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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Best 50"+ 1080p TV?

TV Sets (LCD or Plasma) sold in Europe will most probably play "NTSC" frame rates, like 29.97fps. TV Sets (LCD or Plasma) sold in USA and Canada will not play "PAL" frame rates like 25fps.

Projectors will usually play "anything".

I managed to find the plasma Mark Crabtree recommends above, although easily available in Canada will quite happily play "PAL" frame rates.

That's the big problem with "HD" in that it did not eliminate the frame rate difference, or mandate all displays play all frame rates.

Graeme
 
What are the pros of a Plasma? I know that they are recognized for their incomparable blacks, but to me the picture has always looked "muddy" and blown out. Maybe it's just the few I've seen locally and the source that was played, but I've always preferred the cleaner look of the newer LCDs myself. I'd really like to see the light when it comes to plasmas though, as I've heard nothing but raves about the Pioneer Kuros and the like.
 
$2000 HD consumer display suggestion

$2000 HD consumer display suggestion

Panasonic PZ850 plasma with cinema mode "use for hollywood studio reference".
Panasonic PZ800 plasma with THX mode - colorimetry meeting its designation in THX mode.
Plasmas are superior for sports. As good or better than 120Khz LCD models.

On the horizon... LED displays by Samsung, OLED by Sony.

If you're using the above plasmas for reference of your shot material in REC709 in either THX or Cinema standard mode, you'll do well for your money.
Otherwise, if it's for home entertainment just pick the most compelling to your eye.
P.S. Sony XBR sets usually have 10 bit processing. Most people can't see the difference once it goes through a range of processing. Sony's "Z" series might be 10-bit LCD.
 
What are the pros of a Plasma? I know that they are recognized for their incomparable blacks, but to me the picture has always looked "muddy" and blown out. Maybe it's just the few I've seen locally and the source that was played, but I've always preferred the cleaner look of the newer LCDs myself. I'd really like to see the light when it comes to plasmas though, as I've heard nothing but raves about the Pioneer Kuros and the like.

1. Much deeper blacks
2. More detail in blacks
3. More natural colour
4. Refresh rate
5. Better scaling for lower res source
6. Better angled viewing

Kuros display slightly deeper blacks then Panasonic, but have slightly less details in them. I've compared the previous Kuros to Panasonic's G11.
Don't know about the latest Kuro models, which claim five times deeper blacks.
 
Small Pioneer plasmas are made by Panasonic now. Only big ones are still original
Pioneer technology.
 
Imho

Imho

Just went through this myself and chose the 50" Panny plasma. I was all set to get the 61" rear projection Sammy but the off axis viewing is poor and it needed to work in a room with a wide seating array.

If you are only going to watch pretty close to straight on, and don't care about the "wall hanging" factor then the picture quality & size/price ratio screams get the LED backlit 61" RP Sammy.
 
all the suggestions have been LCD. is this because people think they're better than plasma?
 
Retail outlets are hopeless

Retail outlets are hopeless

I just went to the local Best Buy to see these models with my own eyes...and I didn't have high expectations due to the usually poor calibration of the sets and suspect sources they run.

Overall, the Panasonic and Pioneer Plasmas were the best plasmas. I did notice the superior blacks of the Pioneer, but there definitely was a lot of crushing going on..something I don't want to trade. Although I'm sure if properly calibrated, it would look even better. My guess is that they just crank the contrast up like hell.

For LCDs... strangely enough the older Samsung 52" 81 series was still very impressive; oddly enough the new Samsung 950 series and the Sony Bravia counterpart with LED backlighting both didn't look impressive at all...I wonder if they weren't properly calibrated or maybe the local dimming was turned off? They were supposed to have the 1,000,000:1 jump from the 81 series 500,000:1 yet the 81 looked much better...again though, due to the low quality sources, it's nearly impossible to get any impression. They should just put the Dark Knight BR on all of their so called "Magnolia" grade home theater TVs...the 60 inch Pioneer was playing it, but most of the others were playing ESPN which was broadcasting an SD show at the time...*sigh*.
 
