Pioneer Plasma Or Sony Lcd

[Grubby]

I am in the market for a new unit but am unsure which way to go.

I have pretty much narrowed it down to either :

1. Pioneer PDP-507 XDA 50" Plasma

or

2. Sony X Series KDL46X2000 or KDL52X2000 - LCD

Any advice or recomendations would be greatly appreciated.

Both units seems to be rated highly. What should I be looking for to help my decision ?

Cheers

[Struggo]

I am in the market for a new unit but am unsure which way to go.

I have pretty much narrowed it down to either :

1. Pioneer PDP-507 XDA 50" Plasma

or

2. Sony X Series KDL46X2000 or KDL52X2000 - LCD

Any advice or recomendations would be greatly appreciated.

Both units seems to be rated highly. What should I be looking for to help my decision ?

Cheers

Pioneer PDP-507 XDA 50" Plasma IMHO. Seen one running an XBOX 360 HD DVD (KING KONG) the other day

[50mxe20]

This kind of question gets asked on a pretty regular basis. My suggestion is to use the search engine and filter out the most obvious threads. Here are some hits I got:

Plasma Vs LCD

LCD or Plasma or wait?

Plasma vs other display technology

lcd v's plasma

http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?s=&show...ndpost&p=321654

However, it is a very subjective area as you will see when you read the comments in these and other threads. For every person that prefers a plasma there will be someone who prefers a LCD. For me the plasma wins hands down.

However, you need to look at the kind of viewing you do, the environment you are in.

By this I mean do you have a lot of ambient light, do you watch mainly movies, or sport, or FTS, or cable?

Each have their own merits in each case.

Have you tried googling "lcd vs plasma" and "plasma vs lcd". You will get some really good hits on the merits of each, possibly quicker than reading the above threads. The interesting thing about reading what people on the forum have written is the richness of their reponses and the depth of their feeling.

[KRiSX]

wow... that was one of the other tv's i'm considering...

but i'm not a fan of plasma, so i don't think i should bother

[dB10]

if you're not into serious game playing, go for the pio 507, you will surely enjoy its display capabilities

[sunny812]

I thought that the LCD would have better PQ since it was the full 1080p res...

[50mxe20]

Round and round we go.

This gets discussed so often on here.

Just browse and read and learn.

Here's a place to start: 1080p Charted: Viewing Distance To Screen Size

The bottom line is that there is a lot more to visualisation than simple numbers like camparing what a display is capable of producing vs what a person is capable of seeing. Comparing lcd to plasma and resolution of each is a bit like comparing apples to oranges.

[Grubby]

Thanks for the reply's.

I should have stated that this unit is for our lounge room.

It will be used by the entire family from the wife to the kids. Wachting, FTA, dvd's may even pug the kids game console into into ( 360 and playstation )

Already have sound set-up in this room too.

The seating is about 3.5 - 4.0 from the TV.

Cheers

[dB10]

at 3.5 to 4mt distance dont get anything less than 50 inches, im about 3mt from my pio427 and im already wishing my cabinet was big enough for a pio507

[KRiSX]

to back up one of the other comments... i was told that if ur a gamer... ur better off with the lcd...

so thats what i'm goin for... pioneer is great if u watch movies n stuff though

[dB10]

something you may want to read on just before deciding

http://blogs.smh.com.au/mashup/archives/tr...ter/010196.html

http://www.docs.sony.com/release/WhiteMuraUpdate.pdf

[Scalpel]

something you may want to read on just before deciding

http://blogs.smh.com.au/mashup/archives/tr...ter/010196.html

http://www.docs.sony.com/release/WhiteMuraUpdate.pdf

That is rather ironic given that the SMH article actually originated because of what the author saw on the DTV forums here!

The issue concerns the company's Bravia X Series flat panel LCD TVs. Since they were launched late last year, the Bravias have attracted a lot of praise, including an editor's choice award from CNet. But they are also creating some <disgruntled buyers>.

[george#3]

if you are coming from a crt tv,

you will find the plasma to be as close to the crt tv,

i have a lcd tv,but only for size,as the 42" is to big for my living area,

i found the lcd tv to bright at first compared to my crt,

if you are not in a hurry why don't you wait and go for the pana 50" full hd,

if you live in sydney you can purchase the full hd pioneer from len wallis audio

for $10,999+blue ray player from pioneer thrown in.

[ejm]

If you like to game a lot and have kids, I'd go for the Sony LCD. The kiddies might cause some image retention if they leave their games on pause or something. Plasma have better PQ IMHO but I do not game on mine anymore due to image retention.

[dB10]

hi ejm

how often did you use your set for gaming? what model is this? im loaning my brothers ps2 over the weekend to try on my plasma, im not really a gamer just curious how it would perform.

