The Panasonic Plasma Unthread

[Tomorrow]

Nothing important here, folks. I just wanted to brag that I, after much almost-eternal-internal grief, beat MDS and his continuing-almost-eternal-internal grief, to the punch on whittling down all the options, temptations, requirements, and checkbook balancing .... and finally purchased a new tv. :D

The missus and I have turned the corner on the 21st century and bought a 58" Panasonic plasma. We had to do a financial factor vs. size vs. resolution vs. usage juggling act and came up with the Panasonic Viera TH-58PE75U (Costco's model designation for the PX75U). We are seated at 13.5' from the screen and 50" didn't quite do it for us. We can't see using 1080P much (I won't upgrade all my DVD's for awhile, and we can do our gaming on the PC), so the 720P was an acceptable compromise. The icing on the cake is the ultra-nice FLAT black bezel on the set. I dispise that sexy looking but highly reflective black-mirror look of the new Panny (and many other manufacturer) models.

DirectTV seems to be a no-brainer for the HD signal carrier, with more HD channels (by far...including Sci-Fi) at a cheaper price than Dish Network. That service gets installed Monday. And there's something about a 5 LNB dish that makes me drool....or maybe that's just my advancing age. :o

Already we're stunned by the PQ of plasma over lcd projection. All I can say is Wee e e e e e e e!!

:D

[The Dukester]

Congrats on the new toy, RJ!:D Just wait untill you see the Ducks in all their HD glory on ESPN HD!;) For my money, plasmas still can't be beat;)

[Adam]

Congratulations! I'm leaning towards a Panny plasma, myself. I almost (it's always "almost" with me) succumbed to the 50" 1080p TH-50PZ77U when it was $1800 at Circuit City about a week and a half ago. That 58" set must just be fantastic!

[Tomorrow]

Congrats on the new toy, RJ!:D Just wait untill you see the Ducks in all their HD glory on ESPN HD!;) For my money, plasmas still can't be beat;)

Ducks in HD.....ooooooooh.....

Hey Duke, your designation is a "Full Audioholic" now. Heh, better stop eating. :)

[Tomorrow]

Congratulations! I'm leaning towards a Panny plasma, myself. I almost (it's always "almost" with me) succumbed to the 50" 1080p TH-50PZ77U when it was $1800 at Circuit City about a week and a half ago. That 58" set must just be fantastic!

Thanks, Adam. No buyer's remorse here!

[zildjian]

Alright RJ! I think that plasma is a great choice. Now I'm just upset that I'm not close enough to get in on some old sci-fi movies on the new big screen!

[gus6464]

Nothing important here, folks. I just wanted to brag that I, after much almost-eternal-internal grief, beat MDS and his continuing-almost-eternal-internal grief, to the punch on whittling down all the options, temptations, requirements, and checkbook balancing .... and finally purchased a new tv. :D

The missus and I have turned the corner on the 21st century and bought a 58" Panasonic plasma. We had to do a financial factor vs. size vs. resolution vs. usage juggling act and came up with the Panasonic Viera TH-58PE75U (Costco's model designation for the PX75U). We are seated at 13.5' from the screen and 50" didn't quite do it for us. We can't see using 1080P much (I won't upgrade all my DVD's for awhile, and we can do our gaming on the PC), so the 720P was an acceptable compromise. The icing on the cake is the ultra-nice FLAT black bezel on the set. I dispise that sexy looking but highly reflective black-mirror look of the new Panny (and many other manufacturer) models.

DirectTV seems to be a no-brainer for the HD signal carrier, with more HD channels (by far...including Sci-Fi) at a cheaper price than Dish Network. That service gets installed Monday. And there's something about a 5 LNB dish that makes me drool....or maybe that's just my advancing age. :o

Already we're stunned by the PQ of plasma over lcd projection. All I can say is Wee e e e e e e e!!

:D

Did directv make you pay $300 for the HD DVR? That is the main reason I left them and went to Time Warner. I was with them for almost 2 years and when I called to upgrade they said I had to pay $300 to upgrade. Pure BS if you ask me.

