Let's get ready to rumble, people! OK, don't start busting out a singlet or anything. However, you may want to pack your wallet. Value Electronics has started prepping for its 8th Annual Flat-Panel HDTV Shootout event, which is scheduled to take place next month.
UPDATE (5/21): Our editor Chris Boylan was in attendance again at this year's event. Find out what he thought of the shootout and what he picked as the winner:
The Westchester County, NY-based retailer has contracted with a charter member of the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) for the event, which will be held on Saturday, May 19 at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 20 at 1:00 p.m. Both days' events will be located at the Value Electronics retail store in Scarsdale, NY.
This year, Value Electronics will pit Panasonic, Sharp Elite, Samsung, LG and Sony in the title fight to end all title fights -- at least until next year's shootout. Last year was quite a grudge match, with surprising results. (See HDTV Shootout Pits Top LED TVs against the Best Plasma TVs - Guess Who Won? for more information on last year's event.)
The 2012 panel will include master calibrator and keynote speaker Kevin Miller of ISFTV and TweakTV, as well as UK TV reviewer David Mackenzie and ISF President and Founder Joel Silver. Value Electronics also promises a few other special guest stars from the world of PDP, LCD/LED and OLED, as well as a live audience packed with members from the motion picture and TV broadcast industries, press, and the world of AV enthusiasts.
The evaluation process will include contrast ratio, peak brightness, black level, color accuracy, color saturation, motion resolution and energy efficiency. Expect the crew to also put 3D features to the test. The process will use the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers' (SMPTE) standards on LED and plasma models ranging from 55 to 65 inches.
All of the contestants will be use the same HDMI distribution amp, the same Blu-ray player and the same HDMI cables, as well as a dedicated 20-amp circuit run through a power conditioner.
"Our Shoot-out has proven to be a ‘must attend' event among true HD enthusiasts and industry leaders each year, featuring a demonstration of how flat screen HDTVs perform," said Robert Zohn, founder and president of Value Electronics.
If you can snag one of the 30 seats available at each event, be prepared for a Q&A after each presentation. If not, Value Electronics plans to stream both events live, and archive each one for later viewing.
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