Please Help Me Pick a HDTV TV

[ChuckChick56]

I am looking for a 46-50 Inch HDTV for our bedroom.
Picture Quality and Durability are our top criteria for picking a TV.
We will be about 12-15 feet away from the TV with little Sun Light so glare shouldn't be a problem
We are looking to spend around $1,600 or less

I have noticed LED HDTV's coming down in price from $2,500 to as low as $1,300.
I wasn't sure what would have a better picture Plasma or LED. And which would be more reliable and last longer.

I had planned all along to buy
1) Panasonic - VIERA / 50" Class / 1080p / 600Hz / Plasma HDTV Model: TC-P50G10
$1,300 from Best Buy with Free Delivery and Installation.
Reviews were very high. Only knock was Sound which I see with most HDTVs.
I like the VIERA Cast Features to be able to download Netflix Movies.

2) Samsung - 46" Class / 1080p / 120Hz / LED-LCD HDTV Model: UN46B6000VF
$1,300 on Sale at Best Buy- down from $2,500.
Reviews- Some reviews say the picture is amazing others say that they have problems with Blur and Pixels.

3) Samsung - 40" Class / 1080p / 120Hz / LED-LCD HDTV Model: UN40B6000VFXZA
$1,200 at Best Buy- on sale. Down from $2,000
I was hoping to have a 50 inch TV but if this model is so much better than my options I am willing to sacrifice a little size
Reviews are great.

4) Samsung - 52" Class / 1080p / 240Hz / LCD HDTV Model: LN52B750U1F
on Sale for $1,800 down from $2,700. Great reviews.


If anybody has any other recommendations on HDTV's in the $1,200-1,700 range please let me know.

I am also looking to buy a Sound System and appreciate recommendations. I am Looking to spend $350 or less on that.

Thank You

serecruiter@gmail.com

[MrBoylan]

I am looking for a 46-50 Inch HDTV for our bedroom.
Picture Quality and Durability are our top criteria for picking a TV.
We will be about 12-15 feet away from the TV with little Sun Light so glare shouldn't be a problem
We are looking to spend around $1,600 or less

I have noticed LED HDTV's coming down in price from $2,500 to as low as $1,300.
I wasn't sure what would have a better picture Plasma or LED. And which would be more reliable and last longer.

I had planned all along to buy
1) Panasonic - VIERA / 50" Class / 1080p / 600Hz / Plasma HDTV Model: TC-P50G10
$1,300 from Best Buy with Free Delivery and Installation.
Reviews were very high. Only knock was Sound which I see with most HDTVs.
I like the VIERA Cast Features to be able to download Netflix Movies.

2) Samsung - 46" Class / 1080p / 120Hz / LED-LCD HDTV Model: UN46B6000VF
$1,300 on Sale at Best Buy- down from $2,500.
Reviews- Some reviews say the picture is amazing others say that they have problems with Blur and Pixels.

3) Samsung - 40" Class / 1080p / 120Hz / LED-LCD HDTV Model: UN40B6000VFXZA
$1,200 at Best Buy- on sale. Down from $2,000
I was hoping to have a 50 inch TV but if this model is so much better than my options I am willing to sacrifice a little size
Reviews are great.

If anybody has any other recommendations on HDTV's in the $1,200-1,700 range please let me know.

I am also looking to buy a Sound System and appreciate recommendations. I am Looking to spend $350 or less on that.

Thank You

Well you're not going to get Netflix with any of these TVs. The Netflix enhancement to Panasonic's VIERACast platform will only be available on the new 2010 models. The G10 series is a 2009 TV. And even the upper end 8500 series Samsungs from 2009 lack Netflix (you mention the 6000 series which are Samsung's entry-level LED-lit LCD sets - I think these ones have no IPTV capabilities at all).

In terms of overall picture quality, of the three I would pick the Panasonic plasma for color saturation, black level reproduction and picture uniformity. The 6000 series models from Samsung (choices 2 and 3 on your list) use an LCD panel with LED edge-lighting, and this specific implementation of the technology leads to some minor lighting uniformity problems, specifically around the edges that I find distracting. These are slightly brighter light spots around the edges of the panel which are particularly evident when watching letterboxed or window-boxed material. Also, the 6000 series TVs are not very good when viewed off axis (at an angle) with the colors and blacks collapsing. You really need to view these sets from straight on for best results.

If you're not concerned about 3D capabilities (which none of the 2009 models handle), and you're willing to get your Netflix streaming from a separate box (like one of Panasonic's 2010 Blu-ray players), then the G10 or V10 series of plasmas are definitely an excellent choice. The major differences with the V10 series over the G10 are Cinematic Playback mode (native 24p content played back at 96 Hz) and some other tweaks to the electronics to improve black level as well as some stylistic differences. The V10's are a bit more expensive and may be harder to find. Here is the BPBS affiliate link to the 50-inch G10 TV at Best Buy. You can buy it online and arrange for local pick-up or delivery (using our link supports the site):

http://www.dpbolvw.net/ta122y1A719PR...p%3D1%26lp%3D1

If you wait a little longer, Samsung's upcoming LED TVs will be 3D-ready and offer better contrast and better off-axis viewing. And Panasonic's upcoming VT25 series is truly stunning (though these will most likely be a bit outside your price range as they offer a completely new short-flow phosphor technology as well as Full HD 3D).

You can read about the new models here:

http://www.bigpicturebigsound.com/Pa...lability.shtml
http://www.bigpicturebigsound.com/CE...s-Aliens.shtml

Good luck!

-Chris

[ChuckChick56]

Thank you for your help and taking the time to write a detailed answer.

I am probably going to buy the Panasonic TC-P50G10. If I don't I will wait for the new Panasonic's to come out.
I'm not sure I want to wait that long.

Thanks Again!