3D/2D Displays that support 3D & 2D & 24p at multiplies of the original frame rate

[HDTV1080P]

New Panasonic PT-AE4000 1080P 96HZ LCD Front Projector has been added to the list

The Panasonic PT-AE4000 uses a similar frame creation process as the PT-AE3000. It is my understanding that the Panasonic PT-AE4000 will do a true 4:4 pulldown at 96HZ when a 1080p/24 signal is received when the Frame Creation option is turned off in the menu.

The Panasonic PT-AE4000 Front Projector has an improved contrast ratio of 100,000:1 versus 60,000:1 that the prior model PT-AE3000 had. In theory a improved contrast ratio should mean an improvement in picture quality. The other amazing thing is the list price on the PT-AE4000 is only $1,999 which makes it the cheapest LCD Front Projector on the list (The Mitsubishi HC3800 DLP Front Projector at $1,495 list price is the cheapest DLP currently on the list and just added to the list today).

Here are some reference links:
http://panasonic.net/avc/projector/p...features2.html

http://www.projectorcentral.com/pana...tor_review.htm

[HDTV1080P]

New Mitsubishi HC3800 48HZ 1080P DLP Front Projector added to the list

*** Wow, new record breaking price. Own a 300 inch 48HZ 1080P Front Projector for under $1,500 ***

The new Mitsubishi HC3800 48HZ 1080P single chip DLP Front Projector has been added to the list. 1080P/24 BLU-RAY signals are flashed on the screen at 48HZ just like a film projector. The amazing thing about this Front Projector is that it has a list price of only $1,495. Also from a reliable source I have learned that online mail order companies plan on selling this projector for around $1,325. The projector can project a image between 50 inches and 300 inches as long as one has a dedicated dark home theater room to mount the projector on the ceiling (Projector can be floor mounted also).

Mitsubishi HC3800 1080P LCD Front Projector (48HZ) << (Click link for spec sheet)

" Capable of handling an output of 48p, twice the speed of cinema film
(24 frames per second), precise timing ensures true-to-life reproduction
with original, smooth movement in fast action scenes."

" With 24p direct output, 24 frames per second is converted to 48 frames per second. This allows sequential matching of two frames at a time, thereby enabling image reproduction with original sequence
smoothness."

[HDTV1080P]

Samsung UN55B8500 (CNET review link)

The current LCD Flat Panel King in terms of best picture quality

(new LCD reference panel)

The Samsung UNB8500 series will properly display 1080p/24 material at 240HZ when Auto Motion Plus is turned off. This will provide a true 10:10 pulldown mode when Auto Motion Plus is turned off. The Samsung also has other features like Judder Reduction settings and other settings that allow the display to do a full 1080 lines on full motion tests.

According to the CNET review the Samsung UN55B8500 is the second best flat screen they tested in terms of black levels and overall picture quality when viewing the display directly in front of the screen. Only the discontinued 2008 Pioneer Kuro had deeper blacks and an overall better picture quality.

The 240HZ Samsung UN55B8500 and UN46B8500 has a better picture quality and black level then even the reference 120HZ Sony XBR8 and Panasonic V10 series. Plasma fans should consider taking a look at the Samsung UN55B8500 which has a better picture then the Panasonic V10 as long as most your TV viewing is done directly in front of the TV. The Panasonic V10 is still a excellent choice for those that want better off axis viewing and plasma has faster response times then LCD which makes a 96HZ Panasonic have even less motion blur then a 240HZ LCD.

The gap is closing fast on LCD and plasma quality. Only the discontinued Pioneer from 2008 beats the Samsung UNB8500 series in overall picture quality.

Select Quotes from the CNET review:

" We tested both "Watchmen," during the scene when Osterman locks himself in the intrinsic field chamber in Chapter 19, and our standard "I Am Legend," where the camera flies over an aircraft carrier. In both cases the proper rate of film was preserved, without undue smoothing or the hitching motion of 2:3 pull-down"

"Deeper black levels than any HDTV available aside from Pioneer Kuro"

"poor off-angle viewing"

" Unlike the other three Samsung models, which use LED elements arranged along the edge of their screens, the company's two 8500 models employ a full array of local dimming LEDs behind the screen, yet maintain an ultraslim profile. As a result, this expensive HDTV handily outperforms its brothers and, yes, every other LCD-based display we've ever tested. It still can't match the best plasma, the legendary and discontinued Pioneer Kuro, and its off-angle picture leaves plenty to be desired, but people who claim the sweet spot in front of a Samsung UNB8500 will be treated to the most impressive flat-panel picture quality of the year."

" For viewers seated directly in front of the screen the Samsung UNB8500 delivers the second-deepest black levels of any display we've ever tested, after the Pioneer Kuro plasma from 2008. Those excellent blacks fall off the farther you move from dead center, however, which is an issue that prevented the UNB8500 from scoring even higher in this category. Aside from that, and its glossy screen, the expensive Samsung hits all the right notes, from color accuracy to video processing to fewer drawbacks in general than other LED-based displays. The entire package scored the same "9" in picture quality as the Panasonic V10 plasmas, the highest score we've awarded this year, and if it wasn't for off-angle issues, the UNB8500 would be the clear winner between the two."

" When seen from the sweet spot directly in front of the TV, the black levels of the Samsung UNB8500 series were the darkest and most realistic of any display in our lineup, with the exception of the Pioneer plasma. The difference was obvious in our side-by-side comparison, where the 8500 beat even the superb XBR8 and the V10, its closest competitors."

" Like other local dimming LED-based LCDs we've tested, the 8500 evinced some "blooming," where a brighter object will bleed into a darker adjacent area, but the issue was less intrusive than on any other local dimmer we've tested."

" Color accuracy: The UNB8500 scored very well in this category, albeit not up to the standards of our reference Kuro or the LG LH90."

" Thanks mostly to the 8500's excellent black levels, colors throughout the film were beautifully saturated and lush, looking more lifelike than any of the other sets aside from the Kuro"

" Video processing: The 8500 has more processing options than any HDTV we've tested this year, but the result is superb performance in this category. We'll begin with the set's motion resolution, which came in at the full 1080 lines on our test, equaling the best plasmas we've tested (Panasonic's 2009 models, such as the V10) and surpassing the best LCDs, namely the LG LH90, the Sony XBR8, and the Samsung A950."

" The biggest weakness of LED-based LCDs comes in the arena of off-angle viewing, and the 8500 follows suit. When we moved just one couch cushion to either side, the blacks lightened considerably, becoming brighter, more washed-out, and less realistic, and taking the rest of the image quality down with them."

http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/samsung-un55b8500/4505-6482_7-33740174.html?tag=content;col1

[HDTV1080P]

4 new LG 48HZ Plasma screens have been added to the list

(First time LG Plasma screens have been added to the list)

LG 60PS80 (1080P/24 correctly refreshed at 48HZ when Flim Mode is turned on)

LG 50PS80 (1080P/24 correctly refreshed at 48HZ when Flim Mode is turned on)

LG 60PS60 (1080P/24 correctly refreshed at 48HZ when Flim Mode is turned on)

LG 50PS60 (1080P/24 correctly refreshed at 48HZ when Flim Mode is turned on)

Warning about all 48HZ LG Plasma screens and 48HZ LG LCD screens on the list

So far, I have not read any reviews yet from anyone that has tested the 48HZ feature on any LG LCD screen or LG Plasma screen. The 48HZ LG Plasma and 48HZ LG LCD screens are on the list since LG claims in their spec sheets and/or manuals that the models are either "24p Real Cinema with 2:2 pulldown" for the LCD screens and for the Plasma screens when Film Mode is turned on LG claims the new 2009 plasma screens are true 48HZ. It would be ideal if someone would review the 48HZ feature on the LG to verify if there is a visible flicker present or not present. There are some brands and models of flat screens that have a problem and produce a visible flicker at 48HZ since they are much more brighter then a film projector. The brighter the screen the higher the refresh rate needs to be to make sure a flicker is not present.

