Plasma TV is dead

[lduguay]

Was HD DVDs now Plasma TVs
http://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/plasma-tv-is-dead
:headexplode: :headexplode: :headexplode: :headexplode: :headexplode:

[DonPMitchell]

More cost driven than quality driven, but it looks like LCD displays are on their way to achieving the same contrast and black-level quality as plasma.

Samsung's new LCDs are using a variable back light, to try to get good black levels, although I've heard there are artifacts -- you can sometimes see the large square sections of the display dim or brighten. Anyway, this will get worked out eventually.

[Rakeesh]

More cost driven than quality driven, but it looks like LCD displays are on their way to achieving the same contrast and black-level quality as plasma.

Plasma isn't really practical at higher resolutions and bigger sizes. By a matter of chemical properties alone, LCD lasts far far longer than anything phosphor based, which includes both CRT and plasma. LCD is vastly more energy efficient, cost efficient, and size/weight efficient than plasma.

IMO the better quality technology in LCD vs plasma is clearly LCD. I knew from years back that LCD would eventually replace plasma for this reason. Likewise, OLED will one day replace LCD for similar reasons.

[Monolyth]

END OF DAYS!

[DonPMitchell]

LCD has all those advantage, and one disadvantage. When a pixel goes black on a plasma display, it just turns off and emits no light. It's black. But on an LCD, the pixel turns opaque in front of a back light, and some light leaks through.

This problem is being solved by the upcoming LCD displays, which have an array of LED lights than can turn down when a region of the screen is dark.

[Toss3]

LCD has all those advantage, and one disadvantage. When a pixel goes black on a plasma display, it just turns off and emits no light. It's black. But on an LCD, the pixel turns opaque in front of a back light, and some light leaks through.

This problem is being solved by the upcoming LCD displays, which have an array of LED lights than can turn down when a region of the screen is dark.
Yet the samsung sporting the new led-backlighting system doesn't even come close to the kuros in terms of black level performance(seen them side-by-side). Only when watching a completely dark screen did the samsung pull ahead.

Well, this is still a good thing even though lcds still have a very long way to go until they reach the level of picture quality plasmas currently offer, because it shows that the market is moving forward.

Plasmas are still not dead though, at least not until panasonic stops producing them as well.


EDIT: Now, Pioneer will buy its panels from the competing brand and it will begin picking up LCD panels from...

So plasmas aren't dead at all. They just won't be producing the panels themselves anymore.

[Siskods9]

I think I'll probably go with a new Panasonic PZ85 Plasma for my next HDTV.

Unless I see a far more compelling LCD product...

http://www.trustedreviews.com/tvs/news/2008/03/05/Panasonic-Announces-PZ85-PZ80-PX80-Plasma-TVs/p1

[lduguay]

The PZ80 offers a 100hz mode???
Since 100hz is not divisible by 24, 30 or 60, what would be the use of this mode? 120Hz makes more sense to me at least in America. I guess 100Hz could be useful for Europe.

[Toss3]

The PZ80 offers a 100hz mode???
Since 100hz is not divisible by 24, 30 or 60, what would be the use of this mode? 120Hz makes more sense to me at least in America. I guess 100Hz could be useful for Europe.
120Hz in the states = 100Hz here. :) Pioneer's next plasma is going to have a refresh rate of 72Hz(or was it 75?) to eliminate the problems with the current 120/100hz technology.

[Heinzftw]

Just to let you know Plasma tv's go bad within 10 years of their purchase. LCD tv's are the future go buy them!!

[CybrSage]

Plasmas are better for the blacks. Panasonic's lineup is very good...so good that even Pioneer (who currently makes the best) will go with their much cheaper panels.

I tested many LCD and Plasma TVs, and in the end chose the Panasonic TH-42PZ700U. Quite happy with my choice.

[|JuiceZ|]

Just to let you know Plasma TV’s go bad within 10 years of their purchase. LCD TV's are the future go buy them!!

That’s not necessarily true, both Plasma & LCD TV’s have an average 60,000 hrs lifespan. For example, the average US household watches TV for 7hrs a day, that translates into 20+ years.

Plasma TV’s aren’t going away anytime soon, they’re still manufacturing rear projection TV’s for goodness sake. Each displays do have their pro’s & con’s. IMO OLED will be the future.

We just sold our Toshiba 32HL67U and purchased a new Panasonic TH-42PX80U (http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/shop/Televisions/Plasma-HDTVs/model.TH-42PX80U_11002_7000000000000005702) plasma. Its still going through the burn in process but even at the default viewing profiles it looks awesome, especially when watching HD media. The blacks are almost too black at times, its very smooth and Panny is using new anti glare filters on their 2008 models that seem to work really well. All in all we’re happy with our purchase.

Plasmas are better for the blacks. Panasonic's lineup is very good...so good that even Pioneer (who currently makes the best) will go with their much cheaper panels.

I tested many LCD and Plasma TVs, and in the end chose the Panasonic TH-42PZ700U. Quite happy with my choice.

Good choice man, I was looking at the one too. Even though Pioneer displays have the upper hand, Panny has really narrowed the gap and they have IMO the best performance per price.

[lduguay]

Just to let you know Plasma tv's go bad within 10 years of their purchase. LCD tv's are the future go buy them!!
Most plasma MTBF are rated around 60K hours now. So this is 20 years, 8 hours/day. Although, by that time the phosphor would have faded quite a bit.

PS: Oops JuiceZ was first

[lduguay]

That’s not necessarily true, both Plasma & LCD TV’s have an average 60,000 hrs lifespan. For example, the average US household watches TV for 7hrs a day, that translates into 20+ years.

Plasma TV’s aren’t going away anytime soon, they’re still manufacturing rear projection TV’s for goodness sake. Each displays do have their pro’s & con’s. IMO OLED will be the future.

We just sold our Toshiba 32HL67U and purchased a new Panasonic TH-42PX80U (http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/shop/Televisions/Plasma-HDTVs/model.TH-42PX80U_11002_7000000000000005702) plasma. Its still going through the burn in process but even at the default viewing profiles it looks awesome, especially when watching HD media. The blacks are almost too black at times, its very smooth and Panny is using new anti glare filters on their 2008 models that seem to work really well. All in all we’re happy with our purchase.

There is no such thing as too black, what you are seeing is black crush.

[|JuiceZ|]

There is no such thing as too black, what you are seeing is black crush.

Well whatever it is, its too dark to me. I'm new to Plasma so I'm still waiting for someone to post some decent settings on AVSForum.

[lduguay]

Try to disable all those automatic image enhancements first. Then calibrate the contrast/brightness/color (with adequate software) and see if you see an improvement.

[|JuiceZ|]

Try to disable all those automatic image enhancements first. Then calibrate the contrast/brightness/color (with adequate software) and see if you see an improvement.

Any software you recommend? I downloaded & burned the free AVSHD calibration dvd but have no clue how to use it.

[crainger]

Don't you need a colorimeter to use the AVCHD disc??

[|JuiceZ|]

Don't you need a colorimeter to use the AVCHD disc??

Yea you're right (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=948496):

NOTES:
These disks are intended to be useful without test equipment, but primarily they're centered around taking measurements with a colorimeter or spectroradiometer from window patterns. The disks were initially created for use with ColorHCFR, yet they can be used with other software such as CalMAN.

A guy posted in the owners thread that the factory modes on 80U were pretty close to the settings on his 75U after calibrating with his equipment. I'm just going to use them until someone post otherwise.