LED LCD vs Plasma

[dmw16]

I know I just posted that I was set on an led LCD tv just a few hours ago but now I'm torn. I really can't decide which tech is right for me. My uses are:

watching tv (love football)
playing xbox
watching bluray

The room only has windows at one end and the tv will have its back to the windows. I think we will be viewing from a variety of angles so viewing angles are important.

Some have said plasma is a dying tech but I am not convinced. I know plasmas draw more power but that isn't a major concern (I know Al Gore would be pissed ).

So what are the pros & cons and what does everyone think is best for my applications?

Thanks

 

[JackBurton]

What is your budget and what size are you looking for?

 

[dmw16]

Size is 50-55"
budget is up to $2500

 

[JackBurton]

Size is 50-55"
budget is up to $2500

For $2500, get the best, the Pioneer KRP-500M. THE best 50" out there, and you should be able to pick one up for under $2000. If you need speakers and a stand (you're not wall mounting it) you'll have to purchase those separately as it is just a monitor and doesn't come with those accessories. You'll also have to act fast, as I don't know if there are too many left. But if you can snag one, you'll have the best 50" around, bar none.

If you can't get the Pioneer, I recommend the Panasonic 50V10 for ~$2000. Great display at a good price. Next in line, the Panasonic 50G10. Another great display at an even better price. Samsung also has some good plasmas, but they are more prone to IR which could bother you, especially if you are going to be playing games on it.

If you are looking for an LED LCD, the ONLY ones I'd consider are the Samsung 8500 or the Sony XBR8, both being way over your budget. The real kicker is, the Pioneer 500M slaps both of them around for much less.

 

[dmw16]

Thanks. I'll need mounting hardware for my stand but I do have rocket rs450 speakers to go with it.

 

[sivart]

Plasma isn't dying, they don't draw that much more power (maybe $5/yr if used 8
hours a day), and you might get glare on any TV with a window opposite the screen.

Also, I doubt your electricity bill is as high as Al Gore's

I'm waiting for OLED's to become larger and more affordable before I upgrade my 3 year old plasma.

LED's are LCD monitors, just the backlighting is better (different). So, any motion blurring you see on an LCD will also exist on a LED (all other things being equal).

I notice the motion blurring most in sports where a small ball is involved (Hockey, golf, etc).

 

[JackBurton]

Thanks. I'll need mounting hardware for my stand but I do have rocket rs450 speakers to go with it.

You should be good then. Now all you have to do is find one (KRP-500M).

 

[dmw16]

There are several places online that I found via Google Shopping. I guess as long as they have a decent reseller rating and I use a credit card I am safe.

 

[dmw16]

For $2500, get the best, the Pioneer KRP-500M. THE best 50" out there, and you should be able to pick one up for under $2000. If you need speakers and a stand (you're not wall mounting it) you'll have to purchase those separately as it is just a monitor and doesn't come with those accessories. You'll also have to act fast, as I don't know if there are too many left. But if you can snag one, you'll have the best 50" around, bar none.

If you can't get the Pioneer, I recommend the Panasonic 50V10 for ~$2000. Great display at a good price. Next in line, the Panasonic 50G10. Another great display at an even better price. Samsung also has some good plasmas, but they are more prone to IR which could bother you, especially if you are going to be playing games on it.

If you are looking for an LED LCD, the ONLY ones I'd consider are the Samsung 8500 or the Sony XBR8, both being way over your budget. The real kicker is, the Pioneer 500M slaps both of them around for much less.

I've found the KRP-500M for about $2000. I have been able to find the Panasonic 50V10 for about the same. But the 50G10 is $1200 @ NewEgg. I don't mind spending up to $2500, but if I could spend $1200 and use the balance towards any number of other things then all the better. $1300 could buy me almost enough monster cables

 

[Exterous]

If this is a bright room I would still be a tad concerned about a Plasma. A very bright room will still leave plenty of light to reflect in the screen. Granted this can usually be solved by curtains - just something to keep in mind.

I would go for the plasmas. In general they have better viewing angles and better contrast/colors. A side note: 120Hz LCDs suffer from image degradation:
http://hdguru.com/120240-hz-lcd-problems-exposed/569/

I think for the price you will get a better viewing experience out of a nice Plasma

 

[Exterous]

if I could spend $1200 and use the balance towards any number of other things then all the better. $1300 could buy me almost enough monster cables

Maybe a home theater system to complete the whole set if you don't have one already? If you do, can your receiver do Dolby True HD or DTS HD? It will make your Blurays sound that much better

 

[0roo0roo]

http://www.digitalhome.ca/2009/11/report-says-plasma-cost-just-23-cents-a-day-to-operate/

 

[dmw16]

Maybe a home theater system to complete the whole set if you don't have one already? If you do, can your receiver do Dolby True HD or DTS HD? It will make your Blurays sound that much better

I have a receiver and 2 speakers+sub. The receiver is pretty good and so are my other components. However, I did want to buy a center channel (~$500) and now I could do so with less guilt

As for the brightness of the room. I think that won't be a major issue. There are windows, but good blinds should keep it under control. We also do most of our TV viewing in the evening.