[ejm]

hi ejm

how often did you use your set for gaming? what model is this? im loaning my brothers ps2 over the weekend to try on my plasma, im not really a gamer just curious how it would perform.

It's a 8th gen Panasonic 42" HD model, sorry I do not know the model number off of the top of my head. I would play for 3 hours+ at a time and I only ever saw image retention once (to get rid of it I just left it on the 'white noise' for about half an hour) but I just prefer to game on my LCD now just to be on the safe side. I don't want my main TV to have a big speedometer or the amount of ammunition I had left burnt into the screen.

Although PS2 looks really bad on my plasma, Xbox 360 and PS3 look amazing.

EDIT: The plasma is a Panasonic TH-42PV500A, an amazing panel IMHO.

[Bagathon]

I am also looking at these two displays - have been looking on this forum for the last week or so (my first post) to try and get some good information

There are two other options that I have been thinking of too:

* The "new" Sony BRAVIA 46" X Series LCD - hopefully the clouding issue will be gone and the better half says that the screen must be black (saves $500 or so for the black bezel in the current model); or

* The Samsung 50" PS50Q7HD Plasma - nearly $2k cheaper that the Pioneer

My main concerns are:

1. The living area where the screen will be going is approximately 5m x 12m but the screen will be mounted on the long wall and that combined with a metre passage way behind the sitting area, the viewing distance will range between 3.0m and 3.8m - is this too close for a 50" plasma (or 46" LCD) to look fantastic?

2. With the living area being so long, the actual viewing angle of the screen may be quite wide - this is one area where LCDs seem to have caught up to plasmas recently but in some stores even the Sony X Series seems to lose colour (especially skin colour) when viewed at a wide angle - have the stores just not set their screens up correctly or is this still a "feature" of LCD screens?

3. The house (that is still under construction) will have plently of natural light however the screen should never be exposed to direct sunlight. Apparently LCD screens are better in well lit environments but is this that noticable?

Thanks in advance

Geoff

[dB10]

thanks ejm

[Mac_Dude]

I'll add my noobie 2 cents worth

I'm also comparing the pioneer & sony but at a different size point. Today was the first time I was able to see them side by side showing the same input - Channel 10 AFL in HD. This was the Sony X series 40" LCD and the Pioneer 42" Plasma.

My initial reaction was that the plasma was dull and the sony was in your face. Now I have no idea how either had been setup in store, so I put that aside.

Given they were both showing the footy, I was interested in motion blur, especially following the ball, and what the crowd looked like during a pan.

Overall, the pictures were quite different. The sales guy was selling me hard on the plasma saying the LCD was 'old technology' and that the plasma had more realistic colours.

To my eye, the sony was sharper, and showed more detail. However, it also showed more artifacts, or so it looked to me. The plasma looked 'muddy', with a loss of detail in darker areas when compared to the sony. However, the overall picture was warmer with the plasma. Again, that could be due to the settings.

I stood there for 20 minutes looking at the footy and ads. When SD ads came on I didn't notice either panel stand out, they both appeared similar.

One aspect that was a big surprise to me were the blacks. A Harvey Norman ad came on where the top 3rd of the screen was black with the word "Harvey Norman" in white in the black square.

The black on the sony looked black, but it was grey on the plasma. I thought the blacks on the plasmas was supposed to be better?

Anyway, it was great to see them side by side.

Overall the sony was sharper and brighter with more detail and better blacks. the pioneer was duller and slightly muddy/softer/warmer with less artifacts.

Next to the pioneer was an hitachi plasma that had a picture that was virtually the same as the pioneer.

To my eye (and the kids), the overall picture quality of the sony was better. The greater the number of artifacts was outweighed by the additional detail.

I think the bottom line is that it will be personal preference as to which picture is more pleasing.

One aspect that did concern me was the apparent flimsyness of the sony screen. The plasma is glass while the sony is plastic. The sales rep tapped the sony panel with his fingers causing white blotches to appear on the panel. How much accidental pressure would need to be applied before permanent damage was done?

I’ll be going back for another viewing soon

[Souwalker]

I was dead set to get the x46. The cloud issue scared me a fair bit. I would've hated to sopend that sort of $ and get the frustration of this problem. I went to jb hifi and they had the 507 and the x46 playing blu ray side by side. did not take me long to decide. I've had the pio 507 since end Feb and it's outstanding!!!

Pat

[gavincato]

if you have that sort of viewing distance and you can possibly not wall mount - maybe the Sony SXRD 60 or 70" model might be an option.

