LCD or Plasma - HD - now or wait
Discussion
Hi all
I could really do with some basics on plasma v lcd tv. i understand that a plasma's picture quality is better but they dont last as long as lcd?
I dont know if this is true and the following questions come to mind - aiming to spend around £3,500 on a big tv min 42" pref 50".
Will HD look better on plasma than lcd?
Are viewing angles an issue with either tv?
is hd capability so new that its worth waiting 6 months?
how much can one expect to spend on decent sound (i know it can be virtually limitless but in keeping with the cost of the tv say)
the tv i'm tending towards is the pioneer pdp50xde plasma.
Thanks for any help
Ajit.
I could really do with some basics on plasma v lcd tv. i understand that a plasma's picture quality is better but they dont last as long as lcd?
I dont know if this is true and the following questions come to mind - aiming to spend around £3,500 on a big tv min 42" pref 50".
Will HD look better on plasma than lcd?
Are viewing angles an issue with either tv?
is hd capability so new that its worth waiting 6 months?
how much can one expect to spend on decent sound (i know it can be virtually limitless but in keeping with the cost of the tv say)
the tv i'm tending towards is the pioneer pdp50xde plasma.
Thanks for any help
Ajit.
I went through this exact thing six months ago. Ended up with a plasma.
I know they supposedly have a shorter lifespan, but in practice I think you would have to leave it on 24x7 for about 8 years before it degraded, so not really a factor for me.
As for what you should buy - I and many others on this forum have utilised the superb knowledge and service of mr derestrictor - not only did he offer me exactly the information I wanted but also the prices are very very competetive (ie the cheapest!).
Send him a mail through his profile, he's a top bloke.
edit to add: www.digitaldirectuk.com/ - is the website.
Will HD look better on plasma than lcd?
Dunno, but I expect so.
Are viewing angles an issue with either tv?
Not on plasma, but could be on LCD, guess it would depend on the TV itself.
is hd capability so new that its worth waiting 6 months?
I have an upscaling DVD player, and an XBox360 both of which output high def. I also rig my laptop up which is effectively hi-def also. If you aren't going to do any of this then you don't need hi-def. Sky HD is due next year, but will be limited to certain channels - again if you don't watch these, then you don't need hi-def.
All that said, who "needs" hi-def anyway. I say buy it and enjoy it, I can't tell you how great the picture is on my hitachi and it's comparatively cheap to most of the screens out there.
how much can one expect to spend on decent sound (i know it can be virtually limitless but in keeping with the cost of the tv say)
I spent £900 all in on my 5.1 amp and speakers - sound is phenomenal, I honestly think in a room the size of my living room you would have to spend 5x as much to appreciate a difference, and even then it would only be slight. I know a lot of audiophiles will strongly disagree with that, but I've got crap hearing due to years of DJing so the subtleties of a linn cd transport would be utterly lost on me.
>> Edited by _dobbo_ on Thursday 29th December 18:28
I know they supposedly have a shorter lifespan, but in practice I think you would have to leave it on 24x7 for about 8 years before it degraded, so not really a factor for me.
As for what you should buy - I and many others on this forum have utilised the superb knowledge and service of mr derestrictor - not only did he offer me exactly the information I wanted but also the prices are very very competetive (ie the cheapest!).
Send him a mail through his profile, he's a top bloke.
edit to add: www.digitaldirectuk.com/ - is the website.
Will HD look better on plasma than lcd?
Dunno, but I expect so.
Are viewing angles an issue with either tv?
Not on plasma, but could be on LCD, guess it would depend on the TV itself.
is hd capability so new that its worth waiting 6 months?
I have an upscaling DVD player, and an XBox360 both of which output high def. I also rig my laptop up which is effectively hi-def also. If you aren't going to do any of this then you don't need hi-def. Sky HD is due next year, but will be limited to certain channels - again if you don't watch these, then you don't need hi-def.
All that said, who "needs" hi-def anyway. I say buy it and enjoy it, I can't tell you how great the picture is on my hitachi and it's comparatively cheap to most of the screens out there.
how much can one expect to spend on decent sound (i know it can be virtually limitless but in keeping with the cost of the tv say)
I spent £900 all in on my 5.1 amp and speakers - sound is phenomenal, I honestly think in a room the size of my living room you would have to spend 5x as much to appreciate a difference, and even then it would only be slight. I know a lot of audiophiles will strongly disagree with that, but I've got crap hearing due to years of DJing so the subtleties of a linn cd transport would be utterly lost on me.
>> Edited by _dobbo_ on Thursday 29th December 18:28
singh911 said:
the tv i'm tending towards is the pioneer pdp50xde plasma.
Is that the same as the PDP-506XDE? £3700ish for the 50in
That got a corking review in Home Cinema Choice. They loved it. You'll love it.
Also, it looks sensational which is a big factor in such a large object.
Pioneer have had HD technology for a while so they're tried and tested with it
All technology gets better and cheaper. There is a point where performance and affordability first make real economic sense and for me that is the Pioneer 506XDE (2800 plus VAT) - I've watched a whole load of plasma and LCD displays over the last few years costing several times more.
Everyone I've showed the 506XDE to is blown away, whether the source is high-definition or top quality standard def. I don't believe you would regret going for this plasma screen
Everyone I've showed the 506XDE to is blown away, whether the source is high-definition or top quality standard def. I don't believe you would regret going for this plasma screen
If you looking for a screen size above 36" then it has to be Plasma..
There are bigger sized LCD appearing now but they don't match up to Plasma for picture performance.
As for life span If you buy a QUALITY product ie Panasonic/Pioneer you wont have any Issues. In my opinion you can't go past Panasonic Viera Plasmas They are stunning.
Panasonic build there own panels and I think this comes through in the quality of the picture, some manufacturers like Sony share there LCD production with Samsung and I dont think there Bravia product gets close to Panasonics Viera Panels.
There are bigger sized LCD appearing now but they don't match up to Plasma for picture performance.
As for life span If you buy a QUALITY product ie Panasonic/Pioneer you wont have any Issues. In my opinion you can't go past Panasonic Viera Plasmas They are stunning.
Panasonic build there own panels and I think this comes through in the quality of the picture, some manufacturers like Sony share there LCD production with Samsung and I dont think there Bravia product gets close to Panasonics Viera Panels.
Not sure on specific answers to your questions, but I'll second the case for a Panasonic Vieria. I'm a fussy b
d when if comes to anything AV related and have so far refused to upgrade my 7 year old Panasonic Tau (50hz CRT) as I've not been convinced by anything that's come along, saying that I'm just about to order a Panasonic TH-42PV500-CAB as it's the smartest TV I've seen in a long long time!
As for holding on, things will get cheaper and have more features, but I Panasonic for me have always produced TV's with stunning picture quality which is at the forefront of consumer products. Also the HD format has now settled into a vauge range of flavours which all 'HD Ready' tv will work with. Buy it and enjoy it, I know I am!!
d when if comes to anything AV related and have so far refused to upgrade my 7 year old Panasonic Tau (50hz CRT) as I've not been convinced by anything that's come along, saying that I'm just about to order a Panasonic TH-42PV500-CAB as it's the smartest TV I've seen in a long long time! As for holding on, things will get cheaper and have more features, but I Panasonic for me have always produced TV's with stunning picture quality which is at the forefront of consumer products. Also the HD format has now settled into a vauge range of flavours which all 'HD Ready' tv will work with. Buy it and enjoy it, I know I am!!
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