OPPO! I Need TV Advice!

"JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!" (jqj213)
12/30/2013 at 11:17 • Filed to: Advice, TV, Help

I recently bought a set of Polk bookshelf speakers (I always used the stock TV speakers before but I wanted to upgrade). Sadly, my Xbox 360 is the lastest one; lacking an audio out. My current TV also did not have an audio out. So, I need a new TV. But which?

Before the speakers, I had a 39" Insignia LCD. The picture was nice for what it was. I never saw any lag before despite being 60 hertz. I went to Walmart and they had a 46" Hisense LED tv on sale. I did my research, saw that they were an up and coming brand and had good reviews. So, I picked it up.

The picture on this thing was great. It was so crisp and bright. However, since it is a cheaper TV, it only does 60 hertz. While watching football, the lag was really bad and hard to watch. Even some commercials, like the new Windows commercials had a lot of lag. This makes it hard to watch.

I began looking into plasmas. I, nor my family, has ever owned one. The light is not the issue; I have no natural light in my room. I know it will eliminate all lag. I found Walmart has a beautiuful 51" Samsung on sale for $499 (model PN51F4500). It does only have two HDMI ports (the Hisense had three) but my Insignia only had two as well. All it means is that I would have to leave the Chromecast unplugged and swap it and the Xbox out whenever I needed. The other thing is that it is only 720P. Does this matter? Only Blu Ray is in true 1080P, which I do not have in my room. Will I notice a difference?

The last thing is screen brightness. Will I ever be able to make it anywhere near as sharp as the LED?

My other major fear is the screen burn. I play a lot of GTA. I am scared that the little mini map may get imprinted on my screen. Does anyone have a plasma? Does this ever happen?

What do you guys reccomend? I want to stay under $500 and want a bigger screen than 39". It also needs an optical digital audio output.

Do you think plasma would be smart?

Have an Aventador J for your troubles.

DISCUSSION (20)

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
12/30/2013 at 11:19

Kinja'd!!!

There can be only 1!

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

PatBateman > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
12/30/2013 at 11:22

Yes. Here's a plasma you should buy.

http://m.bestbuy.com/m/e/product/de…

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
12/30/2013 at 11:22

Wow... that is beautiful... I don't even think that would fit in my room!

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
12/30/2013 at 11:22

Where there is a will, there is a way!

Where have all the lightweights gone? > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
12/30/2013 at 11:24

I think the burn-in issue with plasmas has gone away. They are programmed to move slightly to prevent burn-in. My parents have one and watch a lot of sports. There has yet to be an issue with the on-screen scoreboard burning into the screen.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Where have all the lightweights gone?
12/30/2013 at 11:26

Thats what I have read now... I really like the idea of no blur at all... like I said my room has no real light so that won't be a problem... will it still be vivid though?

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > PatBateman
12/30/2013 at 11:27

Why must you taunt me with its beautifulness!?

Rico > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
12/30/2013 at 11:27

Here's my 2 cents:

1 - When getting a plasma, don't go cheap. If you want a great all around plasma with great reviews for a REASONABLE price look at the Panasonic ST series (Not the S series) fantastic picture for the money, no real issues with PQ or Image Retention.

2 - If you're going with LCD but aren't trying to pay a ton the Vizio M-Series has gotten praised very highly. Vizio's prices and quality are extremely competitive with top tier brands and would be better than an off brand like Hisense. Vizio is carried by Walmart.

3- You've got yourself some nice Polk bookshelf speakers yet you're trying to connect them directly to the device, that to me is not the best way to do it. Instead get a Home Theater Receiver which not only would provide WAY better sound but also 3-4 HDMI ports and you'd be able to connect everything to 1 central device. All newer TVs support HDMI CEC so you can have your TV remote or HT Receiver remote turn on EVERYTHING (Xbox included).

Check out these brands- Denon, Onkyo, Pioneer, Yamaha. All great receivers in various affordable price ranges.

4 - Yes 720p vs 1080p matters. Especially if you're planning on keeping this TV for a number of years don't waste your time with 720p. It's like getting an iPhone 3G in a time where the iPhone 5S was just released, yeah it'll be cheaper but longevity wise you're making a mistake.

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
12/30/2013 at 11:28

I sell TVs, so I can give you some help.

A plasma will never be as "crisp" and colourful as a LCD with LEDs. But a plasma will have almost no lag or no lag at all. And on a plasma black will be black (or at least very dark), LCD screens can't handle black on the same level. there is a HUGE difference between 720p and 1080p on a screen that size, but ONLY of the source is 1080p as well.