Thanks for all the input.

 

[Blazer]

I've found the KRP-500M for about $2000. I have been able to find the Panasonic 50V10 for about the same. But the 50G10 is $1200 @ NewEgg. I don't mind spending up to $2500, but if I could spend $1200 and use the balance towards any number of other things then all the better. $1300 could buy me almost enough monster cables

the panny's are excellent sets, you'll be happy keeping the extra cash.

 

[JackBurton]

I've found the KRP-500M for about $2000. I have been able to find the Panasonic 50V10 for about the same. But the 50G10 is $1200 @ NewEgg. I don't mind spending up to $2500, but if I could spend $1200 and use the balance towards any number of other things then all the better. $1300 could buy me almost enough monster cables

It really depends on how picky you are. The 500M is just about as close to perfection as you can get right now. It has more accurate colors, better controls to bring out the best PQ, and the deepest blacks levels of ANY HDTV out now. It also doesn't have some of the short coming the Panasonic has like double images at extreme angels, more visible phosphor lag, and higher black levels. The Pioneer is also better at dealing with IR (although the Panasonic is no slouch) and 1080p/24 material. Let me put it this way, if you buy the Pioneer, it's almost like you are future proofing your purchase. All the other TV manufacturers are trying to catch up to where Pioneer was in 2008, and I don't see them catching up for another few years.

But in the end the choice is up to you. The G10 is a very nice set and can be had at a GREAT price, but if I were to buy a G10 I'd feel like I would be second guessing my purchase after awhile. As good the G10's PQ is, I feel like I'd be asking myself, "how much better would this picture be if I had bought the Pioneer." That's just me though. Obviously others have been completely happy with their G10 purchase.

 

[SphinxnihpS]

You should note that the KRP-500M is a MONITOR not a television. There is no built-in tuner. You can get a 5020 for even less and it's the same 9G panel. If you want more color control, get the Elite version, but it is still the same 9G panel.

Also, if you go with plasma, and you should, be prepared to spend the first 8 days (24/7) running a color burn-in cycle of images. It is very worth it to do so though. Check AVS forums for details (thread by DNice).

 

[dmw16]

You should note that the KRP-500M is a MONITOR not a television. There is no built-in tuner. You can get a 5020 for even less and it's the same 9G panel. If you want more color control, get the Elite version, but it is still the same 9G panel.

Also, if you go with plasma, and you should, be prepared to spend the first 8 days (24/7) running a color burn-in cycle of images. It is very worth it to do so though. Check AVS forums for details (thread by DNice).

It's fine that it doesn't have the tuner because I'll be using a DVR/Cable box anyhow.

So I can go with the 5020 or 9G and get the same picture just no tuner?

Jack, I know what you are saying about 2nd guessing. I am on the fence between between the Kuro and the Panny. It's about $650 difference...

 

[vi edit]

I have a receiver and 2 speakers+sub. The receiver is pretty good and so are my other components. However, I did want to buy a center channel (~$500) and now I could do so with less guilt

As for the brightness of the room. I think that won't be a major issue. There are windows, but good blinds should keep it under control. We also do most of our TV viewing in the evening.

Thanks for all the input.

Is there a bigfoot in your future?

 

[SphinxnihpS]

It's fine that it doesn't have the tuner because I'll be using a DVR/Cable box anyhow.

So I can go with the 5020 or 9G and get the same picture just no tuner?

Jack, I know what you are saying about 2nd guessing. I am on the fence between between the Kuro and the Panny. It's about $650 difference...

Excuse me. I just did a little shopping and the PDP-5020FD comes out a little higher. When I said 9G I mean 9th generation panel. The KRP-500M and the PDP-5020FD both use the same exact 9G plasma panel (they have identical picture). The PDP-5020FD is a television. Sorry for the misinformation.

Some of the new Panasonics use the Pioneer 10th generation panel, which they bought from Pioneer when Pioneer got out of the TV business. But who knows if they are manufactured to the Pioneer standards. They are supposedly better and priced accordingly.

I got my dad a Panny 1080P plasma last year, and I would say that though it is VERY NICE, the Kuros are better.

All of your questions are probably better answered here

I'm just happy you avoided marketing BS and are looking at the actual best display types. So many people are clueless about LCD vs. plasma.