Sometimes LG makes mistakes when printing spec sheets and manuals. For example one year LG had a misprint in their instruction manual and a LG LCD 120HZ model had to be pulled from the list since it really was not 120HZ but a 60HZ only display. Any display on the list can be removed from the list at anytime due to errors made in the spec sheets, manuals or by professional reviews.

On page 112 of the LG 60PS80 manual it mentions 48fps.

http://www.lge.com/us/tv-audio-video/televisions/LG-plasma-tv-60PS80.jsp#

On page 75 of the LG 60PS60 manual it mentions the film mode feature which is the LG's 48HZ mode.

http://www.lge.com/us/tv-audio-video...-tv-60PS60.jsp#



The following is an example of a CNET review from 11-2-2009 that has errors in the review:

http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/lg-60ps80/4505-6482_7-33497898.html?tag=txt%3bpage

According to the LG manuals and the Home Theater Review on the LG PS80 series it will properly display 1080p/24 at 48HZ when Film Mode is turned on. But the CNET review does not mention the Film mode being turned on while testing the LG PS80 and they mention that the LG PS80 series cannot properly reproduce the cadence of film.

(Was the the Film Mode turned on when 1080p/24 tests were performed by CNET?)
Quote from CNET:
"However, notably missing is the capability to consistently reproduce the proper cadence 1080p/24 content, a capability found on the Panasonic V10 plasmas and all of the Samsung plasmas this year (as well as numerous 120Hz and 240Hz LCD screens). "

"The PS80 fell short of the competition in this arena. As we mentioned at the top it couldn't consistently pass our test for proper handling of 1080p/24 sources."

Another problem with the CNET review is that they claim that the LG PS80 series has no S-Video input. The funny thing is if one enlarges the picture in the CNET review they will clearly see that the PS80 has a S-Video input. Also the LG spec sheet and Home theater review mention the S-Video feature on the PS80 series.

(Yes the LG PS80 series does have a S-Video input in the rear)
Quote from CNET:
" The LG lacks S-Video inputs altogether"
" Our one connectivity complaint is its lack of S-Video inputs."

The new Home Theater review that just came out mentions that the Film Mode will output 1080p/24 at 48HZ on the LG. But they decided not to test that mode. More details to follow in the next post.


http://hometheatermag.com/flat-panel...dtv/index.html

[HDTV1080P]

The LG 60PS80 compared to the Reference Pioneer PRO-141FD

(November 2009 Home Theater magazine review link)

When the discontinued 2008 72HZ reference Pioneer PRO-141FD was compared to the LG 60PS80 the Pioneer clearly was the better quality display. Home Theater Magazine mentioned that the LG 60PS80 will refresh 1080P/24 material at 48HZ when the film mode is engaged according to what they learned from LG. What is disappointing is that Home Theater magazine decided not to test the 48HZ mode at all since other brands of plasmas they reviewed produced a noticeable flicker at 48HZ. The Home Theater magazine reviewer should have turned on the "Film Mode" on the LG and applied a 1080p/24 signal for at least a few minutes to let consumers know if that display has a flicker problem. The recent Samsung SP-A900B review which is a 48HZ Front Projector, Home Theater reported that there was no visible flicker with that model. (http://hometheatermag.com/frontproje...dlp_projector/). It would have been ideal to know if the LG can also handle 48HZ without any visible flicker.

Here are some select quotes from the November Home Theater review link (All testing on the LG was done at 60HZ with 3:2 pulldown)

" According to LG, when the 60PS80 receives 1080p/24, it either converts it to 1080p/60 by adding 3:2 pulldown or repeats each frame and displays at 48 hertz (Film mode). In other plasmas we’ve reviewed, 48 Hz produced noticeable flicker, and we did not engage that mode here."

" The panel also emits a very slight buzz, but it was inaudible when I sat 10 feet away."

" We rarely have much to say about the audio systems in flat-panel sets, but the LG’s is one of the best I’ve heard."

" The LG 60PS80 is THX certified."

" the LG’s subjective color balance was extremely close to that of a calibrated Pioneer Elite KURO PRO-141FD plasma when I compared the two displays side by side with the same source material. The only difference was the LG’s subtly (and I do mean subtly) richer color."

" The LG’s black level was disappointing"

" The set’s weakness in absolute black level hampers it in darker scenes. When I perched the LG next to the Pioneer Elite KURO PRO-141FD and fed them the same Blu-ray source, there were striking differences on dark scenes with low inherent contrast, ranging from black to gray with few or no bright highlights. On these scenes, the LG’s picture had a foggy grayness compared with the Pioneer’s rich, deep blacks. The Pioneer’s black bars also nearly vanished on 2.35:1 movies in a darkened room, while the LG’s were always clearly visible."

" However, the Pioneer is likely to be unavailable by the time you read this, not to mention that it is (was) more than twice the price of the LG"

" The LG has outstanding resolution—it was arguably even a bit crisper looking than the Pioneer."

" My wish for a more accurate and stable color gamut and deeper blacks notwithstanding, the LG looks so good on most program material that I can’t come down on it too hard for its few technical short-comings. I enjoyed all the time I spent with it. You might like spending time with it as well."

" When I compared the LG with the Pioneer Elite KURO PRO-141FD, I had to use this Minimum Energy Saving setting to match the two sets’ brightness; the Pioneer’s peak white level hovers around 30 ft-L. "

"The full-on/full-off contrast ratio here is respectable but not exceptional for a modern flat-panel display. Apart from price, the latest LCD displays with local dimming are nipping at the heels of all plasmas (apart from the now discontinued Pioneer KUROs). One positive note here, for some viewers, is that the LG’s usable brightness is relatively high for a plasma, particularly one of this size."

Click here to read the complete LG 60PS80 review at the Home Theater website

[HDTV1080P]

New JVC DLA-RS4000U reference 4K Home Cinema Front Projector is shipping now

(will not be added to the list yet)

In the future the JVC DLA-RS4000U might be the very first Home Theater 4K projector that is added to the list. No review yet that shows if this projector will display 1080P/24 or future 4K signals at multiplies of the original frame rate. Possible might only be a 60HZ 4K projector. The JVC projector is also ISF certified and THX certification is pending.

The DLA-RS4000 has a 10-megapixels image and a resolution of 4,096 X 2,400. Native contrast ratio is only 10,000:1. The price on this 4K JVC DLA-RS4000U is $175,000. BLU-RAY 1080P currently is the best available source material for home video and a 4K optical home video format might not be available until around the year 2016. Priced at $175,000 this projector costs as much as some people spent on their first home. Over several years 4K projectors should become less expensive and we should start to see under $100,000 4K Front Projectors in a few years. Then one day $30,000 and under 4K Front Projectors might become a reality when and if a 4K optical format is launched around 2016. Affordable 4K and 8K displays are many years away and without a 4K or 8K optical disc format, these new displays are only good for upconverting 1080P material.

8K displays are not available for the consumer market yet.

http://pro.jvc.com/prof/attributes/features.jsp?model_id=MDL101894&feature_id=01

http://pro.jvc.com/prof/attributes/tech_desc.jsp?model_id=MDL101894&feature_id=02

[HDTV1080P]

6 new JVC 1080P Front Projectors might be added to the list in the future

JVC is the technology leader in deep black levels and overall picture quality when it comes to Front Projectors. So far all 1080P JVC Front Projectors every made from 2009 and prior years will properly display 1080p/24 material at 96HZ using a 4:4 pulldown method just like professional LCOS digital Cinema theater projectors do at the movie theater. 60HZ material is refreshed at 120HZ on the JVC projectors.

I have been aware of the following 6 new 2010 models of JVC Projectors but have not added them to the list since there has not been a review or spec sheet that mentions how the new models handle 1080p/24. I wish JVC and other companies would mention features like 4:4 pulldown in the spec sheets or manuals so that it would make life easier for the consumer looking for that feature. What normally happens is one needs to wait 6 months or up to a year before a professional review is published to verify that the new models also include the true multiplies of the original frame feature.

