Shop Products
Houzz Logo Print
sakismom

how to buy that plasma tv help!!!

sakismom
18 years ago

Ok I just took my second exploratory trip to the store looking for a plasma TV. I thought my husband would have a heart attack when he saw the prices and all the additional stuff you need to purchase.

My question is where do I go to sit with someone and really find out what components we really need to make this baby work right.

We have a family room approx 20 x 28 and figure we need a TV between 55 and 61 inches. Do we need to buy everything right now, I figure we need the monitor, speakers, reciever, line conditioner...what am I missing do I really need the UPS. HELP

Comments (14)

  • jimisham
    18 years ago

    I'm seriously considering a DLP which is quite a bit cheaper than a plasma. One drawback to them though is that they are a rear projection unit which sets on a stand and in the size you're looking at run from 15 to 18 inches deep.
    At the size you're looking at, Best Buy has Samsung HDTV's in that size that run fromm about $2850 to $3330. Unfortunately, you can't believe everything you're told at Best Buy or Circuit Citywhen it comes to doing what you want to do.
    Some people are sensitive to "rainbow's though with this type of unit.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Best Buy

  • GammyT
    18 years ago

    I can't remember which needed what between Plasma and LCD. My cable company, who doesn't sell TV's so they had no benifit, sent out a comparasion chart about the different kinds of screens.

    Between Plasma and LCD one required yearly maintenance and the other the screen would keep fading and would need to be replaced in 3-5 years.

  • dadoes
    18 years ago

    GrammyT, if you are saying that plasma panels require either yearly maintenance, or that the picture fades in three years, that's wrong. 100% wrong. I have a plasma panel that's over 3 years old, and I've never had any maintenance done to it. The picture is as gorgeous, bright and crisp as it was the day the unit came into my house. Your cable company is distributing incorrect information.

  • jimisham
    18 years ago

    Here's a company that might be able to answer some of your questions. I've bought small items from them, nothing major, and never had any problems.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Crutchfield

  • mwkbear
    18 years ago

    The "Fading" referred to by the cable company for Plasma tv is normal wear and tear. Old fashioned CRT TV's also fade over time. The current Plasma TV technology has a lifespan of 60,000 hours until half-brightness. This is about 8 years of daily use. Since, when the TV is new, you want to make sure to turn the brightness WAY down, by the half-life point, you could just turn the brightness way UP, and have plenty of life left.

    The yearly Maintenance, that's something I've never heard of before. Unless, they are referring to replacing the light bulb in the rear projection systems (like DLP). Those are supposed to last 1-2 years under daily use, before needing replacing.

  • jimisham
    18 years ago

    I've read that the individual pixels on a plasma (and a LCD?) will eventually burn out. But, because of the hundreds of thousands of pixels in a plasma screen, it will be a long time before you notice it.
    I've also read that the bulb in the DLP's should last for about 8,000 hours. I guess they run several hundred dollars to replace as of now.
    I also just came across this.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Plasma vs. LCD vs. DLP

  • varenovator
    18 years ago

    I would suggest finding a reputable home theater specialist, rather than try to rely on a big box retailer. The salespeople are there to push product, not provide service. I used one for my plasma set up, and they got me set up with the stuff I needed (not stuff I didn't), installed it properly, and didn't charge any more than the big box.

  • dallasbill
    18 years ago

    Plasma TV do not have pixels, like an LCD, that can burn out individually. Plasmas have a phosphor coating and a gas that's sandwiched between layers of glass and is excited by electricity.

    So, don't get yourself excited about plasma fading. Read that Crutchfield link above as it links to a very good comparison of the different types of sets.

    Also see the link below.

    Here is a link that might be useful: LCD vs Plasma vs DLP

  • dadoes
    18 years ago

    Plasmas DO have pixels, and individual ones CAN burn out, or get stuck full-on for a white dot. Mine had one dead pixel out-of-the-box, but it's invisible during normal viewing. Have to put my nose right up to the glass at the right spot to see it. A pixel stuck full-on would be more of a problem.

    The plasma 'gas' itself does not glow visibly. It serves as an exciter to make the phosphor coating glow, basically taking the place of the electron beam in a CRT. The difference basically is that each pixel has its own "beam," instead of just one that scans across the entire display surface.

  • dallasbill
    18 years ago

    Thanks... I should have said that they are not as noticeable as if they burned out on an LCD. There are about twice as many pixels on a plasma compared to an LCD of a similar size, so they would not nearly be as noticeable if it happened.

  • suszann
    18 years ago

    Bought a 15 inch philips lcd 2 yrs ago, paid $700, thought i was getting a "better" product, it recently just died (no pic) was surprised to see so many plasma and lcd at repair shop. Of course I will not spend 2 or 300 dollars to repair it, but will only buy cheapest on the market, got a sanyo 15 inch at walmart for 300 dollars.

  • PRO
    Normandy Design
    18 years ago

    I am buying a Panasonic 50" plasma TV. Should I purchase the warranty also? If yes, should it be the 3 or 5 year warranty? I've gotten conflicting advice as to whether I should even buy the warranty at all. Some say that most sets don't have problems until the warranty expires. Any ideas?

  • billwine
    18 years ago

    look at the avs forum web site they have tons of info!

  • bighoof
    18 years ago

    Momster33, we are looking at the same thing!

    We are having a house built, won't been in till early January, think we should wait until after Xmas for those sales?

Sponsored
Art Masonry Inc.
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars132 Reviews
Loudon County's Hardscape and Landscape Expert in Outdoor Living