The Bus

My parents are looking into buying a TV and they (honestly) tell me they are not likely to upgrade for a decade, if not longer. I've been entrusted with finding their next TV. Their only requirement is budget (up to $5000 or thereabouts, less is always better). They would like a flat-panel but projection would be OK too. A minimum size would be around 50" with a max somewhere in the 60s. The TV will be kept in a basement / rec room so light is not a big issue.

My recommendation is that they get a set than can do 1080p.

The Sharp LC-65D90U and LC-57D90U are out of the question, as they are way too expensive.

The only sets I've seen in store that have given me any favorable impressions are the Sony ones, like the KDS-R50XBR1.

There's also been good reviews on the Samsung HL-R5078W sets.

I would like for them to spend less than their max so I can earmark their budget on other electronics (a HD/Next-Gen player, a real receiver, etc.). Does anyone have any insight or advice?

They're pretty anxious to buy so I don't see them waiting more than a couple of months and AFAIK 1080p is the peak in TV resolution we'll be seeing for at least the next 5-10 years.

I also suggested a projector, but I am guessing 1080p projectors are more expensive.

Thoughts?

Blitz6Speed

Im not sure about this yet, but has HDMI 1.3 standards been finalized and put into tv's yet? If not, id try to wait for that. Main points however, is make sure the TV can actually ACCEPT a 1080p signal and not just upconvert everything to it. Otherwise, not much else in criteria that i can think of.

GIjon213

The term 'future-proof' does not exist in the electronics world, sadly to say. However, you can get a great TV right now for $5000, and as long as it is 1080p it will last for a long time. I agree with the above poster that you should wait til HDMI 1.3 comes out. The best you can hope for is 'semi-quasi-future-resistant' tv.

Spiky

A plasma can't hit 1080p until it is 65", even Panny's announced 58" (a new size) are only 768p. LCD and DLP rear projection aren't all that great, IMO. But your parents may love them. The Sony Ruby is a steal in a 1080p front projector, but the best price I know of is $7500. And you wouldn't have a screen, yet. There may be an SED out in 2007 as another great option.

It is a really tough time to buy an "investment" device. Bluray/HDDVD release, satellite provider's expansion to local channels in HD, SED in 2007, 1080p just becoming available with serious issues to overcome, HDMI. All these are changing rapidly. 2006 is a horrible year for this.

If they want one right now, they should try to get the best 1080p they can find, that they like the looks of. Even though it won't accept 1080p fully, it should make them happy for years to come.

Blitz6Speed

Is this 100% for sure? Man, i am not upgrading till i can get a 1080p HDMI 1.3 plasma, but i was going to stick with a 42 or maybe a 50" since after that, the prices just skyrocket on plasmas. Why do they need to be 65" or bigger? Any link with more info? Thanks.

mbs

Wait 6 months or so. Now, IMO, is a terrible time to drop 5k on a new set. There is still plenty of question about whether any of today's 1080p's sets will be able to display 1080p native from Blu-Ray/HD-DVD.

Brian Shannon

Or based on the original question, buy the best you can now, forget about future vaporware and enjoy.

If they are not going to upgrade, they will be happy.

Do they want DVD, Direct TV and HDTV?

And for what it is worth, how old are they? Consider their eyesight and they kind of material they watch!

mbs

The problem is that 1080p isn't vaporware. And this matters because from the OP, I got the idea that 1080p was important.

In most cases, I'd be the first to say "buy now, technology is always improving," but this is a special case. By waiting a few months, it sure could save a lot of remorse in the near future. 1080p WILL be an important issue and spending $5,000 expecting a long-term investment today is not wise.

Teremei

Sony SXRD 60". It's a beautiful TV (trust me go see a demo in a store) and the image is about as sharp as I have seen. Also being a nice big screen movies will be more fun to watch. .

Spiky

So far. Plasma tech takes up space, and they haven't been able to shrink it, apparently. All you have to do is look at the specs on each model. 42" HD models are always 1024x768, less than actual HD of 1280x720. And I still haven't seen anything under 65" that is 1920x1080.

LCD can be made much smaller, that is why you can have virtually any size LCD in HD resolution.

The Bus

I've seen the demos and occasionally the sales make it a pretty good deal (i.e. not $5000). That's my current recommendation.