The 6 new models for 2010 includes a new "120Hz Clear Motion Drive" that uses a algorithm to add new frames using a interpolation method. Most consumers seem to prefer the interpolation of new frames method over the film quality repeating frame method. Interpolation makes film have a artificial smooth video quality look and has been a very popular feature with consumers that purchase LCD screens. So it's no surprise JVC added a new interpolation of new frames method for the new 2010 models. Most likely the JVC Front Projectors for 2010 will also do either a 4:4 pulldown or 5:5 pulldown for those that prefer the look of film. In the movie theater film is always displayed at multiplies of the original frame rate with no 3:2 pulldown and no interpolation of new frames. The spec sheets do mention the JVC projectors will do a reverse 2-3 pulldown for film based material and double it to 48fps (Then most likely doubled again to 96HZ). No mention of 4:4 pulldown or 96HZ in the spec sheets or manuals. Will need to wait for a review.

The following are the 6 new JVC Front Projectors that might be added to the list in the future

1. JVC DLA-RS35 List Price $9,999.95 70,000:1 Native Contrast Ratio

http://pro.jvc.com/prof/attributes/c...&feature_id=12

2. JVC DLA-HD990 List Price $9,999.95 70,000:1 Native Contrast Ratio

Printer Friendly Specs

3. JVC DLA-RS25 List Price $7,999.95 50,000:1 Native Contrast Ratio

http://pro.jvc.com/prof/attributes/c...&feature_id=12

4. JVC DLA-HD950 List Price $7,999.95 50,000:1 Native Contrast Ratio

Printer Friendly Specs

5. JVC DLA-RS15 List Price $5,500 32,000:1 Native Contrast Ratio

http://pro.jvc.com/prof/attributes/c...&feature_id=12

6. JVC DLA-HD550 List Price $4,999.95 30,000:1 Native Contrast Ratio

Printer Friendly Specs

[HDTV1080P]

The Best 1080P displays and BLU-RAY players for 2009
(does not include discontinued 2008 Pioneer models)

Technically the discontinued 1 year old November 2008 Pioneer plasma displays like the PRO-141FD and PRO-101FD still beat any flat panel introduced in 2009 in the area of black levels and over picture quality. Also all discontinued 9th generation Pioneer plasmas including non Elite models introduced around mid 2008 still out perform any consumer display released in 2009. As time goes on in theory that gap will close over the next few years and perhaps we will see a display that matches or outperforms the Pioneer 9th generation plasmas. Until that time comes professional reviewers will be using the Pioneer as a reference display to compare all other displays too.

The Best 1080P Front Projectors in terms of picture quality

1. For those that own a dedicated dark Home Theater room nothing beats watching a BLU-RAY movie in 1080P quality on a 80-200+ inch screen. Any of the JVC Front projectors on the list would be a excellent choice for the ultimate Home Theater experience. Almost all professional reviewers from magainzes like Widescreen Review, Home Theater, and others have made JVC Front Projectors their reference projector that they use to compare all other projectors too. Also many BLU-RAY movie reviews by many reviewers use top of the line JVC projectors. JVC is the leader in picture quality and black levels when it comes to Front Projectors. Widescreen Review magazine has just recently replaced the JVC RS20 with the new JVC RS35. The improved JVC RS35 is the new reference projector used by Widescreen Review and a review should be published shortly.


Listed below are the old 2009 models, new and improved 2010 models should make the list soon after a review is published to verify how 1080p/24 is handled on the new models

JVC DLA-HD350 LCOS Front Projector (96Hz refresh rate for 1080P/24) 60HZ sources are refreshed at 120HZ

JVC DLA-RS10U LCOS Front Projector (96Hz refresh rate for 1080P/24) 60HZ sources are refreshed at 120HZ

JVC DLA-HD750 LCOS Front Projector (96Hz refresh rate for 1080P/24) 60HZ sources are refreshed at 120HZ

JVC DLA-RS20U LCOS Front Projector (96Hz refresh rate for 1080P/24) 60HZ sources are refreshed at 120HZ

The Best Flat panel 1080P displays for 2009 in terms of picture quality

1. The Samsung UNB8500 series is the winner of 2009 for the best black levels and overall picture quality compared to any other plasma or LCD flat panel every made when viewed from straight on (Except for the discontinued 2008 Pioneer Kuro which has deeper blacks and a better picture then Samsung). The Samsung UNB8500 series comes in two sizes. 55 inch and a 46 inch size (UN55B8500 and UN46B8500). It offers true 10:10 pulldown at 240HZ when Auto Motion Plus is turned off and uses LED Local Dimming Backlighting. For those that do a lot of off angle viewing then the Panasonic V10 series would be a better choice. Click the following link for a review summary on the Samsung UN8500 series:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=2500236&postcount=843

2. A close second to the Samsung UNB8500 in overall picture quality would be the Panasonic V10 series which is 100% flicker free when set to 96HZ. The advantage of plasma displays is they have better off angle viewing and better response times but the V10 black levels are not as good as the Samsung's top of the line UNB8500 LCD series. The Panasonic V10 series comes in 65 inches, 58 inches, 54 inches, and 50 inch sizes. Click the following link to read a review summary on the Panasonic V10:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=1998116&postcount=770

The Best 2009 BLU-RAY players in terms of overall picture and sound quality
(over HDMI)

1. The OPPO BDP-83 is the winner of 2009 for being the best overall BLU-RAY player in picture and sound quality over HDMI. Just about every video professional has made the OPPO BLU-RAY player their reference BLU-RAY player to compare all other BLU-RAY players too. Starting at only $499 the OPPO player outperforms or matches BLU-RAY players costing $4,500 or more in the area of video processing performance. Just recently the OPPO player with the latest September 2009 firmware update is now faster at loading discs compared to the PS3. Also full power on performance is faster when compared to the reference Sony PS3. The OPPO BDP-83 has become the new reference player and can be ordered with 4 different options with prices between $499-$1,295.

Click the following link for information on the 4 different versions of the OPPO BDP-83. (Prices between $499-$1,295):

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=2521054&postcount=1

Reference link to article that mentions that the OPPO is faster than the Sony PS3:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=2576215&postcount=1

2. The Panasonic DMP-BD80 is the second best BLU-RAY player this year (load times faster then many several thousand dollar players and video performance comparable to some several thousand dollar players when HDMI is used). For those looking to save money the Panasonic DMP-BD60 is exactly the same as the DMP-BD80 accept for the fact the DMP-BD60 does not have 7.1 analog outputs for consumers that own legacy receivers with no HDMI audio capabilities. The Panasonic players have an excellent video processor that is close to the quality of the OPPO. Just like the OPPO players the Panasonic players will do reverse 3-2 pulldown for film based 480i DVD's. The Panasonic players do not have 1GB of built in memory like the OPPO player does. For BD-LIVE a external 1GB or larger SD card needs to be purchased. Also the Panasonic players will not play Super Audio CD's and DVD-Audio discs which are a niche audiophile formats that the OPPO players play. The Panasonic players also will not load discs as fast as the OPPO BDP-83. But the low price on the Panasonic makes it a attractive player for those looking for excellent performance at a cheap price. The Panasonic BLU-RAY player prices change everyday at Amazon and other mail order companies.

Currently the DMP-BD80 costs around $230

http://www1.bottomdollar.com/p__Panasonic_DMP_BD80_Blu_ray_Disc_Player,__717099 503/search=Panasonic%2BDMP-BD80

Currently the DMP-BD60 costs around $130

http://www1.bottomdollar.com/p__Panasonic_DMP_BD60_Blu_ray_Player,__716924262/search=DMP-BD60

Click the following link to read the Home Theater review on the Panasonic DMP-BD60 (DMP-BD80 slightly better since it offers 7.1 analog outputs)

http://hometheatermag.com/discplayers/panasonic_dmp-bd60_blu-ray_player/index.html

UPDATED with current Panasonic BLU-RAY player pricing info.

