Anyone know ways to improve SDTV on a plasma?

[alkemyst]

It's amazing how the pictures can be so great in HDTV, but crappy in SDTV.

I am still narrowing down my screen decisions (Pana TH-58PXU60, Pana TH-50PH9UK or a Pio 5070)

Any one have any experience with SD format on these or a solution to make it better?

Thanks
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[nismotigerwvu]

OK i would say my solution is a stretch but then I'd get pelted with tomatoes for such a horrible pun...Plasmas and LCDs are fixed resolution displays, meaning they can only really display one (say 1080P for example...or those pesky 1366 x 768 LCDs or whatev)...so standard def has to get scaled up to the resolution of the display. The set itself can do this, and some are better than others, but a shoddy internal one can be bypassed if you have a decent feed going in. I don't know what your feeds are coming off of (digital cable, Dish, torrents...you dirty pirate)...but finding a the best option of your sources (say the cable company has a few options on what box you can use and the scaler of one is brilliant, or you have an older PC sitting around and can toss a theater 550 in it and have a DVI port to spare and can use use a PC to scale up your standard def content, or even have an Xbox360 along with that spare PC and can set up a media extender...Tons of options, none of which are my specialty, so I'm sure someone more useful will chime in.

 

[Neos]

I have found on my LG 42" PDP that all of the SD I get OTA is really good - but of course it is digital. Even some analog is really good -if the signal is strong enough.
Of course both of these are not as good as OTA HD, which is great to fantastic, depending on the programming and cameras used.
I hear/read of many folks complaining about SD on a PDP, and I wonder sometimes if they are pixel peeping (getting way too close to pick it apart) or if there is an actual issue with the tuner design for a given set.
Personally, I think that most major brands have good tuners, and some circuitry to help SD along, such as the XD Engine that LG uses.

 

[JackBurton]

The new Pioneer Elite plasmas (and I think the Pures) will have a VERY nice video processor in them that should make your SD content look pretty dang good. If you can't wait, you may be able to pick up an Elite 1140HD for a good price now.

 

[alkemyst]

Didn't know that 1140HD was so low now.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
Didn't know that 1140HD was so low now.

It should be just a few hundred more than the 5070. I'm actually in your situation. HD is great, but most likely I'll be watching A LOT of SD content. That's the main reason I'm looking at the Elite series. Check 'em out at your local A/V store (has to be a Pioneer Authorized dealer though) and see if they can demo some SD channels for you on an Elite 1140. It should look considerably better than the Panasonic HDTVs you're looking at. As for the price, here's a little reference point. They are not an authorized Pioneer dealer, so I would recommend checking some stores near you (again, make sure they are an authorized Pioneer dealer) and see if you can talk them down to something around that price.

Again, just a heads up...The new Pioneers are coming out in June, so it may be worth waiting for to see how they perform in SD. As for HD, people that have seen the new Pioneers have recommends to DEFINITELY wait for the new plasmas. Pioneer's new plasmas are not just a normal yearly incremental improvement, it is a VERY noticeable PQ improvement. Pioneer has pretty much completely redesigned these new plasmas. If you're in the market for the 5070, I'd definitely wait for the 5080. From what I hear, it is simply AMAZING. BUT, if you can't wait, check out the 1140.

 

[alkemyst]

Yeah the 5070HD was better it seemed (both my wife and I agreed) than the 58" panny. The elite model is right about the same price...it's a different level.

Now the newer Panny's I hear (750U) are very impressive, but they would be about $1000+ more.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
Yeah the 5070HD was better it seemed (both my wife and I agreed) than the 58" panny. The elite model is right about the same price...it's a different level.

Now the newer Panny's I hear (750U) are very impressive, but they would be about $1000+ more.

Yep, the new Panasonic 750Us (not out yet though) are VERY nice and people have even gone as far as saying they look better than the $8000 Pioneer Elite ProFHD1. Very impressive! However, take into consideration the people that were comparing the two (Panasonic vs Pioneer) didn't compare SD quality. The new Panasonics also have a 5000:1 contrast ratio compared to Pioneer's new plasmas which have a 16000:1 and 20000:1 CR. In the end, you really need to just take a look at the TVs in person and see how much the extra quality is worth to you. It will always get better the more money you throw at a TV, the question is, is it worth it to you?

If you want two plasmas that are roughly in the same price range, take a look at the Elite 1140 and the Panasonic 700U (also very impressive and you can get it for ~$2700 now).

 

[Neos]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: alkemyst
The new Panasonics also have a 5000:1 contrast ratio compared to Pioneer's new plasmas which have a 16000:1 and 20000:1 CR. In the end, you really need to just take a look at the TVs in person and see how much the extra quality is worth to you.

There has never been a standard set or observed for CR between various brands. There are differences - to be sure, but it is not as extreme as the numbers might indicate. From everything I have read, mfgs. are free to use their own standard to put in the specs.
It is a non issue, for the most part. Buy a major brand from what you see. When you get it home - set to your preferences, it will be totally different than it was on the floor - and you will love it.
My 2c.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: Neos

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: alkemyst
The new Panasonics also have a 5000:1 contrast ratio compared to Pioneer's new plasmas which have a 16000:1 and 20000:1 CR. In the end, you really need to just take a look at the TVs in person and see how much the extra quality is worth to you.

There has never been a standard set or observed for CR between various brands. There are differences - to be sure, but it is not as extreme as the numbers might indicate. From everything I have read, mfgs. are free to use their own standard to put in the specs.
It is a non issue, for the most part. Buy a major brand from what you see. When you get it home - set to your preferences, it will be totally different than it was on the floor - and you will love it.
My 2c.

In this case, it is.