Advice re Purchase of HDTV

[Django]

With the World Championships fast approaching, I'm thinkng about finally taking the leap and joining the 21st century by buying a HDTV. I've carefully measured available space, and a 40" screen looks good for me.
Now my question: 60HZ vs 120Hz? I understand that, theoretically, 120Hz is better--- but I'd like to ask whether it makes a discernible difference, since (I think) I'd read somehwere that, with a 40" screen, it may not matter, while it might with, say, a 60" screen.

[SQUACKEE]

Re: Advice re Purchase of HDTV

With the World Championships fast approaching, I'm thinkng about finally taking the leap and joining the 21st century by buying a HDTV. I've carefully available space, and a 40" screen looks good for me.
Now my question: 60HZ vs 120Hz? I understand that, theoretically, 120Hz is better--- but I'd like to ask whether it makes a discernible difference, since (I think) I'd read somehwere that, with a 40" screen, it may not matter, while it might with, say, a 60" screen.

Whatever you do get Plasma, the contrast is so much better.

[guru]

And make sure you get an HDMI cable to connect the TV to your HD cable box or satellite box.

Also, shop around using the internet. Find a specific model you like, and google the model number on the google shopping function. I saved over $400 on my Sony Bravia over what I would have paid locally at one of the big box electronics places. I had to wait a week, but it was worth it.

[donley2]

I am also a plasma guy, though I am not necessarily anti-LCD. But one thing I will say is bigger is better. A 50 inch plasma is getting to be a really sweet spot as far as price/performance goes. This one has gotten some good reviews http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/ ... =mncol;lst

[lapsus]

The plasmas are good, but LCD technology improves every year. 120Hz only really matters for LCDs and is something of a marketing term.

The 120Hz technology is noticeable at 40 inches, but you may or may not like it. It helps with LCD TV's problems with fast moving scenes, reducing motion blur - useful when watching sports. But the technology also has a "smoothing" effect that many people don't like. The problem is that the eyes are used to seeing movies at 24 Hz, and if it is smoothed by 120Hz processing that automatically generates interpolated images between the 24 "real" images per second, movies can look like they were shot on video and lose a certain "film quality". You'll have to view the effect with your own eyes to see if you like it or not.

This year's midrange to high end Samsung LCDs (those with 120Hz) have the best adjustment options of 120Hz technology that I have seen (you can get get reduced motion blur without excessive smoothing), and the picture quality is also otherwise excellent.

[Cooter Brown]

1080p & 120 Hz is the way to go. I have a 47" 1080p 120Hz LCD and a 42" 1080p plasma and the LCD resolution is significantly better.

Buy your HDMI cables at monoprice.com. They're <$10 and an HDMI cable, unlike the old component cables, are all the same. Since they just send digitial 1's & 0's instead of actual video/audio signals, they do not need to be gold plated, etc. no matter what the kid at Best Buy tells you.

[Django]

Many thanks for your replies. I hope to be up and running in mid-August!

[Halfmiler2]

I like plasmas also, but last I looked, it was tough to find a plasma set under 42" anymore. I also heard that plasma sets may get phased out altogether even though many people think they are better quality. The problem is that they cost more to produce and have lower profit margins.

[guru]

Many thanks for your replies. I hope to be up and running in mid-August!

Here's where I got my TV back in January.

http://www.abesofmaine.com/

I did an EXHAUSTIVE internet search and they had the best price on my model. Free shipping, and at the time offered a free wall mount. Also got my HDMI cable from them at a good price. Be forwarned - a salesman will call after you place the online order to "confirm" it, and you will get the hard sell for add-ons like warranties, accessories, etc(probably the same at any deep discount online retailer). That stuff is totally up to you of course, but the cable is really all you'll need to get for sure.

A tip - if you are interested in something they offer(including the cable), waffle on it for awhile. You will get 2 or 3 price reductions before the salesman gives up.

The only drawback is it can take up to two or three weeks sometimes, since these large retailors don't ship it themselves, but from a factory warehouse somewhere, and they only ship large TV's by truck. But if you're willing to wait to save several hundred dollars on a purchase like this, it's well worth it.

Good luck!

[SQUACKEE]

Many thanks for your replies. I hope to be up and running in mid-August!

Here's where I got my TV back in January.

http://www.abesofmaine.com/

Good luck!

They have a 50 inch plasma panasonic 720 for $887.00 Holy shit!!!!!!