[3lions]

Can anyone comment on the picture quality difference on SD DirecTV between a RPTV and a panny plasma


I have an 18 month old Sony KP-46WT500 table top RPTV (4th TV after 3 flickering 51 inch models but that is another story) and have tweaked it as far as I can without a professional calibration. However neither me nor more importantly the wife have ever been happy with the picture quality of SD DirecTV


Help me convince the wife that it is worth shelling out for a new TV

 

[hiker]

I used to have a Samsung DLP RPTV. The PQ with D* SD was ok but I didn't like any of the stretch modes. Since there isn't a problem with burn-in I always used it in 4:3 mode with black areas on the sides.

I have a Panny 42pwd6uy which is ok for D* SD but I don't like the stretch modes.

Also have a Sony KE-42TS2 PDP and this is the best I've found for D* SD since it has a widezoom mode which stretches 4:3 with little distortion.

 

[3lions]

hiker


I too like the widezoom on the Sony. I was hoping that there was a stretch mode on the Panny that was equivalent. Are you saying that this is not the case?

 

[hiker]

The Panny industrial models have "JUST" mode which stretches only the sides of the picture. This is similar to Samsung panorama mode.


The Sony widezoom mode will dynamically zoom in and out, cutting off portions of the top and bottom of the picture, in an attempt to minimize the stretching. You will occassionally see the picture jump when it zooms in and out.


I have the Sony and Panny in the same room so I can easily compare. The Sony has better PQ with SD material. Keep in mind that the Sony is HD and the Panny is ED. The Panny also exhibits a little motion blurring when in JUST mode which I can't see with the Sony in widezoom mode.

 

[sleeks]

For me, the Panny Plasma 42PWD7uy has a much better picture than my mits rptv did for sd material.


Stretch modes are fine, you can stretch the whole screen, zoom in or use the just mode that stretches the outer edges of the screen more than the center.


my .02

 

[3lions]

Hiker thanks for the comparison. Worrying for me as I had my heart and wallet set on the 7UY


You say that you see blurring? This is worrying for me as I watch a lot of soccer.Anyone else got any comments on sports on SD DirecTV and blurring on the Panny?

 

[hiker]

I only see the motion blurring when using the SD inputs (composite,s-video) especially with modes that stretch or zoom. If you have a D* HD receiver, using the component inputs with 720p or 1080i will practically eliminate the blurring effect. This is the way I use my Panny and the only complaint with SD I have is with the distortion from stretching.


On the Sony I use a SD DTiVo which of course only output SD via composite or s-video. Maybe the HD DTiVo would do a better job with SD channels.

 

[3lions]

I am stuck with Svideo for now as we have a DirecTivo which we couldn't do without. HD Tivo is still too expensive given that there is no way they will ever transmit the channels we watch in HD!

 

[hiker]

In addition to the DTiVo, are you using a D* HD receiver with the KP-46WT500? If so does SD look better than with the DTiVo? But I know what you mean about the DTiVo, it would be hard to live without it.


The Panny EDs are great sets for HD, I have 2. But for SD, the KE-42TS2 is much better, IMO. Since this is Sony's last year model you can find some good deals right now.

 

[3lions]

We do not have HD yet because there is not enough content that fits our viewing habits


Just did a quick search on the Sony and it is $1500 more than the Panny. Boy I wish there was a store where you could make good side by side comparisons

 

[JWineland]

I had directv with that TV(still have TV) and you will never get a "good" picture on anything with s-video.


What I did before I got HD( which was all around good even on SD), was got a regular Samsung receiver that had component outputs and you could set the output mode(720p, 1080i, etc.).


Keep in mind without HD your not really getting those types of signals but and I'm not an expert on this, I think the Samsung unit upconverted or something, maybe someone with more knowledge can clarify this.


All I know is when I used that receiver with the component ouputs it was an all around much better picture, although not HD by any means.


Sorry I don't remember the model number since it's been a year or two, but I can tell you from a lot of reciever experience that those cheap a** receivers Dtv gives away are just that, if thats what you are using.