Looking to buy a Plasma TV

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 07 Aug 2008, 12:17

degeneration wrote:
IronMonkey wrote:
Yi-Long, are you into BD? If you are, go Full HD. If not, don't bother.
Whether he really[/i[ should go FUll HD or not regardless of if he's into BD will be his sitting distance from the TV.

Over a certain distance away the human eye will not be able to tell the difference between a mere HD image and a FUll HD image as your eye only has limited resolution. As indicated by this image...

I've not long bought a 40" Sony LCD. Budget was about £600. Ended up going for the 40d3500. Picture quality and detail wise I'm happy with it. Images can look really nice. What I'm not happy with is the shadow detail. When people's faces or whatever are half in shadow, the half in shadow is now pretty much completely black... so I've had to up the brightness to a bit too high a level to see more of the image that is there. Also motion across the screen is a little juddery. It seems as though when something is moving across the screen at a reasonable rate you get a annoying effect where is seems like for 1 frame it moved a bit forward and that bit is fairly transparent, but the original frame is still on screen too... kinda like an interlaced frame effect mayeb... It has annoyed me too...

While I knew plasmas were better, I got the LCD as it is going to be on a wall facing a south facing bay window. Plasma screens have the glass over them that would probably give far too much reflection on the window for watching when it is daylight or sunny.

However, despite reading up that it wasn't that bad, if I knew exactly what my TV was going to be like before I bought it, then I wouldn't have got this Sony model... would have gone for a similarly priced Samsung (40a558) as I've seen it next to another sony and motion seemed better on it.

If it wasn't a screen reflection issue, I'd have preferred a plasma.

Have you tried turning of the 'extra' stuff that usually cause this shit!?
On my old CRT there were lots of screen options which were turned ON, and they atre SUPPOSED to make the quality better, but TBH the miage was much better with everything turned OFF.
I believe LCDs en Plasma's have the same problem, with crap turned on with the factory setting, and you are better off turning that shit off.

degeneration · Post by **degeneration** » 07 Aug 2008, 13:10

Yeah turned it all off.

I don't think it is that bad comparitively to other lcd tvs out there, but coming from my good crt which had no issues of the sort I think maybe my expectations are too high. My girlf can't really see it and/or it doesn't bother her, but I can see it and now it always bothers me.

Having spent £600 on the TV I don't see why i should have to accept merely OK.

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 07 Aug 2008, 15:34

I sit 6ft away from my 47" 1080p in my bedroom haha, which is just right according to that graph (I knew that anyway). I never get eye strain from it, or headaches or anything

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 07 Aug 2008, 17:29

I still cannot believe you guys sit so close to your big ass TVs. 6 feet isn't even 2 metres away. It must be like having your own IMAX screen

.

On my old CRT there were lots of screen options which were turned ON, and they atre SUPPOSED to make the quality better, but TBH the miage was much better with everything turned OFF.

I never find the supposed "enhancement" modes do anything other than make it worse.

The sharpness on my LG BH200 just adds lots of nasty edge enhancement, no surprise there then.

IronMonkey wrote:Yi-Long, are you into BD? If you are, go Full HD. If not, don't bother.

I thought you said Full HD was always pointless and we should all go for HD Ready?

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 07 Aug 2008, 17:46

bradavon wrote:I still cannot believe you guys sit so close to your big ass TVs. 6 feet isn't even 2 metres away. It must be like having your own IMAX screen .

6 feet from a screen that is up to 50" across is about right.

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 07 Aug 2008, 17:50

bradavon wrote:I still cannot believe you guys sit so close to your big ass TVs. 6 feet isn't even 2 metres away. It must be like having your own IMAX screen .

i.e. the desired effect

No point in shelling out on a large screen and then sitting so far away from it that it doesn't even appear big haha.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 24 Aug 2008, 00:08

Monkeymacho: do you know anything about any new models coming out soon, or any pricedrops in the near future!?

I'm pretty much on the verge of getting one, just kinda seeing how the 360 and PS3 are going with their price and all that (probable further pricedrops and better bundles etc makes it easier to wait a little while longer).

At the moment, it's really between the PZ80E and the 85.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 24 Aug 2008, 10:32

Isn't a PS3 more futuresafe? It uses BD not space restricted DVD for Games and can play BD Movies too. If you get a 360 you'll need a separate BD Player.

gasteropod wrote:No point in shelling out on a large screen and then sitting so far away from it that it doesn't even appear big haha.

I didn't mean so far it looks no bigger, just at a sensible distance. It would be weird to have the rest of the family sitting behind you

.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 24 Aug 2008, 10:38

Yeah a PS3 IS probably more futuresafe, but I'll also use both consoles for games, and at the moment the 360 has the better games still. plus I already have a bunch of 360 games, and controllers etc.

I'll just buy both, and I dont need to buy a seperate BD player if I already have a PS3 ofcourse

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 24 Aug 2008, 10:49

Too true. If you plays games, the PS3 is the obvious choice. If you don't, it's worth considering other models.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 24 Aug 2008, 10:53

bradavon wrote:Too true. If you plays games, the PS3 is the obvious choice. If you don't, it's worth considering other models.

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 24 Aug 2008, 11:20

Yi-Long wrote:Monkeymacho: do you know anything about any new models coming out soon, or any pricedrops in the near future!?

The new models aren't due until this time next year. As for pricedrops, the 5 year guarantee (from Panasonic) offer is finishing at the end of this month so there will probably be a price drop after that to give customers incentive to buy.

