I wrote way more than intended, and didn't proofread, so apologies if there are mistakes or if i ramble on too much.
But here's my 2 cents....
I highly trust consumer reports... if there is reason not to trust them please give me insight.
While they have limited selection on the products they test, they do a good job across the board.. my parents and i have trusted this magazine for about 2 decades now, with very few to no disappointments in the products/cars we buy.
For LCD/LED... Sony Bravia and Samsung were rated the highest. I will be purchasing a Samsung UN-55C6400 from costco before the new year most likely.
I also own a 42" Panasonic Plasma.. TC-p42x14.. budget model from costco purchased at $500
To tell you the truth, i LOVE my plasma. The model I got is a 720p, but accepts 1080p signal since it will display up to about 900 lines of veritcal resolution. Playing xbox 360, ps3, and watching all different sports every week I can say the Plasma has virtually no motion lag. HD gaming and sports all look great even with extremely fast motion. The biggest CONS i have with the plasma is that it makes a buzzing sound that very few people can hear (my parents can't hear it, my sister can't hear it, but 5 out of 7 of my friends who have listened for it can hear it). The buzz can only be heard if the volume is really low, which happens late at night while not trying to wake anyone up. I have heard the buzz on sets in the store if i listen carefully, and also had 2 panasonic technicians come out and say it was perfectly normal. It NEVER bothers me during the day as I can't hear it over the volume, only if i turn the volume very low. One more con is that this TV is not as bright as I would have liked, so the glass screen is pretty reflective if the background in the room is bright (like a window). I also realize that I bought a Budget plasma, and higher priced ones have brighter screens with higher contrast ratios.
There are hardly any TV's that can compare to the performance/price ratio that Panasonic Plasmas output, at least for the 42" range. Plasmas lose a good portion of their performance/cost ratio at screen sizes 52"+
My parents are in the market for a 50"+ TV very soon. They like plasma, but my mom wants a LED tv for the following: Weighs less for wall mounting, is thinner so looks "cooler" on the wall.
They are planning to buy the Samsung UN55C6400 from costco for a few reasons.
1. They allow you to return televisions for a full 90 days no questions, unlike most stores 30 day policy.
2. They extend the manufactures 1 year warranty to 2 years.
3. I have NEVER had a problem with a costco product that I needed returned. Somehow they have always found a way to make me happy with returns
4. I realize they don't have the BEST prices on TV's anymore, but for what its worth with returns and warranty, if you can afford the extra bucks for some of the best customer service out there, get it.
As for Blu-ray... I just bought a Samsung BD-C6500.
It was rated the #3 Blu-ray players by consumer reports out of 35+, and gets pretty good reviews online.
I bought it because I found it for $139, when it's MSRP is around $220-$250
It has all the features I want at a price thats acceptable.
Sony Blu-ray players rated low by consumer reports
The
Oppo BDP-83 was rated #1
THe
Panasonic DMP-BD85 rated #2
The Samsung BD-C6500 rated #3 - The one i just recently purchased
The highest rated Sony blu ray by consumer reports is
Sony BDP-N460, and it ranked #16... far below the 3 blu rays mentioned right above.
As for sound, thats probably one of the harder choices to make in my opinion. There are SOOO many options out there that it is really a matter of preference. You can spend less than $400 and get a quality Samsung Blu-ray player with 5.1 surround sound package included. Of course, this sound system won't sound nearly as good as audiophile equipment.
I personally have a Onkyo 7.1 home theater reciever. Dont know the model number (my apologies, not at home right now) and have been very pleased with it. It is paired up with Polk Audio Rti-4 speakers, A polk Audio psw12 sub, and JBL center channel (dont know model #, sorry). I could have built a better sound system, but I am always trying to find the best priced deals for at least average to good quality (bought my polk audio rti4's brand new for $120, and the onkyo receiver at the time for $300 instead of $500)
Good luck with your purchases... let us know what you decide on!!
