Buying a Plasma TV.. what to look out for? - Page 2

Murr · 10-04-2007, 09:19 AM

There's so much misinformation in this thread.

Plasma burn in is basically a thing of the past unless you leave a still image on for 12+ hours in the first few weeks you have the set. I got one back in May and have had ZERO problems, and I didn't bother with a burn in DVD or any of that bullshit.

Go with what you think looks best - personally I find LCDs to be inferior in picture quality, in particular they always look a little pixelated to me compared to a comparable plasma. You can also get glare-reduction coating Plasma models these days if reflections are a concern. The power consumption is a legitimate issue and if that's a concern then the premium for a LCD might be worth considering, but given the influx of new, high quality 1080p plasmas from Pioneer and Panasonic it's a tough call. Don't mind the retards comparing plasma to VHS... that's just dumb.

Good brands: Pioneer, Panasonic, Samsung (newer models are good, older ones not so much)

What price/size range are you looking at? I picked up the 720p 42" Samsung HP-T4254 in May and it's been great. At this point you have some more selection, the best value probably being the new Panasonics just released. They came out with 1080p 42" and 50" sets this summer but had to sacrifice some contrast ratio to get there, but now they're releasing new glare resistant panels with 1080p at pretty nice prices. I'd take a look at the TH-42PZ77U or the TH-50PZ77U for a great quality/value option.

1080p is probably worth going for if you don't mind the price premium and are buying in the 42-50" range. That said, it's nearly impossible to tell the difference at 42" between 720p and 1080p unless you sit 2 feet away from the set. Another thing to consider resolution-wise is if you want to hook up a PC to it - I don't know why people hook up their PCs to giant displays, but running a PC at 720p = 1280x720 resolution which is kinda shit. If you don't plan on running a desktop on it, 720 is usually fine.

All that said, if you like LCDs better subjectively then there's some really good LCD models out there from Samsung and Sony. The newest 40-46" 1080p LCDs from Samsung are very, very nice aesthetically and feature wise.

Good forum to wade through:
AVSForum LCD forum
AVSForum Plasma forum

Eomer · 10-04-2007, 10:49 AM

Quote:

I don't know why people hook up their PCs to giant displays, but running a PC at 720p = 1280x720 resolution which is kinda shit.

Because surfing pr0n the couch is much more comfortable...

But yeah, 720p will leave you screwed with a lot of games that have UI's designed for a minimum of 1280x1024(960). And by screwed I mean they won't even start up. Supreme Commander is a good example.

Criminiminal · 10-05-2007, 09:59 PM

Must be HD season... I've been looking at all this same stuff lately. I'm pretty sold on the Panasonic TH-42PZ700U 42" Plasma and at $1335 it seems like a steal to me.

It hits all the points that are important to me, Plasma (the LCD "streaking" problem annoys me when fast motion is on the screen), 1080p, (i can usually see the diff. between 720p and 1080p, and 1080p looks so much cleaner) great contrast ratio and resolution and very dark black levels.

I've heard some good things about Vizio also, but the comments are usually from people who bought one as their first HD or LCD TV and have no comparison. Considering the Vizio that has similar specs to the Panasonic actually costs the same or even a little more, I'd rather have the Panasonic.

Blide · 10-05-2007, 10:08 PM

Another thing that may or may not be relevant for you but here in Colorado plasmas have problems due to the elevation. I'm uncertain as to the actual effect elevation has on plasmas but I do know it adversely effects them unlike LCDs.

Lyenae · 10-06-2007, 07:25 AM

If you want something that's generally idiot-proof with good to great picture, then you can go with an LCD. A primarily day time TV, kids playing video games on it, than yeah, go with LCD or maybe DLP.

