How future proof is the 42' Panasonic Plasma Screen TH-42PV700AZ?

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › How future proof is the 42" Panasonic Plasma Screen TH-42PV700AZ?

Daza

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#15561 28-Aug-2007 22:27

Hey guys,

This topic has probably been done like burnt toast in the past but this appears to be a new model.

Looking to buy Panasonics high end 42" Plasma, the TH-42PV700AZ. Just want to know peoples thoughts on this piece of kit.

Does it have any downfalls that anyone is aware of?

And that ultimate question in the electronics industry - how future proof is it? I've been hanging out a while to upgrade my ol' CRT to a nice flat panel. I've been taking my time watching the prices and the technology. I feel I've waited long enough - the prices are a bit more acceptable at the moment, and there will always be new technology around the corner no matter when you purchase, eh? Basically will this panel handel the jandel when HD eventually comes in? And where does this panel fit in when you guys are talking about 'True HD 1080p display?

Appreciate any knowlege/experience anyone can pass on.

Cheers
Daza

1 | 2 | 3

4066 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Snowflake

#84204 29-Aug-2007 00:23

panasonic panels have always had a good reputation so you're ok from that point of view.

Its 1080p capable, but still not 'true' HD as its resolution is 1,024 x 768 (it would need a vertical resolution of 1080 to do native 1080p). So its future-proofed, but not the highest available pixel count.

Its also a Plasma screen which I still prefer, but others like the LCDs better. One of the key things to look for in a screen is whether or not you 'like the look' of the picture - especially if you're going to spend 6000 or so hours looking at it for the next 5 years. Take your favourite DVD into the shops and play it on a few screens to get a feel for the differences. Some screens do motion better, some do blacks better etc.

Sales Engineer
Snowflake
www.snowflake.com

about.me/nzregs
Twitter: @nzregs

Nety

2584 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#84210 29-Aug-2007 06:22

For a 42" screen 1080p is over kill as you will not see the difference at normal viewing distances. So in short don't get too hung up on "True HD 1080p".

Also it is more then likely that Freeview's HD TV service will be 720p.

Media centre PC - Case Silverstone LC16M with 2 X 80mm AcoustiFan DustPROOF, MOBO Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H, CPU AMD X2 240 under volted, RAM 4 Gig DDR3 1033, HDD 120Gig System/512Gig data, Tuners 2 X Hauppauge HVR-3000, 1 X HVR-2200, Video Palit GT 220, Sound Realtek 886A HD (onboard), Optical LiteOn DH-401S Blue-ray using TotalMedia Theatre Power Corsair VX Series, 450W ATX PSU OS Windows 7 x64

TomAckroyd

95 posts

Master Geek

#84217 29-Aug-2007 08:36

Nety: For a 42" screen 1080p is over kill as you will not see the difference at normal viewing distances.

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you Nety but "[citation needed]"?

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#84218 29-Aug-2007 08:47

TomAckroyd:
Nety: For a 42" screen 1080p is over kill as you will not see the difference at normal viewing distances.

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you Nety but "[citation needed]"?

The biggest factor is how far away from the TV you view it. Most people far exceed the recommended viewing distances for watching big screen TV's.

Something like this article makes interesting reading http://www.carltonbale.com/2006/11/1080p-does-matter/

For the same screen size, the benefits of 1080p vs. 720p start to become apparent when closer than 9.8 feet and become full apparent at 6.5 feet. In my opinion, 6.5 feet is closer than most people will sit to their 50" plasma TV (even through the THX recommended viewing distance for a 50" screen is 5.6 ft). So, most consumers will not be able to see the full benefit of their 1080p TV.

How far away from your 50" Plasma would you sit? I sit around 7 feet away from mine.

cyril7

9058 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#84226 29-Aug-2007 09:37

Just to be pedantic, all plasma and LCD digital panel displays are 1080p, cause thats the way they work. 1080p at 50/60 frames/sec will be along way coming. The only 1080p as an input that exists in the domestic domain is 1080p24 which is what a BlueRay player can output (as will most latter HD-DVD players), however there is no resolution improvement between 1080i and 1080p in any incarnation simply a temporal resolution purity.

A BR palyer outputing a film sourced image at 1080p24 and being accepted by a 1080p24 display that refreshs at 72 or 96Hz is an ultimate goal for fluid film reproduction in the home, however there is the same spatial resolution displayed regardless of it being 1080i25/30 or 1080p24, or 1080p50/60. All you achive as a wide step around the nasty 1080i30 with its 3:2 pulldown that both HD-DVD and BlueRay players have to use if your display will not handle 1080p24.

I understand the Panny you have linked does not support 1080p24 as an input, only 1080p50/60, therefore film sourced BR discs will still require to go via 3:2 pulldown.

But all that said the new panna 7 series is a good display, I have recommend it to several clients and I am well impressed, regardless of its lack of 24p input support.

Cyril

lchiu7

6479 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#84284 29-Aug-2007 15:16

...
A BR palyer outputing a film sourced image at 1080p24 and being accepted by a 1080p24 display that refreshs at 72 or 96Hz is an ultimate goal for fluid film reproduction in the home, however there is the same spatial resolution displayed regardless of it being 1080i25/30 or 1080p24, or 1080p50/60. All you achive as a wide step around the nasty 1080i30 with its 3:2 pulldown that both HD-DVD and BlueRay players have to use if your display will not handle 1080p24.

I understand the Panny you have linked does not support 1080p24 as an input, only 1080p50/60, therefore film sourced BR discs will still require to go via 3:2 pulldown.
..

