Small plasma or large lcd ?

[petefletch]

Instead of buying a 76cm CRT tv, I would like to get a flat screen because I want to save as much space as possible.
So far the only small plasmas I have found are Sony and Philips 82cm, are there any others? And by coincidence they both also have 76cm LCD's.
I live a long way from the nearest retailers so I am hoping that some people will share their viewing impressions of the lcd's vs plasma.

The more restricted viewing angle of the lcd is not really a problem due to the room layout and where the screen will be situated.
The lcd's still don't have the contrast ratio of the plasma, but how big a difference is there in everyday viewing?
At the moment the Sony lcd is a lot more expensive than the Philips, but they have just released a 66cm version at a much cheaper price so maybe the 76cm will drop as well.

The plasma screens seem to coming out in bigger and bigger sizes, but is there any indication that we will see more available at regular tv sizes, or are the smaller sizes going to be all lcd.

I would appreciate any comments.

[John]

"petefletch" <petefletch.16umcy@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in message
news:petefletch.16umcy@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au...
>
> Instead of buying a 76cm CRT tv, I would like to get a flat screen
> because I want to save as much space as possible.
> So far the only small plasmas I have found are Sony and Philips 82cm,
> are there any others? And by coincidence they both also have 76cm
> LCD's.
> I live a long way from the nearest retailers so I am hoping that some
> people will share their viewing impressions of the lcd's vs plasma.
>
> The more restricted viewing angle of the lcd is not really a problem
> due to the room layout and where the screen will be situated.
> The lcd's still don't have the contrast ratio of the plasma, but how
> big a difference is there in everyday viewing?
> At the moment the Sony lcd is a lot more expensive than the Philips,
> but they have just released a 66cm version at a much cheaper price so
> maybe the 76cm will drop as well.
>
> The plasma screens seem to coming out in bigger and bigger sizes, but
> is there any indication that we will see more available at regular tv
> sizes, or are the smaller sizes going to be all lcd.
>
> I would appreciate any comments.

Hitachi also have a new small Plasma which is pretty good.

As for LCD, I really think the next generation will be the decider and will
compete with Plasma. At this stage, plasma offers the better bet with all
viewing conditions. I can't see past the black levels just yet with LCD.

John

[Trevor S]

"John" <nospam@afp.gov.au> wrote in
news:40b45753$1@mail.netspeed.com.au:

<snip>

> Hitachi also have a new small Plasma which is pretty good.
>
> As for LCD, I really think the next generation will be the decider and
> will compete with Plasma. At this stage, plasma offers the better bet
> with all viewing conditions. I can't see past the black levels just
> yet with LCD.

I have a 2nd generation Sharp AQUOS (LCD) in the bedroom, the black levels
are fine IMO, the lack of contrast is the only thing I have a problem with
on LCD. For non serious viewing (ie casual viewing) the LCD is fine, as
the primary screen I might find it annoying. That being said, I am not a
big fan of Plasma either.

--
Trevor S


"Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth."
-Albert Einstein

[John]

"Trevor S" <bill@gates.com> wrote in message
news:Xns94F6A58567B5Ebillgatescom@130.133.1.4...
> "John" <nospam@afp.gov.au> wrote in
> news:40b45753$1@mail.netspeed.com.au:
>
> <snip>
>
> > Hitachi also have a new small Plasma which is pretty good.
> >
> > As for LCD, I really think the next generation will be the decider and
> > will compete with Plasma. At this stage, plasma offers the better bet
> > with all viewing conditions. I can't see past the black levels just
> > yet with LCD.
>
> I have a 2nd generation Sharp AQUOS (LCD) in the bedroom, the black levels
> are fine IMO, the lack of contrast is the only thing I have a problem with
> on LCD. For non serious viewing (ie casual viewing) the LCD is fine, as
> the primary screen I might find it annoying. That being said, I am not a
> big fan of Plasma either.

I agree with what you're saying and, in fact, I'm also looking at a LCD for
bedroom use. I had a good play with some LCD screens, Plasmas and CRT
direct views a few weeks back. At one stage, I had them set up side by side
with the same image off a digital receiver.

