TV & Home Theater

[TVEquip]

Hello everyone, I just registered and I'm looking for some help.  I'm remodeling my living room / dinning room and I completely gutted it.  I'm now putting everything back in, I put up quiet rock for my in wall speakers, put an entertainment box (recessed)  in for my 120V, 1.4 hdmi cable installed along with an ethernet cable (just in case).  I purchased a tilt adjustable omni mount NC200T for t.v.'s up to 63".  The room has 3 windows and light can be adjusted by my shutters.  The room size is 13'6" X 27", but  because this room will be split for a living room / dinning room let's say it's 13'6" X13''6" .  So I'll have approx. 11'-12' viewing from couch to t.v.  Here is my problem I don't know much about t.v.'s, I'm coming from a 37" Vizio lcd, which I've been happy with.  With that said, I've spent $$$ on the remodel and now want an impressive t.v. to match oh and I only budgeted 1500.00 on the t.v.  So  I got on the internet and started researching for the past 3-4 weeks.  I was set on purchasing a plasma, Panasonic 50/54" G series.  I went down to a few stores including B.B. and didn't like the look of most plasma's.  I thought they were dark pictures and saw 3-4" lines running horizontal with a flicker.  The guys at the store didn't see it, but I did and didn't like it.  Oh and not all models did this, and I'm not sure if this is normal.  Most LED's I didn't like except the high end (over 2K), the color didn't look natural although they were very bright.  Now here is the wierd thing, I liked the way the LCD's looked..... Now I'm not done, sorry for the long post.  So I saw the 3D t.v.'s  and have to tell you I'm not sold on a 3D I think it's too new and I don't know about wearing glasses.  But on the way out of B.B. more confussed than ever I saw the Panasonic VT series and have to tell you WOW amazing and they have a package that includes the glasses and the DVD player along with 2 DVD's but it's not in my range.  Can anyone suggest the perfect t.v.??? Or give me models to look at???

Thanks again =-)

[Jason-BBY Retired: Community Analyst]

Hey there TVEquip,

I'd suggest using our TV Finder to help narrow down your options.  Ultimately, the TV that you think the picture looks best on is probably the best for you.

As far as the plasmas looking dark, keep in mind the conditions in the store can be quite different than it would be at home.  The lights in the store are very different than you'd have in your living room, and at home you wouldn't be looking back and forth from your set to another for comparison, meaning it may not look dark once you've got it setup.  Also, you may be able to calibrate the display to look perfect in your setting.

So, what I suggest is go to the tool, put in the variables you're sure of, and let it help you narrow down the selection. Then visit the store and look at the options you're left with and see which one is best for you.

BestBuy.com TV Finder

Hope this helps!

[consagra]

Hi TVEquip, keep in mind that the LCDs are really amped up to nearly full brightness in the store which makes the plasmas look dull by comparison.  The plasma will look much better in your home.  If you decide on an LCD, I'm sure you'll find the need to turn down the brightness substantially at home compared to how it's set in the store.  Unfortunately, I can't speak to why you saw lines on the TV at the store.  It could be their source or it could have been a problem with the TV.  A TV in the 50" range sounds about right to me for your viewing distance.  Good luck in your decision.

[Tusin]

Remember LED TV's of today (well consumer level) are LCD. The only difference is the back-light. What most refer to as "LCD" uses a CCFL backlight and "LED" is well an LED (well multiple LED's) backlight. It allows the TV's to be much thinner, and have much more even back-lighting

Like others have said, what you saw was "store mode". Most TV's when you turn them on for the first time will ask "is this for home or store?". Store mode has the contrast/backlight/ CRANKED. To try to grab the shoppers attention. It is kind of sad but a store is the WORST place to judge on purchasing a TV or not.

Sounds like you have spent $$$$$$ on your setup. Don't skimp on the TV. Panasonic VT25 dooooo it! And then pay for it to be calibrated.

[TVEquip]

Thank you for all your help.  Yeah I figured the settings would change at home.  And I told myself, I'm not going to be comparing T.V.'s side by side in my house.  The other thing is appeal, some of the Panasonic's benzel's aren't as appealing as some of the Samsungs, but the PQ on some of the Panny's looked better to me than some of the Samsungs.  Would it be better if I either added to this post or created a new post on some of the T.V.'s I liked and maybe some of you can help me narrow it down.

[Entropy]

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Tusin wrote:
Remember LED TV's of today (well consumer level) are LCD. The only difference is the back-light. What most refer to as "LCD" uses a CCFL backlight and "LED" is well an LED (well multiple LED's) backlight. It allows the TV's to be much thinner, and have much more even back-lighting

Like others have said, what you saw was "store mode". Most TV's when you turn them on for the first time will ask "is this for home or store?". Store mode has the contrast/backlight/ CRANKED. To try to grab the shoppers attention. It is kind of sad but a store is the WORST place to judge on purchasing a TV or not.

Sounds like you have spent $$$$$$ on your setup. Don't skimp on the TV. Panasonic VT25 dooooo it! And then pay for it to be calibrated.

---

Also, BBY has improved greatly in this aspect, but sometimes stores feed their TVs with sources that don't do them justice.

I remember back around 2003-2004ish, my local BBY was feeding all of their PC monitors from a single source with a very suboptimal video distribution amp - the end result is that they ALL looked awful in-store.

[TVEquip]

We'll I pulled the trigger and purchased a new Panny TCP54VT25 yeah the 3D.....  Hope my wife doesn't kick me out of the house, if she can kicks me out of the bedroom I'll have a nice T.V. to watch in the living room.....  I'm going to have it del. next week after I paint and put the furniture back in....

[mstng87gt Trusted Contributor]

Congrats and come back and let us know how you like.