[mike c]

did you post pics? :)

at your distance, 1080p certainly is unnecessary.

and indeed, RPLCD to FLAT PLASMA is like RPCRT to CRT

congrats on the bigger TV! I usually get away with 40" tv's by getting up close and personal.

[Tomorrow]

Did directv make you pay $300 for the HD DVR? That is the main reason I left them and went to Time Warner. I was with them for almost 2 years and when I called to upgrade they said I had to pay $300 to upgrade. Pure BS if you ask me.

Here's the deal with the receivers, which are all considered "leased" just like the Dishnet plan. An HD-DVR is $199 and has JPEG2 and 4, tons of memory, and can record two channels simultaneously. An SD-DVR is $99. All SD receivers are free of charge. After every 6 months of service, a customer is eligible for a receiver upgrade for free. We have 3 tv's. So in 6 months a 2nd tv, the old RPLCD, will get a free HD receiver. After one year, we'll get an SD-DVR for the 3rd tv. HD is free for one year, by the way, via rebate.

You can also save an additional $50 through a referral plan. Anyone thinking of starting up DirectTV, feel free to PM me for details on that.

I used to think the same as you about the receiver costs, Gus. But that has pretty much changed. The package is much cheaper in the long run than Dishnet (which we've had for many years until now). The HD service alone is half the price of Dishnet's. This is my opinion only and YMMV. I don't wish to put down Dishnet in any way. They have provided good service to us.

[Tomorrow]

did you post pics? :)

at your distance, 1080p certainly is unnecessary.

and indeed, RPLCD to FLAT PLASMA is like RPCRT to CRT

congrats on the bigger TV! I usually get away with 40" tv's by getting up close and personal.

I'll grab a pic after Monday when the HD gets hooked up. :eek: :D

[Tomorrow]

did you post pics? :)

Here's the setup...not gonna take a screenshot until the HD service starts Monday! :D

[highfihoney]

Here's the setup...not gonna take a screenshot until the HD service starts Monday! :D


Very nice,Very nice.

[mike c]

those are big front speakers ... what JBL model are they?

[gus6464]

Hmm I have the same TV but the PX model but yours has that silver bar at the bottom where the speakers are. Although I wish I had your stand because mine is the oval one and it obstructs my center channel placement.

[Tomorrow]

those are big front speakers ... what JBL model are they?

Those are Studio S312's and are fine performers.

[The Dukester]

Hey Duke, your designation is a "Full Audioholic" now. :)


Oh, I'm full, alright:p

[mike c]

Those are Studio S312's and are fine performers.

wow, 12" woofers ... you probably don't need a sub for music or TV

http://www.jbl.com/home/products/product_detail.aspx?prod=S312&CheckProduct=Y

do you have an external amp? cough next upgrade: AMP cough

[Tomorrow]

wow, 12" woofers ... you probably don't need a sub for music or TV

http://www.jbl.com/home/products/product_detail.aspx?prod=S312&CheckProduct=Y

do you have an external amp? cough next upgrade: AMP cough

N-E - E - D amp........ ... ...... .....................(shhhhh....)

[Tomorrow]

Full of (insert cake here). :p

MAN, that 58" is beautifuuullllllllll!!!! (jealousy sets in):o
Looks great!:)

Thanks Gasman. The silver on the bottom of the Panny looks great and matching with the silver on the bottom of the JBL's! (Same with the small amount on top. Crap...now I can't buy new speakers! :()

[Davemcc]

Here's the setup...not gonna take a screenshot until the HD service starts Monday! :D

Your giving me a bad case of Plasma Envy. My wife is happy with my 40" and she says that size doesn't matter.

[Warpdrv]

Congrats.... Panny has great Plasma's... I have the commercial grade, 42 & 50, and I wish I could replace my 50 with at least a 65...

They are spectacular display's... SD is great with them...

Hope you have years and years of good service from them...

Warp

[stratman]

Congrats RJ! It was a long time coming! Now kick back, pop in your fave DVD and enjoy. Pssst, don't forget the Guinness!

