Torn between 4 HDTV's

[blackrain]

Originally posted by: Wuzup101
@ Blackrain. Just so you understand correctly, it's not that 720p is better for movie watching and such. It's that it's not as important to have 1080p resolution when compared to other factors (black levels, color reproduction, etc...). If all other things are equal, 1080p will always be a better choice than 720p unless your viewing distance exceeds the distance that your eye can physically resolve the added detail. At these "FAR" distances, 720p is equal to 1080p... however it's not better (again all else equal).

The kuro is widely known as one of the best, if not the best, display ever made to date. The 720p kuro sets are often recommended over other 1080p sets because the picture quality of that set itself is just flat out better (in many situations) than a 1080p LCD. The lack of 1080p only really becomes a problem when you move in closer... and still many may prefer the 720p kuro over a 1080p LCD even when the resolution difference is noticeable. However, in a perfect world, we would all own 1080p kuros and sit close enough to them to get the full benefit of 1080p.

Bottom line: you don't ever have to worry about "scaling down" movie content from a HD-DVD or BR disc (or whatever is giving you a 1080p feed). If you have a 1080p set... you use 1080p... or up-convert to get to that level. If you manually told your BR player to output 720p to a 1080p set... the player would scale it to 720p and then the set would push it back up to it's native resolution of 1080p.

Again, all other things equal... 1080p is always better or equal (at far distances) to 720p. However, things aren't often equal, and people (like yourself - and me!) have budgets to consider. This is a BIG purchase... you should feel free to bring a game console or laptop (or both) to your local worst buy, CC, sams club, costco, etc... and ask them if you can hook it up. If they don't let you, they don't deserve your business (I've yet to hear about a BB or CC that won't... I've personally seen quite a few people doing this over the years). They probably don't deserve your business anyway... but just saying

So then the dilemma is really whether 720p works well for closeup gaming? 720p is equal to the 1080p at 10-13 feet away for movie watching?

I was going by this:

http://www.carltonbale.com/wp-...s/resolution_chart.png

 

[Captante]

Originally posted by: blackrain

So then the dilemma is really whether 720p works well for closeup gaming? 720p is equal to the 1080p at 10-13 feet away for movie watching?

I was going by this:

http://www.carltonbale.com/wp-...s/resolution_chart.png

Although I should perhaps have noted that above a certain screen size & especially at closer viewing distances 1080p does become much more of an issue (about 8 feet with a 46 inch screen for example) the most important things to consider for movie watching are color accuracy & the ability to reproduce deep blacks ... despite hype to the contrary resolution is down the list a few notchs for most people.

However as Wuzup101 stated above all else being equal a 1080p panel is always better then 720p, its just that you'll find the less expensive 1080p screens all have some compromised features vs comparably priced and full-featured 720p models ... you just need to decide whats important to you.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Well I was at BB over the weekend, and watching their Bluray vs DVD demo on a 40 inch XBR4. Up close (closer then 6-7 ft or so) I could really tell the difference, but further then that I had to actually try to see the difference (Why BB would ever have a demo showing the benefits of 1080p on a 40 inch screen are beyond me).

Needless to say I would rather have PQ over the resolution anyday. A 5080 Kuro has higher resolution then DVD, so the difference would be even less noticable. On top of that the Kuro just looks so beautiful as far as black levels and PQ.

I should get my laptop, and figure out how to send out a HDMI signal (it only has a VGA out). Then head up to BB and play some content from my movies/tv shows and see how well it upscales the picture (because that is 75% of my useage would be upscaling avi's)

 

[Wuzup101]

@ blackraid - yup that would be your dilemma pretty much. And yes that was the chart that I was referring to (I've now bookmarked the hell out of it). If you look at that chart, I tend to like to game at about the 1080p recommended distances (about 5 feet for my 40"). This is especially important for shooters (to me). If I move back much farther, I start to miss the little things that either cause me to miss a kill or get killed in games like CoD4 online. You may find that you have different preferences; however, I definitely would remember that a game is still going to look very nice on a 720p display, even at fairly close distances. The money saved by buying a 720p kuro instead of a 1080p kuro will go great towards audio gear, games, movies, various media players, furniture, etc...!!! The 720p kuro is really a solid choice.

