Plasma vs LCD TVs

[DaveK]

if you want a th42pz70 let me know and i will sort a good price out

 

What about the Pioneer PDP-428XD or 4280XD?

[Big Mark]

I've got a Pioneer PDP-436XDE plasma in my lounge and it wipes the floor with the girlfriends Samsung 32" lcd in the bedroom.

 

I went to Currys where all the tvs were turned onto the same channel and the pioneer clearly had the best picture and when I got it home I realised how awesome the sound quality is.

 

The Samsung thing (which the girlfriend bought) looks very pretty, until you turn it on. Picture is acceptable but the sound quality is shocking.

 

Pioneer plasmas is the way to go!

[Gamer]

I have had both LCD and plasma, in that order and I can tell you that we will be going back to LCD again as the plasma is prone to screen burn. Mainly due to the excessive use of logos and such that are used in children's programming.

[DaveK]

I have had both LCD and plasma, in that order and I can tell you that we will be going back to LCD again as the plasma is prone to screen burn. Mainly due to the excessive use of logos and such that are used in children's programming.

 

My solution to that is to not have children.

 

I'm interested though - how long before you saw screen burn problems, and how much would you say your daily useage is? Most of the magazines seem to say screen burn is not as much of an issue as it originally was (although it still happens), so I'm interested that this seems a bit innaccurate.

 

I've only had my LCD about 18 months - so I daresay the plasma will only last me a couple of years or so anyway. But if I get screen burn in a couple of months I wouldn't be happy.

[Scott]

According to panasonic anything below 37" the LCD has hands down. But, greater than 37" plasma has it.

 

I can't remember the exact ins and outs but around the 40" mark the only thing that should sway you is features and price. Don't worry about LCD vs Plasma. After the 40" mark though i would go for Plasma.

 

I actually have a DLP so i'm kinda impartial here but if it was my money i would be going for this....

 

http://www.panasonic.co.uk/plasma-tv/th-50pz70b/index.htm

 

Or one of the variants depending on what size you are after.

 

Pioneer TV's are superb but i don't think they are better than panasonic. They are the leaders in Plasma at the moment, IMO of course.

 

Scott =op

[Gamer]

My solution to that is to not have children.

 

I'm interested though - how long before you saw screen burn problems, and how much would you say your daily useage is? Most of the magazines seem to say screen burn is not as much of an issue as it originally was (although it still happens), so I'm interested that this seems a bit innaccurate.

 

I've only had my LCD about 18 months - so I daresay the plasma will only last me a couple of years or so anyway. But if I get screen burn in a couple of months I wouldn't be happy.

 

It was noticeable within 2-3 months of use. To be fair though the TV is on almost constantly from around 8am until the wee hours of the morning. Most of the daytime programming is children's. I have used the built in screen burn protection but it does not seem to be able to cope with the very bright logos like you find on Nick Jr. IMO they should be banned from displaying those senseless logos and such as it is damaging peoples property.

 

The plasma in question is an LG 42", great TV apart from that one issue.

[tbourner]

I went to Currys where all the tvs were turned onto the same channel and the pioneer clearly had the best picture and when I got it home I realised how awesome the sound quality is.

 

You should be careful of Currys and Comet and the like, they may well be the same channel but the more expensive TVs that carry the higher commissions are likely to have the best HDMI cable inputs with gold connectors and everything!

[adam bell]

gold connectors love it lol

[RedM]

gold connectors love it lol

 

Why is that funny?

[Snooze]

LOL @ gold connectors

[Alex]

Why is that funny?

 

Audiophiles etc love gold cause the analogue signal to the speakers etc needs all the help it can get. Gold is a better conductor than some other materials.

 

But HDMI is digital/lossless/"it's the same at one end as the other" signal....you don't after all get gold network leads etc etc...

[Thorin]

you don't after all get gold network leads etc etc...

 

*cough*

 

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=32111&TabID=1&C=SEO&U=StaticFamilyPages&doy=search&MenuName=RJ45%20Network%20Connectors%20-%20Cat%205%20Cat%205e%20Cat%206

 

30µ gold plated for reliability

[Alex]

*cough*

 

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=32111&TabID=1&C=SEO&U=StaticFamilyPages&doy=search&MenuName=RJ45%20Network%20Connectors%20-%20Cat%205%20Cat%205e%20Cat%206

 

I'll edit then to say - "nobody in their right mind buys ...."

 

I knew someone would go and hunt down golden RJ45's....

[adam bell]

i thought it was funny because if you set up a average system with gold connectors and then the same system with gold ones i doubt most wouldnt hear the difference.

[DaveK]

Back on topic - I've just been to Curry's / Comet. Although I'd pretty much decided on the Pioneer when I started this thread, after browsing the AV Forum (and comments on here) I was wondering if I should go for the Panasonic. £500 cheaper and true HD (1080p) seemed too good to be true.....

 

But, the Panasonic didn't impress me. Colours didn't look entirely natural, and it didn't seem to be coping with motion as well as the Pioneer. Edges were also not as sharp. In fact - it didn't really look any better than the 32" Panasonic LCD I already have.

 

The Pioneer on the other hand was (in my opinion) in a whole different league. Stunning picture, sharp edges, no problems with motion.

 

In Comet, the two TVs were side by side with the same (SD) source - although it didn't look like the Panasonic was set up the best.

 

In Curry's they both had HD signals.

 

At least that's one problem solved - it will be the Pioneer. Just need to decide whether I buy one now or wait a couple of months.

[Scott]

Hmm i'd question the setup if thats the case.

 

Was that a Panasonic LCD or Panasonic Plasma? What size? As said, above 37" plasma is best.

 

I'm really surprised with your findings as every panasonic i have seen (1080p) has been nothing short of phenomenal. The pioneers seemed more about the name IMO.

