Simple question. Which would you rather own, a 720 plasma or a 1080 LCD?

Easy answer for us, 1080p all the way. We started with a 50 inch, 720p plasma and it didn't take long to get a 52 inch, 1080p LCD. We sit around 14 feet from the set and there was an easily noticeable difference between the 2. 1080 was just that much clearer and sharper, although the plasma was no slouch. Now the plasma's a bedroom TV and the LCD is in the living room!

Too many things come into play to say which one.

I would take an 8th Gen Pioneer Elite 720p Kuro over any 1080p on the market right now.

Too many things come into play to say which one.

I would take an 8th Gen Pioneer Elite 720p Kuro over any 1080p on the market right now.

I agree that too many things come into play to answer the question.

You would really take a 8th gen 720 Kuro over a 9th gen 1080 Kuro:confused:

Personally, I prefer my LG 720p plasma over both of my neighbors 1080 lcds. We all run PS3's for bluray. They spent twice as much and I think my picture is better. Suckers!!

I have a 52" 1080p LCD and a 42" 720p plasma. They both look great to me, but I'm not a hardcore videophile.

I'm thinking of getting another 42" set for a 2nd bedroom, and may pick up a 720p instead of 1080p since I doubt I'll see an appreciable difference from 9ft away. Anything larger and I'd opt for 1080p.

i wrestled with this question around thanksgiving, 40" toshiba 1080p or 50" panny 720p. I got the 720p mostly because of the extra screen real estate at my price point of $1k. I wish i had considered the 42" panny 1080p though, and in retrospect probably should have bought that instead for $100 more.

If it is given both TVs are the same screen size and it's 720 vs. 1080 and lcd vs plasma, you're probably buying a bottom-end model. The plasma will give you a better picture at that price point even with the lower resolution. Sub $1k LCDs in the 40"ish size suck it hard PQ-wise IMHO and get beat by the low-end plasma every time.

What is your price point and what models are you looking at if you don't mind me asking?

I agree that there are many other factors to consider. In any case, I always prefer to go with the higher resolution, because otherwise, there there will always be that nagging question, "How much better, if any, would it have been if I had gotten the higher resolution?" But why can't you just get a 1080p plasma and sidestep the issue entirely?

i wrestled with this question around thanksgiving, 40" toshiba 1080p or 50" panny 720p. I got the 720p mostly because of the extra screen real estate at my price point of $1k. I wish i had considered the 42" panny 1080p though, and in retrospect probably should have bought that instead for $100 more.

If it is given both TVs are the same screen size and it's 720 vs. 1080 and lcd vs plasma, you're probably buying a bottom-end model. The plasma will give you a better picture at that price point even with the lower resolution. Sub $1k LCDs in the 40"ish size suck it hard PQ-wise IMHO and get beat by the low-end plasma every time.

What is your price point and what models are you looking at if you don't mind me asking?


Sure. I already own this: http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-PN42A450-42-Inch-720p-Plasma/dp/B0015AR7AK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1239125597&sr=1-1



But I get IR when watching large amounts of ESPN or FOX News, and was regretting not getting 1080P anyway, so I was wondering about this Sony:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9222496&type=product&id=1218062117241


I saw a simular one at Sears cheaper:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_05771658000P?keyword=KDL40S4100&sLevel=0#reviewsWrap



The one at Sears is apparently one model number less the the one at BB.


Thoughts?

But why can't you just get a 1080p plasma and sidestep the issue entirely?


I love the PQ of plasma, but hate the IR of mine.

I agree that there are many other factors to consider. In any case, I always prefer to go with the higher resolution, because otherwise, there there will always be that nagging question, "How much better, if any, would it have been if I had gotten the higher resolution?" But why can't you just get a 1080p plasma and sidestep the issue entirely?


This is kind of my train of thought as well. There is some psychological thing that makes me want the "best", or "highest" http://www.entertainment-place.info/smile/img/2464/*************************

Easy answer for us, 1080p all the way. We started with a 50 inch, 720p plasma and it didn't take long to get a 52 inch, 1080p LCD. We sit around 14 feet from the set and there was an easily noticeable difference between the 2. 1080 was just that much clearer and sharper, although the plasma was no slouch. Now the plasma's a bedroom TV and the LCD is in the living room!

I think the difference you moticed was in the picture quality of the set and not the difference between 1080p and 720p as from that distance only eyes like Superman could distinguish between the 2 resolutions.

I wouldn't take either. I'd save a little more money and get a 1080p Plasma. (you can find them pretty cheap these days)

I think the difference you moticed was in the picture quality of the set and not the difference between 1080p and 720p as from that distance only eyes like Superman could distinguish between the 2 resolutions.

+1... 50 inches at 14 feet... resolution difference wouldn't amount to a needle in a haystack with those numbers... much less "easily noticeable"...

pq is a likely reason... or maybe the contrast settings... ;)

op... i'd rather have a decent 720p plasma than a decent 1080p lcd...

Sure. I already own this: http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-PN42A450-42-Inch-720p-Plasma/dp/B0015AR7AK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1239125597&sr=1-1



But I get IR when watching large amounts of ESPN or FOX News, and was regretting not getting 1080P anyway, so I was wondering about this Sony:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9222496&type=product&id=1218062117241


I saw a simular one at Sears cheaper:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_05771658000P?keyword=KDL40S4100&sLevel=0#reviewsWrap



The one at Sears is apparently one model number less the the one at BB.


Thoughts?

