Plasma v LCD v LED

[lavaman]

Ok, I have elected to join the modern world, esp since I am already paying for HD signal. Budget is around $600-700 (before tax). I am loathe to do this, as I don't watch that much tele, but it's time to upgrade. I already have very nice sound system, iso I just need help with the tele?

Thanks!!

[JasoninDenver]

Think about what size you want first then I would buy the nicest LED I could find. I like my Samsung LCD a great deal. I am an audiophile as well and think that you will be able to appreciate the HUGE quality difference in these new sets much more than you now anticipate.

BTW: If there is a Costco near you, start there.

[Route 66]

Another vote for an LED set. They consume much less electricity and they don't dim over time the way a LCD with a fluorescent light source will. And as you probably already know, LEDs last much longer than fluorescent bulbs.

We opted for a Sharp LED TV last year and the picture still amazes me.

[azguy]

Just bought a Samsung 40" and got plenty of education as I shopped. It's LED all the way. It's the newest technology

The picture quality between LCD and LED is pretty remarkable. I was coming off of a 10 year old Sony Trinitron and sometimes now I'm just in awe as I watch a show at the difference.

[lavaman]

Thanks for any comments. Any bad news about plasma? They are offering howling deals on plasma right now. Yea I am more or less sold on LCD, but I am hearing LED is new way to go. Not sure I want to be the guinea pig though. And yea, I have an old school Sony that got me through grad school. So, I am hard pressed to cut into the Rolex fund for a talking box.

[TswaneNguni]

Have a six year old Panasonic PDW8 Business monitor plasma 40 inch ...not looking to change it soon.Brilliant as ever !!

[dysondiver]

second hand b and o , crt , the avant or the mx , still stunning to look at when they are turned off, crt will blow away any of the lcd led plasmas out there in that price range , give you sound you dont have to run through a hi fi cos the built in speakers are so bad , and best of all a remote to die for.
that would be my thoughts , especially as you dont watch tv that much , may as well have something nice to look at.

[esm]

have both LCD w/ 3D & internet TV (40") and LED (32") Samsung at home, very happy with it.

looked at Sony, but unfortunately they dont make their internals in-house anymore.

i was advised that plasma would be a great choice if you are going large (ie. 50" or above)

[cedargrove]

I bought a 58" plasma two years ago. Love it. For my criteria plasma was a clear choice over LED/LCD.

Plasma has traditionally had a better picture, and no blurring for fast moving images (sports). It also has a wider viewing angle. My understanding is that some LEDs are narrowing this gap.

Plasma uses more energy, is heavier, and older models didn't have as long a lifespan. However the gap on these areas has also been narrowed, especially on the expected lifespan.

[cecilia]

Have them both. :)

[AIKO]

Plasma has deeper black color.

[Dr.Brian]

I've yet to see a TV that makes me want to retire the good old Pioneer Elite/Kuro plasma monitor to the playroom downstairs. And I'm looking.
The picture is still amazing, and IMHO unmatched.
The new thing that they call a Kuro is just a name.
So my rec is to find someone silly enough to be selling their couple year old Kuro. Someone always wants bigger, even if it's not better.

[RRGHOST1]

All the different types have their advantages or disadvantages. I studied all the different forms when i was looking,should i get LCD/LED/Plasma. Most of the magazines i read up on seamed to think actually Plasma gave the best picture overall as it gives,as said before,the best black. I bought a Panasonic 46" and a Panasonic 42" both Plasma and couldn't be more pleased. Mind you they are both running on Sky+ HD so the picture is fantastic.

[dddrees]

I would recomend that you do some basic research on the internet. A number of sites will provide you with the various differences between the three technoligies. Led is the latest technology, but all three have limitations. Once armed with this info go to your closest electronic store that has the widest range of choices and do some comparisions. For the amount you are contemplating spending you may find that plasma works best for you.

[StarSovereign]

Well at your price point plasma is the way to go. Aside from having the best picture (thanks to better black levels) it also has superior motion processing at 600Hz. Most LCD and LED's have 120-240Hz and can show artifacts with fast-moving images. Blu-Ray content (1080p) looks considerably different on LCD/LED's with lover Hz too. Plasma do not have as bright a picture as LCD/LED's however, so if you're going to put the TV in a room with a lot of light an LCD/LED might be the way to go.

