Was very impressed by this weeks deal in Curry`s for the 50" LG plasma with stand and free home cinema kit. Can anyone vouch for the quality, as it is always hard to tell from in store displays. Or am I just better saving up for the full HD LCD`s, as I noticed the plasma display seemed a little darker.
Curry`s £999 LG50" deal...
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This is a good price, but plasma technology is older and cheaper at the larger-end screen sizes. When you say the display is darker, that's just probably the in-store settings (I saw one in Currys today, too), but the blacks are very good - contrast ratios are far better on plasmas than on LCDs. If it's 'dark' in that respect, that's a good thing and adds to the 'cinematic' feel that plasmas are good at. If you intend to have the TV on most of the day though, plump for an LCD 42"/46" @ 1080p. Plasmas consume more power and have a shorter life span and there's always that screen-burn worry.
Screen gases dissipating over time, brightness reducing etc. Granted, you'll still likely get a good number of years viewing out of it but LCDs are expected to last longer. When I bought my LCD 18m ago, plasmas at the time were quoted as having c.30,000hrs v LCDs of 60,000hrs (or similar) of viewing time - a lot of hours nonetheless.
Originally Posted by ASIFZED:
“Screen gases dissipating over time
”
“Screen gases dissipating over time
”
That's a complete myth, PDP's aren't gas filled.
Quote:
“
brightness reducing
”
“
brightness reducing
”
Yes, but you get exactly the same with LCD, CRT and household flourescent tubes - in all four cases the phosphurs wear out with time. The oldest Plasma's I've seen (that are still working) are still pretty good pictures.
Quote:
“
Granted, you'll still likely get a good number of years viewing out of it but LCDs are expected to last longer.
”
“
Granted, you'll still likely get a good number of years viewing out of it but LCDs are expected to last longer.
”
I would agree, but not for any of the reasons you're suggesting - simply because Plasma sets are less reliable than LCD - a proven statistic!.
Quote:
“
When I bought my LCD 18m ago, plasmas at the time were quoted as having c.30,000hrs v LCDs of 60,000hrs (or similar) of viewing time - a lot of hours nonetheless.”
“
When I bought my LCD 18m ago, plasmas at the time were quoted as having c.30,000hrs v LCDs of 60,000hrs (or similar) of viewing time - a lot of hours nonetheless.”
All the blurb I've seen suggests similar lifes for Plasma screens and LCD screens, as far as 'wearing out' goes. The sets are more likely to be scrapped long before that due to them going faulty. So far I've scrapped probably half a dozen Plasma sets, due to failure of the panel - but no LCD's so far. I've changed plenty of duff LCD panels (and Plasma panels), but while still under guarantee.
Incidently, we've just had an ex-rental 32 inch Sony LCD come back in, the manufacture date on the back is December 2004. Checking on the service menu it's been running for 8546 hours so far - it's still a great picture though, the customer has merely swapped it for a new one.
Originally Posted by ASIFZED:
“Screen gases dissipating over time, brightness reducing etc. Granted, you'll still likely get a good number of years viewing out of it but LCDs are expected to last longer. When I bought my LCD 18m ago, plasmas at the time were quoted as having c.30,000hrs v LCDs of 60,000hrs (or similar) of viewing time - a lot of hours nonetheless.”
“Screen gases dissipating over time, brightness reducing etc. Granted, you'll still likely get a good number of years viewing out of it but LCDs are expected to last longer. When I bought my LCD 18m ago, plasmas at the time were quoted as having c.30,000hrs v LCDs of 60,000hrs (or similar) of viewing time - a lot of hours nonetheless.”
Yea get a LCD I would hate to think I'll only get 10yrs+ from my Plasma
10 years is a hell of a long time in the ever changing world of home cinema, you've more chance of upgrading long before a plasma screen has outlived its allotted number of hours.
I agree, if I get 10 years I`d be happy. What does worry me is that I can`t find much ref to its HD status. I know its HD ready and 1080P input- a bit of marketing spin in that it can recieve the signal just not necessary disoplay it at that. Anyone else shed some light on this?
Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin:
“That's a complete myth, PDP's aren't gas filled.
Yes, but you get exactly the same with LCD, CRT and household flourescent tubes - in all four cases the phosphurs wear out with time. The oldest Plasma's I've seen (that are still working) are still pretty good pictures.
I would agree, but not for any of the reasons you're suggesting - simply because Plasma sets are less reliable than LCD - a proven statistic!.