But based on the comments above, does this TV do HDMI 1.3? Or "true" 1080p? The resolution does seem to do 1080p but I don't know it it takes a 1080p signal as 720p then upscales to 1080p, which is, I don't know.... retarded.

I know no TV will be "future proof" but AFAIK there is no higher resolution than 1080p announced or planned in the next couple of years, which is my main concern.

rlogle

I am the proud owner of a Sony 50" KDSR50XBR1 (SXRD). This TV is beautiful, get it!! For $5,000 they could get the 50" and have a hell of a lot left for a good DVD player that has hdmi out, a good receiver and some kick ass speakers that this TV demands. I'm looking for an HDTV for a friend and can't find any other tv, except the xbr1's, that have two hdmi inputs. Don't know about the 1.3. I do know that there is a lot of misinformation about the entire 1080p thing when it come's to this TV. It produces 1080p, it, I think, upconverts. The new xbr1's will come out somewhere around June or July. These will do native 1080p.

mbs

No. HDMI 1.3 has not been finalized so no current TV will do HDMI 1.3. Whether 1.3 will be a firmware upgrade is yet another question with no official answer.

bryce0lynch

For $5k I would get the largest LCD that has an HDMI port. LCD-RP and DLP-RP have the light bulb issue, Plasma and traditional RP have the burn in issue.

I think the 1080p thing is overblown; as long as it's an HD set it shouldn't matter.

rlogle

I agree when you get to the 1080i, 720p and 1080p most people can't see a real difference, especially if it's done well.

Spiky

Ok, finally found something. Haven't heard any more, though. Pioneer news

rlogle

10 Thousand BUCKS.... Holy CRAP.

Spiky

My bro-in-law claims LG is putting out a 42" with 1080 resolution in July. I'm a little skeptical of his memory, he gets excited and gets specs wrong sometimes. But he is an installer and has advance knowledge of what they will be selling a few months ahead.

Kumar J

Okay here is what I know in Japan.Panasonic has released a few flat panel full HD TV.They can receive HD broadcast and disply them to the fullest.Also Toshiba has released Regza TV's.And Hitachi has relased a full built in 1 terabyte dvd recorder on the Plasma HD ready TV.And more news is that in a few more days or weeks, Panasonic is going to sell it's 103 inch plasma TV.Now if you got the money, this is the one I would get. But for $5000 I would just choose any TV that came out after June 2006.They have all HDMI input , in Japan however for Plasma and Flat Panel

The Bus

I went to what I would probably consider the best A/V store in the area (Overture) to seek some additional advice. I was blown away when I was told to "Not buy anything now" by the salesperson. That's never happened to me, ever, at any store.

He mentioned, as rlogle said, that 1080p is a bit overrated and we won't really see the full advantage of it since most cable companies will keep broadcasting HD content in 720p. They had a number of sets that looked pretty good but I also got a demo of a Runco projector which was pretty good, considering we only had an NBA game to go by and no reference-type DVD. It was a bit above this price range, but I'm not making the decision, just leading them to water, so to speak.

So... in summary: It's best to wait until the summer, and 1080p shouldn't be the determining factor in my choices.

LiK

i was reading an article in pcmag or some other tech site that mentioned that 1080p is not THAT important compared to 720p and 1080i. the differences depends on your eyesight and some people will not be able to tell the difference. plus, current HD broadcasts won't do 1080p so there's no point in buying a TV with that resolution. unless there weas some update i missed out on, 1080p is not important. i suggest getting a hdtv with support for 720p/1080i and you're set. 1080p tvs are uber expensive and not worth buying right now.

and i agree with some past replies, nothing is future-proof.

gimmepilotwings

Blue-Ray's native resolution will be 1080p. I do not know if that alone is enough for people to buy a 1080p TV, but to say that just because HDTV is not 1080p, does not mean that will not soon.

I plan on buying a Mitsu 62" 1080p tv. It only converts a 1080i signal to a 1080p, unless you buy the diamond series that is an upgraded model I am only spending $2,999 for the TV.

There are options out there. If you want a "True 1080p" tv, better wait until the beginning of next year when the newest TV's come out. I do not plan on waiting right now, only because of the price of the TV is too good to pass up.