[Tomorrow]

Congrats RJ! It was a long time coming! Now kick back, pop in your fave DVD and enjoy. Pssst, don't forget the Guinness!

Guinness? Guinness!! :) Sadly, no. It has to be caffeine-free, sugar-free brown water (Pepsi). :(

[stratman]

Guinness? Guinness!! :) Sadly, no. It has to be caffeine-free, sugar-free brown water (Pepsi). :(

You mean there's no diet Guinness?:eek: Or just fill up a Guinness bottle with Pepsi, afterall HT is about "getting away through movie fantasy," right?

[ParadigmDawg]

Guinness? Guinness!! :) Sadly, no. It has to be caffeine-free, sugar-free brown water (Pepsi). :(

Being in the health field I have to tell you to stop drinking that fake crap and go back to nature....beer...beer...beer...

[Tomorrow]

Hmmm....receiving good advice here........:D

[Tyreman]

My Panny Plasma 42 running great even on standard def.!!!!:)

[Tomorrow]

My Panny Plasma 42 running great even on standard def.!!!!:)

Congrats, Tyreman!

Last night we clearly noticed a screen door effect on some television shows and digital compression artifacts on dvd watching, as well. I am keeping judgement on this set until the DirectTV gets installed on Monday. So far though, I am less than enthusiastic because of the lack of consistent PQ.

I don't know whether it's my Dishnet service and old Panny F87 DVD player .... or the new tv. We'll see. Any sage advice out there??? Mtry? Anyone?

EDIT: I forgot to mention...this tv is on Costco's Black Friday coupon list...500 bucks off...subject to stock on hand! (I'm gonna get my refund! :))

[Hi Ho]

Go into the picture settings menu. Go to "Other Ajust". Turn "MPEG NR" on. This should help quite a bit with the artifacts you're experiencing. Be sure to do it on both the TV and your DVD input.

If you have a standard definition satellite receiver then that explains a lot. SD satellite receivers typically look awful on HD sets.

[Tyreman]

For one thing I turned off EVERY filter/enhancer in the menu.
and using standard colour setting.
On Rogers cable here.

[Davemcc]

Congrats, Tyreman!

Last night we clearly noticed a screen door effect on some television shows and digital compression artifacts on dvd watching, as well. I am keeping judgement on this set until the DirectTV gets installed on Monday. So far though, I am less than enthusiastic because of the lack of consistent PQ.

I don't know whether it's my Dishnet service and old Panny F87 DVD player .... or the new tv. We'll see. Any sage advice out there??? Mtry? Anyone?



By screen door effect, do you mean that the image looks like it's made up of small blocks that don't quite match up? Or is it more like jagged edges where there should be a defined edge?

From what I've been able to discover on the subject, the signal provider is the most likely cause of the problems and upgrading to a better signal is the best way to eliminate it. Failing that, there is a way to compensate for blocking artifacts, but you're not going to like it.

[stratman]

RJ,

I had the same problem till I upgraded to satellite tv, 90% of the channels have good to excellent signal, roughly 10% are ok to good, HD on the other hand is excellent throughout with a few channels being exceptionally superior (Discovery Theather, ESPN, MusicHD, and a few more.) Most channels are now offered in HD, this will make a huge difference in your PQ. Don't get discouraged, just experiment.

[Tomorrow]

Thanks for the encouragement, guys. AverageJoe and I talked about this on Friday. (He's is pretty knowledgeable in this area, he having worked in CATV for 200 years.) He thinks it is probably compression artifacts and I think it's likely more noticeable on the 58" plasma screen, much more than was visible on the rplcd 50" it replaced....but always must have been there. The fact that there were other issues with the DVD we played is what was confusing.

My description of the 'screen door' effect was obscure...wasn't it?! I'll see if I can get a picture of the picture. (:)) It basically appears that there is a screen overlaying the background picture. It is particularly noticeable when there is a dark scene and the camera/scene is panning or moving. It, for all the world, appears as though you're watching action through a thin curtain or screen. I do not believe it is the pixels we are seeing. It's slight uneven-ness makes it look a bit more 'curtain' appearing than 'screen door' appearing.