Back in early November the Panasonic DMP-BD80K that has a current list price of $249.95 could be found at Amazon for under $160 with free shipping. Then slowly over a period of about 4 weeks the player has increased in price from online dealers. There are some dealers selling the player for around $400 now. The cheapest price a Amazon merchant has the player for now is $319. According to one of my reliable mail order sources the Panasonic DMP-BD80 has went out of production. According to Panasonics website the player is just backordered.

Since the Panasonic DMP-BD80 is either out of production or back ordered I would not recommend paying around $400 for the player from the companies that have it in stock. One can currently purchase the Panasonic BDP-BD60 for only $129.95 with free shipping from Amazon (prices change daily). The Panasonic BDP-BD60 is almost the exact same player as the DMP-BD80 except for the fact there is no 7.1 analog outputs on the BDP-BD60.

If one really needs analog 7.1 outputs it would be better to spend $499 on a OPPO BDP-83 then to pay around $400 for a Panasonic DMP-BD80.

[HDTV1080P]

Samsung 240HZ UN55B8500 1080P LCD Flat Panel review link

(November 2009 Home Theater Review link)

(Samsung UN55B8500 compared to the discontinued reference Pioneer PRO-141FD)

According to the Home Theater review the Samsung UN55B8500 that uses the LCD with Local Dimming LED backlighting falls short in the area of deep black levels and shadow detail when compared to the discontinued Pioneer PRO-141FD. In terms of color quality and resolution the Samsung is about the same quality as a Pioneer plasma. The Samsung LCD has a brighter picture then the Pioneer and it also uses less power. Overall the one year old November 2008 Pioneer PRO-141FD still has a better picture quality since it has deeper black levels and better shadow details when compared to Samsungs top of the line LCD display. There is also a 46 inch version of the Samsung called UN46B8500 that has the exact same picture quality as the 55 inch model.

Thomas J Norton at the Home theater website did an excellent job describing how the 240HZ process works on the Samsung. The list has been updated with the Home Theater magazine review link. The 240HZ motion feature by Samsung for some reason is called by three different names. The Samsung spec sheet calls it "Auto Motion Plus 240Hz", the Samsung instruction manual on page 20 calls it "Auto Motion Pro 240Hz". The Home Theater review calls the Samsung 240Hz feature "Real 240Hz". Technically unless the name in the menu changes from a firmware update I wish everyone would use the same name to avoid confusion. The 240HZ Samsung B8500 series will always display everything at 240HZ using either the repeat frame method or interpolation of new frames method. When the 240HZ motion feature is turned off in the Samsung menu the Samsung will do a true 10:10 pulldown when it receives a 1080p/24 signal. Another nice feature on the Samsung UN55B8500 is that if the source signal is film based and under 1080p/24 quality the Samsung will do a reverse 3:2 pulldown and covert the DVD, cable, or satellite signal to 24HZ and then upconvert it to 1080P at 240HZ.

Thomas J Norton at Home Theater magazine also mentioned in the review that if the judder setting is set to 0 and the Blur setting is set to a high number the Samsung will automatically switch off frame interpolation for film based material and then switch on interpolation for non film based material like sports and video programming. Some people like interpolation of new frames when watching sports to make the image more smooth. The discontinued Pioneer plasmas automatically do a 3:3 pulldown (72HZ) for 1080p/24 material regardless of the menu settings. When the advanced mode is turned on in the Pioneer's they also do a reverse 3:2 pulldown for film based sources like cable, satellite, and DVD.

I have personally seen the Samsung UN55B8500 in operation. It has an excellent picture quality. It is the best LCD screen that I have every seen so far when viewed straight on. Both CNET and Home Theater magazine were very impressed at the picture quality that the Samsung UN55B8500 offers.

The following are select quotes from the November 2009 Home theater magazine review


"The UN55B8500 is a 240-hertz set; it operates at a constant 240-Hz refresh rate for all sources. If the source is film based and transferred at 1080p/24, the Samsung repeats each frame nine times (10:10 pulldown) to bring the source frame rate up to 240 Hz. If the set receives a film-based source other than 1080p/24—that is, one mastered with 3:2 pulldown—it recognizes this, converts it to 24 Hz (by eliminating the 3:2 pulldown), and again repeats frames as needed by the 240-Hz refresh rate. If the source isn’t film based, the set repeats frames as needed for a 240-Hz refresh."

"The UN55B8500 also offers frame interpolation, which it calls Real 240Hz, to reduce motion lag. When it’s switched on, the set interpolates the added frames instead of simply repeating them, which cleans up motion blur dramatically. Some viewers like the result; others hate what it does to the look of film, which is smoothed out so much that movies end up looking like soap operas. However, for some films, that might be appropriate!"

"Real 240Hz offers four active modes. The most intriguing is Custom, which has separate controls for Judder Reduction (for film-based sources) and Blur Reduction (for video-based material). Despite the distinctive names, each of these controls dials in frame interpolation. But they let you set different levels of interpolation for each type of source. When Custom is engaged, the set distinguishes between a film and video source and automatically dials in your chosen setting, as appropriate. If you don’t like what interpolation does to movies at any setting, you can set Judder to 0 and Blur to perhaps 7 or 8. The set will then switch on frame interpolation for video programming such as sports but leave it off for films."

Click here to read the complete Samsung UN55B8500 review at the Home Theater website

"While the UN55B8500 may not be the slimmest set in Samsung’s stable, at 1.6 inches thin, it isn’t far from it."

"I did have a few minor quibbles with the Samsung’s generally good onscreen menus. The most annoying thing was that some of them timed out too fast, particularly those associated with white balance and color space calibration."

" Like most LCD displays, the UN55B8500’s picture degrades progressively as you sit further and further off axis. But while you, the fussy videophile, will demand dibs on the middle seat, most viewers won’t be troubled as long as they stay within 30 degrees or so of center. This will cover any seat on a typical couch that’s roughly 10 feet from the set."

"I’ve reviewed local-dimming sets that go a bit darker than the Samsung, but the visual impact of the Samsung’s black level was still first class."

"I only noticed its shortcomings in a direct side-by-side comparison with a Pioneer Elite KURO PRO-141FD on the most challenging, low-contrast scenes, such as the below-decks sequence at the beginning of Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. The Samsung can run neck and neck with the discontinued and fast-disappearing KUROs in terms of color, resolution, and adjustability. It can also easily beat them in available brightness and energy efficiency. But while the Samsung approaches the KUROs’ overall black level and shadow detail, and does so in impressive fashion, it still falls short—as do all of the other sets we’ve tested, to be fair."

"Conclusions
The Samsung UN55B8500 doesn’t just offer a wide range of useful adjustments and other features. It also provides a natural-looking picture that impressed me and all the others who had the chance to see it. Yes, it’s a bit pricey, but there’s more to being a top-of-the-pile set than Blue Light Special status. The UN55B8500 is a superb HDTV."

Click here to read the complete Samsung UN55B8500 review at the Home Theater website

[HDTV1080P]

Panasonic 48HZ G15 series and Panasonic 96HZ TC-P54Z1 have been added to the list

(4 more Panasonic plasma's added to the list)

I was waiting for months for a professional review to be released before adding the G15 series and TC-P54Z1 to the list, but no review has been published yet mentioning the 24P feature. Sometimes it takes around 6 months or more for a professional review to be written for some models. There are so many models of displays on the market that some models are never reviewed. According to page 35 of the G15 series instruction manual the display has a 48HZ and 60HZ mode. Panasonic plasma screens have a brighter screen when compared to a 48HZ Front Projector, most likely the G15 series will produce a visible flicker just like the G10 series does when placed in the 48HZ mode during BLU-RAY watching.

