Posted: 7/10/2005 11:26:19 AM EDT
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I'm looking at getting a 50" DLP TV set based on the reviews that I've seen. I'm not really interested in LCD and definitely not Plasma based on maintenance related issues. For $$$ reasons, I've looked more heavily at Samsung's tv's, originally starting with their refurbs and now moving up to their newer models, based on updated technology and what not. Here are the models I'm looking at, what are your opinions or further suggestions? Samsung HL R5067W 50" DLP - No base SAMSUNG HL-P5085W 50" - integrated pedistal Obviously the main difference lies in the fact that I'd still need a base for the first tv, while the second has it integrated with the pedistal. The ped tv also has a different light engine that is supposedly better. What is your experience or what do you prefer between these or other choices out there? The prices (shipped) for these two are $2099 for the 5067 delivered or $2049 for the 5085 delivered. |
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Beware. I have a buddy with a Samsung DLP (can't remember the model but it's fairly new) and apparently it's well known that some DLP sets let the audio and the image get slightly out of sync. I thought he was being too picky when he first told me about it but when I went to his house and watched it it just really bugged the $hit out of me. I own an 15 month old 50" Sony LCD rear projection (WE610?) and while his DLP was slightly brighter there's no way I could put up with the audio sync problem. Don't write off LCD rear projection, it's cheaper than DLP, LCD or plasma. Not quite as sexy as the hang-on-the-wall direct view LCD or plasma but it gets the job done. Just my anecdotal 2 cents. |
Plasma's don't have 'a' bulb. Each and every pixil on a plasma is filled with gas, changes colors based on heat. LCD's have a bulb that can be replaced. :::eta www.hometheaterforum.com They're the ar15.com of home theater |
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TacticalSolution, to be honest I don't really remember what we were watching. There were several different things we watched but I think it was just standard cable. I know he had tried various input sources and home-theater setup options but after researching the problem found out that this was just 'part of the ownership experience' (my owngoogle search reveals this is pretty well-known and apparently has something to do with the compression/decompression of various sources prior to output). While I liked the DLP picture I could never own one with such annoying audio sync issues. I only mention it because this wasn't something I was even aware of when I was comparison shopping last year. Lockedon, I don't know about plasma (frankly they'll probably be ready for total replacement by something cheaper and better by the time you replace the bulbs/capsules/whatever) but LCD rear projection uses a bulb like in an InFocus projector. For our set I think it's about $80 and is user-replaceable, ours hasn't needed replacement yet and it's 15 months old. I think LCD direct view panels also need bulbs on a more infrequent schedule (probably similar to a laptop screen) but it's not a user-serviceable item to my knowledge. |
| I have owned a 50" Samsung 5063w for over a year now. I got a used display stand from best buy for cheap, but I don't think the attached pedestal model tv would be a bad idea. Although, I don't have any experience with them. As far as tv's go, I love the DLP. You won't be disappointed. On the sound-sync issue, I have not noticed this. One thing I did notice was lag in video games between what was shown on the screen and what was actually happening in the game. Turns out the problem was playing 480i (interlaced) games on the hdtv. It takes time to convert the picture down. The solution is just making sure that the games you buy have 480p (progressive) compatibility and then set your gaming console to the same resolution. This may or may not be the same problem that others have experience with sound. Taking a dvd signal from a non-progressive scan dvd player might be a problem too. Anyway, just try to keep an hd signal going to the tv whenever possible and you won't have any problems. |
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I did know about the vid/audio sync issues, but apparently they were 2004 model issues, which were cleared up under warranty service by Samsung. KScoltsAR - that's good info, I'll make sure to do that!! I'm a bit of a vidiot, so it'll come in handy for sure. As far as the TV's you've all purchased, where did you get them and how much did you pay? I'm trying to wrap up a 50-52" tv for under $2300. Spending a bit more for the "top of the line" tv wouldn't be a problem, but I can't really go above that budget. |
Thats rough for TV and stand, warranty and taxes. Mine was over $3000.00 with stand, warranty and taxes. |
