Hi-tech-tv.com: Television technology news & answers

Question: Can anyone give me some insight on the good and bad of mounting a plasma/LCD over a fireplace? My sister just purchased her first home, its a nice little town home but the family room is small so the base case scenario is mounting the TV over the fireplace….we have not yet purchased the unit so if there is a benefit to LCD over plasma or the other way around, that arrangement can be made. So yeah, if anyone has done this, or has any research on the topic, let me know if its ok to have the TV mounted with the fireplace on, how high above it it could/should be, etc. Thank in advance for all your help.

Answer 1: It can definitely be done. I think the issue is the heat. Use a thermometer to make sure where the TV will go never gets above 90 degrees F or the Plasma TV works harder to cool itself, thus shortening the overall lifespan. That’s only if the TV is on and only if it’s on for longer than a few minutes.

Answer 2: They did it on “This Old House” once.. they built a nice cabinet above the fireplace so the unit would be hidden when not used. it was really nice

Answer 3: I built a new mantle to put my LCD on. We only use our fireplace once in a while, so heat isn’t an issue.

Answer 4: I did it last year. Have a 60″ Pioneer Plasma, 145 lbs, mounted in the recessed area of the fireplace. Installed the mounting bracket into the studs behind the surface area. The bracket has an adjustable tilt so viewing is directly into the room. Mine is set for about 15 degrees down. Closest chair is 7 feet from the screen and the sofa is 10 to 12 feet away. .
The fireplace is gas so heat is not an issue in the Plasma area. Plasma does put off a fair amount of heat but not enough to be concerned with. Those CSI city views are absoutely breathtaking in HD.

Answer 5: You’re not supposed to put it over a live fire place as soot will be your enemy, but a gas one you can, as long as you determine heat isn’t an issue.

I don’t know why people won’t consider DLP - if you are hanging the TV on wall the it is LCD vs Plasma but if it is going in place of old tv then DLP is way to go becuase it is less expensive and picture absolutely rocks. Don’t you agree?

Answer #1: DLP is fine, but doesn’t have the wide viewing angle. DLP is a great technology, especially for the mega-huge sets (60″), but it still fails to match LCD or Plasma in terms of brightness or viewing angle. One of my favorite things about my LCD is that I can see it clearly and brightly, even from extreme angles. Makes it great for having a bunch of people over to watch a game.

Answer #2: I agree: I shoot HD and prefer DLP. Unless you want to hang it on a wall, DLP is the way to go. I have a 61-inch Samsung thats 3 years old and this viewing angle is not a horizontal issue…its a verticle issue. In my room the seating spans about 100 degrees and the picture is no worse at either end. However, if you stand up the quality dips a touch.
Who watches TV standing up?

Buy the largest TV you can afford or have room for. If you pass up on a 56-61 inch DLP for a 42 inch Plasma or LCD, and room or preference to hang it on a wall isn’t an issue, you’re making a mistake in my opinion.

My 61-inch set now looks a lot smaller than it did when I bought it. Always get the biggest screen you can afford and if you have to move to DLP to get it, because you’ll spend a lot more for a plasma thats really big, make the move. You won’t be sorry.

Answer #3: I asked this question a while ago and my buddy ended up getting a rear projection LCD 61 inch floor model that was retured at Best Buy. He bought it for 1900 and got a 500 dollar best buy card also - Can’t beat that deal. That TV is beautiful. You really can’t go wrong.

Answer #4: I went to buy the Panasonic 50″ plasma the other day and changed my mind when I saw the Samsung 46″ LCD. Sharper, brighter picture IMO. Best Buy was asking $2995, but I found it online for $1950 delivered and no tax. I also asked several people in the TV department what they thought had the best picture and they said the Sony or Samsung LCD. (same screen and the Samsung was much less expensive) I called Directv and asked them what it would cost me to get HD from them and they said $99 for the receiver rental and $10 a month. I asked if they could give me the receiver for free, and they said they would.

