TV for $1,000?

Hi all,

First off, this is my first post!

I have $1,000 to blow and I've been searching around for a 42" flat panel. I have a smallish studio that gets decent light (3 standard sized windows with blinds), and I'd probably be sitting around around 6-8' away from the TV. I would be watching TV during the day sometimes, but probably mostly at night. I'll be watching general programming (little-to-no sports) and DVD movies with the possibility of Blu Ray in the future.

Right now I'm focused on the Toshiba 42RV535U, what do you guys think of this set? I've done some some forum searching but I'd like to hear some recent comments about this model.

Also, is LCD the right technology in this setting? I've read positives and negatives of both LCD and plasma but I really can't make up my mind about either one.

Any advice is greatly appreciated! :)

Welcome to the forum! :hithere:

Since you have blinds to control the lighting, and if you watch movies with the lights dimmed, I would definitely go with plasma myself (and I did). :D

You can likely get a 46" 1080p Panasonic plasma for around $1,000.00 at some point this holiday season, and the larger size would be better for your viewing distance.

Vizio 42" at Costco or Sam's club is great.

I've been reading that 720p is adequate for my viewing distance as well as the 42" screen size (I have a feeling that 46" will be too big for my studio :) I'm now considering if I should save my $$ and get a stand along with the TV.

Here's what I'm looking at now:

Panasonic TH-42PZ80U (plasma, 1080p), $1200 @ BB
Panasonic TH-42PX80U (plasma, 720p), $900 @ BB
Toshiba 42RV535U (LCD, 1080p), $1,100 @ BB

I suppose all these prices will probably drop in about a week's time due to Black Friday, which of these would be the best pick do you guys think?

I have never heard the use of 720p or 1080p for viewing distance, only the size of the screen matters in that.

If you see the difference in 720p and 1080p then go with a 1080p set, also remember that most of the sets if not all of the sets in a store display are not calibrated and only have jacked up settings right out of the box. So your perception of what they look like in the store and when you get it home might be different. Because when you take it out of the box the settings will be jacked up as well. So your going to want to calibrate it using a calibration disc.

What will it sit on if you don't get a stand? You don't need to get an expsensive stand right away. Just something to hold it up.

If I was going to get one of those HDTV's, I would go with the Toshiba (LCD). I am not a fan of plasmas even though their technology has become better over the years and burn in is not really a problem anymore, but is still a possibility.

I have never heard the use of 720p or 1080p for viewing distance, only the size of the screen matters in that.

If you see the difference in 720p and 1080p then go with a 1080p set, also remember that most of the sets if not all of the sets in a store display are not calibrated and only have jacked up settings right out of the box. So your perception of what they look like in the store and when you get it home might be different. Because when you take it out of the box the settings will be jacked up as well. So your going to want to calibrate it using a calibration disc.

What will it sit on if you don't get a stand? You don't need to get an expsensive stand right away. Just something to hold it up.

If I was going to get one of those HDTV's, I would go with the Toshiba (LCD). I am not a fan of plasmas even though their technology has become better over the years and burn in is not really a problem anymore, but is still a possibility.
I read that for my viewing distance, I would not be able to tell the difference between 720p and 1080p and that the display should be >50" to appreciate it. Maybe it was an old article though...does this rule still apply?

Thanks!

I could see the difference in my 32" 1080p and I sit like 8-12 feet back.

I have a 46" 1080p now and can see the difference as well.