LCD or plasma?

[qubit]

If you mostly do standard def stuff, plasma is better as it doesn't technically have a native resolution. LCDs do, and anything other than native res will look off, ESPECIALLY standard def.

It actually does have a native resolution, just the same as LCD, as it has discrete gas cells for each individual colour. However, non-native resolutions tend to look better on them than LCDs.

Here's a Wikipedia article on plasma tech: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_display

 

[Red_Machine]

My friend has a 52" plasmascreen and she plays her SNES on it sometimes. Apparently it looks awesome and she doesn't notice any lo-res/scaling issues like she did on her old LCD.

 

[Mussels]

My friend has a 52" plasmascreen and she plays her SNES on it sometimes. Apparently it looks awesome and she doesn't notice any lo-res/scaling issues like she did on her old LCD.

i just played donkey kong on a wii at 480p on a 1080p sony 46"... we noticed no scaling or blur issues either. hell we couldnt even see jaggies, looked really damn good for a wii game.

 

[HookeyStreet]

My friend has a 52" plasmascreen and she plays her SNES on it sometimes. Apparently it looks awesome and she doesn't notice any lo-res/scaling issues like she did on her old LCD.

Whats the SNES connected by? RF aerial lead, RGB Scart, S-video etc ? Because I always find standard def consoles to look very poor on modern TVs

i just played donkey kong on a wii at 480p on a 1080p sony 46"... we noticed no scaling or blur issues either. hell we couldnt even see jaggies, looked really damn good for a wii game.

That looks like a great game.

 

[caleb]

If you mostly do standard def stuff, plasma is better as it doesn't technically have a native resolution. LCDs do, and anything other than native res will look off, ESPECIALLY standard def.

This is a huge problem with LCD's. Its like having a car that only runs good on Shell V-Power if you tank anything else it will be 30% its nominal performance. Sure Plasma wasn't that good at the beginning of HD evolution but now I don't see any Video quality flaw that would point to LCD choice.
One thing that is very annoying with all these HD stuff is that nobody cares that you have ton's of VHS or digital SD camera video's of your family and they will look totally shit on a full HD LCD. A customer should instantly switch all his hardware to HD formats rerecord all your videos for best expierience and then make ur granny change her good old dvd player because nothing that you have works on it then change her TV cause its also incompatible and show her how to use a Samsung remote.

SD worked for us for a LONG time now this HD stuff is just draining cash every time some new feature will arrive (full hd,99999Hz,3d etc). For me a new standard should be primarily as good as the old one - should support all resolutions before it in quality at least as good as CRT - and then add new possible standards. Even if supporting old ones means bottlenecking the new ones.

 

[HookeyStreet]

This is a huge problem with LCD's. Its like having a car that only runs good on Shell V-Power if you tank anything else it will be 30% its nominal performance. Sure Plasma wasn't that good at the beginning of HD evolution but now I don't see any Video quality flaw that would point to LCD choice.
One thing that is very annoying with all these HD stuff is that nobody cares that you have ton's of VHS or digital SD camera video's of your family and they will look totally shit on a full HD LCD. A customer should instantly switch all his hardware to HD formats rerecord all your videos for best expierience and then make ur granny change her good old dvd player because nothing that you have works on it then change her TV cause its also incompatible and show her how to use a Samsung remote.

SD worked for us for a LONG time now this HD stuff is just draining cash every time some new feature will arrive (full hd,99999Hz,3d etc). For me a new standard should be primarily as good as the old one - should support all resolutions before it in quality at least as good as CRT - and then add new possible standards. Even if supporting old ones means bottlenecking the new ones.

If you grab a good model of LCD/Plasma to start with and dont fall for gimmicks (ie 3D) you should be ok for a few years

I had a very nice white Samsung 40" (720p) LCD. I grabbed it for £417 (was meant to be £700) when a major electrical store made a cock up in pricing online . I loved that TV but upgraded it. I only did this because I was offered £400 for it, 14 months later and only had to add a further £200 to get a 42" 1080p LG LCD TV

 

[Red_Machine]

Whats the SNES connected by? RF aerial lead, RGB Scart, S-video etc ? Because I always find standard def consoles to look very poor on modern TVs

Composite AV, I think.

 

[LAN_deRf_HA]

Despite all the advancements, I still feel very annoyed by the limitations of LCDs. Hell with IPS (and even OLED) they can screw you over with a low bit model. No lcd I've used has over come the input lag. I still remember how painful it was going from the speed of a crt to the lag of a lcd. Maybe it's time panasonic crams all their plasma advances into a monitor. The better showing of non-native resolutions alone makes it ideal tech for pcs. If there's a few lingering issues with burn in or w/e then just give it another year, panasonic seems to be on a role with the advancements. It'd still come sooner than any other display alternatives.

 

[HookeyStreet]

Composite AV, I think.

Blimey, that 'should' look terrible then!?!?! But if it looks nice with a composite cable, tell your friend to grab a cheap RGB scart for the SNES off ebay....that should improve it even more

 

[Red_Machine]

Blimey, that 'should' look terrible then!?!?!

