View Full Version : Plasma TV advice - DVI/HDCP
sepia
06-22-2002, 02:33 PM
Greetings!
I am currently in the market for a good home theater display, and was very interested in plasma
screens. After extensive research, I had concluded that the Panasonic was the superior model,
purely based on technicals. Recently though, I read many reviews of the latest CES '02 show, many
of which are pointing at DVI being the next HD standard for input.
The panasonic 50" currently does not have a DVI port to speak of, which makes my quest for a
plasma go to the NEC 50MP2.
Other concerns I've had, include some reading I've done concerning Plasma "burn-in," and their
life-span. I also understand that in a couple of months, Samsung will be releasing a 50" DLP tv
with DVI input for about $4500.
Should I wait a few months for the
next crop of TVs, or does the 50MP2 fit the bill, and is future compatable to the DVI (HDCP)
standard?
Any advice on this matter would be greatly appreciated!
- Sepia
Check out this 50' monitor from Sumsung which will be out this fall. Then go to the Samsung site and read up on the other advantages in the adobe download there--resolution, computer compatibility, no burn in problem, less expensive, all digital, etc.
Note the weight and DVI interface.
Supposedly this technology is cheaper to make than present rear projection models and far cheaper than plasma. LCD's, except perhaps for LCOS, aren't likely to be in the running at all because they are hard to produce in bigger sizes I'm told.
High demand, backlogged orders and limited production may be all that keeps these prices from dropping even further, but it's already cheaper than plasma, isn't it?
RoadKingMoe
06-24-2002, 10:46 PM
The DVI on the NEC does not have HDCP. It's for connecting to computers, not to TV gear. In fact, it is the one interface that the BPDG recommendations identify as MUST BE DOWNREZZED to NTSC 480i when fed from STBs.
sepia
06-25-2002, 12:33 AM
Yep, after exhaustive research, I came to the same conclusions. I'll be with no TV until August, at which point I will purchase the Samsung 50" DLP with DVI & HDCP for 4.5K.
I wish they made 60" DLPs with DVI & HDCP, but I'm not willing to wait that long for it, so the Samsung sounds like the winner.
According to the brochure, I supposedly can even hang it from the wall, although I'm not sure how practical that is, since it's 17.5 inches in depth.
Thanks again!
- Sepia
RoadKingMoe
06-25-2002, 09:01 AM
Before you buy a DLP, watch a movie on it that has lots of night scenes... like a spy or thriller movie with people sneakin' around in the dark. The blacks aren't as black on a DLP so there's not a lot of contrast in dark scenes, especially on a rear-projection model.
Originally posted by sepia
I wish they made 60" DLPs with DVI & HDCP, but I'm not willing to wait that long for it, so the Samsung sounds like the winner. Sony may be upgrading the following one shortly. As of now, it does not have DVI, but you could check with them to find out their schedule. It's the size you want...
http://www.sonystyle.ca/webapp/commerce/servlet/ProductDisplay?merchant_rn=1&prrfnbr=57841
The price on this link is List C$, I think it's about US$5-6k...
sepia
06-25-2002, 01:00 PM
Originally posted by 57U
Sony may be upgrading the following one shortly. As of now, it does not have DVI, but you could check with them to find out their schedule. It's the size you want...
It looks like a killer TV, but does it really hold a candle in comparison to such technologies as DLP and Plasma?
DLP is not perfect as far as the contrast ratio (black levels), but they are much better at it now, and plasma has the burn-in, and longevity problems, but they both have ungodly resolutions.
I was thinking of hooking up a PC to either a DLP or Plasma, and have a wireless keyboard/mouse in the living room. How cool would that be?
Anyways, the Wega is pretty cool, but you're right, I'll have to actually go to a store and see DLP for myself, to see if it's all that. For everything I've read, it is.
- Sepia
Sony says "proprietary optical engine" and if you look at the weight and the depth, it might be similar to DLP (DLP is licensed by Texas Instruments), unless it's LCOS which it doesn't say either. It actually says LCD, but it's not that really either.
Anyway, something to check out... I saw web pricing at about US$5-6. Late last year, at the time I bought my 61" Hitachi WS, this Sony was twice the price...
