Plazzzzzzzmaahhhh.....

[havanisda]

Any1 have or know anything about plasma TVs? I might be gettin 1 but I keep reading different things about break-in procedures. You gotta turn the brightness and contrast all the way down and don't watch any DVDs 4 the 1st 100-500 hrs?

[Dookie]

Nonsense. Turn them on and start watching.

[havanisda]

Do u have 1 from new and did that or is that just your opinion?

[havanisda]

Just read the last 2 reviews on this page: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8802833&type=product&id=1206141605017

[Dookie]

Bought my Plasma over 2.5 yrs ago, plugged it in, and started watching TV and DVDs. Let me ask you a question.... What is the difference between watching TV vs. DVD?

I confirmed my anwser with my buddy who is an IT guy and is very knowledgable in electronics. He told me the burn in periord was just a myth.

[havanisda]

The difference is w/DVDs if there's black bars on the screen they can cause IR or burn-in. I just have a hard time believing it's a myth when people claim it happens. I read lots of reviews where people say a whole line of pixels burned out on their new screen. They even have in their warrantys that a certain amount of pixels must be burned out b4 they will fix it.

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6449_7-6844370-1.html

[Dookie]

To be on the same side then, just run your Plasma for 12 - 24 hrs with regular tv/cable/sat. I've just never heard anyone having this problem before.

[2.5sbd]

Go with a LCD
And 1080 DLP ... no lower

[havanisda]

Looks like we started a TV thread. OK post up your brand, model, size, technology (plasma, LCD, DLP, CRT) & how long u owned it & any issues/complaints u have.
http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Arts/Arts_/Pictures/2007/08/28/tv460.jpg

[Dookie]

Here's my TV set up.

42" Panasonic Viera 720i, at the time I bought it the 1080i was too expensive.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd318/F1inspireLGT/Picture007.jpg

I've had for 2.5 yrs and haven't had any problems with. Colors are bright and clear.

[havanisda]

I currently have a 32" Sony CRT thats probably 10+ yrs old. I'm lookin @ gettin a 42" Samsung plasma 720p. http://www.samsung.com/us/consumer/detail/detail.do?group=televisions&type=televisions&subtype=plasmatv&model_cd=PN42A450P1DXZA
From the reviews I read 720p is good enuf 4 this size screen. 1080p is what u should get tho if u want a 50" or larger. I decided on Samsung since every review I've seen across mutiple sites I found consumers and experts alike give it on average 4.5/5 stars

[Dookie]

I like Samsung, my computer monitor is Samsung, the DVD/VCR is Samsung, even our Refigerator is Samsung. Never had a problem with any of them. Plus their prices have dropped alot in the past few years making them more affordable.:tup:

[havanisda]

Bumpin this cuz I'm finally gettin my plasma tomorrow. :tup: Samsung 42" $679 shipped. :D

http://www.electronicsnation.com/en/images/products/PN42A450.jpg

[john]

We have a walmart vizio 37" lcd. Love it.

[jessickascarling]

sony bravia 42" 1080p lcd

http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt82/jessickascarling/IMG_1057.jpg

and yes, dan loves resident evil :) he even has an umbrella logo on his sti. <3

[kagenmateer]

So I guess I should chime in here since I'm one of the few remaining career television salespeople...

To the OP- a break-in period is nonsense.

On burn-in- Yes, it's still possilbe, but the new panels are so efficient that it's extremely rare. They, in fact, are so efficient and run cool enough that most new panels are energy-star 3.0. You have to leave a static image on the screen for many hours before burn-in will start, and even if it happens, there are several technologies that allow it to work itself out. I'd say maybe 2% of new panels on the market will suffer from any kind of permanent burn-in.

One thing that can lead to burn in is the letterbox format (black bars) seen on most DVDs. Those bars are there because most Hollywood films are designed for the movie theatre where the screen is a "super-widescreen" format. This is where the aspect ratio is even wider than the 16:9 on our new TVs. 16:9 is the correct size for broadcast HD television shows, so when watching HDTV, the picture will fit the screen perfect. When watching movies, the bars on the top and bottom of the screen make your picture even wider than it is tall to simulate the aspect of the screen at the movie theatre. This is one reason why purchasing a bigger screen size is nice.

Dead pixels are different from a burnt in image. Dead pixels are when individual pixels have malfunctioned, whereas burn in is across the whole screen. When a whole row of pixels appear to have burnt out, that actually means the electronics that send the signal to that row of pixels have malfunctioned and the pixels are actually okay.


And if anyone is curious, I have plasmas in my living room and bedroom because they are the most accurate picture reproduction. I just have to minimize reflection and brightness in the room by closing the blinds during the day. If you have a crap-ton of windows, stick with LCD because the new ones still have a pretty respectable picture and can handle a bright room very well. For this reason I have an LCD in the work-out room. Then, I have a projector in the theatre because I can completely black-out that room. Don't do projection in any normal room unless you're only gonna watch at night (IMO).

