Looking at buying a 42inch plasma, help!

Pharcyde_84 · 12th June 2005, 4:19 PM

We went shopping for a 42 inch plasma today, and got a few prices.

I've googled reviews, but they all seem to be written by people trying to sell me the TV in question.

We narrowed it down to 2 models, and just wanted to find out if anyone had good/bad experiences with these.

The models (and packages) are:

LG DT-42PY10X
$4800 (including stand, 5 year warranty and delivery)

Pros: Built in HDTV tuner, price vs package

Cons: Resolution not as high as the Philips, not 100Hz

Philips 42PF9966
$4700 (including 5 year warranty, no stand or delivery though)

Pros: Ambilight (apparently this is reduces strain on the eyes, and I suffer from bad migraines), 100Hz, 1024x1024 resolution

Cons: No built-in HDTV tuner, overall package slightly more expensive

What would you guys reccomend? Am I better off shelling out for the Philips? Is Ambilight what it's cracked up to be?

I'd appreciate the (slightly more) impartial view of you guys vs people actually trying to earn their comission off it.

flu!d · 12th June 2005, 4:53 PM

Just some pointers....

-Don't shop based on resolution alone. Let your eyes be the judge and don't rule out good quality ED resolution panels.

-PDP display devices don't scan on a hz based system, they are digital display devices, so 100hz means nothing in digital talk.

-Faroudja DCDi descaling in desireable.

-ALIS (1024 X 1024) based technology uses an alternate scan line method of operation and it's benefits are debatable, it's rectangular pixels don't reproduce SD based sources without a lot of scaleing, which is not terribly desireable - Once again, don't make decisions based on resolution alone at 42 inches of screen space....

SGS · 12th June 2005, 9:38 PM

Welcome to the world of plasma buying, I am looking too. The one thing that has struck me is that every plasma has it's faults and there is always someone that will point them out.

I like you second choice, the Philips. ATM it is my first pick. I think you will find that they do come with a stand, as well as a wall mount. Best I have come up with is 4499 with std 3 year warranty.

There are many people who will knock the LG. But you are the one that will be watching it. Find a store with both and look. Try to stand at the distance you will be from it when at home.

Have a look here http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?act=idx

But you may become more confused afterwards.

Pharcyde_84 · 13th June 2005, 12:09 AM

Appreciate the help.

We saw both screens today, however they really didn't seem that different. It's not like I walked away saying "oh the LG is more grainy" or what-not.

Does brand matter as much for plasmas? I know with mobile phones (the industry I work in) brand is pretty much everything, is it the same for plasmas?

Thanks for the link, looks helpful so far...

I think we've pretty much settled on the LG DT-42PY10X. I'm going to cruise back into Hardly Normal and ask them to put the screens side by side so we can see the difference.

Edit: We're not fussed about the included wall mount (as we're renting

) but from what little I saw of the LG I couldn't notice any difference between it and the Philips.

On the DTV forum, there was a little mention of video and audio artifacts (I'll be using external sound, so the audio doesn't affect me) and also "clayfacing", so that's what steered me away from the Philips. Again, it all rests on what I see when I next cruise in.

flu!d · 13th June 2005, 8:10 AM

I know the ED LG 42 inch panel uses Faroudja DCDi delacing, and after setting it up at my mates place and viewing it through a Samsung HD745 upscaleing DVD player at 720p it looks amazing.

Pharcyde_84 · 13th June 2005, 5:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flu!d

I know the ED LG 42 inch panel uses Faroudja DCDi delacing, and after setting it up at my mates place and viewing it through a Samsung HD745 upscaleing DVD player at 720p it looks amazing.

Forgive my ignorance, but what is ED?

According to the LG website, the DT-42PY10X has DCDi, so is that the model you were talking about?

Looks like the way to go for me then

flu!d · 13th June 2005, 6:06 PM

SD (Standard Definition) is 480i, that is, 480 'interlaced' lines.

ED (Enhanced Definition) is 480p, 480 'progressively scanned' lines (big difference).

HD is either 720p or 1080i, that is, 720 progressively scanned lines or 1080 interlaced lines. You won't find a PDP at 42 inches that can handle 1080 lines natively, in fact you'll struggle to find one that can handle 720 lines natively ('technically' even ALIS panels cannot do so). But from a resolution standpoint, there is no perceptable difference between 720 progressively scanned lines and 1080 interlaced lines - In fact, in scenes of high motion 720p is superior.

Running a HD source to an ED panel 'always' results in better PQ.

The LG panel I set up was the ED version of the DT-42PY10X (which is a HD panel). The 42PY10X is a damn nice panel with quality descaleing (Faroudja DCDi) and good specifications, i'm sure you'll be impressed....

12th June 2005, 4:19 PM	#1
Pharcyde_84 Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Brisbane Posts: 494	Looking at buying a 42inch plasma, help! We went shopping for a 42 inch plasma today, and got a few prices. I've googled reviews, but they all seem to be written by people trying to sell me the TV in question. We narrowed it down to 2 models, and just wanted to find out if anyone had good/bad experiences with these. The models (and packages) are: LG DT-42PY10X $4800 (including stand, 5 year warranty and delivery) Pros: Built in HDTV tuner, price vs package Cons: Resolution not as high as the Philips, not 100Hz Philips 42PF9966 $4700 (including 5 year warranty, no stand or delivery though) Pros: Ambilight (apparently this is reduces strain on the eyes, and I suffer from bad migraines), 100Hz, 1024x1024 resolution Cons: No built-in HDTV tuner, overall package slightly more expensive What would you guys reccomend? Am I better off shelling out for the Philips? Is Ambilight what it's cracked up to be? I'd appreciate the (slightly more) impartial view of you guys vs people actually trying to earn their comission off it. Last edited by Pharcyde_84; 12th June 2005 at 4:21 PM.

