Can't Decide On New Tv!

[gavincato]

hi guys

I just can't decide. I've looked at them all in person and they all look great.

My main purpose is watching bluray/dvd (i.e. old dvd not hd dvd - yet) and playing PS3 games.

I can get the gear cheaper as my father in law works at a big retailer so i will quote those prices.

My viewing distance is 3.5metres.

1) Sony SXRD 60" - $3750.

2) Sony SXRD 70" - $5300.

This is prob my fave though it is a big price jump over the 60. darn huge though physically.

3) 50" plasma. There are lots of good ones out there. I can get them typically for low 3's.

4) Sony X series 46". I can get it for $4100.

Any thoughts?

My initial reaction to the SXRD was negative however after going back and having a closer look with better source media I'm a fan. However people sitting on the sides of my lounge room will get a darker image.

The Sony 46" has brilliant IMHO pic quality in HD.

The 50" plasmas always look good, and are very cost effective.

The 60" SXRD is a very good price, I'm just a bit cautious if I might regret not getting the 70 in a year or two.

Would greatly appreciate any advice. I love watching movies, and have a pretty decent sound system with paradigm speakers and a yamaha 2700 receiver.

I just can't make my mind up!

cheers

[50mxe20]

Want to bet there won't be a consensus?!

[Owen]

At your 3.5 meter viewing distance I don’t know how you can consider anything less then the 70” SXRD. A 50” or smaller display is a bit of a joke at that distance for watching movies.

To get value out of 1080 source, even the 70” is a bit small at 3.5 meters.

[merovingian]

4) Sony X series 46". I can get it for $4100.

Any thoughts?

Although that is a great price for that screen, I think it's poor value compared to your other candidates. I mean it's the smallest of the lot, but the 60" SXRD and 50" plasmas are cheaper, and arguably better picture quality. (Well, only LCD owners would argue otherwise.)

On the whole, I think the extra money for the 70" SXRD over the 60" SXRD is a bit steep. Except of course that the 70" doesn't spontaneously reset. But if you really want the extra 10", as I did, it's worth it. (I would have gone 80" if there was such a model.) You can always watch some content in postcard mode, if the source isn't so great: that's my channel BT strategy. So you effectively get a 50" within the 70".

[Redmist1503559903]

70" is a good size for 3.5m. Anything less won't really do justice to 1080 2.35:1 movies. Even if the picture quality was slightly worse I'd recommend the bigger display, but luckily the SXRDs have top notch picture quality (once you get them set up well) so if you've got the room, it's a no-brainer.

[Nevyn72]

I'd get the 70" SXRD if I had the room!

[dj147]

You can always watch some content in postcard mode, if the source isn't so great: that's my channel BT strategy. So you effectively get a 50" within the 70".

Excuse my ignorance, but is "postcard mode" a setting on the SXRD, set-top box or HTPC ?

[merovingian]

Excuse my ignorance, but is "postcard mode" a setting on the SXRD, set-top box or HTPC ?

On the SXRD. It's not actually called that. I forget what it's called, but it's the button where you select whether you're viewing Full Screen, Wide Zoom etc.

[Scalpel]

My viewing distance is 3.5metres.

1) Sony SXRD 60" - $3750.

2) Sony SXRD 70" - $5300.

This is prob my fave though it is a big price jump over the 60. darn huge though physically.

3) 50" plasma. There are lots of good ones out there. I can get them typically for low 3's.

4) Sony X series 46". I can get it for $4100.

Surely the answer to this question cant be too hard.

