Plasma or LCD for this room

[jealkon]

Hello - I am an extreme newby when it comes to this stuff but have been lurking and reading, visiting stores and doing as much as I can to figure this out. Here's my situation
Looking for TV for room that is 19 X 16, with viewing at 11 ft from the TV. TV is located in middle of far wall. There's an 8 ft. window on left, which is 12ft diag. from TV. Am considering the Pana TC-P50V10 because through my emplyer I can get a discount priced down to about $1600 with free shipping to my home.
But, because of the amount of light and possible glare from the window, would I better off looking at a LCD instead of the plasma.

Thanks for your advice - this is an awsome site

 

[gmichael]

Hello - I am an extreme newby when it comes to this stuff but have been lurking and reading, visiting stores and doing as much as I can to figure this out. Here's my situation
Looking for TV for room that is 19 X 16, with viewing at 11 ft from the TV. TV is located in middle of far wall. There's an 8 ft. window on left, which is 12ft diag. from TV. Am considering the Pana TC-P50V10 because through my emplyer I can get a discount priced down to about $1600 with free shipping to my home.
But, because of the amount of light and possible glare from the window, would I better off looking at a LCD instead of the plasma.

Thanks for your advice - this is an awsome site

That depends. Do you have drapes on that window?

Plasma is really getting better with the whole glare thing. It would depend on what model you pick out. Personally, I would lean towards the plasma in most cases. Better black levels, better color, less motion blur, etc....

 

[j_garcia]

Most LCDs have all but eliminated motion blur at this point, even the lower end models. They still don't have the same type of blacks that good plasmas do though, but they have gotten a lot better, especially with LED backlighting.

If you are getting a good deal, I'd say go with the plasma and get some curtains.

 

[aarond]

That's a great tv at a great price.
The window to the left of the screen should only affect the seats on the right side of the viewing area.
Place a mirror where the screen is going to be. the seats you see the actual window in the mirror will be the ones affected by the window.
Plus like others have said "drapes" the difference in price between this tv and any lcd of this quality you could buy nice window dressings and still have money left.

 

[finishers]

Pana TC-P50V10 is pretty good device for the right money....... I suggest you go for it.

 

[AVRat]

At 11 ft. viewing distance, you should try and shoot for a larger size. You could go all the way to the 65".

 

[FirstReflection]

^^^Indeed!

At 11 feet, I would certainly recommend a larger screen size than 50".

SMPTE would recommend a 81" screen size for that distance. Obviously, outside of a front projection system, that isn't really an option

If you can really block out the light from that window and make the room dim (or, ideally, totally pitch black), you could go with a front projection system though. If you're interested in that approach, we can certainly offer some projector and screen recommendations

If you want to stick with a flat panel though, there are a few options. A 65" screen size would actually be at the "small" end of the recommended screen size scale for an 11 foot viewing distance. You'd have just a little over a 24 degree field of view with a 65" screen from 11 feet away.

The other option is to just move the display closer! If you put the display on a TV stand, you can easily bring the screen 2, or maybe 3 feet closer to your eyes. For example, if the display is 9 feet from your eyes instead of 11 feet, a 52" screen size would give you the same 24 degree field of view as the 65" size from 11 feet.

In any case, once you go above the 50-55" screen size range, LCDs get really expensive. If you're sticking with the 11 foot viewing distance, a 60-65" plasma is the only way to go, IMO. The Panasonic TC-P65V10 would be an excellent choice in that situation.

If you can move the screen a little bit closer, or you are simply satisfied with a smaller field of view and screen size, then the Pioneer KRP-600M 60" Monitor comes into play. The 50" KRP-500M might also be ok if you can shorten the viewing distance.

The KRP plasmas are basically identical to the Signature Elite Kuro Monitors. They are unmatched in picture quality - whether the room is dim or bright. Note though that the KRP models are monitors only - they do not come with speakers, they do not come with a stand, and they do not have internal ATSC/NTSC tuners. So if you buy a KRP, you will need separate speakers, you'll need to buy a stand or a wall-mount separately and you will need an outboard cable/satellite box or a digitial tuner box if you want to watch TV.

I'd stay away from Samsung's LCDs, simply because they all use a super glossy screen surface (which is such a shame ) ANY light is strongly reflected from Samsung's screens these days. I really hope they change that design because in every other way, they are great TVs! But that super glossy screen is just a deal breaker in anything other than a totally dark room - in which case, a Panasonic plasma is even better!

If the room is going to be bright and the Pioneer KRP models don't cut it for you price wise or size wise, then a Sony W5100 LCD would be a pretty good choice IMO.

So, bottom line:

- get a bigger screen size if you're keeping the 11 foot viewing distance

- consider moving the display closer if you want to keep the screen size (and cost) down.

- The Pioneer KRP plasma Monitors are the best price for the best performance out there.

- The Panasonic V10 and G10 plasmas are a great second choice if you can put some drapes over the windows and keep the room on the dimmer side

- If the room is going to be bright and the KRP Monitors are too expensive, the Sony W5100 LCDs are a pretty good option.