I've actually just got a new one (my 3rd in 3 years!). I sold my 1 year old 37" to my parents so now thats on a glass stand in the living room downstairs & I've replaced it with a TH-42PX80 from work.

Yi-Long wrote:At the moment, it's really between the PZ80E and the 85.

I wouldn't bother with the PZ85. For what you get extra it doesn't really justify the cost. The Intelligent Frame Creation feature is just awful & I always turn it off.

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 24 Aug 2008, 11:26

bradavon wrote:Isn't a PS3 more futuresafe? It uses BD not space restricted DVD for Games and can play BD Movies too. If you get a 360 you'll need a separate BD Player.

Here we go with that argument again. Do we really need more than 8GB for game storage?! It a null & void argument. You're supposed to buy a games console on the strength of the quality of the games, not which has more storage capacity!

The 360 has a far better catalog of games, and those of which are on both consoles actually perform & look better on the 360 most of the time.

Don't forget, the 360 is reportedly much easier to code for than the PS3, so even if there is more space on a disc on PS3, developers prefer the 360 because they can get more out of it. Besides, there is such a thing as compression!

What's wrong with a 360 & separate BD player anyway? Thats exactly what I've got - the best games machine on the market & the best BD player on the market.

I wouldn't even consider a PS3 for proper BD playback.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 24 Aug 2008, 12:13

IronMonkey wrote:Here we go with that argument again.

I'm not going for any argument, get off your soap box.

IronMonkey wrote:Don't forget, the 360 is reportedly much easier to code for than the PS3

I'm not forgetting anything or give a monkeys about gaming, thank you very much. Calm down IM. Your points are valid, as are mine.

IronMonkey wrote:What's wrong with a 360 & separate BD player anyway?

Nothing. I never said there was. Most people prefer one box, hence my comment. If you want two, go for it. As a purely all-in-one Games + BD Player, the PS3 takes some beating.

IronMonkey wrote:I wouldn't even consider a PS3 for proper BD playback.

Neither would I but then I don't play games. If I did I'd certainly be considering one.

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 24 Aug 2008, 14:40

bradavon wrote:I'm not going for any argument, get off your soap box.

Do you just try to pick a fight?! I wasn't saying you were arguing! I said "that argument", not your argument!

bradavon wrote:I'm not forgetting anything or give a monkeys about gaming, thank you very much. Calm down IM. Your points are valid, as are mine.

Calm down? Again, it sounds like you're trying to pick a fight.

I was perfectly calm when I typed my previous post. The whole point of a PS3 v 360 debate is that people do "give a monkeys" about gaming, so if you don't, why bother entering the discussion?

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 24 Aug 2008, 14:59

I've heard and read in a few places that plasmas consume power like no-one's business?is this true?

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 24 Aug 2008, 15:42

Good point. I meant to ask that. Isn't is much more than LCD? Not that that would put me off per say but it's cause for concern.

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 24 Aug 2008, 16:57

found this

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6188940.stm

http://www.which.co.uk/advice/lcd-vs-pl ... /index.jsp

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 25 Aug 2008, 20:17

IronMonkey wrote:
Yi-Long wrote:Monkeymacho: do you know anything about any new models coming out soon, or any pricedrops in the near future!?
The new models aren't due until this time next year. As for pricedrops, the 5 year guarantee (from Panasonic) offer is finishing at the end of this month so there will probably be a price drop after that to give customers incentive to buy.

I've actually just got a new one (my 3rd in 3 years!). I sold my 1 year old 37" to my parents so now thats on a glass stand in the living room downstairs & I've replaced it with a TH-42PX80 from work.

Yi-Long wrote:At the moment, it's really between the PZ80E and the 85.
I wouldn't bother with the PZ85. For what you get extra it doesn't really justify the cost. The Intelligent Frame Creation feature is just awful & I always turn it off.

Thanks Monko!
I'll probably pick one up in a few weeks, and hopefully prices will have dropped by then.

Unless another brand suddenly releases a must-have Full-HD plasma for a great price ofcourse.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 25 Aug 2008, 20:21

Do Plasmas/LCD TVs in Holland have a Digital tuner built in? What about an HD one?

You'll need a BD Player sharpish too

.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 25 Aug 2008, 21:06

No idea about the digital tuner, as I believe we will still need a digital mediabox or whatever to actually get digital TV.
Holland is pretty behind the times TBH.

I'll use the PS3 for all my blu-ray stuff. I'm sure it will be good enough to keep me satisfied for a couple of years, untill BRplayers are 50 bucks or something.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 25 Aug 2008, 22:46

Yi-Long wrote:No idea about the digital tuner, as I believe we will still need a digital mediabox or whatever to actually get digital TV.
Holland is pretty behind the times TBH.

That is shit, if they only come with an Analogue tuner in 2008.

Yi-Long wrote:I'll use the PS3 for all my blu-ray stuff.

Do it! You know you want one.

Getting a HD TV and not actually getting HD (of some kind) seems odd to me, that's a general point of view btw.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 25 Aug 2008, 22:52

Well... I already said I'll get the PS3, so dont worry about that.

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 26 Aug 2008, 00:38

I'm not a big gamer nowadays, but LittleBigPlanet and Guitar Hero World Tour are getting me so excited in the pants right now about owning my beautiful PS3... (and also WipEout HD will be downloaded by me as soon as it eventually comes out!).

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 26 Aug 2008, 13:22

Yi-Long wrote:Well... I already said I'll get the PS3, so dont worry about that.

Phew. I was so worried. I couldn't sleep.