I am also looking at these two displays - have been looking on this forum for the last week or so (my first post) to try and get some good information

There are two other options that I have been thinking of too:

* The "new" Sony BRAVIA 46" X Series LCD - hopefully the clouding issue will be gone and the better half says that the screen must be black (saves $500 or so for the black bezel in the current model); or

* The Samsung 50" PS50Q7HD Plasma - nearly $2k cheaper that the Pioneer

My main concerns are:

1. The living area where the screen will be going is approximately 5m x 12m but the screen will be mounted on the long wall and that combined with a metre passage way behind the sitting area, the viewing distance will range between 3.0m and 3.8m - is this too close for a 50" plasma (or 46" LCD) to look fantastic?

2. With the living area being so long, the actual viewing angle of the screen may be quite wide - this is one area where LCDs seem to have caught up to plasmas recently but in some stores even the Sony X Series seems to lose colour (especially skin colour) when viewed at a wide angle - have the stores just not set their screens up correctly or is this still a "feature" of LCD screens?

3. The house (that is still under construction) will have plently of natural light however the screen should never be exposed to direct sunlight. Apparently LCD screens are better in well lit environments but is this that noticable?

Thanks in advance

Geoff

[Bagathon]

if you have that sort of viewing distance and you can possibly not wall mount - maybe the Sony SXRD 60 or 70" model might be an option.

Thanks sejanus for the reply

The main reason I was worried about viewing distance was the screen appearing too large and therefore the viewer noticing the artifacts on the screen etc. I am fairly confident that a 46" LCD or 50" plasma should be very nice.

The only way I can get a large screen past the better half is if a) its a flat screen, and its a nice piece of 'furniture" that you can hang on the wall!

Cheers

[Mr Keen]

Isn't the footy (besides the tricked up intro & promo's) shot in SD and then up convert when broadcast on channel 12? Also, It seems like there are more ads shot in HD than TV programs?

NEVER Compare until you personally view the set-up. I've asked the question and then looked behind at the cabling only to find Mr Salesman is either lying or didn't know.

They're both good TV's but to my eyes when correctly set up, the Pioneer is superior BUT I'm not a gam'a and I didn't see Blu-ray or HD DVD playing .

Keen

PS. My 2yo son threw a tennis ball @ ours. Can't wait 'til he learns to use the racquet.

.

I'll add my noobie 2 cents worth

I'm also comparing the pioneer & sony but at a different size point. Today was the first time I was able to see them side by side showing the same input - Channel 10 AFL in HD. This was the Sony X series 40" LCD and the Pioneer 42" Plasma.

My initial reaction was that the plasma was dull and the sony was in your face. Now I have no idea how either had been setup in store, so I put that aside.

Given they were both showing the footy, I was interested in motion blur, especially following the ball, and what the crowd looked like during a pan.

Overall, the pictures were quite different. The sales guy was selling me hard on the plasma saying the LCD was 'old technology' and that the plasma had more realistic colours.

To my eye, the sony was sharper, and showed more detail. However, it also showed more artifacts, or so it looked to me. The plasma looked 'muddy', with a loss of detail in darker areas when compared to the sony. However, the overall picture was warmer with the plasma. Again, that could be due to the settings.

I stood there for 20 minutes looking at the footy and ads. When SD ads came on I didn't notice either panel stand out, they both appeared similar.

One aspect that was a big surprise to me were the blacks. A Harvey Norman ad came on where the top 3rd of the screen was black with the word "Harvey Norman" in white in the black square.

The black on the sony looked black, but it was grey on the plasma. I thought the blacks on the plasmas was supposed to be better?

Anyway, it was great to see them side by side.

Overall the sony was sharper and brighter with more detail and better blacks. the pioneer was duller and slightly muddy/softer/warmer with less artifacts.

Next to the pioneer was an hitachi plasma that had a picture that was virtually the same as the pioneer.

To my eye (and the kids), the overall picture quality of the sony was better. The greater the number of artifacts was outweighed by the additional detail.

I think the bottom line is that it will be personal preference as to which picture is more pleasing.

One aspect that did concern me was the apparent flimsyness of the sony screen. The plasma is glass while the sony is plastic. The sales rep tapped the sony panel with his fingers causing white blotches to appear on the panel. How much accidental pressure would need to be applied before permanent damage was done?

I’ll be going back for another viewing soon

[Mac_Dude]

Isn't the footy (besides the tricked up intro & promo's) shot in SD and then up convert when broadcast on channel 12? Also, It seems like there are more ads shot in HD than TV programs?

This season the AFL is shot in HD by channel 10, which is why it was an interesting comparison.

[Robert E]

What should I be looking for to help my decision ?

You said it yourself - looks.

The Pioneer looks good, the picture quality looks good and the better half will think it looks good - a win-win-win