Tilting Plasma down = no more glare?

[Steven in Balto]

I was out shopping again today for a HDTV in a room with a lot of ambient light. While that has led me to lean toward a LCD, the seemingly well informed sales guy insisted that if I mount the TV on a wall and use a bracket that will permit the TV to be tilted down 10 degrees or so, this will greatly reduce the glare. I have floor to ceiling windows in the room on three sides.

Is this information correct?

Thanks for any advice/thoughts.

[tower101]

It can "help" but I am not sure how well with floor to ceiling windows. I tilt mine up that seems to work better for me.

[yagimax]

I viewed a 58in Panny last week that was wall mounted with a slight downward tilt. There was no obvious reflection to be seen.

[oldcband]

When I had a plasma theres nothing I could do to make glare not an issue but to black the room out. Tilt or no tilt if you have a window behind your seating area your not going to like it. My belief is plasma is for a room with controlled lighting conditions. Plasma makers know this is plasma achilles heal and are trying to come up with something but its always going to be its biggest problem.

I also can't understand why Samsung has a glossy screen, this is LCD's biggest selling point with the matte screen. But folks will buy them and thats all what matters. I also understand it improves black levels but at a huge cost. IMO.

[k33p0u7]

Originally Posted by oldcband

I also can't understand why Samsung has a glossy screen, this is LCD's biggest selling point with the matte screen. But folks will buy them and thats all what matters. I also understand it improves black levels but at a huge cost. IMO.

Yea...I am not sure why LCD screens are being manufactured with glossy finishes other than using it as a marketing tool (glossy=high quality?).....I am noticing this more and more on LCD PC monitors and laptops....I recently worked on a friends laptop (reloaded OS etc) and it had a glossy finish on the screen.....the glare was driving me nuts....and it wasn't like I could turn off the lights to work on the laptop...I needed to see what I was doing.... so yea…at least with TVs with reflect surfaces you can turn off the lights…but when doing work on a laptop or PC lights are needed…..

[Totalimmortal]

Depends on the situation, window placement, height of the TV, etc. I helped hang a 58" 750U with a window behind it. Tinted down the glare was greatly reduced/diminished. There's a good deal of factors that effect that assumption, but I do make my customers aware that it can help given the right circumstances.

[RandyWalters]

Originally Posted by Steven in Balto

I was out shopping again today for a HDTV in a room with a lot of ambient light. While that has led me to lean toward a LCD, the seemingly well informed sales guy insisted that if I mount the TV on a wall and use a bracket that will permit the TV to be tilted down 10 degrees or so, this will greatly reduce the glare. I have floor to ceiling windows in the room on three sides.

Is this information correct?

It depends on the room, but i think you'd still have a reflection problem if the floor to ceiling windows are behind your seating postion. Glare can also be a problem if too much light is illuminating opposing walls or light colored furniture than may be reflected in the screen. We'd have to see pictures of the room.

However, if that salesman were so well informed, he would have told you about Panasonic's very effective LCD-like Anti-Glare screen used on the 768p PX77U and the new 1080p PZ77U models. Have you seen those yet? They're pretty amazing.

Plasma and Glare thread

[Steven in Balto]

Originally Posted by RandyWalters

However, if that salesman were so well informed, he would have told you about Panasonic's very effective LCD-like Anti-Glare screen used on the 768p PX77U and the new 1080p PZ77U models. Have you seen those yet? They're pretty amazing.

Plasma and Glare thread

Actually, he did show me the anti-glare screen on the Panasonics. I was quite impressed, especially with the 1080p model, which by the way, Consumer Reports just rated the best flat panel picture they've ever reviewed (I know, CR is not gospel by any means, but it's worth mentioning). Do they work well with all lighting issues, i.e. sunlight as well as interior lighting?

[asudog1080]

Originally Posted by Steven in Balto

Actually, he did show me the anti-glare screen on the Panasonics. I was quite impressed, especially with the 1080p model, which by the way, Consumer Reports just rated the best flat panel picture they've ever reviewed (I know, CR is not gospel by any means, but it's worth mentioning). Do they work well with all lighting issues, i.e. sunlight as well as interior lighting?

What model did consumer reports rate the best, the PZ77u ?

[DBLASS]

Terms like "glare" are vague. All screen surfaces are reflecting light from the room. "Glare" as it is commonly used is shiney "mirror-like" reflection. In tech talk, this is known as Specular Reflection. The dull surface of the traditional LCD is known as Diffused Reflection. Both types of reflection has their issues. Specular is, again, mirror-like so you can see yourself on the screen. The dullness of the Diffused reflection scatters the light and makes the reflection larger and worse. You get rid of the ill-effects of specular by making it dull (diffused) and you get rid of the diffused problems by making it specular. The two types of reflections are mutually exclusive.

LCDs are traditionally diffused (with the exception of the new notebook screens) and Plasma are traditionally shiney (since the fronts are plain glass). It cost addition money to "fix" the problems and with falling prices, there is no more money to put into the displays to pay for the solutions.

[MuaySteve]

Thanks for the link to the Plasma and Glare thread.

I have been looking at LCD's for the past couple months, and I am getting really close to purchasing. The problem is, the more I look at LCD's the less I like them. The plasma's just look so much better in the stores, and there is a 42" LG this week at FS for $999. However, ambient light is a big concern in my living room.

I may give Plasma a chance. Thank god for the 30 day return policy.

[tower101]

Originally Posted by MuaySteve

Thanks for the link to the Plasma and Glare thread.

I have been looking at LCD's for the past couple months, and I am getting really close to purchasing. The problem is, the more I look at LCD's the less I like them. The plasma's just look so much better in the stores, and there is a 42" LG this week at FS for $999. However, ambient light is a big concern in my living room.

I may give Plasma a chance. Thank god for the 30 day return policy.

I posted in the link and posted a Pic of a Sammy Plasma that I tried but the reflections where more then I could stand.

I have since picked up a 50PZ77U and love it the anti-glare screen that Panasonic uses, while more reflective then most LCDs it works very good and that TV is now my main display.