LCD or Plasma

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DBL

Platinum Member
Mar 23, 2001
2,637
0
0
Originally posted by: griffis
Hey all,

Currently in the market for a new tv and want to see what you recommend. I have heard of horror stories of Plasma's blowing out after a year and I have heard of dead pixel issues with LCD's. What's the best to buy and where's the best place to buy at?

Elaborate. Budget? Seating Distance? Room Lighting? Viewing Angles?
 

DBL

Platinum Member
Mar 23, 2001
2,637
0
0
Originally posted by: thepd7
Burn in DOES still exist, although it is less of a concern than previously. My 42" plasma gets some burn in however I have kept a really close eye on it so nothing permanent. Now that it is broken in I doubt anything would burn in permanent but I still keep a close eye on it.

Burn-in and image retention are different. Burn-in is permanent.

 

thepd7

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2005
9,423
0
0
Originally posted by: DBL
Originally posted by: thepd7
Burn in DOES still exist, although it is less of a concern than previously. My 42" plasma gets some burn in however I have kept a really close eye on it so nothing permanent. Now that it is broken in I doubt anything would burn in permanent but I still keep a close eye on it.

Burn-in and image retention are different. Burn-in is permanent.

same difference. I think the popular usage is on my side, but whatever floats your boat.
 

JackBurton

Lifer
Jul 18, 2000
15,993
14
81
Originally posted by: thepd7
Originally posted by: DBL
Originally posted by: thepd7
Burn in DOES still exist, although it is less of a concern than previously. My 42" plasma gets some burn in however I have kept a really close eye on it so nothing permanent. Now that it is broken in I doubt anything would burn in permanent but I still keep a close eye on it.

Burn-in and image retention are different. Burn-in is permanent.

same difference. I think the popular usage is on my side, but whatever floats your boat.

No, the wrong usage is on your side. IR and BI are two different things.
 

GoingUp

Lifer
Jul 31, 2002
16,720
1
71
Plasma all the way. I have a Panasonic plasma, and its the best electronics purchase ive ever made.
 

hans007

Lifer
Feb 1, 2000
20,212
18
81
plasma is far better for actual tv viewing i'd say.


generally better viewing angles, better contrast, etc.

they arent very good for say a media center because they use non square pixels. i think that is the big thing. plasmas generally dont appear at less than 40 ", and plasmas generally are cheaper when its of an equivalent size.


i personally like the glossy coat, so thats a plus for me.
 

QED

Diamond Member
Dec 16, 2005
3,428
3
0
Originally posted by: hans007
plasma is far better for actual tv viewing i'd say.


generally better viewing angles, better contrast, etc.

they arent very good for say a media center because they use non square pixels. i think that is the big thing. plasmas generally dont appear at less than 40 ", and plasmas generally are cheaper when its of an equivalent size.


i personally like the glossy coat, so thats a plus for me.

Not true in general-- there are a few plasmas out there that use rectangular pixels, but they are to be avoided anyways. Most plasmas, like most LCDs, use square pixels.

I think a bigger issue, though, is hardware resolution. I don't know who came up with the idea of using 1366 x 768 pixels for a high-def device (meaning you have to slightly upconvert from 720p or greatly downconvert from 1080i or 1080p-- resulting in a less than optimal picture which is made even worse with hardware sharpness "enhancement"). Well, actually I do know... but it still very lame.

Picture quality differences aside, in general I would recommend LCD if you have a bright room and/or you don't want/need a REALLY wide viewing angle. I would recommend a plasma if you have a darker room (or room where you can control the lighting) and/or want/need a wide viewing angle.

But in the end, it all comes down to what YOU like...
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Originally posted by: Engraver
Check the Black Friday forum and get whichever is cheapest. If you are using an older CRT TV either one will most likely look better to you.

If you are using a lower end CRT that is.

The rest of your post was glaring generalizations most of which are wrong or only half-right.

Without budget no one can really answer what's best for the OP...not to mention what screen size he is shooting for.

