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LCD TV - Are they reliable ?

Should I get the extend warranty ?

I heard that most of the major brands will have problem within 3 years ! Is it true ?

I'm want to buy the latest Sharp(top model) or Samsung(series 7) LCD TV(52in.). Which one is better in picture quality ? Which one is more reliable ?
edle
miner42
709 posts
 
I, too, have to defend the DLP technology. I also have a 37" LCD (Samsung. My DLP is a Mits. (57"). After getting Mits to rebate/refund $900 for my 5 yr pld RP that could not be fixed because part is not longer available, the net to me for the 57" DLP was $1012 and this was with a 5 yr extended warranty.
ttowntony
145 posts
 
Of all the brands and technologies we sell, we've have had less issues with plasmas over the years. I have nothing against LCD's personally, I'm just trying to give you a real life report from someone who is in the industry selling them.

A good source of information can be found over at www.avsforum.com on the various technologies.

As good as the Samsungs are, I'll be honest with you. I would say the failure rate in the first year is 3 out of 10. Compare that to the Panasonic and Pioneers, which have had 0 issues the last year.
soix
10,129 posts
 
I've got a 1080p 50" Panasonic plasma that looks incredible (and I've got it in a very bright room), has black levels that LCD probably can't touch, and cost me less than $1500. To back up what Ttowntony said I've had the set for 6 months under heavy use and haven't had problem one despite power outages, brownouts, etc., and this with the TV plugged directly into the wall. Plus I don't have to worry about burnt out bulbs. With all this, I can't imagine why I'd choose LCD at this point.

Best of luck.
gmood1
1,251 posts
 
Trust me Soix if you used your display for other than watching television. As a PC monitor or game display...you'd quickly realize why some use LCD. You'd have image retention all over the screen. Don't get me wrong ..I still love my plasma, but the LCDs do have their advantages as well.

If I stuck a good LCD in that bright room..you'd also realize how dim a plasma can be in certain areas.

The other advantage is noise. I've never heard one LCD buzz...I've heard many plasmas do it.
soix
10,129 posts
 
Good points Gmood -- wasn't thinking about PC/gaming. As with most things audio/video there are always trade-offs.

A related point, it's amazing that almost every non-videophile's house I go to has their HDTV's contrast/brightness/color levels cranked up to eye-piercing levels. And they think their pictures look "great" because they're so bright. When I make a few adjustments to make the picture look somewhat natural and give it some depth they think it looks horrible. Given that, it's probably good that many people are opting for LCD rather than cutting the useful life of a plasma in half. Much cheaper to change a bulb in the long run I would guess.
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