Plasma Vs Projection... Help

[Morfiend]

Ok guys, I know we have been over some of this ground before, but I was hoping some one could go over this for me in plain english. What is the difference between rear projection and plasma? The local Goodguys is going out of business and they ahve some great deals right now.

I have always been a huge fan of Sony, and I always lusted over the XBR, but after seeing the 50 inch plasma I really think it has better quality and WAY better picture of you are off center. Here are the TV I am considering:

Sony XBR 70inch Open box buy at Circuit City for $4200, this one I would be able to get a warranty on.

Sony 50inch SXRD for $3,100, at goodguys, story is going out of business, so if I had any problems, kind of screwed, but at 20% off, its hard to beat.

This one, I think, 50 inch Sony Plasma this one looked really good, but again, at Goodguys, so there would be a lacking of store warranty. It was $5500.

[Sky]

I wouldn't buy anything that high-end from someone going out of business. I rikey warranty.

As far as tv tech goes, whatever you like the best and best meets your needs is the right way to go. I got my DLP rptv because it was 1280x720, a standard resolution, and works great as a pc monitor.

[Morfiend]

I wouldn't buy anything that high-end from someone going out of business. I rikey warranty.

I agree. But saving over $1000 is hard to pass up.

Could some one explain the different in picture between Plasma and Rear Projection (lcd) to me?

[OcellotJenkins]

Could some one explain the different in picture between Plasma and Rear Projection (lcd) to me?

I highly recommend going to:  http://avsforum.com/

It will inform you more than anyone here ever could.

[Morfiend]

Could some one explain the different in picture between Plasma and Rear Projection (lcd) to me?

I highly recommend going to:  http://avsforum.com/

It will inform you more than anyone here ever could.

That place is good, but I always feel totally overwhelmed when I try and find general information there. I was hoping some informed people could give me a few generl tips on what to look for and such.

[Merusk]

I wouldn't buy anything that high-end from someone going out of business. I rikey warranty.

I agree. But saving over $1000 is hard to pass up.

Could some one explain the different in picture between Plasma and Rear Projection (lcd) to me?

It's a long-term thing, though.  Suppose it fries within the next 9 months. Something I'm not sure happens often, but most BIG problems happen in the first 6 months or you're fine unil after 3-4  years in my TV experience.  So if you happen to have a problem in that first period you didn't save 1 grand, you wasted 4.

[Fargull]

Morphiend,

Only real info I have covers plasma, and that they suffer from color loss over time.  Generally in the 2-3 year timeframe.  DLP is nice, but your looking at bulb replacement unless I am missing something.  Find out how much the bulb costs and see if you can get specs on how long the bulb should normally last.

Also, listen to Merusk.  You might be able to get warranty from the Manufacturer, but then you need to equate shipping and downtime costs.

[Morfiend]

Ok, I have been reading avsforum, and now im totally confused.

DLP, 1080i/1080p, LCD, rear projection LCD, burn in, burn out.... ugghhhhhhh.

I want a pretty big TV like 50+ inches, that looks really good. I love the look of the Sony with the glass screan (60/70 inch XBR). I also love how the plasma doesnt lose picture when you move up or down or to the side. But also the Plasma is so much more expensive.

Basically, I want to watch normal TV (non-hdtv) also hdtv, play my DVDs (I dont watch that many DVDs) and play my videogames. Xbox mostly, with some PS2 (xbox 360 and ps3) also, I want the ability to hook up my computer to the TV when I get around to it.

HEEEEEELLLLLLPPPPPPPP!!!!!

[Azazel]

It's a long-term thing, though.  Suppose it fries within the next 9 months. Something I'm not sure happens often, but most BIG problems happen in the first 6 months or you're fine unil after 3-4  years in my TV experience.  So if you happen to have a problem in that first period you didn't save 1 grand, you wasted 4.

Shouldn't he have at least a 1-year manufacturer's warranty on anything he buys anyway?

[Fargull]

Morphiend,

How about this 50" Plasma?

Cheaper than your $5500.00 and you can get a 4 Year warranty on it and still be less...

[MrHat]

Have you seen the 60" SXRD playing some 1080i programming?

That shit is hot.

[Morfiend]

Well, now im torn, Circuit City had a missprint in their add, so I could get the 60 inch SXRD for $3999, Thats $1000 cheaper than MSRP. I know this wont last long. I have to make up my mind if I want that now.

Arg.

[MrHat]

Have you seen it?

BTW, that's only 500 bucks above cost, waaaay better deal than you'd ever get.

[Raph]

I relied on my AV-savvy friends at work.

They said, "LCD has bad viewing angles." They said "Plasma burns in, and also the TVs die after a few years." They said "if you plan to play games, watch movies, watch TV, and want to hook a computer to it, get a DLP."

Then they specifically said I should get the Samsung one. Yes, we work at Sony.

So I did. No regrets.

[MrHat]

Was this before this month when the SXRD came out?

Because that stuff is shithot.

[Morfiend]

I relied on my AV-savvy friends at work.

They said, "LCD has bad viewing angles." They said "Plasma burns in, and also the TVs die after a few years." They said "if you plan to play games, watch movies, watch TV, and want to hook a computer to it, get a DLP."

Then they specifically said I should get the Samsung one. Yes, we work at Sony.

So I did. No regrets.

I have done a bunch of research about Burn In, and plasma life. Burn in can happed, but with the current tech, its about the same chance of getting burn in on your Computer Monitor. As in you really have to push it to make it burn in. As to Plasma life, the current plasmas seem to have better life than RPTV and DLP. Excepting the fact you cant recharge them, the way you can RPTV or DLP. The current plasma life is 60,000 hours to half life. Thats not so bad.

I am still torn. I went to get the SXRD, but CC had already issued a correction for it, and all the other stores that price matched had been notified.

I am still considering a SXRD, or maybe a Panasonic 50inch plasma. There is a new plasma coming out soon the 5060 pioneer, thats supposed to be VERY good. But I think its going to be above my price range.

[OcellotJenkins]

I personally have seen NOTHING in any store that rivals Plasma in terms of picture quality, brightness, vividness of colors, and viewing angle.  If you can find one that fits your budget, I believe you'll be very happy with it.

[Murgos]

I have a 42" plasma.  It just looks cool hanging on the wall.  Considering that I only watch 1 - 2 hours of TV a week that's probably it's best use (looking good).

[Morfiend]

I went looking again today, this time with an eye for Plasmas. Your right, they seem to be pretty much unrivaled in picture and color. The only problem with plasmas seems to be that all SDTV (normal tv signal) looks like total shit on them, and I watch a decent amount of SD.

The Pioneer 5061 is calling out to me right now.

There was a Pioneer Elite 60inch plasma that looks BEAUTIFUL, but wityh a $9,999 price tag, I just cant do it.

[Sky]

That's the biggest thing that kept me out of plasma...I wanted a BIG tv and I'm not rich. Also, if you plan to game on it (AND YOU DO!), make sure you check out the native resolution for gaming support. With powerstrip, you can get just about anything working with windows, but game support is spotty yet. Civ4 doesn't even support the standard res on my tv, 1280x720 (boo firaxis).

SD programming will probably look like shit on any nice set, GIGO.

If I wasn't looking for a house, I'd be building a 7800 SLI rig and a 1080p DLP ;)

[Shockeye]

a 1080p DLP ;)

Has 1080p DLP matured enough yet? Isn't it a pretty recent tech on the market?

[schild]

For the amount of money it would cost for a 1080p projector instead of a 1080i native one, Sky could have bought a king's ransom in video games. That's not bleeding edge. It's silly.

[MrHat]

For the amount of money it would cost for a 1080p projector instead of a 1080i native one, Sky could have bought a king's ransom in video games. That's not bleeding edge. It's silly.

Did you even read what he wrote?

[Morfiend]

Ok, so I went looking yet again, and ended up coming home with the Sony SXRD 60inch. I installed it today, and got all my stuff connected. I have my cable company coming on friday with a HD cable box, and I got a year of free HDcable plus installation for buying the TV.

I am not disapointed in the TV. I havent even calibrated it and it looks killer. I just got finished watching Sin City, and it was fantastic. The blacks where very deep and detailed, and wow, just wow. I am not impressed by the PS2's performance and look. I was playing the ney Tony Hawk, and it just wasnt smooth, also it felt like I had a little bit of lag from hitting a button to the action happening. This was almost a deal breaker for me. It was driving me crazy, I couldnt land a single trick. I went in the settings and found an option to optimize the tv for gaming. This seems to have taked away the lag. I will play around with it more tomorrow and see how it works.

[schild]

For the amount of money it would cost for a 1080p projector instead of a 1080i native one, Sky could have bought a king's ransom in video games. That's not bleeding edge. It's silly.

Did you even read what he wrote?

Yes, and the part about the house buying didn't figure in at all. I'm just saying "if" just like he was saying "if," but our reasons are different. If he weren't buying a house, a 1080p projector would still be a stupid purchase.

[Sky]

Ok, so I went looking yet again, and ended up coming home with the Sony SXRD 60inch.

WOOHOO! Welcome to teh crappy club for jerks!

I havent even calibrated it and it looks killer.

