Doing a dedicated room, and because of seating distances, and width restrictions, I am looking at around the 60" size. I thought about posting this in the plasma/rp threads but decided against that because I didnt want a biased opinion. SOOO here we are.....

Viewing angles are not an issue, room will be light controlled, though sometimes I will keep the lights on.....What should I go with...What offers the superior picture quality......

60" Plasma or RP?

What is the size of the room?

Have you given consideration to FP (projector)? I'm with Cathan we need to know the dimensions of your room.

I have a 42" plasma and I love it. If I could fit it into my room I would have gone bigger, but for my basement 13.5 x 21 I am going with 110" and FP with 7.1 surround.

Give us some more details about your room and we will give you all of the suggestions you could possibly want.

Good thing you came here because nobody here is biased:rolleyes:

Just kidding of course and I know what you mean with the banter going on between technologies such as DLP, LCD, Plasma etc.

Regards,

RTROSE

It's hard to imagine a dedicated room that is too small for FP. You can get a 1080p projector for less $ than a 60" plasma for sure, and even if you only go with an 80" screen, most bedrooms could accommodate that kind of throw distance / screen size.

Light control is something to consider, but it sounds like you're more concerned about the size of your room. Tell us your dimensions, light control situation, and anything else you think is relevant and maybe we'll have more suggestions.

Mark

I recently purchased my first front projector and love it! There is no way to describe how much better it is watching movies on a 100" screen vs the 56" screen my DLP HDTV offered. In fact, I sold my DLP and now use the front projector for watching movies and television. Front projection is the way to go, especially if you have good ambient light control.

Sorry, room demensions are 14' x 10'.......5 theater seats are along the 14' wall....so my viewing distance is about 7'6" - 9' (when fully reclined)...The room layout is going to stay how it is....and I dont really feel that comfortable with a FP, too big of screen size for me....I debated about doing a 73" RP, but after going to a store and sitting 7'6"-9' away from one for awhile, I decided that even that would seem to big....

As far as light goes, the room will be completely light controlled, with that said, during sporting events or parties the lights will be on.....

Sorry, room demensions are 14' x 10'.......5 theater seats are along the 14' wall....so my viewing distance is about 7'6" - 9' (when fully reclined)...The room layout is going to stay how it is....and I dont really feel that comfortable with a FP, too big of screen size for me....I debated about doing a 73" RP, but after going to a store and sitting 7'6"-9' away from one for awhile, I decided that even that would seem to big....

As far as light goes, the room will be completely light controlled, with that said, during sporting events or parties the lights will be on.....

RP will give you more inches per dollar than plasma, but with restrictions on viewing angle. FP is the best inches per dollar answer, but with diminished usability in higher light situations.

Most suggest viewing distance at 3 to 4 times screen height, which is around 30" high in your case, or about a 60" diagonal. However, higher resolutions allow larger screens. 60" is kind of small for FP, but it sure would be bright!

I think I would buy a DLP RPTV around 60" and take the savings and buy a big-ass subwoofer (and beer!!)

If you are concerned about the screen being too big I can understand that however I do not see many here wishing they had gone smaller but many have said they wish they could have gone bigger.

I thought my 42" plasma was HUGE when I first got it home but now I am used to it and think I could go to 50" without a problem but 60" would be pushing it.

If you were to go FP what would be the throw distance or how far back would the projector be from the sceen? For example the Epson Home Cinema 400 (720p) projector has a image range 67" to 101" from a throw distance of 10 feet according to this link.http://www.projectorcentral.com/Epson-PowerLite_Home_Cinema_400-projection-calculator-pro.htm

This would be very close to your 60" size you mentioned and I would guess at 67" the Epson would be very bright and plasma like.

Don't throw in the towel on FP give it some serious consideration. Especially if you look at some of the FP that sponsor sites have for a grand or less.

Regards,

RTROSE

Yeah, the towel was thrown in on FP a while ago, it is strickly a RP or Plasma. Also, 1080P is very important to me as I will be watching blu rays.

So far I see, RP = 1 Plasma= 0

I'll put it even. Go RP if you can't swing the cost of a 60" plasma I suppose.

I guess the other flat panel tech is out due to cost? I'm so not up on flatscreens at all though.

Yeah, the towel was thrown in on FP a while ago, it is strickly a RP or Plasma. Also, 1080P is very important to me as I will be watching blu rays.

