Friday
Feb192010
Feb 19 Podcast #413: HT Guys HDTV Recommendations
Category: Podcast Tags: Buying guide, LCD, Plasma
Podcast Tags: Buying guide, LCD, Plasma 
We receive emails from listeners all the time asking us which HDTV we recommend. That list will vary depending on the use case and budget of the emailer. On today's show we'd like to tell you what our picks are for a typical use scenario for low to medium budgets.
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Today's Show:
News:
- Retail Conspires Against Redbox by Limiting DVD Purchases
- SlingPlayer Mobile App With 3G Support Now Available From App Store
- Sony pulls plug on OLED TV in Japan
- 80M Blu-ray Players Shipped In 2013
Other:
Its our five year anniversary and you get the prizes!
To enter simply follow us on Twitter. Follow Ara at hdtvpodcast and follow Braden at BradenRussell We'll select winners at random and announce them on our April 2nd show. Here is what you can win:
- Audioengine 5 (A5) Premium Powered Bookshelf Speakers.
- INSTEON Home Theater Lighting Control Kit
- The RedEye Remote Control System
- Aperion Home Audio Link™ System
- Calibrated Measurement Microphone from Cross-Spectrum
Open to residents of continental US only
HT Guys HDTV Recommendations
We receive emails from listeners all the time asking us which HDTV we recommend. That list will vary depending on the use case and budget of the emailer. On today's show we'd like to tell you what our picks are for a typical use scenario for low to medium budgets.
LCD
Samsung LN46C650 46-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV - We selected this TV for a variety of reasons. At 46 inches it is the perfect size for most family rooms. Yes you can go larger but this TV doesn't dominate the room and provides you easy options for placement. As far as features are concerned, this TV is packed full of them. Its 1080p 120Hz that provides a beautiful picture whether you are watching a movie of sporting event. Samsung uses a technology they call "Wide Color Enhancer 3" to provide better blues and greens. Note - picture quality assessment is being made on the performance of this model's predecessor the LN46B650. This unit will be available for pre-sale and will be released March 8th.
The TV is also Internet capable (wireless support built in) and has easy access to weather, news, sports and stock information. In addition to news the C650 supports Yahoo widgets so you can keep up with Twitter, Flickr, and YouTube. Finally, as if all this isn't enough the TV supports Amazon Video on Demand.
Simple media center - The TV is DLNA certified so you can view movies and listen to music from your PC essentially turning the TV in a standalone media center. While you won't be able to serve the content to other TVs it will save you the hassle of having to find your DVDs to watch your favorite movies.
The Samsung LN46C650 will sell for $1300.
Plasma
Panasonic VIERA G10 Series TC-P50G10 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV - This plasma was selected for some of the same aesthetic reasons as the Samsung. Fifty inches will fit in almost any family room without taking away from the room decor. From a technical point of view the TV has one of the best pictures we have seen. It produces a brilliant picture from any viewing angle and has lightning quick response times so watching everything from movies to Ice Hockey is free of motion artifacts.
The G10 is also Internet capable but instead of Yahoo Widgets it supports Panasonic's own VIERA Cast technology. Like Yahoo widgets, VIERA Cast displays news, weather, and stock information as well as supporting YouTube, Picasa Web Albums, and Amazon on demand. Unlike the Samsung, the Panasonic requires a wired connection to your network for the Internet features.
You can also insert an SD card with H.264 AVCHD content turning the plasma into a basic media center.
The Panasonic TC-P50G10 goes for $1270.
Budget
VIZIO VA370M 37-Inch Full HD 1080p LCD HDTV - In our budget line we chose a smaller TV. Its a compromise in size for price. At 37 inches it can still function as your primary screen in most family rooms. The TV is 1080p which really doesn't matter since you'll have to sit about three feet away from it to see the difference. Regardless you can tell your friends that you have a 1080p set. Picture quality is good but it won't compare with the previously mentioned TVs. However, if this is your first HDTV or you plan on using it for your bedroom you won't be dissatisfied.
Like the other two TVs the Vizio supports viewing multimedia content on an external drive. However, there is no support for online content like YouTube or Yahoo widgets.
The Vizio VA370M goes for $478
Reader Comments (27)
I enjoyed the show! I was unaware of the rising black level on plasmas! Thanks for the info!
I also think the Samsung 650 is a great set. I recently convinced a good friend to purchase one. Folks can start to find good deals on the 'B' version given stores and sites are looking to clear their inventories for the new 'C' version referred to above.
Recently started listening to your podcast. Great show!
I liked your review of the Samsung LN46C650 and wanted to see if I could get the 40" version. My company requested that I buy two 40" LCD monitors to be used for a trade show, target price <$1000.
When I visited my local Best Buy, Theyd di not have any C650s. They have B630s and B650s on display and only have C630 in the back not yet displayed.
Do you know what the difference is between the Samsung B and C series LCDs. Also, what would the C630 be lacking that the C650 has. I checked the Samsung website and they did not have much info on the C series.
The two LCDS will be used exclusively for trade show in the digital television business. My company provides MPEG compression systems for TV Broadcasters and Cable TV companies. Thanks. Mike A