Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners Advice on television choice

I have a Samsung UN40B6000 LCD panels with the lighting provided by LED's situated around the perimeter of screen.

While this configuration may be energy efficient, it does pose some unique problems.

Flashlighting and clouding can be BAD as some owners have found. Luckily my set is pretty good.

The set does turn off/dim the LED's in regions to help increase contrast. One problem with LED's on the perimeter is that you get a weird pulsating effect in the picture as you get a small bright object going across a dark background i.e. a shooting star moving across the screen will get brighter and dimmer as the set tries to maximize the contrast in different zones. This effect is resolved with the newer (and more expensive) sets that have LED's evenly distributed across the back of the panels.

Chris - you absolutely nailed why I chose a Panny plasma in your first paragraph.

Bryan - Since you don't appear to have a light control issue, I'd steer you to a plasma.

I have a 58" Panny (2.5 years) and I am thrilled with it. There is a direction you might not have considered. I ended up buying a consumer version (includes speakers and a tuner) because there wasn't a 58" professional monitor available then.

The professional version has no speakers or tuner (and no stand), so they end up saving noticeable $$$. The PQ, glass and electronics are the same in both types, but there is a bit more tweak-a-bility available on a professional model. Additionally, there is some flexibility in being able to change connection modules if desired. If you are connecting to a cable/satellite tuner and a audio set-up, why pay for another set of speakers/tuner?

The folks at Visual Apex carry the 58" TH-58PF11UK $2,989 and they get high marks for reliability, integrity and customer service. Cleveland Plasma and Newegg also get high marks.

You can get a wall mount from monoprice(be sure to hit the wall studs!!! ) for $2-=$80, which is lots cheaper than a $500 stand. I use a tilt stand for the 58" and my 42" (professional plasma) in the great room.

Anyhow - just something else to consider.

CAVEAT: This is a bit of long post as I wrote this at work, trying desperately to do anything but my actual job

Thanks to all for the replies and information.

I'm still hunting - although I may wait a bit before making a major purchase. We just finished our basement to accommodate a live-in nanny (my wife is going back to work in January). So we do need a television for her (and the children when they are playing in the basement). But I might forgo the big purchase and just plop an old 27" CRT down there and keep my 51" CRT rear-project Sony upstairs. The idea was to move it to the basement and buy a new one for ourselves but money's a bit tight after blowing a wad on the basement.

Nonetheless, if I were buying a television, I'd definitely buy a 58" or 60" plasma. I'm not interested in an LCD (have a 32" and actually prefer my CRT rear projection's image) and the LEDs are too expensive compared to equivalent plasmas. And I prefer the picture quality of a plasma. I do not want to go less than 58" nor bigger than 60" (due to room size and current entertainment unit). It also has to be stand-mounted and not wall-mounted - and the stand has to be incorporated with the existing entertainment unit (two piers and a bridge).

So that leaves the following:

- Pioneer 60" plasmas
- Samsung 58" plasmas (PN58B650 or PN58B550)
- Panasonic 58" plasmas (TC58S1, TC58G10, TC58V10)
- LG 60" plasmas (60PS60/70)

I'm in Calgary, Canada so this limits some of my choices. The Pioneers are hard to find and too expensive - so they are out of consideration. The S1 Panasonics are the same price as the 550 Samsungs and possibly a bit more expensive, and I believe the Samsung 550 would be the better choice versus the Panny S1. I cannot find the Panny G10 series and the V10 are too expensive - so the Panny's are out.

That leaves me with Samsung and LG. I think I'd prefer the Samsung 650 series but only Future Shop carries it as an exclusive model (not available at other retailers), so the price is $800-$1000 more than the 550 series (retail). However, I can purchase the 650 as a refurbished unit from E-Outlet Canada.

Retail-wise, I believe my choice is between the Samsung 550 series and the LG 60PS70 - both locally available and costing approx. the same. I'm torn between the two - the Sammy probably has the (slightly) better picture (debatable?) and, according to reviews, is easier to calibrate (without a professional). The LG, however, is bigger and, according to reviews, provides a very good picture as well. I've looked at both in the store but I find it hard to compare in that setting - so I'm relying more on reviews and advice.

So, in a nutshell, I'm seeking advice on these 3 models. Does anyone have any experience with any of these models? Any preferences? And does anybody have any experience purchasing refurbished televisions (specifically from E-Outlet Canada)?

Thanks again for humoring me!

Bryan

I'd try a little harder to find the Panasonic. Even if it costs more than the Samsung or LG, they make better sets, so the money is worth it. LG is at the bottom of my pile for electronics manufacturers, all their stuff is just so cheaply made (don't forget they were Lucky-Goldstar before the rebranding). Samsung ranks a little higher; I classify them as "the best of the cheap stuff". Still with Pioneer out of the plasma running, Panny is the way to go.

I have purchased a pair of Panasonic plasmas in the last couple years, the latest a 50S1 about four months ago... Great units IMO.

I also just had Panasonic warranty a repair that was partially my fault on a blue-ray player... The brand is just great.

After many hours of reading threads on avsforums, I have come to the conclusion it really doesn't matter which one you buy these days, they all have some sort of issue, ie. banding, flashlighting, lag, and you hope you buy the one that doesn't develop any major problems/breakdowns.

I am now stuck between the Panasonic 54" Plasma G10 and anyone of the LED back lit LCD's, the LG 55" H90 series is at the front of the pack at the momment, a good price point and picture for the cost.

You may have just saved me a lot of trouble redoing your research. I just started researching these things last night to upgrade my 4 year old 56” Samsung DLP which is showing it’s age. Both these look pretty good for the price anything in particular that drew you to them?

However, I’m not sure if I want to get something pretty nice in the $1,500-$2,000 range and around 55” or just get something to get me by in the $500-$1,000 range and more like 42“-46“. Did anything in the lower range happen to catch your eye?

Dean, a good buy in that range is the Panasonic TC-P42X1 .

The Panny G10 is available in 46", IIRC. I also liked the Sony XBR9 which is a rehash of the Z5100.

Thanks for the feedback guys. I’m checking them out.