Taxes? We don pay no steenkeeng taxes! I'm buying online, the only thing I'm contending with is high shipping fees of $200-250. Most of the TV's I've seen, including the pricier Mitsu's will ship with stand for about $2600. This is why that Samsung with the build in pedistal is nice, since it cuts down on the furniture costs. Aside from this project, I'm also putting together a home theater system, which will have a cabinet of its own with the A/V equipment. So what TV's are good and how much did ya'll pay? |
I haven't heard a word of this. I have seen that the SMPTE is meeting a special comittee to address the sync issues with MPEG video - all of it  . The packets that carry the audio, video, and multiple types of data are asychronous and audio packets are able to slip in relation to the video that they carry. Most television is MPEG now - cable, over-the-air, or satellite it matters not as the program provider probably encoded it somewhere in production to digital. BTW - digital television blows completely. PS: I like the DLP sets. |
I've actually read about this in numerous reviews, so I guess there's some credibility to it, other than "my friend said." Anyway, I hope its not an issue with the newer ones, I'd understood that they fixed the problem in the last series of DLP sets. But I'm diggin the tech stuff. |
| If you can bear to wait another couple of months the prices on HDTV's (all technologies) are expected to drop significantly sometime this Fall ... Reason being that the industry has been ramping up production on ALL HD technology over the Summer and cutting back on production of standard TV's. Basically paving the way for HD becoming the national broadcast standard in the next couple of years. |
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JVC's D-ILA rear projection sets give a picture that I prefer over that of DLP or LCD, or anything but a properly set up CRT rear projection TV. Properly set up, CRT IS still the king of image quality. If I wanted to shop for a set that needed me to spend a few hundred bucks on a new light bulb for it once every now and then, I'd buy a D-ILA unit and nothing else. What does it for me is the smoothness of the image and almost total lack of SDE. (Screen Door Effect, the visible delineation between individual pixels.) CJ |
yes it is! Going to get an lcd for the bedroom when the prices come down. I've got this CRT Panasonic 34" hdtv and even though bulky and heavy the color makes up for it. If you have the space, CRT is still the way to go! You will find yourself only watching HD broadcasts. 
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Quit listening to idiot salesmen. The $350 bulb is in the DLP unit and not the plasma. The bulbs have to be changed at the end of their lifespan and they can also die if a power failure occurs before the lamp cools. The Sammy DLPs are nice units although I found the direct view screen on a plasma is much brighter- big difference if you watch TV in the daytime. As far as plasma issues- Buy a good one and enjoy it. I have a Pioneer 50" PDP-505. Its 4 years old now and has about 8K hours on it. I have never had a problem. The pixels are fine - I have not had to brighten up the screen to compensate for run time. The Plasmas have dropped in by about 50% since I bought mine. $5.5k will get you a top line 50" today. |
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I got the 50" Samsung HLR5067W one week ago. The "R" is the new models that came out this June/July. The "P" is last years... I am VERY glad I got the latest, because it has the HDTV tuner built in. I bought HDTV rabbit-ears to try it out. We are all blown away. I had no idea all these HDTV signals were being broadcast. And being digital, they are perfect pictures, or there is no picture. We find ourselves watching CRAP on the tube, just because it is HD. PBS here shows some sort of Discovery/Nature/National Geographic HD show on one of their 4 side-channels. Finally have a use for PBS. Amazing stuff. Even the non widescreen stuff, like reruns, are perfect. C'mon football season. I'll not go back to regular TV. And I am anxious for DISH to do more than a few HD channels. As for the Samsung. It is working perfect. I had read about potential problems like sync, and rainbows, and clayfaces. No sync, no rainbows, but all clayfaces. I need to try some adjustments. The non-reflective coating/screen that the Samsungs have works great. I have a wall of windows across the room from the TV, and can watch TV just fine. I'd say. Go for it. I'm glad I did, and I hate to spend money. DanM ETA: Replacement bulb is $200 direct from Samsung. Pedestal models have a different DLP chip. There was DLP2, then DLP3, then DLP2+ (more contrast than 3), and now they call them 5'th generation. |
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Yep! I'm not a huge baseball fan but I watch it time to time. Baseball in HD is incredible and I find myself watching it more lately. I hope hockey is just as good this fall. It's hard watching regular broadcast TV after watching HD now.
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