Plasma TVs... - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

actinic · 10-13-2007, 06:46 PM

Hi TFPers

. I'll be in the market for a 50"+ flat panel TV in Dec. From what I have researched so far, plasma is the best bet compared to LCD. What brand/model/features should I be considering?

Oh wise ones of TFP...please guide this techno noob.

TIA

bendsley · 10-13-2007, 07:44 PM

Depends on what you're looking for really. I have a Vizio LCD in my bedroom and love it (VX42L). I

If you're looking for Plasma though, Panasonic and Pioneer seem to be the best I've seen. Vizio makes some as well and for a much more attractive price.

trib767 · 10-14-2007, 04:02 AM

How big is your pocket?

You get what you pay for: an aparently cheap plasma will be very different to a more expensive one. You need to check the resolution of the panel because the cheaper ones might not be HD compatible. The majority of "HD Ready" plasmas only do 720p/1080i. Pioneer have launched a 1080P display which must be awesome but it costs £6000. As I say, you get what you pay for!

ironman · 10-14-2007, 06:36 AM

I've been the owner of a pany plasma for over a year now, and couldn't be happier. Its an amazing set. Recently Consumer Reports, declared the Panasonic TH-50PZ700U the best plasma ever tested. This set has appeared in SlickDeals as low as $2,000.00 so you should keep your eyes open for similar deals.
engadget/
slickdeals

xepherys · 10-14-2007, 09:44 AM

I'm curious what research you did that shows plasmas as being better. In the last year or so, LCDs have pretty m uch overtaken the market in both price and quality. They will generally last longer, have significantly less burn in problems and many have replaceable backlights, meaning when the colors start to fade in several years, you can get a new backlight put in and it'll look (literally) just like it was new out of the box. Personally I recommend the Sharp Aquos series. If you are intent on plasmas, though, Panasonic is a great choice as mentioned by ironman.

actinic · 10-14-2007, 12:03 PM

I'm still in he early stages of the research and we are budgeting ~$4kCDN. The "lean" towards plasma is based on what we have heard and read, considering best "bang for the buck" for the size range, issues of latency(?) in LCDs as the wife and I are have rekindled our interest in action movies and having a "true" black is an important feature on our list.

Being able to replace the backlight of the LCD sounds like a plus for LCD and will definitely take that into consideration...thanks for the info on that xepherys

. We just want to get as much personal experiences and info on the matter, LCD or plasma, so that we can make an educated decision.

Thanks for all the info and still lots to consider and weigh out before buying one.

TFP ROCKS!!!

Any aquarium fish related Q's...my brain and nose is here you you all to pick...LOL!

Aladdin Sane · 10-14-2007, 02:27 PM

The November 2007 issue of PCWorld has the results of their test of flat panel TVs. They say you ought to go with plasma and 1080p resolution in whatever set you buy. Their top pick is the Samsung LN-T4061 ($1600). Their #2 is the Samsung HP-T4264 ($1400). #3 HP PL4272N ($1200). #4 Vizio VP42 ($1000). #5 Philips 42PFL7432D/37 ($1700). Go to http://www.pcworld.com/testcenter/ to see a video on how PCWorld tests the TVs.

MexicanOnABike · 10-14-2007, 06:17 PM

when I got my Stereo receiver, the dude was explaining the whole Pioneer line to me. Pioneer Elite TVs are fucking beautiful!!! the black is so fucking black! it's my next purchase for my entertainment room.

xepherys · 10-15-2007, 04:40 AM

True blacks are a MAJOR benefit of Plasma TVs, admittedly, but it's become one of the few. There was a time a few years ago when Plasma beat LCD hands down. That day has long since passed. Response times on newer LCDs are fantastic (often 5ms or less). The blacks are getting blacker (though still not to the quality of Plasma), again in the Sharp Aquos or LG line. I don't mean to be a pain, I've just seen a lot of friends get Plasma TVs and be unhappy a year down the road. Even the higher quality and higher priced Plasma sets seem to fade out quickly (12-18 months).

If you're looking for some further research and opinions, check out High Def Forums. It helped a lot in my decision.

actinic · 10-15-2007, 07:23 AM

Thx again and you aren't being a pain xeph

. There's lots to consider going into this type of purchase and like computers, it's tough to keep on top of all the advances and finding the opportune time to buy "whatever" that suits ones particular needs.

IMHO, asking for personal experiences/opinions rather than a sales person w/$ signs in his eyes when you are asking Q's to avoid as much as possible, buyers remorse...LMAO!