 

1sikbITCH

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2001
4,194
574
126
Having both, I prefer the plasmas' warmth over the crisper picture (in my opinion) of the LCD's. My LCD's look harsh next to the plasmas. And with the new mpeg4 HD from Directv, the HD plasma is looking every bit as sharp as the LCD so that's a non-issue anyhow.

For the record I have an old 42" panny EDTV, last year's 50" HD panny, a Dell 2001FP LCD monitor which I have used as my tv in our bedroom for a while, and an Olevia 26" HD LCD. Granted, the quality of the LCD's is not the same as the plasmas, but when I have any kind of money to spend on a tv, I just prefer the plasmas.
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
I love the bogus analysis and FUD and generalizations.

Get the biggest and best 1080p display you can afford, if you can't afford the one you want then wait a few months.

I hate my 42" display, I really, really do. It's too freaking small. I also hate having to gush over and massage people that buy a 42" HDTV, no matter what the model on how great it is.

People, understand that you sit way too far away to appreciate trueHD. Save your money, get a proper display at the proper distance or else you will not enjoy HD.

 

FP

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2005
4,568
0
0
Originally posted by: Steve
Originally posted by: binister
Originally posted by: Engraver
Check the Black Friday forum and get whichever is cheapest. If you are using an older CRT TV either one will most likely look better to you.

Here are some general differences between the two types.

1. LCDs can have higher potential viewing angles.

2. Plasmas usual have larger sizes, but LCDs are catching up.

3. Plasmas have refresh/response times near on par with CRT.

4. Plasmas can still suffer from burn-in, but mostly from games and such with stationary on-screen displays like health/ammo.

5. Plasmas have better contrast ratios, but usually have glossy screens that cause glare.

6. Plasmas are usually considerably more expensive.


If you are looking for the most bang for your buck, get a LCD.

33% of your points are wrong.

Elaborate, please.

1. I looked at hundreds of LCDs and plasmas in my search for an HDTV and the viewing angles on plasmas were larger than most LCDs. Viewing angle is generally a plus in the plasma column.

6. LCDs are far more expensive than comparable plasmas at larger sizes.

I would also argue the burn-in issue. Any image retention (which is rare) can usually be fixed by running a full screen movie for a few minutes.
 

Special K

Diamond Member
Jun 18, 2000
7,098
0
76
Originally posted by: spidey07
I love the bogus analysis and FUD and generalizations.

Get the biggest and best 1080p display you can afford, if you can't afford the one you want then wait a few months.

I hate my 42" display, I really, really do. It's too freaking small. I also hate having to gush over and massage people that buy a 42" HDTV, no matter what the model on how great it is.

People, understand that you sit way too far away to appreciate trueHD. Save your money, get a proper display at the proper distance or else you will not enjoy HD.

What formula/calculator did you use to determine ideal viewing distance for a given screen size, or vice versa?
 

JackBurton

Lifer
Jul 18, 2000
15,993
14
81
Originally posted by: Special K
Originally posted by: spidey07
I love the bogus analysis and FUD and generalizations.

Get the biggest and best 1080p display you can afford, if you can't afford the one you want then wait a few months.

I hate my 42" display, I really, really do. It's too freaking small. I also hate having to gush over and massage people that buy a 42" HDTV, no matter what the model on how great it is.

People, understand that you sit way too far away to appreciate trueHD. Save your money, get a proper display at the proper distance or else you will not enjoy HD.

What formula/calculator did you use to determine ideal viewing distance for a given screen size, or vice versa?

Here you go.
 

Special K

Diamond Member
Jun 18, 2000
7,098
0
76
Originally posted by: JackBurton
Originally posted by: Special K
Originally posted by: spidey07
I love the bogus analysis and FUD and generalizations.

Get the biggest and best 1080p display you can afford, if you can't afford the one you want then wait a few months.

I hate my 42" display, I really, really do. It's too freaking small. I also hate having to gush over and massage people that buy a 42" HDTV, no matter what the model on how great it is.

