plasma tv question

[lawman]

Am looking to buy a new HDTV and am a sports fan. I have always heard plasma TV's were the way to go for a fast moving picture...is this still the case?

[mamohr686]

Refresh rate is going to be a big factor for you if you like sports. I don't like plasma as much due to the screen glare, and black colors get some ghosting on most screens. If you watch sports in a dark room with shades, this might not be a factor for you. Consider checking out a LED TV with a 120-240hz refresh rate. Personally, I'm waiting until next year for a 4K screen.

[Whoaru99]

Am looking to buy a new HDTV and am a sports fan. I have always heard plasma TV's were the way to go for a fast moving picture...is this still the case?

For overall picture quality plasma is still the winner in my eyes. Current crop of LCD/LED TVs are pretty good, but they still try to compare themselves to plasma so...

[chasineyes]

I"ll second the advice about screen glare. Ours is in the basement so it's usually pretty dark. I wouldn't want it in a room full of windows. As far as refresh rate, in my opinion thats like comparing a high-buck Titleist golf ball to a cheap x-out. Other than a few times the average joe isn't going to notice a difference. All I know is I got my 60" for 650$ last year. However I would stay away from a samsung OR get an extended warranty, I hear/have discovered they have some "issues".

Good luck!!

[CaptainMusky]

Kinda funny that you say to stay away from Samsung considering they build like 75% of the plasma TVs on the market including those with other badging on them.

I have had mine for about 6 years and no issues so far. I also have an LCD and an led TV. Of the 3 the picture is more crisp and colorful on the plasma.

I like the led though because it is so thin.

[DrJuice1980]

plasmas burn up your electrical bill

[CJH]

plasmas burn up your electrical bill

Not much.

Plasmas have the best pictures for sports, because they have the best refresh rate (600hz) and the best contrast. Cons - they will have glare issued unless in a dark room, are heavy, and selection is limited (they are being dropped by most manufacturers). Panasonic tends to regarded as the best Plasma mainstream brand, but they stopped making them recently so are hard to find now.

Samsung, Sony, and Panasonic are regarded as having the best LCD pictures if you go that route.

Good Luck!

[Whoaru99]

plasmas burn up your electrical bill

Yup. I calculate the cost of electricity for my plasma is roughly $3 per month. LOL.

[DrJuice1980]

You must be watching a 12" TV. LOL.

[chasineyes]

I'm thinking your watching wwaaaaaayyyyyy too much TV if that is causing your electric bill to rise (at a noticable rate).

[Whoaru99]

You must be watching a 12" TV. LOL.

Failed attempt at recovery from a statement made out of ignorance.

[Whoaru99]

I'm thinking your watching wwaaaaaayyyyyy too much TV if that is causing your electric bill to rise (at a noticable rate).

I never would've noticed it, but I did calculate it some time back based on previous similar statements regarding plasma vs. LCD/LED power consumption.

There is a bit of half-truth in the statement inasmuch as, generally, plasmas do use more power than similar sized LCD/LED TV. But, that's not true in all cases.

If the difference between cost of electricity between LCD/LED and plasma is breaking the bank I agree that you're probably watching wayyyy too much TV, or have higher priority for the $$ than TV.

[10,000 Casts]

I had a 50" Panasonic Plasma and now I have a 65" Samsung LED 120 hz. First of all I figured it cost me about $10 a month to run it.. I suppose it depends on how much tv u watch.. The Plasma was a great TV and like mentioed above, if it is going in a dark room then go fo it. The 600hz vs 120hz really doesn't matter because the dishes only transmit a 60 hz signal. Then a 120 is 2 60's linked together and so on and I'm not sure what else goes into that but it's way more complicated than saying 600 hz is better. With that said you just have to go with the best TV you can afford. It may be the plasma because they seem to have more features in there lower priced models and a comparable LED may cost 3 times as much. That 50" Panasonic Plasma has been around for like 5 years and still a great TV and it's like $600. I went for sheer picture quality and went with a higher end Samsung LED and I do get a little motion lag when I watch hockey/footbal and golf but the 1080p is incredible.. I only notice the lag or blur for the first minute and then it trains my eye and I don't notice it.

[Whoaru99]

FWIW, if anyone wants a Panasonic plasma act NOW, right now, as in immediately.

Panasonic is officially out of the plasma business and what's left in warehouses, stores, and on display is all there is. Prices are going up on what's left and the supply is going quickly.

It slipped my mind and luckily I was able to get in an order on Monday still at a good price. Now I just keep my fingers crossed they can actually fill the order. Have an order confirmation, but to me it doesn't mean squat until it's in my livingroom.

[delcecchi]

Also, some plasma tvs are only 720p instead of 1080. Not that there is that much 1080 content but....

[Whoaru99]

The significance of resolution depends on screen size and viewing distance. Unless you have a very big screen and or sit close to the TV, 720 vs 1080 may not be a meaningful factor at all...except in the price and sales pitch.

[LMITOUT]

The 600hz vs 120hz really doesn't matter because the dishes only transmit a 60 hz signal.

?

[delcecchi]

The frame rate of the transmitted program material is 60 Hz, is what I think he meant. So if the TV is refreshing at 120 Hz, it is either displaying each frame twice, or interpolating the data. I am not sure which they typically do.

[LMITOUT]

Correct, but to state that it doesn't matter isn't quite right. Back when there were only CRT's sure, but not now.

[delcecchi]

Correct, but to state that it doesn't matter isn't quite right. Back when there were only CRT's sure, but not now.

All CRT sets NTSC were 60 hz interlaced scan. Even today, the program material is 60 frames per second at most.

So any refresh rate higher than that is done by the internal circuitry of the TV. At best, it can take two frames and invent intermediate frames.

[LMITOUT]

That's what I mean. But that doesn't make for a clear picture and is why 120/240 Hz TV's shine. Being able to manipulate the picture using this "trick" makes up for the inherent deficiencies of LED's.

[eyeguy 54]

LOVE my 50 inch HD Plasma from LG

[Whoaru99]

LCD/LED sets are crisp, high res, and really "pop". However, there's depth and naturalness to plasma that I just don't get from LED/LCD.

Gawd I hope BB delivers on the new Panny plasma...

[10,000 Casts]

I was just saying that there is a lot more to it than saying I should get the plasma because it's 600hz. They say that the human eye can't even tell the difference over 120hz unless you really know what to look for. If you put a samsung 8000 LED model next to an avg plasma, the Samsung will blow it away in almost every category but it's not a fair comparison putting a $4000 tv against a $600 tv even if the Samsung had a slower processor.

I'm not a tv expert.. I just did a little research when I bought mine in Nov.

[Whoaru99]

If you put a samsung 8000 LED model next to an avg plasma, the Samsung will blow it away in almost every category but it's not a fair comparison putting a $4000 tv against a $600 tv even if the Samsung had a slower processor.

I'm not a tv expert.. I just did a little research when I bought mine in Nov.

Yeah, that's about the comparison one has to make to get LED/LCD comparable to plasma. Spend several times more and you're almost there.