Movin out: TV recommendations

if $600 or so is all you wanna spend on a TV - don't
you'll end up with garbage

that 42" Panny (now at CC for $1099) is a freaking beast
the best part, you can go no interest til 2010 on it

I HIGHLY recommend Panasonic plasma displays
for LCD - Sony Bravia

not big on Olevia (except for the 7 series), Vizio, Ilo, Soyo, Element, etc...

I like them like this

Pioneer PDP (PLasma Display)
Panasonic PDP
Sony Bravia LCD
Samsung, Sharp, Toshiba, JVC - LCD

then there's always RPJ but not in 30"-40 sizes

 

go see a vizio
I went looking at there high end 42" Gallevia 1080p set - hooked up to a BluRay player (albeit at Sears) ....... poo poo

vizio is a mass stream manufacturer (WalMart,etc..) get what you pay for

If I had the choice between an $800 Vizio and a $1100 Panasonic (42" Px80), I can guarantee you, I'm finding a way to come up with the extra -$300-

The Panny's are compared to Pioneer Kuro's
Vizio's are compared to low end stuff

see if you can get both of them side by side

 

we've got a vizio at our cabin. I'm actually impressed with it. Though, Hitachi makes the best monitor of any type IMO.

 

while on the subject though, has anyone ever purchased a refurbished TV??
I can get a Toshiba 52LX177 for 900 (1,100 shipped)bucks, but I'm a bit hesitant.

 

blasphemy


check the Hitachi beside a Pioneer (BB or CC have them on display)
then come back in here
nothing touches Pioneer Plasmas ..... Panasonic's are closing in fast though

 

Just saying, Hitachi monitors/tvs have always caught my eyes while no other brand has. I'll actually stop in my tracks because on monitors it looks like a picture has been taped over the monitor.
I haven't heard anything about pioneers, didn't even know they were still kicking.

 

I had an Hitachi Ultravision RPJ a few years back
bought a Toshiba DLP to replace it
I had the ability to have them both setup together and the Toshiba smoked it
THEN.. when I found out Toshiba had lied to me and wouldn't accept a direct 1080p input from the Ps3, I took it back to Costco and copped the Sony SXRD that I still have
and it smoked the Toshiba in terms of smooth picture and artifacting

Hitachi makes a Plasma (h401 thru 701 -which is awesome)
the 401 is sitting on the shelf (at BB) above the Pioneer 4280 and right beside last years Panasonic 700u ....... it's not close .... at all


and actually, Pioneer has just announced that they are ceasing production of their own panels ,they'll now get them from Panasonic's vendor - Matsu****a. but they the current crop available are the 8th generation panels and they're about to release the 9thG ... so they've ben in it for a quite awhile ..... and they've been considered the best in the business for a LOOONG time

 

So what about refurbished? Any suggestion on that?

 

uh , yes I do ............. HELLZ NO !
why ? becuase refurbs usually only come with 90day warranty's


what kind of refurb are you referring to ?
before you answer, if it's from refurbdepot, it'll be a hell no


currently the best thing I've seen in years is the Pioneer Kuro 4280hd @ Best Buy for an unreal $1599 ... yes, that sounds high for a 42" 720p TV, but then again it's a Kuro

actually, the new Panasonic px80u's for $1000 and change is tremendous bang for buck.
Later in the year they're releasing THX certified 1080p sets with 24p native mode sets that may finally take the crown away from Pioneer24p native reproduction

Pioneers do 72hz which does essentialy the same thing

Panasonic Viera TH-42PZ800U 42" 1080p Plasma

Anti-Image Retention Mode
Game Mode
Scratch and Impact Rsistant Panel
100,000 Hours to Panel Half-Brightness (>30 years @ 8 hours/day)
480 Hz Sub-field Drive Technology
-standard on ALL 2008 Panasonic PDP's