Best LCD/Plasma TV for DSTV HD?

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feo

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Seeing as we're getting HDTV pretty soon, I thought that now is as good a time as any to purchase a nice LCD/Plasma. Basically, I need to know whether I should pull the trigger on an LCD or a Plasma and then decide on a specific model.

I want the best possible picture I can get. At malls I see plasmas with pretty bad picture quality but I guess it's because it's being fed from a crap source with crappy material. On the flip side, I've also seen HD sets displaying an awesome crystal clear SuperSport channel (which is ideally what I'm aiming for).

So, can anyone advise me on which make/model I should go for that'll give me the best picture quality once DStv HD comes out.

Oh, I'll also be using my 360 on it.
 
well isnt hd tv content just gona be 720p??? mayb then if ur mainly gona use it for dstv then 720p is just fine, but then also heard the plasma handle dstv compression much better, i have a lg 32" 32lb9 and i love it, dstv is not great through it though, but movies and xbox top notch!!
just my 2c
 
If you want amazing picture on a plasma, have a look at the Pioneer range. But you pay for the quality... No seriously... The choice will be "Brand new Citi Golf or Pioneer Plasma"
 
tyerone said:
well isnt hd tv content just gona be 720p??? mayb then if ur mainly gona use it for dstv then 720p is just fine, but then also heard the plasma handle dstv compression much better, i have a lg 32" 32lb9 and i love it, dstv is not great through it though, but movies and xbox top notch!!
just my 2c
Click to expand...

Probably because DSTV is currently SD, but the other feeds are higher definition.
 
sn3rd said:
If you want amazing picture on a plasma, have a look at the Pioneer range. But you pay for the quality... No seriously... The choice will be "Brand new Citi Golf or Pioneer Plasma"
Click to expand...
Got any models #s in mind?

When you say pricey, how much are we talking about? My budget is about R15K or so.
 
feo said:
Got any models #s in mind?

When you say pricey, how much are we talking about? My budget is about R15K or so.
Click to expand...

I think he is talking about the Pioneer Kuro range. Way above any normal mortal's budgets... like think 60K plus depending on size and whatnot.

I have heard that Plasma is better for sport and movies but LCD is better for viewing angles and consoles/PCs. Just what I heard so don't hold me to it.

Edit: I stand corrected after a quick local only google. You can pick one up from about 30k... up to 90k from the looks 0f this site.
 
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feo said:
Seeing as we're getting HDTV pretty soon, I thought that now is as good a time as any to purchase a nice LCD/Plasma. Basically, I need to know whether I should pull the trigger on an LCD or a Plasma and then decide on a specific model.

I want the best possible picture I can get. At malls I see plasmas with pretty bad picture quality but I guess it's because it's being fed from a crap source with crappy material. On the flip side, I've also seen HD sets displaying an awesome crystal clear SuperSport channel (which is ideally what I'm aiming for).

So, can anyone advise me on which make/model I should go for that'll give me the best picture quality once DStv HD comes out.

Oh, I'll also be using my 360 on it.
Click to expand...

I bought a sony bravia s series for 16k 15000:1 contrast ration HD 40"LCD TV

Its the best ever!

PS PLAYSTATIONS RUNS GREAT ON IT ASWELL
 
feo said:
Got any models #s in mind?

When you say pricey, how much are we talking about? My budget is about R15K or so.
Click to expand...

Friggs said:
I think he is talking about the Pioneer Kuro range. Way above any normal mortal's budgets... like think 60K plus depending on size and whatnot.

I have heard that Plasma is better for sport and movies but LCD is better for viewing angles and consoles/PCs. Just what I heard so don't hold me to it.

Edit: I stand corrected after a quick local only google. You can pick one up from about 30k... up to 90k from the looks 0f this site.
Click to expand...

Well, the Kuro range is definitely UBER. They're really expensive (but once you see how it performs, you won't wonder why). But most Pioneer plasmas I've seen have been way above average.

With a budget of about R15k, you could get a quite decent LCD panel. Do you have DSTV? Are you planning to go the HD TV route? SD TV looks quite shocking on a high definition panel. It looks a bit better on plasma, but the better the plasma, the worse it looks (irony!). For movies and games, however, the situation is as you would expect it: the better the plasma/lcd, the better it looks!

How much research on this topic have you done? Don't want to spew out unnecessary details, but don't mind helping out.
 
sn3rd said:
I agree. Even the el-cheapo's (S-Series Bravia) are very nice!
Click to expand...
The current S-Series is in the process of being upgraded. So there may be some really good deals coming on the older version (300 or 310 version), Makro has exclusivity on the 40" KLV-40S310, so it may be worthwhile to watch their site and ads. I think they're going to have the new version (400 series) in store pretty soon (the panel has been upgraded to Full HD so it'll be more expensive.. at least in the beginning).
 
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sn3rd said:
Do you have DSTV?
Click to expand...

Yes.

sn3rd said:
Are you planning to go the HD TV route?
Click to expand...

Yes.

sn3rd said:
How much research on this topic have you done?
Click to expand...

Not much yet, I'm gonna look at reviews of some plasmas but the thing is, most mainstream reviews are US or UK based so they don't really apply specifically to DStv. That's why I'm asking the guys on this forum which HDTV they think works best for DStv/HD.
 
I upgraded my LCD from a 37" Sinotech model which I picked up last year from Makro. Price was right at the time. But the panel is not great.

I've spent a great deal of time researching the new models available, and it came down to Samsung or Sony.

About a month ago, Samsung launched their new Series 5 and 6 (and 7) range in SA, which is new for 2008.

Currently, all the reviews and feedback I managed to round up pointed me towards the Sammy Series 5. On AVSforum, it consistently rates higher than the new xxx400 range from Sony, dollar-for-dollar.

I believe the Sony 400 range is launching soon in August, probably on the back of the DSTV HD launch - but I was not prepared to wait.

Long story short:

I picked it up on launch special at Makro about 4 weeks ago - they sold out of their 10 units in 3 days at Woodmead. Then sister store DionWired had the same special and my cousin had to fight to get one. Honestly.

30,000 (dynamic) contrast;
2,000 static;
MotionFlow feature - makes panning shots on movies silky smooth;
DNie Plus - Samsung's "Bravia" engine of sorts;
3 HDMI ports - so failr feature/future proof;
Full HD (5ms) panel with an excellent built in scaler for displaying 1080P res; and
Matt finish panel - so no harsh reflections in sunlight etc etc.

I got the 40 inch set for R15,999, model LA40A550 (Series 5).

XBox is Jaw bone dropping good in 1080P.
New Samsung 1080P unscaling DVD player (links to the TV via Samsung's AnyNet feature - really cool) makes all my old DVD's crystal clear - for some it's like watching the movie again for the first time.
DSTV is clear from 3m plus away - very clear. MNET channel looks like DVD - apparently the scaler is THAT good.

All in all - the poor old Sinotech I sold and replaced with this one didn't compare.

Blown away by the simplicity of the design and amazing picture quality. Can't wait for Saturday's DSTV HD launch...:)
 
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I have a 42" Sinotech and I have no idea what you are talking about... mine is crystal clear too...
Engine smengine, i mean, how can one say "this" engine is better than "that" engine - can you benchmark it?
Contrast Ratio don't mean jack either...

my display has more inputs than you can think about (Really!)
Plus it has the ability to change brightness according to lighting conditions.
Has an option to Lower the volume if loud adverts come on (Equalising sound output, which works 100%)
Can play mp3's/jpegs/Divx/Xvids from USB - yep, it's got a DivX player built in.

why do you say "But the panel is not great."
 
Is there a link on HD DSTV?

Is it all channels?
 
sn3rd said:
If you want amazing picture on a plasma, have a look at the Pioneer range. But you pay for the quality... No seriously... The choice will be "Brand new Citi Golf or Pioneer Plasma"
Click to expand...

Nice recommendation ... I've got the 508XG :D (Sin City looked stunning last night)
I think you could get the 428XG for R28K. Don't let the resolution fool you (1024x768) the picture will blow you away.

There are so many threads asking about flat panel displays... Do yourself a favour and read
www.avsforums.com
www.avforums.com
www.hdtvtest.co.uk

Other things to consider:
Size of TV/viewing distance
Content you will watch (SD/HD, sport/action, gaming)
The viewing environment (dark room)
 
Keeper said:
I have a 42" Sinotech and I have no idea what you are talking about... mine is crystal clear too...
Engine smengine, i mean, how can one say "this" engine is better than "that" engine - can you benchmark it?
Contrast Ratio don't mean jack either...

my display has more inputs than you can think about (Really!)
Plus it has the ability to change brightness according to lighting conditions.
Has an option to Lower the volume if loud adverts come on (Equalising sound output, which works 100%)
Can play mp3's/jpegs/Divx/Xvids from USB - yep, it's got a DivX player built in.

why do you say "But the panel is not great."
Click to expand...

Sorry to have p1ssed on your batteries - but if you think your Sinotech is in the same league .... well I thought all LCD's were equal. I was wrong. Very wrong. So been there done that bought the new screen.

Don't get so defensive. I'm not saying the Sinotech is bad.

It's a really good set at the price.

But like all things in life you get what you pay for. I have had both my Sinotech 37" and new 40" series 5 samsung side-by-side and the difference is as clear as night and day. So yes - I know what I'm talking about.

This is not a dick size p1ssing contest.

My Sinotech used to oversaturate reds and greens. Badly. Brightness adjustment was poor. Always seemed "too bright" no matter what. For the price I paid at the time I would have done better to hold out for 6 months, do more research, then spend a bit extra. My mistake, but one of the few areas I rushed into without much thought.

I'm proving factual information based on reality for a question asked in this thread. For R15999 you can't get better.

If you want to spend R10 000 on the Sinotech - you can't go wrong either. But no - my Sinotech was NO WHERE NEAR as good as the Sammy.

fwiw: it's all about the "engine". Sony and Samsung (and other large brands) spend tens of millions building integrated chips to handle colour and video processing. That's what you're paying for. Fact.

So with your reasoning a "Fukonoshi" 8 megapixel DSLR camera is just as good as my (slightly old but trusty) Canon Rebel 350d ? Bollox.

It's all abou the processing chip (or "engine") as you put it. Canon camera's use proprietary "Digic II or III" chips which make all the difference. handling colour, light, exposure detail etc etc ad nauseam. Fact again. As do Nikon, Pentax, Sony etc.

"Fukonoshi" and the like do not. At best - they use generic chips churned out in Guangdon province, China.

Next time I see a Reuters journo sporting his latest Nikon DSLR full frame I'll tell him his engine sucks.
 
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