Cyril

Out of interest, in the PAL HD world (is there a difference now between PAL and NTSC HD at 720p or 1080i?) do they still do speed ups to 25fps to avoid pulldown?

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

cyril7

9058 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#84288 29-Aug-2007 15:41

All depends on the souce and what transmission medium.

BlueRay and HD-DVD movies from film source are appear to all begin layed on the disc in 1080p24, if the player supports 24p output (which all BR players do and all HD-DVD players except the first gen Tosh). If you display does not support 1080p24 as an input then the only option is to have the player output 1080i30. Any video sourced material may be recorded in 1080i25 or 1080i30 depending on what and where it was recorded, and the player will output it in that native frame rate.

As for broadcasters, they only operate in their native frame rates, ie 50Hz territories at 1080i25 and 60Hz countires in 1080i30. All video sources will naturally be natively the same for each territory, frame rate conversion 1080i25<>1080i30 occurs when crossing boarders as is the case with PAL<>NTSC today. For Film sourced material, the same issue as happens today with PAL/NTSC occurs, 60Hz territories will have films shown in 1080i30 via 3:2 pulldown, 50Hz territories have 4% speed up to 1080i25.

Cyril

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

lchiu7

6479 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#84298 29-Aug-2007 16:25

Thanks Cyril. Personally I don't like the 25fps speed up of 24fps material but it looks like that would only happen with broadcast video here since it seems (as you say) currently most if not all content in the HD formats is 1080p24fps.

Just what would happen when they start to broadcast HD here and receive content in 24fps (likely to be some HD video format). Is that going to be sped up?

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

cyril7

9058 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#84300 29-Aug-2007 16:36

When a broadcaster (ie Sky, Canwest or TVNZ) request a movie from the distributor (Paramount, Fox, Universal etal) they are sent a HD tape in the format they wish to use. In this case a 1080i25 tape will be supplied from the provider, which is taken from the 1080p24 (or more likely 1080sF24) master that the distributor has.

The master and the broadcasters 1080i copy will have the 5channels in PCM DolbyE format, hence there is no issues with speeding up the audio as with an analog process. Obviously some distributors will pitch correct sound tracks depending on the directors wishes but it is the distrubtor (or studios) that do this, not the broadcaster.

Cyril

Daza

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#84319 29-Aug-2007 19:01

Man you guys are geeks!

Hey, I appreciate all the feedback and comments, but some of you guys may as well be talking in a Ubeckestanian. I am new to this forum and as the 1 star and 'wannabe geek' indicate, I know sod all about most of this stuff. Maybe I have come to the wrong place, but I thought this was where I would get the best advice from 'Gurus' in the home theatre field. All though I know not much at the moment I am keen to understand, so could we please ease me into it and could someone please explain in laymans terms what 1080p24 and the 3:2 pulldown mean.

Thanks
Daza

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79316 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#84326 29-Aug-2007 19:30

Daza, don't worry... I have a gold star and I am the Alpha Geek here, but sometimes I get lost too - like now.

I am sure someone will translate this for you...

cyril7

9058 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#84336 29-Aug-2007 20:21

Daza, sorry if we put a few comments in over your head. Bottom line is the 7series Pannas are a great and as I have said I have recommended them to several clients and they are well happy, even the basic model is damn good viewing.

What I have an issue with, is the marketing hype that panasonic have made about the 1080p aspect of these panels. Bottom line is the crucial 1080p24 is not supported, as such if you have a BlueRay or HD-DVD player you will have to have it feed 1080i30 for film sourced material, not a real issue, but 1080p24 is a ulitmate process for film reproduction. To my way of thinking this is a major oversight of any new display.

As for the 7series support for 1080p50/60, where these signals will come from god knows. They exist knowhere, and I dont know of any plans for them to be commonly available anytime in the future (except in the mind of marketing types).

Cyril

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#84341 29-Aug-2007 20:42

I might be missing something but on Panasonic's site they also make a few other whierd claims

1080p Digital Re-mastering Processor - Up-converts SD video signals to 1080p signals. Delivers pictures as beautiful as those from HD video signals. The processor converts SD and HD video signals from DTV broadcasting and DVD players to 1080p without loss of image details

What point is there upscaling SD content to 1080p on a set that only has a 1024x768 native resolution? 1080p support on any set that isn't a full HD 1920x1080 is nothing but a kludge.

lchiu7

6479 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#84343 29-Aug-2007 21:00

cyril7: Daza, sorry if we put a few comments in over your head. Bottom line is the 7series Pannas are a great and as I have said I have recommended them to several clients and they are well happy, even the basic model is damn good viewing.

What I have an issue with, is the marketing hype that panasonic have made about the 1080p aspect of these panels. Bottom line is the crucial 1080p24 is not supported, as such if you have a BlueRay or HD-DVD player you will have to have it feed 1080i30 for film sourced material, not a real issue, but 1080p24 is a ulitmate process for film reproduction. To my way of thinking this is a major oversight of any new display....

Cyril

Slightly OT but I can't wait until Sony NZ imports PAL versions of these sets

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665153955

Not only supporting 1080p24 but much slimmer than the current SXRD sets with the speakers on the bottom rather than the side. And just look at the price!

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

cyril7

9058 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#84350 29-Aug-2007 21:26

steve, there is no doubt that the Panna marketing department are definitely full of it, the engineers behind the product must cringe to see how its presented. As I said all that aside, I think its a great product.

Larry, the SXRD series (even the 3LCD) rearpros are still in my view the best of whats out there. Would be great to see a greater range of Sonys rearpro here. I understand that JVC have produced an even slimmer Lcos rearpro, actually was it you Larry that pointed that out sometime ago.

Cheers
Cyril

1 | 2 | 3