OK so my roommate (who fortunately has plenty of money) is looking at getting a new TV for the apartment. But we are stuck on a couple things. What are the disadvantages of plasma? I have heard about the imagine burn but supposedly they have a new setting to fix this. I have also heard they have a shorter life but how much shorter is it then LCD. Also I have heard both that the quality of the HDMI cable does matter and that it doesn't.
All I can say is, DO NOT buy a Phillips. Biggest POS I have ever had. the Visio in the main room is 10x better.
As for HDMI, I have yet to "see" this difference. I have a cheap $20 cable and it's much clearer then running the ye olde coaxial.
But for the cash, LCD with 1080p is my next TV.
Brian
Well basically we are looking at Sonys. One is a 50" plasma. One is a 46" LCD. The plasma is little more.
Yes, plasmas can burn in the picture - IIRC you're better off using the full screen scaling mode all the time and don't let freeze frames size for a long time. They'll also create more heat and use more electricity if that is a consideration, but overall the picture quality tends (especially color reproduction) to be somewhat better than with an LCD.
As to HDMI cables, I'm not a big believer in premium cables - if it works, it should be OK.
However keep in mind that this advice comes from someone whose main attitude to TV is "where's the off button".
As it stands now, the biggest advantage plasma has over LCD is black. The blacks are deep, pure black, which can effect image quality. I mean, watch a Plasma in a dark room, with a night scene on the TV, and you can't tell where the black edges of the TV end and the room begins.
The image burning problem has been pretty much solved.
The LCD's advantge is easier to see in a non-darkened romm compared to the same pic on a Plasma in the same light. SOOO, if you're doing most of your watching in a normally lighted room, and am not a picture purist, the LCD is the way to go IMHO. Also, they are less expensive and a bit lighter. You DO want 1080dpi, and the fastest refresh rate possible. Compare side by side, and make sure you're comparing HD signals fed to both sets. That's sometimes overlooked at the Big box stores...
Cables DO make a difference, and look for multiple inputs for DVRs, and input from your computer.... Good luck. Best time of the year to buy one.
If this is going to be his TV when you guys go your seperate ways, and he's got the bucks, go for the 3-D capable units. Watching F1 in 3-D or ? would be awesome.
At work we have a few hundred televisions that get heavy use. We went through the plasmas fast - most got cycled out in a year - the LCDs are holding up very well - 3-4 years and still working. Most are on 24/7. YMMV
The HDMI cable is digital. It will work or it won't. Selling you an expensive cable the is "better" is BS, I mean "marketing."
Sony's WAY overpriced. You can buy the exact same image in a cheaper box (samsung makes all of Sony's panels IIRC). I have both Plasma and LCD- and I can't really notice a ton of difference between the two.
Dr. Hess wrote: The HDMI cable is digital. It will work or it won't. Selling you an expensive cable the is "better" is BS, I mean "marketing."
To a point. The crappy ratshack cables do not perform as well as low-end audioquest or even Monoprice cables.
That said, i wouldn't spend $500 on an HDMI cable, either. I use Monoprice for mine, and i did see an improvement.
I have a Panasonic Viera plasma, and it's AWESOME.
In reply to triumph5:
Good point - you definitely want 1080p and not one of the smaller resolutions.
As to refresh rate, I don't think it's worth paying for more than 120Hz unless you're getting a set that works with 3D shutter glasses.
Two Sony LCDs here at casa de bludroptop. As far as I know, Sony doesn't make a Plasma. We're happy with them - except for what I paid, as prices have dropped considerably. We chose Sony over other brands because of picture quality and reputation. Maybe I paid a premium for the name, time will tell. Plasma TVs are also much heavier, if I recall my research correctly.
As for the HDMI cables, I cannot believe what they charge in retail outlets. I get mine from this outfit where a 2 meter (6 foot) cable sets you back about $5 bucks. They also have great prices on wall mounts.
