Suggestions for a 46-50" non-3D HDTV for use as a PC monitor?

[Refugee_ZA]

Wasn't sure if I should post this here or in gadgets, so apologies if this is in the wrong place. I'm looking for either a plasma or lcd monitor to be wall mounted in my living room and connected up to my gaming and multimedia PC. I'm not particularly interested in 3D at this point - seems to just add a chunk onto the price for something I probably won't be using that often. Size - probably a 46" or a 50" if budget allows. I'll most likely mount in on the wall, depending on the model etc.

My biggest issue is picture quality. Having looked at many of the cheaper models on display in places like Stax, Hifi Corp, etc. I see a lot of the displays showing what looks like jpeg compression artifacts and some that still ghost/blur. That's really not acceptable for gaming or film in my opinion. I've seen someone on one of the older threads mentioned something called PC-mode as a solution. Perhaps someone here can explain PC mode to me, as well as why certain panels tend to artifact?

Room is fairly well cordonned off for light. Thick curtains, with only a little bit of light coming in in the early morning.

Anyway, suggestions on models I should look at, shops I should go browse? Budget: Probably in the R6000-R8000 range, depending on how broke I'm feeling. Thanks.

[burisch]

FYI, I bought a 32" Hisense panel a couple years back for PC use. Decent price. Gave it away, because on the PC the colours were not good (red was far too saturated) and there was shadowing / blurring in certain places. My suggestion is take a laptop with HDMI out to the store and see for yourself before you buy.

[PostmanPot]

+-R8,000 = Samsung PS51D550 51" FHD (3D) plasma if you can still find one. +-R9k = PS51E550.

Suggest these two. No similarly priced LCD will compare in terms of pic quality and motion handling. You have the perfect conditions for plasma.

Biggest LCD you'll get for your budget is 46". A lot smaller once you compare the two...

[johndoe1983]

Yeah, I'm going with pp on this. Plasma. But try get hands on e series. Comes with the additional gadgets

[Roman4604]

I see a lot of the displays showing what looks like jpeg compression artifacts ... as well as why certain panels tend to artifact?

Generally due to low grade source material (file) and possibly iffy media player implementation. Many TVs on display are just looping files on a flash playing off their embedded media player. This is not something that gets introduced by the panel or driver circuitry.

As mentioned the 51E550 is a nice set but you're creeping closer to R10K with this one. You also need to be conscious of IR with a Plasma in a PC scenario.

If near 10K is pushing the limits, you can achieve something reasonable for quite a bit less by trying to find a decent 2011 LCD like the Samsung 46D550 or LG 47LK430/530. Cheapest 2012 model I can find is the LG 47CS560 ... http://www.guzzle.co.za/specials/view/182659/. Not the greatest of TVs, but as a monitor solely displaying a 60Hz progressive signal, it should do the trick (has PC/Just Scan/4:4:4 chroma).

[PostmanPot]

As mentioned the 51E550 is a nice set but you're creeping closer to R10K with this one. You also need to be conscious of IR with a Plasma in a PC scenario.

Image retention will not be a problem with gaming and multimedia. Best that the OP has a proper understanding instead of potentially being scared off by myths - http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-...-in-a-problem/.

If near 10K is pushing the limits, you can achieve something reasonable for quite a bit less by trying to find a decent 2011 LCD like the Samsung 46D550 or LG 47LK430/530. Cheapest 2012 model I can find is the LG 47CS560 ... http://www.guzzle.co.za/specials/view/182659/. Not the greatest of TVs, but as a monitor solely displaying a 60Hz progressive signal, it should do the trick (has PC/Just Scan/4:4:4 chroma).

I was going to suggest the LA46D550 as well, but it just would not be able to produce as good a picture quality. Fine for some, but OP wants PQ and has the right, favourable conditions (dim room) to achieve it with plasma.

[Roman4604]

Image retention will not be a problem with gaming and multimedia.

Just saying be conscious, dont be careless by accidently leaving the screen on a hud/menu overnight. IR is genrally correctable but can still be irritating if its there when you want to watch.

[PostmanPot]

Just saying be conscious, dont be careless by accidently leaving the screen on a hud/menu overnight. IR is genrally correctable but can still be irritating if its there when you want to watch.

It's generally removed within seconds after changing channel/source/picture.

[killadoob]

I have a 46" led tv. yes postman LED TV get over it

It ghosts when watching sd content but nothing major. However when i hook it up to my pc which is it's main use there is no ghosting at all. That plasma sounds epic though.

I often forget to turn my tv off while on my desktop, i dunno how it would affect a plasma these days but no burn in on the led thankfully.

[Refugee_ZA]

Thanks for the replies. I used to own a plasma (non HD), so am aware of how there's occassionally temporary image retention, but since I'm fairly careful with my monitors, I'm not worried about that.