12th June 2005, 4:53 PM	#2
flu!d is a dad at last :D Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Mt Martha,Victoria,Oz Posts: 8,510	Just some pointers.... -Don't shop based on resolution alone. Let your eyes be the judge and don't rule out good quality ED resolution panels. -PDP display devices don't scan on a hz based system, they are digital display devices, so 100hz means nothing in digital talk. -Faroudja DCDi descaling in desireable. -ALIS (1024 X 1024) based technology uses an alternate scan line method of operation and it's benefits are debatable, it's rectangular pixels don't reproduce SD based sources without a lot of scaleing, which is not terribly desireable - Once again, don't make decisions based on resolution alone at 42 inches of screen space.... __________________ Show us yer HTPC! 2700k @ 4.8 1.36v, 8GB Corsair Vengeance C8, ASUS Maximus IV Extreme Z, 2 x EVGA 670FTW @ 1231/3420, Sandisk 128GB Extreme SSD, OCZ 60GB Vertex 2, 5TB WD green storage, 3 x Acer V243HQ in Surround, 1 x Acer AL718 4th accessory display, Windows 7 Ultimate, Corsair H100, Heavily modded Zalman GS1000. Last edited by flu!d; 12th June 2005 at 4:55 PM.

13th June 2005, 12:09 AM	#4
Pharcyde_84 Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Brisbane Posts: 494	Appreciate the help. We saw both screens today, however they really didn't seem that different. It's not like I walked away saying "oh the LG is more grainy" or what-not. Does brand matter as much for plasmas? I know with mobile phones (the industry I work in) brand is pretty much everything, is it the same for plasmas? Thanks for the link, looks helpful so far... I think we've pretty much settled on the LG DT-42PY10X. I'm going to cruise back into Hardly Normal and ask them to put the screens side by side so we can see the difference. Edit: We're not fussed about the included wall mount (as we're renting ) but from what little I saw of the LG I couldn't notice any difference between it and the Philips. On the DTV forum, there was a little mention of video and audio artifacts (I'll be using external sound, so the audio doesn't affect me) and also "clayfacing", so that's what steered me away from the Philips. Again, it all rests on what I see when I next cruise in. Last edited by Pharcyde_84; 13th June 2005 at 12:13 AM.

13th June 2005, 8:10 AM	#5
flu!d is a dad at last :D Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Mt Martha,Victoria,Oz Posts: 8,510	I know the ED LG 42 inch panel uses Faroudja DCDi delacing, and after setting it up at my mates place and viewing it through a Samsung HD745 upscaleing DVD player at 720p it looks amazing. __________________ Show us yer HTPC! 2700k @ 4.8 1.36v, 8GB Corsair Vengeance C8, ASUS Maximus IV Extreme Z, 2 x EVGA 670FTW @ 1231/3420, Sandisk 128GB Extreme SSD, OCZ 60GB Vertex 2, 5TB WD green storage, 3 x Acer V243HQ in Surround, 1 x Acer AL718 4th accessory display, Windows 7 Ultimate, Corsair H100, Heavily modded Zalman GS1000.

13th June 2005, 6:06 PM	#7
flu!d is a dad at last :D Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Mt Martha,Victoria,Oz Posts: 8,510	SD (Standard Definition) is 480i, that is, 480 'interlaced' lines. ED (Enhanced Definition) is 480p, 480 'progressively scanned' lines (big difference). HD is either 720p or 1080i, that is, 720 progressively scanned lines or 1080 interlaced lines. You won't find a PDP at 42 inches that can handle 1080 lines natively, in fact you'll struggle to find one that can handle 720 lines natively ('technically' even ALIS panels cannot do so). But from a resolution standpoint, there is no perceptable difference between 720 progressively scanned lines and 1080 interlaced lines - In fact, in scenes of high motion 720p is superior. Running a HD source to an ED panel 'always' results in better PQ. The LG panel I set up was the ED version of the DT-42PY10X (which is a HD panel). The 42PY10X is a damn nice panel with quality descaleing (Faroudja DCDi) and good specifications, i'm sure you'll be impressed.... __________________ Show us yer HTPC! 2700k @ 4.8 1.36v, 8GB Corsair Vengeance C8, ASUS Maximus IV Extreme Z, 2 x EVGA 670FTW @ 1231/3420, Sandisk 128GB Extreme SSD, OCZ 60GB Vertex 2, 5TB WD green storage, 3 x Acer V243HQ in Surround, 1 x Acer AL718 4th accessory display, Windows 7 Ultimate, Corsair H100, Heavily modded Zalman GS1000. Last edited by flu!d; 13th June 2005 at 6:11 PM.

12th June 2005, 9:38 PM	#3
SGS Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 85	Welcome to the world of plasma buying, I am looking too. The one thing that has struck me is that every plasma has it's faults and there is always someone that will point them out. I like you second choice, the Philips. ATM it is my first pick. I think you will find that they do come with a stand, as well as a wall mount. Best I have come up with is 4499 with std 3 year warranty. There are many people who will knock the LG. But you are the one that will be watching it. Find a store with both and look. Try to stand at the distance you will be from it when at home. Have a look here http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?act=idx But you may become more confused afterwards.