Have you seen this one?:

http://tinyurl.com/292gm

When side by side, the black levels really do stand out. The detail missing
from the LCD was very noticable. In isolation however, you don't seem to
miss it, but knowing that it isn't there, I would really like to wait until
it's better.

I also have an issue with all digital displays, in the main with the scaling
and colour/shading transposition. The one thing I look for above all else
is to see whether it is affected by bad banding or not. I've found Finding
Nemo to be a pretty good judge for this (that's if the store will let you
put it on one of their plasmas/LCD's). Grey scale and colour graduation is
getting better each generation.

Then again, I've also gone through several digital projectors without being
happy and have now settled on a G70 CRT... :-)

Regards
John

[Chris Runner]

Go the Hitachi 32 inch, can be had for under $5000 with speakers and stand.

"petefletch" <petefletch.16umcy@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in message
news:petefletch.16umcy@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au...
>
> Instead of buying a 76cm CRT tv, I would like to get a flat screen
> because I want to save as much space as possible.
> So far the only small plasmas I have found are Sony and Philips 82cm,
> are there any others? And by coincidence they both also have 76cm
> LCD's.
> I live a long way from the nearest retailers so I am hoping that some
> people will share their viewing impressions of the lcd's vs plasma.
>
> The more restricted viewing angle of the lcd is not really a problem
> due to the room layout and where the screen will be situated.
> The lcd's still don't have the contrast ratio of the plasma, but how
> big a difference is there in everyday viewing?
> At the moment the Sony lcd is a lot more expensive than the Philips,
> but they have just released a 66cm version at a much cheaper price so
> maybe the 76cm will drop as well.
>
> The plasma screens seem to coming out in bigger and bigger sizes, but
> is there any indication that we will see more available at regular tv
> sizes, or are the smaller sizes going to be all lcd.
>
> I would appreciate any comments.
>
>
> --
> petefletch
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> petefletch's Profile: http://forums.eyo.com.au/member.php?userid=7243
> View this thread: http://forums.eyo.com.au/showthread.php?t=49912
>

[Chris Runner]

> As for LCD, I really think the next generation will be the decider and
will
> compete with Plasma. At this stage, plasma offers the better bet with all
> viewing conditions. I can't see past the black levels just yet with LCD.
>
> John
>

Agreed on this. I notice SONY have released within the last week 3 new LCD
models.

At JB HiFi in Camberwell, they have a large Sharp Aquos (cant remember size
but around 42") as well as plasmas, and the Sharp blew me away in terms of
picture quality of the plasma.

Mind you, you never know how well these are actually set up!

[Trevor S]

"John" <nospam@afp.gov.au> wrote in
news:40b5d0d2$1@mail.netspeed.com.au:

<snip>

> I agree with what you're saying and, in fact, I'm also looking at a
> LCD for bedroom use. I had a good play with some LCD screens, Plasmas
> and CRT direct views a few weeks back. At one stage, I had them set
> up side by side with the same image off a digital receiver.
>
> Have you seen this one?:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/292gm

Naaahhhh I never go to concatenated URL's, who knows where they point :)
Though in your case I am sure it's fine, I will leave it alone. As a rule I
figure if people can't be bothered using a Newsreader that can handle long
URLs when they post to Usenet then I can't be bothered following their
links.

> When side by side, the black levels really do stand out.

That's the same with most things in AV. Side my side my LCD proj is not as
good as a well set up, quality CRT proj but I am happy to have an LCD proj,
we are talking about (in my case) an anloge 480/576 source, now if when HD
DVD kicks off I will be re-considering all my gear, HT wise I am in a self
imposed limbo at the moment. In the case of the LCD TV, without doubt it
wins hands down in astehtics, power useage and most importantly for me,
size as well as well as the bonus of no problems with magnetic
interference, picture distortion, pincusion blah blah blah whic I see in
every CRT set I have ever seen some less then others and drives me to
distraction, liek the black levls on LCD drive you to distraction :) All
of these things pale when compared to the predominace PQ rates in the
scheme of things but for me, it's only for watching TV (which in the scheme
of things is inconsequential), the abilty to hang it on the wall solved a
whole heap of other problems. The "missus" wanted a tellie in the bedroom,
TV is not really my thing, so this solved the problem, analogue 576i
doesn't do that much for me.

