Plasma vs. LCD

[Vassago1]

My current CRT is toast, and I'm evaluating what's out there as far as flat panels. I think I've narrowed it down to the following models:

Sharp 37" Aquos LCD LC-37D5U or LC-37D7U
Panasonic TH-42PX25U
Pioneer PDP-434CMX

Anyone have any experience with these models? The TV / Monitor won't have a lot of video games played on it (that's what my PC is for), and I do watch a fair amount of TV, including sports, news, and plenty of movies, either with VoD or DVD.

All seem like pretty solid models, with the only obvious difference being the technology of the Sharp. I've read up as much as I could and while both camps seem to be full of their respective fanboys, I still can't decide. LCD seems like the better long-term option, but I've read about problems with standard programming and rapid motion / scene changes. Plasma, I'll always be paranoid about burn in, but the size / $ seems a lot better.

Any thoughts?

 

[PurdueRy]

Plasma will generally get you a better picture. It can produce deeper blacks and higher contrast. Burn in is a concern, but would only be a problem if you leave games running or something similar. LCD's can be thinner but they won't give you as dark of blacks. I'm lazy so if you will link to websites with the descriptions of each of these I will lend more advice

 

[Vassago1]

http://www.sharpusa.com/products/TypeLanding/0,1056,s67,00.html

http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/st...11002&cachePartner=7000000000000005702

i think this is the one, the one I posted earlier is a different model.
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/p.../detail/0,,2076_4123_136753505,00.html

 

[PurdueRy]

I like the panasonic the best. They have a reputation for great displays. I wouldn't go for the sharp because that will likely seem small once its whereever you are going to put it

 

[Bmott]

I have heard lcds are better than plasma and tend to agree. I say this having owned over the past couple years. A 57" Sony HD projection TV, 42" HD Hitachi Plasma, 30" Sony Wega HDTV, and a 24" LCD HDTV monitor.

I think plasma have got a lot of hype because they were the first flat panal to go big. LCDS just coulnd't go that big. However with current technologys they can, and produce a better picture in doing so.

My reccomendation for a HDTV would be BenQ DV3750 37" HDTV-ready LCD TV/PC display with 1920 x 1080 resolution @ $2000.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-SCn2CMEjsg...-bin/ProdView.asp?g=153650&I=610DV3750

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

If you want to get replies from people who eat sleep and breathe this stuff, head over to AVSforum.

Anandtech is great for computers, but I wouldn't recommend anyone research TVs, Sound Systems, or Cards here etc.

 

[Bmott]

I am one of those people... Gurgle. YOu know you are an audiophile when your home theater is worth as much as your car... and you have a nice car

 

[evilbix]

http://www20.graphics.tomshardware.com/display/20050309/index.html

full review on plasma vs lcd

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Bmott
I have heard lcds are better than plasma and tend to agree. I say this having owned over the past couple years. A 57" Sony HD projection TV, 42" HD Hitachi Plasma, 30" Sony Wega HDTV, and a 24" LCD HDTV monitor.

I think plasma have got a lot of hype because they were the first flat panal to go big. LCDS just coulnd't go that big. However with current technologys they can, and produce a better picture in doing so.

My reccomendation for a HDTV would be BenQ DV3750 37" HDTV-ready LCD TV/PC display with 1920 x 1080 resolution @ $2000.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-SCn2CMEjsg...-bin/ProdView.asp?g=153650&I=610DV3750

Its generally accepted that plasma has a better picture than LCD being the way to go if you are afraid of burn in.

 

[Hadsus]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
If you want to get replies from people who eat sleep and breathe this stuff, head over to AVSforum.

Anandtech is great for computers, but I wouldn't recommend anyone research TVs, Sound Systems, or Cards here etc.

