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Hi Kevin, I went CR, tks for tip. I did find in an ad to day, http://www.procura.com/42mf130a.html A Magnavox Plasma HDTV for $1800, CR didn't review their brand for Plasma's. Do you have an experience with it?
tks for the time Kevin.
bill
Hi Kevin:
I'm back on the trail for a new TV. It is my understanding that Time Warner (our cable provider) provides at no charge an HD convertor with our standard digital service. The plasmas at WalMart needed the tuner which they sold separately for Dish network. Does this mean I can opt out of the built in tuners as long as Time Warner supplies it?
Have also checked out some LCD HD'ers:
Sharp 26" LCD HD Monitor 1366x768 ($997.00) and a RCA 26" same specs for $860. Apparently the HD convertor is built into them. Are there any caveats I should be aware of with LCD's?
tks Kevin.
bill
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Hi Kevin, am interested in purchasing a plasma 42" set. I watch the prices carefully and see WalMart is selling one les than $1700, prices definitely going down all over but am I being taken for a ride here?
I believe that WalMart gets quality from its suppliers so they can keep em coming, know what I mean?
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Dear Bill,
It depends on what you're getting for your $1,700.
Yes, plasma prices keep falling, but there are orders of magnitude. Is the WalMart set HD (High Definition)? Or merely ED (Enhanced Definition). ED sets will receive HDTV signals but won't resolve them into HD pictures; only HD sets can do that. Does the WalMart set include a HD tuner?
All conventional TV sets have at least one tuner; that's how you get broadcast signals from an antenna. However, HDTV requires a different kind of tuner, one that will receive HD signals.
It's these kinds of features that separate a so-so 42" plasma set from a pretty good one, so you should check. If you don't understand all the terminology after you've checked, drop me a line, and I'll decode it for you.
BTW, the March 2006 issue of Consumer Reports is their annual home electronics issue. They've rated a bunch of 42" plasma sets. The top three, two Panasonics and one Dell, are all HD and have built-in HD tuners. The Dell is $2,800, and the Panasonics are $3,000-4,000. I own the Dell, and consider it a terrific set. I'd check it out if I were you.
Good luck. And thanks for choosing allexperts.com!
Kindest regards,
Kevin
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Dear Bill,
I have not auditioned either LCD set that you mention. Frankly, the models come out with such rapidity that it's impossible for an independent to keep up. That having been said, I've been very impressed with the LCD TVs I've seen in stores, expecially the smaller screens. However, they've always had dedicated high definition input, so it's not been possible to tell how they would look with non-HD material--like 90% of TV broadcasting, air or cable, or DVDs. You need to audition *any* TV with at least a DVD, so you can judge it on something other than HD material.
Another aspect I've noticed is that some LCDs, tho' I've heard this is improving, lose their image when viewed from too radical a side angle--either you're directly in front of it or you see a "negative" (think old color film negatives) image. I've read that newer sets, like PC and laptop screens (which use LCD monitor technology), are better. Still, once you've got your show running, move further and further to the side until the image "goes negative". Now you'll know your maximum viewing area.
The Consumer Reports issue (March '06) I recommended also has a good section on LCDs. Also, Sound & Vision Magazine (www.soundandvisionmag.com) runs periodic reviews of general advances in technology and of course particular makes and models. Check them out.
BTW, so long as you have either a cable or satellite provider who includes HD with their digital service, you don't need an HD tuner. I forgot to mention that last time. My bad.
Kindest regards,
Kevin
AnswerDear Bill,
No, I have not had any experience with Magnavox plasma TVs. However, I cruised some web sites. First, I found the same model for $500 less at a number of sites. Second, I found no evidence that that model is a HD television. It may have both NTSC and ATSC tuners (one ad said both; another ad said only NTSC--standard analog broadcast). Another ad said it was only an Enhanced Definition (ED) set, which will resolve HD input, but will not render an HD picture.
So I went to magnavox.com, and right now the only plasma model they sell is a 42" EDTV.
Again, just because it's plasma doesn't mean it's HD. The price ought to tip you off. You should expect to pay in the neighborhood of $2,800-$4,000 for a good 42" plasma HDTV. If it's much less, then it's probably something else. This sounds like another EDTV like the one you saw at WalMart.
There's nothing wrong with EDTV, but once you've seen an HD picture, you won't want to "settle" for ED. It's good, but it's not HD. Nonetheless, I still recommend auditioning stuff before buying, especially when you're going to make an internet purchase of significant size. You should know more about what you're getting.
Kindest regards,
Kevin
