What TV for under R10k

[mickyc]

Hi guys,

Want to replace the old CRT TV for my bedroom. Will not be used much as we watch very little tv in the bedroom. I am guessing I will only be using it when the kids are busy in the TV room and i am missing a bit of sport. Have a big bedroom, so looking for min 40", max 46". 

Torn between the Samsung 43" 3d HD ready plasma at Dionwired/Makro for R6999, or the 40" LCDs (Samsung or Sony) that are around for about the same price (Full HD but with 50hz refresh). There is also a 3d 40" samsung LCD for about R10k at Dionwired.  Dont think that 3d is a biggie, but may be fun if the Kids want to watch something in 3d.

The signal coming in will NOT be HD as the decoders sit in the living room, and there is now way i am wiring HDMI Cabling to the bedroom.

What do you guys think?

[gifs]

The plasma will have some reflections if the room is bright, but being a bedroom I am assuming this wouldn't be a problem?

If this is indeed the case I would go for the plasma, no question!

Especially if you watch sport, the 50Hz LCD will disappoint.

You could get the 43D450 plasma for around R5300, this is the same as the 43D490 you mentioned just without the 3D:
http://www.catsdigital.co.za/plasma-television/samsung-1-2/new-d400-series-4-plasma-tv-t-b-a-.html

You could run some network cable (Cat5/6) to the bedroom instead of HDMI, it is suitable for much longer distances than HDMI:
http://www.hdcabling.co.za/single-cat6e-cable-hdmi-balun-extender-over-utp-stp-30-meter-1080p50-meter-720p1080i-hdcp-12-hdmi-v13-p-286.html

[Shonver]

My biggest gripe when I bought an HD ready plasma was the performance of SD pictures on that big screen. I eventually bought a much more expensive LCD (full HD Samsung L40B650; 1.5+yrs old by now) which made me very happy. I don't have advice on how to go about doing this, but I recommend evaluating prospective TVs' upscaling abilities (maybe search online for reviews).

[gifs]

From what I have seen, as well as the general consensus on the net, plasmas handle SD pictures better than LCD (at comparable prices)

[ghostinthemachine]

Game used to have Hisense LED tvs earlier this year for R5k... superb clear pictures!

[brains]

I have a lot of respect for the Samsungs, especially when considering there pricing vs the Sonys

[Juggy]

For starters a 50hz LCD can be excluded completely, they're rubbish with anything SD and shouldn't actually be on the market anymore.

Plasma will probably be your best bet and has been mentioned the new Samsungs are pretty good for the price.

http://www.catsdigital.co.za/samsung-ps-43d450-43-hd-ready-plasma-tv-just-arrived-.html

[mickyc]

Thanks for the reply's guys. I am leaning towards either of the two 43" plasma's. mightjust gofor the 3d for my kids sake...

Anyone experienced either of these two units? I am a little conserned about SD picture quality on the plasma vs LCD. I am running a 46" A650 LCD downstairs which is actually pretty good even watching the SD decoder.

What I am really trying to decide then I guess is whether there will be a noticable difference between the 43" HD ready 3D plasma (R6999) and the 40" full HD, 200hz 3D LED (R9999)? As Gifs eluded to, the TV is likely to be only used at night, so reflection is not an issue.

[KenMasters]

What I am really trying to decide then I guess is whether there will be a noticable difference between the 43" HD ready 3D plasma (R6999) and the 40" full HD, 200hz 3D LED (R9999)? As Gifs eluded to, the TV is likely to be only used at night, so reflection is not an issue.

I think the plasma is a better choice if it's mainly for night time viewing. In terms of picture quality the plasma will offer better motion resolution, better off axis viewing and an evenly lit image across the entire display (edge lit LED LCDs have issues with even backlighting). An extra 3" also does make an appreciable difference, as does the saving.

I'd imagine Samsung employs the same or similar video processor across their plasma and LCD ranges so I don't see why there'd be much difference there, other than those introduced by the general pros and cons of either display technology.

[---------]

The signal coming in will NOT be HD as the decoders sit in the living room, and there is now way i am wiring HDMI Cabling to the bedroom.

I've got two HD decoders - one for the TV in the living room and the other for the TV in the bedroom. I'm no expert in these matters, but I'm pretty sure you do not have to use HDMI cabling to the bedroom to get HD content. The TV in our bedroom gets a HD signal from the secondary decoder via CAT5 cabling.

[Skeeter]

Take the 450 non 3D model. I have reviewed both somewhere here.

Sent using Tapatalk

[kamikazi]

I have the previous generation 42" samsung plasma and it has been working really great for 2 years now and IQ is still great. SD content looks pretty decent on these sized plasma screens and sports work very nicely (would love to see HD sport content on it). Only thing you really have to watch out with is burn in during the first 100 hours or so be careful with things like games consoles..

[Skeeter]

One more thing, for sport I must urge you to take a Plasma over LCD.  As Audio Bug said, you can either get a second decoder (which could mean a new LNB, depending on what you want) or you could just run a length of coax from living room to bedroom.  Signal quality will suffer or course.

[naughty]

if its for your kids and the 3D is important then my take on it is that the bigger the screen is the better the 3D performance is going to be so what i would do is look at spending a little more ie around R2k more and getting a samsung PS51D550 which is full HD as well as 3D capable and is also 51" in diagonal and is available generally at around R11999

maybe you could put the newer/bigger TV in the lounge and take what you already have into the bedroom .... just a thought

[mickyc]

Thanks all for the responses....

I think I will probably go for the 43" 3d plasma. HiFi Corp has a special from tomorrow morning including a starter pack (2x glasses and a couple of the shrek movies in3d) for R7499. cant beat that for price/quality in my mind.

Thanks again