Anyone "in the know" for Plasma tv's?

JasonD

JasonD

New member
I am starting to do research for a tv that I plan on buying within the next few months, and have decided to go plasma over lcd simply because I think lcd just looks horrible. The lcd's don't impress me at all, even the Sony XBR3 that I've looked at. In addition to the picture not really impressing me all that much, they also aren't available in the size I want either. I'm looking for 60" (or a little bigger) but don't want to pay a ridiculous amount of money to get it.



Anyway, the Pioneer Elite Pro-1540HD 60" Plasma is really catching my eye, but the fact that it's not full HD, and is only 1365x768 kind of bugs me. Does anyone know if Pioneer is planning on releasing a newer version that is full HD compatible?
 
I apologize if you're already set on plasma, but have you considered DLP? It's possibly one of the best technologies out there for the best picture. IMHO plasma is far, far overrated and doesn't last that long.



Plasmas really have trouble coming up to true HD resolutions, such as 1080i or 1080p. If you do find one, I'm sure it will be mucho expensive; but then agian, its been a while since I've been researching this stuff. I used to be "in the know" but not so much anymore.



However, if you really want that back-is-flat-also look, then sorry I can't help :(



SpoiledMan said:
avsforums.com



It's like Autopia for AV stuff.:)
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I think you linked us to the wrong site :nervous: :D
 
The three P's: plasma, Pioneer and Panasonic. At lower screen sizes, 1080p is hard to distinguish from 1080i, but at 60", it might make a difference to your eye (and wallet).



Broadcasts are not in full HD (1080p) anyway, so I don't think that'll make a difference, but the two HDMI ports on the 1540 are 1080p capable iirc, so you might be able to take advantage of HD-DVD/Blu-Ray.



The newer plasma technologies have a come a long way since the 'early' days of burn-in, and every technology has its downside.
 
Having done this research numerous times......



DLP will be your best bang for the buck, then plasma, the LCD. The newest generation panel LCDs will have the best pictures period, but will also stretch your wallet the most.



If you don't need a flat panel set to hang on the wall, DLP is your best bet in 60"+ LCD's get expensive around 50" and plasmas price break point is around 57"



Plasma's have come a long way too and you don't have to worry anymore about burn in or limited brightness life..



Anyhow, for a smaller set <37 I would go LCD all the way. For 50" sizes Plasma....the panasonic 50" is a steal and has an incredible picture. Over 55" go DLP unless you need to hang it on the wall, then go plasma, but you are gonna pay for it.



1080p is a bit overrated in my opinion. On a 60" screen you probably will, however, notice the difference, but hardly any broadcasting is done in it. So it's more for the "future" and by that time you might have a new set anyway!



Good luck!
 
DETAILKING said:
Having done this research numerous times......



DLP will be your best bang for the buck, then plasma, the LCD. The newest generation panel LCDs will have the best pictures period, but will also stretch your wallet the most.



If you don't need a flat panel set to hang on the wall, DLP is your best bet in 60"+ LCD's get expensive around 50" and plasmas price break point is around 57"



Plasma's have come a long way too and you don't have to worry anymore about burn in or limited brightness life..



Anyhow, for a smaller set <37 I would go LCD all the way. For 50" sizes Plasma....the panasonic 50" is a steal and has an incredible picture. Over 55" go DLP unless you need to hang it on the wall, then go plasma, but you are gonna pay for it.



1080p is a bit overrated in my opinion. On a 60" screen you probably will, however, notice the difference, but hardly any broadcasting is done in it. So it's more for the "future" and by that time you might have a new set anyway!



Good luck!
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Totally not true about burn in with plasma, there is still the possibility of burn in. If you play games that have a logo or graphics in the corner of the tv or something like Madden Football and you play it a lot or leave it paused, it will burn in. You do not have to worrk about it as much with TV and movies but to say burn in is a thing of the past is just not true.
 
As far as size, I am definitely looking for something around 60 inches, which cuts out LCD's. I don't like the look of the LCD's anyway, even the Sony XBR3. I don't find any of them have a smooth picture like regular tube tv's, or even plasmas.



I'm also not going to mount this on the wall either, so being *completely* flat isn't a necessity. I just want the absolute BEST picture.



So far, I have ruled out rear projection and LCD. I will have to look at DLP and see what's up with that.



My number one pick so far is the Pioneer Elite 1540HD that I mentioned earlier, but like I said, I haven't looked at DLP yet.



Thanks for the input guys, I appreciate the help and am definitely taking notes on everything you are all saying.
 
JDookie said:
As far as size, I am definitely looking for something around 60 inches, which cuts out LCD's. I don't like the look of the LCD's anyway, even the Sony XBR3. I don't find any of them have a smooth picture like regular tube tv's, or even plasmas.



I'm also not going to mount this on the wall either, so being *completely* flat isn't a necessity. I just want the absolute BEST picture.



So far, I have ruled out rear projection and LCD. I will have to look at DLP and see what's up with that.



My number one pick so far is the Pioneer Elite 1540HD that I mentioned earlier, but like I said, I haven't looked at DLP yet.



Thanks for the input guys, I appreciate the help and am definitely taking notes on everything you are all saying.
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DLP is rear projection, FYI.
 
WilliamHBonney said:
DLP is rear projection, FYI.
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Ahh, lol. I didn't know that. Okay, well that's out!



I just got back from reading a whole lot on avsforum.com and wow, they have a lot of info on that site.



I am thinking that plasma is the way to go. It seems most are torn between lcd and plasma, and I have already ruled out lcd for the most part.



