LCD and Plasma Bargains and Discussions thread

http://www.pricecheck.co.za/search/?search=PS51F8500

Or ask Hirsch's if they can get it (should be able to).

Or get the PS51F5500? It's an exceptional plasma which will give you what you want. You're unhappy with your LCD, you miss your plasma, and 5 Series plasma will give you more than you ever had.

I don't see why you really need such a high end plasma. You bought a 5 Series LCD, why didn't you originally go for a 6+ Series LCD if you're prepared to spend more? :p

Problem is that I rushed this purchase and shouldn't have bought LED...period.

I hardly watch any DStv channels except for the SuperSport HD channels. Then I watch Netflix and Hulu on my Roku 3 and local content from the Boxee Box. My previous Samsung plasma was great for all of it.

Aesthetically, the LED that I bought looks a lot better and some content looks better too but it's definitely weaker on sports content which is a huge deal for me.

If the 5 series plasma looked anything remotely close to the 8 series one you linked to, I'd buy it in a flash. Hopefully someone can direct me to a place that actually stocks the 8500 at a decent price.
 
Problem is that I rushed this purchase and shouldn't have bought LED...period.

I hardly watch any DStv channels except for the SuperSport HD channels. Then I watch Netflix and Hulu on my Roku 3 and local content from the Boxee Box. My previous Samsung plasma was great for all of it.

Aesthetically, the LED that I bought looks a lot better and some content looks better too but it's definitely weaker on sports content which is a huge deal for me.

If the 5 series plasma looked anything remotely close to the 8 series one you linked to, I'd buy it in a flash. Hopefully someone can direct me to a place that actually stocks the 8500 at a decent price.

Do 0.5" thicker bezels mean that much when you understand that thin bezels are actually technically what lead to poorer PQ?

SAMSUNG-PS51F5500.jpg


Samsung-48H5500.jpg
 
How does bezel size relate to PQ? (serious question)

Edge LED lighting in LCD TVs like yours allows for a thinner bezel. The problem though is achieving uniform lighting across the whole panel. The thinner the bezels are, the more challenging it is. In short, you cannot achieve uniformity with edge lighting, and therefore your contrast ratio and overall PQ is lesser.

To test this, create a 1920x1080 black image in MS Paint with a small/medium sized white cross/circle in the middle. Play this image on your TV in the dark with the lights off. You will see what I mean by non uniform lighting, white spots, light bleed, etc.

Compared to plasma, where each pixel is self illuminated. This means each pixel can turn off or on. It does not use a backlight or LCD matrix like in LCD TVs. One of the many reasons why plasma has a better contrast ratio and better PQ.
 
Edge LED lighting in LCD TVs like yours allows for a thinner bezel. The problem though is achieving uniform lighting across the whole panel. The thinner the bezels are, the more challenging it is. In short, you cannot achieve uniformity with edge lighting, and therefore your contrast ratio and overall PQ is lesser.

To test this, create a 1920x1080 black image in MS Paint with a small/medium sized white cross/circle in the middle. Play this image on your TV in the dark with the lights off. You will see what I mean by non uniform lighting, white spots, light bleed, etc.

Compared to plasma, where each pixel is self illuminated. This means each pixel can turn off or on. It does not use a backlight or LCD matrix like in LCD TVs. One of the many reasons why plasma has a better contrast ratio and better PQ.

The 8500 has much thinner bezel though, with superior PQ to the 5500. But I guess you gotta pay for that sorta aesthetic/PQ balance.
 
The 8500 has much thinner bezel though, with superior PQ to the 5500. But I guess you gotta pay for that sorta aesthetic/PQ balance.

I assure you that you will be over the moon with the F5500, and you will be over the bezels once you are enjoying the TV. Plasmas have already come a long way in terms of bezel thinness.

Either way, get a plasma and you'll be happy.

I just don't think you need to spend 2 - 2.5 times the price to achieve what you miss in your old plasma, or what you need in terms of PQ.

It's a huge premium for thin bezels...
 
I assure you that you will be over the moon with the F5500, and you will be over the bezels once you are enjoying the TV. Plasmas have already come a long way in terms of bezel thinness.

Either way, get a plasma and you'll be happy.

I just don't think you need to spend 2 - 2.5 times the price to achieve what you miss in your old plasma, or what you need in terms of PQ.

It's a huge premium for thin bezels...

Yeah that's true. I'm not keen on dropping R20k just for looks.

I'm gonna call Makro tomorrow and Hirschs too to see what they can wrangle up for me.

Then I can list this LED on Gumtree and offload it to someone who'll really enjoy it.
 
I'm in the market for a bigger tv in a couple of months time, presently have a 40F6200 which I like, but after renovations at home it looks small mounted on my (new) wall so I would like to go up to about 60".

I wonder if we'll get bargain Samsung plasma's towards the end of the year? Clearance sale type stuff?
 
I'm in the market for a bigger tv in a couple of months time, presently have a 40F6200 which I like, but after renovations at home it looks small mounted on my (new) wall so I would like to go up to about 60".

I wonder if we'll get bargain Samsung plasma's towards the end of the year? Clearance sale type stuff?

Doubt it. And you won't beat 60" for R14k currently at Dion Wired.
 
Doubt it. And you won't beat 60" for R14k currently at Dion Wired.

Yeah I saw that. I'm out of the country until beginning of Sept and wanted to look about then thinking prices are ever dropping, but I'll ponder over it now and maybe get my wife to pick one up :)
 
Or the 60" PA60H5000 for R599.00pm from FNB
 
Well I'm having my E550 warranty claimed on Tuesday because of the wifi dying but more so because the green haze that has been there since day one now bothers me because I sit closer since my original man cave is now a baby room.

Apparently it's not uncommon and is related to a voltage problem where a board needs to be replaced.

Now with some luck they don't have spares and need to replace my TV. Hopeful thinking I know but the point is actually that I would probably go LED because I need a 46-inch in the new space as 51-inch is ever so slightly too big.
 
Well I'm having my E550 warranty claimed on Tuesday because of the wifi dying but more so because the green haze that has been there since day one now bothers me because I sit closer since my original man cave is now a baby room.

Apparently it's not uncommon and is related to a voltage problem where a board needs to be replaced.

Now with some luck they don't have spares and need to replace my TV. Hopeful thinking I know but the point is actually that I would probably go LED because I need a 46-inch in the new space as 51-inch is ever so slightly too big.

Come now, 46 - 51" too big?

I can only understand if you're enclosing it in a pre existing wall unit or somesuch. :p
 
Come now, 46 - 51" too big?

I can only understand if you're enclosing it in a pre existing wall unit or somesuch. :p

Believe it, it's just that tiny bit too large because I'm sitting that close now.

Not like I'll run out and buy another, just that if I am given the option to change I'll swop down to a 46-inch instead.

Hopefully the process goes well and I don't end up with some knob that tells me it's my network (it's definitely not) or that the green haze is "normal" and "part of Plasmas" because then we are going to have a real fight.

Warranty actually expires on Monday and they are coming on Tuesday so hopefully that isn't another fights. With the baby arriving last week I only just remembered to check and found the warranty was two years not three as I thought and so finally called them on Friday. It's the extended warranty with Tafelberg that was three years, but I'll only use that if I absolutely have to.
 
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