Kobold Company

At this point since they make up whatever numbers they want to to sell their TV's it's just a matter of which one looks best to you personally.  I prefer plasma of the two but the plasma's and LCD's available now are different from when I bought.

The best picture isn't determined by price tag or invented contrast ratio's or flat out lied about response times.  They're all so similar now it's just a matter of taste.  I like Pioneer Kuro's the best but they stopped making them so they're harder to find now.

http://consumerist.com/2010/05/hdtv-lie … xpert.html

It's all about refresh rate.  A typical LCD has a refresh rate of 60htz the more expensive ones have a refresh rate of 120htz the mondo expensive LCD's have a refresh rate of 240htz.  Refresh rate makes fast action TV seem smoother.  Football looks much better on my father-in-law's 120htz Sony then it does on my 60htz Vizo.

The cheapest plasma you can find has a refresh rate of something crazy like 400 or 600htz, but they typically cost more.  Plasmas are also available in HUGE sizes if you want them.  LCD's typically top out at about 50 inches.  Plasmas go to crazy sizes (I think 70+ inches).  1080P Plasma's are about the same price as 120htz LCDs, up to a point, after 42 inches plasmas are much cheaper (You can get a 50" 1080P Samsung Plasma for $999).

Edit:  If you buy a 50" plasma you're hosting the next UFC

Oh and spend some time in the stores looking at the tvs. I would use a budget tv in an extra room or bedroom, but I firmly believe that you should have a high-quality tv in your main living room. Derek's Vizio problem is that it's a Vizio... Also, I would avoid Sony tvs like the plague. Their reliability has sucked for decades ever since North American models were no longer produced in Japan, and they're overpriced relative to other leading brands like Sharp, Mitsubishi and Samsung.

Hitachi discontinued their plasma line a while ago, so I hope that's a good deal. It's probably a 50", but might be 55". (I don't think Hitachi made a 52.)

Just make sure it is 1080P, sometimes called "Full HD 1080p". You don't want a 1080i tv or 720p.

Thanks for all the advice I bought a 50" Samsung Plasma.  So I guess the fight night is on me:-)