(no affiliation, just a happy customer)
I work at a TV station. The guys here tell me the HDMI cable thing is a rip off. And it makes sense. It's digital. You can't really "lose signal". It pretty much either gets there or it doesn't. Actualy, not "pretty much". If it's not getting from A to B it will be obvious- not a small upgrade in picture quality.
I say get the cheap ones. That coming from someone who built my own speaker cable for my stereo. There are places where cables matter, but I can't see any logical reason why this would be one of them.
With that I vow no more discussion of cable. I'm a member of an audio forum and the topic is off limits. It alwasy ends badly. Do a little google work and decide for yourself. I believe James Randi still has an open offer of $1 Million to any golden eared audiophile who can tell a $7,250 cable from a garden varieity "Monster Cable".
I have a Vizio at home and it's been great.
^Wasn't there also an "audiophile" test where they wired up speakers using coat hangers and "golden ears" still couldn't hear the difference?
I'm a fan of Samsung myself.
Are you going to hang the TV on the wall? If not, save some cash and pick up a Mitsubishi DLP TV (Not sure if Samsung is still making them).
I think my buddy bought his 82" Mitsu 3d capable DLP TV last year for around $2500. If you're living room is big enough for that of course.
I've never understood the big push for flat panels. Most people I know who have them, either don't have them on a wall or if they do have them on a wall, they still have an entertainment center below taking up the same amount of floorspace.
You do have to determine where the plasma will go. We bought one and it ends up sitting right in front of our thermostat. Had to cange to a remote sensor thermostat because the plasma made it think it was always 80 degrees in the house.
-Rob
We went LCD and Vizio too, 47" 1080p and it is awesome. The biggest difference came though when I canceled Comcast and went with Direct TV. The difference in picture quality is amazing.
In fact I liked it so much I replaced the one in the bedroom with a 32", and another one just like it in the den.
When we were shopping, I really didn't like the Plasma that much more than the LCD, and my wife didn't like the LED's at all. So given the amount of money it cost, I'm pretty happy with it.
The plasma is panasonic.
z31maniac wrote: ^Wasn't there also an "audiophile" test where they wired up speakers using coat hangers and "golden ears" still couldn't hear the difference?
There was a challenge issued on that subject, but what came of it was either 1) it never came to fruition or 2) it did, but testing was very flawed.
There are some large flaws in the idea of "double blind testing" when applying to audio. RCA/Interconnects can and do have a very real effect on sound. My tin-eared girlfriend came home one day after i swapped out my AudioQuest Scarlet Vipers for some custom silver cables in my 2-channel system and said "Did you break your system or something? It sounds like E36 M3." Of course, there's the laws of diminishing returns, and the fact that using multi-thousand dollar cables on entry level gear is stupid, but there's signal running through those cables. Construction and termination, as well as wire material have an effect. At the end of that day, that's a debate somewhat unrelated to TVs, though, since those pass analog signal, not digital like HDMI.
HDMI? Not so much. Again, i'm not saying to go out and buy a $1000 HDMI cable, but when compared to cheap crap, a decent Monoprice cable will give improvements in PQ, and if you're passing audio to a receiver, SQ.
I don't speak TV Tech, but my 52" Samsung is killer. No help here.
Dan
I still watch one of these - Quasar quality....
93celicaGT2 wrote: I have a Panasonic Viera plasma, and it's AWESOME.
We have one of those in the 50 in variety and it is sweet.
I was slow in getting LCD primarily because the prior Sony(32") was still fine after almost 15 years of use and I wasnt going to spend money to replace it until it quit working. I bought a small Sony unit for my office video equipment and immediately replaced the old sony with a 46" Bravia model. I do enjoy the split screen capability too.