Much thanks again

.

WarMoney · 10-15-2007, 09:50 AM

Also from what I have learned is that LCDs are good for bright rooms with alot of windows. Plasma is good for those dark basements.

trib767 · 10-15-2007, 10:46 PM

How many people have had faults develop with their plasmas?

I had one that developed a one inch thinck black line across it. Right pain in the arse.

JustJess · 10-16-2007, 02:39 AM

We have the 42" Sharp Aquos, and we *love* it. It's very pretty. It's in a room with a lot of windows, but no trouble seeing the screen. I honestly do not notice the "quality" of the black on it, they look just fine to me. (But maybe I'm a plebian.) Actually, our downstairs neighbor has an original Aquos and remains happy, and my sister has one too, and is happy too....

If you're taking magazine advice, default to Consumer Reports. They really do a fantastic job breaking it down.

Charlatan · 10-16-2007, 02:44 AM

Flat screens are a luxury I have yet to enjoy...

xepherys · 10-16-2007, 05:09 AM

JustJess, how new is the 42 you have? We have the LC-42D62U which is fairly new. When I first bought it I was upset to find that it was not the same caliber as the 46" and 52" from the same family (LC-46D62U and LC-52D62U respectively). But, after using it for a few days, hooking up HD-DVD to it and playing my Xbox 360 on it, I didn't even remember I was "missing out" on any of the features the poor 42" doesn't have.

actinic · 10-16-2007, 06:26 AM

After another walk through, we have large windows on the N and E side and have to mount the TV on the W wall...room is going to be a light earth tone...still going through color chips...white window casings and baseboards.

From all the info...I think we're going to be leaning towards LCD b/c of the ambient daylight. Just have to choose an action DVD to take w/us to test the TVs in the showroom.

Thanks so much again TFPers, I'll keep you posted on the progress

.

xepherys · 10-16-2007, 08:01 AM

where do you plan to buy? Most stores have their TVs jacked up to compensate for the flourescant lighting and to prove it's "bright". Make sure they let you play with color settings, temperatures, black levels and the like. If you use a regular DVD, find out if it is up-scaling in the DVD player they use and what type of connection it is using. 480p connected via HDMI will likely look really bad. Upscaled 480p->1080i/p will look good on HDMI, but may look grainy or blocky on S-Video or Composite/Component. This is also a big thing moving to a 1080p set... how you will connect everything. HD content should always be pumped over HDMI if possible. SD content should use S-Video, preferably. Most sets have multiple inputs, so it's usually not an issue. But when evaluating quality in the store, be wary of what you are seeing.

Many times brands that have deals with retailers or are running SPIFFs (sales incentives) will have better settings and connections to push people towards those sets. Best Buy and Circuit City are by far the worst for this.

actinic · 10-16-2007, 12:23 PM

I've been having my nose in the different magazines and sitting in front of the computer searching for reviews...my butt is sore...LOL!

Super advice xeph for the different connections as I haven't run into that tidbit of info where it was clearly stated but I guess that is assumed. With the amount of light that the room will get and the color scheme, where LCD is better suited, we are looking at the Sony Bravia 52XBR5 and Sharp Aquos LC52D92U tonight.

Not to completely dismiss plasmas, we are considering the Pioneer Pro-110FD and Fujitsu P50XHA58EB. A bit more that we plan on spending including all the peripherals but we'll see after tonight which will suit our situation.

DVD's that we'll be bringing are Let Li Fist of Legend, Batman (1st one w/Keaton) and Legally Blonde to test for the ghosting, black and color saturation.

Uhm...don't flame me for the last movie choice...

Bear Cub · 10-16-2007, 04:21 PM

We just bought the newest Pioneer Elite PRO110FD plasma. We did a LOT of research on the Sony LCD's and alternatives, and to put it plainly, this is the BEST picture quality any of you have ever seen. Period. We paid a hefty chunk for it, but it's as good as it gets. Only downside is trying to run component 480p to 1080p HDMI, which created issues with the picture format (would not create the proper aspect ratios). And from what I've read, this happens with a LOT of people/sets. No issues with component to component though. Doesn't really matter though, as we'll likely have a Denon DVD player with HDMI output in the VERY near future.

