42" westy v 46" samsung

[IAmMoen]

so they are both 1080p. the samsung is 2500 while the westy is 1400. The only huge difference i can see (besides the size and price) is the difference in contrast ratio, westy has 1000:1 while the samsung has 6000:1. My question is do you guys think the size and contrast ratio is worth the extra cost and does the difference in contrast ratio make that much of a difference?

[Ecca]

"The higher the contrast the better because it allows for more color saturation and deeper blacks." -Dukeman

[IAmMoen]

True, but i hear a movie screen in a theater is only 500:1 and that doesnt look too bad. Plus if I was really going for black blacks i should go plasma. Be that as it may, is the extra money worth the high contrast ratio?

[d94]

4" more too, if youve got cash why not get a samsung, if not get the westy

[IAmMoen]

even if i had cash I would still try to make a wise decision. i mean a grand more for something not much better isnt good buying habits.

[Randyman...]

Look at the Upconversion as well. The Westy's are supposed to be excellent at Native Resolutions, but not so hot at upscaling. I'd bet the Samsung would have better upscaling. Depends if this is important or not for your application. You can always get an external upscaler/processor, but $$$ (but a great picture from most any source)

:cool:

[IAmMoen]

i would definately get a upscaling dvd player if i bought the westy or the samsung

[Randyman...]

What about the other sources (or do you only watch DVD's)? And will it be a 1080i/p upscaler, or a 720P upscaler (the Westy would still have to upconvert from 720P to native 1080P internally ;) ).

Your PC Desktop @ 1080x1920 will look great on the Westy for sure :D

Bottom line - take a few days and go look at these displays in person with a known high-quality video source (NOT the store's crappy Distributed Video Crap) - and also see how well it upscales with 480/720 sources. Don't be afraid to adjust settings to your liking (the Salespeople usually have no clue about that stuff ;) )...

:cool:

[Blackstar]

Samsung. I've seen both, I've used both. I only bought a Samsung. ;) ( http://product.samsung.com/cgi-bin/nabc/campaign/06/r7/samsunghdtv.jsp?Site=teaser )

If you can't afford a Sony Bravia (slightly better black levels than the Samsungs) right now, and you can't wait for an SED HDTV coming out (http://www.hdtvsolutions.com/sed_tvs.htm) then I would say go with the Samsung.

- Blackstar

[Mr.Guvernment]

True, but i hear a movie screen in a theater is only 500:1 and that doesnt look too bad. Plus if I was really going for black blacks i should go plasma. Be that as it may, is the extra money worth the high contrast ratio?

Yes, but a theater is also pitch black and a a few hundred inches larger, no comparison.

[IAmMoen]

Yes, but a theater is also pitch black and a a few hundred inches larger, no comparison.

Wouldn't turning off the lights in your room yield a room that is just as dark? And so what if the screen is a few hundred inches larger?
I can see how a lower contrast ratio would be bad thing when using it in a lit room and having a 500:1 contrast ratio isnt a bad thing when in a pitch black movie theater but I will be watching movies on this tv and lights out in the room is the only way to go anyways.

[Ninety-9 SE-L]

Both are very good companies. The 6000:1 C/R and bigger picture definitely makes the Samsung better. I would personally go for the Westinghouse since I could put my money towards other things. You're also comparing apples to oranges.

I can compare a Sentra to a GTR, and Yes, the extra $80,000 or so makes the GTR a little more worth it. On the other hand, if you're working at Taco Bell, I'd stick with the Sentra.

Upscaling/downscaling looks terrible on most HDTVs. Not a lot of effort is put into these image processors. The best way around this is upscaling externally and running the TV at its native resolution. I use a mediacenter for my entire entertainment system, This allows me to set Windows and BeyondTV to 1920x1080p and Voila, no choppy, pixilated picture

[mcoleg]

westy does have a 47-incher though. you might want to check that one out as well.

[Mr.Guvernment]

Wouldn't turning off the lights in your room yield a room that is just as dark? And so what if the screen is a few hundred inches larger?
I can see how a lower contrast ratio would be bad thing when using it in a lit room and having a 500:1 contrast ratio isnt a bad thing when in a pitch black movie theater but I will be watching movies on this tv and lights out in the room is the only way to go anyways.

Windows, outside light...


movies threaters dont look that great to me, they arent as crisp, you can often see the grainy film look on it, the movies is an overall experience, also the projectors, the material used on the screens and such.. somany other factors come into play, not just the contrast.