1. Much deeper blacks
2. More detail in blacks
3. More natural colour
4. Refresh rate
5. Better scaling for lower res source
6. Better angled viewing

Kuros display slightly deeper blacks then Panasonic, but have slightly less details in them. I've compared the previous Kuros to Panasonic's G11.
Don't know about the latest Kuro models, which claim five times deeper blacks.

Yeah, I didn't even realize that plasmas have 480hz...that's definitely a huge factor to consider.

If we go Plasma, the best deal for us is the new Panny 58" Viera. http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-Vie...?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1229476741&sr=8-1#

If we go LCD, it'll probably be a Samsung 650, or the floor model 81 for a discount (risky though).
 
I have both 8th and 9th generation 1080p Kuro screens..

They can be set up to match (on a still image) a Sony BVM HD monitor.

If set up properly they have amazing shadow details.

9th generation can sync to every frame rate coming out of a symphony. 24 with out the need for a 3:2 extraction seems fine. (I need to check this as i feel it is recieving 48i (24psf) from the Avid but i'm not 100% as I live in a 25p world)

hope that helps

Michael L
 
They were supposed to have the 1,000,000:1 jump from the 81 series 500,000:1 yet the 81 looked much better...again though, due to the low quality sources, it's nearly impossible to get any impression.

Don't pay attention for the "dynamic" contrast ratio. This is just a marketing scam and it basically means that the whole screen turns darker on darker screens and vice versa on brighter ones, so they measure the difference and claim the "dynamic contrast". This is a complete BS and does nothing to improve the actual contrast.
LCDs by it's nature can't go lower in black luminance than plasma - at this point.

If we go Plasma, the best deal for us is the new Panny 58" Viera. http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-Vie...?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1229476741&sr=8-1#

No brainer, IMO. Especially for that price.

what does that mean?


It means that blurring you see on fast scenes mostly comes from the camera or post, not your TV. :-)
 
ok, so the TV is for my father, and took him to Best Buy today and we weren't in there 5 minutes before he was looking at $4000 televisions:)

So, lets up the ante to $4000. Any suggestions?

He was pretty tickled by the LED back-lit Samsung 950 we saw in the store.
 
What were they playing on the 950? My local Best Buy was playing Espn on it...and to be honest the blacks (letterbox) on it weren't anywhere near the blacks on the 81....so I was kinda confused. Otherwise, I also really like the LED backlit sets if you can afford them. We decided to go plasma and ordered the 58" Panny Plasma for $2700 from Amazon.
 
We decided to go plasma and ordered the 58" Panny Plasma for $2700 from Amazon.

Smart choice, IMO. You won't regret it.
Wait until you check RED footage on it, then do the same on any LCD (consumer). :-)


So, lets up the ante to $4000. Any suggestions?


link

New 60" Kuro for $ 3800. Down from $5500.
I'd still go with Craig's choice, but if you don't mind spending 1100 more then on a 58" Panny....this one is a clear winner.

As far as LED backlit consumer LCD is concerned, I definitely recommend checking a TV with various footage sources before purchasing.
 
Has anyone seen the new Mitsubishi LaserVue? Wonder if it looks better than than LED LCD?
 
With $4000 take a look at Costco. They had the 65" LCD (Sharp?) for around $4200. Nice thing about Costco is that they really back what they sell. I just took a 3 year old Samsung back and bought a 50" Sharp Aquos for $1400 and the bought the 46" as well since I really liked how they look.

I have to say for the money that I really like the Sharp's. Pretty light weight. Tons of HDMI inputs and when running Blu-ray especially they are great.

EDIT. Costco has the 65" for $3500 and a package for a 52" and a 32" for $1800. One for outside :)

j.
 
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