Okay HDTV gurus, explain this to me

[Grateful11]

deckeda wrote:
I'd be very surprised if any LCD in that price range could render skin tones as naturally, motion as accurately as the plasma, regardless of how white the whites can get or how black the blacks can get on them---which I don't doubt necessarily.

Just keep in mind it's the overall picture that'll seep into your experience, not a picking-apart each element within it hopefully that will reveal the best choice.

You might be surprised. Like silvarios said there are some out there that are giving Plasma a run for its
money. We bought a Vizio 553 about 1 1/2 moths ago and I'm blown away everytime I turn it on. The
colors are very accurate on this set.

http://www.hdtvsolutions.com/VIZIO_XVT47...Review.htm

http://www.hometheater.com/content/vizio...v-lcd-hdtv

http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/podcast/2010...review.php

http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/podcast/2010...review.php

[motopsyco]

Please everyone, lets begin with a few general rules here.

If you can control the ambient light in a room, go with a plasma.

If you are viewing in a brightly lit room 99% of the time go with a LCD.

You can't judge picture quality in a show room.

Now on with the topic:

In my estimation, LCD and Plasmas are rather close when it comes to picture quality these days. If you care about the finer points and you can control the ambient light in a room, then getting a Plasma is a no brainer because you will be getting the best bang for your buck (that is, if you are after a "Home Theater" experience).

If you are just after "television", then go for a LCD.

Cheers!

[M A V I C]

Thanks for the feedback all.

We will use it for both home theater and TV. But the TV times we'll care less about. We currently have a plasma, though it's 10+ years old, 640x480 and 4:3. We got it used about five years ago. It has some burn-in.

WHiiP wrote: EDIT: Also, did the store use the HDMI port for the signal? This could make a huge difference. How were they driving that signal?

They were using coax at the one store I could see.

[Ted King]

motopsyco wrote:

Now on with the topic:

In my estimation, LCD and Plasmas are rather close when it comes to picture quality these days. If you care about the finer points and you can control the ambient light in a room, then getting a Plasma is a no brainer because you will be getting the best bang for your buck (that is, if you are after a "Home Theater" experience).

:agree: I think that is an excellent rule of thumb to go by.

[Bimwad]

motopsyco wrote:
You can't judge picture quality in a show room.

Precisely.

The environment is uncontrolled, usually horrible, and side-by-side comparisons with LCDs only make plasmas look worse.

Few people would like an accurate picture if that is what they were shown under less than ideal conditions.

Given that conditions aren't often ideal, people will tend to favor the eye-catching picture, and the video industry has obliged, just like the music industry.