93celicaGT2 wrote:z31maniac wrote: ^Wasn't there also an "audiophile" test where they wired up speakers using coat hangers and "golden ears" still couldn't hear the difference?There was a challenge issued on that subject, but what came of it was either 1) it never came to fruition or 2) it did, but testing was very flawed. There are some large flaws in the idea of "double blind testing" when applying to audio. RCA/Interconnects can and do have a very real effect on sound. My tin-eared girlfriend came home one day after i swapped out my AudioQuest Scarlet Vipers for some custom silver cables in my 2-channel system and said "Did you break your system or something? It sounds like E36 M3." Of course, there's the laws of diminishing returns, and the fact that using multi-thousand dollar cables on entry level gear is stupid, but there's signal running through those cables. Construction and termination, as well as wire material have an effect. At the end of that day, that's a debate somewhat unrelated to TVs, though, since those pass analog signal, not digital like HDMI. HDMI? Not so much. Again, i'm not saying to go out and buy a $1000 HDMI cable, but when compared to cheap crap, a decent Monoprice cable will give improvements in PQ, and if you're passing audio to a receiver, SQ.
absolutely correct. analog interconnects effects are very real, but also like you said have to weighed against the equipment its connecting and the law of diminishing returns. most notably ive found certain companies' intercoonects have a certain general 'character' and i've used that to fine tune the overall balance of a system. my favorite interconnects for the price are the $50 Monster M550i which sound awfully close to my $180 Transparent Audio pair. ive even personally experienced (somewhat to my astonishment) a new pair of $750 speaker cables 'break in'. i could hardly believe my ears, and i wasnt alone there either.
but ive also tried digital tests and hooked up something like 15 pairs of that zip connect rca garbage thats included with cheap components with y spliiters and all sorts of crap inbetween to a coaxial digital output and couldnt hear the difference between that and the $100/1m stuff.
I'm a fan of plasma personally, but its heavier, definitely gives off more heat (kind of a lot actually) which means its using more electricity, and you have to be careful with static images like video games, leaving a dvd menu on screen, or even news channels with logos and tickers. that said i like the color rendition more (usually), deeper black levels, and generally 'filmier' image.
but that was almost 3 years ago when i was seriously looking and the last few times ive checked out LCDs it seems theyve come a LONG way to closing the picture gap in a short time. plus you dont have to think about leaving an image onscreen. honestly theyre all surprisingly good if you get a quality brand nowadays. definitely whatever you do get 1080p (if its even optional nowadays) and the highest resolution or screen quality you can afford. (my samsung plasma was the lowest model to use their highest screen at the time, so it didnt have the extra crap)
I'm a fan of plasma personally, but its heavier, definitely gives off more heat (kind of a lot actually) which means its using more electricity, and you have to be careful with static images like video games, leaving a dvd menu on screen, or even news channels with logos and tickers. that said i like the color rendition more (usually), deeper black levels, and generally 'filmier' image, but i sometimes wish i didnt have to ever think about the burn in possibility for games.
but that was almost 3 years ago when i was seriously looking and the last few times ive checked out LCDs it seems theyve come a LONG way to closing the picture gap in a short time. plus you dont have to think about leaving an image onscreen. honestly theyre all surprisingly good if you get a quality brand nowadays. definitely whatever you do get 1080p (if its even optional nowadays) and the highest resolution or screen quality you can afford. (my samsung plasma was the lowest model to use their highest screen at the time, so it didnt have the extra crap)
Go to a place like Sams or Costco where they have multiple tvs side by side and you'll get an LCD.
They say the Plasma is better on blacks but I haven't found that to be true. What I have found to be true is that the LCD is way better on the fine details.
And when it comes down to it, that's why you buy an HD tv in the first place.
Look at dark shows and that's where you'll see a huge difference in the LCD vs Plasma. The LCD still gives you detail far after the Plasma has begun to just give you black. What comes to mind is a time I was watching a music video of a black man on a pretty dark stage. While the Plasma gave me smooth skin tones the LCD was still showing beard details on his face.
My son in law had to return his plasma due to the way it heated up his room. He had the plasma in a smaller room and the room stayed hot all the time. That might not be bad this time of year, but what about when summer comes round again. Summer will come round again won't it? We're not into a 7 year winter are we? Please say it's almost time for summer!
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