I need some help with my new Plasma.

[tvfreakazoid]

Hey fellas this post was probably already posted but i'm going to do it again Laughing . I just bought a Panasonic TH-42PX60U. I got a really good deal. Fry's were selling them for $1290.99 and Bestbuy did a price match. I read that the first 100 hrs keep the contrast ratio down to 50 percent or so and leave it in full screen. How good is the contrast ratio at 50 percent? Second I have a DVR. Will I have any problems fast forwarding through commercials? Will it create problems like getting burn ins or ghotsing? Did any of you fellas that own a plasma and fast forward through shows or DVD movies get any type of problems? Any other suggestions would be great. Thanks

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Burn in would be for having static images on the screen for long periods of time. New plasmas don't have the burn-in problem anywhere near the extent that they originally did. Unless you're trying to break it I don't think it's much of an issue anymore.

Fast forwarding through stuff isn't going to produce burn-in or increase ghosting for normal viewing... unless I'm not understanding the question...

 

[tvfreakazoid]

I think you got the point. I was kind of afraid that fast forwarding a show would cause some type of problem due to the fact that the images are moving really fast. About burn ins, if that should happen, would the burn in go away after a while? Or is it permanently burned in?

 

[giantpinkbunnyhead]

About plasma burn-ins, that's one of the reasons I switched to LCD's a year or two ago. Although as YoYo said, they seem to be better now. But the first plasma I bought about 4 years ago, suffered from bad burn-in. After a while, you could see the well-known DVD logo if you left the splash screen on for too long. ALso, I played Morrowind on that screen for a bit and soon afterward, there were burn-ins of the HUD elements. it only took a couple hours of playing to do it.

Oddly enough, the burns were not permanent, but it did take time to go away. In the case of Morrowind's HUD burns, I'd say within 3 weeks it was back to normal.

 

[Snakexor]

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
About plasma burn-ins, that's one of the reasons I switched to LCD's a year or two ago. Although as YoYo said, they seem to be better now. But the first plasma I bought about 4 years ago, suffered from bad burn-in. After a while, you could see the well-known DVD logo if you left the splash screen on for too long. ALso, I played Morrowind on that screen for a bit and soon afterward, there were burn-ins of the HUD elements. it only took a couple hours of playing to do it.

Oddly enough, the burns were not permanent, but it did take time to go away. In the case of Morrowind's HUD burns, I'd say within 3 weeks it was back to normal.

lcds get burn too, they call it "image retention"

 

[giantpinkbunnyhead]

Originally posted by: Snakexor

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
About plasma burn-ins, that's one of the reasons I switched to LCD's a year or two ago. Although as YoYo said, they seem to be better now. But the first plasma I bought about 4 years ago, suffered from bad burn-in. After a while, you could see the well-known DVD logo if you left the splash screen on for too long. ALso, I played Morrowind on that screen for a bit and soon afterward, there were burn-ins of the HUD elements. it only took a couple hours of playing to do it.

Oddly enough, the burns were not permanent, but it did take time to go away. In the case of Morrowind's HUD burns, I'd say within 3 weeks it was back to normal.

lcds get burn too, they call it "image retention"

If that's true, I've never noticed it after 2 years of heavy use. The plasma however... forget it. However, a couple of the 20" LCD's at work (the one I'm lookin at right now atcually) has a few small (1/2 inch) areas with this "image retention" if it's what I think it is... but these monitors display the image (text in this case) in that area 24/7 for years. But that's the only place I've ever seen it, and it's fully unnoticed on my Westy screens at home (37 and 42). I love that I can play Oblivion on them for weeks on end and have no burns.

 

[Dr J]

I have a 50" Panny plasma that's 16 months old and I've never experienced burn in, other than when it was new, a ghost of the last image would remain momentarily as you turned it off.

I can't get over how detailed and beautiful the picture is; it almost always blows me away and I've been watching for long enough that it's a surprise that it should still excite and please me.