Dr. Robert has it right about the Pioneer Elite Kuro. I bought mine in 2008 for around $5000 and it is still the best reference TV ever made. Cnet uses it as the bench mark for comparing all other HDTV's. They stopped making them in 2009 because people stopped buying such expensive TV's; only videophiles who wanted the best picture possible would spend the extra money. Sharp just came out with the new LED Elite - a 60" and 70" version. It's a full panel LED, super bright and it has tech in it that boosts processing to over 700Hz - the best of both plasma and LCD/LED worlds. I've seen it in the flesh and it is stunning. It's pricy though, on par with what the plasma Elites were a few years ago - $5500 for the 60" and $8500 for the 70"!

[masterserg]

Just for clarification, an LED is still an LCD. On an LCD pixels don't produce their own illumination so they need a light source (unlike an OLED screen such as on some cell phones). This can come from a fluorescent lamp or from LEDs.

LED light can come from the edges of the screen (edge lit ... Cheaper) or it can be applied to an array of pixels (local dimming, more expensive).

My personal opinion is that the newer LED LCDs from Samsung are stunning, though they still have some of the inherent problems of an LCD screen (bleeding, clouding). The advantages of the LED are mostly that they are more efficient and thinner. They look great when they are off as well (there is a Samsung with almost no bezel, forgot the model nbr, which is amazing).

A good plasma is still the reference when it comes to image quality, black levels, etc. though I'd still take the trade off and buy one of the high end pretty Samsung LED LCDs.

It is all about the source material anyway ... I was just watching Apocalypto on blu ray on my 4 year old Sony CCFL LCD and I was blown away by the quality.

[santiagoe]

Samsung led 40' series 6500

[S52]

I had a similar dillema and budget about a year ago...

Went with a 42" Panasonic Plasma 1080P for about 700 out the door.

Plasma technology has improved a lot over the past 10 years, and the old negatives about them (burn in, burn out) don't really hold true anymore from the research I made. The colors are very vibrant, no ghosting, and deep blacks.

The only downside I can see to a modern plasma is they consume more energy, and throw off some heat! My TV is basically a heater which is nice in the winter, but in the summer if its been on a long time my bedroom literally feels like 5 degrees warmer than the rest of the house

[theloxmyth]

I bought a Vizio LED 120/240hz because it was the right price and it was the right time.

I would have gotten the Samsung LED, but Sam's didn't have it, I believe, at the moment I needed (wanted) one.

We are very pleased with it.

[seand442]

I have a Samsung and a Vizio. I would recommend both. As said before, check out your local Costco. Best price and a hood selection. Plus, they throw an extra year on the warranty.

[Rags]

I love Samsung. I have a 46" LCD and the picture is great. I'm going to upgrade soon to the 60" Samsung LED. My brother just bought one. It's the new smart TV. Picture is beautiful & it's sooooo thin.

[donas]

My $.02 is to consider the location you will be putting it. I have a 60" Sharp led with a glass screen and the glare from a nearby window makes the screen nearly impossible to see. I know most brands offer a glass or a plastic screen, I am not a fan of glass flat screen.

[theloxmyth]

Originally Posted by donas

My $.02 is to consider the location you will be putting it. I have a 60" Sharp led with a glass screen and the glare from a nearby window makes the screen nearly impossible to see. I know most brands offer a glass or a plastic screen, I am not a fan of glass flat screen.

The LED format will beat the curse of the glare, so it's said.

[dysondiver]

trusted reviews , do a fairly good online comparrison on tvs and its an easy read , not too in depth but not washy either. hth.

[donas]

Originally Posted by theloxmyth

The LED format will beat the curse of the glare, so it's said.

I can assure you that is just a sales pitch! I contribute the glare to the glass not the LED. I recently went back to the store where I purchased the Sharp and they no longer make this model with a glass screen

Nevertheless,I LOVE the led picture.

[tattooedfagin]

Had an LCD originally then went onto Plasma, Plasma wins hands down (for me anyhow)

[RedwinGV]

If you have a dark room, go Plasma. If you have a room with windows. LED. LC

[wantonebad]

LED all the way, it's so much sharper then plasma, not even close in my eyes

[Langleyz]

I went from Plasma to LCD and now the latest LED.

LED is by far the best in my opinion. Some people think the picture looks more natural on a plasma, but I love the look of the LED.

[figbo]

Could the OP start a survey to find out by popularity which one is the best?