Have you got a Plasma / What brand/ How much ?/ Where From

AC/DC · 20-01-2006, 08:18 PM

So I have the day off, and am lying around watching the cricket on my plasma, , in the air con, , thinking gee, this tv if fuc**ng excellent, probably the best thing ever bought !

Its a Panasonic 42" Viera, cost me $2650 !

It rocks

Who else has a plasma, , what is it ? , how much you pay ? ,, , and where from ! ( and do you like it ! )

AC/DC

max^power · 20-01-2006, 08:21 PM

i'll be buying one soon. they're pretty small though, im fond of BIG pictures. Guess i can get over it if the xbox works on it ;)

Martyvan · 20-01-2006, 08:39 PM

Have only heard good reports regarding the AWA units (LCD) that are sold @ Big W exclusively. Have heard they are built on same line as another reputable brand. I havnt checked them out, but a sound and vision guy i know did buy 4 of them for his house!

blueoval · 20-01-2006, 08:52 PM

A plasma TV will be on its way to my lounge room hopefully in the next 6-12 months when I completely re-furbish my lounge room.

I have a budget of about $3500 to spend on a HD plasma, not sure which brand to buy, but if I could afford it, I'd love a 60" Pioneer HDTV plasma :hihi:

Any ideas of HQ brands within my budget? (dont meant to hijack the thread either)

JAJH · 20-01-2006, 09:01 PM

I'm greedy, I 've got 2 plasmas, one's a Samsung 42" and the other a Sony 42", both with High Def STBs.

blueoval · 20-01-2006, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAJH

I'm greedy, I 've got 2 plasmas, one's a Samsung 42" and the other a Sony 42", both with High Def STBs.

PICS, greedy man!!! :nutsycuck

73gscoupe · 20-01-2006, 09:45 PM

So is the extra $$$ for a HD Plasma worth it over a standard definition? Especially for those on a budget?

My understanding is most digital telly is only in standard definition anyway, except for a few US shows.

Ohh, and has anyone ever had a pixel burn out? LCD fans are always on about this?

JAJH · 20-01-2006, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 73gscoupe

So is the extra $$$ for a HD Plasma worth it over a standard definition? Especially for those on a budget?

My understanding is most digital telly is only in standard definition anyway, except for a few US shows.

Ohh, and has anyone ever had a pixel burn out? LCD fans are always on about this?

To be honest, I don't see the difference, my Samsung is a Standard Def Plasma with a High Def STB and is a better quality picture than the High Def Sony, all because I have a better quality High Def STB on the Samsung.

AC/DC · 20-01-2006, 10:08 PM

Pixel burnout is a thing of the past regarding plasmas. 99% of the time if a pixel will fail on a plasma, then it will fail in the first 10 or so hours....

Blueoval, , you asked what HQ brands... Find out who actually makes the plasma panel and where it is made....

I know that The Panasonic and Pioneer are both made by their respective brands...

A fair few Hitachi, Sony and some Philips use panels that are made by manufacturing plants that are owened by LG..

LG make their entire panel, including the glass and gas , , so LG is very good...

Pioneers are probably the best, but they are expensive.. Panasonic is the biggest selling brand in the USA...

LG are doing a SD screen with a built in HD box, , something I cannot understand why, , , if the panel will never show a true HD image, , why bother with the HD tuner...

HD is always a better picture, but is it really worth it..( I dont think so ). I get a fantastic pic on SD Panasonic plasmausing a LEGEND 120Gb Standard Def PVR at home. Some of the good brand HD plasmas are $1000 more and then another $400 more for the HD box.... For the extra $1400, , why not buy a 27" LCD for the bedroom !

AC/DC

Sunburst50 · 20-01-2006, 10:36 PM

I am looking at an LG Plasma with built-in HD Tuna and hoping to buy soon. I had my main TV break down about 18 months ago but could not afford a new Plasma back then as the better ones were still $4500+. I went and purchased a Teac widesrceen TV and SD digital set top box for around $900 . I was amazed by the difference that the digital signal makes as the TV has an anolouge tuner in it and when you turn the set top box on it is so much more clearer and colour is more lifelike and CD quality sound plus widescreen.

rodderz · 20-01-2006, 11:16 PM

Just on the news this past week they were saying that plasma screens will nearly half in price within the next few months, as manufacturing prices with the materials have been found to be made quicker and easier therefore cheaper retail price

blueoval · 20-01-2006, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodderz

Just on the news this past week they were saying that plasma screens will nearly half in price within the next few months, as manufacturing prices with the materials have been found to be made quicker and easier therefore cheaper retail price

That's good for people like me who are waiting!

