TV recommendations Options

[Oasis]

Looking to buy a new TV finally and I don't know jack about televisions.

Price isn't really an issue, although I'd like to keep it around $2000 or so since I don't watch a whole lot of TV nor play video games. It needs to be HD since I don't feel like paying extra after 2/11/09. Plus I think you have to have HD to play a PS3, and I wanna get one so I can play that game that looks like Tomb Raider

I'm basically looking for the best combination of size and picture quality for $2000 or so. Any recommendations would be appreciated

[impala454]

First a quick word on 2009:
Keep in mind that the 2009 FCC stuff has nothing to do with HD. The analog shutoff thing does not affect anyone but those who receive their signal over the air (OTA) via an antenna. Basically all it means is your generic OTA programming will be broadcast digitally on a different band (high UHF). It does not mean everything will be in HD, or that your TV will no longer work. If you use satellite or cable, you're completely unaffected. Also, every TV manufactured since late 2006 has a digital tuner (look for the words ATSC) built-in as required by law now. If you are one of the few in the stone age still recieving your TV OTA and do not have a digital tuner built in, the govt will be supplying every household in the US with two $40 coupons to go out and get a tuner (which are rumored to cost around $40). You will even be able to use your existing antenna, so long as you recieved UHF channels ok. The whole idea behind this is to free up that large range of analog signals for future use with wireless internet and for government emergency responder use (police, fire, etc).

There are a few things to consider on new TVs. Size of picture, size of the cabinet, where it will be placed, brand, and resolutions.

1. size of picture: Up to you really, but you can always go bigger for the same money with DLP. DLPs kick ass, have the best picture quality, and are the best bang for the buck. That being said, they're bulkier, and much more complicated and have issues that can come up. You have lamps (~100-200) you'll have to replace eventually (I have had my DLP for over a year and have yet to replace one). Some don't like this but IMHO it's great because it's like having a brand new TV again. For 2k you can get in the neighborhood of 60" in a DLP. While they are large TVs they do not weigh as much as they look like they do. DLP has zero possibility of burn in.

LCDs will obviously be much thinner, but your 2k will only get you around 46" or so. The LCD will be a more foolproof TV and obviously is much thinner and can be mounted on the wall. While there are no lamps to replace, the backlight will fade eventually, but probably so far down the road you won't care or even notice (think ~8 years depending on how much you watch). People will tell you LCDs cannot burn-in, and I'll invite all of them over to see the extremely slight World of Warcraft minimap circle that has ever so slightly burned into one of my computer LCDs. Probably not a big issue, but seeing as you're a ESPN junkie, you might not wanna leave it on ESPN news w/the ticker for 3 weeks straight w/o turning it off.

Plasma- I wouldn't even bother with. They're fine, but are being phased out, and really only served the purpose of being the cheaper alternative to LCDs when LCDs were crazy expensive. Regardless of what people say about new technology, they can burn in.

2. Whatever you get, be absolutely sure you get a 1080p TV. Some TVs will say 1080p on the box but not truly be 1080p. They can get away with this by saying that the TV "accepts" a 1080p signal. In reality it takes the 1080p signal and downconverts it. You'll know for sure if it is a true 1080p TV by seeing the resolution listed as 1920x1080. If you really want it to be future proof look for 120Hz in the listing as well. It's not that big of a deal though.

Anyhow yeah the one cmac posted is excellent. The Toshiba Regzas are good as well. Pretty much any of the major brands are good. I personally like Samsungs the best, as they are an actual LCD manufacturer. Meaning the LCD panel inside the TV was made by Samsung. Most other brands buy their panels from Samsung or other manufacturers. Other brands like Westinghouse and Vizio are awesome as well, while a little lower on the totem pole.

So after babbling, to make a long story short:
DLP: Huge size for the money, amazing picture quality, eternal lifespan given replaceable backlight systems.
LCD: Rock solid, also amazing picture quality, thinner and wall-mountable.

After you get one let me know the brand & model# and I'll find you the AVS calibration settings for that particular TV. The out of the box settings with most TVs suck ass and these simple settings will make the picture quality blow your mind.

edit: If anyone has a HDTV and wants me to help them find the basic calibrated settings, post your brand & model# here or PM it to me and I'll help you get them.