Plasma looked nice

[kook]

Spent some time at Sears last night, just looking at their RPTV sets.............. Then I looked at a Panasonic 42" Plasma - holy shit - could it just have been the difference in program content being displayed between the RPTV's and the Plasma set (they were not playing the same thing), or do the Plasmas really kick RPTV's ass, in terms of picture quality?

Anyone have info on the Panasonic?

[live4ten]

"do the Plasmas really kick RPTV's ass, in terms of picture quality?"

no


"could it just have been the difference in program content being displayed between the RPTV's and the Plasma set"

yes


though I'm not an expert

[mikehbkwm]

The only prob with Plasmas is that the really deep dark colors havent really been perfected. Blacks and greys on plasmas dont always look right were as on a RPTV they dont have this prob at all. I guarantee you that the prog that you saw on the plasma was put there to show off what the plasma could do but as of right now RP is still the king.

[BadCamper]

I'll agree, though the technology involved with Plasma televisions is intriguing, you'll still find a much crisper and more accurate picture when viewing a rear-projection or direct-view tube TV.

I hooked up the 42" Sony WEGA Plasma to the Samsung SIR-T151 on Sunday to take a look at some of the OTA HD in this market and, though it was a great picture, it wasn't anywhere near as impressive as a Pioneer Elite or Mitsubishi Diamond-Series.

[TSturgill]

Nothing I've seen on a RPTV looks as good as a plasma, but I've only seen what's in stores. Particularly at Sear's, with both RPTV's and plasmas showing Dish's Discovery HD, plasma was much better and plasmas have the wide viewing angle which is nice. You don't have to sit at eye level to watch it.

[mikehbkwm]

well Sears probably had it looking nice and pretty on purpose. I used to work at Sears for a little bit and they would make them look alot better then the RPTV's for one reason. They were the most expensive and that why they try to make them look better then the RPTV's....

[goherd90]

I am not here to say the plasma picture is better or worse, but I will tell you my wall mounted 50" panasonic plasma is fantastic. I would not trade it for anything. Watching the super bowl was awesome, especially when you have lot of people over to watch. I have it placed on a wall in a great room and you can watch this thing from almost anywhere in the room.

Just my 2 cents

[TSturgill]

I am trying very hard to decide what to buy. I am in an area which is only served by satellite, so my hdtv is limited to dish or directv. Do you watch any satellite on your plasma? If so, how does it look? Do you stretch 4:3 images?

Thanks

[kook]

Coming from conventional CRT tube TV's, I find ALL the RPTV "protection glass" to look extremely cheesy - like a piece of plexiglass. It just looks CHEAP - like plastic, which is what it is.

How many of you guys are removing those things, and what are the downfalls of doing so?

[goherd90]

I have directv on my plasma..although only a few true hd channels at this time they are truely awesome to see. Especially those helicopter shots scanning some scenery on hdnet! With ESPNHD coming in about a month in a half I am totally psyched. I watch all my channels in 16:3 as I do not want to have to be concerned about the bars being burned in. To me this is not an issue. With an over the air antenna I get all my locals here in S.FLa with a great upconverted picture during prime time hours. I guess plasma's come down to room size and dimensions. To me it's a waste to put a plasma on a table stand (kind of defeating the purpose). With it professionally mounted on the wall and the wires hidden behind....it gives your room such a clean look. Again, I have a huge room where mine is and could of easily put in any rptv in it......but do you want to walk in a room and see some huge big tv taking up space in your viewing area or would you like to see a tv that sits about 6" off your wall?

[kook]

The overall brightness on the plasma seemed much higher than on the RPTV's - is this common?

[57U]

Plasmas should be nice, they cost 3X what an equivalent RPTV costs.

Advantages:

Slim, sexy
Good viewing angles vertically and horizontally.
Typically "720P" display.

Disadvantages:

Not good at "blacks", more like dark grey
Beware of burn in just as much as an RPTV if not more.
Expensive

[zaggie]

Who doesn't love plasma, but my 65 inch Mitsu cost $2800. I think a 60 inch plasma is still about $20,000.

[kook]

Originally posted by zaggie
Who doesn't love plasma.... (snip)

WHY?

[mikehbkwm]

I wouldnt get a plasma right now simply because the deep dark blacks, and greys dont look as good as they do on a RPTV, plus a big huge RPTV just looks cool in the living room like you have a MONSTER TV in the room. I really like that look myself.

[hdexpert]

outstanding answer 57u....give the advantages and disadvantages and let the people decide