 

[dmw16]

Is there a bigfoot in your future?

Hmmm....might be. If I go Kuro then probably not.

So maybe it's:

Panny & Bigfoot vs Kuro and current 2.1 setup

 

[JackBurton]

Excuse me. I just did a little shopping and the PDP-5020FD comes out a little higher. When I said 9G I mean 9th generation panel. The KRP-500M and the PDP-5020FD both use the same exact 9G plasma panel (they have identical picture). The PDP-5020FD is a television. Sorry for the misinformation.

Some of the new Panasonics use the Pioneer 10th generation panel, which they bought from Pioneer when Pioneer got out of the TV business. But who knows if they are manufactured to the Pioneer standards. They are supposedly better and priced accordingly.

I got my dad a Panny 1080P plasma last year, and I would say that though it is VERY NICE, the Kuros are better.

All of your questions are probably better answered here

I'm just happy you avoided marketing BS and are looking at the actual best display types. So many people are clueless about LCD vs. plasma.

Man, you are all over the map with misinformation. Let me clear a few things up. The 5020 is a 9G Kuro, but it has limited picture controls and some people have expressed their frustration with it. Given these limited controls, the 5020 lacks the accuracy you can get with an Elite or KRP. Both the 5020 and 111FD Elite are Pioneer 9G sets, but the KRP-500M is pretty much considered a 9.5G set as Pioneer added some 10G tech to it. This new tech gives the 500M the deepest blacks of ANY Pioneer plasmas (even the Elites) and offers the same color accuracy and picture controls as the Elites (via a patch). So the 500M is the best of the best, at an AWESOME price.

As for Panasonic, NONE of them use Pioneer tech let alone Pioneer glass. Panasonic bought Pioneer's tech, but it is rumored they will bury it and you'll never see it come to market as it would cost Panasonic too much to produce. People are speculating Panasonic bought it so no other manufacture could use it. Panasonic also looks to be concentrating more on 3D than making their current 2D tech better. So no telling when will Panasonic catch up to Pioneer's 9G sets.

 

[rocadelpunk]

Man, you are all over the map with misinformation. Let me clear a few things up. The 5020 is a 9G Kuro, but it has limited picture controls and some people have expressed their frustration with it. Given these limited controls, the 5020 lacks the accuracy you can get with an Elite or KRP. Both the 5020 and 111FD Elite are Pioneer 9G sets, but the KRP-500M is pretty much considered a 9.5G set as Pioneer added some 10G tech to it. This new tech gives the 500M the deepest blacks of ANY Pioneer plasmas (even the Elites) and offers the same color accuracy and pictures controls as the Elites (via a patch). So the 500M is the best of the best, at an AWESOME price.

As for Panasonic, NONE of them use Pioneer tech let alone Pioneer glass. Panasonic bought Pioneer's tech, but it is rumored they will bury it and you'll never see it come to market as it would cost Panasonic too much to produce. People are speculating Panasonic bought it so no other manufacture could use it. Panasonic also looks to be concentrating more on 3D than making their current 2D tech better. So no telling when will Panasonic catch up to Pioneer's 9G sets.

Truth.
Coming from someone who also heavily researched the 500m and ended up getting in at the right time - 1650 shipped w/stand.

 

[JackBurton]

It's fine that it doesn't have the tuner because I'll be using a DVR/Cable box anyhow.

So I can go with the 5020 or 9G and get the same picture just no tuner?

Jack, I know what you are saying about 2nd guessing. I am on the fence between between the Kuro and the Panny. It's about $650 difference...

I know there is a good price difference, but if it were me, I'd get the 500M now and work on my audio later. Speakers will get better and cheaper, but this will be the last chance you'll have to own a Pioneer. Again, the thing is as close to perfection as you can get. Nothing out there comes close.

 

[rocadelpunk]

rationalize it to yourself this way.

650 over the life you're keeping the set (lets say 3yrs)

so like 216 a year or about 18 bucks a month difference.

---

What it really comes down to though is if you're someone who wants the best. For me, not always, but I always want the best return on investment. Considering this is my computer monitor + tv it is getting a lot of use. I'm not planning on upgrading for a while so it just made sense. However, I also got it professionally calibrated because once I knew I had bought one of the better hdtv out there I wanted to make sure I got the most out of it haha.

 

[dmw16]

The best price I can find on the Pioneer right now is $2140+125 for the stand. That's a solid $1000 over the Panasonic. I like having the best, but I am also a fan of bang for the buck. The TV won't be in a theater room or anything and when we do get a house with a room I can dedicate to that I'll spring for a new TV.

I will keep searching for a better price on the Pioneer, but I don't think I can justify $1000 over the Panny when we need some new furniture, window coverings, etc etc etc