Plasma or LCD...advice needed

theleg

theleg

theleg

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Ok guys...buying a new tv...

I had my heart set on a 50 inch plasma but its far too big for my living room which is setup in such a way that im like 7 feet away from the screen :o

So im gonna have to go with a 42" screen...my friends have told me that at that size, LCD is the best best..Are they right?

Should I go plasma or LCD? I like the look of the samsung LCDs...

Im so confused :o
 
Balddog said:
Ok guys...buying a new tv...

I had my heart set on a 50 inch plasma but its far too big for my living room which is setup in such a way that im like 7 feet away from the screen :o

So im gonna have to go with a 42" screen...my friends have told me that at that size, LCD is the best best..Are they right?

Should I go plasma or LCD? I like the look of the samsung LCDs...

Im so confused :o
Click to expand...

If you can afford it, get the Pioneer 42" one. It is superior to any LCD TV I've ever seen in my life, be it at mates' houses or in show rooms. Absolutely stunning, although the price tag is quite high!

http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/product_detail.jsp?product_id=11146&taxonomy_id=62-63

EDIT - It looks much better when the speakers are mounted on the sides, rather than at the bottom.
 
Tommy B said:
If you can afford it, get the Pioneer 42" one. It is superior to any LCD TV I've ever seen in my life, be it at mates' houses or in show rooms. Absolutely stunning, although the price tag is quite high!.
Click to expand...

LOL

This is why i brought myself one after many months of comparing all different LCD & plasmas..(pioneer 436xde)


But you really need to weight up the pros/cons of LCD vs plasma before parting with your cash...

LCDs are going be better for some people uses and plasma going be better for other people uses...

Things like LCDs are better for brightly lit rooms and plasma are better in
darker rooms.
 
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squiffy said:
As for that Pioneer Plasma, funny resolution?
Click to expand...

Almost all the 42"/43" HD plasma panels use the same 1024x768 resolution apart from a few makes like hitachi that use Alis Panels with a 1024 x 1080 resolution
 
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Plasma is much better than LCD but it is getting close but ive seen 46X2000 by Sony and thought it was naff with slow response for a 46" so i think you should avoid LCD for another few Gens if you want Big screen LCD's (beyond 32")

Over LCD

More colours
fast response
blacks more blacker and white more whiter
Larger screen sizes


Under LCD
Power consumption
Heat
reflection
Screen Retention (aka screen burn) (latest models don't have as much probs)

but at 50"/42" definitely go plasma Panasonic or Pioneer be good Pan-THxxPX60 or 600 (replace xx with 37,42, and 50(only 600) and pioneer i have heard good things but never used one.
 
I think im gonna go for the panasonic px600...

I dont think i can justify the extra money for the pioneer after having seen them both and read lots of stuff about both..
 
Balddog said:
I think im gonna go for the panasonic px600...

I dont think i can justify the extra money for the pioneer after having seen them both and read lots of stuff about both..
Click to expand...

Just make sure you've seen the Pioneer show a true HD signal.
 
Isn't 1366x768 the official 730P official spec? Won't that panasonic px600 downscale?

What has Blu-ray/HD-DVD resolution settled on? 730P? 1080i? 1080P?
 
I would highly recommend DLP as an alternative. DLP is cheaper and is better in PQ overall, far better than LCD and Plasma.


You can pick up a Sagem 42" DLP for less than a grand nowadays.
 
droolinggimp said:
I would highly recommend DLP as an alternative. DLP is cheaper and is better in PQ overall, far better than LCD and Plasma.


You can pick up a Sagem 42" DLP for less than a grand nowadays.
Click to expand...

Make sure you demo them extenisively (colour wheel effect) I've seen it one single chip DLP projectors costing thousands of pounds.
 
Don't listen to people who say "this is better than plasma" etc. Times have changed and technology has improved. The plasma display used in the Pioneer is cutting edge and most reviewers have commented on how incredible it is.
 
Dont plasma's have a small life span though? Dont they suffer screen burn?

This has allways put me off plasma's, the idea you have to baby them so they dont break. Like not turning them on and off a fair ammount, like projectors.
 
Panasonic = 60k Hours to my knowledge so about 15 years. And Latest models have a very low chance now.

HD DVD and Bluray will both output 1080p (1st few HD DVD is 1080i i belive) but movies will be 1080p.

But presently HD DVD is producing better quality pictures than Blu ray.
 
willd58 said:
Dont plasma's have a small life span though? Dont they suffer screen burn?

This has allways put me off plasma's, the idea you have to baby them so they dont break. Like not turning them on and off a fair ammount, like projectors.
Click to expand...

the short lifespan is a complete urban myth.

they will last just as long as any other TV will before it starts generating faults (having owned several tvs over 15 years old, they all go after a while)

as for image retention. its not usually too bad on anything other than the kids channels like cbeebies etc.. that have static logos in the corners.

and even then, the effect of this can be all but removed by running your brightness lower.

as for the LCD vs Plasma Debate, heres my take on it

LCDs

Cooler Running than plasmas (plasmas run hotter so usually have cooling fans)
Lighter than plasamas, so easier to wallmount
better contrast ratios than plasmas
dont suffer image retention

however Plasmas so have

better blacks
hide the effects of poor SD trasmissions better
better response times (but less suited to PC useage due to most having wierd native resolutions like 1024 x 720)
 
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Tommy B said:
Don't listen to people who say "this is better than plasma" etc. Times have changed and technology has improved. The plasma display used in the Pioneer is cutting edge and most reviewers have commented on how incredible it is.
Click to expand...

squiffy said:
Isn't 1366x768 the official 730P official spec? Won't that panasonic px600 downscale?

What has Blu-ray/HD-DVD resolution settled on? 730P? 1080i? 1080P?
Click to expand...

Balddog said:
I think im gonna go for the panasonic px600...

I dont think i can justify the extra money for the pioneer after having seen them both and read lots of stuff about both..
Click to expand...


ok first things first, the pioneers do get lots of good reviews, but thats not to say that at 40" an LCD shouldnt be considered. LCDs do have their merits,and LCD technology is advancing. the 40" sony is raved over every bit as much as the 43" pioneer.

view the set first and make your own mind up

as for bluray resolutions. Blu ray discs can come in any of the 3 Hi Def standards. Namely 720p and 1080 i and 1080 p What resolution the disc is, is up to the content provider. but all 3 of those resolutions are considered "true hi def"

as for the Panasonic PX600. Your wasting your time if your into home cinema in any way. The PX60 is indentical in every respect except for 3 things (1) the px 600 has better speakers, but as you've got surround sound this wont matter 2) it has the ability to record freeview to PCMCIA card, but again as you've got a PVR this feature is useless and 3) it has twin freeview tuners so you can watch 2 channels at once. but it wont let you watch one freeview channel and another input like say Sky or DVD so its pretty useless

if you do like the panny, save yourself some cash and get the PX60. the image processing and the panel is indentical, its just extra "accessories" you get with the px600.
 
good point. a 42 1080p LCD can be had for around £1500 (ie Toshiba 42" WLT 66)

only 1080P Plasma is the brand new pioneer and that retails for 6k.
 
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