Help buying a television


My girlfriend and I will be moving to a new house, and the room for the TV is much larger than in our current setup. She loves football (yes, some guys do get lucky), so the NFL via DirecTV will be the primary focus. We'll be about 12 feet from the screen. From what I've been reading a 50- or 55-inch screen would be about right for that distance. Also, I've read that plasma is still thought of as best for sports.
Do these bits of information seem correct? Anything else we should consider? Recommendations -- including brands -- would be greatly appreciated.
FYI: I posted this under "Home Theater" because that made the most sense. That said, this will be a set on the wall, not a real home theater.
Thanks so much for your help.

-- Howard
hodu
After looking at my sisters Samsung LCD, and my mothers panasonic plasma.....I went with a panasonic plasma.

They both looked very nice compared to my old RPTV, but I thought the plasma had the edge in picture quality for tv viewing, and DVD viewing.

Dave
I sit about 9' from my 50" plasma and often wish it were bigger, but then I am greedy...

fwiw
LG 55 LH-90 series - get the biggest screen you can afford. This TV is an ACL with LED backlighting,(probably the cheapest LED screen on the market too even the review says its expensive) meaning it illuminates incredibly well and uses almost no energy at all - plus its a great looking unit. After doing the rounds, I finally got this one and football is GREAT on it!

ALSO - Of the ones I evaluated, most tv's had a glossy screen EXCEPT Sony and LG units. In a fully darkened room,like the store's showroom, they ALL look nice right?.

BUT if for example you watch in the daytime and have windows facing it, you will see whatever great picture you have on your tv PLUS the window reflections. Same thing at night if there is a lamp that faces the screen.

I sold my last TV because of this - so - no matter how great a new Samsung may be - daytime watching is a bummer with windows reflecting through it. Sonys and LG's do not have this problem as they have a satin-matte screen, at least not when I shopped 2 months ago.

Last thing - the LG series (like other LG series I think) has the ISF fine adjustments on one of the available presets - this goes much farther than most tv's in getting fine-tuning on every parameters, including most i never heard about. I got sample isf settings from a website and used these parameters on the LG isf settings - and here you are - professionnal-calibration you can try yourself.

When you consider the beautiful picture, LED lighting, ISF calibration, low power usage, AND digital OUTPUT for sound (I was told this is somewhat rare), this LG was a no brainer.

This review says, ''poor angle performance'', I don't know, works perfectly in our home.

Good luck !

http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/lg-55lh90/4505-6482_7-33485569.html?tag=mncol;lst;2
Yeah, the ambient light levels in the room matter. If it is bright just when the best sports are on, Plasma is the way to go.

At 12 feet, 50" is just fine. Ever since Panasonic bought out NEC, this is the way to go.
I have a 50" plasma at about 9', which is the recommended distance. I think you would want at least 60" if you are 12' away - do a google search and look up recommended viewing distances. At any rate, as big as you can afford. I can't believe how much difference there is - so much easier on the eyes.

And yes, plasma is WAY better than LCD for sports or movies - they have much better blacks, which makes all the color better.