-inch plasma, which sells at CostCo for $2500. It has no integrated tuner, but it does have an integrated audio system, which I would ignore. By all accounts, it looks quite good out of the box, and V, Inc. customer service is reportedly very good.
Scott Wilkinson
Video Editor
The Perfect Vision
Thanks to Scott's suggestion I purchased a Vizio 50" plasma at Costco a few months ago.
The picture quality on HD is simply stunning, not what I would have expected at this price. People who have seen it in my house (some with far more expensive displays) have been blown over.
As for Vizio customer service, the fans on my unit were somewhat noisy (This is not a problem with the latest production units). I called Vizio and they sent a technician to my house to replace the fans. It was painless.
The only other objection I have is that there are some handshaking problems using HDMI between my cable box (Comcast/Mote) and the Vizio. Consequently, I often have to cycle thru the inputs. It's annoying but a small price to pay for the picture quality.
Good luck!
Jim
Thank you Scott for the very thorough and detailed explanation and advice. I have sworn that I would not purchase on "off brand" plasma, yet I am caught between a rock and a hard place because according to my own personal research and intuition, I have also been told by others much more experienced than me in this field (which does not take much!!!), the same thing with regard to 1080p and viewing distance.
It appears that it is will somewhere in the neighboord of five months or so before the 1080p plasmas hit the market. Just by virtue of these supposed "new" and "improved" models coming out, it is obviously going to make the lower native resolution displays plummet rapidly in price.
Thanks again for the help. It was fantistic.
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