 

Each to their own though of course.

 

Scott =op

[DaveK]

It was Pioneer PDP-4280XD vs Panasonic TH-42PZ70.

 

It did look like Pioneer had a better SD source in Comet than the Pioneer (although neither looked all that bad), but in Curry's they were both from the same HD source (they moved the HD DVD player).

 

The Panasonic was good - but my LCD is also good, and there simply wasn't enough difference that I'd want to spend £1000 upgrading my 18 month old LCD to a new plasma. But the Pioneer did seem very much better - enough that I would spend £500 more to upgrade.

[Scott]

Hmm, might need to look at the pioneers a little closer then.

 

Scott =op

[Snooze]

Unfortunately, you can't just take the picture source into account. With Plasma/LCDs, you also have to bear in mind what a large impact the TV settings have.

 

Although manufacturers often ship their TVs at default settings with showrooms in mind, I wouldn't necessarily trust the likes of Comet/Currys to ensure that both TVs are set up optimally.

[DaveK]

Unfortunately, you can't just take the picture source into account. With Plasma/LCDs, you also have to bear in mind what a large impact the TV settings have.

 

Although manufacturers often ship their TVs at default settings with showrooms in mind, I wouldn't necessarily trust the likes of Comet/Currys to ensure that both TVs are set up optimally.

 

I know that, and fully expected that comment. However, short of buying a Panasonic and a Pioneer, then seeing which one I like and taking the other one back there is a limit to what I can do.

 

Given that I saw both TVs in two separate shops, and the Pioneer was noticeably better in both I think it's a good sign. Plus - the Pioneer was sufficiently better than my current TV that I would upgrade. Maybe the Panasonic would also be, given the same source / setup correctly - but I guess I'll never know. Although - I have to say although I take magazine reviews with a pinch of salt, my conclusions did agree with theirs.

[Paul]

Very true, my Panasonic can look pants on one of the settings but it's superb with natural colours etc. when set up properly.

If a shop was to display mine next to one £1000 dearer then they'll make sure mine looks worse otherwise they'd never sell many of the dearer ones.

 

Unfortunately, you can't just take the picture source into account. With Plasma/LCDs, you also have to bear in mind what a large impact the TV settings have.

 

Although manufacturers often ship their TVs at default settings with showrooms in mind, I wouldn't necessarily trust the likes of Comet/Currys to ensure that both TVs are set up optimally.

[DaveK]

Very true, my Panasonic can look pants on one of the settings but it's superb with natural colours etc. when set up properly.

If a shop was to display mine next to one £1000 dearer then they'll make sure mine looks worse otherwise they'd never sell many of the dearer ones.

 

But then - surely the Panasonic should be setup to look good, otherwise how would they sell the cheaper LG etc. ones?

 

At the end of the day, the important thing to me is whether one of the TVs I was considering is good enough to justify me buying it. Whether the Panasonic could be doesn't matter - the Pioneer is.

 

Edit : One other minor point, is that I much preferred the styling of the Pioneer. The Panasonic is wider - and since my lounge is not huge, that's a disadvantage. It wouldn't make me buy the Pioneer if the Panasonic gave a better picture - but, even if the Panasonic could be setup to match the Pioneer picture the Pioneer styling would mean I bought that one.

[Paul]

What we're saying is that the Panasonic are alot cheaper and really are a great picture. I saw them together with Pioneer and there wasn't anything in it so maybe the shop I saw them in had them set up properly? I'd rather not pay loads more for little or no improvement.

If you look on the AV forums the they all support the Panasonics too, surely if they are that crap then these people would rip it out of them?

It's difficult unless you can get a home trial or spend ages with the remotes in a shop making sure you are comparing on like for like settings.

[DaveK]

What we're saying is that the Panasonic are alot cheaper and really are a great picture. I saw them together with Pioneer and there wasn't anything in it so maybe the shop I saw them in had them set up properly? I'd rather not pay loads more for little or no improvement.

If you look on the AV forums the they all support the Panasonics too, surely if they are that crap then these people would rip it out of them?

It's difficult unless you can get a home trial or spend ages with the remotes in a shop making sure you are comparing on like for like settings.

 

I have looked on there, and I know people say good things about them. Even if they were setup poorly in the shop I've not seen anybody that suggests the Panasonic would be better. So even if it could be as good as the Pioneer (I'm not convinced having seen them, and read the magazine reviews) - I still prefer the styling of the Pioneer so will buy that.

 

It's also worth pointing out that the Panasonic isn't really a lot cheaper. It's about £1K vs £1300 from the internet.

[Alex]

It was Pioneer PDP-4280XD vs Panasonic TH-42PZ70.

 

It did look like Pioneer had a better SD source in Comet than the Pioneer (although neither looked all that bad), but in Curry's they were both from the same HD source (they moved the HD DVD player).

 

The Panasonic was good - but my LCD is also good, and there simply wasn't enough difference that I'd want to spend £1000 upgrading my 18 month old LCD to a new plasma. But the Pioneer did seem very much better - enough that I would spend £500 more to upgrade.

 

You compared apples with oranges I'm afraid. Comparing a 720p vs 1080p screen.

SD = ~475,000 pixels

720p = ~1,000,000 ~2:1

1080p = ~2,000,000 ~4:1

 

What this means is that for every 1 SD broadcasted pixel, the Pioneer has to display that 1 and 1extra that it "guesses" at. The 1080p has to "guess" at 3!

 

720p is all you need at the moment, unless you are using a PC/PS3. So the Pioneer is a good bet for the person that wants to just watch the telly.

 

But the panny will be great if you want for the other 2 things. It is a bit unfair though to expect a 1080p to as good as a 720p with an SD source.