DirectTV gets installed tomorrow...hopefully that will solve many issues. Poor quality, highly compressed signals are what I WANT to blame the poor PQ on. :(

[Adam]

This is off-topic, so I apologize. I've held it in for a while, but I gotta say that avatar of yours is just disturbing, Tomorrow! Hilarious, but disturbing. :D:D

I'm sure that is has someone thinking about stuffing the turkey...

[majorloser]

He's is pretty knowledgeable in this area, he having worked in CATV for 200 years.


Ooh, I'm gonna tell him you said that! ;)

So, how's the wife like her new TV? :p

[AverageJoe]

He's is pretty knowledgeable in this area, he having worked in CATV for 200 years...

Yeah, but the 50 years spent in satellite and cellular and the 100 years in computers was more fun.

Old? Who's old? :(

[Tomorrow]

This is off-topic, so I apologize. I've held it in for a while, but I gotta say that avatar of yours is just disturbing, Tomorrow! Hilarious, but disturbing. :D:D

I'm sure that is has someone thinking about stuffing the turkey...

LOL, I thought the Halloween pumpkin was much more disturbing! :eek: I have a feeling Majorloser is gonna do the foil covering on his Thanksgiving turkey to reproduce this avatar. (Don't forget pics.)

Wait till you see the Christmas avatar!! :D;)

[Tomorrow]

Ooh, I'm gonna tell him you said that! ;)

So, how's the wife like her new TV? :p

Tattle-tale.

She thinks it's "okay". :eek: Good grief, this woman finds no joy in AV toys. Must be something about the X-chromasome. :confused:

[Tomorrow]

Yeah, but the 50 years spent in satellite and cellular and the 100 years in computers was more fun.

Old? Who's old? :(

Happy Birthday, olde man!! :D

(C-band doesn't count in satellite-years. ;))

[Tomorrow]

HOLY SMOKES!! You guys didn't say HD tv was THIS good! :D

DirectTV was installed today, many thanks to the supervision of my main man, AverageJoe. It looks like we'll have to learn a new channel lineup and the new, sort of goofy, not completely bug-free remotes...but it is worth every little thing I can find to whine about. 720P is so much better than SD. The screen door effect is gone, except on (some) SD channels (like the non-HD Sci-Fi channel which may be the worst).

We got one of the brand new HD-DVR BLACK receivers that have the nifty blue circular chase lights in the center. I was fearing the look of the silver receiver in my all black equipment setup...not anymore! :D

Many thanks to everyone for your encouragement and continuing information assistance.

[Hi Ho]

Good to hear you got your HD service! I wasn't so lucky. :( DirecTV came on Sunday and determined that they could not get adequate signal from all of five sats due to trees. That was very disappointing because cable offers a whopping 10 HD channels including locals.

So I called Dish Network and they said they will try two separate dishes to get the sats (only 3 for Dish). They come on Saturday. I'm really hoping it works out.

[Davemcc]

HOLY SMOKES!! You guys didn't say HD tv was THIS good! :D



What? Did you think we were making it up?

[stratman]

What? Did you think we were making it up?

LOL!!!:D:D

[stratman]

HOLY SMOKES!! You guys didn't say HD tv was THIS good! :D

DirectTV was installed today, many thanks to the supervision of my main man, AverageJoe. It looks like we'll have to learn a new channel lineup and the new, sort of goofy, not completely bug-free remotes...but it is worth every little thing I can find to whine about. 720P is so much better than SD. The screen door effect is gone, except on (some) SD channels (like the non-HD Sci-Fi channel which may be the worst).

We got one of the brand new HD-DVR BLACK receivers that have the nifty blue circular chase lights in the center. I was fearing the look of the silver receiver in my all black equipment setup...not anymore! :D

Many thanks to everyone for your encouragement and continuing information assistance.

