New TV Buying - An Emotional Affair

[asliarun]

Here's my two cents. I honestly feel that the rate at which TVs are evolving is like how PCs and laptops were evolving 10 years ago. Your unit will basically become out of date in 5 years time, so no point buying a TV that you hope will last 15 years. For example, there's a strong chance that in 4-5 years, OLED TVs will give you a level of picture quality that even current top end models will not give you at twice the price.

So, I would say that if you are not satisfied with the picture quality of the high end LED models at the top of your budget, you might be better off paying less money and going for a more standard 42" model that has say, a higher refresh rate.

For what it is worth, I have an 42" LG that I bought for a fairly good price. While it doesn't have the greatest picture quality in terms of deep blacks and what not, it actually has the best sound I have heard (which means I don't have to buy a separate pair of speakers) in any TV. I'm not asking you to buy because I made a similar choice, but I'm just saying that in the long run, I've found that picture quality is not the be all and end all as long as it is "good enough". Ultimately, it is about finding the model with the right balance of features and strengths that works for you.

Note: I've also found that while deep blacks are not great on my TV, I find it annoying ver rarely say, once in a month, and only when I am watching a movie that is exceptionally dark.

I've also found that picture quality actually depends more on the quality of broadcast than the TV itself. I actually moved my TV from India to US, and I have full HD broadcast for all channels here. The picture quality difference is night and day between full HD in Comcast and SD in Tata Sky.

 

[gurujee]

^ yeah...i really like your insight.... i remember going with my uncle 2years back to buy a sony LCD which is unable to satisfy him just because there is much more better tvs are available at the same price he paid for LCD.

 

[just4kix]

Here's my two cents. I honestly feel that the rate at which TVs are evolving is like how PCs and laptops were evolving 10 years ago. Your unit will basically become out of date in 5 years time, so no point buying a TV that you hope will last 15 years. For example, there's a strong chance that in 4-5 years, OLED TVs will give you a level of picture quality that even current top end models will not give you at twice the price.

So, I would say that if you are not satisfied with the picture quality of the high end LED models at the top of your budget, you might be better off paying less money and going for a more standard 42" model that has say, a higher refresh rate.

For what it is worth, I have an 42" LG that I bought for a fairly good price. While it doesn't have the greatest picture quality in terms of deep blacks and what not, it actually has the best sound I have heard (which means I don't have to buy a separate pair of speakers) in any TV. I'm not asking you to buy because I made a similar choice, but I'm just saying that in the long run, I've found that picture quality is not the be all and end all as long as it is "good enough". Ultimately, it is about finding the model with the right balance of features and strengths that works for you.

Note: I've also found that while deep blacks are not great on my TV, I find it annoying ver rarely say, once in a month, and only when I am watching a movie that is exceptionally dark.

I've also found that picture quality actually depends more on the quality of broadcast than the TV itself. I actually moved my TV from India to US, and I have full HD broadcast for all channels here. The picture quality difference is night and day between full HD in Comcast and SD in Tata Sky.

Thanks asliarun for your thought leadership. Here are my own thoughts:

- While it is true that TVs become outdated fast, I feel that your "5 years" time frame is actually quite liberal. I would put it more like 3 years.
- The Indian mindset is changing slowly but surely. My first TV (purchased by my father) was in 1986 (Nelco 20") and they changed for a better model (BPL 21") in 1992. This TV still exists today and working, though not in use.
- I purchased LG 29" in 1998 which I had to sold off in 2007. I purchased Sony Wega 29" and 2006 and it is still in operation.
- Purchased 50ST50 last July, 2012.

People do replace TVs quite often. But I would not go in for a new TV unless:

- 4K technology becomes mainstream
- OLED are available at 100K or so in 46"~50" models
- my own ST50 goes kaput

 

[Dirac]

TV buying is more of a psychological thing too.
If you have a negative feeling for LCds at the back of your mind(may be because you have seen flicker), avoid it. I am saying this because this feeling in the corner wont vanish so easily. It is not like , "they bought an LCD and lived happily ever after" thing. Every time you see pixcellation in a low resolution video you would curse yourself.

Similarly if somebody have a negative feeling towards plasma, like it is dimmer and pictures appear washed out in bright light conditions etc, should avoid it.

I have seen tv soaps on plasma. Not bad at all.But of-course it may not have the brightness and head-turning effect of a led.

I suggest that you try panasonic 50x50B. Don't underestimate it because it is not full hd. It is always easy and rewarding to upscale a low resolution video to 720p rather than to 1080p. It could fit into your budget and could give you almost same pleasure of a full hd set(sometimes more!).

 

[manzb]

I have a 5.5 yrs old Sony LCD. No major issues, except that there are few areas where it is bleeding, specially from Top side, minor, but noticeable. But still doing it's job of broadcasting pictures. And I am happy with it. In 2007 there was no concept of HD, so this was HD ready, which I got to experience only when I got a Tata Sky HD in 2010. Frankly speaking the PQ is good enough. But now that world has gone ahead and Full HD become main stream and BD with 3D is the new in thing, I am also in the look out for a replacement of the same. But I might shift the old one to Bedroom (which I normally don't prefer, as it makes you lazy and keeps you on the bed), and have a new Big one with all bells & whistles for the hall. I am planning to wait till the new ones hits the shelves or a great offer on the old stocks.