Answer #5: I had it explained to me like this: that plasma is better in low light viewing ares and will provide deeper, sharper blacks. LCD is better in lighted viewing areas. One of the factors in play is that the plasma has a glass screen like a regular TV and is more susceptible to glare. The LCD has a sort of matte finish which cuts glare. I’m also told that the issue of limited screen life for plasmas is no longer applicable. They last something like 40,000 hours which is something like 27 years if you watch it four hours a day 365 days a year. I have been shopping for a 42 inch set lately and haven’t settled on one, but the Samsungs look the best to me for picture quality.

I should just record this stock answer since it comes up so often. I’ve got both - one 37″ LCD and one 50″ plasma. Both HD, both manufactured around the same time. Here’s how I break them down:

- Size - both slim, the plasma is much heavier than the LCD
- Brightness - the plasma is brighter (by far), but the glass screen is reflective, whereas the LCD is not
- Response time - LCDs are a bit less responsive than plasma displays, only really a problem if you’re going to watch things with constant movement (didn’t notice it so much in sporting events, but a problem with some video games)
- Color depth - Plasma had better color depth (better black levels) than the LCD
- Viewing angle - you get almost 180 degrees out of the plasma, considerably less with the LCD
- Burn-in/longevity - Plasmas are greatly improved over what they were, and you can be sure that either will outlast it’s technology usefulness (or break before they had a chance to die from use LCD here if you plan on watching something with very static images (like all-day stock ticker, or closed-captioning)

For my money, I like the plasma better, but LCDs have been creeping up. I don’t think you can go wrong with either unless weight, ambient lighting, or burn-in are serious considerations to you. Whatever you do, avoid the DLP or other projection sets (due to replacing bulbs and bulb costs) unless you need more than a 50″ display.

Answer #6: Please take a look at the new-gen Sony. The 60″ model number is KDS-R60xbr2, the 70″ is KDS-R70xbr2, they’re incredibly clear for extra large screens. I would suggest Sunday while there broadcasting a game in HD. Their LCD and crisp, plasma naturally has a slight edge on brightness, however these sets will blow your socks off. Prices on the 60″ run between $3200 and $4300 on-line. The 70″ runs over $5000 to $6500. There’s a large gap in price for 10″… I’m going to go with the 60″.

Answer #7: I shoot HD and prefer DLP. Unless you want to hang it on a wall, DLP is the way to go. I have a 61-inch Samsung thats 3 years old and this viewing angle is not a horizontal issue - it’s a verticle issue. In my room the seating spans about 100 degrees and the picture is no worse at either end. However, if you stand up the quality dips a touch.
Who watches TV standing up?

Buy the largest TV you can afford or have room for. If you pass up on a 56-61 inch DLP for a 42 inch Plasma or LCD, and room or preference to hang it on a wall isn’t an issue, you’re making a mistake in my opinion.

My 61-inch set now looks a lot smaller than it did when I bought it. Always get the biggest screen you can afford and it is OK if you have to move to DLP to get it, because you’ll spend a lot more for a plasma thats really big. Make the move to DLP - You won’t be sorry.

Plasma or LCD? We’re in the process of buying a new TV. We want a wall mount in the 42 +/- inch range. I’m hearing conflicting stories on LCD and plasma TVs but the LCD appears to be the better choice. Opinions?

Answer #1: Check out CNET. They’ve always got good info on this kind of stuff. I’m obsessed with DLP.

Answer #2: LCD’s are really closing the gap. We have a Plasma, my brother has an LCD. Honestly, the difference isnt that huge, but the price difference is.

Answer #3: I just got a new Samsung 40″ LCD. A new model just came out so I got the “old” one for $1450. Perfect size for my living room. I love it. Plus its not a huge piece of equipment
I keep hearing about Plasma wearing out after long usage. Not sure if thats correct about new ones, but it seems the industry is leaning towards LCD now. DLP is great if you want a bigger set for less money.

