Eh, 42" plasma too small for the money. Get a 50 to 56" Samsung DLP with the HD3 or even better HD2+ chip. Plasmas are good, but their life span can't come close to a DLP, which single gun can be replaced by the user. Once a pixel goes out on a plasma or LCD, it's gone forever. The wheels will get damaged eventually or even stolen. That's the way it goes. Get the TV and watch the classifieds on here or my350Z for a set of used Volks. You'll get many, many more hours or years of entertainment from the DLP.

 

I bought a 61" Samsung DLP in Febuary from Onecall.com for $3000 total including extended warranty and shipping. The difference between the smallest and largest models is only $1000, so might as well go with the biggest that will fit in your living room. It looked big when I took it out of the box, but now my standards have adjusted to the size. Since it ws shipped from out-of-state, I didn't have to pay sales tax.

I do see rainbows, but it doesn't keep me from enjoying the set. In hindsight I would have gone with the Sony, because of the better reliability.

 

I agree with you on the cost/size thing - if DLP looks as good to you as other technologies and you don't see rainbows it is definitely the most cost effective. But just for future reference plasma and LCD lifespan are both rated well over 60,000 hours which is probably longer than any of us will ever own a TV. PDP and direct view LCD don't have moving parts either, so there is no chance of mechanical failure like in a rear projection set, and no bulbs to replace. Also, if an LCD or plasma do not have dead or stuck pixels when they leave the factory they will not die or get stuck over time, they either work or they don't.

Personally I'd buy the TV. I don't even watch TV much but watching DVDs on a nice new plasma/lcd/dlp/whatever makes them that much more enjoyable. Thing is home theaters can become as addictive as cars. I spent most of last year building a HT. Just like with cars you always get "upgraditis".

 

The Volks will retain more value in the long run...other than that, it'll make your car stands out from the traffic crowd.

 

eventhough i would love to slap some new shiny volk rims on my beautiful car right now, i got a Samsung 46" DLP screen with sony home theater sound system w/ wireless surround speakers.. i couldn't be happier more. i love the sound coming out from new system coupled with enhanced big screen tv.. i love watching movies, some of my favorites i watch them over and over.. if you enjoying watching movies and other stuff, go for the 46" dlp tv.. otherwise go for volks..

 

I read in Consumer Reports that the picture on DLP was not near as good as the plasma's. I am figuring on watching cable since nobody seems to be in any hurry to convert from analog to High Def signals. The thing with these newer non CRT tv's is that watching regular cable is nasty. I am in love with the Samsung 46" DLP though! Any thoughts on all this?

 

Cactus,

Nothing comes close to a Plasma's picture, lol. The DLP gets close, but cost considerably less when you take screen size into account.

Picus112,

Thanks for the info. Yes, when you put the mechanical spin on it, the plasma does look good.

I watched a friend's DLP and I saw the rainbow only if I shook my head really fast. Since that's not a natural function for my head, the rainbow won't be a deal breaker for me. Just have to remember that with a 16:9 aspect ratio, the tv will look smaller than a 4:3.

 

I have a 46" Samsung DLP hooked up with their new dvd player with the full digital output (hdmi) and it looks beauty! I pumped it all through a Harman Kardon avr-525 receiver with 70 (real,true) watts to the power of seven (7.1) hooked up to a full compliment of PSB speakers and a 12" Velodyne sub. My 12' x 12' family room rocks!

Get it all - just be patient and take your time. Pay attention & not interest if you know what I mean.

 

What the hell get both!

 

What does regular cable look like on the DLP? Is there any difference with digital cable?

 

Watching regular cable on a digital big screen TV, you will really see just how low the quality of the signal is. This is not a DLP specific issue.

 

^^^A-men!^^^

 

and get the DLP, so you have a better chance to get rims by Xmas....

 

I'll 2nd the Costco recommendation. I didn't get mine there only b/c I got it when it first came out. Sony 42in WEGA. Some places have 0% interest for 24 months too so if you want to get both you may be able to

I also agree w/ the wherever you spend the majority of your time. Personally, I spend a lot of time away from home, but I love having the big screen for DVD's, football, so if I was in your shoes, I would get the TV.

 

I havent read all of hte replies here, so i bet someone has already said the exact thing. Get the rims, because by next year the T.V. is gonna be completely outdated, and they are gonna have some kind of ultra HDTV. Get the rims now and tv late, you will be happier