Switch to plasma?

mogdor · 05-15-2007, 11:51 AM

I've always been big on lcd TVs because they've always just seemed to look sharper to me than plasma on average. I recently realized why that is - because most of the plasmas I looked at had a little lower resolution, 1024 x 768 vs. the 1366 x 768 on lcds (guess I have very picky eyes). I do like the contrast, response time, etc. on plasmas, it's just always been that they didn't look as sharp as lcds that turned me off. Lately however, I've been making an effort to check out the plasmas with the 1366 x 768 resolution and I've been liking what I'm seeing, so I think I'm ready to go with a 50" Panasonic plasma for the living room, just wondering a few things:

1. Are there 1080p plasmas out yet I should be looking at?

2. I've never really checked out what SD looks like on a plasma, does it look significantly better than on a lcd?

3. From what I've read and what I've seen for myself, Panasonic is the way to go for plasma, but I'm just wondering if anybody has any high regard for any other brands.

Any opinions and input greatly appreciated, thanks!

cheezz · 05-15-2007, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mogdor

I've always been big on lcd TVs because they've always just seemed to look sharper to me than plasma on average. I recently realized why that is - because most of the plasmas I looked at had a little lower resolution, 1024 x 768 vs. the 1366 x 768 on lcds (guess I have very picky eyes). I do like the contrast, response time, etc. on plasmas, it's just always been that they didn't look as sharp as lcds that turned me off. Lately however, I've been making an effort to check out the plasmas with the 1366 x 768 resolution and I've been liking what I'm seeing, so I think I'm ready to go with a 50" Panasonic plasma for the living room, just wondering a few things:

1. Are there 1080p plasmas out yet I should be looking at?

2. I've never really checked out what SD looks like on a plasma, does it look significantly better than on a lcd?

3. From what I've read and what I've seen for myself, Panasonic is the way to go for plasma, but I'm just wondering if anybody has any high regard for any other brands.

Any opinions and input greatly appreciated, thanks!

Best Buy has the 1080p pannies. Go check them out. Not as crisp as my LCD IMO.

BamaPanda · 05-15-2007, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mogdor

I'm just wondering if anybody has any high regard for any other brands.
Any opinions and input greatly appreciated, thanks!

I have a high regard for my new LG 50PC5D..
http://us.lge.com/products/model/det...__50PC5D.jhtml
but of course I am biased, being an LG rep (and what fan boy is not on this forum).
Last years set was really a good set, but the 07 is a pretty good leap forward, with the Clear Filter Pro, Simplink, the new PQ and deep cell panel, and one of the best looking cabinets (IMO) there is.
(Note ..the front is ALL BLACK. The web pix makes it look as if it has a grey horizontal line. It's a cabinet angle)
Great warranty, great set. Life's Good!

nmlobo · 05-15-2007, 06:16 PM

Mogdor, display technology (plasma/lcd) has nothing to do with how well SD is displayed. A good video processor (scaler) and clean signal are the key elements. And you need both.

BobY · 05-15-2007, 08:23 PM

You should check out Pioneer as well. IMHO PQ of Pioneer Plasmas has always been better than Panasonic's--but I prefer Pioneer's richer, more saturated colors and deep black levels.

PFC5 · 05-16-2007, 01:22 AM

But the Pioneers require much deeper pockets to buy them.

My friend had some horrible experiences with 4 LG plasmas, but they made good on a replacement to a newer model and actually stepped him up to 50" from 42" and this new LG plasma is very good I must say.

Hitachi Plasmas are also very good from what I have seen so far with their 50" models.

I think any of these four plasmas mentioned would be good in the current generations. The best thing for the original poster to do is to check them all out and side by sdie would be best if possible. Let your own eyes decide.

d1nonlyjm · 05-16-2007, 01:48 AM

47"neTVizon PCTV HDTV by NetFaze Technologies, is 1920 X1080, 5000:1 Contrast, 6 mili-seconds response time. the pictures moves fast and the colors are great, this computer television is something else, the tuner card and sources are not part of the computer however it has a controller card that merges both PC and TV, I could watch football and play fantasy football at the same time and/or download Vongo and watch a movie while checking my email and videostreaming to my kids tv through Vista Ultimate,quick easy setup even with 5.1 surround sound and xbox 360. I guest the coolest part is the removable pc-blade and removable hard drive it comes with. LCD PCTV by far is a better display than plasma in my opinion.