This set has a feature built in for combating burn-in, should it occur. I don't believe it's a serious issue and/or concern, any more; at least, it hasn't been for me. Of course, for the break-in period, it?s best to keep it full screen, with the settings turned down.

John

 

[tvfreakazoid]

Originally posted by: Dr J
I have a 50" Panny plasma that's 16 months old and I've never experienced burn in, other than when it was new, a ghost of the last image would remain momentarily as you turned it off.

I can't get over how detailed and beautiful the picture is; it almost always blows me away and I've been watching for long enough that it's a surprise that it should still excite and please me.

This set has a feature built in for combating burn-in, should it occur. I don't believe it's a serious issue and/or concern, any more; at least, it hasn't been for me. Of course, for the break-in period, it?s best to keep it full screen, with the settings turned down.

John

How much tv do you watch? I watch too much tv LOL. I have a dvr and it's on record 6 days a week.

 

[Dr J]

tvfreakazoid,

given your pseudonym, I'm guessing you've got me beat. I average probably about three hours a day.

Enjoy your new baby!

John

 

[tvfreakazoid]

Originally posted by: Dr J
tvfreakazoid,

given your pseudonym, I'm guessing you've got me beat. I average probably about three hours a day.

Enjoy your new baby!

John

LOL. Dam I average waaaaaaaaaaaay more. I hope I enjoy it to. I Know there is a break in period for plasmas that i'm going to follow and hopefully if i follow that I hope I wont' have any problems in the future. I do watch a lot of tv but I don't watch a lot in one day. It just depends what type of shows are on that day. What plasma model do you have?

 

[Dr J]

tvfreakazoid,

I have a: TH-50PX500U, Panasonic Plasma. Your set is a year newer, while mine has surround sound and a few extra interconnects.

I don't think you have to worry. Panasonic is near the top of the food chain, where plasma technology is concerned and the theoretical life span of these things is very long. I've had absolutely no problems with mine and am always amazed by it.

There are quite a few ways to adjust the picture and I found that the setup disk doesn't work well with Pannys because of the way Panasonic configures the electronics. So, you're best to adjust it by eye (which is a good thing to learn, given the broadcasts are all different, the cameras used produce different effects and so on). The best average setting is "theatre mode," with a few settings turned down. If you're interested, I can pass along my setup.

In the stores, they crank the settings to get the 3d effect, but, to me, it doesn't look natural and will shorten the lifespan of the tv; but, it's up to you.

Also, some prefer 1080i, when watching satellite signals, since few are broadcast in 720p (although the set box will convert the signal to native, which is 720p). I find that 1080i provides more detail, while 720p is more film like; each person has his or her own preferences.

If you do a search, you should find a ton of material on how to break it in and care for it. Here's one that I found very helpful:

http://www.hometheaterspot.com/

Not sure what else to tell you, other than: ENJOY!!!

John

 

[tvfreakazoid]

Originally posted by: Dr J
tvfreakazoid,

I have a: TH-50PX500U, Panasonic Plasma. Your set is a year newer, while mine has surround sound and a few extra interconnects.

I don't think you have to worry. Panasonic is near the top of the food chain, where plasma technology is concerned and the theoretical life span of these things is very long. I've had absolutely no problems with mine and am always amazed by it.

There are quite a few ways to adjust the picture and I found that the setup disk doesn't work well with Pannys because of the way Panasonic configures the electronics. So, you're best to adjust it by eye (which is a good thing to learn, given the broadcasts are all different, the cameras used produce different effects and so on). The best average setting is "theatre mode," with a few settings turned down. If you're interested, I can pass along my setup.

In the stores, they crank the settings to get the 3d effect, but, to me, it doesn't look natural and will shorten the lifespan of the tv; but, it's up to you.

Also, some prefer 1080i, when watching satellite signals, since few are broadcast in 720p (although the set box will convert the signal to native, which is 720p). I find that 1080i provides more detail, while 720p is more film like; each person has his or her own preferences.

If you do a search, you should find a ton of material on how to break it in and care for it. Here's one that I found very helpful:

http://www.hometheaterspot.com/

Not sure what else to tell you, other than: ENJOY!!!

John

What is your set up?

 

[Dr J]

Here we go, then:

Pic Mode: Cinema
Picture: +3
Brightness +4
Color -5
Tint 0
Sharpness 0
-------------------------------
-------------------------------
Color Temp: Normal
Color Mng: On
C.A.T.S. On
-------------------------------
-------------------------------
Video NR: On
Mpeg NR: On
Black Level: Light

These setting work for me and here's how I adjust:

When using the satellite signal, depending on the broadcast, I will vary Picture and Brightness, up/down, by no more than two units (maintaining the same relation of Brightness to Picture, where Brightness remains a notch higher than Picture).

When I use my DVD player, however, depending on the DVD, I may apply the Black Level on the DVD player, to dark and keep the TV Black Level set at light or I'll keep the Black Level light, on the DVD player and Black level, dark, on the TV (fine tuning with picture and brightness). DVD?s are not consistent and sometimes the picture?s best the one way, or the other.

Also, my Plasma is near a big picture window and so I leave the CATS on, when viewing the sat box. However, if I?m watching a DVD, I most often turn it off.

All this works fine for me. Much depends on the signal, the broadcast, and cameras used. There are quite a few variables, including personal preferences. In any case, you can use these settings as a starting point (as these are quite conservative).

Also, if you?re just now breaking it in, I wouldn?t have the settings any higher than these and leave it full screen.

One last point; I purchased a DVE, Digital Video Essentials, setup disk after I purchased the Panny. When I tried to calibrate it, the resulting picture was way off. I later learned, from a calibrator, that because of the way Panasonic wires the electronics in the set, the calibration disks are not effective. So, the sooner you have a handle on how to adjust the picture, the sooner you get a feel for the adjustments, the better off you?ll be.

Good luck and hope this helps,

John

 

[tvfreakazoid]

Originally posted by: Dr J
Here we go, then:

Pic Mode: Cinema
Picture: +3
Brightness +4
Color -5
Tint 0
Sharpness 0
-------------------------------
-------------------------------
Color Temp: Normal
Color Mng: On
C.A.T.S. On
-------------------------------
-------------------------------
Video NR: On
Mpeg NR: On
Black Level: Light

These setting work for me and here's how I adjust:

When using the satellite signal, depending on the broadcast, I will vary Picture and Brightness, up/down, by no more than two units (maintaining the same relation of Brightness to Picture, where Brightness remains a notch higher than Picture).

When I use my DVD player, however, depending on the DVD, I may apply the Black Level on the DVD player, to dark and keep the TV Black Level set at light or I'll keep the Black Level light, on the DVD player and Black level, dark, on the TV (fine tuning with picture and brightness). DVD?s are not consistent and sometimes the picture?s best the one way, or the other.

Also, my Plasma is near a big picture window and so I leave the CATS on, when viewing the sat box. However, if I?m watching a DVD, I most often turn it off.

All this works fine for me. Much depends on the signal, the broadcast, and cameras used. There are quite a few variables, including personal preferences. In any case, you can use these settings as a starting point (as these are quite conservative).

Also, if you?re just now breaking it in, I wouldn?t have the settings any higher than these and leave it full screen.

One last point; I purchased a DVE, Digital Video Essentials, setup disk after I purchased the Panny. When I tried to calibrate it, the resulting picture was way off. I later learned, from a calibrator, that because of the way Panasonic wires the electronics in the set, the calibration disks are not effective. So, the sooner you have a handle on how to adjust the picture, the sooner you get a feel for the adjustments, the better off you?ll be.

Good luck and hope this helps,

John

what are CATS? I haven't hooked up my plasma yet. So I will need to go through the break in period.