If you want the absolute best picture with next to no compromises, than you want a high end plasma. An 8th gen Pioneer will trash any LCD, period. Better colors, better depth, better blacks. Virtually every LCD is playing catch up to the convincing images of a plasma, and they always do so with compromises (whether it's artifacts, viewing angle, black crush,

10-04-2007, 09:19 AM	#16 (permalink)
Murr Token Gnome Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Chapel Hill, NC Posts: 1,787 +8 Internets	There's so much misinformation in this thread. Plasma burn in is basically a thing of the past unless you leave a still image on for 12+ hours in the first few weeks you have the set. I got one back in May and have had ZERO problems, and I didn't bother with a burn in DVD or any of that bullshit. Go with what you think looks best - personally I find LCDs to be inferior in picture quality, in particular they always look a little pixelated to me compared to a comparable plasma. You can also get glare-reduction coating Plasma models these days if reflections are a concern. The power consumption is a legitimate issue and if that's a concern then the premium for a LCD might be worth considering, but given the influx of new, high quality 1080p plasmas from Pioneer and Panasonic it's a tough call. Don't mind the retards comparing plasma to VHS... that's just dumb. Good brands: Pioneer, Panasonic, Samsung (newer models are good, older ones not so much) What price/size range are you looking at? I picked up the 720p 42" Samsung HP-T4254 in May and it's been great. At this point you have some more selection, the best value probably being the new Panasonics just released. They came out with 1080p 42" and 50" sets this summer but had to sacrifice some contrast ratio to get there, but now they're releasing new glare resistant panels with 1080p at pretty nice prices. I'd take a look at the TH-42PZ77U or the TH-50PZ77U for a great quality/value option. 1080p is probably worth going for if you don't mind the price premium and are buying in the 42-50" range. That said, it's nearly impossible to tell the difference at 42" between 720p and 1080p unless you sit 2 feet away from the set. Another thing to consider resolution-wise is if you want to hook up a PC to it - I don't know why people hook up their PCs to giant displays, but running a PC at 720p = 1280x720 resolution which is kinda shit. If you don't plan on running a desktop on it, 720 is usually fine. All that said, if you like LCDs better subjectively then there's some really good LCD models out there from Samsung and Sony. The newest 40-46" 1080p LCDs from Samsung are very, very nice aesthetically and feature wise. Good forum to wade through: AVSForum LCD forum AVSForum Plasma forum Last edited by Murr : 10-04-2007 at 09:22 AM.

10-05-2007, 09:59 PM	#18 (permalink)
Criminiminal Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 699 -11 Internets	Must be HD season... I've been looking at all this same stuff lately. I'm pretty sold on the Panasonic TH-42PZ700U 42" Plasma and at $1335 it seems like a steal to me. It hits all the points that are important to me, Plasma (the LCD "streaking" problem annoys me when fast motion is on the screen), 1080p, (i can usually see the diff. between 720p and 1080p, and 1080p looks so much cleaner) great contrast ratio and resolution and very dark black levels. I've heard some good things about Vizio also, but the comments are usually from people who bought one as their first HD or LCD TV and have no comparison. Considering the Vizio that has similar specs to the Panasonic actually costs the same or even a little more, I'd rather have the Panasonic. __________________ I always say, you never know what a man is truly made of until you peel the skin off his face one piece at a time.

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10-05-2007, 10:08 PM	#19 (permalink)
Blide Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 622 +3 Internets	Another thing that may or may not be relevant for you but here in Colorado plasmas have problems due to the elevation. I'm uncertain as to the actual effect elevation has on plasmas but I do know it adversely effects them unlike LCDs.

10-06-2007, 07:25 AM	#20 (permalink)
Lyenae Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 1,973 -27 Internets	If you want something that's generally idiot-proof with good to great picture, then you can go with an LCD. A primarily day time TV, kids playing video games on it, than yeah, go with LCD or maybe DLP. If you want the absolute best picture with next to no compromises, than you want a high end plasma. An 8th gen Pioneer will trash any LCD, period. Better colors, better depth, better blacks. Virtually every LCD is playing catch up to the convincing images of a plasma, and they always do so with compromises (whether it's artifacts, viewing angle, black crush,