Calibration isn't a big deal imo, unless you have a CRT with convergence issues. I did tweak my DLP, but it looked great out of the box. The only people who seem to care are uberhome theater folks. Nobody out of the dozens who have watched my tv have complained that it hasn't been professionally calibrated ($$).

I am not impressed by the PS2's performance and look

Heh. At least you have good timing, the next gen consoles are all hd-compliant. Again, GIGO. No idea about that lag thing, maybe set-specific?

If he weren't buying a house, a 1080p projector would still be a stupid purchase.

C'mon, man. You don't have to be contrary every time I post about hd :P I didn't say I'd go out today and buy one, any more than I'd put two 7800s in a pc today. How many games would that extra $600 for the gpu cost me? I don't buy games like you, my friend, I like higher quality out of the few I do buy, that's the way we roll around here, so to speak. To me, having the ability to display higher resolution pc images is worth a king's ransom in PS2 games.

But around Q2 next year, I'd certainly pick up a 1080p rptv and a new pc with 7800 SLI to feed it. It's not silly, it's quality. If for nothing else than I could run motherfargin' Civ4 in a widescreen res. The price for a 1080p DLP will be about what my 720p set was listing for 2 years ago, nature of technology. And this time I can sell the 720p to defray the cost, though I'd probably set it up for a theater room since the DVD format is bound to 480 vertical.

But unfortunately, it's a moot debate. I'm saving for a house.

[MrHat]

Ok, so I went looking yet again, and ended up coming home with the Sony SXRD 60inch. I installed it today, and got all my stuff connected. I have my cable company coming on friday with a HD cable box, and I got a year of free HDcable plus installation for buying the TV.

I am not disapointed in the TV. I havent even calibrated it and it looks killer. I just got finished watching Sin City, and it was fantastic. The blacks where very deep and detailed, and wow, just wow. I am not impressed by the PS2's performance and look. I was playing the ney Tony Hawk, and it just wasnt smooth, also it felt like I had a little bit of lag from hitting a button to the action happening. This was almost a deal breaker for me. It was driving me crazy, I couldnt land a single trick. I went in the settings and found an option to optimize the tv for gaming. This seems to have taked away the lag. I will play around with it more tomorrow and see how it works.

Please let me know about the lag thingy.  That TV is the one I want.  Badly.  Saving for it and the such.

[Morfiend]

Please let me know about the lag thingy.  That TV is the one I want.  Badly.  Saving for it and the such.

After switching my "Input 3" (the input my ps2 and xbox are on) to "game" setting, it seems to be working fine. No lag.

[MrHat]

Is it fantastic?

[Morfiend]

Is it fantastic?

Its pretty fucking sweet.

Im getting my HD Cable installed on friday, so I will be able to say how much more sweet it is then. Watched Batman Begins last night and it was like being at the movies. Except I think I managed to blow one of the surround speakers, so now I have to take that back.

Im not super impressed with the Tony Hawk graphics, but I think thats just the fact I am seeing PS2 graphics so big I can really see how crappy they are. Xbox looks amazing. I cant wait for Xbox 360. The only real problem I have is that now my living room seems a bit to small with the huge TV in it.

[MrHat]

Sounds awesome dude, I'll probably pick one up to make my working at Bestbuy seem worth something.  And then proceed to die happy.

The only real problem I have is that now my living room seems a bit to small with the huge TV in it.

Ya, my room is small, but I don't care.  Lalalalala.

The people demand pictures!

[Sky]

I freak landlords out. I'm in the market to rent a house while I'm looking for a house to buy. I've turned down no less than three places because the living room is too small for my tv. I break out the tape measure and they think I'm measuring for my entertainment center. "Nope, just the tv." Boggling ensues.

Hey, it's not like I have a boat or snowmobile or whatever, I don't get the boggle. It's actually a cheap hobby comparatively. But the inevitable boggle is amusing.

I just like saying boggle, too. I used to kick ass at that game.

[MrHat]

<3 Boggle.

Question for you Sky:

I have a bud who just got a 27 HDTV 720p LCD.  He wants to hook up his computer to it and BF2 never works. I know you got it working at the 720p resolution, any advice/drivers?  Should I take this to PM's?

[Sky]

Has he made a custom windows driver for his monitor yet? Alternately, he can make sure the plug-n-play driver (ecch) is displaying all resolutions in display properties, by default it's only a couple 4:3 resolutions.

I don't think I've posted the luv lately. 61" Planetside. Not quite as big as a nice projector, but it cuts the mustard.

[MrHat]

Ya, I'm in a bit of an impass there as well.

I can spend 4k on a kick ass TV and be happy.  Or spend less and get a Front Projector.

Don't have a house.