LCD Or Plasma For Dedicated HTPC?

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1gkar

722 posts

Ultimate Geek

#87476 29-Jul-2011 16:47

Hi,

Am thinking of upgrading to a larger main TV but am unsure whether LCD or Plasma. Have heard about the burn-in issues related to constant image as an HTPC can display. Is this still true with the new generation plasmas?

From all accounts I would go with a Panasonic if I went that route. Is either type's screen more susceptable to failure? Or is it purely luck of the draw?

What do you guys use? Cheers.

Silverstone LC14 HTPC Case/Intel E4600 CPU/GA-EP35-DS3 MOBO/Asus EN9500GT graphics/2GB RAM/total 2TB HDD space/HVR-2200 & 2X 150MCE tuner cards/LG GGC-H20L BD Drive/MCE2005/Mediaportal/TVServer 1.1.0Final/LG 55"3D LED-TV/Denon AVR-1803 receiver/X1 projector

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75 posts

Master Geek

#499631 29-Jul-2011 23:39

I used a panasonic plasma for 2 yrs with no issues. If its a true htpc 90% of the time you will be displaying a moving tv image. Panasonic have tech built in to all newer tv's that make it pretty difficult to get burn in. I used mine for xbox gaming also. I've now upgraded to an LCD Sony 55" and I still reckon the picture on my old panasonic 50" tv is better. Kids still use the tv in another htpc setup so that's 3yrs plus with no issues, and the kids leave the screen on all the time with the xbox.

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1gkar

722 posts

Ultimate Geek

#499644 30-Jul-2011 05:49

Thanks for the reply. Went out to Harvey Normans, in Manukau, last evening to start investigating, only to find they were shut! What company doesn't open on a Friday night; duh, Harvey Norman. Did not even cross my mind to check their late night times. Wasted trip from Blockhouse Bay.

1gkar

722 posts

Ultimate Geek

#499645 30-Jul-2011 06:01

duckquack: I used a panasonic plasma for 2 yrs with no issues...

What made you decide to change to an LCD (led?) panel?

Byrned

455 posts

Ultimate Geek

#499650 30-Jul-2011 08:17

1gkar: Thanks for the reply. Went out to Harvey Normans, in Manukau, last evening to start investigating, only to find they were shut! What company doesn't open on a Friday night; duh, Harvey Norman.

From what I recall, I can't think of any stores in the SupaCentre there that are open on a Friday night, so it's not just Harvey Norman.

duckquack

75 posts

Master Geek

#499653 30-Jul-2011 08:44

1gkar:
duckquack: I used a panasonic plasma for 2 yrs with no issues...
What made you decide to change to an LCD (led?) panel?

The kids had a tiny 14" TV and xmas was upon us; so were looking for a cheap TV for them but then I saw my current TV with a huge discount and I always wanted a bigger tv 5" isn't much but it's enough to make a difference over my old 50" plasma. My old plasma was also pretty good at creating heat/using power so it made sense to put it in the low use area (kids play room as a xmas present). New plasma are significanly better in the power use stakes so this is probably not an issue anymore.

The new LED tv's look really good (probably better than plasma) but plasma gives you heaps of bang for your buck and I still prefer the picture on my Plasma over my LCD.

1gkar

722 posts

Ultimate Geek

#499715 30-Jul-2011 13:12

Byrned:
1gkar: Thanks for the reply. Went out to Harvey Normans, in Manukau, last evening to start investigating, only to find they were shut! What company doesn't open on a Friday night; duh, Harvey Norman.

From what I recall, I can't think of any stores in the SupaCentre there that are open on a Friday night, so it's not just Harvey Norman.

So much for being a SuperCentre, then

scuwp

3868 posts

Uber Geek

#499716 30-Jul-2011 13:21

1gkar:
Byrned:
1gkar: Thanks for the reply. Went out to Harvey Normans, in Manukau, last evening to start investigating, only to find they were shut! What company doesn't open on a Friday night; duh, Harvey Norman.

From what I recall, I can't think of any stores in the SupaCentre there that are open on a Friday night, so it's not just Harvey Norman.
So much for being a SuperCentre, then

Geez give em a break, they are open 7 days a week!!!

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

dale77

294 posts

Ultimate Geek

#499856 30-Jul-2011 19:03

The rumor was that plasma was better than LCD for fast movement (i.e sport).

When I watched the Super-15 final I remember thinking some of the wide shots of attacking back line moves seemed to exhibit a bit of fuzzy slow-mo on our LCD, but I can't be sure if it is the LCD to blame or just the actual footage from Sky on PRIME (576i?), or even the HTPC rendering...

Does plasma still handle sports better than LCD?