Best of luck!

 

[rekced]

Get the TC-P50V10 and move your couch closer.

 

[jealkon]

Thanks everyone for their input - slowly, I'm going to figure this out. Yes ther window has drapes and it does cut down on the light. Can not fit a bigger screen, limited to the 50" and can not move closer due to room configuration. Trying to make the best of the current situation. So is the Pioneer KRP500 worth the extra $350.00 over the Pana?

^^^Indeed!

At 11 feet, I would certainly recommend a larger screen size than 50".

SMPTE would recommend a 81" screen size for that distance. Obviously, outside of a front projection system, that isn't really an option

If you can really block out the light from that window and make the room dim (or, ideally, totally pitch black), you could go with a front projection system though. If you're interested in that approach, we can certainly offer some projector and screen recommendations

If you want to stick with a flat panel though, there are a few options. A 65" screen size would actually be at the "small" end of the recommended screen size scale for an 11 foot viewing distance. You'd have just a little over a 24 degree field of view with a 65" screen from 11 feet away.

The other option is to just move the display closer! If you put the display on a TV stand, you can easily bring the screen 2, or maybe 3 feet closer to your eyes. For example, if the display is 9 feet from your eyes instead of 11 feet, a 52" screen size would give you the same 24 degree field of view as the 65" size from 11 feet.

In any case, once you go above the 50-55" screen size range, LCDs get really expensive. If you're sticking with the 11 foot viewing distance, a 60-65" plasma is the only way to go, IMO. The Panasonic TC-P65V10 would be an excellent choice in that situation.

If you can move the screen a little bit closer, or you are simply satisfied with a smaller field of view and screen size, then the Pioneer KRP-600M 60" Monitor comes into play. The 50" KRP-500M might also be ok if you can shorten the viewing distance.

The KRP plasmas are basically identical to the Signature Elite Kuro Monitors. They are unmatched in picture quality - whether the room is dim or bright. Note though that the KRP models are monitors only - they do not come with speakers, they do not come with a stand, and they do not have internal ATSC/NTSC tuners. So if you buy a KRP, you will need separate speakers, you'll need to buy a stand or a wall-mount separately and you will need an outboard cable/satellite box or a digitial tuner box if you want to watch TV.

I'd stay away from Samsung's LCDs, simply because they all use a super glossy screen surface (which is such a shame ) ANY light is strongly reflected from Samsung's screens these days. I really hope they change that design because in every other way, they are great TVs! But that super glossy screen is just a deal breaker in anything other than a totally dark room - in which case, a Panasonic plasma is even better!

If the room is going to be bright and the Pioneer KRP models don't cut it for you price wise or size wise, then a Sony W5100 LCD would be a pretty good choice IMO.

So, bottom line:

- get a bigger screen size if you're keeping the 11 foot viewing distance

- consider moving the display closer if you want to keep the screen size (and cost) down.

- The Pioneer KRP plasma Monitors are the best price for the best performance out there.

- The Panasonic V10 and G10 plasmas are a great second choice if you can put some drapes over the windows and keep the room on the dimmer side

- If the room is going to be bright and the KRP Monitors are too expensive, the Sony W5100 LCDs are a pretty good option.

Best of luck!

 

[FirstReflection]

So is the Pioneer KRP500 worth the extra $350.00 over the Pana?

Honestly, that is a very tough call. The purist in me says "yes" because in every facet of image quality, the KRP-500M is literally the best flat panel display ever made. But to be totally honest, the only knock I have against the Panasonic V10 plasmas is that their black levels look a bit grey in brighter lighting and the screen shows a bit more reflections.

Put the KRP-500M side by side with the V10 and yes, the KRP has deeper black levels and a tiny bit better contrast. But if you're just looking at the V10 on its own, you'd never guess that it can get much, if any, better.

Since you have the drapes and can control the light level in your room, it's pretty hard for me to say that you really need to spend more for the KRP. If the room were bright or even just "well-lit", I would say that the KRP is unquestionably worth the extra cost. But if you can control the lighting, the V10 is very close in picture quality.

Now, one thing to really consider - measure very carefully how much space you have for the display. A 65" probably won't fit if you're thinking that a 50" is about the screen size that you have space for. But a 54" or even a 58" might fit. Just check for the full dimensions (screen plus frame). You might discover that the 54" TC-P54V10 or 58" TC-P58V10 will actually fit! I would definitely recommend getting one of those larger screen sizes if you can. And the price of the 54" V10 is about the same as the 50" KRP, so the larger size would definitely be a bug plus for the V10 in that case!

If nothing else, a few hundred dollars in savings could easily go towards a PS3 or an LG BD390 Blu-ray player

So, to sum up:

if you just have to have the absolute best picture quality possible, the KRP is still it. If your room will still be well-lit, even with the drapes closed, the KRP will look better than the V10. But if you can control the light level in your room, the V10 is very nearly equal to the KRP. And if you can fit the larger 54" or 58" V10, then that is almost certainly the best choice!

Hope that helps

 

[AVRat]

+1, nothing more to add.