Quote from page 35 of G15 series instruction manual:


" 48Hz: Achieves more cinematic playback by reproducing the movie contents at twice the speed of 24 frames per second. (60Hz/48Hz)"

http://service.us.panasonic.com/OPERMANPDF/TCP42G15.PDF

Panasonic TC-P54Z1 is similar to the V10 series but with added feature

The Panasonic TC-P54Z1 is a ultra thin 96HZ plasma screen with a list price of $5,499.95. Picture quality features like 96HZ are exactly the same as the V10 series. The picture quality in terms of contrast ratio between the V10 and Z1 are exactly the same according to the specs (40,000:1 contrast ratio). The main advantage of the 54 inch Z1 is its ultra thin at 1 inches thick. It requires the use of a external wireless HD media box in order to achieve the thin size (media box included with display). Personally I do not like wireless media boxes since sometimes RF interference can occur to mess with the picture quality. In most cases wireless media boxes will provide the same quality as a HDMI cable. Some consumers like external wireless media boxes for easy flat panel wall mounting installs. No need to run HDMI cables in the walls or down the wall. The sound quality of the internal speakers are also better on the TC-P54Z1 compared to the V10 series. In theory since the contrast ratio is the same between the V10 and the TC-P54Z1 the picture quality might also be exactly the same. I have seen both the V10 and TC-P54Z1 on display but I did not have the opportunity to see both of them side by side. The V10 series is a better value display that uses standard reliable HDMI cables instead of a media box. Hopefully a review will be published in the future on the Z1 that will provide more details. Just like the V10 series the TC-P54Z1 uses the same method to handle 1080P/24. The choices are 60HZ with 3:2 pulldown judder added, 48HZ that may cause visible flicker, and 96HZ which is 100% flicker free. I am still surprised Panasonic still offers the 48HZ and 60HZ option for 1080p/24 instead of just outputing all 1080p/24 source material at 96HZ only. All the discountined Pioneer 1080P's would automatically always use 72HZ for 1080p/24 regardless of menu settings.

According to page 41 of the instruction manual on the Panasonic TC-P54Z1 it mentions that the 48HZ setting may cause a visible flicker to be seen. 96HZ will provide 100% flicker free picture with true film quality 4:4 pulldown.

Quote from page 41 of the TC-P54Z1 instruction manual:

" 96Hz/48Hz: Achieves more cinematic playback by reproducing the movie contents at 2 or 4 times the
speed of 24 frames per second. (96Hz/60Hz/48Hz) • If flicker is seen using 48Hz, please use 60Hz or 96Hz."

http://service.us.panasonic.com/OPERMANPDF/TCP54Z1.PDF

Added to the list
Panasonic TC-P42G15 (48HZ)
Panasonic TC-P46G15 (48HZ)
Panasonic TC-P50G15 (48HZ)
Panasonic TC-P54Z1 (96HZ)

[HDTV1080P]

Panasonic TC-P58V10 1080P Plasma screen

(December 2009 Home Theater magazine review link)

The Panasonic V10 is one of the best plasma screens available in 2009. When the V10 was compared to the discontinued reference Pioneer PRO-141FD in the Home Theater magazine review the Pioneer had an overall better picture quality do too Pioneers inky deep blacks. According to the review the Pioneer and Panasonic were about the same quality in the area of color and resolution.

When the Panasonic V10 was compared to the reference quality Samsung UN55B8500 LCD king of 2009 the Samsung beat the V10 in the area of deeper blacks and matched the Panasonic V10 in color. The Samsung also had a sharper picture compared to the Panasonic. On challenging real world material the V10 showed more stars when watching space scenes. The Panasonic did out perform the Samsung UN55B8500 with the V10's awesome off axis performance. One can seat around 180 degrees off axis on a plasma set and have a picture that remains unchanged in quality.

The Panasonic black levels are not as deep as a Pioneer plasma or the top of the line Samsung LCD with Local Dimming LED backlighting, but the Panasonic V10 black levels match the quality of a $7,500 Panasonic PRO plasma screen according to the review. The expensive Panasonic TH-65VX100U used 48HZ with "pseudo 96HZ" to minimize flicker. The Panasonic V10 uses true film quality 4:4 pulldown 96HZ to completely eliminate the flicker. The V10 also includes the 60HZ setting for those that want to compare 3:2 pulldown judder during camera pans to the 96HZ film quality mode. For some reason Panasonic also included the 48HZ mode that has the unpopular visible flicker like the G10 series does. For best picture quality results the V10 should be set at 96HZ. One nice feature on the discontinued Pioneers is that they always displayed 1080P/24 material at 72HZ regardless of the menu settings. Also the V10 video processor is not as good as the Pioneer. The Pioneer would perform a reverse 3:2 pulldown when watching film based sources on DVD, cable, and satellite and upconvert the image to 1080P at 72HZ. The Panasonic V10 upconvert from 480I is lower quality and it also will not do a reverse 3:2 pulldown for film based material.

Overall the V10 series is an excellent value that costs less then the Samsung UNB8500 series and less then a discontinued Pioneer Elite Signature series PRO-141FD.

When clicking on the TC-P50V10 and TC-P54V10 links on the main list it will take you to the CNET review on the 50 inch V10 since both those models use the one sheet of glass design. The TC-P58V10 and TC-P65V10 are the same in picture quality but use a little bit different design. Clicking on those links from the main list will take you to the TC-P58V10 Home Theater review link.

The following are select word for word quotes from the December 2009 Home Theater magazine review link

"Best blacks yet from Panasonic"

"THX certified"

"Superb off-axis performance"

"This is the first Panasonic HDTV I’ve tested that treats a 1080p/24 source optimally. When it sees a 1080p/60 source, it does the standard 1080p/60 schtick. But when you give it 1080p/24, there are three options: 60 hertz (with 3:2 pulldown added), 48 Hz (this repeats each frame twice, which doesn’t compromise the benefits of the source’s 24-fps frame rate but does produce visible flicker), or 96 Hz. The latter, as a direct multiple of 24 fps, keeps the benefits of the film frame rate without flicker. It’s the best, no-compromise option."

** Click here to read the complete review at the Home Theater website **

"The Video Test Bench chart doesn’t cover standard-definition upconversion from 480i to 1080p (all of the test results in the chart are 1080i to 1080p except for Scaling, which is 480p to 1080p), but the Panasonic had some difficulties with SD sources. It failed our most challenging 2:2 and 3:2 pulldown tests. Again, this didn’t produce excessive artifacts on normal program material, but the set’s 480i-to-1080p upconversion did produce a slightly soft image. While the set handled 480i sources adequately, if you can convert them to 1080p before sending them to the set (as with an upconverting DVD or Blu-ray player), you might get better results if the external device has better video processing."

"The single subjective shortcoming is the set’s fullscreen black level. True, the Panasonic is impressive in this area compared with most sets. The TC-P58V10’s blacks are as deep as those we measured on the Panasonic Premiere TH-65VX100U plasma HDTV we reviewed in the April 2009 issue. That set is a monitor (no speakers or HD tuner) marketed by Panasonic’s professional division—currently for $7,500. Of the other plasmas we’ve tested, only the Pioneer KUROs have produced consistently deeper blacks than either of these Panasonics, and most have been far worse."

"It’s only by that standard, and that of the best LCD local-dimming sets, that the TC-P58V10 comes up a little short. You will clearly see the black bars in the widest widescreen movies (movies shot at 2.35:1 or thereabouts)."

"At 58 inches (diagonal), the Panasonic is just slightly larger than the 55-inch Samsung UN55B8500 LCD HDTV also reviewed in this issue (see page 32). And at $2,700, the Panasonic is considerably cheaper. Nevertheless, when I viewed the two sets side by side after calibration, they looked strikingly similar at first. Both had virtually identical color (after calibration). However, the Samsung did win in small but important ways. Its blacks were generally better on the most challenging material. But on occasional shots, such as a densely packed star field against the infinity of space, the Panasonic clearly showed more stars, although they were presented against a lighter black background. The Samsung was also a little sharper, although it would be hard to criticize either set in this regard. On the Panasonic’s side of the ledger, in addition to size and value, was its off-axis performance. No LCD can equal a plasma in this respect. You can sit almost 180 degrees off axis on a plasma set and still experience an image that’s virtually unchanged in quality from the on-axis position."

