LCD and Plasma Bargains and Discussions thread

[Dolby]

See now that's were we disagree. My blacks are black

Ah - you're an owner and bias ... explains it now

 

[Bona Botse]

Ah - you're an owner and bias ... explains it now

I was a non-biased non-owner before I became an owner
And don't you own an LCD?

 

[Dolby]

I was a non-biased non-owner before I became an owner
And don't you own an LCD?

Yea - but only natural to protect what you've forked out money for

I have an LCD, yea ... butI had a plasma for a few years too. One of my friends just bought a plasma D550 and another the LED D6500 or whatever. The plasma owner is happy because the size and value ... but PQ is not on par with the LED nor my LCD

 

[Bona Botse]

Yea - but only natural to protect what you've forked out money for

Perhaps, but that applies to you too

I have an LCD, yea ... butI had a plasma for a few years too. One of my friends just bought a plasma D550 and another the LED D6500 or whatever. The plasma owner is happy because the size and value ... but PQ is not on par with the LED nor my LCD

The value proposition of the D550 plasma is a hard point to overlook though. How much did the D6500 cost? How much was your LCD? They should have better PQ, otherwise why would they cost more at a smaller size? I need a 50"+ TV due to my viewing distance, and decent LED/LCD at that size are too expensive for the marginal increases in PQ. We're talking R20k+ here.

Of course, that's just me.

 

[Dolby]

Perhaps, but that applies to you too

... except I didn't protect my purchase

I gave advice and you protected! Oh - and I had a plasma too ...

The value proposition of the D550 plasma is a hard point to overlook though. How much did the D6500 cost? How much was your LCD? They should have better PQ, otherwise why would they cost more at a smaller size? I need a 50"+ TV due to my viewing distance, and decent LED/LCD at that size are too expensive for the marginal increases in PQ. We're talking R20k+ here.

Of course, that's just me.

I agree fully on the value - but some prefer quality over quantity

I think the price was 51" plasma 5 Series at R9,000.00 and 46" LED 6 Series at R12,000.00 ... so R3,000.00 for slightly smaller, but better black levels, colours, contrast etc. I'd rather save a month or two for the LED

But like you said, you needed the size

 

[GrootBaas]

You guys crack me up. Moving up from a 1970's Telefunken CRT I think anything with a flat screen and bigger than 51cm is going to be impressive.

 

[PostmanPot]

You guys crack me up. Moving up from a 1970's Telefunken CRT I think anything with a flat screen and bigger than 51cm is going to be impressive.

Except with SD content...

Is the new TV going in the same place as the CRT?

 

[GrootBaas]

Except with SD content...

Is the new TV going in the same place as the CRT?

Yeah. CRT is unwatchable during the day now because the room is so bright.

 

[PostmanPot]

 

[GrootBaas]

The Samsung plasma 43D452 seems to be a not so well known model. If you search for it most websites are Russian.

 

[PostmanPot]

Yeah heard a few variations, probably best sticking with the PS43D450. Wonder what the differences are.

 

[gifs]

I think the price was 51" plasma 5 Series at R9,000.00 and 46" LED 6 Series at R12,000.00 ... so R3,000.00 for much smaller, but slightly better black levels, colours, contrast etc. I'd rather save R3000 and get the plasma

That is how it should read.

 

[Dolby]

That is how it should read.

You're an owner defending your purchase as well, right?

You could do that - it's up to the individual I guess.

You could even save another R2,000.00 and go for slightly less performance and a Series 4 if you want? You have to decide where the speed point is ... and for me, it's not a Series 5 plasma

 

[PostmanPot]

Protip: Next time accounting for certain TV models, make sure you don't own one of them!

 

[Bona Botse]

You're an owner defending your purchase as well, right?

You could do that - it's up to the individual I guess.

You could even save another R2,000.00 and go for slightly less performance and a Series 4 if you want? You have to decide where the speed point is ... and for me, it's not a Series 5 plasma

Come now Dolby, am I to dismiss everything you've ever said about a Volvo C30 T5 Sportpack simply because you're an owner defending his purchase?

Would you also just as easily dismiss negative statements from owners?

 

[gifs]

You're an owner defending your purchase as well, right?

Not quite, I have both a PN51D550 plasma and an LN40D550 LCD.

 

[Dolby]

Would you also just as easily dismiss negative statements from owners?

The thing is *most* owners only praise what they have ... everything else simply falls short and they made the right choice. They disregard what negatives there are.

I can tell you negatives of my car, my TV, my iPad and pretty much anything else I buy. If you read these forums, it's seems there is nothing wrong with a plasma. It's cheap, it's natural, it's the best at SD, it's the best at HD, it's the best in a small room, L shaped room, large room, it's the best whether 1m or 5m away, it's the best at producing deep blacks, it's the best at gaming, at motion, at contrast and the list goes on.

Not quite, I have both a PN51D550 plasma and an LN40D550 LCD.

I've also had both - so I wouldn't defend either. I got an LED for my parents too.

There's pro and cons with all technology and there's a sweet point. The pro of the 51D550 is the size - but for me personally, I'd pay a little extra and bump up both the series and IQ at the expense. the 46 Series 5 LED is my sweet point.

http://www.televisioninfo.com/content/Samsung-PN51D550-3D-Plasma-HDTV-Review/Blacks-and-Whites.htm

Look - negative!

The Samsung PN51D550 managed a decent black level, but it’s certainly not as good as the average plasma TV. In fact, the Sony EX720, an LCD TV, managed a better black level. The Samsung PN51D550 isn’t terrible, but it’s not great either

While we didn’t love the Samsung PN51D550’s black level, the peak brightness was better than a lot of plasmas we’ve reviewed. It’s not great. We want to see peak brightnesses over 200 cd/m 2 if you want to compete with the ambient light of a sunny room

the Samsung PN51D550 does not produce the deep black levels that plasmas should be capable of. As a result, the contrast ratio disappointed.

 

[Dolby]

All I'm saying - and have said - is look!

Black isn't great on the particular model *shrug*

 

[Dolby]

And before I'm said to be trolling - here's entry into this argument :

I'm sure the black levels on that plasma are quite grey?

Although plasma fans love telling you that plasma screens have darker blacks, it's simply not true. The D550 black is quite grey ... and I'm sure that no different. Check them out yourself

 

[PostmanPot]

All I'm saying - and have said - is look!

Not quite, I have both a PN51D550 plasma and an LN40D550 LCD.

How We Test Black Level

To measure the black level of the display, we put up an all-black screen in DisplayMate and measure the luminance at the center of the screen...

Also don't forget that when you see black measurements they are PEAK black measurements so there very well will be mid-high end LCDs that will have higher PEAK black levels. Problem now is that LCDs since using a backlight suffer from backlight bleed and inconsistent black levels. Since plasma is self illuminating there is no backlight bleed and so much more even black level, overall higher contrast, etc.

As far as I'm concerned, faffing about LCD peak black level in light of inconsistent non uniform black levels is silly.

It's not incorrect. It's about consistent black levels.

Not, measuring the peak black level in the center of the screen and then ignoring the POOR black levels at the edges...