Like I was saying, plasma handles non-native resolutions like nothing else.

 

[HookeyStreet]

Like I was saying, plasma handles non-native resolutions like nothing else.

So if you intend to play retro consoles/media (like VHS) a plasma TV is the way to go (handy to know, thanks)

 

[Red_Machine]

Yes indeedy. However be aware that they output a lot of heat and are quite power-hungry, but it is worth it in my opinion.

 

[qubit]

Like I was saying, plasma handles non-native resolutions like nothing else.

As plasma and LCD both have a fixed native resolution, it's weird how LCD handles it so much worse. I don't get this one. <scratches head>

 

[Red_Machine]

It's the technology. I don't understand it either, but I think it may have something to do with the versatility of plasma over liquid crystals.

 

[Bo$$]

Like I was saying, plasma handles non-native resolutions like nothing else.

not only plasma, my Samsung LE40A656 looks amazing even if i power it with my Netbook at like 1276x768* technology has moved in both divisions (it has something to do with the inbuilt scaling, samsungs can do this REALLY REALLY well. put any res it will look amazing). this TV was brighter and had tons better contast than most of the comparative plasmas they had at John lewis when we were purchasing.
It can produce deep blacks that rival most Plasmas too.
at the end of the day it depends on your brand and panel they use...



* or something like that

 

[Thatguy]

Plasma is still the King of black levels, with LED LCDs quickly catching up. Nothing sucks worse than trying to watch a dark movie on an LCD- even in a completely dark room with the backlight nearly off.

no that would be projections. I'd put my projection 65 inch panasonic against any plasma on black. RPTV that is.

 

[BumbleBee]

some Plasmas have poor blacks. you get what you pay for. I don't think your going to find any bargain panels under B brands or bang for your buck like you would with LCD but I think the prices Plasmas are right now is a bargain it self.

 

[Wile E]

The current gen of LCDs scale SD content as well as plasmas.

 

[THRiLL KiLL]

well i bought a plasma. I was going to go new, but a friend gave me a deal i couldn't beat.

He is moving to California next week, and he didnt want to pay for shipping.

so for $150 i picked up a Pioneer PDP-42A3HD

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/televisions/flat-panels/pioneer-PDP-42A3HD


it took a few days to get used to ( i had a 30 sony wega widescreen tube tv)


so for now i will be using this tv. When it dies, i will defintly be sticking with plasmas.


Thanks for all the advice!

 

[BumbleBee]

little too much for what I would of paid for. glad you are happy though.

 

[THRiLL KiLL]

there was no burn-in on the screen, and he is/was a programmer at microsoft, so he didnt spend much time at home.

I do realize this is 720p.


I dont have cable.
I dont have a blue-ray player.

I watch mainly dvds \ fan subed 720p animes\ hulu and netflix..

 

[Chewy]

I've been looking up on the newer Panasonic Plasmas alot S2, G25. I'm sure thier not going bacckwards on panel life. I've seen it stated half life has been increased from 60,000 to 100,000 hours. That would be 15% dimness at 30,000 hours, possibly by than I will be upgrading anyway.

I only plan on using it for movies and some slight gaming. Pixel orbiter is nice, from what I've read it really helps alot against IR and burn in.


Well I'm pretty sure I will be going with the 50" Plasma. I was considering a 55" edge lit Samsung, but have fear of unevenness (in time?), and its lifespan is still unknown forsure. (15,000 hours?).

For as much as I'm going to use it, I feel the plasma is definitely the way to go for me.


WellI'm just saying from what I've read Plasmas and lcd have both come a long way! I'll see how the 50" S2 looks against the 55" edge lit led in store today. Though store lighting and settings are not always the best.

 

[THRiLL KiLL]

you will find the LED / Plasma very comparable, if you set them back to default settings (the stores mess with them to make them look better in thier lighting).

before i got this deal, i had decided to go with the plasma, due to the price and performance.

 

[Chewy]

Well I was killer tired but overall considering my choices were a 55" edge lit led/lcd or the plasma (pricing played a factor). I went with the Plasma after seeing a g25 model and a sony 60" edge lit.

I found the led had some extra brightness around the edge specifically the bottom edge? on the Sony.. now it could of been that tv but Avatar looked so much better on the plasma. I'm sure the Plasma was set up right it, looked that perfect.

Well for what I'm going to use it for, I think the Plasma was the better choice. It appeared to have a better colour garment? Its mostly for movies and Im not worried about burn in much since it wont be used alot. Also from what I've read, Panasonics and Pioneers are pretty anti burn-in atm.


* Still breaking in the tv with white wash/scroll bar. Breaking in the Plasma this way helps fight IR during the life of the tv they say. http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com/plasma-TV-unit.html

I will post back if I have any issues/concerns with the plasma.

 

[DRDNA]

Very nice Choice!

Breaking em in is the key...your already on it so all is good.