On the resolution thing, a 720P television is also capable of processing 1080I and generally has 1024X768 resolution which works out to around 1 million pixels. A 1080P television is generally 1920X1080 which works out to around 2 million pixels (double the resolution of a 720P). This is only a benefit when watching blu-ray discs, and even then, some have a hard time seeing the difference. My input is that it is mostly marketing, but there certainly is a benefit on 1080P content. My bedroom and living plasmas are both 720P because all I watch in those rooms are HDTV broadcasts that will be no more than 720P native resolution for a long time. A GOOD 720P television will actually look better on 720P feeds because it doesn't have to upconvert or create extra pixels of picture like a 1080P has to in order to display its 2 million pixels (1080P). In my theatre, however, the projector is 1080P because I watch blu-ray in there. Note- My last projector was 720P/1080I and it looked almost as good on 1080P blu-ray content because it was a really nice 720P with a good video-processor and great contrast/color.

Note- Some cable and satellite boxes say they output 1080P, but they are only upconverting. On my 720P sets, I leave the boxes on 720P resolution.

Where this conversation gets a bit tricky is that in today's market, 1080P is the hype, so if a manufacturer makes a 720P at this point in time, not only is it lower resolution (not a big deal), but it is also their most basic model...so the video processor may not be as good, the contrast (color quality) may not be as good, and it may be missing some key functionality. This is why when you see 720P's sitting next to 1080P's, sometimes the 720 looks better, and sometimes the 1080 looks better. These days, the 1080P generally looks better because it is higher up on the manufacturer's line.

Jessica- Your TV is probably a 40" btw. ;) ...and Sony is my favorite LCD manufacturer, so good choice!

Havanisda- What model is that Samsung? If it's a 430, switch to a 450 if it's not too late. The 430 has no side-jacks nor an anti-glare coating on the glass, whereas the 450 is generally not much more money and has both. My store sells the 450 for $679+tax.

DLPs are actually really awesome in my opinion, but buy a warranty. Great picture and size for the money if you don't need to hang it (they are around 11-18" deep), but they are floating around a 30% repair rate in a 5 year period if you include the bulb that must be replaced every 6-8K hours. I sold my 57" Mitsubishi Diamond DLP to my parents and it's now 3 years old and hasn't had a single problem, looks fantastic, and doesn't get the reflection my plasmas do. And the new DLPs have only slight dimming when viewing off-axis. I would definitely consider buying one again.

[havanisda]

Samsung PN42B450.
What's your thoughts on the New Samsung LED technology?

http://www.adityavyas.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/samsung-led-tv.jpg

[kagenmateer]

^^^ Perfect! That's the same one I just sold my brother, and that says a lot for it. The plasma you chose performs far better than an LED LCD when in a controlled lighting environment (minimized glare and brightness), and is obviously FAR less expensive. The thin Samsung LEDs look cool on the wall, but performance is not great. A couple of the thicker LED models have great color for an LCD, but still fall short of the color on a plasma. LCD, and especially LED backlit LCD, is more efficient than plasma, but the difference at this point in time is about $20/yr in savings, so I say bah.

[havanisda]

^ SWEET! I guess I did enuf research 2 make the right choice. (Pats self on back.)

http://cybernetnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/pat-on-back.jpg

[kagenmateer]

Indeed...well played.

[havanisda]

Unfortunately it didn't arrive 2day like it was spose 2. :tdown:
It was scheduled between 12-4 so by 430 I'm callin them, "Where's my Plasma b itches?"
They say, "Lemme call the driver." They put me on hold, 5 mins later I get disc'd. I call back, get a different rep and she communic8s w/the other rep and they tell me there was a mechanical issue w/their truck. So now I'm rescheduled between 1-3. :tdown: :tdown:
But I ordered it last fri so I guess 7 days from purchase 2 doorstep ain't bad 4 fleabay if it arrives in eggsellent condition. :rolleyes:

[kagenmateer]

Make sure the original plastic straps are around the box. They look a little like huge zip-ties, but it's braided plastic and the ends glue together.

[havanisda]

They sent me an email talkin about that 4 inspection b4 signing the delivery receipt. I guess u don't have 2 cut anything, release the straps and the box just lifts right off?

[STEye]

Samsung PN42B450.
What's your thoughts on the New Samsung LED technology?

http://www.adityavyas.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/samsung-led-tv.jpg

Is this that new ultra-thin Samsung that is a little over an inch thick? There was one at work today. Brand new!

[havanisda]

^ Yep. 1.2" deep according 2 Samsungs' website. They use 40% less power than conventional LCD TVs and are mercury free.

