LCD / Plasma TV advice/discussion

[Villain2100]

Hi, first of all i'd just like to introduce myself to you all as im a noob to this site, so please be gentle. LOL

I just brought (about a month ago) my first bluray player, a panasonic bd30, whilst im pretty pleased, clarity is good and colours are nice but its not got the wow factor i was expecting from HD. My current TV is a Panasonic TH-42PV500 Plasma and only 720p, so im thinking about upgrading to a full HD 1080p set, would it be worth it?

As far as i can see these are my options for around that size:

Sony 40w4000 LCD or wait for the 40w4500
Philips 42PFL7603D LCD
Panasonic 42PZ81 Plasma

I was looking for any advice or opinions, ive heard LCDs aren't as good as plasmas, is this true? I play xbox 360 (about 10-15 hours a week) so am weary over buying another plasma as my current one suffers from mild screen burn and have read LCD don't suffer from this, which would be nice.

[callas01]

I think in general, most people say that LCD is nicer for video gaming. Personally, I don't think the difference between a Plasma and LCD are that far apart anymore. I have a samsung and the PQ is always excellent and the blacks are great. I can say that plasma's have a slightly better pop to them, when set up correctly, but not enough for me to go buy one. The Samsung A550 would prolly be just slightly less than the Sony, and the PQ is equal. Although I do suggest that you go spend half a day at your electronics store of choice and sit in front of every TV until you find the one that speaks to you. The one that says.... BUY ME. <--- Best advise you will get.

[Villain2100]

If it wasn't for the screen burn issue id go for a plasma again no problem but through personal experiance with mine i know its not the myth some A/V mags/sites say it is, my tv is about 3 years old and dosn't take more than 10-15 minutes playing a game with a static bar etc for it to start to burn in.

I was wondering if anyone had any experiance with any of those TV ive listed (Basically What Hifi magazines recommendations for that size), also is motion judder really a problem with LCDs? are the black levels much worse? is there much differance between a 50hz and a 100hz set in real terms?

Any advice or information from actual users (not fanboy types) would be appreciated.

[brett_day]

Originally Posted by Villain2100

If it wasn't for the screen burn issue id go for a plasma again no problem but through personal experiance with mine i know its not the myth some A/V mags/sites say it is, my tv is about 3 years old and dosn't take more than 10-15 minutes playing a game with a static bar etc for it to start to burn in.

I was wondering if anyone had any experiance with any of those TV ive listed (Basically What Hifi magazines recommendations for that size), also is motion judder really a problem with LCDs? are the black levels much worse? is there much differance between a 50hz and a 100hz set in real terms?

Any advice or information from actual users (not fanboy types) would be appreciated.

screen burn is not an issue on plasma's anymore. 100 hours of break in to almost elimate "retention" (not the same as burn in) and you are all set!

I have a panny plasma and play my ps3 all the time and have never had image retention. the blacks and coors on plasma are far superior to LCD. I had a Samsung LCD before my panasonic plamsa and the difference in quality is mind blowing! I will never Buy LCD again

[callas01]

Don't call me a fanboy. I am so not a fan boy. I actually like the 85U alot, I just wouldn't buy it with kids in the house.

That is also why I added, go see which one you cannot live without.

[SS316SRV]

Originally Posted by callas01

Don't call me a fanboy. I am so not a fan boy. I actually like the 85U alot, I just wouldn't buy it with kids in the house.

Why not with kids in the house?

[Sonny]

I'm so scuuured of burn-in.....I crapped my pant's..... WHAT BURN-IN ? THE ONE IN "PEOPLES" MINDS????

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by callas01

I do suggest that you go spend half a day at your electronics store of choice and sit in front of every TV until you find the one that speaks to you. The one that says.... BUY ME. <--- Best advise you will get.

That's actually not very good advice at all unless you're in similar conditions that you will experience in your room at home.

You'll only find that at AV dealers - very few big box stores have this and when they do it's not got the TV's you want to check out in it.

[cdot2four]

Go with the panasonic plasma. Always stay away from Philips if u decide to go lcd.

[richteer]

Originally Posted by callas01

Although I do suggest that you go spend half a day at your electronics store of choice and sit in front of every TV until you find the one that speaks to you. The one that says.... BUY ME. <--- Best advise you will get.

Unfortunately, that advice assumes that the TVs in electronics stores are set up competantly. Most of them aren't, so that advice--while good on the surface--has limited use in the real world...

[callas01]

You crapped your pants? That sux. What are your co-workers saying about that?

My 2 yr old finds a way to destroy things. I don't always know how, but she does. And honestly although I do think Plasma's are better overall, I just have a preferrence for the LCD's. And I just felt at the time, I would be getting a little more flexibility with the LCD. For instance, if someone on here is wanting a Plasma, I would offer my honest opinion. Which would be buy the 85U, I really like that TV, saw it at a friends house, excellent, and yes it is a little better then my sammy, but I still love my sammy and I am prolly not going to switch.

Anyways, this is off the topic of the OP, so if you want to have a discussion, you can always PM, I am all for everyone buying what they like. Not what I like.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by richteer

Unfortunately, that advice assumes that the TVs in electronics stores are set up competantly. Most of them aren't, so that advice--while good on the surface--has limited use in the real world...

Agreed.

Originally Posted by callas01

My 2 yr old finds a way to destroy things. I don't always know how, but she does.

My 2 year old is the same, but doesn't have access to the HT room; it's under lock and key. Even so, there's just as much chance of him throwing something through the patio door as there is at the TV, so I don't see it as a deciding factor in terms of making a TV purchase.

(This is a facetious answer, I don't have kids yet)

Originally Posted by callas01

I am all for everyone buying what they like. Not what I like.

So am I, but I'm also all for people having knowledge so they don't get their TV home and go "hey it didn't look like this in the store"

Knowledge is power.

[Villain2100]

Sorry callas, wasn't calling you a fanboy, i was just saying i wanted honest opinions from people who have had both types and have NO bias towards either type or brand because i find that type of thing laughable, it wasn't directed at you, just people in general.

Other poster: Im not scare mongering about screen burn or image retention (whats the differance?) i have a 3 year old panny plasma and have suffered from it especially when using my xbox 360 so i know it happens, whether i didn't bed it in right is another story.

[brett_day]

burn in is when an image will etch itself in the glass panel of your tv!

Image retention is when an image is temporarily held by the svreen but will dissapear after a few minutes after watching a different source! Or you can use the white bar feature like that found in panny tv's to wipe the problem away

[Villain2100]

Originally Posted by brett_day

burn in is when an image with etch itself in the glass panel of your tv!

Image retention is when an image is temporarily held by the svreen but will dissapear after a few minutes after watching a different source! Or you can use the white bar feature like that found in panny tv's to wipe the problem away

My panny dosn't have a white wash feature, would be handy.

I think i may have image retention then, as the effects do go away eventually but not after minutes, probably about a week or so, if i dont use the xbox.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by Villain2100

My panny dosn't have a white wash feature, would be handy.

I think i may have image retention then, as the effects do go away eventually but not after minutes, probably about a week or so, if i dont use the xbox.

Simply tune your TV to a snow signal and leave it on for 10 minutes - image retention should be gone.

You asked someone else what the difference was between burn-in and image retention - the simple answer; image retention = temporary, burn-in = Permanent.