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Plasma vs RPTV ?

4277 Views 83 Replies 25 Participants Last post by R Harkness, Apr 20, 2003

_Michaelangelo_

Discussion Starter · Apr 7, 2003

I'm interested in people's comments on the PQ, and other differences between plasma's and (LCD) RPTVs in general. Also, any reviews specifically comparing RPTVs to Plasmas. Basically, why should I get one over the other!

Background:

I've been agonizing over which TV to get -- the Sony's KF-50XBR800 (GWII) or Panasonic's TF-42PWD5UY for the past few weeks.

I orginally was going to get the Plasma (based off plasmabuyingguide mentioning it had excellent PQ, some great info here, and having found a excellent price online.) BUT, when I was in Tweeter 2 weeks ago and having seen the GWII firsthand, I now have another choice.

(The GWII looked awesome -- the Panny looked really good.)

Price wise, both are in my budget, so at least that's one factor I don't have to worry about

I will be only using the new TV for

a) watching DVD's

b) playing PS2 & XBox Games

c) occasional hookup to PC.

I do NOT watch TV at all, so I don't care about HDTV. For DVI, HDCP, only if it is needed for the PC.

I've made a list of pro's and con's ...

Code:

Code:

Sony KF050XBR800                 Panasonic TH-42PWD5UY

PRO
  Resolution: 1366x768           Form: 4" Depth  
  Size: 50"                      Color: Black (*Perfect* aesthetics)
  Image Quality: Excellent       Weight: 65 LB
  Features: Lots of inputs       Price: $3300+Stand+Shipping (Tad Cheaper)
  Accessories: No stand needed   Image Quality: TRUE Black

Doesn't Matter
  Weight: 111 LB                 Resolution: 852x480
                                 Size: 42"
                                 Image Quality: Good at a distance (6'+)

CON
  Form: 17" Depth                Accessories: Table Stand extra $
  Color: Silver                  Features: Lack of Inputs
  Price: $4000                   Temporary burn-in 
  Image Quality: No true black

... but I still can't decide. What feature should be the tie-breaker?

Sorry for posting this in the RPTV forum -- it doesn't really belong in either the Plasma or RPTV forum. I thought I would post it here, to gather more info about RPTVs as I've have enough Plasma info.

i.e. I'm not worried about burn-in on the Plasma - found a few posts by gamers saying they haven't had any issues, etc.

Cheers

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1 - 20 of 84 Posts

ricbayer

· #2 · Apr 8, 2003

Sorry to complicate things but DVD players will be coming out in the next few months that will upscale images on regular DVDs to high-definition (1080i and 720p). One brand is the Samsung HD 931 and another is the Bravo D1 . The high-definition images will only be transmitted by HDCP compliant DVI ports. Since you are contemplating a relatively large screen purchase where 1080i/720p may look noticeably better than 480p and you are a DVD fan, might a HDCP compliant DVI port be important to you?

Rick

spidey07

· #3 · Apr 8, 2003

before there is any more misinformation spread nobody has said that HD-DVD will be DVI.

Michaelangelo,

It's hard to justify spending that much money on a tv that is not HD...so the sony has a big plus in that it is a HDTV.

Mark Stamper

· #4 · Apr 8, 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by spidey07

Michaelangelo,

It's hard to justify spending that much money on a tv that is not HD...so the sony has a big plus in that it is a HDTV.

The Sony is not true HDTV either.

The Panny looks awesome with HDTV and there is not that much of a difference between the HD Panny and the ED Panny.

I had a 65" widescreen and now have a 42" plasma, no contest the plasma blows my previous RPTV away.

mark

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_Michaelangelo_

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 8, 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by Mark Stamper
The Sony is not true HDTV either.

The Panny looks awesome with HDTV and there is not that much of a difference between the HD Panny and the ED Panny.

Yeah, I've heard that from others on this forum, as well.

I think the reason the difference is small, is because while the ED is lower res, it's aspect ratio matches DVD's better (16:9 = 1.77.) i.e. The HD Panny is 1024x768, (1.33) while the ED is 852x480 (1.775), if I'm not mistaken.

Quote:

I had a 65" widescreen and now have a 42" plasma, no contest the plasma blows my previous RPTV away.

mark

WOW. How old was your previous RPTV if you don't mind me asking.

Cheers

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Mark Stamper

· #6 · Apr 8, 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by _Michaelangelo_

WOW. How old was your previous RPTV if you don't mind me asking.

Cheers

4 months old. it was a sony 65wv700 and i had a mits diamond 67909 and a mits 55805 before that and i like the plasma better than all of them.

mark

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Vermonster

· #7 · Apr 8, 2003

Quote:

The Sony is not true HDTV either.