"I’ve mentioned the Pioneer KUROs’ black level superiority already, so I’ll only add that on those star fields, the Pioneer Elite KURO PRO-141FD (the 60-inch set used in the comparison, HT, May 2009) shows as many stars as the Panasonic. It also sets them against an inky, nearly pure black background—an effect that never fails to make me gasp. In terms of color and resolution, the Panasonic and Pioneer ran an even race. And it’s only fair to emphasize here that the KUROs are not only no longer in production, they were designed to be sold at far higher prices than the Panasonic ($7,000 for the 60-inch Elite KURO PRO-141FD)."

** Click here to read the complete review at the Home Theater website **

[HDTV1080P]

Panasonic TC-P58V10 1080P Plasma
(Feb-March 2010 Sound and Vision magazine review)

Even though the Panasonic V10 series does not offer as deep as blacks compared to a discontinued Pioneer Kuro or current in production Samsung UN55B8500, the Panasonic is a good value display for the money. Sound and Vision magazine like all other reviews mentions the Panasonic V10 has a flicker at 48HZ but the 96HZ setting is 100% flicker free with true 4:4 pulldown just like a cinema LCOS Sony projector. The Panasonic V10 will deliver the true film quality 1080P/24 BLU-RAY movie frame rate when the V10 is set to 96HZ.


Here are some select quotes from pages 56-58 of the February-March 2010 Sound and Vision magazine


"1080p/24 signals viewed with the Panasonic's 96-Hz or 60-Hz display modes were stable, but the 48-Hz setting produced noticeable flicker."

"...you'll have to work hard to find any HDTV that can beat its level of image quality at the same price. This one comes highly recommended."

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/con...-plasma-hdtv-0

[HDTV1080P]

Digital Projection M-Vision Cine 1080P LED DLP Front Projector

(January 2010 Ultimate AV magazine review link)

This new 1080P Front Projector from Digital Projection is one of the lowest priced LED based DLP projectors on the market. $16,995 with fixed lens and $15,995 with zoom lens. The Projector will properly display 1080p/24 source material from BLU-RAY at 48HZ automatically (Review link and projector added to the list). The only real negative of this projector is it does not have as deep as blacks when compared to some projectors. A JVC LCOS Front Projector offers a better picture with its deeper black levels. Also another negative is this LED DLP projector has a low light output compared to most projectors. Most other projectors have a brighter light output.

There are many positives with this Digital Projection LED DLP

1. No lamp to replace (60,000 hours LED life rating). This is a big positive.

2. No color wheel so fewer rainbow effects.

3. LED's use less power, LED's don't change brightness and color levels over time. Most other projectors color and brightness change over time until the bulb is replaced.

Perhaps in 2-5 years we may see LED projectors that are priced below $10,000 or even possible as low as around $5,000 one day. If the black levels and light level could be improved over the years then these projectors would become popular with mainstream consumers. The two main things that some people do not like about projectors are, low level light output and needing to change the bulb around 3,000 hours or so. Eliminating those issues would make projectors more popular.

The following are word for word quotes from the review

"Also of interest is the projector's ability to display 1080p/24 at 48Hz. The control for this function is hidden in a password-protected service menu and defaults to Auto, which uses 48Hz for 1080p/24 and 60Hz for 1080p/60 and 1080i. (The projector can also operate at 50Hz for European content.)"

Click here to read the complete review at the Ultimate AV magazine website

"Price: $15,995 w/zoom lens, $16,995 w/fixed lens (MSRP); lamp replacement, N/A"

"Highs
LED illumination means no lamp replacement
LEDs don't change color or brightness over time
LEDs consume less power and generate less heat than lamps
No color wheel, fewer "rainbow" artifacts
Superb color, detail, shadow detail
Excellent video processing
Lows
Relatively low light output
Real-world blacks could be deeper"

"The projector is available with three lens options—two zooms (1.56-1.86, 1.85-2.40) and one fixed (0.73). Interestingly, the fixed lens adds $1000 to the price because of its superior optics. According to Digital Projection, the company is simply passing on the extra cost, it's not making any more profit on the fixed-lens version."

"Another option is an ISCO anamorphic lens with motorized sled, which costs an additional $13,000. The sled can only be attached to the projector in a ceiling-mount configuration, and the required hardware is another $500. I didn't test this option, though I was told that the firmware was not working correctly, electronically stretching the image horizontally instead of vertically. It should be fixed by the time you read this."


"Of course, the Cine LED's primary feature is its LED illumination, which is provided by three PhlatLight LEDs—one red, one green, and one blue—from a company called Luminus. Using LEDs instead of a conventional lamp affords several advantages. First of all, you don't have to worry about replacing the lamp—the LEDs have a rated lifespan of 60,000 hours. Also, the brightness and color don't change over time, and they consume much less power and generate much less heat than conventional lamps."

"Another advantage is that LEDs can be quickly dimmed and brightened, so there's no need for a dynamic iris. Finally, using LEDs in a single-chip DLP projector eliminates the need for a spinning color wheel, since the LEDs can be sequentially cycled on and off even faster than the color filters can move into and out of place, greatly reducing any "rainbow" artifacts."

"So what's the downside? Light output—the Cine LED is rated at 600 lumens, far lower than most high-end projectors. As a result, the image size is more limited than comparable lamp-based projectors, and any ambient light will seriously wash out the image."

"On Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the letterbox bars were not that dark and clearly visible in dark scenes, which comprise most of this movie. Overall detail was nice and sharp, and shadow detail was excellent in the scene where Harry and Dumbledore are searching for Professor Slaghorne. Both Tom Norton and I agreed that the preset with BrilliantColor on looked more natural, and neither of us saw any rainbow artifacts, to which Tom is particularly susceptible."

"Conclusion
I really enjoyed watching the M-Vision Cine LED. Detail is impeccable, at least on HD material, colors are rich but natural, video processing is exceptional, and shadow detail is among the best I've seen in a long time. Its only shortcoming is the depth of blacks in real program material, which doesn't seem to conform to the black-level measurement I obtained, a discrepancy I can't explain."

"After spending some time with this projector, I'm convinced that LED illumination is a viable alternative to conventional lamps, offering many advantages and few drawbacks. And this particular model is among the least-expensive of those that have been announced so far. If you have the right room and screen, the M-Vision Cine LED will deliver an engaging image that's sure to please for 60,000 hours to come."

Click here to read the complete review at the Ultimate AV magazine website

[HDTV1080P]

Update

** It looks like HDMI 1.3 and possible DVI will support 3D 1080P. HDMI 1.4 will not be needed. **

http://hd.engadget.com/2010/02/16/sonys-blu-ray-players-do-3d-in-1080p-even-with-hdmi-1-3/

Currently all the 1080P displays on the list are 2-D only displays for now

Disclaimer: The following information might not be 100% accurate since not everything is known about how the new 3-D Blu-ray system will work.

Hardware and Software Engineers keep creating new products that in general most of the time are improvements from prior models. In late 2010 or sometime in 2011 there might be several companies releasing 3-D Blu-ray players and 3-D displays. These products can always be delayed, but some are scheduled for later this year.
The 3-D feature will be a feature that can be found on some of the high-end 1080P displays coming in late 2010 and beyond. Hopefully the first 3-D displays will display 2-D material at a high quality level.

Currently the 2-D Pioneer plasma is king in terms of overall 1080P flat screen picture quality. Hopefully in the future some of the new 3-D displays will match or beat the Pioneer in picture quality. We are in 2010 and a 2 year old 2008 model Pioneer beats the picture quality of all 1080P displays so far.

To watch movies in 3-D at 1080P quality it will require the following new equipment

Currently all or most 1080P USA consumer displays on the market only accept 1080P signals at 24HZ and 60HZ. New 3-D displays will in theory need to accept 1080P at 48HZ and 120HZ.


