Buying new TV - Go LED or wait for 3d?

[Billy Idol]

Need Help!

Ok, I want to buy a new TV and need some help, because I am overwhelmed by all the options!!

At the moment, I am interested in a Panasonic TX-P 42 GW 20 (Plasma, NeoPDP). The only real purpose of this TV is for gaming (PS3+Xbox360). For instance: what's up with this 600Hz the TV is supposed to achieve?! PR talk, or something good?
I am most worried about burn in issue with plasma TVs when playing for instance long multiplayer online sessions (HUD always at the same position).

Generally: Is there something wrong with this choice? Is there something better? What do you guys think?


Thanks!

EDIT: just saw, that the Panasonic TX-P 42 V20E is a little bit better, maybe this one?!

 

[MfA]

Maybe wait for the GT25 series? It will have 3D.

Plasma works differently than classical displays, the 8 bits of RGB are displayed separately very quickly after eachother ... which you perceive as a solid colour ... it has some advantages and disadvantages. 600 subfields per second means it does 75 frames per second at 3x8 bits.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

So 3D would be all of 37 fps per eye? That'd be a bit flickery, compared with 60 fps per eye at 120 Hz full refresh.

 

[Grall]

Plasma works differently than classical displays, the 8 bits of RGB are displayed separately very quickly after eachother ... which you perceive as a solid colour ...

Maybe you're thinking of DLP.

Plasma displays most certainly have discrete subpixels for RGB, just like an LCD screen has.

 

[MfA]

Try reading it as "the 8 bits of R, G and B each" ... that's how it was intended. The colours are semi-simultaneous, but the bitplanes are sequential (nothing about the colours can be entirely simultaneous because colours are put on the screen across multiple subfields, plasmas have their own version of the rainbow effect).

 

[Billy Idol]

Maybe wait for the GT25 series? It will have 3D.

Plasma works differently than classical displays, the 8 bits of RGB are displayed separately very quickly after eachother ... which you perceive as a solid colour ... it has some advantages and disadvantages. 600 subfields per second means it does 75 frames per second at 3x8 bits.

Just tried the GT20 in the shop. Costs about 300 Euro more and is 3D ready (which means, no glasses included, about 130 Euro per glass). I must admit that the 3D (was some kind of demo Blue Ray, showing rather slowly moving nature scenes) that it looked really good in 3D. No artefacts at all. But, like I hinted...only slow moving scenes + one racing game was shown, thus no real test for fast moving action on screen. So now I am really thinking about this option, although I don't care for 3D gaming at the moment, investing only 300 Euro (=1 PS3) more to get 3D ready makes me think...problem is that for 3D, the larger the screen the better 3D is...but 5k Euro for the largest model is a bit much, IMO.

It seems that the Panasonic Plasma has a rather good quality, as test results were all posiitive. I just have to decide if I take 3D ready or not. Than there is the model decision: the "G" series seems to be the cheap variant, whereas the "V" series seems to be the high end variant. Costs a view hundrets Euro more, and I have to find out why?!

 

[patsu]

Panasonic Plasma ? If it's the same DVD demo disc I saw, you should wait for the tropical fish demo segment, and the 3D pop-up art segment. The entire demo is very long. The two scenes are stunning (bests of the entire demo).

 

[MfA]

problem is that for 3D, the larger the screen the better 3D is

The alternative from our youth still works ... sit closer.

 

[specwarGP2]

Panasonic Plasma ? If it's the same DVD demo disc I saw, you should wait for the tropical fish demo segment, and the 3D pop-up art segment. The entire demo is very long. The two scenes are stunning (bests of the entire demo).

I saw that demo... it's stunning

 

[Alkohallick]

Ok, I want to buy a new TV and need some help, because I am overwhelmed by all the options!!

At the moment, I am interested in a Panasonic TX-P 42 GW 20 (Plasma, NeoPDP). The only real purpose of this TV is for gaming (PS3+Xbox360). For instance: what's up with this 600Hz the TV is supposed to achieve?! PR talk, or something good?
I am most worried about burn in issue with plasma TVs when playing for instance long multiplayer online sessions (HUD always at the same position).

Generally: Is there something wrong with this choice? Is there something better? What do you guys think?


Thanks!

EDIT: just saw, that the Panasonic TX-P 42 V20E is a little bit better, maybe this one?!

...for the past couple of years quality manufacturers have been steadily working on improving plasma technology resistance to "burn in" with great success...

http://www.plasmatvbuyingguide.com/plasmatv/plasmatv-burnin.html

 

[homerdog]

Ok, I want to buy a new TV and need some help, because I am overwhelmed by all the options!!

At the moment, I am interested in a Panasonic TX-P 42 GW 20 (Plasma, NeoPDP). The only real purpose of this TV is for gaming (PS3+Xbox360). For instance: what's up with this 600Hz the TV is supposed to achieve?! PR talk, or something good?
I am most worried about burn in issue with plasma TVs when playing for instance long multiplayer online sessions (HUD always at the same position).

Generally: Is there something wrong with this choice? Is there something better? What do you guys think?


Thanks!

EDIT: just saw, that the Panasonic TX-P 42 V20E is a little bit better, maybe this one?!

