60 mhz vs 120 and plasma vs LCD

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by TheU

OK so I couldn't find what it is you were talking about;

I wonder if we've got different remotes. My brother-in-law has the silver motorola box and his remote is the same as the one for my Pace box. Here's the different remotes:

http://www.shaw.ca/en-ca/CustomerCar...ntrolCodes.htm

The one I have is the "Atlas HD-PVR" one. The button in question is called "HD/Zoom" and it is located basically where the "#" key would be if it were a telephone.

All it does is toggle the different aspect ratios without having to go into the menu. Now with your solution, does it automatically differentiate between a show being broadcast in 4:3 and 16:9 and stretch/size it accordingly? If so, you're made in the shade anyway.

[TheU]

yeah, with my method, it only stretches out 4:3 content, and does it perfectly.

right now im just worried about keeping this plasma, i may go lcd. i find myself getting paranoid anytime i watch something with black bars. this is no way to enjoy a new tv lol

[Draug]

Originally Posted by TheU

yeah, with my method, it only stretches out 4:3 content, and does it perfectly.

right now im just worried about keeping this plasma, i may go lcd. i find myself getting paranoid anytime i watch something with black bars. this is no way to enjoy a new tv lol

As mentioned earlier in the thread, new plasmas dont have the burn in problems of models 5+ years ago. When I first got mine (2 years ago) I had it loop endlessly on a full 16:9 and variable picture for 100 hours nonstop. I used the Planet Earth Blu-ray actually. The TV stayed on 100% of the time for the first 4 days, and when I wasnt watching some HD content myself, it looped Planet Earth.

Now, I use the screen for computing, gaming, HD viewing, Blu-ray's and SD viewing (although hardly any cause SD sucks!). There are times after a full day of computing when you can still see the image retention of a task bar, but it goes away quickly after watching something else.

Dont be too picky. Remember, in 5 years this panel is worth almost nothing, and no matter what you do, it will last longer than that.

[mikey_the_redneck]

Originally Posted by TheU

yeah, with my method, it only stretches out 4:3 content, and does it perfectly.

right now im just worried about keeping this plasma, i may go lcd. i find myself getting paranoid anytime i watch something with black bars. this is no way to enjoy a new tv lol

Relax guy, I have had a plasma for 3 years now and I have watched standard TV shows with black bars on either side. You can use your TV remote to adjust the "aspect" ratio to stretch the image to fit, or watch it with the black bars. I have watched alot of stuff with the black bars and it WILL NOT burn in.......you are paranoid.

[BlackEleven]

Originally Posted by TheU

yeah, with my method, it only stretches out 4:3 content, and does it perfectly.

right now im just worried about keeping this plasma, i may go lcd. i find myself getting paranoid anytime i watch something with black bars. this is no way to enjoy a new tv lol

No need to worry about burn-in. Like the poster above, I've had my plasma for 3 years and no burn in from SD.

If the SD channel is showing its content in widescreen, which is getting more common it seems, then I find a zoom is a better option than stretch. I actually never use stretch because I find it makes everything look too strange, especially people's faces, I'd rather just deal with the black bars.

[TheU]

cool thanks for the input guys. im going to ease up and just relax with my new tv.. it truly is the best looking tv ive seen yet, highly recomend it above any other plasma ive seen based alone on the price vs what you get.

[GoinAllTheWay]

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

I'm heading to BB tomorrow to pick up the same rig!

**EDIT**

BTW - was reading some reviews, couple people said something about buzzing? Does your tv make a buzzing noise at all?

[TheU]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

I'm heading to BB tomorrow to pick up the same rig!

**EDIT**

BTW - was reading some reviews, couple people said something about buzzing? Does your tv make a buzzing noise at all?

cant say I've heard anything like that at all
I will say the hockey games never looked better and football too. zero lag on screen... highly recomend it!

[GoinAllTheWay]

You have me pretty pumped tbh, I've been looking for a good priced TV since September. I should be paying you a finders fee

[TheU]

glad i could help a fellow CP'er!

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by TheU

i really dont think i can say how much this tv is the 'stuff'. best purchase ever. plasma!!

Im looking at the following Samsung LCD TV.

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...10120777&catid=

Question I have for those in the know...I live in a condo..this TV is quite large 46". I want something sizeable though. I'll be sitting about 8 or 9 feet back from the set. Does that seem a reasonable distance for this size of a TV?

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by Igottago

Im looking at the following Samsung LCD TV.

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...10120777&catid=

Question I have for those in the know...I live in a condo..this TV is quite large 46". I want something sizeable though. I'll be sitting about 8 or 9 feet back from the set. Does that seem a reasonable distance for this size of a TV?

Absolutley, nothing wrong at all. It will seem enourmous at first but you get used to it. I have a 46" as well and now that I have my new TV, it will be getting mounted on my bedroom wall. I was kinda worried THAT may be to big but figured it was around the same distance as it is sitting in the basement. Even went so far as to mark out the borders on the wall with masking tape, it was fine.