> The detail
> missing from the LCD was very noticable. In isolation however, you
> don't seem to miss it, but knowing that it isn't there, I would really
> like to wait until it's better.

Which is fair enough but might not be as important a requiremnet for
others.

> I also have an issue with all digital displays, in the main with the
> scaling and colour/shading transposition. The one thing I look for
> above all else is to see whether it is affected by bad banding or not.
> I've found Finding Nemo to be a pretty good judge for this (that's if
> the store will let you put it on one of their plasmas/LCD's). Grey
> scale and colour graduation is getting better each generation.

I ran Nemo across my LCD and there was no _noticeable_ (to me) banding,
grey scale (yes I see this as a big problem) and colour graduation is a
function of contrast IMO and it has improved but still has a long way to
go.

> Then again, I've also gone through several digital projectors without
> being happy and have now settled on a G70 CRT... :-)

There ya go ! You're an anlogue lad through an' through ;)

--
Trevor S


"Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth."
-Albert Einstein

[Trevor S]

"Chris Runner" <chris48@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:uultc.13405$L.2566@news-server.bigpond.net.au:

<snip>

>Mind you, you never know how well these are actually set up!

IMO that's 95% of the problem, I have seen equipment dispalyed that looks
terrible but I know the gear is capable of MUCH more. I have come to the
conclusion it's one of three things.

1. Apathy.
2. Stupidity.
3. or devious cunning ie they deleberiatly optimise the display of the gear
they want to move so when you A/B it you decide that A is better and
purchase it.

I have never been convinced of poor displays translates into a poor display
at home IMO it's rare for genuinely shitty gear to actually be sold (at
similar prices to comparable equipment, I am not talking about comparing a
$40 tellie to something worth $20K) Of course a good display on a demo
does means something.

--
Trevor S


"Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth."
-Albert Einstein

[John]

"Trevor S" <bill@gates.com> wrote in message
news:Xns94F7822CAA151billgatescom@130.133.1.4...
> "John" <nospam@afp.gov.au> wrote in
> news:40b5d0d2$1@mail.netspeed.com.au:
>
> <snip>
>
> > I agree with what you're saying and, in fact, I'm also looking at a
> > LCD for bedroom use. I had a good play with some LCD screens, Plasmas
> > and CRT direct views a few weeks back. At one stage, I had them set
> > up side by side with the same image off a digital receiver.
> >
> > Have you seen this one?:
> >
> > http://tinyurl.com/292gm
>
> Naaahhhh I never go to concatenated URL's, who knows where they point :)
> Though in your case I am sure it's fine, I will leave it alone. As a rule
I
> figure if people can't be bothered using a Newsreader that can handle long
> URLs when they post to Usenet then I can't be bothered following their
> links.

:-) My apologies. What's the saying, you can only please half the people
half the time... :-) I did have the full URL in here, but changed it at the
last minute to please all the long URL nay sayers...

Here's the full URL:

http://www.auspcmarket.com.au/show_product_info.php?code=MO-ALLWX30AMS3B&category_id=80

> > Then again, I've also gone through several digital projectors without
> > being happy and have now settled on a G70 CRT... :-)
>
> There ya go ! You're an anlogue lad through an' through ;)

I hate to say it, but I think you're right. Funnily enough, as I was
studying electronics, I would always bag the old school analogue people and
point to digital as being the future (this is going back 20 odd years)....
Now I find that I like the warm look of anaolgue and find digital displays
too 'harsh'... Ewwwww sounds like a vinyl record person complaining about
CD's.. :-)

Probably all the years spent with my hand down the back of NEC displays
getting the picture just right..

Regards
John R