astroglide's home theater: what i own, what i would buy today

[jws43yale]

I would definitely say go with a 50" plasma unless you want to use it as a computer monitor. Take a look at Panasonic, Pioneer, and Samsung. I own the newest model Samsung 42" and love it. I have it in a bedroom where the farthes away I sit is 8 feet. I feel only the Pioneer Elites were better, but they were twice as expensive. Really though, you can't go wrong with any of these brands Plasma's.

[Paluka]

Okay so I think that the lamp has died on my Samsung 46" DLP. The picture comes on briefly when I turn on the TV and then goes black. This doesn't sound like the way the describe lamp failure, any other ideas on what could be wrong?

[TheWorstPlayer]

I just got the 50" Pioneer plasma and it is unbelievable. Definitely can't go wrong in that direction. I'll post pics of my setup when I get the speakers all hooked up. It is going to look and sound unbelievable.

[DLizzle]

[ QUOTE ]
D,

At the very least, check a site like shopping.com that mines online stores for prices and factors in shipping to give you the lowest price. You'll easily be able to find some pretty good deals w/o a huge amount of trouble, and at the very least, it gives you a measuring stick to compare other offers to.

[/ QUOTE ]

ty guys for the help.
i have heard from a few sources that Sony's are wayyyy overpriced, so maybe I won't go that way. A friend of mine who is big into TVs swears that Samsung is the best way to go. good advice?

[Maulik]

DL & others,

Pick up consumerreports and call it a day.

[jws43yale]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
D,

At the very least, check a site like shopping.com that mines online stores for prices and factors in shipping to give you the lowest price. You'll easily be able to find some pretty good deals w/o a huge amount of trouble, and at the very least, it gives you a measuring stick to compare other offers to.

[/ QUOTE ]

ty guys for the help.
i have heard from a few sources that Sony's are wayyyy overpriced, so maybe I won't go that way. A friend of mine who is big into TVs swears that Samsung is the best way to go. good advice?

[/ QUOTE ]

I am a huge AV nerd as well and have owned two Samsungs. Only other thing I would consider are Sharp Aquos LCD's and Pioneer Plasmas.

Everyone looking to buy, make sure to check Amazon.com. If you buy actually from them prices tend to be among the cheapest and you get free shipping with guaranteed good return policy.

[KLJ]

You guys are lifesavers here. The advice in this thread, as well as on avsforum.com (linked from this thread) is top notch.

I bought a 720p Panny 42in Plasma that fits my needs perfectly and got a good deal on it too.

However, I haven't the slightest clue about audio to be honest. I live in a small-ish apartment and I only spent ~$1100 on the TV so I'm thinking a budget of $400 (or $500 including a DVD player) but that's flexible. I want good (but can't afford great) quality audio/video, and to be able to plug my Wii in.

Should I go with a Home Theater in a Box or buy everything separate?

[TheWorstPlayer]

onkyo HTIB, no doubt

[KLJ]

and if i get a 5.1 system, a few questions:

if i decided to only want two speakers and a sub hooked up, is there a setting to turn the 5.1 sound into 2.1 sound? does this question even make any sense?

[TheWorstPlayer]

Pretty sure you can just connect 2 speakers. Don't think they take anything out of the two front speakers to put it in the back, they just add to make it 5.1. Obviously a very precise, technical answer.