Help choosing first HDTV

[thechamp4ever]

Well I'm finally ready to choose my first HDTV, but I have to admit I'm pretty overwhelmed with the options. I've done some research on several sites based on my preferences below but still am having alot of trouble narrowing it down.

46" TO 55" (PREFERENCE ~ 50" - 52")
USED FOR WATCHING MOVIES (on PS3), playing online video games (XBOX360), and watching sports (primarily NFL)
Price Range - up till $1800 (again prefer to stay in the 750 to 1500 price range)
TV area does have a fair amount of windows but I have good blinds, during games I usually leave a indoor light on)
Distance - usually within 10 to 15 feet of TV
I tried to include stuff on the low end and high end range as well as those in the middle. Basically looking for the best deal for my buck. Thanks for all help and suggestions....


BEST BUY
LCD 60Hz
46" Samsung (MODEL#LN46B530P7F) 1080p 60 LCD HDTV $969
52" Insignia 1080p 60Hz LCD HDTV $999

LCD 120Hz
46" Toshiba Regza (46XV645U), Insignia (NS-L46X-10A), or Sharp AQUOS (LC46D85U) - 46" Class / 1080p / 120Hz / LCD HDTV $999
47" LG 1080p (47LH40-UA) 120Hz LCD HDTV $1,199
52" Toshiba Regza (52XV645U) or Sharp AQUOS (LC-52D82U) - 52" Class / 1080 p / 120Hz / LCD HDTV $1299

LCD 240Hz
46" Sony Bravia XBR 1080P 240 Hz LCD HDTV w/ Bravia 1000W 5.1-Channel Home theater System and Sony Blu-ray 1080p player $1,799
55" Sony Bravia (KDL-55V5100) or 52" Bravia XBR (KDL-52Z5100)1080P 240 Hz LCD HDTV w/ Bravia 1000W 5.1-Channel Home theater System and Sony Blu-ray 1080p player $1,899

LED 240Hz
47" LG 1080p (47LH90) Clearscan 240Hz LCD-LED HDTV $1,399

Plasma
50" Panasonic VIERA 720p 600Hz Plasma HDTV $800
50" Samsung 1080P (PN50B550T2F or PN50B530S2F) 600Hz Plasma $1,060
52" Samsung 1080p 600Hz Plasma HDTV $1,239

DLP
60" Mitsubishi 1080p 120Hz DLP HDTV $1,199

WAL MART
52" Sanyo (DP52449) or RCA Scenium (L52FHD2X48) 1080p 120Hz LCD $1,150
55" Vizio (VF550M) 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV & RCA DVD Home Theater System W/ 1080p Upconvert DVD Player & HDMI Cable Bundle $1,560


SEARS
46" Smasung (LN46B630) Touch Of Color 1080P 120Hz LCD HDTV $1,229
50" LG (TC-P42S1) 720P 600Hz Plasma HDTV $709
50" Samsung (PN50B550) 1080P 600Hz Plasma HDTV $1,050

COSTCO
Toshiba 46" 1080p w/ Clearscan 120Hz XV640 V$899

[MrBoylan]

Originally Posted by thechamp4ever

Well I'm finally ready to choose my first HDTV, but I have to admit I'm pretty overwhelmed with the options. I've done some research on several sites based on my preferences below but still am having alot of trouble narrowing it down.

Well, unfortunately you're going to have to add one or two to your list.

I'm actually surprised you included the 720p Panasonic plasma on your list but not any of their 1080p models. IMNSHO, the best bang for the buck in terms of picture quality, features, etc. in your price range is going to be a G10 series Panasonic plasma. Specifically the 50 inch TC-P50G10 or 54 inch TC-P54G10.

You say you like watching movies, games and football. Plasmas typically reproduce the black levels of movies and the fast motion of sports better than all but the most expensive LED-backlit LCD TVs. Also, with modern anti-image retention technology, the risk of getting any long term image retention on a plasma (also mistakenly referred to as "burn in") is neglible, even when using the set for gaming.

The G10 series TVs have excellent native contrast ratios (deep, dark, stable black levels), as well as outstanding image uniformity (consistent brightness across the entire screen) - both of these are hard to find on LCD and even on LED/LCD TVs. They also have THX image certification and a 48 Hz Cinematic Playback mode that can give movie-watching a much more natural cinematic feel. Some people find the flicker in the 48 Hz Cinematic Playback mode to be objectionable, but personally my eyes adjust to it almost immediately. If it bothers you, you can always turn it off or spring for a little extra to get the V10 series which has a 96 Hz Cinematic Playback mode.

More info here:

What is the Best HDTV to Buy Today?: BigPictureBigSound

Also, there is a sale on Amazon on the S1 and G10 plasmas whether you can effectively get a free Blu-ray player and additional cash back. I know you already have a PS3, but you can either use the Panasonic Blu-ray player in a different system or give it away (makes a great present!). With this sale, you can get the 50-inch G10 model and the DMP-BD60 Blu-ray Disc player for a total of $1344.94 with free shipping and no sales tax collected to most states.

If you don't care about the THX picture mode, Cinematic Playback, and online streaming features like YouTube and Amazon video on demand (VIERACast), then you can get Panasonic's entry level 1080p 50-inch plasma (TC-P50S1) for even less (around $1000) or GO REALLY BIG with the 58-inch S1 model which is still in your price range for $1629.28 (based on current sale prices) with the BD80 Blu-ray player and free shipping, after an instant $300 discount.

Details on the sale are here:

Buy a Panasonic HDTV & Blu-ray Player: Save Up To $300: BigPictureBigSound

If you buy locally, those models will probably cost you a bit more than these sale prices and you may have to pay sales tax, depending on where you're located but I'd say these are still strong contenders given your preferred program material.

Good luck!

-Chris

[Daylightdon]

Panasonic TCP50V10 Beats them all, dollar for dollar!!!
Best of the Best available today! ONLY second to the KURO which is discontinued....