We told you sooooo! All right!! RJ, now the missus is going to have a hard time getting you away from your new found love!! Enjoy!:)

[Tomorrow]

We told you sooooo! All right!! RJ, now the missus is going to have a hard time getting you away from your new found love!! Enjoy!:)

I'm in love with the Weather Channel. LOL.

[Tomorrow]

What? Did you think we were making it up?

Well, yeah. I thought you Canucks were, at least. ;)

[Davemcc]

Well, yeah. I thought you Canucks were, at least. ;)

Oh c'mon. Canadians are honest, friendly and hard-working people. OK, so we lied about Celine Dion, but now you have her and you have to keep her.:D

[stratman]

Oh c'mon. Canadians are honest, friendly and hard-working people. OK, so we lied about Celine Dion, but now you have her and you have to keep her.:D

Gino Vannelli, Sheep, James Kirk.....I don't know about you Northerners, we're giving her back along with Wayne Newton.

[Adam]

I'm in love with the Weather Channel. LOL.

Is Sharon Resultan still working there? I haven't seen that channel in years, but I loved watching her back in the mid-90's when I was in college. I used to make fun of my dad for watching the Weather Channel...then I think I figured out why he does. I don't think he cared any more than I did about precipitation in Kansas or wind gusts in Nebraska. :)

[Tomorrow]

Good to hear you got your HD service! I wasn't so lucky. :( DirecTV came on Sunday and determined that they could not get adequate signal from all of five sats due to trees. That was very disappointing because cable offers a whopping 10 HD channels including locals.

So I called Dish Network and they said they will try two separate dishes to get the sats (only 3 for Dish). They come on Saturday. I'm really hoping it works out.

The DirectTV installer that came out here, got here 2-3 hours early because there were small trees, twigs even, in the way of two earlier installs he was supposed to do. I guess that sweep of the multiple satellites must be pretty sensitive for the (oval and skewed) dish.

Good luck Saturday, Hi Ho. You're gonna be in hog heaven when you see HD in your home. I feel like I've sinned or done something I wasn't supposed to...this HD stuff is so exciting! :D (It doesn't take much to thrill an old man, lol.)

[Tomorrow]

Gino Vannelli, Sheep, James Kirk.....I don't know about you Northerners, we're giving her back along with Wayne Newton.

Let's give 'em back hockey, too. If god meant for man to skate on ice, he'd have made us with sharp-bottomed feet. :D

[Davemcc]

Hey, we took Anne Murray back...and...AND...AND...we shipped Shania off to neutral Switzerland. That's more than fair.

[Tomorrow]

Hey, we took Anne Murray back...and...AND...AND...we shipped Shania off to neutral Switzerland. That's more than fair.

Well, that has the appearance of a great gesture....BUT...they were, after all, the only country that would take her.

You know, now that I think of it, we ought to give Detroit to Canada for Christmas! :D

[stratman]

Well, that has the appearance of a great gesture....BUT...they were, after all, the only country that would take her.

You know, now that I think of it, we ought to give Detroit to Canada for Christmas! :D

While we're at it throw in Miami for good measure.:D

[Tomorrow]

Pardon the lousy photography and cheapo camera. This is the best I can do to show off the new Panny in HD....

This was taken from ~ 4 feet from the 58" screen. Pixels may be viewable.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee52/Tomorrow_10/Yosemite2.jpg

[majorloser]

I'm glad to see you stepped up to HD!!!!

Now you're NEVER going to be able to stand watching standard def ever again. You'll end up settling for watching the mating rituals of Africa cockroaches on Discovery HD before watch a regular SD program again ;)

"But honey, just look at the amazing color and detail on that roach's legs."

[Tomorrow]

I'm glad to see you stepped up to HD!!!!

Now you're NEVER going to be able to stand watching standard def ever again. You'll end up settling for watching the mating rituals of Africa cockroaches on Discovery HD before watch a regular SD program again ;)

"But honey, just look at the amazing color and detail on that roach's legs."

You have that prexactly right, Majorloser!! The HD Weather Channel and I have become good buds. :) SD sucks. How DID I ever watch it?! LOL.