I am going to go to another store, and compare the two again.
 
ZaneO said:
Why is rear projection out? DLP is worth looking at, IMO.
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Totally agree, big difference from the old rear projection and the DLP projection. We have a 55 inch plasma and dont really care for it anymore. DLP and LCDs are much crisper and the color is much better.
 
JDookie said:
Ahh, lol. I didn't know that. Okay, well that's out!



I just got back from reading a whole lot on avsforum.com and wow, they have a lot of info on that site.



I am thinking that plasma is the way to go. It seems most are torn between lcd and plasma, and I have already ruled out lcd for the most part.



I am going to go to another store, and compare the two again.
Click to expand...



Well DLP does use rear projection, but it is significantly different from traditional rear projections. DLPs can be quite "thin"
 
The DLP that I looked at (can't remember which brand, model, etc. but it was $6,000) did not react well to the lighting in the store (Best Buy). There was overhead recessed lighting in this particular area (just like my house) and I noticed that one corner of the screen was blacked out from the concentration of light in that one spot, and the salesperson told me that what I noticed was a big problem with rear projection televisions.



Out of curiosity, is the Sony SXRD considered DLP or regular rear projection? I think this is the tv I was looking at.



The biggest reason I'm not liking the looks of LCD so far is the quality of the picture. I can't stand how when things happen really fast on the screen, you see a very *digitized* effect, for lack of a better description. The edges of the moving objects become unclear and pixel like. You guys don't notice this?
 
JDookie said:
The DLP that I looked at (can't remember which brand, model, etc. but it was $6,000) did not react well to the lighting in the store (Best Buy). There was overhead recessed lighting in this particular area (just like my house) and I noticed that one corner of the screen was blacked out from the concentration of light in that one spot, and the salesperson told me that what I noticed was a big problem with rear projection televisions.



Out of curiosity, is the Sony SXRD considered DLP or regular rear projection? I think this is the tv I was looking at.



The biggest reason I'm not liking the looks of LCD so far is the quality of the picture. I can't stand how when things happen really fast on the screen, you see a very *digitized* effect, for lack of a better description. The edges of the moving objects become unclear and pixel like. You guys don't notice this?
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Just remember the abuse that the TVs in the store take. Not to mention that they run at least 12 hours a day. In addition, the signal that comes into places like BB or CC is usually split between at least 30 different TVs. Any TV you see in the store will look better, much better when you get it home.



SXRD is a DLP rear projection. Do a google search on DLP. This generation of DLP is far superior to the last generation, which there is no way I would have bought hence the purchase of our 55 inch plasma.



The blurry effect that you see is called "screen door effect." It looks like you are looking at the TV through a screen door. It happens on all TVs. My 32 inch Sony CRT shows screen door and pixleation. No matter what way you go, Plasma, DLP, LCD they are all going to have screen door on them. Its unavoidable, you can minimize it though depending on what you purchase. Right now if you walk into a CC or BB plasma is the oldest technology on the floor. There is one or two companies that are working on 1080p plasma, I think Pioneer has one out. They are very expensive however and if you are not mounting it on a wall there is no point in spending the money when you can get a DLP for much less and get much more TV.
 
WilliamHBonney said:
Just remember the abuse that the TVs in the store take. Not to mention that they run at least 12 hours a day. In addition, the signal that comes into places like BB or CC is usually split between at least 30 different TVs. Any TV you see in the store will look better, much better when you get it home.
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I fully agree with you, but in this particular situation, it wasn't the case. They actually had a Blue Ray DVD player on the SXRD (I looked it up on Sony's website, and it's definitely the one I was looking at) playing a really cool concert DVD, so the picture it was displaying was as good as it gets. In my local Best Buy, it has a separate area called "Magnolia" that sells all high end home theater equipment. Some of the tv's are set up with Blue Ray, while others are set up with HD Satellite, etc.



I think I am going to bring a couple DVD's with me from home next time I go, and compare them from tv to tv, and get a more accurate comparison.



Thanks for the help guys, your opinions have raised a lot of very good points for me to keep in mind when choosing my next television. I will keep you all up to date on my progress. :xyxthumbs
 
JDookie said:
I fully agree with you, but in this particular situation, it wasn't the case. They actually had a Blue Ray DVD player on the SXRD (I looked it up on Sony's website, and it's definitely the one I was looking at) playing a really cool concert DVD, so the picture it was displaying was as good as it gets. In my local Best Buy, it has a separate area called "Magnolia" that sells all high end home theater equipment. Some of the tv's are set up with Blue Ray, while others are set up with HD Satellite, etc.



I think I am going to bring a couple DVD's with me from home next time I go, and compare them from tv to tv, and get a more accurate comparison.



Thanks for the help guys, your opinions have raised a lot of very good points for me to keep in mind when choosing my next television. I will keep you all up to date on my progress. :xyxthumbs
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Remember, DVDs are just digital, 480p. Plasma only goes to 720p and the only way you get that with a DVD player is if you have one that upconverts, and from my experience the up converters are not that great.
 
WilliamHBonney said:
Remember, DVDs are just digital, 480p. Plasma only goes to 720p and the only way you get that with a DVD player is if you have one that upconverts, and from my experience the up converters are not that great.
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The PROFHD1 is 1080p for HDDVD & Blu-Ray, but it's at a premium price right now.



Another thing you want to consider is the room the set is going into. Brighter rooms *might* do well with an AQUOS (lcd) but the plasmas have been getting better at handling the light.



I'm looking at the same situation JD, and am also looking to get a backlight for a setup.
 
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