Need Help: Comparison of High End Flat Panel Display Models

[Purplegrasshopper]

Hello all. I've been doing research for well over a month now, and I've finally got my future display narrowed down to three choices. Let me first start by saying: I'm NOT looking for a recommendation for which one to buy. I'll make that decision myself. All I'm looking for is information so I can best make that decision. Please review what I've put together so far and let me know what pros and cons I've missed. I'll update the list as people post. Thanks!

*All prices were taken from Amazon.com on 15 Dec 08 for comparison purposes only*


Pioneer PRO 151FD 60" Elite KURO Plasma - $5949.99

Pros:

• Best PQ of the bunch
• Accepts 1080P/24 signal (avoids any 3:2 pulldown problems)

Cons:

• Price
• 5" less than the other two

Panasonic TH-65PZ850U 65" VIERA Plasma - $5228.96

Pros:

• 5" more than Pioneer
• Accepts 1080P/24 signal (avoids any 3:2 pulldown problems)

Cons:

• Documented flicker issue
• Lacks THX feature that 800u has

Sharp LC-65SE94U 65" Aquos LCD - $5198.00

Pros:

• Lowest price
• 5" more than Pioneer

Cons:

• Unknown wheter it accepts 1080P/24 signal (to avoid any 3:2 pulldown problems)

[MoPe]

Have you seen any of them in person? If not, do that first, then report back what you liked about each..

You are also comparing LCD to Plasma, which will get conflicting opinions as well.

[Mr. HiDef]

well majority are gonna say the panny or kuro I have 2 sharps a 52" and 46" and love them both but I also do alot of gaming and thats why I went with LCD

also my sharps accept 1080p/24

[franklinpross]

I, too spent over a month doing research.

I finally went with Sony XBR 2. (in 2007)

I never looked back. It was money well spent.

I'm not sure the XBR 3, XBR4, XBR5, XBR 6 or 7 are as decent.

I just stopped looking. I did it. I have it. That's it.

Good Luck ! and check out the XBR 8 (only if displayed with

high quality HDMI cables.) (actually LOOK and SEE for yourself, because I feel

the cables do make a diff.) If you like what you SEE, go for the money,

after all, you have to do what you can to help the economy . . .

[SDBlu]

I went with the XBR4 and I also LOVE IT

I think the XBR line is top notch for LCD. A friend of mine just recently got the 52"XBR6 and we watched TDK on it. It was awesome and to be quite honest I really didn't see a difference between his display between his and mine.

I think the styling could have been better though on the new XBR's. I really like the floating glass that surrounds mine

[Purplegrasshopper]

Originally Posted by MoPe

Have you seen any of them in person?

Of course I have. That's how I've gotten to these 3 after a month of research. And I like all of them. I just want to get as much info on each one before I make my decision.

[MoPe]

Originally Posted by Purplegrasshopper

Of course I have. That's how I've gotten to these 3 after a month of research. And I like all of them. I just want to get as much info on each one before I make my decision.

So you really just want the pro/con's of the technology then? With a deep pocket of $6,000, I wouldn't think you're too worried about the price tag.

Tell us about you and your needs and wants.

[MoPe]

I love how you two, have recommended something, despite the OP's request to not include any recommendations on TV's. Maybe next time we can do a thorough read?

[Purplegrasshopper]

Originally Posted by MoPe

So you really just want the pro/con's of the technology then? With a deep pocket of $6,000, I wouldn't think you're too worried about the price tag.

Tell us about you and your needs and wants.

Yeah, that's exactly it. The pros and cons of the technology. Price is always an issue, as I also need to fund the speakers, wires, receiver, sub, buttkickers, PS3, etc. So if I can spend $1000 less for a PQ that is barely noticabley inferior, then great. The reason I didn't consider the XBRs is becaues I'm looking for something at least 60".

But this is what this set up will be used for: During the day (and I mean all day long, lol), my grandfather will be watching HD Food Network. At night, I'll either be playing Rock Band or some other PS3 game or watching HD cable TV. During the weekends, I'll be entertaining friends with a combination of HD sports, PS3 games, and Blu Ray movies. My room shape isn't ideal (open floor plan with lots of light), but I have to work with what I got.

Anyway, thanks in advance for the help.

[jasontkelley1746]

the majority of websites rate the pioneer elite kuro the best flat panel on the market. Besides the new organic displays but those are too small at the moment.

Will the room have windows or will it be constantly dark?

the reason I ask is because that pioneer has light sensors that automatically adjust the settings depending on the light levels in the room. very nice feature.

[Purplegrasshopper]

Originally Posted by jasontkelley1746

the majority of websites rate the pioneer elite kuro the best flat panel on the market. Besides the new organic displays but those are too small at the moment.

Will the room have windows or will it be constantly dark?

the reason I ask is because that pioneer has light sensors that automatically adjust the settings depending on the light levels in the room. very nice feature.