[jessickascarling]

Jessica- Your TV is probably a 40" btw. ;) ...and Sony is my favorite LCD manufacturer, so good choice!



it probably is haha... and i like lcds over plasma for those same reasons you mentioned... even with better quality true to life colors, plasma would be a bad choice because our living room is bright. and i used to sell tvs too ;) i\worked at circuit city and actually, thats where dan & i met... he did car audio. glad we both left before they really went downhill!

[kagenmateer]

release the straps and the box just lifts right off?
Each manufacturer has their own way of doing things, but the lid generally just lifts right off once the straps are removed...IF that manufacturer uses straps. The way they package those things, it's pretty much impossible to repackage it correctly once it's been opened. It should be really obvious if you're not the first person to crack it open.

[havanisda]

;) i\worked at circuit city and actually, thats where dan & i met... he did car audio. Sparks flew and........... "cleanup, aisle 6." :tup:

[kagenmateer]

it probably is haha... and i like lcds over plasma for those same reasons you mentioned... even with better quality true to life colors, plasma would be a bad choice because our living room is bright. and i used to sell tvs too ;) i\worked at circuit city and actually, thats where dan & i met... he did car audio. glad we both left before they really went downhill!

wow...my wife and I met at CC 7 years ago when I was in car and she sold TVs/Home Audio. I miss that place...we established some great friendships while working there.

[Dookie]

Good info in this thread, should I sticky it?

[havanisda]

Good info in this thread, should I sticky it?

http://robwebb2k.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/sticky-buns2.jpg

[STEye]

Do it up yo!

[STEye]

That made me hungry...

[havanisda]

Finally it's here. Not between 12-4 yesterday or 1-3 2day but @ 530 after over an hour on the phone w/the shipper and their many service reps in the last 2 days. :tdown:

Anyway, everything looks fine and works.

KG, what do u recommend 4 cleaning the display/screen? :confused:

[kagenmateer]

Microfiber or soft-cotton with just water, or what I use:
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=monster+screen+cleaner&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=3030758301&ref=pd_sl_9bi8qnmi7p_e

...and clean it when the TV is cooled off so there's zero risk of swirling your anti-glare coating. This is very hard to do, but should be avoided nonetheless.

The main thing is to avoid anything with chemicals like Windex with amonia.

[havanisda]

Thanx 4 the info, my only problem now is I can't get my TV 2 play thru my stereo via my HDMI cable. Right now my stereo is playin thru the RCAs but I bought an HDMI cable from Amazon 4 like $5.
Maybe that's the problem, the cheap cable isn't working.
But I don't know cuz this is my 1st TV w/HDMI so maybe I'm not settin it up right.

[jessickascarling]

wow...my wife and I met at CC 7 years ago when I was in car and she sold TVs/Home Audio. I miss that place...we established some great friendships while working there.

+1 to that! too funny, dan and i are gonna be another cc wedding! hehe

[havanisda]

+1 to that! too funny, dan and i are gonna be another cc wedding! heheInstead of throwing rice, every1 can throw flash drives. :tup:

[Dookie]

We now have a Plazzzzzzzzzzmaahhhh..... sticky thread. Whoot!!

[kagenmateer]

Thanx 4 the info, my only problem now is I can't get my stereo 2 play thru my stereo via my HDMI cable. Right now my stereo is playin thru the RCAs but I bought an HDMI cable from Amazon 4 like $5.
Maybe that's the problem, the cheap cable isn't working.
But I don't know cuz this is my 1st TV w/HDMI so maybe I'm not settin it up right.

I'm guessing this is because your receiver/amplifier has HDMI connections, but doesn't support HDMI audio. Receivers around $500 and under generally don't support HDMI audio, so you have to run either stereo cables like you did, or optical or digital coaxial alongside the HDMI cable. It's annoying. This is probably the case if you're connecting your HD components to the receiver with HDMI and then connecting the receiver's HDMI output to the TV.

Or are you connecting the TV's audio output to your stereo? You said, "I can't get my stereo to play through my stereo", so hopefully you can see why I'm a little confused. Whatever the problem is, it's most likely not a problem with the cable.

[STEye]

I'm guessing this is because your receiver/amplifier has HDMI connections, but doesn't support HDMI audio. Receivers around $500 and under generally don't support HDMI audio, so you have to run either stereo cables like you did, or optical or digital coaxial alongside the HDMI cable. It's annoying. This is probably the case if you're connecting your HD components to the receiver with HDMI and then connecting the receiver's HDMI output to the TV.

Or are you connecting the TV's audio output to your stereo? You said, "I can't get my stereo to play through my stereo", so hopefully you can see why I'm a little confused. Whatever the problem is, it's most likely not a problem with the cable.

More and more receivers have a "pass through" for HDMI these days. What you have to be cognizant of is whether or not it's a 1080i or 1080p pass through. If it's the former, then it will output 1080i regardless of the input signal. The later is the way to go if you have a Full HD TV.

