The first purchase of an
HDTV can be stressful, especially factoring in the plethora of options, specifications, screen sizes, manufacturers and types of HDTV technology. Knowing which HDTV is best suited for gaming and the
Blu-ray experience can be daunting so we're absolutely delighted to see assistance and suggestions on HDTV selection.
CNET's latest recommendations came out about a week ago but it's a great read. They appear to favor LCD technology, with two recommended sets from
Samsung and one from
Sharp. Sony's own
XBR line provides the LCoS/SXRD alternative, while
Panasonic brings up two fine looking plasma sets. While these reviews are quite in-depth, it would be highly recommended to view the set yourself before making any snap judgments.
In case you seek additional help, we've linked additional reading for your research.
IGN.com
HDTV Q&APS3 Forums
HDTV SuggestionsAVS Forum
PS3, HDMI and HDTV compatibilityAs always, we're curious to learn more about our community and welcome feedback. Which HDTV are you using (or do you plan to use) for all your PS3 pleasures?
{ May 29th 2007 at 4:30PM } 
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
toad404 @ May 29th 2007 4:42PM
i use a hitachi 65inch projection crt!
it only does 1080i but im ok with that looks great anyway!!!
Ty @ May 30th 2007 2:56AM
I have a Samsung LN-T4066f, which is identical to the 65f aside form case styling, connected to my PS3 and couldn't be any happier. I'm getting my gaming done in 1080p goodness, with deep blacks, bright accurate colors, and a wide viewing angle. The TV and the PS3 have the occasional HDMI syncing hiccup, I may lose signal for a half a second every few hours, but it isn't enough of an issue for me to accept any other TV. Until Samsung releases their 71/81 series LCDs, Sony and Sharp's new lines roll out, or the much hyped Pioneer plasmas hit the shelves this fall the Samsung 65/66f series LCD TVs are the best overall TV's on the market and should be considered by gamers and non-gamers alike.
Wreckheart @ May 29th 2007 5:18PM
Ive got a 32 inch Sharp Aquos 720p/180i, looks great to me. Sometimes when i switch from tv to HDMI the audio mutes then i just have to turn up or down the volume on the tv and it will kick back in. Every once in a while the picture will cut out for 2 seconds and then come back, maybe once a week or less, seems to happen mostly with Oblivion.
Nightz @ May 29th 2007 5:27PM
I'm using a Samsung LN-S2641D. It's a 26" 720p/1080i set. I can't get a bigger 1080p set because of my room size, but this one is awesome for my gaming needs.
Magma @ May 29th 2007 5:59PM
I have a 27" Samsung TX-S2779HX and it works great for my purposes, even being just 1080i.
mccomber @ May 29th 2007 6:06PM
I'm a huge fan of Panasonic's industrial plasma displays for pure bang for the buck, and because they don't give me a lot of stuff I don't need. It's basically a monitor, and although mine isn't full 1080p (bought it back when 42" plasmas with that tech were beyond prohibitively priced) I'm quite happy with it. Wish it had better contrast, but that's something I've noticed across the board with most of the HD sets in my price range. Someday...
I'd also like to whole-heartedly recommend visualapex as a retailer, top-notch all around.
Killer @ May 29th 2007 6:12PM
Regardless of console. I recommend the 65 inch. DLP Mitsubishi WD-65731, WD-65732 and WD-65831. (If you have the cash to spend) The color in it is amazing and probally the best I have seen, besides plasma. 6 color light engine does make a difference and I'm glad Mitsubishi is the only one that uses it. The color is vivid indeed. Go Magenta! LOL
Killer @ May 29th 2007 6:14PM
Edit: Forgot to mention Full 1080p goodness as well.
vizunary @ May 29th 2007 6:40PM
I'm running on a 50" Sony KDS50A2020 and I have been thrilled with it's performance. I have never had any kind of signal loss, though the only inputs I use are HDMI and coax. It has very deep blacks and great color after a little tuning, the tech tips on cnet worked very well. BTW, mine is on 7 hrs a day average for the last 3 mos.
PS. I have always been curious how many PS3 owners do or don't have HDTV's. I would definitely NOT own a HDTV if I had not gotten a PS3 already (never had the urge to see Leno in 1080i ;)
Jimmy @ May 29th 2007 6:45PM
I'm so happy they came out with 32 inch 1080p's!!!
daniel. @ May 29th 2007 8:33PM
@ jimmy.
my thoughts exactly!
i went sharp lc32d62u.
i originally took home the gp1u model (with the "gaming mode") and later traded it for the original model to save 200 bucks.
and i agree with the article, this whole "vyper drive" deal on the sharps are nice, and the extra hdmi port is good. but really, there is no difference in quality of image, and i get NO lag at all from my ps3 to the tv through hdmi.
nofanboy @ May 29th 2007 9:23PM
I have seen many lcd and plasmas and most fail to impress next to my three year old 34XBR960 CRT. To think that the new 970 (which loses some features) is only 600 on sale is unbelievable. Yes it is heavy, but it is worth it. Just saw a top of the line Samsung and the color banding was embarassing. The only one that gets my attention is Sony's SXRD/LCoS sets in 1080P where you can clearly see a clarity difference at that screen size over mine.