Answer #4: I’m looking at a Sharp 37 in. LCD TV/Integrated HDTV, AQUOS® Liquid Crystal Television, Widescreen for $1530. Just remember to get the most out of your system, HDMI cables are needed. They run anywhere from 50-100 bucks for 3 feet. Not sure if cable/sat companies offer these with their HD packages.

Answer #5: I fell in love with the 60″ panasonic LCD at best buy…. I just don’t have $7000 to buy it.

Answer #6: You can purchase an inexpensive, good quality HDMI cable from monoprice or bluejeans. As far as LCD or plasma, I have a Samsung LCD and I love it. A friend of mine has a Pioneer plasma and I was disappointed by the picture, although I’m pretty sure it’s not properly calibrated.

Answer #7: I have LCD 42″ Sony Grand Wega…I paid $1700 earlier this year, you can pick up it for $1200 or less now. I love it.

Answer #8: I bought a flat panel Panasonic 42-inch plasma last week and had it installed on a swivel bracket on the wall. It is sweeeet. Very happy with it thus far.

Answer #9: It’s all about what type of room you are putting it in.
Plasma’s have a truer “black” than LCD’s, but I personally find the LCD screen to be much brighter. If you are buying it to put in a dark room, as a sort of movie room, Plasma might be a better bet. For us, we were putting it in our family room, which has a lot of windows and therefore a lot of glare, and the LCD screen’s brightness really helps minimize glare.

Continued from Should I buy an LCD or plasma TV?

Answer #6: It depends on the size you’re looking for. I don’t think they make plasma in the smaller sizes. I have a Samsung 32″ LCD and it’s real sweet. Of the TVs I’ve seen, Samsung, Sharp, and Pioneer look great

The LCD is apparently better in rooms where there is light as the Plasma tends to be susceptible to glare issues more. That being said, the Plasmas tend to have higher contrast ratios. All things being equal, which TV has the better component extras? Does it have a PC connection? Which are more compatible with satellite vs. cable? If there is a difference, which one has the best most accessible input/outputs etc.

Answer #7: Plasma is kind of like a tube TV regarding glare and LCD and DLP are more like the old rear projection sets where glare isn’t an issue. Regardless of the contrast you’ll have a bad glare problem in a room with a lot of light with a plasma TV. Make sure the room it goes can
be controlled for light or you’ll be unhappy.

Answer #8: I own one of each. There are positives and negatives to each. Personally, my favorite is the plasma, only because it’s brighter and has better darks than the LCD. Granted, there is more reflectivity from ambient light in the room, but it’s so much brighter I think it’s a wash. Burn in isn’t an issue, unless you’re going to be staring at something that never changes, or you spend most of your watching time viewing channels that have static images (like the Bloomberg ticker running at the bottom of the screen 24×7, or if you always watch with closed
captioning).

Plasma has a better refresh rate than most LCDs, so it’s a bit better for gaming. All said and done, I don’t think you can go wrong either way.

And by all means, buy from Costco so you get a good, long, money back guarantee, which is necessary on modern TVs regardless of make or model.
Which ever technology you invest in, please make an effort to eliminate any light sources in your room. Specialty shades can be purchased to remove and sun light. Remember, the darker the room the better image quality you will have.

Answer #10: I just bought 42 inch Panasonic plasma. I spent many an hour researching the differences between the two…the plasma is pretty amazing. the colors “pop”…it’s the best way I can explain it. You may want to consider the 1080p version as well, as opposed to the 1080i…sort of the wave of the future. Plus it will work well with blue ray/ hd dvd.

I have a few grand burning a hole in my pocket and my TV is about to die. Any help would be appreciated. I have to decide between a plasma TV, an LCD, or something else.

Answer #1: I have a Sharp Aquos LCD and love every minute of it but DLP will save you a ton of money and the picture is still great. Also unlike the PLasma if the TV breaks you can get it fixed for cheap.