[Berger_4_]

I've got a 46" Toshiba that's probably 9 feet away at most from the couch, and I think it's just about right. Any bigger and I think it'd be a little bit of overkill. I've got a chair that's a little closer than that...probably 6 feet to the tv or so, and it's a little too close for my liking.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by Igottago

Im looking at the following Samsung LCD TV.

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...10120777&catid=

Question I have for those in the know...I live in a condo..this TV is quite large 46". I want something sizeable though. I'll be sitting about 8 or 9 feet back from the set. Does that seem a reasonable distance for this size of a TV?

General rule is that you sit 2.5X back from the size of your TV, so 46 inch would be 115 inches back, which is about 9.6 feet. So you are totally fine.

I just picked up the 46 inch Bravia VE for the master bedroom of my new house which won't be done until May. In the meantime, I've hooked it up in my room, and I'm only sitting about 5 feet away. It's definitely size overkill at that range, but it's still pretty sweet for me to play Xbox 360 and PS3 on, since before then I was playing on a Sony 27 inch TV from back in the early 90's.

[Igottago]

Sounds like I'll be able to get away with it. I was looking at 40-42" tv's but think the added real estate will be nice.

Currently using a 26" Toshiba LCD..which is actually a very nice tv but I do find sometimes when I'm watching HD hockey or gaming and whatnot that I get some eye fatigue after a while.

[McG]

one thing that i just wanted to add to this discussion is that the feature of 60 hz is like the feature of 720p in that they look good and they work for most things today, however they for sure limit you going forward. some people don't care, some do.

for example, 3d TV will require a minimum of 60 hz per eye, so at the very least you need 120 hz. this assumes of course that the formats aren't unique by manufacturer, and that your tv will accept 3d software upgrades...but the point remains. similarly, if you are using blue ray, you can do 1080p, so why settle for 720p when blue ray will be required for 3d tv? of course, i do respect folk who want the quality but can't afford all of the bells and whistles.

http://www.panasonic.com/3D/ is a website that talks about panasonic's approach to 3d. i would expect to see 3d at CES in January in a big way.

anyways...just wanted to jump in!

[Incinerator]

I only watch hockey on my TV and I'd have to say Plasma all the way. Whenever I go to my buddy's place to watch a game on his 120mhz LCD I get dizzy from the camera panning around the ice. No such effect at home on my plasma.

[iggnuef]

I worked at Futureshop for a short period of time.....in between jobs after getting laid off.

So I may know more then the average joe, but not an expert. IMO plasma is best for sports and movies.....with lots of motion. LCD's are for everything else. The best way I have heard the difference being described....

LCD's are like all season tires, good at everything and can do it all

Plasma's are like racing slicks, best in a dark room for mostly sports and movies

My 2 cents, and did you want the extended warrenty on that?!?! haha

[MissKat]

Originally Posted by Berger_4_

I've got a 46" Toshiba that's probably 9 feet away at most from the couch, and I think it's just about right. Any bigger and I think it'd be a little bit of overkill. I've got a chair that's a little closer than that...probably 6 feet to the tv or so, and it's a little too close for my liking.

Personally I dont think you can have too big of a TV for a room, you can never have it too big. I have a 50'' in my 9ftx10ft room with 9-10ft viewing distance. I was looking at 46'' first but its just too small. Bigger the better IMO.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by McG

one thing that i just wanted to add to this discussion is that the feature of 60 hz is like the feature of 720p in that they look good and they work for most things today, however they for sure limit you going forward. some people don't care, some do.

for example, 3d TV will require a minimum of 60 hz per eye, so at the very least you need 120 hz. this assumes of course that the formats aren't unique by manufacturer, and that your tv will accept 3d software upgrades...but the point remains. similarly, if you are using blue ray, you can do 1080p, so why settle for 720p when blue ray will be required for 3d tv? of course, i do respect folk who want the quality but can't afford all of the bells and whistles.

http://www.panasonic.com/3D/ is a website that talks about panasonic's approach to 3d. i would expect to see 3d at CES in January in a big way.

anyways...just wanted to jump in!

I would not assume that a 120 Hz TV will one day be 3D capable. Most 120 Hz TVs cannot accept 120 Hz input, and you won't have 3D HD without it (although half-resolution per eye works at 60 Hz). Maybe with some kind of huge firmware update to have it take input from 2 HDMIs simultaneously it might be possible, I don't know. Also, you need a way to sync the TV with the glasses. Currently there's a 3-pin output on 3D TVs for this purpose. It's not used for 3D monitor + shutterglasses, but for a TV without a 3D sync, the only way I could possibly see it getting synced is with hardware profiles on the response time. That means whatever your source is will have to have a way to handle sync. IMO, if 3D is an issue for you, you should either wait for CES and see what comes out, or get something that's actually 3D-ready.

Here's a list.

http://www.3dmovielist.com/3dhdtvs.html

Unfortunately, the only plasmas that Samsung made 3D-Ready are 720p, so you'd be looking at a DLP. I expect 3D-Ready 1080p LCDs and plasmas will vastly expand the list sometime in 2010.