Oh, and from a picture standpoint, the artifacts in the LCD TV's are what sold it (in addition to the 50" availability). The picture on the Sony was fantastic, but EVERYTHING has a slight trailing edge to it, regardless of source. The Pioneer, pure bliss. Watching college football even with a mediocre high def signal, I could see the faces of the people in the crowd. You'd swear you could reach out and pick up the ball.

actinic · 10-17-2007, 11:56 AM

I totally agree w/you CW! We checked one out last might and all I can say is WOW! A bit more than what we wanted to spend but I think it will be well worth it. So far it's #1 on the list.

Another noobish Q on the display/aspect ratio:

widescreen vs 16:9?

Pros/Cons?

TY once again

.

Datalife2 · 10-17-2007, 01:39 PM

My gawd. I bought my hd v when they first came out for almost 5k and now its less than half that price for the new models...what a ripp they make business out of tech.

JustJess · 10-17-2007, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xepherys

JustJess, how new is the 42 you have? We have the LC-42D62U which is fairly new. When I first bought it I was upset to find that it was not the same caliber as the 46" and 52" from the same family (LC-46D62U and LC-52D62U respectively). But, after using it for a few days, hooking up HD-DVD to it and playing my Xbox 360 on it, I didn't even remember I was "missing out" on any of the features the poor 42" doesn't have.

We love it! We watched the NYC fireworks on it and they were truly spectacular. I'm not sure of the model number, but I do know we have 1080i and all of that. It's so pretty. Keep in mind, though... we were replacing a TV that had purple and green spots. Everything is an improvement on that. Of course, Q is pretty much a techie nerd, so it's not like we bought just any ol' thing either. One of the more important things to me was the proven lasting ability - our downstairs neighbors still don't have any burn in of any kind, nor any other issues, and it's been 3 years!

10-13-2007, 06:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
actinic Crazy Location: Toronto, ON	Plasma TVs... Hi TFPers . I'll be in the market for a 50"+ flat panel TV in Dec. From what I have researched so far, plasma is the best bet compared to LCD. What brand/model/features should I be considering? Oh wise ones of TFP...please guide this techno noob. TIA __________________ Drugs lead nowhere...but it's the scenic route

10-13-2007, 07:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
bendsley Professional Loafer Location: texas	Depends on what you're looking for really. I have a Vizio LCD in my bedroom and love it (VX42L). I If you're looking for Plasma though, Panasonic and Pioneer seem to be the best I've seen. Vizio makes some as well and for a much more attractive price. __________________ "You hear the one about the fella who died, went to the pearly gates? St. Peter let him in. Sees a guy in a suit making a closing argument. Says, "Who's that?" St. Peter says, "Oh, that's God. Thinks he's Denny Crane."

10-14-2007, 06:36 AM	#4 (permalink)
ironman Smithers, release the hounds Location: Guatemala, Guatemala	I've been the owner of a pany plasma for over a year now, and couldn't be happier. Its an amazing set. Recently Consumer Reports, declared the Panasonic TH-50PZ700U the best plasma ever tested. This set has appeared in SlickDeals as low as $2,000.00 so you should keep your eyes open for similar deals. engadget/ slickdeals __________________ If I agreed with you we´d both be wrong

10-14-2007, 09:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
xepherys <3 TFP Location: 17TLH2445607250	I'm curious what research you did that shows plasmas as being better. In the last year or so, LCDs have pretty m uch overtaken the market in both price and quality. They will generally last longer, have significantly less burn in problems and many have replaceable backlights, meaning when the colors start to fade in several years, you can get a new backlight put in and it'll look (literally) just like it was new out of the box. Personally I recommend the Sharp Aquos series. If you are intent on plasmas, though, Panasonic is a great choice as mentioned by ironman. __________________ The prospect of achieving a peace agreement with the extremist group of MILF is almost impossible... -- Emmanuel Pinol, Governor of Cotobato My Homepage

10-14-2007, 12:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
actinic Crazy Location: Toronto, ON	I'm still in he early stages of the research and we are budgeting ~$4kCDN. The "lean" towards plasma is based on what we have heard and read, considering best "bang for the buck" for the size range, issues of latency(?) in LCDs as the wife and I are have rekindled our interest in action movies and having a "true" black is an important feature on our list. Being able to replace the backlight of the LCD sounds like a plus for LCD and will definitely take that into consideration...thanks for the info on that xepherys . We just want to get as much personal experiences and info on the matter, LCD or plasma, so that we can make an educated decision. Thanks for all the info and still lots to consider and weigh out before buying one. TFP ROCKS!!! Any aquarium fish related Q's...my brain and nose is here you you all to pick...LOL! __________________ Drugs lead nowhere...but it's the scenic route

10-14-2007, 04:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
trib767 Crazy Location: London, UK	How big is your pocket? You get what you pay for: an aparently cheap plasma will be very different to a more expensive one. You need to check the resolution of the panel because the cheaper ones might not be HD compatible. The majority of "HD Ready" plasmas only do 720p/1080i. Pioneer have launched a 1080P display which must be awesome but it costs £6000. As I say, you get what you pay for!

