Curry`s £999 LG50" deal...

scorryuk · 06-10-2007, 17:13

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.

graham001 · 06-10-2007, 17:58

i may be mistaken but i dont think you will get a 50" LCD at present.

ASIFZED · 06-10-2007, 20:10

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.

luvspud · 06-10-2007, 20:26

Depends what you mean by shorter life span.

ASIFZED · 06-10-2007, 20:48

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.

luvspud · 06-10-2007, 20:59

By the time of any noticeable lost of quality a plasma screen will be classed as old technology.

Nigel Goodwin · 06-10-2007, 22:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASIFZED

Screen gases dissipating over time

That's a complete myth, PDP's aren't gas filled.

Quote:

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.

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.

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.

Kojack · 06-10-2007, 22:19

Quote:

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.

Yea get a LCD I would hate to think I'll only get 10yrs+ from my Plasma

luvspud · 07-10-2007, 01:14

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.

scorryuk · 07-10-2007, 15:15

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?

roddydogs · 08-10-2007, 07:42

Quote:

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.

Just out of curiosity can all flat panel sets be checked for running hours? or just Sony?

Nigel Goodwin · 08-10-2007, 10:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by roddydogs

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.

iDan · 08-10-2007, 10:39

Samsung and LG certainly can, Vestel don't seem to show it on their service menu (FACTORY MODE) though.

TROD · 08-10-2007, 11:27

We sold a shed load of this deal at PCWorld this weekend, you'll be lucky if they still have some in stock.

dbramley · 08-10-2007, 12:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

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

Nigel Goodwin · 08-10-2007, 12:54

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

Quote:

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.

scorryuk · 08-10-2007, 13:01

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?

Nigel Goodwin · 08-10-2007, 13:25

Quote:

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?

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.

dbramley · 08-10-2007, 14:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

OK, I'll rephrase it!

Ha - OK I'll let you off!

boswell · 08-10-2007, 15:29

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)

Nigel Goodwin · 08-10-2007, 23:35

Quote:

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)

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.

Corfu · 09-10-2007, 11:33

Quote:

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.

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?

Nigel Goodwin · 09-10-2007, 11:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corfu

[/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.

Alien28 · 09-10-2007, 15:09

Quote:

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.

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.

Nigel Goodwin · 09-10-2007, 16:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alien28

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.

06-10-2007, 17:13	#1
scorryuk Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 9	Curry`s £999 LG50" deal... 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.

06-10-2007, 17:58	#2
graham001 Forum Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: dorset Posts: 2,102	i may be mistaken but i dont think you will get a 50" LCD at present.

06-10-2007, 20:10	#3
ASIFZED Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 1,020	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.

06-10-2007, 20:26	#4
luvspud Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 323	Depends what you mean by shorter life span.

06-10-2007, 20:48	#5
ASIFZED Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 1,020	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.

06-10-2007, 20:59	#6
luvspud Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 323	By the time of any noticeable lost of quality a plasma screen will be classed as old technology.

06-10-2007, 22:05	#7
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by ASIFZED Screen gases dissipating over time That's a complete myth, PDP's aren't gas filled. Quote: 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. 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. 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.

06-10-2007, 22:19	#8
Kojack Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Pomgolia Posts: 1,162	Quote: 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. Yea get a LCD I would hate to think I'll only get 10yrs+ from my Plasma

07-10-2007, 01:14	#9
luvspud Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 323	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.

07-10-2007, 15:15	#10
scorryuk Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 9	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?

08-10-2007, 07:42	#11
roddydogs Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 6,352	Quote: 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. Just out of curiosity can all flat panel sets be checked for running hours? or just Sony?

08-10-2007, 10:16	#12
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by roddydogs 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.

08-10-2007, 10:39	#13
iDan Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,812	Samsung and LG certainly can, Vestel don't seem to show it on their service menu (FACTORY MODE) though.

08-10-2007, 11:27	#14
TROD Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: In the Shrine to Hantuchova UK Posts: 390	We sold a shed load of this deal at PCWorld this weekend, you'll be lucky if they still have some in stock.

08-10-2007, 12:41	#15
dbramley Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hartlepool, England Posts: 190	Quote: Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin 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

08-10-2007, 12:54	#16
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	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 Quote: 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.

08-10-2007, 13:01	#17
scorryuk Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 9	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?

08-10-2007, 13:25	#18
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: 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? 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.

08-10-2007, 14:04	#19
dbramley Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hartlepool, England Posts: 190	Quote: Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin OK, I'll rephrase it! Ha - OK I'll let you off!

08-10-2007, 15:29	#20
boswell Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 89	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)

08-10-2007, 23:35	#21
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: 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) 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.

DS Forums

Curry`s £999 LG50" deal...

09-10-2007, 11:33	#22
Corfu Banned User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 58	Quote: 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. 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?

09-10-2007, 11:57	#23
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by Corfu [/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.

09-10-2007, 15:09	#24
Alien28 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Birmingham Posts: 1,323	Quote: 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. 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.

09-10-2007, 16:19	#25
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by Alien28 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.