Top of the line plasma, money is no object - Page 2  

I believe the 42" Fujitus has a not so good black level compared to the 50" display. If you're on a budget, you might want to look at the Panasonics. I think they offer the best bang for the buck.

The XTA51US/UB (black bezel) models are using the panasonic panels now. Last year's 40 series 42" panel had a 1024x1024 resolution indicating the Hitachi sourced ALiS panel. The new 51 series has a 1024x768 resolution, indicating the use of the Panasonic panel. From a direct comparison of the new 42" Fuji, 50" Fuji (which I should have in my possesion by next week in the new black bezel), 50" Pioneer Elite 1130, 42" Pioneer Elite 930, and 50" Runco, I actually think that the new 42" Fuji had the best overall picture of them all, followed closely by the 50" Fuji and 50" Runco. While I prefer the overall look of the 50" Fuji to the 50" Runco (which uses a Pioneer panel in it's current 50" models 1280x768 resolution and 43" models- check it out) as it is objectively sharper to my eyes, the color rendition on the Runco's is simply stunning, very similar to the Pioneer Elites in Pure mode. The Fuji's have a slight red push out of the box, though that can be cured through calibration. The Pioneer Elites are not too far behind the Fuji's and Runco's, and I was torn between the 50" Elite and the 50" Fujitsu. Overall, the Fujitsu is just a good bit closer to the overall picture of my beloved Sony 34XBR960 CRT set (which frankly bests ANY plasma on the market today from a pure picture quality perspective) , so that was the deciding factor for me.

For your 5K, I would recommend either the 42" Fuji, or tell you to go find a 50" Pioneer Elite. With some negotiating, you should be able to get the Elite for 5K out the door from an authorized dealer. Even Magnolia will do 10% off an Elite or price match a Tweeter. your deciding factor on the 42 versus 50" should be viewing distance. How far from the TV screen will the seating areas be? As others here are saying, sometimes there is no substitute for size, so you might be better off going for a 50" set.

Even after extensive calibration, I would not put the new consumer Panasonic sets (at least the 60 series, haven't seen a 600 series yet) in the same league as the Runco or Fujitsus. They are closer to the Elites, but to my eyes, still a step down in overall PQ. And the aesthetics of the new Panasonics are just piss poor to me. The 600 series is noticeably better, but still not up to the level of the Elites/Fujis (now available in gloss black!) or Runco (still my favorite with the brushed black anodized aluminum bezel - less light reflection than the gloss black Fuji or Elite).

FWIW, Fujitsus are now available in a glossy black frame just like the Pioneers. I wasn't aware of that until a few days ago.

Cool - thanks for the correction!

Plasma TVs are great in most aspects but one drawback is how prone they are to ambient light reflections. Solution #1: make the room pitch black. However, one gets eye fatigue if there isn't at least some lighting not to mention the potential for eye damage. Theaters have lighting from sconces and the like during the performance. Luckily, projection screens aren't reflective. Solution #2: Use uplights (can style) behind the screen similar to the Phillips Ambilight feature. However, when your just watching the news or the like, and its daytime, do you want make things so dark you can't see that fly on your pizza?

Now, I digress. Plasma has killer PQ so we deal with other factors. Every hard material has an index of reflectivity. As a designer of the bezel of a TV set or display, shouldn't it be a directive, on a plasma to use a material that has a low index of reflectivity such as a matt finish? Afterall, you do not want the viewer to be distracted from what the device does. In this case you want the viewer to enjoy the picture displayed. What's up with making a high gloss black bezel on a large video display that has a very high index?

I concur that high gloss black is classy. In the right application such as a piano it lends a feeling of prestige and quality. But, there are places you shouldn't go that route. What if the top of your car's dash board was glossy black? Yeah, that'd be a selling point. :rolleyes:

I understand Pioneer's long heritage in gloss black. The Elite series of components goes back 20 years and the gloss black was used on laserdisc players, receivers, CD players, ect. and the gear looked great in your rack. Poor choice for a display bezel though.