Galley @ May 29th 2007 11:02PM
Samsung 32" LCD (LNS3251D, I think)
MacDaddy @ May 29th 2007 11:27PM
Here's the deal:
@2- 65 and 66 series ARE different in one crucial way: the 65 series has a different screen coating (similar to a glossy laptop screen) which allows for MUCH richer color and deeper blacks. I sell TVs for a living and this is the first LCD ive seen that actually looks better than plasma. no joke. (your set's a beaut by the way)
Second, while a 32 in 1080p sharp sounds good on paper, unless you sit three feet away from it, you're not going to be able to tell the difference. Sharp's TVs offer up 1080p at a lowere price then the other big names, but you make a HUGE sacrifice in color. Set a 1080p 42in sharp next to a 720p samsung or sony and you'll notice that the sharp's color looks quite washed out. The sony and samsung (especially 65 series and xbr2-3) will look crisp and vibrant, even though they have lower resolutions. This applies to ALL sharp lcds because sharp's backlight system is relatively inefficient in supplying the lcds with the appropriate amount of light... also signal processing but that's another story altogether...
anyway, id suggest sticking with samsung or sony unless you want to use it as a computer monitor as well (32in sharps do work well for that but you may as well save some money and get a westinghouse if resolution is your biggest priority). 1080p is GLORIOUS but only if you have good color to go with it. don't waste your time on 1080p with anything smaller than 40in.
george @ May 29th 2007 11:38PM
CNET sucks !!!!
Their sites are littered with f-uwear that loads malicious spyware and adware once on your computer
stay away from any CNET website if you value your personal privacy !!!!!! Boycott CNET !!!
Alex @ May 30th 2007 2:03AM
I just got a Philips 42PFL7432D/37. It's a 42 inch 1080p LCD, has great colors and doesn't have any clouds like the 32 inch Samsung I had. Sony and Samsung use the same LCD screens just different electronics and cloudiness seems to be a problem. Read the AVS forums there is a ton of info there.
Ty @ May 30th 2007 2:56AM
Here is the REAL deal
@14 Um, dude... the 65f and 66f both have the glossy coatings, that's a fact. They are identical in every way, absolutely no differences what so ever, aside from their case styling. They are the exact same TV, from their internal components down to the glossy coating on the screen.
It's the 61f series, and all other Samsung models for that matter, that don't have the glossy finish. Rumor is that the 71 and 81 series coming from Samsung this July will have a less reflective version of the coating on their screens. Time will tell.
Second, I've been fed the rhetoric about 1080 displays not making a difference a normal seating distances for screens smaller than 50". I'll agree with that for movie and HDTV viewing, but not for gaming. My cousin has a 42" Pioneer PDP-4271HD and I can see a noticeable increased level of detail from my 40" Samsung LN-T4066f from a similar distance. I will agree, however, that getting a set smaller than 40" with 1080p may be a bit of waste from a 6'-8' seating distance, but not if you plan on using it as a computer monitor as well.
Oh yeah, I know this because I sell TVs for a living.
Gereral Lysis @ May 30th 2007 9:01AM
I am running a Sharp Aquos 46" 1080p LCD. Great picture with out ever getting any lag on my PS3.
Justin @ May 30th 2007 10:46AM
61 inch Samsung 1080p DLP. Wouldnt trade it for the world.
Laurens Holst @ May 30th 2007 11:28AM
They’re all too expensive for my budget. I’m thinking of buying some 720p LCD in the €600 price-range, I’ve seen them available.