AC/DC - cheers for the insight. I realised LG had their finger in most pies, but not in as many pies as I thought!

I dont mind LG, but didn't think they were up to scratch in quality. Can I be proven wrong?

**Peuty** · 21-01-2006, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueoval

That's good for people like me who are waiting!

AC/DC - cheers for the insight. I realised LG had their finger in most pies, but not in as many pies as I thought!

I dont mind LG, but didn't think they were up to scratch in quality. Can I be proven wrong?

To be honest, LG is certainly not worth the time and effort in my opinion. My line of work is selling plasmas etc, and from what I have seen, the HD LG is definatly not up to scratch, compared to even a Standard Def Panasonic screen. LG = Jack of all trades, master of none.

My 2 cents.

ps... Sony LCD's are made by Samsung, actually, pretty much anything Sony is a Samsung....

blueoval · 22-01-2006, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peuty

To be honest, LG is certainly not worth the time and effort in my opinion. My line of work is selling plasmas etc, and from what I have seen, the HD LG is definatly not up to scratch, compared to even a Standard Def Panasonic screen. LG = Jack of all trades, master of none.

My 2 cents.

ps... Sony LCD's are made by Samsung, actually, pretty much anything Sony is a Samsung....

What brands do you recommend the Peuty with a budget of about $3500-4k in mind?

**Peuty** · 22-01-2006, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueoval

What brands do you recommend the Peuty with a budget of about $3500-4k in mind?

If you shop around enough, you MAY get your hands on a High Definition Panasonic Viera panel for your price range. Other than that, the standard defintion Panasonic panel, at around 2500, is more than worth the money. I am not up to speed with the Hitiachi brand, but as Falcon Coupe says, it might be worth a look too. To sum it up though, either of the Panasonic panels would be the way to go, no question.

Homer1 · 22-01-2006, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peuty

To be honest, LG is certainly not worth the time and effort in my opinion. My line of work is selling plasmas etc, and from what I have seen, the HD LG is definatly not up to scratch, compared to even a Standard Def Panasonic screen. LG = Jack of all trades, master of none.

My 2 cents.

ps... Sony LCD's are made by Samsung, actually, pretty much anything Sony is a Samsung....

Yeah, I was told that, but am still thinking of buying a Bravia (32") for my room. Is it worth the price d'you think?? It be good to have a opinion from someone in the know on TVs.

**Peuty** · 22-01-2006, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homer1

Yeah, I was told that, but am still thinking of buying a Bravia (32") for my room. Is it worth the price d'you think?? It be good to have a opinion from someone in the know on TVs.

Even though it's made but Samsung, it still has the Sony componentry in it, but take a look at a true Samsung LCD as well, because they are definatly worth a look.

XRated · 21-01-2006, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodderz

Just on the news this past week they were saying that plasma screens will nearly half in price within the next few months, as manufacturing prices with the materials have been found to be made quicker and easier therefore cheaper retail price

1/2 price, I wish. I'd be looking at getting one instead of a big (normal) flat screen in the next few months.

SpoolMan · 21-01-2006, 03:25 AM

you can get a TEAC 106cm from around $1800..the Teac might not be everyones favorite brand but for $1800 your watching a plasma..
LG for $2000, Mitsubishi 42" $2200, Philip's $2000 they have become very affordable.

Lukeyson · 21-01-2006, 08:54 AM

my wife are going a Panasonic 50" HD screen we saw, the rrp was $7000 i think, but i just might wait a few months after hearing rodderz insight. Which does make sense as alot of brands bring new models out before autumn. (ie Sony)

distortion · 21-01-2006, 08:55 AM

I would go an LCD over a plasma - worth the extra cash. Plasma's have better colour depth, but tend to refresh slower, and have a slightly blurry effect. Also, plasma's cannot reproduce gradients very well, especially in the grey channel, and skin tones can quite often look terrible. That said, i have a 37 inch phillips. Bought 2 years ago when they were the price of cars. Those thinking of buying a flat screen, wait 6 months for the carbon nanotube tv's to come out. Cheap, and HUGE and the best image you will probably ever see.

