TV decision

[StevenD]

Not sure what do to and Im looking for a little advice...

I currently have a Samsung HL-S5686W in my living room. It's been fairly trouble free for more than 7 years. I think I have replaced the lamp 2 or 3 times. Well, it has started making a grinding noise and then shutting down. I'm not willing to put any money into this thing to repair it, so I need to replace it.

I've been very interested in a Panasonic VT60 series plasma. As we all know, Panasonic is getting out of the plasma business, so this would be my last opportunity to purchase one. I can pick up the 55" for $1600 or the 60" for $1800. I need to double-check the space to make sure it can accommodate a 60".

That being said, I like purchasing the latest and greatest if I can. The Panasonic 4k sets will be out soon. I can, hopefully, let my current TV limp along for a couple of month. However, the starting price on the 4k sets will be ~$4500!

My living room is fairly bright during the day, with windows at a 90 degree angle to the TV. At night, all the lighting is LED can lights.

The main source in my living room is an HTPC. I can easily put a new video card in it to support 3840x2160. So, I'm not terribly concerned about not having material or a source for 4k right now.

Any advice? I'm really leaning toward picking up a plasma now.

Thanks!

 

[Scherrman]

I really don't think you can go wrong with the Panasonic VT60 series. I'm a plasma fan and know that Panasonic makes some of the best models. I know the 4K sounds cool but I wouldn't spend the extra money on it just to be an early adopter. I sell TVs and haven't even stocked on yet. To me the 4K TVs are very similar to when the first 1080p TVs were coming out. People would have saved $1,000 just by waiting a year and they didn't really get any benefit from it being 1080p.

 

[StevenD]

Well, so much for that plan! I just tried checking out on Best Buy's website and it now tells me that neither TV is available in my area! Looks like I will be waiting now.

 

[jayn_j]

I looked at my local Best Buy on Sunday. Every single Panasonic TV had been removed from the store.

 

[StevenD]

They still have them on their website. I tried a bunch of zip codes within a decent driving distance of me and still no luck.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/panason...hdtv/8179048.p?id=1218865031429&skuId=8179048

 

[primetimeguy]

They still have them on their website. I tried a bunch of zip codes within a decent driving distance of me and still no luck.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/panason...hdtv/8179048.p?id=1218865031429&skuId=8179048

Panasonic ended production in Dec so your only chance is to find one in stock somewhere. Getting hard to find.

 

[jevans64]

Sounds like the color wheel or possibly one of the internal cooling fans. ShopJimmy lists that for $80 but is out-of-stock. Expect to replace the DMD as well when you start seeing white/black dots. That lists for $75. Looks like the fans are $20. If you can assemble a computer from parts, you can do pretty-much all of the maintenance on these DLP sets.

I have a Mitsubishi DLP and plan to keep it running until I can pick up a 4K TV on the cheap.

I'd hold off on buying ANY new TV until HDMI 2.0 and/or DisplayPort >1.2 becames standard on TV sets.

 

[dfergie]

Moved to TV's ...

 

[dangue]

Sounds like the color wheel or possibly one of the internal cooling fans. ShopJimmy lists that for $80 but is out-of-stock. Expect to replace the DMD as well when you start seeing white/black dots. That lists for $75. Looks like the fans are $20. If you can assemble a computer from parts, you can do pretty-much all of the maintenance on these DLP sets. I have a Mitsubishi DLP and plan to keep it running until I can pick up a 4K TV on the cheap. I'd hold off on buying ANY new TV until HDMI 2.0 and/or DisplayPort >1.2 becames standard on TV sets.

Is there talk of displayport being made a standard input on 4k TVs? I was under the impression that the TV manufacturers had chosen to be cheap and not nclude it.

 

[navychop]

Is there talk of displayport being made a standard input on 4k TVs? I was under the impression that the TV manufacturers had chosen to be cheap and not nclude it.

Don't expect it.

Sent from my iPhone using SatelliteGuys

 

[navychop]

Tried Amazon?

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[StevenD]

Sounds like the color wheel or possibly one of the internal cooling fans. ShopJimmy lists that for $80 but is out-of-stock. Expect to replace the DMD as well when you start seeing white/black dots. That lists for $75. Looks like the fans are $20. If you can assemble a computer from parts, you can do pretty-much all of the maintenance on these DLP sets.

I have a Mitsubishi DLP and plan to keep it running until I can pick up a 4K TV on the cheap.

I'd hold off on buying ANY new TV until HDMI 2.0 and/or DisplayPort >1.2 becames standard on TV sets.

Yeah, its probably the color wheel. I dont feel like messing with it, or putting any money into a 7 year old TV.

 

[StevenD]

Tried Amazon?

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They dont have any Panasonic plasmas. That was the first place I looked.

I havent been able to find them anywhere. I did some measuring, and I have to stick with the 55".

 

[StevenD]

Moved to TV's ...

Thanks. I kept looking for a TV forum and I couldnt find it!

 

[gadgtfreek]

Get up with Chris at Cleveland Plasma. Great guy, I bought my VT50 from him. I got it in March of last year at the end of life cycle for a steal, and it was one of the last ones he could find.


Panny shutoff production earlier and they are drying up. Whenever a 65" VT60 is $4000 on Amazon (which is a ludicrous price) you know supply is tight.

 

[harshness]

They dont have any Panasonic plasmas.

I just looked on Amazon and they had a few VT60s and a ZT60 or two (but they are clearly down to their last units).

I found better deals on the Panasonic website than I found anywhere else.

 

[StevenD]

I just looked on Amazon and they had a few VT60s and a ZT60 or two (but they are clearly down to their last units).

I found better deals on the Panasonic website than I found anywhere else.

The only TV Amazon still has the the 60" ZT. I cant use a 60" (due to space). There are some available through 3rd party sellers, but I avoid them unless they are fulfilled by Amazon.

 

[StevenD]

Get up with Chris at Cleveland Plasma. Great guy, I bought my VT50 from him. I got it in March of last year at the end of life cycle for a steal, and it was one of the last ones he could find.


Panny shutoff production earlier and they are drying up. Whenever a 65" VT60 is $4000 on Amazon (which is a ludicrous price) you know supply is tight.

Looks like he has only 60" and 65" left. I wish I could go up to a 60", but it just wont fit.

 

[gadgtfreek]

Did you call or just check the site. If you get a chance today, call him as he may can find one. Ill shoot him an email and ask.

 

[StevenD]

Did you call or just check the site. If you get a chance today, call him as he may can find one. Ill shoot him an email and ask.

Just got off the phone with Chris. He doesnt have anything. He tried steering me toward the Samsung. Unfortunately, I would have to go down to a 51".