For gaming, the #1 thing you should be concerned with is input lag. I have a Samsung LN46A550 and even in "game mode" it is useless for Halo and Rock Band. Panasonic plasmas are known for having the least amount of input lag (aside from computer monitors), so that's what you should get. Some of them have a game mode but you shouldn't even have to use it; there is very little lag no matter what picture mode you use.

And burn-in should not be a problem unless you use the TV in very strange ways. With regular gaming you should be fine.

I'm not up to speed on what Panasonic is offering in Europe, but in the states you would be well served with a G20/25 (or GT20/25 if you want 3D). These use the same panel as the Kuro-rivaling VT20/25 series, but miss a few features (most notably 96Hz mode for proper Blu-ray playback). Don't get the S2 as it uses a different (and much crappier) panel.

 

[Billy Idol]

For gaming, the #1 thing you should be concerned with is input lag. I have a Samsung LN46A550 and even in "game mode" it is useless for Halo and Rock Band. Panasonic plasmas are known for having the least amount of input lag (aside from computer monitors), so that's what you should get. Some of them have a game mode but you shouldn't even have to use it; there is very little lag no matter what picture mode you use.

And burn-in should not be a problem unless you use the TV in very strange ways. With regular gaming you should be fine.

I'm not up to speed on what Panasonic is offering in Europe, but in the states you would be well served with a G20/25 (or GT20/25 if you want 3D). These use the same panel as the Kuro-rivaling VT20/25 series, but miss a few features (most notably 96Hz mode for proper Blu-ray playback). Don't get the S2 as it uses a different (and much crappier) panel.

Thanks a lot for the input!
So you think that the additional money the V series costs is not worth it compared to the G series?

 

[Gubbi]

So all these tvs with processing, you can't turn all that shit off to minimize lag? The first thing I'd be doing is turning off all the dynamic contrast crap, etc.

On Samsung's LED TVs you can turn dynamic contrast off, and there is a game mode. However in game mode, image quality suffers (ghosting, especially in low light scenes).

Buying a TV for gaming involves compromise.

Cheers

 

[Nesh]

All this talk boils down to one single question:

So whats the best 3D TV and the best 2D TV available for gaming??

(personally looking for at least a 42")

 

[homerdog]

Thanks a lot for the input!
So you think that the additional money the V series costs is not worth it compared to the G series?

If you can afford it, the VT20 is the way to go. The 96Hz mode is very nice when trying to watch 24fps material. It also has a nicer antireflective filter that preserves black levels in high light conditions better. 3D is a cool bonus, and it even comes with 1 pair of glasses.

All this talk boils down to one single question:

So whats the best 3D TV and the best 2D TV available for gaming??

(personally looking for at least a 42")

I hate to sound like a broken record, but the VT series are the best TVs for both 2D and 3D HD movie watching and gaming. The samsung C8000 series plasmas are a very close second, but I have no information on how much input lag those sets have (and historically Samsung has more lag than panny).

It is worth noting that the Panasonics don't handle SD video very well while the Samsungs handle it very nicely. If that matters to you (doesn't matter one bit to me).

 

[NavNucST3]

If I were not going ceiling mounted projector system and needed another TV I would get a rear-projection system again. I am no fan of LCD TV's, I love plasmas blacks but the cost/inch and weight differences can be dramatic and you can get really good black levels with calibration on the rears. My Mits 65" was only $1400 new and weighs less than my friends 40" LCD which he paid $1100 for on Black Friday.

For $2000, I'll be getting an Epson 8350 and a motorized 121" screen, naturally the worry will be lag but we will see.

 

[Nesh]

If I were not going ceiling mounted projector system and needed another TV I would get a rear-projection system again. I am no fan of LCD TV's, I love plasmas blacks but the cost/inch and weight differences can be dramatic and you can get really good black levels with calibration on the rears. My Mits 65" was only $1400 new and weighs less than my friends 40" LCD which he paid $1100 for on Black Friday.

For $2000, I'll be getting an Epson 8350 and a motorized 121" screen, naturally the worry will be lag but we will see.

Mits 65? You mean Mitsubishi TV model? They have some of the highest failure rates in the industry I have heard. Hence they are cheaper. Unless they improved their models compared to previous.

 

[Nesh]

I hate to sound like a broken record, but the VT series are the best TVs for both 2D and 3D HD movie watching and gaming. The samsung C8000 series plasmas are a very close second, but I have no information on how much input lag those sets have (and historically Samsung has more lag than panny).

It is worth noting that the Panasonics don't handle SD video very well while the Samsungs handle it very nicely. If that matters to you (doesn't matter one bit to me).

Thanks for the info. HD is the way to go for me as well

 

[V3]

The Panasonic Plasma even the VT20 only do 4:2:2 chroma instead of 4:4:4 of your LCDs, I know it don't matter for movies, but does it matter for PC and consoles gaming ?

 

[NavNucST3]

Mits 65? You mean Mitsubishi TV model? They have some of the highest failure rates in the industry I have heard. Hence they are cheaper. Unless they improved their models compared to previous.

Mitsubishi WD-65734. I can't speak to the failure rates of the industry(?) or do you mean of those companies still making rear projection sets or the failure rates amongst rear-projection sets? I have had my 65734 for two+ years and my only issue is the need to replace a bulb which I don't eliminate by going with a front-projection system.

Is any of that relevant to my overall point of the cost/inch of rear-projection (or front-projection) versus LCD/Plasma? Are you arguing that LCD/Plasma is cheaper?