I found the Samsung PS51E490 on special at Stax for R8500. Worth it? Not sure what the difference between this and the 550 are, but I assume it's also "E" series. Also the L.G TV 50PW350 for R9000 at hifi corp, also a ~50" plasma. This is probably my price limit... if I go any higher the wife will kill me. Painfully and slowly. To be honest, a 46 inch is probably fine, but I'll compare in store when I go out later. Gonna go have a look whats available at a couple of stores nearby this afternoon and will report back.

[Roman4604]

That plasma sounds epic though.

The FHD 5 series plasmas are pretty good, but they do have their quirks like reflectivity & digital motion handling (judder), certainly not akin to the 2nd Coming as some would portray them.

PS: Watching FHD on a PS59D550 while typing this.

[PostmanPot]

I have a 46" led tv. yes postman LED TV get over it

It ghosts when watching sd content but nothing major. However when i hook it up to my pc which is it's main use there is no ghosting at all. That plasma sounds epic though.

I often forget to turn my tv off while on my desktop, i dunno how it would affect a plasma these days but no burn in on the led thankfully.

No such thing as an LED TV. It's an LED backlit LCD TV. This is coming straight from the experts (one doesn't need to be to know).

Thanks for the replies. I used to own a plasma (non HD), so am aware of how there's occassionally temporary image retention, but since I'm fairly careful with my monitors, I'm not worried about that.

I found the Samsung PS51E490 on special at Stax for R8500. Worth it? Not sure what the difference between this and the 550 are, but I assume it's also "E" series. Also the L.G TV 50PW350 for R9000 at hifi corp, also a ~50" plasma. This is probably my price limit... if I go any higher the wife will kill me. Painfully and slowly. To be honest, a 46 inch is probably fine, but I'll compare in store when I go out later. Gonna go have a look whats available at a couple of stores nearby this afternoon and will report back.

Not a good deal. The PS51E450 goes for around R6,500, so they're slapping on a +-R1,500 premium for 3D in the PS51E490. It's HD Ready with a 720p resolution of 1365x768 - nothing wrong with the resolution if you sit further back. But for PC, and since for around R500 - R1,000 extra, you can get Full HD 1920x1080, better for PC and most PC games run at 1920x1080 opposed to most PS3/Xbox games which run at 720p.

Just remember not to judge TVs under bright shoplighting. Because it'll turn into judgement purely by brightness. Brightness =/= PQ. You'll then be convinced "LED" is better.

Test in a dim room in accordance with your home viewing conditions. The plasma will smoke the LCDs.

[greg_SA]

Just remember not to judge TVs under bright shoplighting. Because it'll turn into judgement purely by brightness. Brightness =/= PQ. You'll then be convinced "LED" is better.

Test in a dim room in accordance with your home viewing conditions. The plasma will smoke the LCDs.

While I agree with the testing methods (i.e. test similar to your home setup)... it doesn't mean the plasma will necessarily come out tops for everyone.

I ended up with an LCD, because it had a matte screen - something that is missing on most "LED" screens as well.

[PostmanPot]

While I agree with the testing methods (i.e. test similar to your home setup)... it doesn't mean the plasma will necessarily come out tops for everyone.

I ended up with an LCD, because it had a matte screen - something that is missing on most "LED" screens as well.

You're right, I meant due to the OP's viewing conditions.

Matte screens are great for bright rooms, especially if there's sunlight falling on the TV... As you rightly say, even the LED-LCDs all have glossy screens these days. All about competition, since glossy gives a better picture quality, no brand wants to be seen as inferior...

[Refugee_ZA]

Went around to the Woodmead Dion Wired, Makro and Hifi Corporation in Jo'burg and came up with the following models and prices. Full-HD Plasma seem to be thin on the ground. Makro had none at all, Dion Wired were stupidly overpriced and HiFi Corp also didn't stock much in that line. Might go try similar stores in Fourways over the weekend.

Dion Wired:
Not a great selection, but...

LG 47LV3530 - 47" FHD LED (link) - R6500

Hifi Corporation
Better range than Dion, and their display area is darkenned, so I had a slightly better idea of what it might look like in my living room. The problem is the FHD Plasmas they had with in the 11-13K range, which is probably a bit out of my budget.

Samsung 46D5500 - 46" LED (link) - R9000
Samsung 40C530 - 40" LCD (link) - R6000
Samsung 40EH6030 FHD 3D LED (link) - R8000

Some Sansui and HiSense LED/LCD's at decent prices, but since they seem to have a **** online presence (Go Go Chinese Public Relations Fail) and no info on the specific models seems to be readily available in english I'm avoiding these unless someone reckons they're worth a look

Sansui STY1246 LED - R7500
Sansui SV4600 LCD - R7000
Sansui STY0446 - R6000

HiSense 50C10 - 50" LCD - R7000
HiSense 46V86 - 46" LCD - R5500

Makro:
Didn't have any FHD Plasmas at all. This is the only thing they had that fell even remotely near my price range and needs was this Samsung. The Sony's seem to be priced quite a bit higher.

Samsung UA46EH5000 - 46" FHD LED(link) - R8500

That seems to be the available stuff. I suppose I should consider shopping online too but I'm kind of an old fashioned guy.