10-14-2007, 02:27 PM	#7 (permalink)
Aladdin Sane Degenerate Location: San Marvelous	The November 2007 issue of PCWorld has the results of their test of flat panel TVs. They say you ought to go with plasma and 1080p resolution in whatever set you buy. Their top pick is the Samsung LN-T4061 ($1600). Their #2 is the Samsung HP-T4264 ($1400). #3 HP PL4272N ($1200). #4 Vizio VP42 ($1000). #5 Philips 42PFL7432D/37 ($1700). Go to http://www.pcworld.com/testcenter/ to see a video on how PCWorld tests the TVs. __________________ Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

10-14-2007, 06:17 PM	#8 (permalink)
MexicanOnABike Location: up north	when I got my Stereo receiver, the dude was explaining the whole Pioneer line to me. Pioneer Elite TVs are fucking beautiful!!! the black is so fucking black! it's my next purchase for my entertainment room. __________________ - Movie Reviews - Ratings-

10-15-2007, 04:40 AM	#9 (permalink)
xepherys <3 TFP Location: 17TLH2445607250	True blacks are a MAJOR benefit of Plasma TVs, admittedly, but it's become one of the few. There was a time a few years ago when Plasma beat LCD hands down. That day has long since passed. Response times on newer LCDs are fantastic (often 5ms or less). The blacks are getting blacker (though still not to the quality of Plasma), again in the Sharp Aquos or LG line. I don't mean to be a pain, I've just seen a lot of friends get Plasma TVs and be unhappy a year down the road. Even the higher quality and higher priced Plasma sets seem to fade out quickly (12-18 months). If you're looking for some further research and opinions, check out High Def Forums. It helped a lot in my decision. __________________ The prospect of achieving a peace agreement with the extremist group of MILF is almost impossible... -- Emmanuel Pinol, Governor of Cotobato My Homepage

10-15-2007, 07:23 AM	#10 (permalink)
actinic Crazy Location: Toronto, ON	Thx again and you aren't being a pain xeph . There's lots to consider going into this type of purchase and like computers, it's tough to keep on top of all the advances and finding the opportune time to buy "whatever" that suits ones particular needs. IMHO, asking for personal experiences/opinions rather than a sales person w/$ signs in his eyes when you are asking Q's to avoid as much as possible, buyers remorse...LMAO! Much thanks again . __________________ Drugs lead nowhere...but it's the scenic route

10-15-2007, 09:50 AM	#11 (permalink)
WarMoney Upright Location: Northern Virginia	Also from what I have learned is that LCDs are good for bright rooms with alot of windows. Plasma is good for those dark basements.

10-15-2007, 10:46 PM	#12 (permalink)
trib767 Crazy Location: London, UK	How many people have had faults develop with their plasmas? I had one that developed a one inch thinck black line across it. Right pain in the arse.

10-16-2007, 02:39 AM	#13 (permalink)
JustJess Unencapsulated Location: Kittyville	We have the 42" Sharp Aquos, and we love it. It's very pretty. It's in a room with a lot of windows, but no trouble seeing the screen. I honestly do not notice the "quality" of the black on it, they look just fine to me. (But maybe I'm a plebian.) Actually, our downstairs neighbor has an original Aquos and remains happy, and my sister has one too, and is happy too.... If you're taking magazine advice, default to Consumer Reports. They really do a fantastic job breaking it down. __________________ My heart knows me better than I know myself, so I'm gonna let it do all the talkin'.

10-16-2007, 02:44 AM	#14 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	Flat screens are a luxury I have yet to enjoy... __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

10-16-2007, 05:09 AM	#15 (permalink)
xepherys <3 TFP Location: 17TLH2445607250	JustJess, how new is the 42 you have? We have the LC-42D62U which is fairly new. When I first bought it I was upset to find that it was not the same caliber as the 46" and 52" from the same family (LC-46D62U and LC-52D62U respectively). But, after using it for a few days, hooking up HD-DVD to it and playing my Xbox 360 on it, I didn't even remember I was "missing out" on any of the features the poor 42" doesn't have. __________________ The prospect of achieving a peace agreement with the extremist group of MILF is almost impossible... -- Emmanuel Pinol, Governor of Cotobato My Homepage