 

[vakharia]

@Gurujee: For your distance of 9 feet, I think 42" will be small. You need 50".
For your budget, only a plasma will fit in for that size.
For you to use a plasma, you will need to put dark/ thick curtain (specially on the right side). If that is OK, then the only option I can think of is P50X50D from Panasonic.
You can also look at a comparable model from Samsung if you prefer.

This model is listed for Rs. 56000 on Flipkart. Use that to bargain.

You will get DLNA, but for Wifi, you will have to pay extra. Else buy a long network cable and attach to the LAN port on the TV.

The only thing missing after this is the FULL HD screen. It can play your BD and other downloaded stuff at 720P which is good for a 50" screen. No one will realize from 9 feet about the resolution of the screen.

You will need to set aside some money for the audio too, considering that your room is almost open on one side. If outside noise is an issue, then the TV's speakers will not suffice. Go with 2.1 in speaker system at a minimum (starts at Rs. 1000). If you have more money then sky is the limit.

Also note that the windows near the TV will need to be closed most of the time to protect the TV from natural elements - rain/ moisture, heat and dust.
This is applicable for any TV.

 

[just4kix]

I suggest that you try panasonic 50x50B. Don't underestimate it because it is not full hd. It is always easy and rewarding to upscale a low resolution video to 720p rather than to 1080p. It could fit into your budget and could give you almost same pleasure of a full hd set(sometimes more!).

Which is this 'B' model that you are referring to as in 50X50B? I believe that the 'B' models are for different region. The model sold in India is I think 50X50D.

 

[gurujee]

Ok. guys. too busy last some days.. but i could manage to do a wild experiment. I borrowed a friend's old samsung e400 43'' tv and tried at the same place as in the pic. Initially, it didnt look good but after I restrict the strong light from the right side with curtain. It is OK and watchable in daytime. After 5PM, everything seems good. It is good, no reflection, good brightness colours etc. . . . . . . So I think, i should go with Plasmas. ex650 LED 40'' is very pricey and that too 2'' smaller from the same range plasmas. Now I had been to a cousin's house who has a 46'' sony LED and I like the size. 46'' seems perfect to me. But plasma has 42'' then 50''. I am yet to demo the models. but i am confused for the size to go for. ALSO if i go with 42'', then should I get the panasonic UT model or XT...

 

[just4kix]

Ok. guys. too busy last some days.. but i could manage to do a wild experiment. I borrowed a friend's old samsung e400 43'' tv and tried at the same place as in the pic. Initially, it didnt look good but after I restrict the strong light from the right side with curtain. It is OK and watchable in daytime. After 5PM, everything seems good. It is good, no reflection, good brightness colours etc. . . . . . . So I think, i should go with Plasmas. ex650 LED 40'' is very pricey and that too 2'' smaller from the same range plasmas. Now I had been to a cousin's house who has a 46'' sony LED and I like the size. 46'' seems perfect to me. But plasma has 42'' then 50''. I am yet to demo the models. but i am confused for the size to go for. ALSO if i go with 42'', then should I get the panasonic UT model or XT...

If you liked plasma (and there is no reason why someone shouldn't), then you should go with Panasonic UT50 if you have the budget. Go for 50" if your viewing distance is near 9-10 feet else 42". XT50 is also good. Samsung 51E550 is as good in performance as UT50.

Sent from my GT-I9100G using Tapatalk 2

 

[Connoisseur]

How about LG 42LS5700??? Heard it's a good buy with many features including smart for a very competitive price and a great after sale service !

Could a proud owner of LS5700 enlighten us more on this????????

 

[sandesh1978]

I think , this forum name shud be changed to plasmavision instead of hifivision... dominated by plasma fans, huge bias towards plasma, knowingly or unknowingly...

 

[prosenjit]

I think , this forum name shud be changed to plasmavision instead of hifivision... dominated by plasma fans, huge bias towards plasma, knowingly or unknowingly...

:lol::lol::lol:

another spammer/troller...what should i say..
boss please spend some time in front of a plasma with original blu ray disks....
and then you will understand....if not tried it..why wasting time...

 

[sandesh1978]

I know man plasma are good when it comes to pq than led...but still led has its own advantages and plasma has its own disadvantages...
I just expressed myself, that this forum is huge huge bias on plasma which is so obvious, u like it or not, its true ...
it feels like a small community is so scared of the fact that it is gonna vanish in time to come and pushing themaelf hard to convince others that please join us ...
anyways I wud definately keep ur suggestion in mind and spare some time ...

