LCD and Plasma Bargains and Discussions thread

[Chingha]

All this talk of the HD PVR, can someone confirm that the output of it IS 1080?

My understanding is that they only output in 720p, which if true, makes alot of this noise irrelevant...

 

[Roman4604]

All this talk of the HD PVR, can someone confirm that the output of it IS 1080?

My understanding is that they only output in 720p, which if true, makes alot of this noise irrelevant...

The HDPVR's output via HDMI is whatever you set it to. Default is 1080i though, which matches the 1080i DVB-S/MPEG2 stream which MC broadcasts for the HD channels.

 

[BlackWasp]

All this talk of the HD PVR, can someone confirm that the output of it IS 1080?

My understanding is that they only output in 720p, which if true, makes alot of this noise irrelevant...

1080i afaik, experts please confirm.

 

[Roman4604]

I can just talk from personal experience, and I must say, being able to watch content in Full HD, opens up a new world.

What I've been trying to convey all along.

Will try to restate my opinion/experience in a slightly different way using a common type scenario (mine a while ago) . Lets say you have a 29" CRT TV with a DSTV decoder (premium bouquet) and you want to upgrade, here are some choices based on reasonable spend range ...

1. Buy a 40/2" 1080p LCD/LED > Cost = T, Best visual experience diff vs. CRT = -1
2. Buy 42/3" HD-Ready Plasma > Cost = T, Best visual experience diff vs. CRT = +1
3. Buy 42/3" HD-Ready Plasma + HDPVR > Cost = T+H, Best visual experience diff vs. CRT = +2
4. Buy a 40/2" 1080p LCD/LED + HDPVR > Cost = T+H, Best visual experience diff vs. CRT = +5

So while option 4. is not the cheapest, in my opinion the radical shift in visual experience (obviously on the HD channels) is so vast compared to the others that in relative terms its the best value proposition. While option 2. & 3. provide increasingly nice upgrades neither can match the absolute wow factor that comes from 2MP 1080p watched natively.

You can argue its not percievable from incorrect distances, but this does not mean its not there. One just has to chose to want to experience it by sitting appropriately or if one can squezze a bit more, buy a larger size screen. In my opinion its so worth it.

 

[Badprop_za]

Roman, it almost felt that you were talking to me. :wtf: CRT example is my current set-up!

I waited / saved a bit longer though to get a 46"+ tv.

 

[Chingha]

Turns out I was correct:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DStv#HD

How does this change all the chatter about how much better the HD channels look on non native resolution screens?

 

[Roman4604]

I waited / saved a bit longer though to get a 46"+ tv.

Hopefully you've kept a bit extra for the HDPVR. As I indicate above, driving a 1080p display with the analogue signal from a std DSTV decoder will seem like a step backwards.

 

[Roman4604]

Turns out I was correct:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DStv#HD

Shouldn't blindly believe everything you read on the net. DSTV forum moderators make it pretty clear MC broadcasts HD almost exclusively in 1080i ...


http://forum.dstv.com/showpost.php?p=98509&postcount=32
http://forum.dstv.com/showpost.php?p=93034&postcount=12
http://forum.dstv.com/showpost.php?p=68856&postcount=84
http://forum.dstv.com/showpost.php?p=91035&postcount=16

 

[PostmanPot]

What I've been trying to convey all along.

Not entirely so - he hasn't compared on a 720p TV. You don't know that 720p would have been equally world-opening. Easy using it to suit your argument.

So while option 4. is not the cheapest, in my opinion the radical shift in visual experience (obviously on the HD channels) is so vast compared to the others that in relative terms its the best value proposition. While option 2. & 3. provide increasingly nice upgrades neither can match the absolute wow factor that comes from 2MP 1080p watched natively.

You can argue its not percievable from incorrect distances, but this does not mean its not there. One just has to chose to want to experience it by sitting appropriately or if one can squezze a bit more, buy a larger size screen. In my opinion its so worth it.

Why eould that be your opinion? It's a fact. It's also a fact that the obvious superior viewing experience can only be noticed from closer viewing distances.

Once again, advising smaller FHD over larger HD Ready, just because it's there. Let alone whether the viewer would notice it, or whether they would benefit from larger size and better picture quality instead of resolution.

 

[captain_flush]

Hey guys

Bought this TV a while ago UA40D5500, for R6k from Dion Wired, was valued at R8k.

Long-story-short, TV has LED bleeding, finally getting a credit. Dion Wired have agreed to give me a discount on next purchase because the only reason I bought the TV was because of the special (which is nice of them), but now I don't know what to get.

-I see the new E series, any good?
-Keen to get a 46" if possible, maybe pay a little extra, but not impressed with Dion's prices, or am I wrong?
-Should I rather fight to get my cash back and rather buy something else from a different place, e.g Plasma?

Thanks very much for any input you may have.

Sean

 

[Roman4604]

Long-story-short, TV has LED bleeding, finally getting a credit.

Surprising, most of the D5500 & D6000 models (same housing) I've seen exhibit minimal bleed. My 46D6000 has minor bleed on the top two corners, only visible in pitch darkness with the brightness cranked up.

I see the new E series, any good?

Less likelihood of bleed as the EH models are backlit. Check out the EH5300.

Keen to get a 46" if possible, maybe pay a little extra

46" would be better, haggle with them.

rather buy something else from a different place, e.g Plasma?

Depends on the quality of your input sources. If you're not going to be using majority high-quality FHD ones (e.g. HDVPR, Bluray etc.) then check out a HD-Ready plasma (FHD plasma more like 9-10K)

 

[Speedster]

Been keeping my eyes open for a bargain - I want a nice big telly in time for the olympics. Anyway, managed to pick up a PS43D450 (second hand) for R3000 today. Found some calibration settings online and really happy with it so far.

 

[BlackWasp]

Been keeping my eyes open for a bargain - I want a nice big telly in time for the olympics. Anyway, managed to pick up a PS43D450 (second hand) for R3000 today. Found some calibration settings online and really happy with it so far.

Cool man. You connected to HD PVR? I am interested to hear you views on the HD PQ.

 

[PostmanPot]

Hey guys

Bought this TV a while ago UA40D5500, for R6k from Dion Wired, was valued at R8k.

Long-story-short, TV has LED bleeding, finally getting a credit. Dion Wired have agreed to give me a discount on next purchase because the only reason I bought the TV was because of the special (which is nice of them), but now I don't know what to get.

-I see the new E series, any good?
-Keen to get a 46" if possible, maybe pay a little extra, but not impressed with Dion's prices, or am I wrong?
-Should I rather fight to get my cash back and rather buy something else from a different place, e.g Plasma?

Thanks very much for any input you may have.

Sean

Most backlit TVs will bleed due to the nature of being backlit. If you have dimmer room conditions (which it seems you do) then get a plasma and be done with it. HD Ready plasma should be hundreds if you don't sit close.

 

[Willie Trombone]

I agree with pot on the plasma for a dimly lit room. Bleeding on the backlit models isn't ideal for dimmer places unless you spend loads of money.

 

[Speedster]

Cool man. You connected to HD PVR? I am interested to hear you views on the HD PQ.

I have an HD PVR but my bouquet doesn't include the HD channels. The SD quality over HDMI (or component via my Yamaha AVR) is very decent. I'll let you know about the HD quality when I upgrade to Premium again for a weekend.

 

[iceman23]

Just if anyones interested.

Dion wired has the UA46E6200 3D LED for 11 000 straight. It comes with a 3D BD Player BD5500, 3 * Blu Ray Titles, 6 * 3D Glasses.

I went to game yesterday and got it for 10 800 because of a price beat. They had it marked at 13 000.

 

[Badprop_za]

Just if anyones interested.

Dion wired has the UA46E6200 3D LED for 11 000 straight. It comes with a 3D BD Player BD5500, 3 * Blu Ray Titles, 6 * 3D Glasses.

I went to game yesterday and got it for 10 800 because of a price beat. They had it marked at 13 000.

Is anyone aware of any good deals on the Samsung 51e550? The price on the 46e6200 looks really good. Decisions, decisions.....

 

[morkhans]

Nivo: Samsung 46" Full HD LCD TV (LA46C650L1R) R 5,799.96

 

[Roman4604]

Nivo: Samsung 46" Full HD LCD TV (LA46C650L1R) R 5,799.96

Decent price, but 2 year old model. C = 2010.