Do people place to much importance on black levels and not overall PQ?

What is this TV with "average black levels" and great picture quality? Most LCDs are still dismal with motion. The best ones don't have "average black levels" they have very good black levels. All the remaining plasmas that are good have excellent black levels.

Not sure what TV you think the "blacks rule" group is ruling out.

Yes I dont know how people can be happy watching plasma at all.

I guess a Kuro is just out of the question ..

Yes, it seems like enthusiast place Black Level ahead of other qualities when it comes to picture performance.

I prefer my samsung plasma over any Lcd/led that I have seen.

and I'll take my Panasonic Viera over an LED/LCD any day

It's because most/many hobbyists realize/feel that black level is the baseline for exceptional picture quality. They are not independent of one another.

Further, let's face it, the fact is that most 1080 HDTV's look pretty damn good.

SO, we look to find decent distinctions. As already mentioned, MOTION is another area where, many times, a reasonable distinction can be made.

And whaddya know?

Plasma's offer superior blacks and motion nearly across the board at "x" price points and therefore are routinely lauded at or near the top of their price class.

Argue it all you want.

James

Picture is too noisy, low bit-depth panel, phosphor lag.

And once again, the experts as well as the owners are all wrong ..

Wow. Just wow.

What TV do you actually own, just curious?

No, they are just wrong for Chronoptomist, which is what counts when Chronoptomist is looking for a TV for his house.

Depending on the environment,(like a multi purpose family room that has many windows) a set with great black levels and low light output won't impress at all. You will be watching a dark set, regardless, and won't enjoy the black levels anyway.

A set that can produce high light output levels, maintain full detail while doing so, and maintain solid black levels, is going to have the greatest contrast ratio, and most likely look the most impressive.

I wouldn't take a Samsung or Panasonic plasma over a top end LED LCD anymore today.

you haven't seen this years plasmas then , they are brighter then before and do well with light due to filters... and only getting better

Exactly .. and let's not forget off axis viewing ..

But he's coming in here giving his advice to others. which has nothing to do with "looking for a TV for his house".

Since when is giving your opinion on a message board not allowed?

Educated and well thought out opinions based on facts and substance are great. Obviously biased and ones with little to no substance don't do anyone any good.

Educated opinions are few and far between on any message board. I thought you guys would've figured that out by now.

To be fair, I felt I should defend Chronoptomist because I just experienced what is currently considered the #2 plasma this weekend and witnessed that "noisy picture" I see people talking about here. It actually isn't some people's imaginations.....unless I allowed their influence to penetrate to my subconscious where it created an optical illusion that really wasn't there when I was watching the plasma. One or the other, I'm not sure which...

His post was a blanket generalization and the guy obviously dislikes plasmas. Those sort of opinions don't do anyone any good.

Please name a plasma that does not suffer from these issues if my "blanket generalization" was inaccurate.

To be fair, Chronoptimist is a troll. Feed the trolls at your own risk.

Being unhappy with plasma image quality = troll?

They have good viewing angles and the Kuros had good black levels but it comes at a cost that is too great in my opinion.

mine

and this statement is about as blanket as it can get and adds no value to the forum.

"Yes I dont know how people can be happy watching plasma at all."

Pioneer plasmas are the worst of all plasmas for image noise - even plasma fans will admit that. The have plenty phosphor lag too.

Guess I'm just one of many of the lucky ones then. Of course the last Kuros are still the standard by which all other displays are still compared to and that the Panasonic has been rated by several reputable business and individuals as the best display available today but we should just take your word that people shouldn't be happy watching a plasma.

What tv do you own? Just curious.

Betting its a Sony.

To me black level is very important. The only time I would sacrifice black level is if a set had superior color and gamma and even then I wouldn't be willing to sacrifice that much.