[quote name='MrRedrum']The Samsung is definitely your best bet, the 120hz refresh rate is perfect for gaming and watching sports. Also, part of that extra $400 is because of the higher refresh rate. Helps get rid of motion blur and all of that. Supposedly "most" plasma's already have a 120hz refresh rate but aren't really advertised. I'm a big LCD fan so I'll always say go LCD since I'm biased like that lol. The new plasmas have definitely gotten rid of their old flaws though, of the occassional lag in video and audio (due to slow response time) and screen burn in, etc. But since it would appear that you want a LCD its a mute point lol.
I'm in the market myself for the same size tv in the same price range so it really depends on what you're really looking at for its main use. For movies, plasma's usually work out best because of the deeper and more true blacks. For games though, LCD's work out better because of the quicker response time. Samsung is attempting to merge the two together and have more or less successfully done so with their LED backlit line that has a 500,000:1 contrast ratio.
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Not to burst you bubble, but Plasmas have always had better response times and still do.
Plasmas are very similar to CRT's (both use phosphors to get the image), which still arguably have the best black levels and response times.
Here is an image that can help illistrate this ... remember Plasmas and CRT's are virtually the same with plasmas being a bit slower.
Yes the 120 Hz models have improved LCD's; but remember you are going to have to pay a premium for it.
In addition you also have to remember black levels. Even compared to an entry level plasma set, Top of the line LCD's still have trouble beating the blacks of a plasma. Yes LCD's do better whites but black is arguably more important as it is the canvas.
** not this picture is top units as Pioneer is pretty much the Gucci of Plasmas**
In terms of price, you have to pay twice as much for an LCD that wouldn't beat a entry level plasma by much in picture quality. If you want a larger size TV (40" or more) Plasmas are going to be significately less expensive. A 37" LCD cost as much as a 42" plasma and doesn't even come close to picture quality that you get in a plasma unit.
Lets also consider viewing angle ... on a plasma its pretty much 180 degrees ... you can go from side to side with no ghost and picture quality loss. On a LCD you pretty much have to be in front of the thing.
In the interest of being fair and balanced.
Plasmas are not without their downsides. If you have a very highly lit room, you are going to want an LCD. In a dark room however, Plasmas will blow LCD's out of the water no question.
While burn-in is pretty much a non-issue, Image retention, or temporary ghosting is. You will want to avoid 3 to 5 hour gaming marathons in the first 100 to 200 hours of use. But remember, IR is temporary and usually goes away within a few seconds to a few mins at the most when putting a nonstatic image through the set.
Plasmas also use A LOT more energy than LCD's. I have friends that have seen their electric bills go down significantly after going to LCD and putting the old Plasma in the bedroom.
Most of the lies you hear about plasmas are usually perpretrated by LCD manufactures who feed bad information to sales people. compare them yourself and you will be sold ... on plasma that is
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