 

[prosenjit]

offf course i admit the disadvantages,...and why not..
but the pq..you wrote it yourself..plasma wins..

and definitly yes its a vanishing product....does it mean its bad??

i will give you one example...

top class film cameras
so are they bad..............

 

[sandesh1978]

I agree with u ... I never said they are bad... In fact I mentioned to just4kix in another post a month back that I was blownaway with plasma pq... So just relax buddy and dont feel offended... Enjoy ur plasma and let me enjoy my led... And let us be fair enough in recommending tvs , as plasma ut50 is not the solution for all...

 

[just4kix]

Relax. Let's not fight over petty issues. It is easy enough to discover why this forum is dominated by people favouring plasma. Not just this forum, most other such related forums also. The world is dominated by LCD/ LED TV buyers. It is just that these people generally buy:

- what the neighbour purchased
- what the salesman told them to buy
- what they see in advertisements (plasma TV is hardly advertised)
- hearsay reports - plasma is old tech, etc.

But these generic people are usually not part of forums. Forum is a community of people who deliberate, seek opinions, read a lot, and (usually) take informed decisions. For these people, video quality is paramount. Hence a tilt to plasma is natural as no one with unbiased and open mind can dispute the fact that plasma is superior in basics. However, LCD/LED TVs have their own advantages. This has been discussed multiple times in various threads.

 

[reubensm]

People do replace TVs quite often. But I would not go in for a new TV unless:

- 4K technology becomes mainstream
- OLED are available at 100K or so in 46"~50" models
- my own ST50 goes kaput

+1 to this opinion. I went around spending a lot of time checking out LCD, LED and Plasma models of various companies and finally allowed myself a strategic decision:-

Retain my 29" Sony Triniton Wega CRT for now (its picture quality was miles ahead of absolutely all the non-HD LCD, LED and Plasma TVs which I took a look at) and look at panel technology in a few year's time. Besides the sound quality of that good old Sony is outstanding.

 

[shanmune]

I know man plasma are good when it comes to pq than led...but still led has its own advantages and plasma has its own disadvantages...
I just expressed myself, that this forum is huge huge bias on plasma which is so obvious, u like it or not, its true ...
it feels like a small community is so scared of the fact that it is gonna vanish in time to come and pushing themaelf hard to convince others that please join us ...
anyways I wud definately keep ur suggestion in mind and spare some time ...

Hi sandesh

I think just4kix has put it rightly and cannot agree more than what he said. I do agree with most of your points too except for this below statement

"it feels like a small community is so scared of the fact that it is gonna vanish in time to come and pushing themaelf hard to convince others that please join us ..."

The reason is the above statement gives me an impression that plasma lovers or owners are not morally upright and honest towards potential buyers. You may not have intended to convey that, but that's how I understood. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Yes, there could be some mad and dishonest guys who have some personal agenda in pushing their brands/tech, be it of LCD or Plasma. These dishonest guys (in minority) will be there every where. At least in this forum, I have seen most of the plasma lovers/fans/owners giving an unbiased suggestion. Though I have become a lover of plasma of late (I guess there is nothing wrong in it) by the virtue of doing an exhaustive audition, I always made sure that I understand the requirements of a prospective buyer and give right suggestions rather than pushing my own preference. I have seen the same from others as well who own plasma. THere are multiple posts by other plasma owners to prove that. I must also say some of the LCD owners in this forum have given unbiased suggestions. My intent in posting this post is not to hurt you or create another debate. Just like you have registered you opinion, I also wanted to register what I thought. Hope I haven't offended you.

 

[Rupam]

Guruji, I recommend Panasonic TH-P50X50D. Its priced ? 65,900. MRP. You should get a demo of this model. I have seen this model in local store. Its the best in this range.

Here is a review. > MediaFire - Space for your documents, photos, videos, and music.


After reading the post, I like to change the title to "New TV Buying - An Emotional Atyachar

 

[sandesh1978]

Relax. Let's not fight over petty issues. It is easy enough to discover why this forum is dominated by people favouring plasma. Not just this forum, most other such related forums also. The world is dominated by LCD/ LED TV buyers. It is just that these people generally buy:

- what the neighbour purchased
- what the salesman told them to buy
- what they see in advertisements (plasma TV is hardly advertised)
- hearsay reports - plasma is old tech, etc.

But these generic people are usually not part of forums. Forum is a community of people who deliberate, seek opinions, read a lot, and (usually) take informed decisions. For these people, video quality is paramount. Hence a tilt to plasma is natural as no one with unbiased and open mind can dispute the fact that plasma is superior in basics. However, LCD/LED TVs have their own advantages. This has been discussed multiple times in various threads.

Ohh come on my friend, are these the only reasons why the leds are baught by majority, that too by shelling out more money... Ha ha ha . Who in world wud not buy more for less, still plasma are slowly pushed out of market, Lets face it ... leds are good on their own terms than plasma ... Hence they are liked by majority....and if people wud by stuff by what sales man say or market , then by now every family in india wud have had a vaccume cleaner or a roti maker or electric stove at home...