All the blurb I've seen suggests similar lifes for Plasma screens and LCD screens, as far as 'wearing out' goes. The sets are more likely to be scrapped long before that due to them going faulty. So far I've scrapped probably half a dozen Plasma sets, due to failure of the panel - but no LCD's so far. I've changed plenty of duff LCD panels (and Plasma panels), but while still under guarantee.
Incidently, we've just had an ex-rental 32 inch Sony LCD come back in, the manufacture date on the back is December 2004. Checking on the service menu it's been running for 8546 hours so far - it's still a great picture though, the customer has merely swapped it for a new one.”
“That's a complete myth, PDP's aren't gas filled.
Yes, but you get exactly the same with LCD, CRT and household flourescent tubes - in all four cases the phosphurs wear out with time. The oldest Plasma's I've seen (that are still working) are still pretty good pictures.
I would agree, but not for any of the reasons you're suggesting - simply because Plasma sets are less reliable than LCD - a proven statistic!.
All the blurb I've seen suggests similar lifes for Plasma screens and LCD screens, as far as 'wearing out' goes. The sets are more likely to be scrapped long before that due to them going faulty. So far I've scrapped probably half a dozen Plasma sets, due to failure of the panel - but no LCD's so far. I've changed plenty of duff LCD panels (and Plasma panels), but while still under guarantee.
Incidently, we've just had an ex-rental 32 inch Sony LCD come back in, the manufacture date on the back is December 2004. Checking on the service menu it's been running for 8546 hours so far - it's still a great picture though, the customer has merely swapped it for a new one.”
Just out of curiosity can all flat panel sets be checked for running hours? or just Sony?
Originally Posted by roddydogs:
“Just out of curiosity can all flat panel sets be checked for running hours? or just Sony?”
“Just out of curiosity can all flat panel sets be checked for running hours? or just Sony?”
I don't know, I think quite a few of them can, and quite a few of the later CRT sets as well.
Samsung and LG certainly can, Vestel don't seem to show it on their service menu (FACTORY MODE) though.
We sold a shed load of this deal at PCWorld this weekend, you'll be lucky if they still have some in stock.
Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin:
“That's a complete myth, PDP's aren't gas filled.”
“That's a complete myth, PDP's aren't gas filled.”
Yes they are:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_display
http://www.homecinemauk.com/home_cin...ced_guide.html
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-plasma-tv.htm
OK, I'll rephrase it! 
Plasma screens aren't filled with any gas that requires replenishment or wears out in any way!
They are 'filled' with a partial vacuum with trace amounts of noble gases.
The Wikipedia article is also wrong on some counts, such as
They don't use the same phosphurs because they work in entirely different ways - CRT's convert electron energy to light, and Plasma's convert ultraviolet light to visible light. Plasma screens are no where near as accurate as a CRT, and the differences are well documented - even CRT though doesn't meet the specified requirements, but it's a lot closer than Plasma. I've never seen similar comparative graphs for LCD?, but I would expect it to probably be better - as it uses simple coloured filters from white light, rather than phosphurs. From a viewers point of view, all are pretty well as good as each though.
Plasma screens aren't filled with any gas that requires replenishment or wears out in any way!
They are 'filled' with a partial vacuum with trace amounts of noble gases.
The Wikipedia article is also wrong on some counts, such as
Quote:
“Plasma displays use the same phosphors as CRTs, which accounts for the extremely accurate color reproduction.”
“Plasma displays use the same phosphors as CRTs, which accounts for the extremely accurate color reproduction.”
They don't use the same phosphurs because they work in entirely different ways - CRT's convert electron energy to light, and Plasma's convert ultraviolet light to visible light. Plasma screens are no where near as accurate as a CRT, and the differences are well documented - even CRT though doesn't meet the specified requirements, but it's a lot closer than Plasma. I've never seen similar comparative graphs for LCD?, but I would expect it to probably be better - as it uses simple coloured filters from white light, rather than phosphurs. From a viewers point of view, all are pretty well as good as each though.
Kind of getting bogged down into a technical debate on plasma V LCD. So what if it lasts 5 years or 10 years. In 5 years time it`s resale value will be buttons such is the changing nature of technology. That said I feel that going for full 1080 HD might be worth the extra cash now as opposed to buying just HD ready with no apparent HDMI inputs, as appears to be the case with the curry`s offer. Any thoughts?
Originally Posted by scorryuk:
“That said I feel that going for full 1080 HD might be worth the extra cash now as opposed to buying just HD ready with no apparent HDMI inputs, as appears to be the case with the curry`s offer. Any thoughts?”