Those already with flat screens and want a better depth to their images, try putting some white (white ONLY) neons behind the screen. The soft light on the wall fools the eye into percieving more depth than is there. For 100$ its worth it.

Mr. CVE · 21-01-2006, 09:06 AM

I have a Marantz plasma, bought it 2 years ago, was quite expensive then !!
they are the same as the NEC plasma.
still very happy with it.
oh I thought it was the LCD that had the lower refresh rate. That is what I have noticed.

AC/DC · 21-01-2006, 09:35 AM

Plasma price drop by 50% in a couple of months.....

Thats like saying that Fuel prices would drop if they found more oil ! ! !

Plasmas have "had" their price drop, , nowdays you can buy a HOTPOINT for $1599....

AC/DC

Deadman · 21-01-2006, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AC/DC

Plasma price drop by 50% in a couple of months.....

Thats like saying that Fuel prices would drop if they found more oil ! ! !

Plasmas have "had" their price drop, , nowdays you can buy a HOTPOINT for $1599....

I think you'll find they've got a bit of a way to drop yet (esspecially more high-end models). It's happening with LCD's at the moment with the oversupply of the market (will definately be a buyers market for the next 12 months in LCD's) - same will happen again with Plasmas.

It's like everything - they will continue to drop. I think you will find Plasmas less than $1000 in the near future (before next Christmas) and high end / expensive price points will drop a fair % to...

:

I'm going for a full wall projector when we build our new house anyhow - want to go for the 'cinema' room feel with a massive screen, huge speakers etc... Can't wait for cricket on that :sm_drool:

Quote:

Originally Posted by distortion

I would go an LCD over a plasma - worth the extra cash.

Agreed.

**russellw** · 21-01-2006, 10:33 AM

The Pioneer is definitely the pick of the bunch for quality of image but as noted they are at the expensive end of the equation even for their domestic range. I use a PDP43MXE which is from their commercial range and it produces an awesome image but isn't what you'd call affordable.

The 32" Mitsubishi LCD upstairs produces a nice image as well (and their present 30" one is a bargain for an LCD) but it's a little noisy in fan operation.

Given that a screen should be a 5-10 year investment I struggle to understand why anyone is going SD still (except for cost) and even some of the units which claim to be HD or HD capable aren't. More and more Australian content is being broadcast in HD and with Blue-Ray DVD arriving this year (HD DVD) there is a big difference in picture quality to be had. I've seen the early release Panasonic Blu-Ray and HD Plasma combo and it is just mind boggling.

While on the subject TRUE HD at 1080i/p requires a screen resolution of 1920x1080 which very few units on the market actually support - you'll still get a great picture at 1024x768 which is roughly 720p but make sure the STB actually supports 720 or you'll finish up with an interpolated image. Note that wide screen 720p requires a resolution of 1366x768 to have no resampling.

Happy hunting.

Russ

blueoval · 21-01-2006, 11:26 AM

What are peoples thoughts on the JVC models? One in particular is the JVC PD-Z42DX4 I've had my eye on. Do you think its up to task with all the latest technology for the next 5 years or so?

Danny · 21-01-2006, 11:33 AM

We got one too. Bought it about a year ago. Its an LG with the STB and all that. Great TV, Compliments the cinema system so well.

divine_afg · 22-01-2006, 04:01 AM

well owe LG with built in HD and the picture quality is absolutly great..... for about 3G's
and looking forward to pioneer unit in the next 6 months or so......... i to heard that
plasmas are falling in prices..............

**Falcon Coupe** · 22-01-2006, 12:59 PM

I bought my Hitachi 42" 12 months ago, high res and pixels cost me $5600, it's a great unit which can be bought for not much over 3k now, something to remember when buying a plasma is the viewing distance, 42" recomended distance is 3-1/2 metres, 50" is 5 metres, so if you buy something to big for the room, the picture quality will suffer, also the cheaper versions are quite ordinary at any distance.

gozza · 23-01-2006, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falcon Coupe

I bought my Hitachi 42" 12 months ago, high res and pixels cost me $5600, it's a great unit which can be bought for not much over 3k now, something to remember when buying a plasma is the viewing distance, 42" recomended distance is 3-1/2 metres, 50" is 5 metres, so if you buy something to big for the room, the picture quality will suffer, also the cheaper versions are quite ordinary at any distance.

i don't have a plasma buts its a 104 cm tv
i have to be like over 5 meters away to get the best quality