Ironically, I would really say that from your movie watching distance of 10-13', you would be better off spending the extra money on a larger 720p kuro display as opposed to going with a 50" 1080p kuro. However, I haven't looked at the prices on the larger kuro's... I know there is a 60"... I'm not sure what it costs (I'm sure it's not cheep).

@ DVirus - they often put them on 40" monitors because people tend to stand pretty close to them when they are "checking them out". Most of the time when people look at the displays in the store they are actually standing in the "1080p for 40 zone" of inside 5'. If you are standing really close to a bunch of monitors, a 40" @ 1080p will tend to look sharper/better than a 60" at the same distance. Obviously, you really are supposed to buy the "right size" monitor for your viewing distance, but in store things change (and people are stupid). You'd be really suprised at the number of people who don't even take viewing distance into consideration and buy a display that is too small or (less likely because of price) too big. They consider resolution first priority and are far too far away to take advantage of it at a given set size... or they don't take into consideration resolution and wonder why their TV looks less appealing because they are sitting so close.

Lets face it, for the majority of Americans moving up from CRT SD sets, a 40" set is actually pretty big. However, with the HD resolution, recommended seating distances have come in much further than they used to be with SD sets. Most people don't realize that a 35" CRT SD set could easily be replaced by a 50" plasma as far as viewing distances are concerned.

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: DBL

Originally posted by: zinfamous
FYI: my local BB (in Chicago) had the 5080 for $2k yesterday.

they had the 1080p (50" non-elite) version displayed next to it. ...$4k.

I'll give someone $4k if they can provide a legitimate reason for paying a $2k premium (and not say, buy another 5080) to go 1080p

That's a loaded question b/c it depends on what your definition of legitimate is. for someone who wants the absolute best and who sits close enough (<8 ft) to resolve 1080p on a 50", it may well be worth it for them.

Besides, Pioneer may have the best picture right now, but it's certainly not the best value. Personally, with 4k to spend, I'd easily opt for the 58" 1080p Panasonic for <$3200 over any 50" Pioneer. IMO, the extra 8" more than makes up for the black levels (which are still excellent) and should let just about anyone benefit from 1080p, provided they sit at the proper distance.

But for $4K, you could almost get a 60" Pioneer 6010.

Exactly
being that that 2k price premium was not even to go Elite. Double the price is too much for simply going 1080p over 720p. You'd be deluding yourself if you think it's worth it.

Now, to pay that for an Elite 1080p is a different story....

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Yes but the 1080p Elite Kuro is what $8k?

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus
Yes but the 1080p Elite Kuro is what $8k?

the 50" is in the $5-6k range, I believe...

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus
Yes but the 1080p Elite Kuro is what $8k?

the 50" is in the $5-6k range, I believe...

I dont see that much of an improvement from the $2k 5080 to a $5-6k 50" Elite Kuro. I can understand some situations for it, but for 99% of the consumers out there $4k would be better spent on other things for a HT setup. New furniture, sound system, other equip, etc.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus
Yes but the 1080p Elite Kuro is what $8k?

the 50" is in the $5-6k range, I believe...

What's messed up is the new 5020 is rumored to have a $3500 MSRP price tag. So that SHOULD equate to ~$2500 street price. And it should be on par of better looking than the 110FD Elite too. If you can wait until mid year (maybe June?), I think that is when Pioneer should be releasing their new plasmas.

Just a little FYI. If you HAVE to buy something right now, the current Kuros are very nice. Sh!t the Samsung 71 series are nice too. I don't think you could go wrong with either set.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus
Yes but the 1080p Elite Kuro is what $8k?

the 50" is in the $5-6k range, I believe...