“That said I feel that going for full 1080 HD might be worth the extra cash now as opposed to buying just HD ready with no apparent HDMI inputs, as appears to be the case with the curry`s offer. Any thoughts?”
If the set is HD Ready it has to have either HDMI or DVI, complete with HDCP - most use HDMI, but a few (like Philips) use DVI, so you need an adaptor or a different lead.
Personally I don't see much of an advantage of Full HD over HD Ready - we've run sets side by side from the same HD box source , and you can only just tell a difference. Seeing the sets on their own I wouldn't be able to tell which was which. Perhaps the difference might be greater from Blu-Ray or HD-DVD?, but from Sky HD I don't think it's worth the price premium.
It does have HDMI and component, it is also £120 cheaper in Dixons http://www.dixons.co.uk/martprd/stor...uct&sku=008514
acording to their website it has 2 HDMI, 2 Scart, 1 Component and 1 from a PC (I would asume DVI)
acording to their website it has 2 HDMI, 2 Scart, 1 Component and 1 from a PC (I would asume DVI)
Originally Posted by boswell:
“acording to their website it has 2 HDMI, 2 Scart, 1 Component and 1 from a PC (I would asume DVI)”
“acording to their website it has 2 HDMI, 2 Scart, 1 Component and 1 from a PC (I would asume DVI)”
It would be VERY unusual to have both DVI and HDMI, I would imagine the PC connector would be a standard 15 pin VGA socket, most are.
Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin:
“If the set is HD Ready it has to have either HDMI or DVI, complete with HDCP - most use HDMI, but a few (like Philips) use DVI, so you need an adaptor or a different lead.
Personally I don't see much of an advantage of Full HD over HD Ready - we've run sets side by side from the same HD box source , and you can only just tell a difference. Seeing the sets on their own I wouldn't be able to tell which was which. Perhaps the difference might be greater from Blu-Ray or HD-DVD?, but from Sky HD I don't think it's worth the price premium.”
“If the set is HD Ready it has to have either HDMI or DVI, complete with HDCP - most use HDMI, but a few (like Philips) use DVI, so you need an adaptor or a different lead.
Personally I don't see much of an advantage of Full HD over HD Ready - we've run sets side by side from the same HD box source , and you can only just tell a difference. Seeing the sets on their own I wouldn't be able to tell which was which. Perhaps the difference might be greater from Blu-Ray or HD-DVD?, but from Sky HD I don't think it's worth the price premium.”
But thats just an obvious, 'well durrrr' moment. Ive been reading these forums a while and seen you repeat this many times and for some reason it does my head in.
Your comparing a full HD set and given its potential and just feeding it a 720p/1080i source. Its like saying a Ferrari Enzo is no faster than a Ford Escort because of the 70MPH limit. If you going to compare them, at least use a 1080p source.
What gets me is why you keep repeating it. I thought you had some knowledge with TV's?
Originally Posted by Corfu:
“[/b]
What gets me is why you keep repeating it. I thought you had some knowledge with TV's?”
“[/b]
What gets me is why you keep repeating it. I thought you had some knowledge with TV's?”
I repeat it because it's still true, and 1080i is the only broadcast available - also 1080P isn't any higher resolution, so wouldn't make any difference on that account alone.
Where it 'may' make a difference is the lower compression used from a DVD compared to a broadcast.
Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin:
“It would be VERY unusual to have both DVI and HDMI, I would imagine the PC connector would be a standard 15 pin VGA socket, most are.”
“It would be VERY unusual to have both DVI and HDMI, I would imagine the PC connector would be a standard 15 pin VGA socket, most are.”
Went with my parents to purchase this offer last night from Currys. The PC input is indeed a VGA socket. The DVD Home Cinema System that comes with it is a 700W 5.1 system and teh DVD player itself is DivX friendly and upscales to 1080i. Not bad I think. Got a delivery time of up to 3 weeks though because the offer has been quite popular.
EDIT: Should also add the res is 1366 x 768 so only 720p, it does accept 1080p but obviously downscales.
Originally Posted by Alien28:
“EDIT: Should also add the res is 1366 x 768 so only 720p”
“EDIT: Should also add the res is 1366 x 768 so only 720p”
Except it's not 720P, it's 768 - if you feed it with 720P it has to upscale to make it fit. This slight upscaling is usually more intrusive than the downscaling from 1080i.
As always, try all options you have, but don't think of your set as a 720P set - because it's not.
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