How do you mean?

Mark Stamper

· #8 · Apr 8, 2003

All widescreens can display a HDTV source but most do not have as in the case of the Sony and the HD and ED Pannys enough resolution to display all of the lines of HDTV.

I am sure somebody can explain it better.

mark

Vermonster

· #9 · Apr 8, 2003

You mean it doesn't display 1080i? 720p is better anyway...

EricD

· #10 · Apr 8, 2003

plasmas have burn in. for that reason alone I would never buy one.

_Michaelangelo_

Discussion Starter · #11 · Apr 8, 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by Mark Stamper
All widescreens can display a HDTV source but most do not have as in the case of the Sony and the HD and ED Pannys enough resolution to display all of the lines of HDTV.

mark

I think I know what you mean: Since "true" HDTV is 1920 x 1080, the Plasma ED can't natively* display a HD picture, since it only has 480 (vertical) lines. The HD plasma has 768 or 1024 vertical lines, so it also can't natively display the HDTV source.

* = It must scale down the images, loosing detail.

Cheers

Mark Stamper

· #12 · Apr 8, 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by EricD
plasmas have burn in. for that reason alone I would never buy one.

So do RPTV's.

Man these stigmas stay well after the issues have been resolved.

As with RPTVs if you keep the contrast down where it should be it is a NON ISSUE.

mark

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Vermonster

· #13 · Apr 8, 2003

No fixed pixel rptv, save the Toshiba LCOS can display 1080 lines of resolution. I don't think there are too many people out there who would claim that all plasmas, DLPs, and rpLCDs aren't true HD. And even if they did, the point wouldn't be worth making, because like I said, most everyone would agree that 720p is in fact better than 1080i. Progressive scan makes a big difference.

Vermonster

· #14 · Apr 8, 2003

It certainly is not a non issue. There are MANY people who have reported burn-in on this forum and others, who have gotten burn-in even with the contrast turned way down. For example, I know someone who takes extrememly good care of his equipment and has his contrast turned down to well below what the Avia test disc recommends. Feeling confident that this was enough, he watched all 4:3 programs in their OAR and after no more than three months had signs of uneven phosphor wear.

And what about those who have children, who accidently leave a game paused for an hour and a half because they don't kow any better, or just forgot? Woops, there goes $8000.

No thanks.

Mark Stamper

· #15 · Apr 8, 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by Vermonster
It certainly is not a non issue. There are MANY people who have reported burn-in on this forum and others, who have gotten burn-in even with the contrast turned way down. For example, I know someone who takes extrememly good care of his equipment and has his contrast turned down to well below what the Avia test disc recommends. Feeling confident that this was enough, he watched all 4:3 programs in their OAR and after no more than three months had signs of uneven phosphor wear.

And what about those who have children, who accidently leave a game paused for an hour and a half because they don't kow any better, or just forgot? Woops, there goes $8000.

No thanks.

I wouldn't let my kids just play on my $8000 plasma and what is wrong with using a stretch mode?

I will stick to my point that on newer plasmas burn in in not an issue.

mark

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Vermonster

· #16 · Apr 9, 2003

"I wouldn't let my kids just play on my $8000 plasma..."

There'd be no reason not to let your kids use a DLP or rpLCD or LCD or $8000 LCoS.

"and what is wrong with using a stretch mode?"

See that's the problem with burn-in prone sets. At first it was just a matter of keeping contrast down - now I have to take the freaky fun house ride of using stretch modes. I suppose I should also "vary my viewing," not play video games, and not use it as an HTPC. Fine...then it's a non-issue. But for many of us, this is either not possible, or just not fun.

EricD

· #17 · Apr 9, 2003

No burn in on DLP sets (Samsung, etc) or LCDs (GWII)

Sure, you can be VERY careful about your plasma burn in, but lets say something DOES happen....bye bye $4k +

I do really like the picture of the plasmas, but for the money you really have to be too careful in your viewing habits.

Mark Stamper

· #18 · Apr 9, 2003

I do not get it. You can get burn in on a RPTV too. I just do not get it. But of course this is a RPTV forum so there is bias.

mark

Vermonster

· #19 · Apr 9, 2003

Yes you can get burn-in on rptvs too - but only rpCRTs. You cannot get burn-in on rpLCDs, DLPs, or the LCoS sets.

Mark Stamper

· #20 · Apr 9, 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by Vermonster
Yes you can get burn-in on rptvs too - but only rpCRTs. You cannot get burn-in on rpLCDs, DLPs, or the LCoS sets.

And the PQ on rpLCDs and DLPs suck. I do not know enough about LCoS to make a comment on them.

mark

1 - 20 of 84 Posts

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