Calling all TV gurus - need help

I started a thread not too long ago when I was on the edge about buying a TV and there's some good information there.

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=212617

I ended up with a "stop gap" (though my fiance/future wife might decide it's the final stop for a while) 55" LG LED LCD TrueMotion 120 Hz TV at Costco for $899. I decided with LED-LCD due to

1) Less Power which will equal out the price difference between LED-LCD and Plasma
2) Cheap price for the LED-LCD
3) I'm not sure there's enough 3D content to justify the newer tech
4) Thinking about buying a place soon (see cheap price and fiance) and not sure if the place we find will have a living room dim enough for a plasma
5) Looking at the TVs, 120 Hz and 240 Hz didn't make a big enough difference to sway me either way.
6) Seriously, $899 is like a really good price for a 55" LED-LCD (my argument at Costco for buying it on the spot ) and Costco have good 2 year warranty + 90 days return policy if I have buyers remorse (i.e. ridiculous Super Bowl Deals).

 

For future reference, plasma Anti-Glare has come a long way. I consider it having a glass screen as an advantage now.

Also you don't have to have a dim room for plasma. It isn't a front projection. Plasma can get plenty bright. You just need to make sure no bright light sources are positioned in a way that will reflect and be bothersome. If you have a room with a ton of windows, it will be fine if they are too the rear, or sides of the TV. Same goes with lamps etc.

 

I have had several HDTV's over the past few years, so here is what I have learned:

1. Plasma is still the best bang for the buck. 600hz refresh rate, blacker blacks, and better price. Best plasma screens I have ever seen have been the Samsung. Absolutely beautiful picture.

2. As for LCD's, stick with either 60 or 240, but I would advise to *NEVER* get a 120. An unforeseen consequence of the 120's is an effect called 'soap opera effect' on movies. It's hard to describe, but you can test it easily enough yourself, just pick out any decent large 120 screen, and pop in a DVD like Raiders of the Lost Ark, and watch a few scenes. The movie somehow no longer looks like a movie, and now looks and feels more like a soap opera, that kind of cheap video-production feel to it, I have no idea why it happens, but I understand that it has to do with the refresh rate. I know that I have never seen it on a 60 (and in fairness, I have never really tested a 240) but I have directly observed the phenomenon on a 120, so before buying, you will definitely want to do a real-life test and pop in some DVD's and really scrutinize them.

3. Bear in mind, once you get your new TV home, you won't have all those other models sitting there next to it to compare, so really, anything you get is going to look good at home. Don't let yourself get sucked in by the contrasting levels of quality between something like a Sharp or an LG or a Samsung, sitting there at the store looking all bright and sharp and pretty, and then there is the Dynex or the Vizio or the Element or whatever, not looking as good. Fact is, margins and profit are low on those models, so the stores have very little interest in setting those items to display at their optimum best quality. Test for yourself.

4. A 1080p screen is going to be good, no matter who makes it. But do look for uneven light distribution, darker darks, things like that. Also, pay attention to the features such as number of HDMI inputs, what other inputs they have, wireless capability, applications, etc. A lot of times, that is where your real differences lie. 3D, well, that is up to you. It's cool as long as you are sitting in that one 'sweet spot' where the 3D actually works, too bad for anyone else sitting in the room. And don't pay any attention to the built-in sound one way or the other. If you are going to invest in a large TV, then be prepared to invest in some decent sound equipment to go with it.

5. Whatever you get, you are probably going to like it just fine. Enjoy!