The lower end Sony LCDs are somewhat sub-par performers for the price you pay for them compared to say a Samsung or Toshiba which will give you more bang and PQ for your dollar. I wouldn't settle for any LCD that wasn't a 120hz model if anybody ever swayed me to get an LCD at all. You say you watch alot of ESPN, that should be the kicker right there, 60hz LCD motion will most likely bother you alot more than som IR from the ESPN ticker, and you won't find that at a price point below about $1300. You'll definitely miss the good color and blacks of plasma sitching to a lower-end LCD

That said, Samsung plasmas are more prone to IR than Panasonic or Pioneer. Be glad you don't have an LG because that's even worse. As a Panny owner who watches alot of sports I haven't had a single issue of IR from a news ticker in a whole day of college football on ABC/ESPN. Black letterbox bar IR from 2-3 movies in a row vanish within 5 minutes of full-screen viewing and aren't even noticable except on a blank input.

You're probably only getting temporary IR that goes away after watching something else for 10-15 minutes and unless you really can't live with that, i would say keep your curent TV and save the money. If you really must buy another TV, look at the 42" S and X series from Panasonic, or the Samsung and Toshiba LCDs in the same price range.

I think the difference you moticed was in the picture quality of the set and not the difference between 1080p and 720p as from that distance only eyes like Superman could distinguish between the 2 resolutions.

So is that a leather chair you're sitting in? I think I own that shirt too? Ahhh, I love my super eyes! :D ;)

Although in our case the LCD is probably a better set than the plasma, sitting side by side you could definitely tell the difference. And the plasma has a superb picture (we had it calibrated long ago). But it's like comparing a Ferrari to a Lamborghini, they're both great, but one is a bit better depending on your tastes. For us, we liked the LCD "brightness" better than the more subdued plasma look. Couple that with the 1080p/24 vs. 720p (1080i)/60 and the cleaner sharpness of the 1080p was quite noticeable. We used HD-DVD Transformers and a few other movies as the gage.

Edit: Although I would have to agree with buylongterm and get a 1080p plasma!

straybeat, no disrespect intended at all, and yes, none of us are sitting in your living room...

that being said, the resolution difference between them is HIGHLY unlikely to be the reason for the difference you are seeing between the 2 sets... i would also venture a guess that are your viewing distance, the difference between the 1080p/24 input and the 1080i/60 input is unlikely to make much of a difference, unless your previous set had a truly horrible de-interlacer and scaler... depending on how the 2 sets handle various framerates, then the 24/60 may show some difference, but again, that's not really a "resolution" issue...

"For us, we liked the LCD "brightness" better than the more subdued plasma look."

this, otoh, probably plays greatly into the difference you see... ;)

there's nothing "wrong" with liking one set more than the other... everyone has their own tastes... it's helpful if you understand "why" though...

"For us, we liked the LCD "brightness" better than the more subdued plasma look."

this, otoh, probably plays greatly into the difference you see... ;)


You're definitely right on that point! We both prefer the brighter picture.

And definitely no disrespect intended at you either, but as a senior engineer, I think I understand the why too. :D It's just that after writing technically for 9 or 10 hours a day, I tend to not come home and keep writing technically all night too. ;)

This is kind of my train of thought as well. There is some psychological thing that makes me want the "best", or "highest"You have my sympathy. But at least you're in good company. Chronic Upgrade Syndrome is what fuels most of the activity here.

And the "1080-or-not-1080" question is just the start of a slippery slope that leads, inevitably, to Kuro Elite.

You would really take a 8th gen 720 Kuro over a 9th gen 1080 Kuro:confused:

No,
I meant to say, I would take a 720p kuro elite 8G over any 1080p LCD out there.

my bad.

i would much rather have a 1080p plasma.

You have my sympathy. But at least you're in good company. Chronic Upgrade Syndrome is what fuels most of the activity here.

And the "1080-or-not-1080" question is just the start of a slippery slope that leads, inevitably, to Kuro Elite.

You bet cha and I really think it's genetic. Maybe someday someone will do a study on it...

My Dad has always been the same way that's why I think genetics...

The same is playing out in my HT set-up but at least I can't wreck and it's mine forever (unlike my other hobby)...

This is why I stand firm on my XBR8. I don't understand how so many can be such fans of HOME THEATER but cut down every display out there except Elite.

These XBR8 verses Elite arguments are to me like saying that my Dynaudio Confidence Speakers are superior to Focal JMLAB Electra Be. One uses a world class soft dome tweeter(mine) and one uses a world class Beryllium hard dome tweeter.

You will never hear someone say Dynaudio sucks and JMLAB is the one or visa versa. Only that I prefer one over the over. Both world class examples, they just arrive in a different way. There is room for both to exist. Hello out there...

50 inch and up my opinion is 1080 over 720.

Sometimes I wish I took up Butterfly collecting. It would be much cheaper...

Rick

You bet cha and I really think it's genetic. Maybe someday someone will do a study on it...

My Dad has always been the same way that's why I think genetics...

The same is playing out in my HT set-up but at least I can't wreck and it's mine forever (unlike my other hobby)...

This is why I stand firm on my XBR8. I don't understand how so many can be such fans of HOME THEATER but cut down every display out there except Elite.

These XBR8 verses Elite arguments are to me like saying that my Dynaudio Confidence Speakers are superior to Focal JMLAB Electra Be. One uses a world class soft dome tweeter(mine) and one uses a world class Beryllium hard dome tweeter.

You will never hear someone say Dynaudio sucks and JMLAB is the one or visa versa. Only that I prefer one over the over. Both world class examples, they just arrive in a different way. There is room for both to exist. Hello out there...

50 inch and up my opinion is 1080 over 720.

Sometimes I wish I took up Butterfly collecting. It would be much cheaper...

Rick

On the same token there are a lot of fans out there that cut down the Elite for no reason. Is that okay? :cool: