LCD and Plasma Bargains and Discussions thread

[Roman4604]

Agreed but the problem is motion-enhanced sport looks fake to many people.

Not if its setup right, the defaults are a bit on the aggressive side but this can be easily be corrected with MotionPlus options.

Plasma obviously superior when comparing to 50/60Hz LCD.

Not if the signal isn't perfectly optimized from the broadcast display mode, that being 1080i50 locally. Viewing (sport) content with different frame rates/cadence causes some moderate to hectic judder on the E550.

Easy to illustrate, download the Colors Of The Wind demo under the Sharp section from this site http://www.demo-world.eu/trailers/high-definition-trailers.php (3 parts). This 1080p clip runs at just under 30fps and at about 1:20 there are two panning scenes (trees & boats) where the E550 exhibits pretty bad judder.

 

[jano]

Been looking at the PS51E550 - R8490 at Cats Digital, which means Game's going price of R10999 with the price beat should come in at about R8240.

Only thing is, it looked duller and fuzzier than other TVs in Game (yes, bright lighting) but even compared to the P43E450 it looked dull. Could be settings, could be source (prob not 1080p).

Viewing distance will range between 4-5.2m, mostly downloaded series content, no DSTV, can't remember the last time we watched SABC/eTV...

Lots of potential for reflection, we'll just have to close curtains during the day.

So while bigger is *always* better, the P43 will save a fair amount of money, and is a decent upgrade from the current 26" Samsung monitor.

 

[SykomantiS]

So I've heard that the PS51E550 uses Neon instead of Phosphor for the plasma. Is this true? What are the pros/cons?

 

[PostmanPot]

Been looking at the PS51E550 - R8490 at Cats Digital, which means Game's going price of R10999 with the price beat should come in at about R8240.

Only thing is, it looked duller and fuzzier than other TVs in Game (yes, bright lighting) but even compared to the P43E450 it looked dull. Could be settings, could be source (prob not 1080p).

Viewing distance will range between 4-5.2m, mostly downloaded series content, no DSTV, can't remember the last time we watched SABC/eTV...

Lots of potential for reflection, we'll just have to close curtains during the day.

So while bigger is *always* better, the P43 will save a fair amount of money, and is a decent upgrade from the current 26" Samsung monitor.

Dull - likely bad settings + shop lighting as you say.

Fuzzy - upclose aisle viewing when realistically you're sitting much further.

43" plasmas are fantastic for the price. HD Ready 1024x768, but you're sitting far away, so wouldn't notice the difference between HD and FHD.

Even the PS51E450 51" 1024x768 is worth considering if you don't think you need the FHD + 3D of the E550.

 

[unwired]

I actually came into this thread to post about that TV (the UA55ES6200). Was at makro germiston yesterday and they had 5 of those on special for 11999, insane!

No flipping way.
Makro has these advertised currently for R 19 999.

 

[Willie Trombone]

Sounds like someone got their 11 and 9 the wrong way around.

 

[SaiyanZ]

How are the current LCD vs Plasma's for PC use?

I haven't owned a TV for a couple years. Last TV was a 47" Sinotech. I want to go for something 55" or bigger but will only be buying in April/May next year. The Samsung 55" 3D LED 200hz TV at Game for R12999 looks like a really good deal. Hopefully it will be on special again in a few months.

My goal is to get the TV and then put together a monster gaming PC for the lounge. Will use the TV as the primary/only screen with a wireless mouse/keyboard and surround sound. I had the same setup with the 47" Sinotec a couple years ago, but was robbed.

 

[rorz0r]

No flipping way.
Makro has these advertised currently for R 19 999.

I didn't actually go over to check the exact model number (because I would have walked away 24k poorer) but the guy said the normal price is 24k, their current advertised special was 18999 I think and just for the next 5 minutes they have 5 for 11999 just because they've been negotiating the deal with samsung all day etc.

 

[akescpt]

Dion wired has a special 10% off everything sale at selected stores tonight from 6pm!

http://winwithgame.co.za/media/dw-ne...5-12-2012.html

Ps. I'm on mobile so if someone follows the surround sound thread post in there please! Thanx!

 

[akescpt]

The bb might have messed up the address so here's the tweet!

@DionWired: Only 30mins till the DionWired 10% Discount Evening Tonight, 05 December 2012 @ Selected stores!! http://t.co/GlYOoqvx

 

[Awesum]

I'm thinking of upgrading my 5 year old 42" Samsung Q9 Plasma. I've always wanted a huge screen and the current special on the 60E550 is making it hard to resist. My viewing distance is about 5 - 6 meters. Is this too close for this screen size?
It's mainly for watching movies and series. HD and SD content.

My old TV is still perfect though and the boss is giving me a hard time about changing it

 

[rorz0r]

I'm thinking of upgrading my 5 year old 42" Samsung Q9 Plasma. I've always wanted a huge screen and the current special on the 60E550 is making it hard to resist. My viewing distance is about 5 - 6 meters. Is this too close for this screen size?
It's mainly for watching movies and series. HD and SD content.

My old TV is still perfect though and the boss is giving me a hard time about changing it

Not too close at all. I watch my 51 at 4m and could easily go bigger...

 

[Wasp_21]

I'm thinking of upgrading my 5 year old 42" Samsung Q9 Plasma. I've always wanted a huge screen and the current special on the 60E550 is making it hard to resist. My viewing distance is about 5 - 6 meters. Is this too close for this screen size?
It's mainly for watching movies and series. HD and SD content.

My old TV is still perfect though and the boss is giving me a hard time about changing it

No ways too close. 3.5m from my 50" and want bigger. Gaming is awesome at this size +.

 

[Roman4604]

How are the current LCD vs Plasma's for PC use? ... My goal is to get the TV and then put together a monster gaming PC for the lounge.

I would say the LED would be a better choice.

Plasmas need to dither colours so at close range you'll see the pixels dancing around. Even at further range the result is a picture that not quite as sharp & crisp (esp for text) as an LED.

Secondly the LED will handle high speed panning better as it has more advanced motion processing, but you'll have to see if this is worth the additional input lag (can be disabled by using game mode).

Lastly to get a crisp/sharp picture off a PC you'll need to run the TV in 1:1 pixel mapping (PC) mode. The potential issue with plasmas is in 1:1 mode the pixel shifter is disabled so your likely to encounter IR (image retention). Not damaging for short periods, but still irritating.

 

[SaiyanZ]

I would say the LED would be a better choice.

Plasmas need to dither colours so at close range you'll see the pixels dancing around. Even at further range the result is a picture that not quite as sharp & crisp (esp for text) as an LED.

Secondly the LED will handle high speed panning better as it has more advanced motion processing, but you'll have to see if this is worth the additional input lag (can be disabled by using game mode).

Lastly to get a crisp/sharp picture off a PC you'll need to run the TV in 1:1 pixel mapping (PC) mode. The potential issue with plasmas is in 1:1 mode the pixel shifter is disabled so your likely to encounter IR (image retention). Not damaging for short periods, but still irritating.

I thought so. So LED it is.

There is one annoying thing I noticed about the 1:1 pixel mapping with Samsung though. You lose all the HDMI black level and contrast settings so the colours end up looking washed out, compared to when not on 1:1. This is when connecting via HDMI and renaming the input to PC to get a 1:1 mapping. I don't know why Samsung disables the settings for PC. Really annoying. I googled and did some research on this but could not find anyone who got past it.

When watching ripped blu-rays from my laptop I ended up not using the 1:1 mapping since the colours looked a lot better on blu-ray mode (because of the extra picture options) than on PC "washed out" mode.

 

[Roman4604]

There is one annoying thing I noticed about the 1:1 pixel mapping with Samsung though. You lose all the HDMI black level and contrast settings so the colours end up looking washed out, compared to when not on 1:1. This is when connecting via HDMI and renaming the input to PC to get a 1:1 mapping. I don't know why Samsung disables the settings for PC. Really annoying. I googled and did some research on this but could not find anyone who got past it.

When watching ripped blu-rays from my laptop I ended up not using the 1:1 mapping since the colours looked a lot better on blu-ray mode (because of the extra picture options) than on PC "washed out" mode.

Cant say I've come across this on my TVs. I however don't engage PC mode (i.e. input rename) but rather configure the required individual settings that form part of the preset.

So if I want 1:1 pixel mapping, I configure screen size => Screen Fit (instead of 16:9), but still have that main mode on Movie so that I can tweak the other settings myself (HDMI black levels etc.).

 

[SaiyanZ]

Cant say I've come across this on my TVs. I however don't engage PC mode (i.e. input rename) but rather configure the required individual settings that form part of the preset.

So if I want 1:1 pixel mapping, I configure screen size => Screen Fit (instead of 16:9), but still have that main mode on Movie so that I can tweak the other settings myself (HDMI black levels etc.).

Screen fit doesn't do a perfect crisp 1:1 mapping since the picture is stretched and then shrunk again. You will notice the difference with fine text which will not be as crisp on screen fit "1:1" compared to PC mode 1:1.

 

[Roman4604]

Screen fit doesn't do a perfect crisp 1:1 mapping since the picture is stretched and then shrunk again. You will notice the difference with fine text which will not be as crisp on screen fit "1:1" compared to PC mode 1:1.

Looks perfect when I attach my Mac Book Air via HDMI (Win7 or OSX ML) using various test patterns on my LA40C530 LCD & UA46D6000 LED, a little less so on my PS51E550 plasma due to the dithering.

As a comparison reference I use my LG IPS235V & Samsung BX2450 monitors, also via HDMI.

PS: Test patterns;

This one to check for 1:1 pixel mapping ...

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/2928/1920x1080overscanh.gif

and this one to check 5 point text ...

http://www.worldserve.de/projects/samsung/Testbild-2D.jpg

 

[SaiyanZ]

Looks perfect when I attach my Mac Book Air via HDMI (Win7 or OSX ML) using various test patterns on my LA40C530 LCD & UA46D6000 LED, a little less so on my PS51E550 plasma due to the dithering.

As a comparison reference I use my LG IPS235V & Samsung BX2450 monitors, also via HDMI.

Try this with HDMI and screen fit. Open up a screen with lots of text. Then rename to PC mode and check that it is 1:1. I guarantee you will notice the difference.

 

[Roman4604]

Try this with HDMI and screen fit. Open up a screen with lots of text. Then rename to PC mode and check that it is 1:1. I guarantee you will notice the difference.

Remember having tried it before and saw no apparent difference. Will give it another bash though.