LCD/Plasma/CRT/DLP - questions

[andrewfee]

A bit of a crappy place to mention this really, but don't think it warrents a new topic...

New firmware for the Oppo

It just keeps getting better and better, thanks for the heads-up.

(can't say I've noticed those subtitle issues though)

[sj33]

The only issue I still have with my Oppo is the bizzare habit of showing the angle mark on some DVD's (all Funimation DVD's) even if it's disabled. It then does disappear if I pause the DVD, enable it, then disable it.
Oppo admit they don't know what causes it, but know it's caused by the manufacturing process of at least 2 companies. At least they gave a straight-up answer.

Configurable subtitle size in this release for DivX is a brill addition.

I've actually been hoping to pack away my Oppo and just use my PC, but I've yet to find an Mpeg2 codec or software player that comes close to the Oppo in terms of clarity. A pain.

[Chunky]

So what's the best recommendation at the moment for a LCD/Plasma set for current gen consoles ? I don't have a 360 and no immediate plans to get one, although that might change so would prefer a HD TV if possible. However at the moment, i play PS2 (PAL machine, NTSC games) and Xbox (PAL, PAL) via RGB scart and GC (NTSC, NTSC) via Svideo on a 21" Sony (which is fab but i want something bigger and newer) and want to upgrade to the best possible connections.

I was planning a month or two ago to get a Toshiba 32WLT66 but dithered too long and didn't in the end. Is this still a good set ? How will standard def look on it ? And if i get a component cable for the PS2/GC/Xbox will it look better ? I'm worried that due to the processing it won't look any better than it does on my current set.

Is there anyone living in Reading with a new set who could demo me the highs and lows of a new TV and the different input types ?

[Rossco]

Yup, that angle thing is really annoying, It happened to me with Final Destination 3, So you can turn it off by, playing, pausing, enabling, disabling, playing? I'll try that next time.

[Concept]

Has anyone had any experience of opening up the plastic protective shield on a HDTV? Those smudge marks with the LG I mentiobed months ago - after setting up my 360 following the heatwave this summer, they've moved to the top end of the screen which is making me think they're temperature or condensation related.

I'm considering doing so, but don't want to damage anything.

[Kotatsu Neko]

My first visit to this thread as I may finally get ready to buy an HDTV soon. I'm thinking 42", and with built in freeview as I rarely watch any of the extra channels cable gives me that freeview couldn't.

My current picks are the Pioneer PDP-436SXE - http://pioneer.co.uk/uk/product_deta...onomy_id=62-63

the Panasonic TH42PX600PED - http://www.froogle.homecinematv.co.u...=PAN-TH42PX600

And the Samsung LE40R74BD - http://www.samsung.com/uk/products/t...Specifications

I'd ideally like 2 HDMI ports and 2 component inputs, but most seem to offer only one of each. Also a minimum of 1280x720 res, which the Panasonic might not reach but it's hard to tell as their site is virtually devoid of any useful information.

Anyone have any of these TVs?

[RLench]

I was planning a month or two ago to get a Toshiba 32WLT66 but dithered too long and didn't in the end. Is this still a good set ? How will standard def look on it ? And if i get a component cable for the PS2/GC/Xbox will it look better ? I'm worried that due to the processing it won't look any better than it does on my current set.

I have a 32WL66P, which is the same set without Freeview

It's still a very good TV and IMO one of the best value LCDs currently available. I got mine for ?750 and tbh there isn't an LCD available that beats it for that price, IMO

Standard def. sources vary from decent to very good. 480i (over component) from PS2 looks ok but it can also look very bad with aliasing (jaggies) problems. Some games look fine though so it varies. The GC (480i over RGB scart) looks very good. Nice and colourful, with no real visible problems. Haven't tried an XBox yet Basically, with 480i, it will make good things look good but will show up a lot of flaws and problems more easily

[Concept]

Rather than electrocute myself trying to mess about with its innards, the LG is being sent for repair. Something I should have done months ago.

[Chunky]

I have a 32WL66P, which is the same set without Freeview

It's still a very good TV and IMO one of the best value LCDs currently available. I got mine for ?750 and tbh there isn't an LCD available that beats it for that price, IMO

Standard def. sources vary from decent to very good. 480i (over component) from PS2 looks ok but it can also look very bad with aliasing (jaggies) problems. Some games look fine though so it varies. The GC (480i over RGB scart) looks very good. Nice and colourful, with no real visible problems. Haven't tried an XBox yet Basically, with 480i, it will make good things look good but will show up a lot of flaws and problems more easily

Thanks for the reply.

So for 480i sources it's probably best to stick with the 21" Sony for the time being. I really need to get the SCART socket sorted on it though as it's very very tempramental. I guess a 480p source will only increase the problems, i'd love to have a 480p GC (mine is NTSC so now RGB SCART).

Anyone know if there's TVs out that have a native res of 480 vertical ?

