Flat Screen TV/Sorround System

[guns8707]

So my wife is comming back from deployement and i want to get a flat screen since we are still using these old ass tvs. anyway, i have come to realize i dont know anything about electronics so i was hoping someone could please tell me what's a really good brand and also the same with a sorround sound. Can you guys please advice??

[Skiracer]

It all depends on how much you want to spend...

[jaydm73]

It all depends on how much you want to spend...


exactly, whats ur budget?

[CRX2EVO]

I would recommend plamsa over LCD and the two brands I suggest are Pioneer and Panasonic.

[diegoalunan]

^ yup for picture quality plasma is a bit better than the lcd.. but if u dont care for the space that it would take up "dlp" is still the best in terms of pic quality... now if u want to go like somewhat in between and it hink it will save u money in the long run a good lcd would suffice... quality size and price is somewhat to a tee and you dont have to worry about replacing bulbs that cost hundreds of dollars to replace..

[diegoalunan]

look into sony bravia and samsung tv's i ahve them both and they work good for me...

[LiquidLife]

--I RECOMMEND THAT YOU GO TO A BIG ELECTRONICS STORE AND LOOK AT ALL THE TV'S AND SEE WHICH ONE LOOKS BEST TO YOU.

--PLASMA BURNS OUT QUICK, WATCH OUT, (OR IS THAT AN ISSUE ANYMORE?)Â* ALSO PLASMA ISN'T NECESSARILY THE BEST LOOKING, LCD AND DLP CAN LOOK JUST AS GOOD!

--DO YOURSELF A HUGE FAVOR AND MAKE SURE YOU GET A TV THAT RUNS AT 120 HZ, AS MOVIES ARE ENCODED AT 24 FPS WHICH DEVIDES EQUALLY, SEE BELOW:

Film is 24 frames per second. That standard was the approximation of what was defined in the early 20th century by hand crank cameras. And just about every movie disc you can buy is encoded in this format. We're not just talking DVD. We're talking about HD DVD and Blu-ray, too.

The problem is, most TVs run at 30 (or an fps rate not divisible by 24) frames per second. Fitting that 24-frame content onto a 30-frame screen isn't that easy; the math just doesn't compute cleanly. You can't divide 24 by 30 without filling in the gaps with some junk. That junk causes stuttering in the video. This is a jerky-looking phenomenon that's particularly noticeable when the camera pans across a scene. The conversion is better known by film and TV wonks as 2:3 pulldown. It spreads out 24 frames into 30 by placing one frame on the screen three times and the next one after that two times, and repeating this pattern ad infinitum.

How does this relate to an 120Hz HDTV showing frames at 120 frames per second? A bit of simple math tells you that 120 is a multiple of 24, because 24 x 5 = 120. So one of the claims of the purveyors of these sped-up monitors is that they can natively reproduce 24p programming, namely, just about every film has ever been shot.

These new HDTVs avoid this awkward 3:2 pulldown process altogether by changing their frame rate to something that's a multiple of 24 by using either frame doubling or interpolation (also called "tweening"). Then, their playback can be as close to native 24fps playback as you can get. That's why 72Hz (24 x 3 = 72) and 120Hz refresh rates are gaining traction. Native 24p playback: Yeah, sounds good. But how will it be implemented and which manufacturers are involved? And who does it best? – Brian Lam and Charlie White

[EvolvedMCC]

DLP sets don't take up THAT much more space than a plasma or LCD. I have a Samsung 55 inch DLP and the picture quality blows away most LCD sets I have seen...plus you can get a big DLP set for way less than a plasma or LCD of comparable size...

[CRX2EVO]

Plasma IS the best looking and they don't "burn out" quick like people used to believe.

Besides, if you have a TV for 5 years or more it's going to be outdated.

Also, don't worry about 120hz, it's marketing. I don't think LL even has a TV.

[JOOTZ]

dont go for surround systems in a box, go for separates,may be expensive but the effects are way different,digital receiver in 7.1 and a digital sub, front left and right channels and a matching center channel, the four back and side speakers dont have to match the fronts,but it would be best.
as for TV`s take a look at what is out there.
your best helper would be research.

[LiquidLife]

Plasma IS the best looking and they don't "burn out" quick like people used to believe.

Besides, if you have a TV for 5 years or more it's going to be outdated.

Also, don't worry about 120hz, it's marketing. I don't think LL even has a TV.


No it's not the best looking, that also used to be what people believed and it's not true.Â* Technically plasma is better looking, but most of the time you won't really be able to tell.Â* (Burning out wasn't sure about)

One thing I am sure about is 120 hz is awesome, go see for yourself CRX, it's the smoothest thing I've ever seen, makes you feel like you are looking out a window and viewing real life, and not a TV.Â* And I have one plasma, one lcd, and one projection thank you very much.

If you think it's marketing go see for yourself, you'll be sorry if you go buy a flat screen and don't get 120 hz, it's worth it.

[LiquidLife]

BTW, CRX anyone that really knows electronics will verify this info, and tell you that you are an IDIOT. :)

[CRX2EVO]

I have one of the older 4270 Pioneer plasmas and it's pretty badass.

As for the 120hz, I think I saw one at Circuit City with a Blu-ray player hooked up playing Pirates of the Caribbean. It was like looking out a window at real life like you said. It was pretty creepy actually.

[LiquidLife]

You and your punk ass mind games

[tanK]

Dark room ----> Plasma

Well lit room ----> LCD

<--- 50" Pany Plasma and I <3 it (dark room)

[LiquidLife]

^^ basically yeah

[ImpressiveG]

If you are planning to make a big purchase in a Home Theater set up and are in the West Covina area, I can give you a good deal. I work at the Best Buy in West Covina. My name is George and I’m a Home Theater specialist. I don’t work off by commission, but I do work off recognition. I’m sort of like Sam from South Cost Mitsubishi but I smash great deals in Home Theater instead of cars.

I can give you the run down on Plasma Vs. LCD. I’ve been trained by Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, and Sharp. I know all the pros and cons to each brand and Plasma and LCD.

[EvolvedMCC]

my next lcd will definitely be 120hz it's amazing!

[ImpressiveG]

Those 120hz LCD Tv's keep coming down on price. Wait till the end of the year. They will go down on price lower and even lower next year.

During black friday, my hunch is that LG's Scarlet 120hz will be on sale. I've been watching the price one those Tv's and they keep droping. Then again they arnt very dark at all.