Panasonic ST Plasmas

sunama · 29 Dec 2013 at 19:27

Scam said:
http://m.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/this-42-inch-dolby-monitor-is-television-for-the-1-percent/
Yeah we've had them for over a year I'd say. They're only 20-odd inches though, not big enough for clients attended sessions. We've got a couple of these bad boys in our broadcast grading suites, they're awesome!

And the OLED monitors you have seen - are they considerably better than bog standard LCD monitors? Is it a night and day difference?

Somnambulist · 29 Dec 2013 at 22:10

In a shop the OLEDs I've seen are night and day with the LCDs because unlike the plasmas in shop-floor conditions, they can compete with the eye nuking brightness the LCDs have been set to, but still have the ridiculous contrast the plasmas only tend to show once settled in a home viewing environment. I'd imagine side by side in the home it would be even more of an unfair fight. The Sammy OLED I've seen in a couple of JL's was easily the best TV on display (ignoring the curved screen).

Scam · 29 Dec 2013 at 23:12

sunama said:
And the OLED monitors you have seen - are they considerably better than bog standard LCD monitors? Is it a night and day difference?

Well we'd never dream of using LCD, up until OLED it was all Sony Grade 1 CRTs. I'm not sure if we have the Sony PVM or BVM but either way as far as I know its a 'grade 1' reference level monitor, I don't even know of any LCDs that would be considered anywhere near that?

sunama · 30 Dec 2013 at 00:43

Well, my Sony CRT monitor has now been retired, but when I first got my VA monitor, it compared well. Obviously the black levels were not as good, but they were damn close. 3 years later, I got a DELL IPS monitor and it was terrible. Those who brag about IPS monitors, perhaps have never seen a decent CRT, VA or Plasma screen.

One thing I didnt like about CRT monitors were their sharpness. Even my Sony CRT could not compete with the LCD screens, in terms of sharpness.

I am looking forward to OLED screens. I've been waiting for many years now and its good to see that they are coming down in price.

sunama · 30 Dec 2013 at 00:45

Somnambulist said:
The Sammy OLED I've seen in a couple of JL's was easily the best TV on display (ignoring the curved screen).

I wonder if the curved screen OLED screens will disappear over time?
Screens dont require curvature until you get to HUGE sizes (like IMAX, for example).

Somnambulist · 30 Dec 2013 at 09:21

It's a gimmick to show off the tech - there are tons of big flash looking TVs on display so they've started off with curved displays to make them stand out more on the shop floor.

covenantuk · 30 Dec 2013 at 10:20

Somnambulist said:
It's a gimmick to show off the tech - there are tons of big flash looking TVs on display so they've started off with curved displays to make them stand out more on the shop floor.

They do look pretty - the missus commented on it. I don't know if it would be off-putting to watch regularly though

rikky · 31 Dec 2013 at 00:31

Somnambulist said:
It's a gimmick to show off the tech - there are tons of big flash looking TVs on display so they've started off with curved displays to make them stand out more on the shop floor.

I am pretty sure that Samsung plan to introduce curved LED screens in the next year, so it might not just be a passing fad unfortunately.

Scam · 31 Dec 2013 at 15:35

Well if anyone wants the GT60 I suggest you go and buy one now! I was all set to get one from my local dealer, took the girlfriend, credit card, all ready to haggle him down even more. I get there and he sold the last on yesterday, called my backup RS down the road, sold out! Called the one 30mins away and they had one left. I told them to put my name on it! So I went round today, am now fitting up my P42GT60 :cool:

They even price matched PRC in Ilford. Sweet.

I have one question though, as I scramble to get this up and running before we go out for new years.. The manual says that I should screw the base into my TV table to 'stop the TV from falling over'. Eh? Is this really necessary? They mean to drill a single screw into my TV table. Surely that's not necessary? :confused:

Somnambulist · 31 Dec 2013 at 16:11

The stands are perfectly stable without needing to be screwed down.

Scam · 31 Dec 2013 at 16:16

Thanks. I wonder why they say that though? Just to scare people?!

I've now run out of time now, New Years party calls! Poor thing will have to sleep in it's box tonight

covenantuk · 31 Dec 2013 at 16:25

Just to cover themselves to be honest, though if I had a young child I'd screw it down as they "could" pull it over by grabbing the top edge.

nails666 · 2 Jan 2014 at 15:11

I've had my 50ST60 for a few weeks now and am very impressed indeed. I came from an old 42" Samsung 720p plasma and the jump in quality is massive.
It has had the slightly annoying side effect that I'm now so used to the picture that whenever I visit anyone with a 'normal' tv I really struggle to watch it without complaining about how bad the picture is

On a related note, I have considered getting it professionally calibrated but I can't find any idea of roughly how much it will cost? I know each case will be different so it's unlikely to be a fixed price but what sort of ballpark figure would you expect?

Many Thanks,

Ross

nails666 · 2 Jan 2014 at 15:16

Scam said:
I have one question though, as I scramble to get this up and running before we go out for new years.. The manual says that I should screw the base into my TV table to 'stop the TV from falling over'. Eh? Is this really necessary? They mean to drill a single screw into my TV table. Surely that's not necessary?

I've not got my 50ST60 screwed down and it seems pretty stable, yeah you could knock it over if you tried but it'll take quite some bump to do it accidentally I reckon.

mrgubby · 2 Jan 2014 at 21:49

covenantuk said:
Well, Richer have the TXP42ST60B now at £100 off - so £590 including 5 year warranty and VIP voucher.

I had to buy at that price - imo a real bargain .

Just happened to me today as well, it just was to good to resist :cool:

I've got an old 37" Panasonic Plasma & the idea of it going pop & being stuck with a LCD was :eek:

covenantuk · 4 Jan 2014 at 14:27

Yeh pretty much my thoughts. Nothing wrong with my old 37" but wanted 5 years of good picture in the bank so that I can wait for OLED with confidence.

Bonus - I sold my old TH37PX70 to a friend of a friend on Facebook whose TV went bang over Xmas within 12 hours so got £75 back for that too

sunama · 4 Jan 2014 at 18:13

I have to say I am tempted to get a ST60 - 50" or 55".
If it lasts 5 years, by 2020, we should have plasma beating LED TVs.
Alternatively, keep my Panasonic 42" 720p plasma and in about 3 years, get an LED TV.

How long are Panasonic ST60 TVs likely to be in stock?
When does production finish?

mrgubby · 4 Jan 2014 at 19:25

sunama said:
When does production finish?

production of new units will end in December and all related operations will be wrapped by March next year

That's December 2013, so the only units left are the ones that are still in the distribution network :mad:

covenantuk · 5 Jan 2014 at 13:09

Yup, if you want a late model Panasonic plasma you're in a game of chicken with the remaining stocks left.

If there's any left by the traditional discount window of March-April when new models come out then you "could" get a bargain, but that's a big "if". If you can get an acceptable deal now I'd take it (and I did)

Somnambulist · 5 Jan 2014 at 16:15

Ditto. I got my VT just before Christmas - I'm sure the ones left might end up going for less but I still got it for much less than it's initial RRP - no point ending up disappointed over trying to save a tiny bit extra.