New Plasma TV

Flo The Action wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:I wouldn't really care much about 120hz.  Can't offer any opinion about current TVs though...still using my old LG plasma.

I'm still very satisfied with my plasma, even though I noticed some weird coloration around the edges, that won't be enough to make me change it. Maybe when I move I'll buy a new TV for the bedroom which is where I watch most of the games nowadays (I've got a 20 some screen monitor hooked up to my computer) but I can't see why else I need a new TV for.


How good are televisions nowadays compared to plasma anyways?

My guess is there's not much difference since broadcast quality probably isn't even equal to the performance of a Zenith floor model from 1976.

OLED is not in my near future, not even Black Friday. I'm looking for a 48-50" and right now I can get a decent one for around $700. A Sony in that price range would be a 1080p. I'd like to pay closer to $500, so I'll wait for Black Friday.

wprager wrote:OLED is not in my near future, not even Black Friday. I'm looking for a 48-50" and right now I can get a decent one for around $700. A Sony in that price range would be a 1080p.  I'd like to pay closer to $500, so I'll wait for Black Friday.

Well basically any TV in that price range will be far inferior to plasma.

I don't think that's the case any longer. In that price range I can pick up a set that has a full-array LED backlight with 12 or more local dimming regions plus HDR. This is miles ahead of the old edge-lit sets. The main advantage of plasma used to be blacks and dynamic range. The new LED sets have pretty much caught up to that. And they are much easier to hang (much thinner, much lighter, don't get as hot, draw half the power).

wprager wrote:I don't think that's the case any longer.  In that price range I can pick up a set that has a full-array LED backlight with 12 or more local dimming regions plus HDR.  This is miles ahead of the old edge-lit sets.  The main advantage of plasma used to be blacks and dynamic range.  The new LED sets have pretty much caught up to that.  And they are much easier to hang (much thinner, much lighter, don't get as hot, draw half the power).

they're lighter and easier to hang (no fireplace hanging!) but the blacks and contrast are definitely superior on plasma than any LED.

Your best bet to get a bang for your buck is a Vizio at Costco.

Superior is a sometimes overused term. For example, 4K is superior to 1080p, but unless you sit within 5 feet of a 50" screen you will be hard-pressed to distinguish it from a 1080p. 1 arc-minute is the visual acuity of a normal human; if the pixels are smaller than that you can't tell the difference.

Same with black levels. It depends on the source content (does it even have black or is it all shades of grey?), your eyesight, the ambient room light and of course your personal preferences.

As for contrast, with full-array LED backlight and local dimming (on the higher end sets) the contrast ratios are approaching plasma. They won't get there, but because the human eye is not perfect, they won't have to. They may even already far enough along to not make any difference for an average person.

Also, are there even any 4K plasmas sets? In general, you'd be hard-pressed to find a plasma set, but I don't know if anyone even made a 4k one ever.

I don't think anyone makes plasmas anymore.

Yeah there’s no plasma anymore

As for 4K I’ve read the same things about distance mattering, but for me I can easily tel the difference between 4K and 1080p sitting 8 feet away from my 55 inch

You must have above average eyesight (I know I don't, that's for sure). As for plasma, I know no-one makes them anymore, but I was wondering if anyone made 4k plasma at all, ever.

I have no idea if there was ever a 4k plasma. I keep trying to convince myself that I need to upgrade my 60" plasma in the basement to a 70" or 80" set, but I just can't justify it! Maybe when 4K becomes a lot more prevalent....

Yeah, I wouldn't change my set just to get 4k at this point in time. But if you're getting a new set for some other reason, then it makes sense because prices have really come down and mid-tier products have features that $5k+ sets had only a couple years ago.

Can anyone comment on Boxing Day sales? I was underwhelmed with what they had for Black Friday, to be honest. The set I have my eyes on its the Vizio M50-E1. Not high end by any stretch, but it's a true 10 bit panel (as opposed to most in this price range being 8 bit panels, some with dithering to fake 10 bit). Currently (since BF) it can be had for $750 at a couple places. That's $150 off, or 16.7%. Checking the BestBuy 2016 Boxing Week flyer they had a similar set down $300 be from $1000, so 30% off.

Is that a good indication of what to expect or is it usually the same savings as BF?

I can wait another few weeks, but if this is as good as it gets, might as well do it now.

P.S. The Vizio uses a built in Chromecast, but at least they changed the s/w this summer so you can launch the smart TV features from the tv itself, and not have to pull out your Android phone. I'm still not a fan of the Chromecast and if I could get the 49" Sony for the same price (10 bit panel) on Boxing Day then that would also be worth the wait.

Hmm, the Sony that it's $150 more is edge lit and 8-bit. The Vizio is full LED array with 32 local dimming areas. To get that in a Sony I think it's have to drop another $300 or more. Don't think that puts me in the right price range even with 30% off. Yikes, how did they get this expensive?

Usually Boxing Day sales are much better than Black Fridays

Ok, then we wait.

I don't mind the tv we have now. But if we get a new one for the family room then the one that's there now goes up to the bedroom, where we're currently squinting at a 32" 720p set.

Oled bro . It will be $1800 or less on Boxing Day

Not interested in spending more than $700. Just got a dog, that's well over $2k with the vet visit and all the baby gates, crates and other paraphernalia. Getting a fence put in (for the dog) and that will be another $3k or so. Don't even have a garage door opener yet (probably only because the dog wouldn't make use of it).

The set I'm looking at is on sale at Costco until the 9th. I take it that means it won't go on Boxing Day sale. At Best Buy it was sold out until recently, but now shows "available online", so still hope. Over at Walmart they had it on sale until this week; because of best price guarantees (or people just returning the item) I think this means it won't go on Boxing Day sale.