1. A new 1080P display with a 3-D feature: Some of the first 1080P displays might display 3-D at only 1080i quality if they use only HDMI 1.3. With HDMI 1.3 this would allow a display to accept a 1080P/24 2-D signal from a BLU-RAY player. 3-D material from the Sony Playstation 3 most likely will be only 1080I 3-D quality. To view true 1080P quality 3-D it will require consumers to purchase a 3-D 1080P display with a HDMI 1.4 input plus a new 1080P 3-D Blu-ray player with HDMI 1.4. Some of the first 1080P 3-D displays with HDMI 1.4 might only accept 1080P signals at 120HZ instead of 48HZ. 1080P/48HZ would be better since that would be the frame rate of the original 3-D film. 1080P at 120HZ would mean that 3:2 pulldown is being used (60HZ per each eye equals 120HZ).

Low refresh rates like 96HZ might produce a visible flicker on the screen for 3-D material. Since flat screen plasma and LCD screens have a much brighter screen when compared to a Front projector, it is possible that a flicker will be present for 3-D material unless the refresh rate is at least 120HZ on the screen. To get a good quality flat screen 3-D effects with no flicker it might require screens with a 240HZ or 480HZ refresh rate or higher (Will need to wait for a review to know for sure).

A true 1080P 3-D display that does not use 3:2 pulldown and accepts a 1080P/48HZ signal will require a refresh rate of 144HZ, 192HZ, 240HZ, 288HZ, 336HZ, 384HZ, 432HZ, 480HZ or higher multiples of 48HZ.During the first few years 99% of the programs people watch on their new 3-D display will be 2-D programs until more movies are made in 3-D.

240HZ and 480HZ would be ideal refresh rates for both 2-D and 3-D BLU-RAY material. 240HZ would offer true 10:10 pulldown for 2-D 1080P material and 5:5 pulldown for 3-D BLU-RAY material. 480HZ would be 20:20 pulldown for 2-D 1080P and 10:10 pulldown for 3-D 1080P BLU-RAY material.
The following link is a good read about 3-D and is one of the sources I used to write this post:

HD Advisor Forty 3-D! | High-Def Digest

2. A new 3-D 1080P BLU-RAY player with HDMI 1.4 will be need: According to articles I have read HDMI 1.3 cannot handle a 1080P frame-sequential 3-D image. So the Sony PS3 will only output 1080I quality 3-D according to current information available. So those that want true 1080P 3-D will need a new 3-D BLU-RAY player with HDMI 1.4.
Hopefully all the new 3-D BLU-RAY players will offer a 1080P/48HZ output over HDMI 1.4. Some of the first generation 3-D BLU-RAY player models might offer 1080P/120HZ only with 3:2 pulldown.

The following link is a good read about 3-D and is one of the sources I used to write this post:
HD Advisor Forty 3-D! | High-Def Digest

3. New HDMI 1.4 Cables will be needed for future 3-D and 2-D 4K equipment.
http://www.hdmi.org/manufacturer/hdmi_1_4/hdmi_1_4_faq.aspx#1

4. Some people will need a new HDMI 1.4 A/V receiver: The 3-D movies and 2-D BLU-RAY movies use the same studio master audio formats like PCM, DTS-HD Master Audio, and Dolby True HD. So the only reason one would need to upgrade their A/V receiver to HDMI 1.4 is if they want 3-D video switching capability. Some of the higher-end HDMI 1.4 receivers will also support 2-D 4K video switching where as the low end HDMI 1.4 receivers will be limited to 1080P switching.

5. 3-D glasses for each person that costs between $70-$100 will also be required to watch 3-D Blu-rays.

[gekke henkie]

Great post; thanks!

Quote: "Some of the first 1080P displays might display 3-D at only 1080i quality if they use only HDMI 1.3"
LG's announced 3D-projector has only HDMI 1.3 connections and will therefore (probably) only accept 3D-1080i signals. However, their marketing info also mentions Full-HD 1080p, but since it upconverts 1080i to 1080p this claim is partly true, but a bit misleading IMHO

Quote: "240HZ and 480HZ would be ideal refresh rates for both 2-D and 3-D BLU-RAY material."
I totally agree, but I am affraid that will limit us (in the near future) to LCD's only, because I think it is unlikely to see these refresh rates with 3D plasmas or 3D projectors. By the way, LG's annouced 55" 3D LCD will also be compatible with FujiFilms auto-stereoscopic picture format and can convert the file internally to a shutter-glass compatible picture

Quote: "4. Some people will need a new HDMI 1.4 A/V receiver"
I agree regarding the video-switching part, but I like to add that Panasonic's annouced 3D Blu-ray player will have 2 HDMI outputs, one HDMI 1.4 for direct hook-up to your 3D-display, and one HDMI 1.3 for compatibility with your current A/V-equipment; just another (cost saving) option

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by gekke henkie

Great post; thanks!

Quote: "Some of the first 1080P displays might display 3-D at only 1080i quality if they use only HDMI 1.3"
LG's announced 3D-projector has only HDMI 1.3 connections and will therefore (probably) only accept 3D-1080i signals. However, their marketing info also mentions Full-HD 1080p, but since it upconverts 1080i to 1080p this claim is partly true, but a bit misleading IMHO

Quote: "240HZ and 480HZ would be ideal refresh rates for both 2-D and 3-D BLU-RAY material."
I totally agree, but I am affraid that will limit us (in the near future) to LCD's only, because I think it is unlikely to see these refresh rates with 3D plasmas or 3D projectors. By the way, LG's annouced 55" 3D LCD will also be compatible with FujiFilms auto-stereoscopic picture format and can convert the file internally to a shutter-glass compatible picture

Quote: "4. Some people will need a new HDMI 1.4 A/V receiver"
I agree regarding the video-switching part, but I like to add that Panasonic's annouced 3D Blu-ray player will have 2 HDMI outputs, one HDMI 1.4 for direct hook-up to your 3D-display, and one HDMI 1.3 for compatibility with your current A/V-equipment; just another (cost saving) option

Those are all excellent comments you made.

Hopefully companies will label products correctly. Many lower cost 1080P displays with HDMI 1.3 might not advertise that the display is a 1080i 3-D display. Hopefully companies will use words like "True 3-D 1080P" for products that use HDMI 1.4 with true 3-D at 1080P.

Also hopefully plasma manufactories will start making 3-D TV's that will handle multiples of 48HZ. At 144HZ that would be 3:3 pulldown for 48HZ. That would most likely be the very minimum refresh rate that a flat panel display could display flicker free 3-D images and maintain 48P cinema frame rate. 96HZ hertz (48HZ for each eye) might introduce visible flicker. 120HZ might work fine for 3-D but it would add 6:4 pulldown (3:2 pulldown for each eye). Hopefully future plasmas will be 120HZ for 2-D material and at least 144HZ for 3-D material. Better yet 240HZ and 480HZ would be even better refresh rates to use. A Front Projector might be able to handle 3D 1080P/48HZ at a 96HZ refresh rate with no visible flicker since the brightness is lower then a flat panel LCD or plasma.

It's a good thing that high-end LCD displays are now beating the quality of some of the best plasma screens. For example the Samsung 240HZ UN55B8500 2-D 1080P display that uses Local Dimming LED backlighting has deeper black levels then current Panasonic, Samsung, and LG plasma technology. Some of the new 480HZ 3-D displays should be very good 3-D with no visible flicker.

I also read about some of the new 3-D BLU-RAY players coming late 2010 will include two HDMI outputs. That way consumers only need to purchase a new A/V receiver if they want to use the receiver as a video switcher. I could have been more clear and should have mentioned some players will have 2 HDMI outputs.

[HDTV1080P]

More 3-D Cinema frame rate information

(144fps minimum is required for 3-D Digital Cinema projection)

In the movie theater 3-D movies are encoded at 48fps (24fps per each eye). The 3-D image in the theater needs to be flashed on the screen at multiplies of 48fps. Standard 2-D movies in the theater can be flashed on the screen at 48HZ with excellent flicker free results but 3-D movies would have an unwatchable flicker on the screen if 48HZ (fps) was used.