Keep in mind though, that a plasma gets quite warm, and that it use a good deal more electricity than an LCD-TV.

As imprints (burn in), that's hardly a problem anymore, haven't been for the last three years at least, if it happens, just play a movie or something for 4-5 hours on it and it will fix it self in 99% of the cases.

Would I buy a plasma if I wanted a big tv for cheap that have a decent picture? Yes.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh
12/30/2013 at 11:34

Thanks for the tips... my Xbox is native 720p and our Toshiba in our other room is 720P and it always looked fine... and I was shcoked when I saw this but the 51" plasma is actually more efficient than this Hisense model (by $1 but still)... and I've been reading that it isn't as bad anymore.. I figured they had to take games like GTA into consideration when using these.. it also has a software that virtually fixes the burn every time...

PatBateman > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
12/30/2013 at 11:34

Because it's what I do. IT'S WHAT I DO.

I was at Best Buy a couple of years ago shopping for a new TV when I struck up a conversation with a guy doing the same thing. He was about my height (6'), but muscular as all hell. We chatted about what we were each looking for, we introduced ourselves to the other, and were pretty friendly.

When the associate came out, he helped my new friend first (he had been waiting longer anyway). My chum looked up at the 70" Plasma 3D SmartTV, and said "I'll take five of those".

That's when I realized that he was an NFL Pro Bowl running back. He bought a new house and needed some TVs.

Where have all the lightweights gone? > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
12/30/2013 at 11:35

The plasma is a little bit older (5yrs give or take), and I have noticed definition is on par in terms of sharpness, but other screens (LED's in particular) have more vibrant colors.

Sunray09 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
12/30/2013 at 11:37

Plasma is great all around but LCD & LED Backlight's are so much less power hungry. Right now I have a Pioneer Plasma and its great but I have to watch that it does not get burned in when I stream Netflix to it from a laptop.

Overall I think I would get a small LED backlight LCD for day to day and then get a projector for Gaming and Superbowl Sunday etc. Word to the wise if you are going to play porn 10 feet high on the wall...close the curtains so the neighbors dont call the cops...jest sayin..

For Gaming? I like Projectors..Sony VPL DS 100

Resollution is 800x600 SVGA perfect for DVD or Blue Ray

Microsoft Flight Sim will make you dizzy at 10ft screen size!

10 foot screen size!! For movies...it does not get any better big picture big sound perfect and it packs away in a box.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Rico
12/30/2013 at 11:38

I am starting to like what Plasmas are offering and this Samsung is normally around $850 ( link ).. I am starting to think that LCD isn't as good anymore now because of this lag... and as for the speakers I was considering that and am also looking into a new reciever...

the 720 is really killing me though because it may matter...

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
12/30/2013 at 11:39

I've never heard anything about Hisense, but I think that's because I live in Norway.

Samsung makes quite decent plasmas, not as good as panasonic, but the samsungs are cheaper. So if money is something you need to consider, I really don't se any reason you should not get the Samsung. But.. bookshelf speakers? Directly to the TV? Or did I misread that? The TV does not have an amplifier. So if those speakers needs an amplifier you can't connect them directly to the TV.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh
12/30/2013 at 11:43

Hisense is a Chinese company trying to be the next LG... they are slowly gaining a big following here... and I must have misworded..I have a reciever that the speakers are hooked up to (I'm not great with speakers; my dad hooked them up) so I misworded something

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
12/30/2013 at 11:46

Ahh.. you have a reciver, problem solved :)

Trying to be the next LG? Damn, they have set the bar rather high then. LG's are damn good. The new OLED they have is INSANE.

Anyway, I wish you luck on your hunt for a TV, and would say you can't go much wrong with a Samsung. :)

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh
12/30/2013 at 11:57

The best part is Hisense's motto: Life Reimagined instead of Life's Good... and thats what i figured... Samsung is a good TV

Rico > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
12/30/2013 at 12:39

My opinion is that only the most high end Samsung plasmas are good, the lower end models such as the one you listed will most likely be plagued by image retention and buzzing. Look up reviews for the set before making any decisions.

Me personally, I'd go for the Vizio because I prefer LCD to Plasma. Reason being my eyes are incredibly sensitive to dithering (the little pixel jumping plasmas do) and I hate it. The only sets that didn't bother me were Pioneer Plasmas and they don't make them any more.

Alex Murel > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
12/30/2013 at 13:42

Save up a little more and find a 50 in Panasonic S60. Pretty much everyone agrees that they're the best deal on the market if you don't want to spend buckets of money.