Advice on TV upgrade

[Smooth_J]

Right now I have a nice 46in plasma that I bought a few years back. However besides the heat (which I don't mind that much) the power draw is pretty huge - around 628w.

Now the newer TVs are even less and are bigger on top of that.

Is it worth upgrading even though the HDTV is 4 years old?

[Syndrome]

Wow, 628W is alot... my entire system, Notebook, 40" LED LCD Screen, Receiver Amp, and subwoofer takes 300 Watts total.

[Smooth_J]

Wow, 628W is alot... my entire system, Notebook, 40" LED LCD Screen, Receiver Amp, and subwoofer takes 300 Watts total.

Yea I know :/

Pansonic Product Support - TH-46PZ85U

So sad, but true.

My kill-a-watt says around 600+ for everything - cable box, receiver, bass, and airport extreme.

[houstoned]

i would say yes, it's time to upgrade, but that's just me. i like to stay current when it comes to TV's.

there was a pretty nice evolution in picture quality in 2009-2010. 2011 was kind of a wash as far as TV picture quality. 2012's sets have picked it up again and are offering some pretty nifty new features. i love me some LED's with local dimming technology.

[homank76]

If you're happy with what you have I'll keep it and just keep saving money till it dies. Than when it finally does die I would get at least a 60" or 65" and truely enjoy the TV. If I was in the market I would look at the Pansonic TC-65VT50 or the Sharp Elite Pro series. I've always been a plasma fanbuy, but the Sharp as some of the best black levels out there and that is what makes or breakes a picture.

But again, moving up to just a bigger size could change things as well. I use to have a 50" in the livingroom, now a 58" sits there and I can't imagine going back to anything smaller.

[KLF]

If you're happy with what you have I'll keep it and just keep saving money till it dies.

This. For a price of a new TV how many hours of runtime you would get from your current TV? Quite many...

When you need/want some other features than smaller power consumption, then upgrade. Don't also be fooled by the general assumption that if something has LED's in it, it automatically has superior image quality. Going from a good plasma to a cloudy egdebleeding LED could be somewhat shocking. :P

[houstoned]

honestly, i would try to avoid LED-sets without any type of local dimming. i would settle for a decent mid-tier plasma if i was trying to save money.

i'm still trying to save some money up to buy myself a nice x-mas present. a shiny Sharp Elite sitting in my living room would be loverly.

[KyleGates]

Well, I work in the industry and its very simple....the Panasonic ST50 series of Plasmas are amazing as far as price/performance goes. Most TV retailers will have one on display so I would reccomend taking a peek at one and seeing what you think. As far as the reviews go, you won't find a negative one on the ST's. My location can't keep them in stock at any size because of their popularity.