So far I see, RP = 1 Plasma= 0

Depending on viewing distance, 1080P might not be necessary. Not many TVs have 1080P inputs anyway, and any current set will do a decent job of adapting the BR output to the display's native rate. 1080P is basically hype, at least for the foreseeable future. Especially at 50 to 60 inch displays. LOTS of great deals on 1366x768 plasmas out there at around half the price of a 1080P display. At nine or ten feet, you'll never see the difference.

just go with a 58-60" 1080p plasma from that viewing distance.. trust me i have owned and given up on FP, even seen a bunch of the new 1080p projectors in action (JVC DLA-HD1 and the Panny AE-1000U) nothing compares to a solid plasma picture and brightness... the samsung 5884 is a really smoking buy at the moment at under 2900 shipped or if you have the extra cash go with the 6010 by Pioneer... let us know how it turns out, i am currently looking for either of these 2 units myself.. cheers

You may want to try the dedicated HDTV area. I would recommend the Pioneer Kuro lineup, but the new Panasonic plasmas are wonderful as well. It is going to get pricey though in the 60" range. Good luck.

just go with a 58-60" 1080p plasma from that viewing distance.. trust me i have owned and given up on FP, even seen a bunch of the new 1080p projectors in action (JVC DLA-HD1 and the Panny AE-1000U) nothing compares to a solid plasma picture and brightness... the samsung 5884 is a really smoking buy at the moment at under 2900 shipped or if you have the extra cash go with the 6010 by Pioneer... let us know how it turns out, i am currently looking for either of these 2 units myself.. cheers

At 60" nobody should be looking at FP....... It's just a waste to restrict them down to that screen size to match or beat Plasma.

At 60" nobody should be looking at FP....... It's just a waste to restrict them down to that screen size to match or beat Plasma.

So true. Why not just settle for both. I have seens tons here go with a smaller 42 to 55in tv plus a ceiling mount pj with pulldown screen. That room size, one can easily do 92" with 1080p.

Let me reiterate my original post.... I do not want FP, At that distance (7'6" - 9', I just feel that it will be to big of a picture. I do however want a great picture at around the 60" size, which leaves me to Plasma or RP...

Though after reading up on a few tvs and visiting some stores I have decided that RP tvs dont give that same picture that a plasma does.....

The rear projections I am considering are the Sony 60A3000 (if I can find one)

and the Mitsubishi WD65833 (or wait for lazer)

The plasmas I looked at and considering are

the Samsung 58A550 (but the Judder on this thing will make someone sick)

and the Pioneer PRO150 (but damn thats alotta cash for a tv)

Anyone have any suggestions with those? Or how to cure the judder on the Samsung?

Thanks

Call me crazy, but I prefer my properly calibrated Samsung HLS5088 DLP (available in 50", 56" & 61". Also known as the HLSxx87 model with slightly diff. features) to just about any plasma I've seen. To my eyes, it has one of the smoothest film like pictures, as well as some of the most accurate colors I've ever seen in a set. If you ever see one though, don't be fooled as it is one of the WORST out of the box calibrated TV's and was always setup horrifically at retail chains. I've read and heard many ISF calibrators praise this screen and from day one I've absolutely LOVED it. Not to mention I got it when it was rather new for hundreds less than the competition (I believe $1,200 around 2 years ago?). I considered the Sony's, but considered it not quite as good as the Samsung. I have a Sony 50" XBR1 as well and personally feel the updated versions to be a step backwards. Except of course in one major area which I believe that worked on, quality control. Yea my XBR suffered from the green blob and needed the optical block replaced. What a F'ing hassle that was to get done. Maybe thats part of the reason I prefer the two Samsung HLS's I own over every single RP Sony. :p I like the Mitsubishi's a lot as well. Almost went with one of them, don't remember the model. But yea, you'd get better advice in a different section. Most here are discussing FP.

I would do a samsung DLP instead of the Sony RP.

I believe that I saw a press release a month or two ago that they have dropped out of that scene, which means parts may start to become hard to find. I agree with what the prev. poster said about the calibrated samsung, as I have one in my living room, and it was done professionally (not through the disc options) and its amazing..... as long as Im directly in front of it.

If you did go with the plasma, dont skip around... just get the pioneer. I would actually get the 720p version while there still is a 720p because at that distance you wont see a difference hardly at all. That and the 720 with show a 1080p signal. I would rather have a 720p Pioneer than a 1080p anything else.

Let me reiterate my original post.... I do not want FP, At that distance (7'6" - 9', I just feel that it will be to big of a picture. I do however want a great picture at around the 60" size, which leaves me to Plasma or RP...

Though after reading up on a few tvs and visiting some stores I have decided that RP tvs dont give that same picture that a plasma does.....

The rear projections I am considering are the Sony 60A3000 (if I can find one)

and the Mitsubishi WD65833 (or wait for lazer)

The plasmas I looked at and considering are

the Samsung 58A550 (but the Judder on this thing will make someone sick)

and the Pioneer PRO150 (but damn thats alotta cash for a tv)

Anyone have any suggestions with those? Or how to cure the judder on the Samsung?

Thanks


You will do better with suggestions in other forum sections. The dedicated theater forums are 99% front projection owners. I'd still suggest 60" as minimum screen size. I personally would give up on the 1080p if I had to due to budget for the increased screen size.

Agree with aaronlinkous, +1 to plasma - specifically the Pioneers.