[zumbo]

42" 1080p Panny plasma for $1198.00 with free shipping today.
http://www.6ave.com/shop/blackfriday-adv2.aspx

50" 720p for $1399.97 shipped.
http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetails.aspx?id=86752

I went with the 42" Toshiba LCD for $999.97.
http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetails.aspx?id=86542

[zumbo]

Don't mean to hijack, but my thought process was as follows.

Plasma has a superior picture to me.

LCD uses less power. More left for my amp.:D

LCD has less chance of burn-in. We do a-lot of leaving the TV on while doing other stuff. We also pause a lot.:o

The dimensions were also a plus for my application.;)

I do wonder if the Panny was a better option.:confused:

[Tomorrow]

Don't mean to hijack, but my thought process was as follows.

Plasma has a superior picture to me.

LCD uses less power. More left for my amp.:D

LCD has less chance of burn-in. We do a-lot of leaving the TV on while doing other stuff. We also pause a lot.:o

The dimensions were also a plus for my application.;)

I do wonder if the Panny was a better option.:confused:


You're gonna love the LCD, Z! I was a little concerned about my power situation with the plasma, but all is running smoothly .... so far. This house was built by 14 ga., 15 amp circuit lovers. :(

[MDS]

Granted I'm no videophile but I've had my Tosh LCD for 2 days now and I don't think the black level is bad at all and even off axis viewing isn't too bad. It's not like a laptop LCD screen where if you move a foot to the left or right the entire image looks posterized.

Plasma may indeed have an edge but in my limited in-home experience I can say that you just don't know until you get a set, any set, home and live with it. In the store showrooms I could stand two feet away and thought the picture was breathtaking even when the salesman told me that the feed was SD satellite. At home, I don't think SD is so wonderful at all. HD on the other hand is nearly perfect.

Now I'm wondering if it would be worth it to spend the money on an outboard video processor to take the silly cable box out of the loop because I know the cable box is not exactly state of the art. Geez...does it ever end. ;)

[Tomorrow]

Granted I'm no videophile but I've had my Tosh LCD for 2 days now and I don't think the black level is bad at all and even off axis viewing isn't too bad. It's not like a laptop LCD screen where if you move a foot to the left or right the entire image looks posterized.

Plasma may indeed have an edge but in my limited in-home experience I can say that you just don't know until you get a set, any set, home and live with it. In the store showrooms I could stand two feet away and thought the picture was breathtaking even when the salesman told me that the feed was SD satellite. At home, I don't think SD is so wonderful at all. HD on the other hand is nearly perfect.

Now I'm wondering if it would be worth it to spend the money on an outboard video processor to take the silly cable box out of the loop because I know the cable box is not exactly state of the art. Geez...does it ever end. ;)


Congrats on FINALLY taking the plunge, MDS. I had a challenging goal of not delaying my decision and purchase longer than you. So, thanks for the motivation, lol! ;) (Isn't HD and a big screen wonderful?!! :D)

[zumbo]

You're gonna love the LCD, Z! I was a little concerned about my power situation with the plasma, but all is running smoothly .... so far. This house was built by 14 ga., 15 amp circuit lovers. :(

Not so sure. I could've had the Panny plasma for $40 more. Clint mentioned his upcoming review of the REGZA line in another thread, and it doesn't look promising. Still, I am fairly certain at the price I paid, it was a superb value. Oh well, it has shipped.:)

[MDS]

On my Toshiba LCD , HD looks great but SD looks mostly bad and actually hurts my eyes in some cases. The cable box converts everything to 1080i but if it is an analog channel or a highly compressed digital channel, the image is ever so slightly out of focus. I think the proper term would be 'soft'. That is why I am now second guessing my choice of 52" over the 46". A smaller screen viewed from the same distance would hide some of the soft video but then wouldn't be as cool for movies or the channels that actually do look good.

I haven't yet tried to connect the cable directly to the TV or use s-video from the cable box to the TV to see if the TV can do a better job of scaling and deinterlacing a SD signal than the cable box.