What's messed up is the new 5020 is rumored to have a $3500 MSRP price tag. So that SHOULD equate to ~$2500 street price. And it should be on par of better looking than the 110FD Elite too. If you can wait until mid year (maybe June?), I think that is when Pioneer should be releasing their new plasmas.

Just a little FYI. If you HAVE to buy something right now, the current Kuros are very nice. Sh!t the Samsung 71 series are nice too. I don't think you could go wrong with either set.

Pioneer is releasing new plasmas mid year?

*off to google*

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus
Yes but the 1080p Elite Kuro is what $8k?

the 50" is in the $5-6k range, I believe...

What's messed up is the new 5020 is rumored to have a $3500 MSRP price tag. So that SHOULD equate to ~$2500 street price. And it should be on par of better looking than the 110FD Elite too. If you can wait until mid year (maybe June?), I think that is when Pioneer should be releasing their new plasmas.

Just a little FYI. If you HAVE to buy something right now, the current Kuros are very nice. Sh!t the Samsung 71 series are nice too. I don't think you could go wrong with either set.

Pioneer is releasing new plasmas mid year?

*off to google*

I'll make it easy for you...

5020 rumored release date. And yes, that is Pioneer's 9G plasma.

 

[cliftonite]

Another vote for the Kuro. I am looking to get the 6010FD or the new model when it comes out this summer.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus
Yes but the 1080p Elite Kuro is what $8k?

the 50" is in the $5-6k range, I believe...

What's messed up is the new 5020 is rumored to have a $3500 MSRP price tag. So that SHOULD equate to ~$2500 street price. And it should be on par of better looking than the 110FD Elite too. If you can wait until mid year (maybe June?), I think that is when Pioneer should be releasing their new plasmas.

Just a little FYI. If you HAVE to buy something right now, the current Kuros are very nice. Sh!t the Samsung 71 series are nice too. I don't think you could go wrong with either set.

Pioneer is releasing new plasmas mid year?

*off to google*

I'll make it easy for you...

5020 rumored release date. And yes, that is Pioneer's 9G plasma.

Thanks for the link

I think I will just wait until then. I will be out of school for the semester, so will have time to actually enjoy it and more money to be able to put towards it.

 

[daveymark]

I :heart: my kuro and you will too...the only thing to worry about is the infamous buzz...

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Oh..... My..... Gawd....

So last night took the gf and tablet pc up to BB to hook it up to the Kuro, Sammy 71 and 700u. The tablet is about 3 years old and only has a VGA out, so had to settle for using that to hook up to the TV's. The Kuro completely decimated the others on BSG, The Last Samurai, SG: Atlantis, Gladiator, and Pirates... It also produced good PQ from my tablet as a PC monitor (and my tablet wasn't running at native res for the Kuro, it was under native res). At first there was some jutter from the tablet driving both displays (its own and the Kuro), but once I turned off the tablet display and only used the Kuro's and it was rock solid then. The Sammy 71 series looked like crap compared to the Kuro with my same source material, and the 700U was between the two.

The source material were avi's encoded at lowish resolution as well (except SG:A and Gladiator. SG:A was 720p and Gladiator was about DVD quality), all were around 550x350ish (which is what a lot of my stuff is ripped to currently) and from 6-7 ft back they looked great. Not as crisp as blu-ray or the 720p SG:A but still looked great.

ps the movies for the most part were encoded to fit on a single CD which is why the resolution is so low.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Well after 2 trips up to BB, a uhaul cargo van rental, a trip in a suburban, and finally in the back of a pickup truck I got the Kuro 5080 and have it home

wow... its big... if I wasn't raised with the saying "go big or go home" I might say its almost, dare I say, too big...

 

[daveymark]

congrats! do you have D-nice settings on it?

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Originally posted by: daveymark
congrats! do you have D-nice settings on it?

I have it set to his settings for the break-in dvd for now

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Now that I have a min I was able to snap a picture of it in my living room, and thats my current tv on the bookshelf....

A thing of beauty