It has a sliding glass door and is open to the kitchen and dining room that has windows. But I have blinds that can be closed. If I get this thing professionally calibrated, will I want it to be automatically changing settings based on the light in the room? Will that screw with the calibration?

[Mr. HiDef]

Originally Posted by Purplegrasshopper

Yeah, that's exactly it. The pros and cons of the technology. Price is always an issue, as I also need to fund the speakers, wires, receiver, sub, buttkickers, PS3, etc. So if I can spend $1000 less for a PQ that is barely noticabley inferior, then great. The reason I didn't consider the XBRs is becaues I'm looking for something at least 60".

But this is what this set up will be used for: During the day (and I mean all day long, lol), my grandfather will be watching HD Food Network. At night, I'll either be playing Rock Band or some other PS3 game or watching HD cable TV. During the weekends, I'll be entertaining friends with a combination of HD sports, PS3 games, and Blu Ray movies. My room shape isn't ideal (open floor plan with lots of light), but I have to work with what I got.

Anyway, thanks in advance for the help.

from what u just said Id prob go with the sharp the kuro is amazing dont get me wrong and so is the panny but if u have alot of light and going to be used all day long the lcd is the way to go also from my experience with my dads samsung plasma only 720p but 42" it gets real hott i dont know if thats common or not but my lcds do not get that warm at all

[jasontkelley1746]

no, calibration is different than picture and brightness settings. professional calibration is done internally.

[jasontkelley1746]

Originally Posted by Mr. HiDef

from what u just said Id prob go with the sharp the kuro is amazing dont get me wrong and so is the panny but if u have alot of light and going to be used all day long the lcd is the way to go also from my experience with my dads samsung plasma only 720p but 42" it gets real hott i dont know if thats common or not but my lcds do not get that warm at all

My sharp actually gets really hot but thats kind of nice in the winter

[jsteinhauer]

Just because a display accepts 24p does not mean it doesn't perform 3:2 pulldown and multiply 60Hz to get to the refresh rate. Some do this. I don't know about the panels on your list. Make sure what you are getting handles the 24p source the way you want it to.

[franklinpross]

Originally Posted by MarcosG

I went with the XBR4 and I also LOVE IT

I think the XBR line is top notch for LCD. A friend of mine just recently got the 52"XBR6 and we watched TDK on it. It was awesome and to be quite honest I really didn't see a difference between his display between his and mine.

I think the styling could have been better though on the new XBR's. I really like the floating glass that surrounds mine

Welcome to the club !

[canuckle]

As I own the 58" version of this one, I'll chip in here...

Originally Posted by Purplegrasshopper

Panasonic TH-65PZ850U 65" VIERA Plasma - $5228.96

Pros:

• 5" more than Pioneer
• Accepts 1080P/24 signal (avoids any 3:2 pulldown problems)

Cons:

• Documented flicker issue
• Lacks THX feature that 800u has

Pros are correct, I would add excellent adjustability, both through consumer menus and service menu.

Don't quite agree with the cons:
* Flicker issue...not much of an issue, and less of a concern after calibration. There is growing consensus among owners that this is blown dramatically out of proportion. There are several threads over at AVS Forum dealing with this specifically, as well as one specifically for the 65".

* THX feature has an 'equivilant' in the 850u called Studio Reference. With adjustment, this TV easily outperforms the 800u, due to the huge flexibility for user adjustment. Again, there is a thread over at AVS dedicated specifically to owners, and their custom settings.

All that said, with the intended use you stated, I'd be moderately concerned with image retention. Burn is unlikely these days, but image retention is a reality with Plasma's in a situation of EXTENDED viewing of static images (ie. Food network id, gaming HU display, etc). Will the IR go away, especially if the set is properly broken in for 100 hours? Yes. Is plasma the best choice for your use? Hmm, not sure.

Hope this helps.

[DavidAg02]

In my opinion the Sharp doesn't belong on that list. The picture quality is nowhere near that of the Panasonic and especially that of the Pioneer. Sharp has some of the worst color accuracy in the business. Their high end models do better, but still won't come close to the other two.

A friend of mine has a 46" Sharp Aquos, and he has it set on "Cinema" mode.
Every time I watch a movie on that TV... I want to claw my eyes out! Reds just bloom and bleed all over the place.

[Mr. HiDef]

Originally Posted by DavidAg02

In my opinion the Sharp doesn't belong on that list. The picture quality is nowhere near that of the Panasonic and especially that of the Pioneer. Sharp has some of the worst color accuracy in the business. Their high end models do better, but still won't come close to the other two.

Well that's your opinion

Well maybe your friend does not have it calibrated, and is just using the out of the box settings.

[DavidAg02]

Originally Posted by Mr. HiDef

Well that's your opinion

Have you calibrated your set? I've often wondered how much that might help.