Yeah, I'm one of those wacky people though I'm just getting into flat panels. I'm trying to decide also as my 5 year old HD CRT needs replacement. I personally don't think rear projection TVs (LCD, DLP, CRT, LCoS) compete well with the plasmas. Too many teething pains with rainbows, poor blacks, dithering, and artifacting with LCDs and DLPs. CRTs are the best of the lot IMO though they are not quite as sharp and have room limitations (ie, not good in brightness). On the other hand, if you have the buckos, spring for the QUALIA. I'm going to go with either a Panny or Pioneer 50" plasma....now to decide which one and how to get it.

 

[fstime]

Plasma sucks, have fun recharging it every year for 800 bucks. The myth that lcds dont produce good blacks is false. Not to mention burn in on a plasma.

Get a rear projection LCD.

 

[Hadsus]

Originally posted by: BouZouki
Plasma sucks, have fun recharging it every year for 800 bucks.

LOL!

Here's a box of choc-o-lates, Forrest. Now go away please.

:laugh:

 

[Hyperlite]

I havn't had any good experiences with Plasmas and gaming...tried playing halo once an a plasma, ghosting was horrible.

 

[kylebisme]

I'm not familiar with older plasmas, but I use one of these and I play quite a bit of Halo 2 on it without any issue of ghosting at all. Also, no trouble with burn in either. I'd imagine I could give it some burn in if I made a conscious effort to do so; but even hours of having the task bar up on it doesn't leave even the slightest bit of image retention, let alone burn in. Also, resolution scaling works better than I ever expected, I'm using the screen right now to post running 1280x720 on it and obviously isn't as clear as it is at native resolution but it is by all means legible.

That said, my advice is to go out and find stores were you can check out the displays for yourself and make your own decision. I started out thinking I would prefer an LCD or DLP, but after checking things out in person I came out favoring this ED plasma.

 

[Hadsus]

Originally posted by: TheSnowman
I'm not familiar with older plasmas, but I use one of these and I play quite a bit of Halo 2 on it without any issue of ghosting at all. Also, no trouble with burn in either. I'd imagine I could give it some burn in if I made a conscious effort to do so; but even hours of having the task bar up on it doesn't leave even the slightest bit of image retention, let alone burn in. Also, resolution scaling works better than I ever expected, I'm using the screen right now to post running 1280x720 on it and obviously isn't as clear as it is at native resolution but it is by all means legible.

That said, my advice is to go out and find stores were you can check out the displays for yourself and make your own decision. I started out thinking I would prefer an LCD or DLP, but after checking things out in person I came out favoring this ED plasma.

It's a nice ED plasma....I've seen those Pannys (or Pannys very similar to them at CC) and they look pretty good. Some argue that DVDs look better on an ED than HD plasma. In any case, looking at the specs and contrast ratio, it soundly trounces any LCD that I'm aware of.....that's why a claim that LCDs have good blacks is nonsense. If you're gonna do alot of gaming, then LCD makes some sense. But for pure TV watching pleasure, plasma is the way to go IMO. An old technology compared to LCDs and DLPs but less artifacting and less image shortfalls.

 

[fstime]

Originally posted by: Hadsus

Originally posted by: BouZouki
Plasma sucks, have fun recharging it every year for 800 bucks.

LOL!

Here's a box of choc-o-lates, Forrest. Now go away please.

:laugh:

I dont know but the blacks I saw on a 55 inch sony rear projection LCD where just fine which leads me to believe LCDs can produce blacks just fine.. And I never saw rainbows either. I think plasma is not worth the extra care or recharging and possible burn in. DLP is also very nice.

My vote goes to DLP/LCD

 

[VIAN]

I rather go with the LCD.

Plasma screens get really hot, where you could feel the warmth on the screen. They use up a lot of power. They are very fragile and I've read that it's recommended that you get someone to install it professionally. It's heavier. It also suffers from burn-in. And their life span is much shorter than LCDs.

 

[stevf]

where/how did the rcharging plasma sets nonsense get started ?

