I was going to upgrade my 32" lcd tv (from year 2006) to a Plasma 2007 42" tv. The main reason was the black levels.

I found on the internet some reviews of each model and i realize the Black level test was almost indentical.

While the dynamic contrast was Higher on Plasma tv 15:000:1 vs 5000:1 the Ft Lambert measure was almost the same.

My question is, this means both tvs have the same black level at dark room?

Thanks,
booker

What plasma are you looking at? 0.031 fL is pathetic for a plasma. The Panasonic plasmas of two years ago had black levels of 0.012 fL and the current KUROs have black levels of 0.004 fL. While these measurements do suggest that the black levels of the two sets are very similar, it appears that you are looking at an inferior plasma. Is this by chance an LG/Insignia plasma?

Also remember, an LCD will look very black from STRAIGHT AHEAD, but much worse as you move off to an angle. It will go from black to gray fast, and the contrast falls off dramatically.

Plasma's do not do this, they look as good at an angle as straight on. Big deal unless all your chairs are directly in front of the TV.

Also remember, an LCD will look very black from STRAIGHT AHEAD, but much worse as you move off to an angle. It will go from black to gray fast, and the contrast falls off dramatically.

Plasma's do not do this, they look as good at an angle as straight on. Big deal unless all your chairs are directly in front of the TV.

Except the double images when looking off angle.

Except the double images when looking off angle.

Not on a Pioneer. :D

Well... barely.

What plasma are you looking at? 0.031 fL is pathetic for a plasma. The Panasonic plasmas of two years ago had black levels of 0.012 fL and the current KUROs have black levels of 0.004 fL. While these measurements do suggest that the black levels of the two sets are very similar, it appears that you are looking at an inferior plasma. Is this by chance an LG/Insignia plasma?

The new LGs have blacks equal to panasonics.

Samsung probably produces the deepest black level on any LCD, especially with the A650/750 Series.
However, when LED-backlit LCDs take over in the real high-end models like the A950 and the XBR8, then we'll definitely see some gaps narrow between LCD and plasma in PQ.

I would worry more about the LCDs' MILISECOND refresh rates than the black levels..

The new LGs have blacks equal to panasonics.
I was referring to last year's LG plasma models. I will admit that the 2008 LG models have made great strides but I don't think they have quite equaled Panasonic's black levels yet.

I would worry more about the LCDs' MILISECOND refresh rates than the black levels..

Well, the A650/A750 is at 4ms, which is probably about as fast as I've ever seen on an LCD. Samsung's usually real good with doing motion enhancing as well as PQ, the S-PVA panel is probably the closest LCD competition to plasma, at this point...

That 4ms figure is really nice on paper... but it doesn't really mean much.

I have a 06' Sammy with 8ms (back then it was the end all) and I love how the TV can't keep up with switching between the shades of gray leaving left-over images from previous frames on the screen in fast moving video. :)

Dynamic contrast is a marketing scam... I wouldn't look at that number.

The number you want to look for when comparing LCDs to LCDs is the simultaneous contrast ratio; the ratio between peak white and black.
For plasmas, they have poor performance for values 1 above black level. So their black performance isn't quite as good as what their simultaneous contrast ratio figure would suggest.