Currently all the digital DLP 3-D projectors use 144fps for 3-D films to minimize flicker. So future Home 3-D DLP Front Projectors and most likely all other home 3-D Front Projectors will require a minimum of 144fps to offer flicker free Cinema quality 3-D movie playback at multiplies of the original frame rate. Possible 120HZ might work with Front Projectors using 6:4 pulldown (3:2 pulldown for each eye) but then there would be judder during camera pans.

When watching 3-D Flat Screen plasma's and 3-D LCD screens with 3-D material playing there might be flicker problems at 144HZ since they have a lot brighter screen compared to a movie projector and a Front Projector. Future Plasma's and LCD screens might need a minimum of 240HZ when watching 3-D movies if one wants to view flicker free quality playback with no eye fatigue.

It is possible that some shutter glass technologies by some companies will use a much higher refresh rate to reduce or eliminate the flicker on future 3-D flat panels that only use a refresh rate of a 144HZ or less . If companies increase the shutter glasses refresh rate then the display would be able to work at a lower refresh rate.

What is disturbing news is that some 3-D flat panels coming to market are going to use only a 120HZ refresh rate when the minimum rate in the theater is 144fps. Special shutter glasses in the home with high refresh rates are going to be needed in order to compensate for the low refresh rates of 120HZ displays. 120HZ with 3-D also has 3:2 pulldown judder for each eye during camera pans.


The ideal refresh rates for 3-D flat panels in the home will be 480HZ and 240HZ. Both 3-D and 2-D material will be able to be properly displayed at multiplies of the original frame rate with flicker free viewing.

The following is a quote and link to information regarding 144fps being used in 100% of all 3-D Digital Cinema's

"The commonality between all single-projector digital 3-D solutions is that they effectively show images in rapid succession to create the 3-D effect. These images are projected at 48fps (24fps per eye) then often "triple-flashed" to minimize flicker that can lead to eye fatigue (as such most digital presentations are technically at 144fps in sequential order: L1 R1 L1 R1 L1 R1 L2 R2 etc). IMAX has both analog and digital 3-D projection methodologies, the former using 70mm film, the latter using dual digital projectors. It's also worth noting that the majority of the installed projectors aren't actually projecting a full 2K resolution image due to the need for "triple-flashing". The current generation of DLP projectors, however, are capable of "triple-flashing" in full resolution."

" Fundamentally, the challenge with existing home theatre equipment is the generally unsupported 1080p48 signal. HDMI 1.3 has the requisite bandwidth, technically, but there is an implementation issue that HDMI 1.4 is currently set to address. In addition, while the signal will be 1080p48 (or 1080i96...same data rate) the television will need to effectively "flash" the data multiple times to present a quality 3-D experience that minimizes eye fatigue, headaches, etc. While that isn't an issue for Blu-ray players and HDMI, it is a challenge for TV manufacturers that don't currently offer televisions with the requisite internal bandwidth. In the example of digital cinema, the projectors are effectively exhibiting 1080p144."

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Joshua_Zyber/HD_Advisor/HD_Advisor_.44_Magnum_Force/4194

Update

** It looks like HDMI 1.3 and possible DVI will support 3D 1080P. HDMI 1.4 will not be needed. **

http://hd.engadget.com/2010/02/16/sonys-blu-ray-players-do-3d-in-1080p-even-with-hdmi-1-3/

[HDTV1080P]

8 Sharp LCD displays have been added to the list

One nice feature that I like on the Sharp LCD flat screens is the automatic 1080P/24 feature. On most other brands of flat panels consumers need to mess around inside the menu to adjust the Motion features to the optimal setting. With the Sharp displays that have "Fine Motion Enhanced" feature the display will always properly display 1080P/24 signals at 96HZ regardless of the menu settings. This is a very nice consumer friendly feature. Just connect a BLU-RAY player with 1080P/24 output mode and the Sharp display always does a correct 4:4 pulldown regardless of the menu setting.
When a 60HZ signal is received on a Sharp display that has the "Fine Motion Enhanced" feature the images are displayed at 120HZ.

There are several reviews on Sharp models that have "Fine Motion Enhanced".

Here is a quote from one review that mentions how the Sharp displays handle 1080P/24 signals:

" As I started to watch some Blu-ray movies, I was astonished to discover that the Fine Motion Enhanced frame-interpolation control was "grayed out" in the menu and completely unavailable. According to Sharp, if the set gets 1080p/24—which I was sending—it displays the image at 96Hz (each frame is displayed four times), not 120Hz, which is unique in my experience. Apparently, this is a holdover from the 60Hz models that displayed 1080p/24 at 48Hz. Frame interpolation only works if the set receives a 60Hz signal."
http://www.ultimateavmag.com/flatpaneldisplays/sharp_lc-52d85u_lcd_tv/index3.html

Standard LCD (flat panel)

All the following displays refresh 1080P/24 material at 96HZ. 60HZ sources refreshed at 120HZ.

The new 65 inch Sharp LC-65E77UM has a list price of only $3,999.99. That is a good price for a LCD that properly displays 1080p/24 signal's. Mail order prices are currently under $2,900 with free shipping. The Panasonic V10 65 inch that lists for $3,999.99 has deeper blacks and overall better picture quality when compared to the Sharp LCD. http://www1.bottomdollar.com/p__Shar...7a24645b5c87b7

(Click links below for product specs)

SHARP LC-46SB57UN

SHARP LC-C46700UN

SHARP LC-47SB57UT

SHARP LC-C52700UN

SHARP LC-60E77UN

SHARP LC-C6077UN

SHARP LC-65E77UM

SHARP LC-C6577UM

[HDTV1080P]

Epson PowerLite Pro Cinema 9500UB LCD Front Projector

(Added to the list)

The Epson PowerLite Pro Cinema 9500UB will properly display 1080p/24 signals at 96HZ using a film quality 4:4 pulldown method. 60HZ video based sources are refreshed at 120HZ. When the 4:4 pulldown mode is on while watching 60HZ film based sources, this projector will even do a reverse 3:2 pulldown and display the image at 96HZ (That is a nice feature when watching film based movies from cable, satellite, and legacy DVD's).

The following are quotes from the March 2010 Home Theater Magazine review
(pages 38-40)

"With its 4:4 pulldown control engaged, the 9500 UB will play back native 1080p/24 film-originated material at a frame refresh rate of 96 hertz by adding three repeated frames between each pair of real frames. Optionally, you can select Epson's new motion-smoothing features - FineFrame - which adds three interpolated frames, instead of simply repeating them."

"With a 60 - Hz video-based source, the Epson adds only one repeated or interpolated frame, for a refresh rate of 120 Hz."

"If both frame interpolation and 4:4 pulldown are left off, then the 60-Hz film-originated source retains its 3:2 pulldown and is displayed with a single repeated frame at a refresh rate of 120 Hz. If 4:4 is turned on for such a source, the 60-Hz signal is reconstructed to 24 Hz and displayed at a 96-Hz refresh rate using 4:4 pulldown."

"If you select interpolation for material with 3:2 pulldown, the Epson first converts the material to 24fps by eliminating the 3:2 pulldown. Then it adds four interpolated frames to each real frame and displays the source at 120 Hz. These sources generally include all film-originated broadcast sources, both standard and high definition, and all movies on DVD."

"I'm not a fan of frame interpolation for film-based sources, as it gives them a video-like look. Apart from checking out this feature (it did what it was designed to do), I didn't use it on most of the program material I watched."

Updated with the Home Theater weblink that was just posted online

http://hometheatermag.com/frontproje...or/index1.html

[HDTV1080P]

Mitsubishi HC6800 1080P Front Projector

This Front projector is already on the list and has a list price of $2,295. The following is a quote from page 43 of the March 2010 Home Theater magazine.

Quote
"When it receives a 1080p/24 input, the projector doubles the frame rate by repeating each frame once and displays at a frame refresh rate of 48 Hz. It displays all other inputs at a refresh rate of 60 Hz."

added web link

http://hometheatermag.com/frontproje...lcd_projector/