Apart from the obvious (ie Buy what you like the look of most - image & look of display) & personal aesthetic appreciation, the following points are relevant

If you dont mind not having a 'wall hanger', have the room and the room isn't sun drenched -> 70" SXRD

+(No reset fault (60"SXRD), great blacks, fast refresh, biggest screen, fantastic value, comes with extra bulb, better for SD images than Bravia X as 'softer' picture)

- (needs STB[may be bundled], relatively bulky, a bit fussy on vertical viewing angle[so not great for wandering around room, better for fixed seating])

If room is sundrenched -> Bravia X

+(no image retention, good for bright room, very sharp image, good for lomg term PC / console use (no retention, no bulb)

- (Poorest blacks & Handles fast motion the worst of all 3 screens, no glass screen = damageable, shows up HD flaws, smallest screen of all three for 3.5m viewing)

If want wall hanger and have darker viewing environment -> Plasma:

+Good for SD & HD, better motion & blacks than bravia, more natural colour gamut, glass face to screen

- Not quite as good for PC use as other screens (lower resolution) - lowest resolution (wont be an issue at 3.5m), most prone to image retention (probably not huge deal unless dedicated console/pc gamer)

My thoughts only, others are welcome to disagree.

J.

[Hambo2000]

I am in exactly the same predicament and would appreciate any advice [and/or I'll just follow this thread].

I'm stuck between a 46"X Bravia, a 60"SXRD and 55"Hitachi Plasma. Will be used for BluRay and SD DVD primarily with a little FTV and I sit 3m from the current TV. [The 70SXRD is a little out of my price range]

Of coarse there's the issue of should i be getting a 1080p display for my bluray player or will i be happy with 1366x768, since my personal preference is for plasma but that means im limited to 720p. [bluRay player is new and am currently running it into my 42" SD plasma - don't laugh it actually looks pretty good]...

[AndrewWilliams]

720p is more than adequate on small displays. I would take a 55" 720 display over a 46" 1080 display any day for watching HD movies. The only time I'd choose a 46" 1080 display would be if it was sitting on my desk connected to my PC.

[PanaSung]

Here's some general thoughts about HDTV's.

First, it's generally agreed that once you hit 50in+, your TV looks more like a small picture theatre than a big TV, IOW, one would do well to consider 56-62in Samsung DLP's{be aware of the cost of bulbs, but the TV's are cheaper to start with}.....if I wanted a big HDTV for my lounge, I would be aiming for a 56-62 DLP, I'd buy the 62 as long as it didn't look grainy compared to the 56{they're both 720p, so 62in might be pushing it for DVD/SDTV}.

LCD's 40in and over are garbage for darkrooms and SDTV/FOXTEL{might be okayish for very good DVD's, but nothing to get excited about{this might change shortly, but I wouldn't buy any 2006 40in+LCD for anything but HDTV/PS3/PC}.....even then, I have no intention of ever buying a 2006 model anything, but especially large LCD's.

However, 32in LCD's are a different kettle of fish, they look reasonable with most things you throw at them, but always remember, the poorer the signal, the poorer the PQ.

I think it's pointless buying anything smaller than a 32 unless you're going to plonk it in the kitchen{which has always seemed bizarre to me}, anyway, the size of the 32 will hide many of the deficiencies of SDTV/FOXTEL, but it'll look pretty good with HDTV signals, and can be used as a PC monitor.

I like plasma, but there's no contest between a 62in DLP and a 50in Plasma for viewing experience....and they're about the same price{granted DLP will hit you up for a bulb or two over it's life time}.

2007 is going to be the yr of both plasma and LCD, but it won't be another 8-12months before any value kicks in.

On the proviso you buy the right tech for your room{light/size}, there's no doubt that you'll be impressed with good quality HD feeds, but there's question marks over SDTV/DVD performance and PC use.

I wouldn't pay 20 bucks for a large LCD to watch Foxtel, nor would I pay it to watch Fox on a plasma in daylight.

[Redmist1503559903]

As much as I like my DLP, they can't compete with SXRD...except maybe on price.

