Does SD Still Suck On Plasmas?

[steelgtr]

When I looked into Plasmas 3 years or so ago, SD looked so horrible that I couldn't imagine watching SD on them, even on the 10K Pioneer Elites.

I have a Sony 32xbr-100 which is one of the finest consumer crt's ever made so it's really hard to go backwards in the SD department. I have anxiously awaited SED but am tired of waiting. I see that Panasonic is in the 9th generation of plasmas and wondered if any great strides have been made for sd viewing.

I'm thinking a 42" would hold us over until SED is here but only if sd is acceptable.

Opinions?

thx

bob

[dyazdani]

It's hit and miss I think. I recently saw a few Pioneer Elite sets on which SD broadcasts looked pretty good. I've also seen plenty of lesser sets display a poor SD image. It depends on the source and the setup.

[peterS]

It's hit and miss I think. I recently saw a few Pioneer Elite sets on which SD broadcasts looked pretty good. I've also seen plenty of lesser sets display a poor SD image. It depends on the source and the setup.

pioneer is notably better imo

[steelgtr]

pioneer is notably better imo

How are the new Panny's?


bob

[peterS]

How are the new Panny's?


bob

if you are refering to this one

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7679238&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat95100050005&id=1134702980410

im not a fan of this mexican built one and personaly feel it regressed from the japanese made one a year prior
(the factory color settings are laughable)
i personaly prefered the lg in a 42" and the samsung in a 50" in this price class
(too bad lg doesnt use the same panel construction in there 50" THAT MAKES THE 42" sooo nice)
while i also feel the pioneer is also inferior to last years model its probably still worth the extra money

the comercial panasonic panel may still be desirable too (model escapes me but is the same panel from 2 years ago)

[Nolan B]

I have a new model 50" fujitsu. Its a magnifying glass. It shows the best and the worst very well. SD look horrible. Even with a iScan HD getting 1:1 pixal mapping it still looked bad.

Does SD look good on any display 42" or bigger?

[peterS]

I have a new model 50" fujitsu. Its a magnifying glass. It shows the best and the worst very well. SD look horrible. Even with a iScan HD getting 1:1 pixal mapping it still looked bad.

Does SD look good on any display 42" or bigger?

yes last years pioneer did a really good jobs at times

certain people could not tell the difference- i doubt anyone here would be fooled but its a far cry from the "drawn with crayons" look the panny has

[peterS]

as to the original poster if you are not willing to spend pioneer prices take a long look at the 42' lg

it has a very thin glass panel similar to the pioneer that greatly reduces glare and keeps the colors more pure and intense like an lcd due to less diffusion

[steelgtr]

as to the original poster if you are not willing to spend pioneer prices take a long look at the 42' lg

it has a very thin glass panel similar to the pioneer that greatly reduces glare and keeps the colors more pure and intense like an lcd due to less diffusion

I will, thanks. How is the QC on the LG and calibration from the factory?

thx

bob

[peterS]

I will, thanks. How is the QC on the LG and calibration from the factory?

thx

bob

the most out of box usable of the three by a long shot

people's accounts of there reliability varies
all would agree they have improved (keeping in mind samsung isnt so hot accross the board and panasonic is no longer made in japan so you may have first gen QC problems not to mention previouse data is insignificant)
i saw nothing worth noting while working at best buy with any plasma manufacturer besides HP

keep in mind that while there factory warrenty is longer than others i believe the do not cover pixel damage
there language is not specific but i have been told by the lg rep they do NOT
I also believe samsung does

what this means is that buying an extended warenty will not cover pixel damage in lg's case as such warranties only cover what the manufacturer covers (pixels are very touchy issue- most companies are evasive on the issue- agin samsung is rumored to replace if any go out but i havent read it in black and white)

what i have just told you is a little known secret- so if you do persue one get it in writing from the sales manager that your tv is covered for pixel damage

but id suggest just buying a good apc w/ voltage correction
and in short think the LG is a good one especialy sincve its going for about $13xx

a good demonstration of how close the pixels are to the surface is to hold a pice of paper against a logo or text
the logo will only be legable through the 42" lg and pioneers
all others the light will be too diffused to be intelligable
also look at credits from the side w/o the paper
you will notice a heavy double image from the double glass pannels of other brands

I have mentioned this before and it has been dismissed by some on here as a salesman trick- snells law says otherwise

decide for yourself if its important to you

[steelgtr]

Do any big box stores carry the LG?


bob

[blownrx7]

I have the Pioneer PD5070 and SD looks very good. I'm talking about cable tv w/ no cable box, i.e. straight into the tv. No complaints at all about the PQ!

[aud19]

SD can look good dependant on service provider/signal quality as well as proper TV calibration. Will it look as good as HD? No. Can it look decent within reasonable limitations of blowing up a relatively low resolution picture to a large size? Yes.

[peterS]

Do any big box stores carry the LG?


bob

cc and bb do

hitachi is worth checking out too

[steelgtr]

I went to Magnolia this weekend and it looked bad on every brand. The Elites look soft and dark even in HD compared to Fujitsy, Panny, etc!


bob

[peterS]

you say that like its a bad thing..?
anyways thats because some of the other manufacturers turn contrast and brightness ALL the way up - pioneer is one of the few that doesnt play this game
im less of a fan of the current elites than last years, but there price has dropped a lot too

the pq can look real bad at stores relative to what you will receive at home due to the "dirty power" and manner in which the signal is stepped up and down through multiple mazes of cables

i was not aware that they still sold fujitsu

let us know which one you decide on

[steelgtr]

you say that like its a bad thing..?

Yes. lifeless and not very HD like. I did not check settings for movie, vivid, etc

anyways thats because some of the other manufacturers turn contrast and brightness ALL the way up - pioneer is one of the few that doesnt play this game
im less of a fan of the current elites than last years, but there price has dropped a lot too

the pq can look real bad at stores relative to what you will receive at home due to the "dirty power" and manner in which the signal is stepped up and down through multiple mazes of cables

SD still looked awful on all of them so I probably have to wait.....

i was not aware that they still sold fujitsu

Yes, nice looking display. I always liked them.

let us know which one you decide on[/QUOTE]

[peterS]

you say that like its a bad thing..?

Yes. lifeless and not very HD like. I did not check settings for movie, vivid, etc

anyways thats because some of the other manufacturers turn contrast and brightness ALL the way up - pioneer is one of the few that doesnt play this game
im less of a fan of the current elites than last years, but there price has dropped a lot too



SD still looked awful on all of them so I probably have to wait.....



Yes, nice looking display. I always liked them.

let us know which one you decide on

was that post in SD 8O

you may be right that the pioneer has regressed as it no longer has an off board proccesser as being more price competative was the primary concern with the current model
i still think that the colors were superior to samsung, lg or panasonic
and id bet it still looks the best w/ sd- maybe no longer as drastic

but if it doesnt look good to you it doesnt look good
dlps dont look good to me but most people love them