I know many people seem to like the gloss black on Pioneers, Samsungs, and the like but for me it was one of the reasons I side stepped these brands other plusses considered. Every time I see one my eye catches reflections off the bezel more so than the glass itself. I understand the "slick" factor appeal of gloss black but not a good choice for display bezels. ;)

Howe, I agree with you on one point and disagree on another. I do agree about the glossy black frames and frankly I'm surprised nobody has mentioned it with regards to the Pioneer. We have one very outspoken LCD worshipper who always talks about reflections from plasmas. Yet he never seems to be bothered by the black glossy frame of his LCD. Go figure. But I did notice this the other day at BB when I was looking at Blu-Ray. I saw the very vivid reflections coming off of the black frame of a Pioneer.

As to watching in the dark, I disagree with you on that point. You can't 'damage' your eyes by watching in the dark. Is it possible to get eye fatigue? Perhaps, but it's never happened to me and it's more a function of whether you've got your display in 'torch mode' or not. I'm sure people have varying degree of sensitivity to watching a display in the dark, but it's the only way I would do serious viewing. It's also one of the reasons I dislike LCDs for critical viewing. They're great in bright light, but in the dark their poor blacks show through. Additionally, you recover from eye fatigue. Theaters have some degree of ambient lighting more for safety purposes than anything else.

Glossy Frames

I am an owner of a Pioneer Elite Plasma, and have never had a problem with the glossy black frame, the way the light catches it in a darkened room does not cause reflections. I would think that the lighter colors used by other manufacturers would be more of a problem, but I have never seen one in someones living room so I cannot be sure.

Surround Sound

If you do not have surround sound you are missing half the "movie like" experience you get with a plasma. If you are short of space, check out a Yamaha YSP-800. Its a combination amplifier and surround sound in a single unit that fits under the plasma TV. Search for YSP-1 is the audio section of AV forum and you will find it.

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You may remember the early days of television and the now kitch "TV Lamps." People were advised to have at least one small lamp on in the room with a TV to avoid eye strain. Albeit, with modern flat screens and the ability to control the sets with "cinema" settings this may be less of an issue. However, if the room lighting is controlled and dominated by action sceenes with explosion after explosion you are in strobe lighting. Perhaps its worse for kids and their developing eyesight.

I agree about LCD in bright light and in the dark. Eventually there will be a technology that does it all. ;)

Not intended to be a flame, Why waste your bux on plasma with all the new technology?

I have no idea whether watching a modern home theater is good or bad for one's health. But, IMHO there is a huge difference between the old B&W CRTs strobing & flickering away at whatever pitiful scan rate the first electron guns could muster, and a modern plasma panel.

Not to mention the medical science of the day had very little knowledge of the affects of scan rates on eyeballs. Geez, they couldn't decide whether "atomic power" could be used to power appliances around the house, or if it would create 80 ft tall roaches...

Ummmm....what new technology.....today?

Not a flame, but a sincere question. None of us getting any younger. Do you suggest to remain watching a 4:3 CRT until its perfect?

I'm not an eye doctor, but know that I don't like to watch TV in the dark as the effects produce severe eye strain and sometimes headaches. Imagine your iris shrinking & enlarging rapidly over hours of viewing light/dark scenes in a movie. A little ambient light seems to do the trick, so this is what I use. If viewing in the dark doesn't bother you, then that's great.

The OP's budget has shrunk from money is no object to a ceiling of $5K. Rules out the Pioneer PRO-FHD1. I think you would do your father a service and convince him a 50"er is in his best interests. It's a nice compromise size for viewing both TV & Movies at 7'-10' viewing distance. You can get a great deal on a Pioneer 1130 w/media receiver right now, but my first choice would be the Fujitsu P50's.

I'd bet the PQ of the Fujitsu 50" will still best the new Pioneer 1080p 50".