[KRiSX]

this is quite interesting... maybe i am looking at the wrong thing...

for someone that plays a lot of games (360/PS3/Wii) and also watches movies (through 360/PS3(bluray) and XBMC) and also normal tv... what is the best purchase... i think i sit around 2-3m away... haven't measured.

currently have a 32" lcd and it is just too small for the room... i was looking at a 1080p 46" LCD, but is this the right purchase?

i don't think plasma is the right choice as i don't want the chance of burn in as i do have a habit of leaving things on the screen for a while at times.

being able to watch normal tv (well... i'd like something with a hd tuner... so hd tv) is important too... i don't have foxtel and i don't plan on getting it.

is SXRD worth getting? 60" ? or should i stick with my 46" LCD idea?

[Souwalker]

Before you consider a Sony Bravia X46 LCD, be aware that you might get one with the cloud/backlight bleed issue. Read the thread on this. I had my heart set on the X46 but I've been following the thread since it's inception and I would not want to have to spend that sort of $ with the frustration of this issue and having to get it repaired/changed/run around..etc..etc...etc. so, I got the pio 507. Outstanding!!

Just take the issue into consideration before you decide.

Rgds

pat

[gavincato]

ok, I'm picking up a 70" - probably tonight.

thanks guys

[50mxe20]

ok, I'm picking up a 70" - probably tonight.

thanks guys

Did we really (!!!) influence you that much???

[Owen]

this is quite interesting... maybe i am looking at the wrong thing...

for someone that plays a lot of games (360/PS3/Wii) and also watches movies (through 360/PS3(bluray) and XBMC) and also normal tv... what is the best purchase... i think i sit around 2-3m away... haven't measured.

You need to measure, it makes a big difference.

At 2 meters a 46" or 50” would be the go, but at 3 meters a 60” or 70” is more appropriate.

[gavincato]

heh. slightly.

it's always good to get opinions. owen has said it before but the viewing distance thing is probably worth considering.

mind you, i don't think 3.5m is a huge amount and i think even my 42" looks decently sized at the moment. I think it's going to be very weird having a 70" screen in it's place, the size will seem ludicrous for a while I think!

I pick it up saturday morning. Borrowing a mates van!

Did we really (!!!) influence you that much???

[drsmith]

I went from a 68cm CRT as my main television to the 70" SXRD.

On my journey to SXRD paradise, I did try a couple of cheapish brand LCD's (one 37" and one 42"), but each were returned to the store within a fortnight for various reasons so I don't count them.

At first the SXRD did seem ludicrously big, but it's amazing how quickly you get used to the size of such a big screen the loungeroom.

12 months ago I considered a 42" screen to be large and a 50" screen to be huge. Now I consider 42" to be small and 50" to be smallish.

[KRiSX]

You need to measure, it makes a big difference.

At 2 meters a 46" or 50†would be the go, but at 3 meters a 60†or 70†is more appropriate.

will measure tonight...

kinda hoping its further... i can get the 60" SXRD for cheaper then the 46" samsung i'm looking at (LCD)... lol

i just don't know if its a good buy for what i'd use it for... at least it does 1080p...

[gavincato]

van hired. pick tv up at 9:30am tomorrow.

have friends ready to drag it inside house. Can't wait! feel like a kid b4 xmas!

[Owen]

You wont need a crowd, two people can easily handle the 70” in normal circumstances.

Negotiating stairs etc will be more challenging and extra hands would not go astray.

It’s interesting that the poll has now swung in favour of a 50” Plasma.

I simply cannot believe that anyone who has seen a properly set up 70” SXRD at 3.5 meters would consider a 50” Plasma preferable. There is just no comparison.

[50mxe20]

It's interesting that the poll has now swung in favour of a 50" Plasma.

I simply cannot believe that anyone who has seen a properly set up 70" SXRD at 3.5 meters would consider a 50" Plasma preferable. There is just no comparison.

WAF mate!! That's what it is.

I should go and see Dr Smiths!! But need to take the missus along!!

[Owen]

Why start off low with a 50”?

Always aim high, so you can take a fall back position if plan “A” (a 70”) fails.