Need recommendations on buying a LCD / Plasma for home use

[khambadkone]

Visiting outlets like Croma, Sony showrooms, Vijay Sales and eZone over 3 weeks, I'm lost in the options available.

Here are facts about my requirements, and would love to hear your opinions on what would be ideal purchase :

1) Viewing distance is about 8-9'.
2) Will connect my 360 to play games - max hr a day.
3) Have a large collection of DVD movies and video library, many action oriented so a fast display is required - to watch over weekends
4) Using Tata Sky + and unfortunately the majority usage of this TV in the main room will be for viewing TV rather than movies.
5) Intend to purchase a BluRay player and movies.

Questions
1) Given the prominence of Cable TV, is venturing into LCD / Plasma even worth it? The Sony EX700 and Samsung Series 7 look great with BluRay but I'm yet to see good cable TV output.

2) Given the viewing distance, what is the recommended screens size for Plasma / LCD? Added concern is that I plan to shift : 10-12' viewing distance.

What are rules of thumb?

3) Budget is upto 1 lac, including a BluRay player.

 

[just4kix]

Plasma has many advantages over LCD. The foremost is a blazing fast response time. For movies and action sequences, this means that there is no ghosting at all. On LCD, very fast action sequences will result in a head spin.

The Plasma also yields colours more natural. Blacks are way better in plasma. The LCD are compromised to some extent on this aspect.

The viewing angle of Plasma is nearly 180 whereas it is claimed as 170 in LCD but in reality is more like 140.

Finally, size per size, you will find plasma much cheaper than LCD.

But LCDs score in terms of overall brightness and vividness. The backlit LED LCDs are so thin and sexy. In India, all sales are focused on LCD. You will probably find more support and repairs for LCD than plasma.

For cable TV/DTH, LCD is suited better. Plasma is better for movies.

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Answers to your specific Q's:

1. If you are not going to watch HD content, then LCD/plasma is not really worth it. In my personal opinion, BigTV has the best quality. But BigTV has BEEEEEEG problems when it comes to support. Cable varies from place to place, even in the same city, so it is difficult to place any judgement.

But you said that you are going to buy a BD player. So it may be worth venturing into the HD format - be it plasma or LCD.

2. At 8-9', 42" to 46" is sufficient. 50" will be suitable for 10-12'. The rule of the thumb is: viewing distnace >= 2 x TV Horizontal Width.

3. You can certainly get a plasma TV (50") + Blu-Ray player around Rs. 100,000. Maybe there will be some stretch here and there. But 50" LCD TV itself will be nearly or more than 1 Lac. Note that BD player cost has now dropped. The Sony BDP370 is selling for 10K in India.

 

[adder]

Well if you watch mainly TS+ then stick with sony or samsung,they are better suited in SD.
for your current viewing distance 40" would be fine.
and if you do buy sony lcds its best to buy in the grey market where they are cheaper,infact cheaper then most first tier brands.
I would buy a CCFL based lcd,the Edge LED lcds aren't worth the extra money.