HDTV Plasma Vs LCD Help Guide

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browned

636 posts

Ultimate Geek

#159316 24-Aug-2008 13:17

Still can't understand the hangup some people have with power consumption. You spend thousands on your displays and associated electrical items and then worry about a dollar or two here or there difference a month of what it cost to run them. Its not going to break the bank or send the country into blackout depending on whether you have an LCD or Plasma and worrying about it power usage - it is whats pleasing to your eye on screen. PS - your monitoring software equipment is probably eating the difference in power comsumption anyway.

I was just curious as I never investigated this when I looked at both LCD and plasma, and now someone has done a veyr good comparison between them I think it is important to include it these days.

But you carry on doing what you do though, you don't need to be bothered by what other people care about or do.

cheers
db

JaseNZ

2576 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#160322 28-Aug-2008 04:02

I was in this exact same position about 5 months ago, I was going to upgrade to an Samsung lcd and i even had the model picked out, So off i go into the store when i had the cash (wanted to pay cash and not hp things) and went in and grabbed a salesman and said see that lcd over there i want it. He (Thankfully) asked had i ever considered a plasma to which i replied nope heard to many bad things about them. Well he told me the later models did not suffers these problems and for value for money Plasma was the better way to go , They had a setup there with both latest models side by side of lcd and plasma both hooked up to a ps3 playing a hidef movie and the difference really startled me. For what i was going to use it for mainly sports and as i have a ps3 myself bluray movies etc i was swayed to go for the plasma. And for the same price as the lcd i got a 42in samsung latest model. Getting it home and setting it up was a breeze and i have never looked back i love my new plasma tv and unless they make some major advancements in lcd its what i will be sticking with.

Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding : Ice cream man , Ice cream man

dreadeye

11 posts

Geek

#160704 29-Aug-2008 12:40

I went through a similar process. Was all ready to buy an LCD and then I heard the arguments in favour of Plasma. Did a whole lot of research and settled on a Panny.

That was nearly two years ago and I am still stoked with my choice. In my opinion Plasma has the best overall picture for everyday use. If you are really into gaming, LCD is a no brainer but plasmawins out for what I use it for- TV, Sky Sport, Blu-Ray and a little bit of gaming.

If I had to buy a TV today- no question that I would buy another Plasma.

ZaneO

24 posts

Geek

#160871 30-Aug-2008 13:06

Hey folks,

Im a bit of a home theatre noob, but I did just come home from buying one...

The Panasonic TX37LZ800 manages to combine some of the benefits of Plasma into an LCD screen! Don't ask me how they do this, but you end up with much blacker blacks, and a little bit of the shiny screen effect (negative point in my view), as well as slightly better viewing angles. This unit also handles fast moving images heaps better - possibly because it operates at 100hz.

If you're in Auckland, and in the market, go to Stereo World on Dominion road... they are fantastic! We went to Harveys, Noel Leemins, Dicks, and Bond&Bond... but we eventually made it to stereo world, spent an hour there with 'Dan', and left very happy... and with a full home theatre system.

Anyway, the Panasonic TX37LZ800 is really cool and pinches some of the Plasma TV features to be extra cool.

ChrisPenrose

11 posts

Geek

#164582 15-Sep-2008 18:42

1 vote for Plasma + builtin FreeviewHD

I researched the Sony KDL46W4000 and Samsung LA46A650 (like most).
I ended up buying the Panasonic TH50PZ850 50'' with inbuilt FreeviewHD decoder for Powerstore for $4200 (Weekend 20% discount).
The image quality is superb, the HD decoder hasn't missed a beat (even on fast moving action), setup and operation is really simple and the manual is readable.
The electronic programming guide (EPG) shows a week on all supported channels.

I have a Freeview HD media server that I will use for recording etc (TODO this weekend...).
But I came to the conclusion that the kids and wife will still prefer the simplicity of the inbuilt FreeviewHD decoder.

argo

87 posts

Master Geek

#167636 28-Sep-2008 22:37

ChrisPenrose: 1 vote for Plasma + builtin FreeviewHD

I researched the Sony KDL46W4000 and Samsung LA46A650 (like most).
I ended up buying the Panasonic TH50PZ850 50'' with inbuilt FreeviewHD decoder for Powerstore for $4200 (Weekend 20% discount).
The image quality is superb, the HD decoder hasn't missed a beat (even on fast moving action), setup and operation is really simple and the manual is readable.
The electronic programming guide (EPG) shows a week on all supported channels.

I have a Freeview HD media server that I will use for recording etc (TODO this weekend...).
But I came to the conclusion that the kids and wife will still prefer the simplicity of the inbuilt FreeviewHD decoder.

Hi CP, we just joined the TH50PZ850 club this weekend as well, what a great TV

Amoungst the features we have already come to like, is PIP. The kids have found they can do their Tivo (one day to be a HTPC) program setting in the secondary picture, without disturbing anyone (to much) watching TV on the primary.

And upscaling is superb. Using HDMI and a Pioneer CD player, I found the Panny upscaling superior than that of the Pioneer DVD player (set the Pioneer back to 576 and let the Panny do its work). Not that the Pioneer DVD player was that expensive, but its good to see that at least some of Panasonic's R&D went into the upscaling circuitry!

Fast action, extreme viewing angle, PC input - all excellent. So far very happy.

EDIT: Forgot to say, I had a high-gain UHF aerial all ready to swap out with our current VHF/UHF aerial (as a UHF 'reference': our Prime UHF reception is crap), the Panny pulled in all the DTT channels no problem - so excellent DTT tuner as well. As a reference, very much better than the Hauppauge Nova-T Stick that I have posted on GZ about before. So add that to the list as well!

BazNZ

258 posts

Ultimate Geek

#168213 1-Oct-2008 06:27

Yep the Panasonic Plasma's are the best on the market in that price range. Panasonic PY800AZ & Panasonic PZ850AZ. Great Price and Great HDTV's. I'm really happy with mine too. I have FreeviewHD, MySkyHDi, and a Playstation 3 all hooked up and it produces a great picture.

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PerryNZ

44 posts

Geek
Inactive user

#168367 1-Oct-2008 15:56

I've got the Panny 42" plasma and the Panny

DVD/VCR combo player / recorder / converter.

I realise instructions have to be arcane, by some

strange edict, but the remotes and manuals

are, well, shall I say 'enigmatic,' (in the interests

of polite conversation.)

jimmx2

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#168751 3-Oct-2008 08:55

I've had my 42" samsung for about a year and its still the best thing i own got it for 1300 and i see them for 800 now its been a year but man it has videogames on it about 15-17 hours a day due to "24hr family" and the pixel shift does a perfect job keeping burn in from happening
as said veiwing angle is better then i would ever need blacks are perfect and so are whites....heat! OH GOD DOES IT GET HOT! my AC is right next to it and when i want heat insead of cooling i just turn the AC to fan lol doesnt help with a ps3,xbox,800 watt amp,and many random other things are there making heat. but yes i'd sell my car before i got rid of my tv....and the bus system here is trash!

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