~Grauw
SONYSEASTCOAST @ May 30th 2007 12:53PM
Cnet does suck, they review tvs that are old and only one size of a particular model, for example i have the HP md5880n 1080p HDTV
http://ultimateavmag.com/rearprojectiontvs/106hp/
Its got one of the best pictures around and was redesigned many times over from when it came out. This tv lets the PS3 shine if you wanna go big screen you gotta go DLP not only is it a bang for your buck but the picture is nothing short of perferct. For all the people who tout their LCDs and Plasmas they will be burning up energy in 2 years when everyone has an OLED flat screen i know thats what im waiting for to put in my bedroom, my bathroom, my kitchen and the garage aahahaahahahahahahah we will stare at screens until we die-somebody needs to invent the matrix or we will all be blinded by 1080p blazing graphics!!!
just kidding im gonna pull my chair closer to my tv now.....................................1080P FOR MY PS3 OR NO TV
MacDaddy @ May 30th 2007 1:30PM
http://www.samsung.com/Products/TV/LCDTV/LNT4066FXXAA.asp
Gonna throw out a Dr. Cox here:
wrong wrong wrong wrong,
wrong wrong wrong wrong,
yerrrong
let's disregard documentation here, even though it supports my statements. Why would samsung make TWO models which are EXACTLY the same other than case styling? It would cost them more money to make two casing styles and engineer two different sets. Oh yeah, and make the 4665f cost more? they may have the same specs on the screen as far as contrast ratio, but that extra money gets you the coating.
i also said don't bother with 1080p with sets smaller than 40in not 50.
vizunary @ May 30th 2007 7:20PM
I definitely prefer the rear projection sets over LCD, and I would never get a plasma for gaming(only the super high end protect from burn-in) The LCoS and DLP sets have richer colors and deeper blacks for the money. I also have an issue with seeing pixelation in large LCD screens, though some may not see this. I only sit about 5 ft from my 50 in Sony SXRD (I would've gone bigger if I could have gotten a foot farther away ;)
Ty @ May 30th 2007 10:37PM
Well MacDaddy, I just turned off my LN-T4066f and looked at myself as if I were looking into a mirror... the 66f series certainly does have the reflective coating. Feel free to ask the collective over at the AVS Forums and see what they have to say about the matter, they're the exact same set with different case styling.
Why would they do so such a thing you ask? For starters it certainly isn't unprecedented, ask Sony why the XBR2 was identical to the XBR3 aside from a $300 price increase and a different bezel color. Also, giving consumers options on such an attractive TV seems like a smart move to me.
So, as I happen to be looking at a 66f now with a reflective coating, and I looked at a 65f tonight with the exact same coating... I think we can come to the conclusion that I was...
right right right right
Ty @ May 30th 2007 10:59PM
One more thing... Best Buy carries the LN-T4066f at a regular retail price of $2399 and Circuit City carries the LN-T4065f for $2399. Did CC carry the 65f for a $100 more than BBY carried the 66f for? Sure, for a little while, but they evened out the prices once they figured out they weren't being competitive.
They're the EXACT same TV aside form case styling. As far as I can tell only BBY carries them, which would make sense. Then they won't have to price match once everyone with 65f start slashing prices.
Why would a different case styling make a difference as far as price matching is concerned? BBY carried a different model number of Pioneer plasmas last year than everyone else, BBY had the 4271HD while other stores had the 4270HD. They did this so they wouldn't have to price match other stores on deals they were giving on the Pios, but this largely didn't work as consumers were able to tell that they were the exact same TV. Looks like BBY had a manufacture whip them up another "special" product line, but this time had them alter the case of the set and left everything else alone. Allowing them to price the set themselves and avoid their competitors.
The 65f and the 66f display the exact same picture.
Ty @ May 30th 2007 11:44PM
Oh, and just because I can't let this thing die... in that link you provided above that is supposed to be some conclusive piece of evidence. Samsung took the link down from their site, you can't even access it unless you search for it, because it is inaccurate. That isn't even an image of a 4066f on the product page, it has a clear plastic bottom in that image which the 4066f doesn't have.
I don't expect much, just a simple "I'm sorry Ty... you we're right, I was wrong" will suffice Mac
rauthentic @ May 31st 2007 6:57PM
Self admitted Fanboy
i got the full Sony setup...
Sony Bravia Xbr2 40 inch 1080p...
Ps3 with hdmi connection...
Psp /remote play (as of today...havent tried it yet)
Sony home theatre 5.1 surround sound ...(cant remember model # / 2 yrs old )
Sony vaio Pcv v200G
sony cybershot digi cam (cant remember model # 3yrs old )
sony clie peg-ux50....
I just got my ps3 tuesday
got online downloaded GT HD...woooow!
...then Spider Man 3 trailers just to see what full 1080p can offer ....wtf...ive never ever seen anything look soooo good on my television
its alot easier when all your electronics speak the same language(and it just looks better)...built in memory stick slot on my pc
that also works on my camera which also works on my ps3 which also works on my psp ...it makes it soo much easier to transfer my media to and fro ...
the music visualizer in 1080 is out off the hook...adds soo much flavor to my apt when my tunes a banging in 5.1 dolby surround
oh ....when you own stock in a company its better if you support them :)