[krispyk]

My first visit to this thread as I may finally get ready to buy an HDTV soon. I'm thinking 42", and with built in freeview as I rarely watch any of the extra channels cable gives me that freeview couldn't.

My current picks are the Pioneer PDP-436SXE - http://pioneer.co.uk/uk/product_deta...onomy_id=62-63

the Panasonic TH42PX600PED - http://www.froogle.homecinematv.co.u...=PAN-TH42PX600

And the Samsung LE40R74BD - http://www.samsung.com/uk/products/t...Specifications

I'd ideally like 2 HDMI ports and 2 component inputs, but most seem to offer only one of each. Also a minimum of 1280x720 res, which the Panasonic might not reach but it's hard to tell as their site is virtually devoid of any useful information.

Anyone have any of these TVs?

I have a 37 inch PX60 which fundamentally is the same as the 42PX600 and cant recommend it highly enough. However if you want a set for playing games you should probably look at an LCD instead as this will be better suited for your needs.
Best place to get an idea of what to get is AV Forums.

[andrewfee]

My first visit to this thread as I may finally get ready to buy an HDTV soon. I'm thinking 42", and with built in freeview as I rarely watch any of the extra channels cable gives me that freeview couldn't.

My current picks are the Pioneer PDP-436SXE - http://pioneer.co.uk/uk/product_deta...onomy_id=62-63

the Panasonic TH42PX600PED - http://www.froogle.homecinematv.co.u...=PAN-TH42PX600

And the Samsung LE40R74BD - http://www.samsung.com/uk/products/t...Specifications

I'd ideally like 2 HDMI ports and 2 component inputs, but most seem to offer only one of each. Also a minimum of 1280x720 res, which the Panasonic might not reach but it's hard to tell as their site is virtually devoid of any useful information.

Anyone have any of these TVs?

Any Plasma under 50" isn't going to have 1280x720 (or more likely 1366x768 ) it's going to be 1024x768 at best really, and personally I don't think Plasma is suited to gaming. (see here) Resolution is only one factor towards making a good image though.

If you're considering Panasonic, avoid the consumer models, as they have some nasty processing artefacts, and go for one of the "monitors." I've read a lot of horror stories about Pioneers burning in too. (not an issue on 9th Gen. Panasonics though)

As for LCD - avoid Samsung, as you won't have a manual backlight control, which is essential. (and it's also important to get a set with a "good" backlight control too - many won't let you go low enough, or will start buzzing below 90 % or so)

Personally I'd recommend one of the BRAVIAs if you're looking at LCD - the S and V series are virtually identical, with the exception of the Wide Colour Gamut technology on the V series.

The new sharps seem quite good on paper, but so did the GD7s last year, and they didn't turn out too well. (then again, last year's BRAVIAs weren't too good either, but this year's are spectacular) The LC37GD9 is only about ?1300 with a 1200:1 contrast ratio, 2x HDMI, 2x SCART, Component, VGA.

[Kotatsu Neko]

Any Plasma under 50" isn't going to have 1280x720 (or more likely 1366x768 ) it's going to be 1024x768 at best really, and personally I don't think Plasma is suited to gaming. (see here) Resolution is only one factor towards making a good image though.

If you're considering Panasonic, avoid the consumer models, as they have some nasty processing artefacts, and go for one of the "monitors." I've read a lot of horror stories about Pioneers burning in too. (not an issue on 9th Gen. Panasonics though)

As for LCD - avoid Samsung, as you won't have a manual backlight control, which is essential. (and it's also important to get a set with a "good" backlight control too - many won't let you go low enough, or will start buzzing below 90 % or so)

Personally I'd recommend one of the BRAVIAs if you're looking at LCD - the S and V series are virtually identical, with the exception of the Wide Colour Gamut technology on the V series.

The new sharps seem quite good on paper, but so did the GD7s last year, and they didn't turn out too well. (then again, last year's BRAVIAs weren't too good either, but this year's are spectacular) The LC37GD9 is only about ?1300 with a 1200:1 contrast ratio, 2x HDMI, 2x SCART, Component, VGA.

Hmm, I've heard nothing but good reports on the Samsungs, and have several friends with various sizes of samsung LCD TVs and they all love them.

I wasn't aware plasmas had much of a blurring problem to be honest, I thought that was just something LCDs suffered from.

Think I best go to some AV store and have a look at all of these sets in person.

[gIzzE]

The only people I have ever heard say good things about the Samsung LCDs are the people who have bought them and never owned anything else!

[Kotatsu Neko]

Is there a good site for reviews of flat panel TVs I could browse?

[Lyris]

Not really - a lot of them just say "we put in __________ (name of recently released DVD) and it was very bright and colourful but we noticed some dot crawl on HDTV" (not kidding).

My advice is to take your own DVD player/console into a store that has TVs you might be interested in then look around the AV Forums and talk to other owners.