People, understand that you sit way too far away to appreciate trueHD. Save your money, get a proper display at the proper distance or else you will not enjoy HD.

What formula/calculator did you use to determine ideal viewing distance for a given screen size, or vice versa?

Here you go.

Wow. I'm looking for a 46" LCD right now and according to that chart, I would have to sit 8 feet away from the set to obtain the full benefit of 720p. That distance is much shorter than what I thought, and certainly smaller than what I see at everyone else's house I know who owns an HDTV, and the largest set I have seen at others' houses is only 50".
 
Feb 19, 2001
20,155
23
81
Originally posted by: binister
Originally posted by: Steve
Originally posted by: binister
Originally posted by: Engraver
Check the Black Friday forum and get whichever is cheapest. If you are using an older CRT TV either one will most likely look better to you.

Here are some general differences between the two types.

1. LCDs can have higher potential viewing angles.

2. Plasmas usual have larger sizes, but LCDs are catching up.

3. Plasmas have refresh/response times near on par with CRT.

4. Plasmas can still suffer from burn-in, but mostly from games and such with stationary on-screen displays like health/ammo.

5. Plasmas have better contrast ratios, but usually have glossy screens that cause glare.

6. Plasmas are usually considerably more expensive.


If you are looking for the most bang for your buck, get a LCD.

33% of your points are wrong.

Elaborate, please.

1. I looked at hundreds of LCDs and plasmas in my search for an HDTV and the viewing angles on plasmas were larger than most LCDs. Viewing angle is generally a plus in the plasma column.

6. LCDs are far more expensive than comparable plasmas at larger sizes.

I would also argue the burn-in issue. Any image retention (which is rare) can usually be fixed by running a full screen movie for a few minutes.

Take the top of the line LCD, Sony Bravia XBR5 and pit that against Pioneer's Elite Plasma. Which is more expensive? Something tells me the Pioneer costs more.
 

IGBT

Lifer
Jul 16, 2001
17,967
140
106
Originally posted by: spidey07
I love the bogus analysis and FUD and generalizations.

Get the biggest and best 1080p display you can afford, if you can't afford the one you want then wait a few months.

I hate my 42" display, I really, really do. It's too freaking small. I also hate having to gush over and massage people that buy a 42" HDTV, no matter what the model on how great it is.

People, understand that you sit way too far away to appreciate trueHD. Save your money, get a proper display at the proper distance or else you will not enjoy HD.


..the typical family/living/front room isn't configured for up close viewing which is why HDTV is superfluous for most applications. The average "joe six pak" can't tell the difference especially after a few brewskies. It's only TV.
 

FP

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2005
4,568
0
0
Originally posted by: DLeRium
Take the top of the line LCD, Sony Bravia XBR5 and pit that against Pioneer's Elite Plasma. Which is more expensive? Something tells me the Pioneer costs more.

The 52" Sony Bravia XBR5 LCD is $4,300 at Amazon.com.

The 50" Pioneer PDP-5010FD can be had for less than $3,500.

But wait, the 5010FD isn't the top of the Pioneer line! You are correct, those are the Elites however the only real difference between the Elites and non-Elites is tweakability and warranty. The panels are basically exactly the same.
 

JackBurton

Lifer
Jul 18, 2000
15,993
14
81
Originally posted by: DLeRium
Originally posted by: binister
Originally posted by: Steve
Originally posted by: binister
Originally posted by: Engraver
Check the Black Friday forum and get whichever is cheapest. If you are using an older CRT TV either one will most likely look better to you.

Here are some general differences between the two types.

1. LCDs can have higher potential viewing angles.

2. Plasmas usual have larger sizes, but LCDs are catching up.

3. Plasmas have refresh/response times near on par with CRT.

4. Plasmas can still suffer from burn-in, but mostly from games and such with stationary on-screen displays like health/ammo.

5. Plasmas have better contrast ratios, but usually have glossy screens that cause glare.

6. Plasmas are usually considerably more expensive.


If you are looking for the most bang for your buck, get a LCD.

33% of your points are wrong.