 

[mwmorph]

yeah, if you leave your desktop, life bar,ammo count, etc on the screen for too long, you'll always taht image permantly etched into the screen. buy a 1080p lcd instead.

 

[Hadsus]

Originally posted by: BouZouki

Originally posted by: Hadsus

Originally posted by: BouZouki
Plasma sucks, have fun recharging it every year for 800 bucks.

LOL!

Here's a box of choc-o-lates, Forrest. Now go away please.

:laugh:

I dont know but the blacks I saw on a 55 inch sony rear projection LCD where just fine which leads me to believe LCDs can produce blacks just fine.. And I never saw rainbows either. I think plasma is not worth the extra care or recharging and possible burn in. DLP is also very nice.

My vote goes to DLP/LCD

There is no recharging. You are just flat out misinformed. The blacks on LCDs are inferior to any RPTV on the market. This can be verified visually just by having them play the same program material side by side with any other rear projection technology. And if you don't still believe me, look at the contrast ratio specs. The LCDs have contrast ratios measured in the hundreds, CRTS, DLPs, plasmas, in the thousands. BTW, I'm not speaking of the very expensive plat panel LCDs but the rear projectors.

 

[imported_Doughboy]

IMO:
CRTs for hard-core Gaming
LCDs for text reading and light gaming
LCD Projection for TV & Movie viewing. Huge $$$ advantage over plasma.

I'm waiting for Laser Projection TVs... think about it. low power, extremely crisp images & all 3 primary colors of laser already exist. It's gotta be in the works.

 

[jammur21]

Originally posted by: BouZouki
Plasma sucks, have fun recharging it every year for 800 bucks.

Let me guess, you heard this at Best Buy right?

 

[Hadsus]

Originally posted by: Doughboy
IMO:
CRTs for hard-core Gaming
LCDs for text reading and light gaming
LCD Projection for TV & Movie viewing. Huge $$$ advantage over plasma.

I'm waiting for Laser Projection TVs... think about it. low power, extremely crisp images & all 3 primary colors of laser already exist. It's gotta be in the works.

There is a reason why plasmas cost so much more than rear projection LCDs for home theater HD television. It's 'cause it's better. Blacks are better and there is fewer image artifacting. People in the the HD forums argue about the 'screen door effect' all the time....I feel it is much worse in LCDs compared to plasmas. You also have to replace an expensive bulb in an LCD every year or two.....none of that with plasmas. I would not do much gaming on a plasma. Burn is not so much a factor these days with the newer plasmas. In fact, I haven't seen anyone complain of it. Still, LCDs are immune and plasmas are not. BTW, laser is not even on the radar screen for HD televisions. Never even heard of it.

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: Hadsus

Originally posted by: Doughboy
IMO:
CRTs for hard-core Gaming
LCDs for text reading and light gaming
LCD Projection for TV & Movie viewing. Huge $$$ advantage over plasma.

I'm waiting for Laser Projection TVs... think about it. low power, extremely crisp images & all 3 primary colors of laser already exist. It's gotta be in the works.

There is a reason why plasmas cost so much more than rear projection LCDs for home theater HD television. It's 'cause it's better. Blacks are better and there is fewer image artifacting. People in the the HD forums argue about the 'screen door effect' all the time....I feel it is much worse in LCDs compared to plasmas. You also have to replace an expensive bulb in an LCD every year or two.....none of that with plasmas. I would not do much gaming on a plasma. Burn is not so much a factor these days with the newer plasmas. In fact, I haven't seen anyone complain of it. Still, LCDs are immune and plasmas are not. BTW, laser is not even on the radar screen for HD televisions. Never even heard of it.

Burn in is a gigantic problem with monitor situations. the taskbar is static for multiple hours, the title bar can be on static for multiple hours. that will alsmost definitely cause burn in.

 

[kylebisme]

Well don't tell my plasma that, It would suck if I couldn't leave my taskbar up for hours on end without suffering any burn in like I do now.