10-16-2007, 06:26 AM	#16 (permalink)
actinic Crazy Location: Toronto, ON	After another walk through, we have large windows on the N and E side and have to mount the TV on the W wall...room is going to be a light earth tone...still going through color chips...white window casings and baseboards. From all the info...I think we're going to be leaning towards LCD b/c of the ambient daylight. Just have to choose an action DVD to take w/us to test the TVs in the showroom. Thanks so much again TFPers, I'll keep you posted on the progress . __________________ Drugs lead nowhere...but it's the scenic route

10-16-2007, 08:01 AM	#17 (permalink)
xepherys <3 TFP Location: 17TLH2445607250	where do you plan to buy? Most stores have their TVs jacked up to compensate for the flourescant lighting and to prove it's "bright". Make sure they let you play with color settings, temperatures, black levels and the like. If you use a regular DVD, find out if it is up-scaling in the DVD player they use and what type of connection it is using. 480p connected via HDMI will likely look really bad. Upscaled 480p->1080i/p will look good on HDMI, but may look grainy or blocky on S-Video or Composite/Component. This is also a big thing moving to a 1080p set... how you will connect everything. HD content should always be pumped over HDMI if possible. SD content should use S-Video, preferably. Most sets have multiple inputs, so it's usually not an issue. But when evaluating quality in the store, be wary of what you are seeing. Many times brands that have deals with retailers or are running SPIFFs (sales incentives) will have better settings and connections to push people towards those sets. Best Buy and Circuit City are by far the worst for this. __________________ The prospect of achieving a peace agreement with the extremist group of MILF is almost impossible... -- Emmanuel Pinol, Governor of Cotobato My Homepage

10-16-2007, 12:23 PM	#18 (permalink)
actinic Crazy Location: Toronto, ON	I've been having my nose in the different magazines and sitting in front of the computer searching for reviews...my butt is sore...LOL! Super advice xeph for the different connections as I haven't run into that tidbit of info where it was clearly stated but I guess that is assumed. With the amount of light that the room will get and the color scheme, where LCD is better suited, we are looking at the Sony Bravia 52XBR5 and Sharp Aquos LC52D92U tonight. Not to completely dismiss plasmas, we are considering the Pioneer Pro-110FD and Fujitsu P50XHA58EB. A bit more that we plan on spending including all the peripherals but we'll see after tonight which will suit our situation. DVD's that we'll be bringing are Let Li Fist of Legend, Batman (1st one w/Keaton) and Legally Blonde to test for the ghosting, black and color saturation. Uhm...don't flame me for the last movie choice... __________________ Drugs lead nowhere...but it's the scenic route

10-16-2007, 04:21 PM	#19 (permalink)
Bear Cub The Reverend Side Boob Location: Nofe Curolina	We just bought the newest Pioneer Elite PRO110FD plasma. We did a LOT of research on the Sony LCD's and alternatives, and to put it plainly, this is the BEST picture quality any of you have ever seen. Period. We paid a hefty chunk for it, but it's as good as it gets. Only downside is trying to run component 480p to 1080p HDMI, which created issues with the picture format (would not create the proper aspect ratios). And from what I've read, this happens with a LOT of people/sets. No issues with component to component though. Doesn't really matter though, as we'll likely have a Denon DVD player with HDMI output in the VERY near future. Oh, and from a picture standpoint, the artifacts in the LCD TV's are what sold it (in addition to the 50" availability). The picture on the Sony was fantastic, but EVERYTHING has a slight trailing edge to it, regardless of source. The Pioneer, pure bliss. Watching college football even with a mediocre high def signal, I could see the faces of the people in the crowd. You'd swear you could reach out and pick up the ball.

10-17-2007, 11:56 AM	#20 (permalink)
actinic Crazy Location: Toronto, ON	I totally agree w/you CW! We checked one out last might and all I can say is WOW! A bit more than what we wanted to spend but I think it will be well worth it. So far it's #1 on the list. Another noobish Q on the display/aspect ratio: widescreen vs 16:9? Pros/Cons? TY once again . __________________ Drugs lead nowhere...but it's the scenic route Last edited by actinic; 10-17-2007 at 12:50 PM.. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

10-17-2007, 01:39 PM	#21 (permalink)
Datalife2 Insane	My gawd. I bought my hd v when they first came out for almost 5k and now its less than half that price for the new models...what a ripp they make business out of tech. __________________ where's my lighter?