Elaborate, please.

1. I looked at hundreds of LCDs and plasmas in my search for an HDTV and the viewing angles on plasmas were larger than most LCDs. Viewing angle is generally a plus in the plasma column.

6. LCDs are far more expensive than comparable plasmas at larger sizes.

I would also argue the burn-in issue. Any image retention (which is rare) can usually be fixed by running a full screen movie for a few minutes.

Take the top of the line LCD, Sony Bravia XBR5 and pit that against Pioneer's Elite Plasma. Which is more expensive? Something tells me the Pioneer costs more.
You don't need the Elite line to beat the Sony. All you need is the Pioneer 6010 which sells for about the same price as the Sony XBR5 52" (~$4300). And the Pioneer is a 60"! But if you want to go all out for the TOP of the line Pioneer Elite (60" 150FD), you can get it for ~$5500. Which is a fantastic price for the baddest HDTV on the market. And yeah, it slaps the Sony around. I'll give it to Sony though, they have the best LCD HDTV out now. But, they can't touch the Kuros. ;)

Like others have said, the person buying the HDTV needs to look at the sets first hand and decide which set THEY like.
 

FP

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2005
4,568
0
0
Originally posted by: IGBT
Originally posted by: spidey07
I love the bogus analysis and FUD and generalizations.

Get the biggest and best 1080p display you can afford, if you can't afford the one you want then wait a few months.

I hate my 42" display, I really, really do. It's too freaking small. I also hate having to gush over and massage people that buy a 42" HDTV, no matter what the model on how great it is.

People, understand that you sit way too far away to appreciate trueHD. Save your money, get a proper display at the proper distance or else you will not enjoy HD.


..the typical family/living/front room isn't configured for up close viewing which is why HDTV is superfluous for most applications. The average "joe six pak" can't tell the difference especially after a few brewskies. It's only TV.

You also have to keep processing in mind. The less processing the better the picture.

I agree most people can't tell the difference between 720p and 1080p but I personally think I can when I am gaming 5 feet from my 50" screen or watching a movie. I normally sit 12" away while watching TV and agree it is virtually impossible to see the difference.
 

OneOfTheseDays

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2000
7,052
0
0
A quality Pioneer or Panasonic plasma will obliterate even the top LCD's in just about every PQ category. I was a huge LCD supporter until I saw some quality plasma displays. I bought a Panasonic 1080P 42" plasma and never looked back. If you desire natural, film-like picture then plasma is your best bet. The old arguments about power consumption, burn-in, poor resolution, are largely untrue of most modern plasmas. Just be mindful of how you watch your plasma for the 1st 100 hours and you should be good to go from there. BTW I game on my PS3 a lot and have seen no burn-in at all.
 

LS20

Banned
Jan 22, 2002
5,858
0
0
Originally posted by: DLeRium

Take the top of the line LCD, Sony Bravia XBR5 and pit that against Pioneer's Elite Plasma. Which is more expensive? Something tells me the Pioneer costs more.

moot point, pioneer elite is the grand daddy top of line tv. MOST lcds are more expensive than plasmas on a per-surface-area basis. if you want to keep the comparison to the elite, then its PQ blows away any LCD period.
plasmas have superior viewing angles. thats an incontrovertible topic
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,690
31,033
146
Originally posted by: jpeyton
Panasonic 42" plasma for $999 is a pretty good deal.

i paid that last year on BF (Sammy 42")--which was a steal. I'm guessing wiat until BF this year, hopefully you can get these things for closer to $700.
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,690
31,033
146
Originally posted by: spidey07
I love the bogus analysis and FUD and generalizations.

Get the biggest and best 1080p display you can afford, if you can't afford the one you want then wait a few months.

I hate my 42" display, I really, really do. It's too freaking small. I also hate having to gush over and massage people that buy a 42" HDTV, no matter what the model on how great it is.

People, understand that you sit way too far away to appreciate trueHD. Save your money, get a proper display at the proper distance or else you will not enjoy HD.

here we go again :roll: