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In Reply to: Will DVD upgrade be noticeable? posted by Bayside Bomber on April 29, 2002 at 13:12:55:
To me your limiting factor is the projection TV.I went from a Pioneer DV-434 to a Panasonic RP91 connected to a Panasonic CT-32HX40 direct view tube and noticed a consdierable improvement.
Personally I don't think plasma is ready for prime time yet. There has been considerable improvement over the past year but I'd give it one more year.
If you are going to keep the RPTV I don't think a new DVD player is going to make that much difference.
Follow Ups:
"Personally I don't think plasma is ready for prime time yet."If we are talking picture quality, I'd strenuously disagree.
I back up my opinion with the following blather - be warned. Like our friend Petew, I'm "in love":
I'd kept my eye on the various forms of video displays over the years, wondering when I'd see something that compelled me to upgrade from my lil' old 27" Panasonic Tau TV (which has a wonderful picture).
Seeing the Panasonic 42" plasma last year finally did it. Yes the thin form factor was cool, but it was the picture - WOW!
But the price - OUCH! So, I started a year long search to check out the competing video display devices...hoping to find something cheaper (and better). Checked out every type of display device out there, as I'm one picky bastard. Result: the Panasonic plasma easily won out, and it's now in my home.Yes plasma isn't perfect, but what is? Rear Projection screens look soft in comparison, less vivid, and I haven't yet sat in front of a RPTV that didn't exhibit distracting, uneven light dispersion (let alone the feeling that I'm looking at projector shining annoying light at my eyes).
Projectors? Very nice - seen many of them. Very cinematic. Some *can* have a nice sharp image. But most still have a somewhat washed out look (compared to plasma/CRT).
LCDs? Looking better, but still has motion retention problems/low contrast/limited viewing angles (yes I've seen the latest Sharp LCDs). Truly not ready for prime time.
CRTs? Pretty much seen em' all (often using my own reference material). The Perfect Vision is currently touting the Loewe Aconda CRT, Loewe being consistantly rated among the top performing CRTs. I've seen almost every Loewe model many times over (we have several at my work). I've seen the Aconda side by side with the Fujitsu 5002 plasma playing the same HD feed. The Loewe looked like a good TV; the Fujitsu looked like a friggin' window on the event!
I'm simply in awe of the picture my Panasonic Plasma puts out on DVDs. It absolutely blows away any CRT or *comparably sized* screen of any other technology. I'm virtually never in awe when I see DVDs on other types of screens. This plasma is doing something flat out different! There are many times in each DVD that I have the feeling I could reach into the picture and touch the objects - they are so vivid and three-dimensional. That has never been the case with any other display technology in my experience.
Look in AV stores that have some good plasma set-ups (especially Fujitsu/Pioneer/Runco/Panasonic). You'll see people standing entranced by the picture quality, with silly grins. You'll hear "looks 3-D!" "Like looking through a window."
You won't find crowds around a big CRT; I've never heard anyone react to a CRT TV the way they do to the latest plasmas.So.... as far as PQ, I certainly do feel plasmas are "ready for prime time." It's just up to the individual to figure out if he feels they are worth his hard earned bucks. For me it's a huge YES. And every single person I have talked to who took the plunge is absolutely giddy over the picture they are getting.
- end of blathering -
Rich.
PS. EdM - I do agree that plasmas will be even better performers, and more affordable one year from now. But the Panasonic I have now already has CRT blacks, while kicking the CRTs butt in every other area. Therefore, there isn't any performance aspect that is lacking that would cause me to wish I'd waited.
I recently spoke with someone at Hewlett Packard, which has a development team working on new display technologies. He indicated that plasma TV costs could come down due to economies of scale in manufacturing, but that will not happen until the format goes mainstream. This is a Catch-22, of course. Despite the current high prices, the manufacturers are actually losing money (i.e. not covering average costs) so as to keep their product moving at least a little bit.He did not expect prices to get much lower any time in the next year. Perhaps technological breakthroughs, and not just economies of scale, can pave the way for lower prices.
Is there any other display technology coming down the pike? He mentioned one, but I've already forgotten what he said. I am not getting any younger, and sooner or later I want to jump to the next generation of technology. But what is that technology, and when will all of this be settled?
My guess is your HP guy was talking about OLED, Organic Light Emitting Diodes. This tech is supposed to solve some of the problems with LCDs.
Though I doubt they'll be competing with Plasma TV's for a while yet.
I agree the Panasonic is the one I would buy if I was going to get one. The problem is according to Panasonic's own engineers there are significant improvements coming along with lower prices. (Better manufacturing techniques).There is also a problem regarding life expectancy and altitude. I don't live in the mountains but we were specing a system for someone who does and Panasonic (nor any other plasma mfg) would comment on the plasma gas at altitude.
Don't get me wrong though. You got the best one on the market. Notice has the contrast has improved this past year?
I envy you actually.
Ed,I hear you, and it appears you have experience with this stuff too.
Forgive my cheerleading, but I've only just received my Panny and I'm all giddy.As much as I enjoy seeing other plasmas, it's really the Panasonic black levels that sold me on buying one. If I couldn't find a panel with blacks this satisfying I probably would have waited. The big Fuji has nice blacks too, and the newer Pioneers are pretty good (though not as good as the Panny). I've read that the Panny responds well to ISF calibration, as it becomes very smooth and linear throughout the color/gray scales, so I’ll be doing this too.
As far as better/cheaper plasmas coming down the pipe, this kind of thing could have gone on forever with me...waiting...waiting...biding time. But some recent experiences have emphasized to me the old adage "life is not a dress rehearsal,” so I went for it. I get to enjoy seeing movies on a plasma now, not in the future. And, if prices drop significantly and quality goes up, that's wonderful - it means I'll be able to replace my current model more cheaply down the line too.
The contrast, sharpness and color on this Panny are superb. I'm a life-long fan of Ray Harryhausen's movies - the Sinbads, Jason And The Argonauts et all - and I can't believe how the Panny brings these movies to vivid life. Makes me feel like a kid at the movies again. Amazingly enough, some images from these older films are so clear that it's like watching an HD feed. Sorry, I've gone on again, but I couldn't be happier.
Later,
Rich.
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