HDTV Forum

Total newbie here. Hope this hasn't been addressed elsewhere.

I'm planning to buy my first HDTV for my living room. Ambient light varies. Initially, I wanted a DLP set, but even the newest generation seems to have problems with black levels and off-axis viewing.

Plasmas have really caught my eye, plus they're much thinner and easier to install in my particular application, which involves HD viewing of local broadcast, HBO, and watching movies on DVD.

I'm considering the Samsung HP-R5072, their newest 50" plasma. I'd appreciate any comments about Samsung plasmas in general and this generation if anyone knows about it. Plus, any other suggested plasmas to look at in this price range ($3k to $4K).

Thank you,
Robert Ades

Hi Robert,

if viewing angle is your goal then CRT and LCD flat panel is worthy of your attention!

For Plasma just be forewarned about burn in problems and they are the most susceptible product with CRT being pretty reilient and of course LCD a DLP do not have this problem.

Wanna Plasma that we calibrators prefer?
viewtopic.php?t=5389

Let us know if you have any other questions.

Thanks

Thank you for your reply.

Is there any specific feedback on Samsung plasmas, per-se? Burn-in is an iissue, but LCD screens haven't gotten up to 50" AFAIK, or else they're REALLY expensive.

My main goal is full rich. accurate colors, deep blacks, and an enjoyable cinematic experience.

Can you recommend other plasmas to consider?

My main goal is full rich. accurate colors, deep blacks

Be careful of plasma... Per Joe Kane recently...

The future is all about education and making intelligent choices. Others will tell you about consumer trends. Plasma is it. Well, maybe someday in the future, but if you want a good image now, it doesn't yet come in a plasma.

If ya gotta go plasma then the best you can do is the Panny as suggested or their commercial, NOT consumer, models.

To reach your goal will really require an ISF calibrator who can assist you with the selection and also do the calibration. What is your zip code?

Why does Joe Kane feel that a good image does not come in a Plasma TV?

Is it because Plasma TVs are only 720P?

Just curious...........Richard it seems that you are always against someone getting a Plasma and I was wondering the reason for it. Is is mainly due to problems with calibration.......poor resolution or what?

Also you have mentioned in several posts about poor viewing angle with Plasma TVs. I do not understand that comment since all the Plasam TVs that I have looked at blow away RPTV,LCD and DLP with the plasma TV having a larger viewing angle by far.

Now to clarify my definition of a viewing angle it is being able to sit or stand at an angle and the picture not fade out meaning the picture is clear from wide angles(side to side and up and down). All Plasma TVs seem to have excellent viewing angles in my opinion.

BTW Richard: I am not trying to get into an arguement with you I am just trying to learn something so I can make an intelligent purchase on my next TV.

Of course I would love to have a 1080P Plasma but those are way too expensive right now but sometime in the future the price will come down.

Thanks again for the great information that you always provide.

Mike

Hey Mike,

It is not so much about being against plasma as much as letting the potential buyer know what they are getting into.

The reason Joe Kane does not like Plasma is the same reason most of us calibrators don

Richard wrote: If ya gotta go plasma then the best you can do is the Panny as suggested or their commercial, NOT consumer, models.

Sorry, when I first replied, I hadn't yet looked at the link. I will definitely check out the Panasonic in that review. I've just got to find someone in LA who carries it and has it on display.

Please tell me what you DO like in 50" that is affordable.

DLP sounded good until, looking at Samsung's newest and best, I noticed uneven illumination, narrow viewing angle, and blacks that looked more like dark gray.

Plasmas definitely appear more eye-catching and sexy, especially now that 50" versions can be had below $3.5k.

As for 720p, I'm no expert. But I can tell you from years as a serious photographer that resolution isn't all that important. In motion picture, I've had the fortune to see films in true 3-strip Cinerama, 70mm Super-Cinerama, and plain old 35mm, which although less sharp, looks just fine.

Now is a tough time to answer that question becuase every display seems to have some major flaw. You did not like the Sammy DLP. How about the Sony SXRD? Nieither are going to provide the viewing angles of a plasma or DV CRT.

Plasmas definitely appear more eye-catching and sexy, especially now that 50" versions can be had below $3.5k.

Then by all means go for it. ISF consultation and Calibration recommended!

http://isfforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=5

Richard, as I thought about some of your comments, both here and elsewhere, it makes me interested to know what your "reference" is.

For me, it's probably the experience I get when I'm in a movie theater. But how technically perfect is that?

No matter how good, film projection is filled with imperfections. For instance, 35mm film is generally soft, and suffers from gate weave. Moreover, Dmax is limited due to screen reflections. Plus, there are master to release-print transfers that cause analog losses.

If your reference is the newest and best digital theater projection, that too has its faults. Certainly it's sharper and brighter, but skin tones look fake. Chromatic abberations creap in, and images have a false, "digitized" look to them.

If we could invent the best possible monitor for the home with the ideal viewing conditions, we'd still have problems. First, all satellite signals are compressed. DVDs aren't up to full resolution. And the best signal quality, over the air broadcast suffers from just plain, bad programming.

Your thoughts?