homerj · 05-16-2007, 04:01 AM

If you can, try to see The Eagles live in Melbourne, the Farewell tour 1, on a plasma out on hd-dvd. If you still believe that lcd's are better than plasma after viewing it then

lg50pc5d here and still on break in settings, and wow !!!! Made me appreciate my investment $$ into hd. You gotta see this. As far as 1080p, i would love to do a side by side comparison with 1080i just to see what i'm missing............mmhhh..
Hey Bam, congrats on new set!!!

myers830 · 05-16-2007, 05:54 AM

For MY money (and that's all that matters)...I have both, and my 3 year old plasma blows away my new LCD. Both are considered high quality brands as I have always believed that you get what you pay for. My plasma is "only" a 720p model. Can't even fathom what a 1080p plasma would look like with a 1080p signal feeding it.

I will never buy an LCD again...unless I'm going to hook a computer to it, OR if plasmas go the way of the dinosaurs. I don't play games...just watch TV, DVDs, and movies.

s2mikey · 05-16-2007, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobY

You should check out Pioneer as well. IMHO PQ of Pioneer Plasmas has always been better than Panasonic's--but I prefer Pioneer's richer, more saturated colors and deep black levels.

Pios are great sets, but black levels is where they lose out to Panny. The 60U series Pannys measured out at 0.012 foot-lamberts for black. That was the lowest ever measured through 2006 on any panel. Home Theater magazine did the tests, see their website for details.

That being said, Pios do have better color and arguably just as good if not better video processing. Black Levels? Nope.... Panny kills in black levels

s2mikey · 05-16-2007, 06:28 AM

Many people have switched from LCD to plasma for various reasons. I understand the "sharper" looking picture phenomenon and my Sharp LCD is in fact "Sharp".

But, my plasma beats it in two key areas that are vitally important to me: Color accuracy and Contrast/black level detail. I watch a lot of movies and IMO this is where the LCDs lose out to a good quality plasma.

For nature shows and all that stuff, I might even sometimes prefer my LCD. Sports is very similar too. But a well-transfered movie like LOTR or Star Wars..... forget it....plasma every time.

My

BobY · 05-16-2007, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s2mikey

Black Levels? Nope.... Panny kills in black levels

Not when I adjust both of them to my desired settings with the user controls. I can't get the color as rich, deep and intense as I like on a Panny without hurting the black level (note: I don't care about accuracy or calibration, I want the picture to look the way I want, which is really deep, saturated colors on movies (like Technicolor).

s2mikey · 05-16-2007, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobY

I want the picture to look the way I want.

Well damnit BobY there aint nothing wrong with that statement! And actually, Home Theaters measurements are just nerdy numbers that justify the cost of their obvious bloated test equipment budget. But yes, Panny 60U series TVs did win the foot-lamberts black level battle.

Of course, that doesnt guarantee anything or overall picture quality...

BamaPanda · 05-16-2007, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nmlobo

Mogdor, display technology (plasma/lcd) has nothing to do with how well SD is displayed. A good video processor (scaler) and clean signal are the key elements. And you need both.

DITTOS! {{Means big agreement}}

nmlobo · 05-16-2007, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s2mikey

Many people have switched from LCD to plasma for various reasons.

I take exception to your statement. If you do some research you will discover that LCD sales are beating the socks off plasma. If folks are switching it appears it is to LCD.

05-15-2007, 11:51 AM	#1
mogdor High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 135	Switch to plasma? I've always been big on lcd TVs because they've always just seemed to look sharper to me than plasma on average. I recently realized why that is - because most of the plasmas I looked at had a little lower resolution, 1024 x 768 vs. the 1366 x 768 on lcds (guess I have very picky eyes). I do like the contrast, response time, etc. on plasmas, it's just always been that they didn't look as sharp as lcds that turned me off. Lately however, I've been making an effort to check out the plasmas with the 1366 x 768 resolution and I've been liking what I'm seeing, so I think I'm ready to go with a 50" Panasonic plasma for the living room, just wondering a few things: 1. Are there 1080p plasmas out yet I should be looking at? 2. I've never really checked out what SD looks like on a plasma, does it look significantly better than on a lcd? 3. From what I've read and what I've seen for myself, Panasonic is the way to go for plasma, but I'm just wondering if anybody has any high regard for any other brands. Any opinions and input greatly appreciated, thanks!

