Plasma HDTV Shopping Tips - An Unbiased Guide

Posted by Brian Mitchell on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 - 07:26 pm:

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Buy the Latest Model
Plasma TV technology is getting better every year. Each manufacturer has consistently improved picture quality year after year. There's no good reason to buy last year's model, if the new models are already out.

Learn Which Models Are New
This can be tricky. Crazy model numbers don't make this easy. Most manufacturers announce their new product lines for the year at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in early January. Various other announcements are released throughout the year. So check eCoustics.com for the latest plasma news and plasma reviews.

New models (as of Aug. 2006)

Brand	42-inch	50-inch	55-inch	58-inch	60-inch and above
Hitachi	42HDS69 42HDT79 42HDX99	-	55HDS69 55HDT79 55HDX99	-	-
LG	42PC1DA 42PC3D 42PC3DV	50PC1DR 50PY2DR 50PB2DR	-	-	60PB2DR MW-71PY10
Maxent	MX-42EPM20 MX-42HPM20 MX-42HPM30	MX-5020HPM	-	-	-
Panasonic	TH-42PD60U TH-42PX60U TH-42PX600U	TH-50PX60U TH-50PX600U	-	TH-58PX60U TH-58PX600U	TH-65PX600U TH-103PZ600U
Philips	42PF9631D	50PF9631 50PF9731	-	-	-
Pioneer	PDP-4270HD	PDP-5070HD PRO-FHD1	-	-	-
Samsung	HP-S4253 HP-S4273	HP-S5033 HP-S5053 HP-S5073	-	-	HP-S6373

Choose a Size Based on Viewing Distance
Measure from the wall or the proposed plasma placement location to your seat.

Viewing Distance	Recommended Screen Size
5-15 feet	42-inch
7-17 feet	50-inch
8-21 feet	60-inch
9-23 feet	65-inch

Don't Get Blinded By Brands
Very good models are to be had across all brands. Even within a brand you'll find variances in performance. New models are released all the time with improved technology and features, often displacing old favorites. Historically, Pioneer Elite plasmas have been considered by many industry professionals to be the reference standard. Panasonic and Hitachi are usually rated among the best plasmas. Followed closely by Samsung, Philips, and LG (in no particular order). The budget brands include HP, Dell, Maxent, V inc. (Vizio), and AOC.

Ranking	Brand	Market Share (Q1 '06)
1	Panasonic	21.6%
2	LGE	17.8%
3	Samsung	14.0%
4	Philips	12.1%
5	Hitachi	8.0%
	Other	26.5%

Source: DisplaySearch - June 2006

Understand the TV Formats

Spec	Resolution	Definition	Type	Quality
1080p	1920x1080	1080 progressive	HDTV	The Best
1080i	1920x1080	1080 interlaced	HDTV	Very Good
720p	1280x720	720 progressive	HDTV	Very Good
480p	720x480	480 progressive	DVD Quality or EDTV	Good
480i	720x480	480 interlaced	Regular TV	Average

As noted above, the "p" stands for progressive, and "i" for interlaced. Just remember the higher the numbers the better, and "p" is better than "i". Need a technical explanation? Click here.

Know What Specs Are Important

Spec	Typical Value	What to look for
Contrast Ratio	10,000:1	The higher the first number the better. Manufacturers use different methods to arrive at their measurements. Since there is no industry standard, these values are somewhat useless for comparison.
CableCARD	Yes/No	Most consumers are not using this feature because it lacks the full capabilities of a cable box.
DCR	Yes/No	DCR = Digital Cable Ready. All plasma TV's can be hooked to digital cable. It's a confusing term used in conjunction with the CableCARD.
Panel Life	60,000 hours	With average viewing of six hours per day, that's over 27 years.
Inputs	2 or 3 HDMI	HDMI is emerging as the new standard for digital connectivity. It combines high definition video and multi-channel surround sound into one cable for easy installation.
Integrated HDTV Tuner	Yes/No	This feature is useful for people who want to use an external antenna to receive local (free) HDTV stations. If you get local stations via cable or satellite, then you won't need this feature.
Resolution	1366x768	The higher the numbers the better. 1920x1080p is ideal, but only a few plasmas are available at that resolution.
Viewing Angle	160 degrees	A non-issue. All current plasmas look good from any viewing position
Warranty	1 year parts & labor	One year is the industry standard. LG is the only company offering 2 years parts & labor. I don't recommend buying extended service plans

Beware of Marketing Terms
Each term listed below is specific to each manufacturer. You really don't need to understand them, but be aware each company made up the name to help convince you their technology makes the picture better.

Brand	Technology
Hitachi	PictureMaster Video Processor
LG	XD Engine
Philips	Pixel Plus
Pioneer	Pure Drive Signal Processing
Samsung	DNIE

Check the Resolution

Type	Resolution	Available Sizes	Price Range	Value	Availability
HDTV	1920x1080	One 50 inch or 65+ inch models	$10,000+	very expensive	few models, high-end
HDTV	1366x768	Most 50-63 inch models	$2,000-$10,000	exceptional to good value	many models ,very popular
HDTV	1024x768	42-inch models only	$1,400-$5,000	exceptional value	many models, very popular
EDTV	852x480	42-inch models only	$1,100-$3,000	budget value	few models, being phased out

Unique Features to Know
Each feature listed below is only available from that brand. If its important to you, consider models from that manufacturer.

Brand	Unique Feature	What is it?	Our Thoughts
Hitachi	Power Swivel Base	Easily angle your TV towards any seat	Why didn't you sit in the center seat?
Philips	Ambilight	Casts a backlight corresponding to the current image across each side or around the TV -- expanding the viewing experience. Supposedly eases eye strain	Great for parties and to show-off to your friends.
LG	Integrated DVR	Pause live TV or Record TV shows to an internal Hard-drive	Less wires and one less box to worry about, but the same functionality is available via cable or satellite set-top boxes

Does it Include Speakers?
This used to be a no-brainer, but not all plasma TVs come with speakers. If you don't have a home theater speaker system, make sure speakers are included. If the plasma display is labeled a "monitor", it may not include speakers.

Try to Narrow Down to a Few Models
Once you have a few models in mind you can begin to read the editorial reviews and consumer ratings. Enter each model number into the eCoustics.com search box to locate reviews and deals.

Compare the Bottom-line Price
Don't be fooled by to-good-to-be-true offers online. When comparing deals make sure you compare the total price delivered to your door. Shipping charges can add-on $100-$300, and state taxes can add another few hundred dollars to the price.

Consider Buying Online to Save Tax / Shipping
Amazon.com currently has many new models discounted 20% off with free shipping and no tax! You'll have to add them to your cart to view the price. Also make sure it says, "Ships from and sold by Amazon.com." But Amazon doesn't carry every plasma brand and model (at least not yet). Check eCoustics.com's plasma price comparison section. Other reputable online stores to consider include OneCall or Crutchfield.

Place Your Order!
You've done your research, you've chosen a model that suits your needs, and you located a great deal online. Add to cart... click... buy... done... enjoy!

Brian Mitchell
Founder & CEO
eCoustics.com

Editorial Disclosure: Philips is a current advertiser on eCoustics.com. No other manufacturer discussed in this article has purchased advertising.