Video Asylum

When was the last time you saw a plasma display?

68.155.87.9

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Thread: Display All Email ] [ Video Asylum ]

Joe Murphy Jr

(A)

In Reply to: "One of the biggest benefits of plasma..." posted by C.B. on December 28, 2004 at 08:30:53:

1999?
Most of what you posted is either personal opinion or incorrect. Even many of the "lesser" models made today are better than the picture you paint. Do some research and I'm sure you'll correct your comments -- if you're honest.
You can start here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?s=0caa435be7f0257ae98d431b2be4386a&forumid=40 (Open in New Window)

Follow Ups:

Saw some plasmas at Best Buy a few weeks ago... - C.B. 03:57:01 12/29/04 (5)
and they look washed out to me. Not as contrasty as a good CRT. I still prefer my Sony RPTV.
- Re: Saw some plasmas at Best Buy a few weeks ago... - Kal Rubinson 08:05:13 12/29/04 (3)
  I've yet to see a plasma at BB that was setup optimally. They all look terrible. You should look at one that is set up and calibrated.
  Kal (who is very happy with his plasma)
  - For Joe and anybody else who disputes that plasmas have a reduced grayscale... - C.B. 10:45:53 12/29/04 (2)
    the following article is very interesting reading (see link)-
    I found this part of the article most useful-
    "With flat-panel monitors, we can force light from a cold-cathode light source (such as a fluorescent lamp) through a light shutter (AM LCDs) made up of pixels coated with tiny precision filters and get our color images that way. Or, we can discharge electricity through pixels filled with a rare gas mixture (plasma) and watch as color phosphors are stimulated to produce RGB color imaging.
    In the old days, color imaging was accomplished by tickling phosphors with an electron gun. Surprisingly, this system produced (and continues to produce) the most lifelike images of all, which is why a small number of high-end customers still prefer CRT front projectors for home-theater applications.
    That's because CRTs are capable of a wide grayscale and can show images with very low luminance levels (shadow detail) as well as very high luminance levels (highlights) in the same scene. More importantly, when a CRT is idling, it is essentially shut off. I mean really shut off, as in black and not a deep gray, as you'll see with LCD, DLP, and LCoS projectors, and AM LCD and plasma monitors.
    While there have been tremendous advances in color imaging with flat-panel displays, one stumbling block still remains. And that's the ability (or inability) to show a grayscale with the widest possible dynamic range."
    Note that I never said that plasmas have a terrible picture or anything like that, only that they have a reduced grayscale compared with CRT (I incorrectly called it "contrast", as the article points out). That means that you can't see the blackest blacks or the whitest whites on a plasma, which is why I prefer CRT for critical viewing.
    BTW, when discrete three-chip DLPs are avaiable at a reasonable price in home units, you can bet that I'll be the first kid on my block to get one.
    - http://bg.videosystems.com/ar/video_fallacy_contrast/ (Open in New Window)
    - One additional comment... - C.B. 11:22:17 12/29/04 (1)
      further on in the article, Mr Putman says that there is one brand of plasma (Panasonic) whose black level and grayscale, when calibrated, approach that of a good CRT display (i.e., Mr Putnam's reference Princton CRT). I can't say that I've ever seen that brand, so perhaps there is indeed one plasma out there worthy of consideration.
      However, I'm still not convinced that plasma is as good a value as my Sony KP-57WS510, which I purchased a year ago for less than two grand delivered.
      - Two additional comments. - Kal Rubinson 13:25:22 12/29/04 (0)
        
        In Reply to: One additional comment... posted by C.B. on December 29, 2004 at 11:22:17:
        
        First, Putman is correct that the Panasonic glass does, indeed, have contrast superior to other plasma glass and, in fact, the 50" Fujitsu I have uses said Panasonic glass with superior signal processing. Performance is excellent.
        Second, there's no way to accommodate such a large-screen display in my room unless it is flat (plasma or LCD) or front projection. RPTVs and direct-view CRTs take up too much space and prevent me from arranging my speakers correctly.
        Kal
- DLP for me...... - warrenh@optonline.net 05:12:30 12/29/04 (0)
  Just a little fwiw. Firstly, the fireplace idea looks great in Architecutural Digest, but is ridiculous. A 42" Plasma, DLP, (whatever) loses the wow factor when you're 12 feet away. Way too far back, for my taste. Now if you get closer? The heat from your fireplace, plus the neck ache? Do you read me? The screen should be at eye level. Also, and it's been said, soot and heat are not a good thing on your brand spanking new plasman. I was gung ho on plasma until I seriously started considering DLP (on a suggestion from a good buddy who owned a Pioneer plasma) options. Well, you know which one I chose. Hey, there's no panacea, but the DLP did it for me. Spectacular bang for the buck. peace, warren

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

The Cable Cooker

You can not post to an archived thread.