05-16-2007, 01:22 AM	#6
PFC5 Former Super Moderator - RIP Join Date: May 2005 Location: Mass Posts: 38,295	But the Pioneers require much deeper pockets to buy them. My friend had some horrible experiences with 4 LG plasmas, but they made good on a replacement to a newer model and actually stepped him up to 50" from 42" and this new LG plasma is very good I must say. Hitachi Plasmas are also very good from what I have seen so far with their 50" models. I think any of these four plasmas mentioned would be good in the current generations. The best thing for the original poster to do is to check them all out and side by sdie would be best if possible. Let your own eyes decide. __________________ Denon AVR-887 Klipsch RP-5 Pwred Towers (mains) (525 watts peak each 12"Subs) All Klipsch RC-25(ctr),(2)SS1(surr),(2)SS1(rearSurr) Toshiba (2)HD-A20,PS3,BD35 For SACD/DVD-A Samsung HD-841 Panny 50pz80u plasma SETTINGS RCA HD50LPW162 50"DLP w/HD2+ SA 3250HD 47" LCD+Yamaha5790+HD-A1(bedroom) Harmony 680 + (2) 670s (amazing remote/support) Game room with Onkyo receiver & B&W Speakers The_Cable_Game Take the high ground and be happier PSN: PFC5

05-16-2007, 01:48 AM	#7
d1nonlyjm What is HD? Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 3	47"neTVizon PCTV HDTV by NetFaze Technologies, is 1920 X1080, 5000:1 Contrast, 6 mili-seconds response time. the pictures moves fast and the colors are great, this computer television is something else, the tuner card and sources are not part of the computer however it has a controller card that merges both PC and TV, I could watch football and play fantasy football at the same time and/or download Vongo and watch a movie while checking my email and videostreaming to my kids tv through Vista Ultimate,quick easy setup even with 5.1 surround sound and xbox 360. I guest the coolest part is the removable pc-blade and removable hard drive it comes with. LCD PCTV by far is a better display than plasma in my opinion. Last edited by d1nonlyjm; 05-16-2007 at 01:51 AM.

05-16-2007, 06:28 AM	#11
s2mikey Flat Panel Luvr Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate, NY Posts: 1,415	Many people have switched from LCD to plasma for various reasons. I understand the "sharper" looking picture phenomenon and my Sharp LCD is in fact "Sharp". But, my plasma beats it in two key areas that are vitally important to me: Color accuracy and Contrast/black level detail. I watch a lot of movies and IMO this is where the LCDs lose out to a good quality plasma. For nature shows and all that stuff, I might even sometimes prefer my LCD. Sports is very similar too. But a well-transfered movie like LOTR or Star Wars..... forget it....plasma every time. My __________________ Pioneer KURO 5080HD Sharp LC32D4U LG BD-570, Sony BDP-S360, PS3 120GB Toshiba A30 & A2 Sony STRDG810/All Polk Speakers Harmony 510 remote Antennas Direct DB4

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05-15-2007, 06:16 PM	#4
nmlobo Yorktown, VA Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 656	Mogdor, display technology (plasma/lcd) has nothing to do with how well SD is displayed. A good video processor (scaler) and clean signal are the key elements. And you need both.

05-15-2007, 08:23 PM	#5
BobY What's all this, then?... Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,197	You should check out Pioneer as well. IMHO PQ of Pioneer Plasmas has always been better than Panasonic's--but I prefer Pioneer's richer, more saturated colors and deep black levels.

05-16-2007, 04:01 AM	#8
homerj High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: May 2007 Location: Québec, Canada Posts: 38	If you can, try to see The Eagles live in Melbourne, the Farewell tour 1, on a plasma out on hd-dvd. If you still believe that lcd's are better than plasma after viewing it then lg50pc5d here and still on break in settings, and wow !!!! Made me appreciate my investment $$ into hd. You gotta see this. As far as 1080p, i would love to do a side by side comparison with 1080i just to see what i'm missing............mmhhh.. Hey Bam, congrats on new set!!!

05-16-2007, 05:54 AM	#9
myers830 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 388	For MY money (and that's all that matters)...I have both, and my 3 year old plasma blows away my new LCD. Both are considered high quality brands as I have always believed that you get what you pay for. My plasma is "only" a 720p model. Can't even fathom what a 1080p plasma would look like with a 1080p signal feeding it. I will never buy an LCD again...unless I'm going to hook a computer to it, OR if plasmas go the way of the dinosaurs. I don't play games...just watch TV, DVDs, and movies.