I am looking at upgrading my current TV and would like some suggestions. I’m not up on all the latest and greatest in T.V. tech so what the best brand and make I should be looking for is what I would like some help in. So here are the details:

•Price range is $2500-$3000
•I would prefer plasma but could consider LCD or LED if there is a reason
•My current T.V. is a 52” so I would like a little bigger, say 60” minimum.
•If quality comes into play for the size upgrade I will pick the 52” over 60” to stay in my price range.
•3-D has absolutely no appeal to me so a good 2D picture is the highest priority.

So what should I be looking for? I really have no idea what is getting the best reviews right now. I have owned almost exclusively Toshiba in the past but have no loyalty to them. Where should I be starting????

Thanks
Osborne

In that price range, my first choice would be a back-lit LED set. I'd avoid the edge lit sets. They were an early development that have artifact problems. My second choice would be a plasma. These are my own personal choices. I'm sure other's would rather have the plasma. But, for the color pop and brightness factor, back-lit LED is my first choice.

What do the new humongous Sharp LED's go for in the US of Eh these days? I speaketh of the 70"-80" ones.

Amazing what Google can do to answer these questions. LOL.

How about $5,500 as of 09/28/11, USA price from TOMSGUIDE.COM.

The Sharp Aquos LC-80le632u 80" LED-LCD TV.

Amazon.com = $4,627.99

Amazon.com for the 60" version is $1,399.00

Will you Google the 70" Brian? I'm too lazy.

I think that one might be a trick question.

I was in my local electronics store yesterday looking at TV's and there was this huge box sitting there. It was the 80" Sharp. Didn't stick around to long enough to have a look.

Has ANYBODY EVER been sorry that they bought a Panasonic plasma?

I'd buy the biggest one of those I could afford.

Actually, I can't think of any TV I was sorry I bought.

The good sir Tom's got a point I think - not to say Samsung or other plasmas are not as good, but it is hard to go wrong with the Panny plasmas. i am 3 years with mine and still get compliments on how good the image quality is from guests - plus I think so every day too!

Panasonic comparison table

If you look at the table in the above link, you could get the 65" ST model and not be giving up anything in picture quality compared to the upper models. You'd really only be giving up 3D features (who cares?), better internal speakers (you have your Axioms!) and some inputs (that may matter depending on your needs). My 2 cents for the day are spent!

Cheers,

Dan,
Funny thing is that the sales representative told me that they are selling more Panny plasma tv's than Sony LED/LCD models. Got my eye on the 65" Panny plasma

Panasonic 65 VT30 from amazon for $2,999.

I've done quite a bit of research lately and that is what I have decided on. Just need to finish increasing my spending power....

The VT30 is reported to have much better blacks than the ST30 and works better in bright rooms according to CNET.

Plus, I looked at the ST30 at best buy and the bezel was just too ugly big and plastic black looking for my taste. The one sheet of glass design on the VT30 is super appealing.

We got a cheaper 46 inch panasonic plasma for the bedroom and we like it a lot.

Looking at the specs again I am surpised at difference in black levels - looked to me like both ST and VT models have the same video 'guts'. But on my 2nd pass I caught the VT has a 'one sheet of glass' design that the ST does not have. That might explain being better in bright rooms if there are less reflective layers.

Rock_Head - I read a report recently that Sony is pretty much tanking in the TV department, that seems to match the Panny sales person comment.

you should not be sorry if you buy the 103 inch. plasma.

cb, I haven't compared the ST and VT panels directly and I don't own either one. Reviews I have read and reports from folks at AVS forum are pretty clear that black levels on the VT30 are improved over the ST30. This may be due to the fact that the ST30 has the Infitie Black 2 Panel and the Infinite Black PRO 2 panel. I think the difference in performance in bright rooms is partly due to the 1 sheet of glass design and also due to the light output from the TV. However, never having compared each one I can't say if this is true or not...

I'm sure the ST30 is a great TV and I was seriously considering getting it before deciding on the VT30. I don't think anyone could go wrong with the ST, GT, or VT model plasmas. We very happy with our lower end TC-P46X3 model panasonic plasma.

Should say that the vt30 has the infinite black pro 2 panel...

Thanks David, I didn't pick that up in the specs. Not that I'm in the market anyway - just virtual shopping. Although every once in a while my wife comments on wishing we had a bigger screen than our 58". I think I need to capitalize on that next time she makes that comment!

No doubt it, sometimes that "window of opportunity" is extremely narrow and one must "strike when the iron is hot"!

(That's your barrel of cliches for the day).

This thread is giving me upgradeitis.

Sounds like you need some St. JohnK's wort.

Very good, Charles!

Where's the "Like" button?

Don't worry Tom. I have had it for over a year now looking for a new TV. I haven't given in yet but it is getting close.
Shaun

Here ya go...

Shaun and Tom, have courage: I'll say a prayer for you at Mass to give you the strength to resist these temptations for a 70" TV and instead get the new washer and dryer you really want.

Thank you, John.

Thanks for the kind words John.
Fortunately for me, the new washer/dryer was taken care of 2 years ago

If you're THAT GOOD, put in a walking one for me!

Edit - On second thought, I could use a more energy efficient washer and dryer.

Thanks for the everyone. I did some searching based on your opinions and the panasonics are getting great reviews. My wife has taken a liking to teh VT series so I've got her blessing to order a 55" VT30!!!!

On a side note how come pioneer stopped making the fabled Kuro's???

Not sure but I read that panasonic bought up some of the technology and hired some of the people that were designing the Kuro's. Supposedly people say some of those improvements are in the VT30 although it's black levels still don't beat the Kuro.

Let me know how you like the VT30. I'm pumped to order mine but probably need to wait another few weeks at minimum....

Weeks?!!? You guys are hurting me.

We should all start pushing Tom to upgrade stuff. His wife doesn't need to pick up groceries. His kids don't need no stinkin' college......

Who needs groceries when you can watch fast food Commercials in 3D?

Part of the deal, was that panasonic had to hired the ENTIRE Kuro development team. It has been said that Panasonic's will soon be as good as the Kuro's, this was quite some time ago, and hasn't quite happened yet...

BTW. the 65" VT30 is now 2,489$

I wonder if 3D technology has hampered this Kuro quest?

never mind, the 2,489$ price i was looking at is for a used set.....

I finally had a chance to look at the new Sharp 80" LCD. This is one HUGE TV. I now want one, the PQ looked great but I never had a chance to play with the settings.

80" is starting to get into projector screen sizes! What was this price tag?

Just under $5000, which is about 1/3 of the price of the initial LARGE screens.

Damn!! That's getting into the affordable range.

Wow, not bad for the size.

This is an interesting point about the 80" screen size and the viewing angle issues for many LCD's: (taken from HDJ forums):

With the picture paused, moving just slightly off center caused flesh tones to pale and contrast to weaken. At a 9’ viewing distance, moving about 1.5’ to the side caused a noticeable degradation. In fact, because of the sheer size of the screen, even if you sit dead center you may still see some side effects of off axis angles near the screen edges. I saw that the edges became just barely pale at a 9-10’ distance, so color was just slightly richer in the middle of the screen than along the outer quarters of the screen. Sitting farther away will diminish or eliminate the effect, though that is not a very good compromise.

It is well known that with most LCDs, off axis viewing has many types of degredation issues depending on the LCD manufacturer, that reviewer is offering nothing new with that comment jumbo size screen or otherwise, IMO.

On a side note I just helped my Father set up his new 60" Sharp, forget the model number, will repost more about his later.