Plasma TV ?

3

3wide

New member
I'm looking at a new tv, leaning twords the new Panasonic plasmas. Either their 42" model or the 50" model, priced at $1200 and $1600 respectively. My main question is there still a risk of burn in on the newer models, any one have experience with them? Alot of the channels will have thier logo in the corner i wonder over time will that get burnt in? I had some one tell me about their older projection model and they always left the close caption on and over time some letters have been burnt in. I know that older technology ect, but that's the type of thing i'm cautions about. The Panasonic is the only plasma i'm looking at, if i don't get one i'm looking at, i'm going the LCD route.



Thanks.
 
Check out costco for the Panasonic Viera 42". It was $950 and an excellent TV. I made sure to turn down all the settings for the first couple weeks and not leave it on any channel for too long without a quick change.



I don't think Image Retention is a big deal with the newer Plasmas.
 
I've got a 50" 60u series panasonic and I love it. I have never had a problem with image retention. I use it as my primary monitor for my computer with the start menu there for hours at a time with no problems.



As a side note, are those 1080p prices? I paid $1200 for my 50" over a year ago and got my dad's 42" panasonic plasma for around $800 at Christmas time.
 
3wide,



Three words for ya: Panasonic, Panasonic, Panasonic.



For a while now, Pioneer was #1 and Panasonic was #2. Well, last month Pioneer announced it would no longer be making its own plasmas... ready for this? They announced that Pioneer plasma would be made by... ready for this?



PANASONIC!



I have a Panasonic TH-50PZ700U 50" 1080p High Definition Plasma TV. Got it from Crutchfield for $2,389.00. Yes, yes, you can get it cheaper. BUT, for 7 years I've ben ordering from Crutchfield and they are total no-nonsense. Any issue, call them and that make it right immediately. So, that's the extra dollars you pay.



So, I say go with a Panasonic. Figure out what features are right for you now and possibly in the future. And narrow it down from there.



Also, don't be a cheap *** on the wall mount (if you're gonna go that way). You just layed down 2-3K for a TV... and you're gonna get a cheapy mount? I see SO many people thinking that way. Get a quality mount that holds 50-75 pounds more that your TV weighs.



Good luck... I know it's hell! Send me a PM and I'll mail ya a few reports from consumer reports that I used during my searching...



Cheers,



Ian
 
I have an older 50" Pioneer Elite plasma. Never had any image retention issues or burn in. I prefer plasma over LCD for their blacker black levels, wider viewing angle, and their ability to display fast action with out trailing. Some of the newer LCD's have corrected that trailing problem but the best black levels are still the domain of plasma. The only downside of my plasma is that it draws a lot of power and generates a lot of room heat.



Given the choice I'd still pick plasma today. I'd also go as large as you can fit into the room.
 
Polygon said:
Besides, you'd be buying into a dead technology.
Click to expand...



I have to somewhat agree with you Polygon. I think LCD and the OLED are the way all tv's will be going. I also prefer my LCD because my house has alot of natural sunlight and the LCD does not use glass on the front so it cuts way down on glare. I bought a 47" LG thinking it would be too big....I was wrong...it's the perfect size...ALWAYS buy bigger than you think you want.
 
Polygon said:
I wouldn't buy a plasma to be honest with you. Granted they do have a better black level than LCD, for the time being. However, OLED LCDs are changing that. Besides, you'd be buying into a dead technology.



Plasma TV is Dead - Pioneer Exits — Audioholics Home Theater Reviews and News
Click to expand...



That article reads like a player in the high end plasma market couldn't stop losing money because they won't put out lower end tv's stopped making plasma. The 4 largest manufacturers still make plasmas. It is on it's way out eventually, especially with OLED's and other upcoming tech, but it is far from dead as the article proclaims.
 
bumoftheday said:
That article reads like a player in the high end plasma market couldn't stop losing money because they won't put out lower end tv's stopped making plasma. The 4 largest manufacturers still make plasmas. It is on it's way out eventually, especially with OLED's and other upcoming tech, but it is far from dead as the article proclaims.
Click to expand...



I fail to see the difference in buying a dead technology or a technology that is going to die. That article is simply the beginning of the end.
 
If you can find a 1080p plasma (Panasonic), that has the 'anti-glare film' for under $1000, BUY IT!



Great deal, and you will save a ton of $$ over anything close to it-period.
 
Plasma has always had several serious issues. Screen door effect, durability, burn-in, contrast issues, spurious artifacts.



OLED is coming along nicely.



The answer is likely going to be laser. They are due to be on the market in August. Lasers are the first format ever produced that can deliver 100% of the color intensity that the human eye can see. Even the best of the other technologies can only push in the 40% range.



My advice is Laser TV.



Check it out in Google and or YouTube.
 
Polygon said:
I fail to see the difference in buying a dead technology or a technology that is going to die. That article is simply the beginning of the end.
Click to expand...



Then why buy any technology? Virtually everything in the world of technology will die.



I was more commenting on the spin behind the article. When I see Panasonic bow out of the Plasma market, I will concede that it is pretty much dead.
 
bumoftheday said:
Then why buy any technology? Virtually everything in the world of technology will die.



I was more commenting on the spin behind the article. When I see Panasonic bow out of the Plasma market, I will concede that it is pretty much dead.
Click to expand...



Come on, you're just being silly. You know what I mean. It's sort of like buying into HD DVD. There is little point in investing money into a technology that is obsolete or will be shortly.
 
Polygon said:
There is little point in investing money into a technology that is obsolete or will be shortly.
Click to expand...



Buying a tv is not investing in a technology. It's just a tv. It'll work the same even if no one manufactures them anymore.



My tv has a cathode ray tube, and is thus entirely obsolete. It still works just the same as it ever did.
 
Sigh. He is just tring to give solid valuable advice.



Why the opposition? Plasma has issues and it may well not be around soon. Who wants a TV technology that may not be supported in the near future. Pioneer figured this out, and ceased production of plasma. Lots of technologies are looking good LED, OLED, and Laser among them.
 
Who cares if a TV is not supported. Even now, it is way too expensive to fix anything in any of these TV's.



If HD-DVD is not supported in the future, they put out no movies, so your player is worthless. If they stop supporting the TV, you still have a TV with the same inputs as any other TV you would have got.



The opposition is because I disagree with his advice and I am trying to cut down on the hype.



Main issues with plasma: Burn in is essentially a thing of the past. If you are worried, put on a dynamic signal when you take a leak, it takes a lot longer to burn anything in than you can hold it for. If you are stupid, you can still have burn in.



Lifespan: old plasmas would only last a couple years, but the current generation of Panasonic (and several others) is 60000 hours, or about 20 years at 8 hours a day.



Glare: The anti-glare coating makes this better, but it is still not as good as LCD, but even uncoated sets have less glare than CRT's. If you have a window directly behind the TV, it may be a problem. My roommate owns a 1080p 42" sharp LCD and he has said that my 50" Panasonic plasma has a better picture, and I paid less for my 50" than he paid for his 42'.





I think that the better black levels and significantly higher contrast are worth the trade off. The picture is better, I've even had LCD lovers tell me that.



Let me end by saying I do not think Plasma is the be all end all. I think that if you have a 1080p source, it is easier to find a good 1080p LCD at the right price than a 1080p plasma. If you have no 1080p sources and don't plan on doing anything but watching TV, do not waste your money on 1080p.
 
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