HTPC: Antec Fusion 430, Intel i3, Gigabyte 1050, Corsair 4x1Gb, Hauppauge WinTv, Logitech z-5500, Logitech Harmony 525, Yamaha Rx-v6a, Samsung KS8000 4k, Windows 10, Mediaportal 1.30, BLU-RAY: Panasonic UB820

Dunnersfella

4081 posts

Uber Geek

#499866 30-Jul-2011 19:27

Plasma is still all over LCD's and LED's for motion processing.

1gkar

722 posts

Ultimate Geek

#499889 30-Jul-2011 21:23

Went to various stores today, but found Harvey Norman (North Shore, who are also open late on a Friday)) had the best selection. As only LG -non plasma- have more than a 1 year warranty (don't get me started), every other brand won't get my money.

First time I have used glasses with a domestic 3D HDTV. Have to admit I was impressed. Better than the tech used to make Beowolf. Probably never use it, until I upgrade HTPC hardware. But the models I am seriously looking at are the 47LW6500 & 55LW4500.

The main differences are the former has 200hz -as opposed to 100hz- & also has smart TV: has web browser (something that I don't need with with an HTPC). Veering towards the 55" model, as it's less than $200 more. With less than $100 admin fees for 18 months & 0% interest, it's hard to say no.

1gkar

722 posts

Ultimate Geek

#499891 30-Jul-2011 21:27

scuwp:
1gkar:
Byrned:
1gkar: Thanks for the reply. Went out to Harvey Normans, in Manukau, last evening to start investigating, only to find they were shut! What company doesn't open on a Friday night; duh, Harvey Norman.

From what I recall, I can't think of any stores in the SupaCentre there that are open on a Friday night, so it's not just Harvey Norman.
So much for being a SuperCentre, then

Geez give em a break, they are open 7 days a week!!!

Nope. So are their North Shore branch

1gkar

722 posts

Ultimate Geek

#499895 30-Jul-2011 21:34

Dunnersfella: Plasma is still all over LCD's and LED's for motion processing.

As warranty is a very important consideration for me, I won't go near an inferior supported product, if the tech is near what I believe relatively equal. Besides, I'm used to LCD. Also, having looked at the power comsumption labels, the LCDs consistently had full stars, whereas the plasmas were 1 to 2 stars down. Given what energy companies charge, every watt counts.

dale77

294 posts

Ultimate Geek

#499914 30-Jul-2011 23:20

Dunnersfella: Plasma is still all over LCD's and LED's for motion processing.

1gkar: As warranty is a very important consideration for me, I won't go near an inferior supported product, if the tech is near what I believe relatively equal.

Which is it? plasma all over lcd, or relatively equal tech?

Certainly on our sample of one LCD I do notice what could be inferior motion processing, but there are too many variables to be sure..

Nety

2584 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#499944 31-Jul-2011 09:14

I don't think there is a correct answer to that question because it comes down to personal preference. Some people think plasma's have a more film like look to them and therefore prefer them. On the other hand LCD/LED is said to look sharper and some people prefer that. There are other strengths and weakness's in both to which people find more or less important.
So in answer to you question. Depends on who you talk to.

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

1gkar

722 posts

Ultimate Geek

#500963 2-Aug-2011 18:43

1gkar: Went to various stores today, but found Harvey Norman (North Shore, who are also open late on a Friday)) had the best selection. As only LG -non plasma- have more than a 1 year warranty (don't get me started), every other brand won't get my money.

First time I have used glasses with a domestic 3D HDTV. Have to admit I was impressed. Better than the tech used to make Beowolf. Probably never use it, until I upgrade HTPC hardware. But the models I am seriously looking at are the 47LW6500 & 55LW4500.

The main differences are the former has 200hz -as opposed to 100hz- & also has smart TV: has web browser (something that I don't need with with an HTPC). Veering towards the 55" model, as it's less than $200 more. With less than $100 admin fees for 18 months & 0% interest, it's hard to say no.

Boy, was I wrong! I went in on Sunday with my external USB drive & some movies (BD & DVD rips, & Freeview TV record). They all played in 3D out of the box. Not nearly as good as the 3DBD, but not bad considering.

Hard case as two guys I played golf with both knew Phil, the sales guy at HN. One used to work there. Have to say, he was great: unpretentious, non-pushy & knew his stuff.

I even managed to get some more knocked off the price as he could see I wanted the larger one, but just needed that extra push. Well, that did it, got it for less than the advertised 47".

It is now the pride & joy in my lounge. No buyer's remorse here. The 3D works with everything, even the images on the front pages of Moving Pictures & TV Series in Mediaportal.

Only issue I have found to date, I had to turn off the Trumotion as it caused audio sync problems in my media files. One annoyance is that it is yet another TV that will not blank the screen when MP goes into blank mode. This one has the LG logo inside a spinning cube, that moves around the screen. Guess you can't have everything.

Bring on the RWC!

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