OT: Death of the Plasma

elocomotive · Sep 26, 2014

So, Panasonic announced it is shutting down plasma production in January. Samsung followed suit in July. And now LG will no longer make plasmas as they announced a few weeks ago they are figuring out a timeline to end their plasma production.

That means that as 4K TVs start becoming more affordable and mainstream, there will be no plasma option.

That is really sad as a sports fan because plasma refresh rates destroy LCD and LED options and plasma is just an all around better picture in SO many ways. Basically the margins just aren't as good for the TV companies (higher shippings costs for them especially) and people are lured in by the "brighter" picture of LED.

RIP plasma TVs.

xalbox · Sep 26, 2014

I love plasmas and fortunately for me I knew about the end of line for the Panasonic ones, so I bought a 55" last November... It's awesome and will be my #1 for 4-6 years I bet. 4K will hopefully be mainstream or more common by then on both streaming and ordinary TV.

Gooch1034 · Sep 26, 2014

Do plasmas still have an issue with screen burn? Years ago that was the reason I didn't buy plasma because I was afraid sports tickers would ruin the screen. Didn't know if they ever fixed that problem? Sports really was much better on plasma. I also liked that black was actually black with them too.

mattola · Sep 26, 2014

I loved my Panasonic Plasma. It was the best sports I watched. not great for high CGI movies (holy shit did you notice it with the star wars prequels)

forty_three · Sep 26, 2014

Gooch1034 said:
Do plasmas still have an issue with screen burn? Years ago that was the reason I didn't buy plasma because I was afraid sports tickers would ruin the screen. Didn't know if they ever fixed that problem? Sports really was much better on plasma. I also liked that black was actually black with them too.

As far as I know, they never solved the issue completely. And I believe you need more juice running through the board to run a plasma vs any of the others. They use more energy and require far more expensive internals. Like Laserdisk or Beta. They are better, just impractical eventually.

I have a DLP rear projection (Family room), an LCD (bedroom) and two LED monitors on my desk (I run a Direct TV box through one). And I have to say for gaming, I love the LED. I don't know if it's because they are 23" and only two feet from my face, but the detail is amazing. When I replace the DLP, I am definitely getting an LED.

4k is intriguing, but the content is not ready yet. I am going to wait until the content is far more available. I like the idea of an 8 foot wide TV though...

Leroy Brown · Sep 26, 2014

Gooch1034 said:
Do plasmas still have an issue with screen burn? Years ago that was the reason I didn't buy plasma because I was afraid sports tickers would ruin the screen. Didn't know if they ever fixed that problem? Sports really was much better on plasma. I also liked that black was actually black with them too.

I have a LG 60 inch which lives on ESPN2. I've had it for about two years now and yeah, the ticker shows, but you only notice it when the screen is all blue when you're switching inputs and when you're sitting closer than about five feet, but there is no good reason to be that close anyway. Watching movies in a dark room on that thing is unbelievable.

I love it but it's starting to lose picture quality...there's a red streak that goes across the screen from time to time but that never happened until the Verizon guy got back there and started monkeying around with my HT setup while I was working. I'm going to unhook everything and rehook everything up to see if that fixes it.

I'm pretty sure (knock on wood) I got at least a three year ext. warranty on that mofo so I should be good regardless.

Hank Kingsley · Sep 29, 2014

I have a 50" Panny I bought in 2006. Going strong.

I have a 58" Panny I bought in late 2007.... High use TV, going strong, as nice as the day it was delivered.

My son has a 42" Panny in his bedroom that is used the most of all 3 and it still looks wonderful.

I was at Future Shop looking at new ones. An 80" Sharp Aquos with faux 4k features is $5400. Nice enough straight on but you move to the side and lose the sweet spot you're fucked. I view from oblique angles frequently when burning herb by the fire place. My 58" plasma still gives me a wonderful picture at that angle.

I don't suffer burn in. And none of them have evern had a single hiccup.

4K sets are nice but most programming is web based. Which I honestly want no part of. I like cable and my 6 barreled PVR which gives me room to room fexibility

Jared · Sep 29, 2014

That sucks. I have a TH-37PX50Ua that I bought in '05. It is still as good as the day I bought it. I also have a 50" I bought in '08, still going strong.

My wife came across a 46" Sony Bravia LED that is about 18 months old. The really rich people she works for are remodeling their 10,000 square foot house again (last remodel in '08) and of course they need to get all new electronics. So that TV was free, which makes me like it even more. The LED is pretty good, but I just love my Plasmas.

Jared · Sep 29, 2014

Duplicate post.

Hank Kingsley · Sep 29, 2014

LED = Artificial looking to my eye.

If something is animated it looks REALLY animated...

Comeds · Sep 29, 2014

Hank Kingsley said:
LED = Artificial looking to my eye.

If something is animated it looks REALLY animated...

Its possible that could be due to motion processors that some LCD\LED sets have in order to reduce motion blur or pretend to have a higher refresh rate. Both of my LCD TVs had various motion processors turned on as defaults and I hated the way they made things look. Everything looked artificial. After I turned them off I was much happier with the sets.

Plasma doesn't have problems with motion blur so they don't need garbage like that.

Hank Kingsley · Sep 29, 2014

I do know I want bigger and not DLP. Hate the idea of screens for day to day use.

My 58" has done yeoman's service but I want 80".

The other thing is I used to have a 36" Sony Wega XBR (CRT set). Wonderful TV, 300 lbs, cost me
$5K. Works perfectly if it's used but is a better boat anchor.

Had it ~5 years and bought the 50" Panny for $3K.

Paid ~$4800 for my 58" Panny in late 2007.

So spending another $5K on a 80" TV is something I'd be OK with but the ball and chain looks at me askance when I start the conversation.... I do score points when I say it's been 8 years since I bought the 58". And I drive 2 20 year old Fords.

So the day will come, but I really don't like anything on the market right this second.

sabresfaninthesouth · Sep 29, 2014

Hank Kingsley said:
I do know I want bigger and not DLP. Hate the idea of screens for day to day use.

My 58" has done yeoman's service but I want 80".

The other thing is I used to have a 36" Sony Wega XBR (CRT set). Wonderful TV, 300 lbs, cost me
$5K. Works perfectly if it's used but is a better boat anchor.

Had it ~5 years and bought the 50" Panny for $3K.

Paid ~$4800 for my 58" Panny in late 2007.

So spending another $5K on a 80" TV is something I'd be OK with but the ball and chain looks at me askance when I start the conversation.... I do score points when I say it's been 8 years since I bought the 58". And I drive 2 20 year old Fords.

So the day will come, but I really don't like anything on the market right this second.

Assuming you mean projector screens there? I can definitely agree with that on a day-to-day basis, but man is it sweet for watching movies. We have a 120" screen and HD projector. So much fun.

Hank Kingsley · Sep 30, 2014

sabresfaninthesouth said:
Assuming you mean projector screens there? I can definitely agree with that on a day-to-day basis, but man is it sweet for watching movies. We have a 120" screen and HD projector. So much fun.

Exactly what I mean. Projectors and beams of light and things to view them on are older school than I wish.

OT: Death of the Plasma

elocomotive

A useful idiot.

xalbox

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Gooch1034

Fuck off!

mattola

Scotchy Scotch Scotch!

forty_three

It’s Raining Falafel

Leroy Brown

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Hank Kingsley

Undefeated

Jared

Active Member

Jared

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Hank Kingsley

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Comeds

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Hank Kingsley

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sabresfaninthesouth

Lifelong Cynic

Hank Kingsley

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