I have a fair amount of experience with plasmas and just did an installation for a friend with a 50" 720P Kuro, seating distance about 7 1/2' back. With that ratio of screen size to viewing distance, the resolution difference between 720 and 1080 is well below the threshold of human perception. On the other hand, the universally acknowledged superiority of its contrast ratio and black levels - especially in a light-controlled room - is absolutely, positively noticeable. In almost all of the several blind tests I've seen, viewers (both experienced and Joe Public) preferred the picture of a similarly calibrated 720P Pioneer to just about any other 1080P display - except of course the higher-end Kuros.

Pioneer has just stopped manufacture of plasmas and passed that torch on to Panasonic, but will continue to support owners. With that in mind, I would totally hunt hard for a discounted Kuro - it literally doesn't matter which one - Elite or not, 720P or 1080P - each maintains a significant advantage over any other PDP on the market.

If I personally did a direct-view instead of an FP room, I wouldn't even consider another display.

I have a 60" Sony SXRD rear projection set in my main viewing area and just got a 50" Panasonic 77U plasma for the family room. Both are 1080P models. I haven't had much viewing time on the Panny plasma yet, but my initial impression is that I still prefer the picture on the SXRD set. Shadow detail seems better on the SXRD, although that could be entirely due to the plasma being in a more challenging viewing environment (light control is better where the SXRD is located). It's really very close. I'm very happy with both sets.

I seem to recall that Home Theater magazine did a comparison test a month or two back that included a Sony rear projection set, a Panny plasma and a Pioneer Kuro plasma (among others). I believe the Sony RP finished third, the Panny plasma was 2nd and the Pioneer Kuro was 1st. I thought it was interesting that the Kuro 5080 was the only 720P set in the bunch, but still finished 1st.

One thing you might want to consider is that the depth of a rear projection set would put the screen 12"-18" closer to your seating area than a plasma. I wouldn't think the difference would be critical, but it's something you might want to consider.

A good 60" 1080P plasma will be quite an investment. Personally, I would probably get an SXRD rear projector, which will give about the same picture quality at half the price. Then I could afford to replace it when OLED sets hit the market in a few years.

Good luck with your decision! -- Paul

I am sorry that I did not pick up on you NOT wanting FP sorry about that. I would also vote plasma as I love my 42" plasma. I have not had any experience with the Kuros but the reviews are pretty positive.

If budget is a concern then look into the 720p models if not then 1080p would be my choice however I don't think at your seating distance would make a "knock your socks off" difference.

Go with plasma you won't look back!

Regards,

RTROSE

Judder, Judder, Judder........I hate it, and keep seeing it on a number of these sets.....Does anyone know of a great Plasma or RP without Judder? that is in that bigger size? That might be the deal breaker for me....

I do appreciate all the expert advice I am getting, and I do realize that I would get a better response in another forum, but the way I figure it, it is a dedicated room, and there are probably plenty of people out there in the same boat as I am in.

Sooooo........once again..

The tv's in conntention are:

Sony 60A3000 (havent look for judder yet, and need to find where I can buy one at good price still)

Mitsubishi WD65833 (Saw some Judder w/bluray, but it is a bigger size)

Pioneer 60" Elite (Downfall is the $$$)

or Samsung 58A650 (still new, but closer to budget and still a plasma)


I have decided that I really dont like Samsung DLP, but other wise....suggestions are welcome

Consider the non-Elite Pioneer 60", which will shave a good $1000 off the sticker price. It's a 1080P model that retains literally all of the key features that make the Kuro models stand out, and will happily take a 1080/24 signal quite nicely. Far less judder than some of the other displays being mentioned.

An update for everyone.....After failing to find a Sony 60A3000 anywhere for a decent price......I have decided to wait to buy screen until contruction of basement is complete.....hopefully Aug, Sept of '08........

So the two in contention then.......

Pioneer 9G 60" Elite

or

Mitsubishi Lazer 65"

I will let everyone know where I go with that when I start up my thread for my theater build.....Thanks again for the advice...

What are you seeing judder with exactly? I have never seen judder on my Samsung DLP. Really if all your doing is going into big chain stores and comparing sets under the severe lighting with factory torch modes set....well for one I'm not surprised you'd see judder and a fair amount of pixelation. More importantly though, it's very hard to make a good judgment on TV's this way. Not to mention the most expensive sets will always be setup as to look the best. Making you spend more is what it is all about. But it's your choice I guess.

the Samsung 58A550 (but the Judder on this thing will make someone sick)

I'm considering this Plasma myself. This is the first post I've read that mentions judder being so bad on the set. Elsewhere I've read that the set does a better job than the 85U Panny's with 2:3 pulldown.

Does anyone have first hand experience of this "brutal" judder? I can get this set in Canada for $3,000 less than the 60" Kuro, so while black levels and judder are important to me, $3,000 is simply ridiculous!!