Answer #2: Burn in is not a serious problem any more, so don’t worry about that. In July I got the Panasonic 50″ HD plasma, the commercial version. It’s cheaper than the consumer version, all black (which I prefer), does not come with a stand (I planned to and did mount it on the wall), and does not come with speakers (I planned to and did take care of sound through my receiver/home theater speakers). I absolutely love the TV, it is amazing.

Answer #3: I Just bought a 42-inch plasma last week. Burn-in does not affect modern plasmas nearly as much as older models (pre 2004-2005). Also, the life of today’s plasmas can easily exceed the life of picture tube TV’s, some plasmas are expected to last 10 years or more. An added plus is that plasmas have the sharpest, brightest picture of any of the three technologies, can be wall-mounted (unlike DLP) and, depending on size/brand, is very competitively-priced. The best plasmas are Panasonic, Pioneer, or Hitachi.
Answer #4: If it’s going in a room that is fairly bright (as in sunlight), LCD will handle this better. Otherwise, it’s whatever looks better to him. I personally would stick to a brand name.

Answer #5: I like LCD better then DLP or Plasma, but there’s no real better among them. It just personal choice and the kind of picture you enjoy. Do you need a flat panel? If you want a screen bigger then 46″ and need or want a flat panel you have to go plasma. LCD flat only goes up to 46″ and there is no DLP flat.

It’s true that the days of burn in are over for plasma TVs with the latest models. But be careful with Panasonic; they were very slow to adopt the non burn technology and there’s still some Panasonics out there that you have to be careful with. I don’t like the “blur” or “clay face” you get on a lot of the plasma screens even with HD during a football game.

Whatever TV you go with try and get 1080p resolution even though it’s a big expense. If you’re spending 3 grand on a TV get something with the best technology you can.

I just added a 50″ Sony 1080 LCD to my collection. It was a lot less expensive then a 50″ 1080i plasma. If you don’t have to have a flat panel save the money and buy a 1080p LCD or DLP whichever you like better.

If you have a Circuit City near you go there and check out the 1080P DLP from Mitsubishi and the LCOS 1080p from Sony. There are also some 1080p plasma sets out now from Sony and Samsung but they are over 4 grand. About 1500 more then the DLP or LCD rear projections but they are direct pictures.

The first thing you need to decide is your space for the TV. The second thing you need to decide is what you’ll watch most. Then read and shop and have fun.

Read more on LCD vs. plasma TVs.

Just bought the Panasonic TH50PX60U plasma TV and got DirecTV with HD receivers. The picture is stunning. I have the settings on low now until the burn-in period is over, but I would love to watch something other than DiscoveryHD during the burn-in period (like Sunday Ticket HD). Does anyone with a plasma TV have image retention problems (like scoreboards) after viewing a football game?

Answer #1: Unless you’re watching 4:3 content unstretched for 8 hours a day, you’re fine. And honestly, the stretching on these things is usually so good, that you’re better off just watching it stretched out and not having to worry about the black bar retention.

Answer #2: I Have TH-42PX60U and I was careful but not paranoid during the first 100 hours and never had a problem. Get the display off the factory-set “vivid” setting, turn down picture and sharpness a bit and you should be good to go. These Panasonics produce a great picture and football and sports in HD are terrific. Btw, the AV Forum has a separate thread on settings for the Panasonic plasmas. You can find all you need to know–and probably more.

Answer #3: You have to be in very severe cases to actually get uncorrectable burn-in. There’s a difference between image retention (which you get on either a plasma or CRT TV, if the same image is displayed for awhile, it will remain for a few minutes until it’s rewritten by changing pixels) and burn-in, which these days you’ll only get when spending many hours viewing static images that don’t change much, if at all (usually a stock ticker or closed captioning will do this, but only after a really long time and without watching much else in between).