Recommendation for 40" HDTV

[EricSilver]

I am preparing to (finally) leave the TV stone age and get a flat HDTV.

Applications: DVD's, TV, no gaming.

* Prefer 1080p.

* Looking at LCD, like LED quality, and am spooked by plasma -- but hear it is best for movies.

* Best screen quality I have observed so far: Samsung (LED), LG, Toshiba (good picture and lowest price of these three).

* Looking to spend around $600 (which probably rules out LED)

Suggestions?

[daveuz]

I know you are worried about plasma , but I went for one. I too had a stone age tv before this and am more than happy with this one. Check out the reviews also. http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-PN42C450-42-Inch-Plasma-Black/dp/B0036WT3V6/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1295377592&sr=8-4 TIP: if you go online to Samsung and register the TV there the warranty extends out a good amount of time.

[Hatterasguy]

I really like my Samsung LED computer monitor, I'm thinking about getting a larger one for a TV.

I have a 50" LG plasma and a 37" Toshiba LCD, both seem to work well but I prefer the look of the plasma.

[EricSilver]

I am checking that out. So far the reviews are very good.

[JamesDean]

Plasmas are best suited to darker environments, i.e basements and such. Last I checked they have better colors/picture quality/black levels than their LCD/LED-LCD counterparts.

Panasonic acquired Pioneers black-level technology so they're probably in the lead.

Where do you plan on putting the TV? If its in a bright room (lots of windows and ambient light, you might consider a LCD type tv) My parents have a plasma in the family room, its not too bad, a little on the dark side though.

[EricSilver]

It will go in my living room with large glass doors and with blinds I draw when there is too much light on my current tube TV screen. I expect a plasma screen is about as bright as a tube screen?

Originally Posted by JamesDean

Plasmas are best suited to darker environments, i.e basements and such. Last I checked they have better colors/picture quality/black levels than their LCD/LED-LCD counterparts.

Panasonic acquired Pioneers black-level technology so they're probably in the lead.

Where do you plan on putting the TV? If its in a bright room (lots of windows and ambient light, you might consider a LCD type tv) My parents have a plasma in the family room, its not too bad, a little on the dark side though.

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

I really like my Samsung LED computer monitor, I'm thinking about getting a larger one for a TV.

I recently bought a 27" apple cinema display for my daughter's computer, they are pretty nice looking.

[Hatterasguy]

I won't buy from the fruit brand.

[tbomachines]

My 42" LG is very good, 120Hz, 1080p, etc all the bells and whistles, I believe it is around $600 now. It also has netcast, which is LG's sort of internet browser where you can watch youtube videos and any streaming netflix material. ALso has USB connectivity, currently housing a 320GB hard drive with media on it. I am very happy with it! Also, my gf's roomate had a 40" Samsung LCD that was a bit older, with very good picture quality. Either of those two brands plus probably Toshiba would be the three I would look at.

[okyoureabeast]

Burn in isn't really much of problem anymore.

I have a special stuck pixel/burn in remover DVD that plays a crazy color scheme over and over again to unstuck pixels. Then again I rarely have to use it, mostly on this one older LCD monitor that has one bastard pixel that gets stuck in the center.

[dynalow]

Sharp. The name defines the picture, imo. It looks good, even without HD programming. No kicks here.

[MTI]

Biggest bang for the buck in 1080p is plasma. This year we bought a 55 and a 47 inch, both from Panasonic.

[macdoe]

Bought an LG plasma Dec.26 2008 and as of January 3 2011 the bottom half of the screen has dark lines in it the horizontal way. I figured that the quality should be good cause they are made in the U.S. AND figured if something went wrong with it then I would get better service.

I called them up....they have a customer service outlet here in Ontario Canada and found out that my warranty expired just a week before the problem started to happen and they will do nothing for me.
I am very p.o'd as this T.V costed $1200.00 only days over 2 years ago. This t.v replaced an old R.C.A cabinet style T.V that was 27 years old. I also spent thousands on other LG brand appliances and am regretting supporting a company that operates this way.

I noticed our big box electronics chain Future shop pushed selling LG products back when this T.V was purchased but as of December 26 2010 I notice that in the T.V section of the store they have all the LG display model T.V'S turned off and are pushing the Samsung, Sony brands.

I am betting that the store is'nt impressed with the service or the products from LG any longer either and the reason for them being in the far lonely corners of the store. I expect that there will be a time when this store does'nt carry their product anymore.

I will not purchase from them ever again

If panasonic has the pioneer black level technology I would look at their products as the Pioneer was considered one of the best when I researched a couple years ago. I got a chance to see a pioneer in action and they had a beautiful picture quality, but were very expensive.

Perhaps Panasonic will be able to keep the prices down, but still offer the pioneer technology.

[daveuz]

might be worth a view
:http://www.displaycalibrationonline.com/reviews_samsung_plasma_2009.asp &
http://www.flat-screentv.info/2010/04/samsung-plasma-42-inch-pn42b450-vs-panasonic-p42x1-720p-hdtv