[havanisda]

Fixed. Shoulda said I can't get my TV 2 play thru my stereo using the HDMI cable.
This is the HTiB I have. It's got 1 HDMI output which should be all I need 2 run the DVD player and stereo w/the TV correct?

http://reviews.cnet.com/home-theater-systems/sony-dav-x1/4505-6740_7-31416389.html

[kagenmateer]

More and more receivers have a "pass through" for HDMI these days. What you have to be cognizant of is whether or not it's a 1080i or 1080p pass through. If it's the former, then it will output 1080i regardless of the input signal. The later is the way to go if you have a Full HD TV.

You're talking about picture resolutions where passthrough means it will not upconvert component to HDMI and you must have HDMI in to get HDMI out. You're also referring to upscaling which is when the receiver will upconvert a lower resolution signal to 1080I or 1080P. The newer, better ones will go to 1080P. Havanisda and I are talking about audio. ;)

[kagenmateer]

Fixed. Shoulda said I can't get my TV 2 play thru my stereo using the HDMI cable.
This is the HTiB I have. It's got 1 HDMI output which should be all I need 2 run the DVD player and stereo w/the TV correct?

http://reviews.cnet.com/home-theater-systems/sony-dav-x1/4505-6740_7-31416389.html

When you say "I can't get my TV to play through my stereo", do you mean you can't get your television programs to play on your HTIB? If you are using one of the TV's built-in digital tuners (antenna or cable without a box), then you should have an optical/fiberoptic cable send the digital sound from the TV's optical output to the digital optical input on your HTIB, and once having done so, you need to switch your HTIB's input from DVD to AUX. Sometimes your auxilary input will be labeled tv/sat or something like that. It will be labeled on the back where you plug the optical cable in.

Your HDMI cable carries picture and sound out of your HTIB to the TV, but this has nothing to do with getting the sound for your TV shows into the HTIB.

Do you have a cable or satellite box, and if so, is it digital/HD?

[havanisda]

When you say "I can't get my TV to play through my stereo", do you mean you can't get your television programs to play on your HTIB? Yes.

Your HDMI cable carries picture and sound out of your HTIB to the TV, but this has nothing to do with getting the sound for your TV shows into the HTIB.

So I need 2 have an HDMI cable and the red/white RCA cable connected 4 my audio 2 get what I want correct?

Do you have a cable or satellite box, and if so, is it digital/HD?

I have DirectTV, it's digital but not HD. I guess if I want HD thru sat I'll have 2 get a new, upgraded HD receiver. Orrrr.... is that just somethin they unlock thru my sat box once I order it?

[havanisda]

I figured it out 4 the DVD player. 4 some reason there's a difference in the top & bottom HDMI inputs in the back of the TV.
Time 2 watch Crank 2: High Voltage. :tup:

[STEye]

You're talking about picture resolutions where passthrough means it will not upconvert component to HDMI and you must have HDMI in to get HDMI out. You're also referring to upscaling which is when the receiver will upconvert a lower resolution signal to 1080I or 1080P. The newer, better ones will go to 1080P. Havanisda and I are talking about audio. ;)

I know you're talking about the audio. The passthrough allows you to take an incoming HDMI (sound and video) and pass it through the receiver for the sole reason of getting the HDMI audio from it. (And it is a video switcher as well) The 1080i passthrough will still do that, but the output video resolution is interlaced rather than progressive.

Upconverting/upscaling is a different story.

My crappy Sony receiver only does 1080i passthrough, so I don't even use it. I just bring HDMI into my TV, and run the SPDIF (digital fiber) from the device (like my XBOX360) directly into the receiver. :tup:

[kagenmateer]

I have DirectTV, it's digital but not HD. I guess if I want HD thru sat I'll have 2 get a new, upgraded HD receiver. Orrrr.... is that just somethin they unlock thru my sat box once I order it?

You have to upgrade the box. Your standard box should still have an optical out though (hopefully), so your optical cable should go from the sat box to the optical input on your HTIB. If your sat box only has analog audio out (red and white RCAs), then have those go into one of the analog audio inputs on your HTIB. Digital sound is generally much better than analog, so use it if you got it.

[kagenmateer]

I know you're talking about the audio. The passthrough allows you to take an incoming HDMI (sound and video) and pass it through the receiver for the sole reason of getting the HDMI audio from it. (And it is a video switcher as well) The 1080i passthrough will still do that, but the output video resolution is interlaced rather than progressive.

Upconverting/upscaling is a different story.

My crappy Sony receiver only does 1080i passthrough, so I don't even use it. I just bring HDMI into my TV, and run the SPDIF (digital fiber) from the device (like my XBOX360) directly into the receiver. :tup:

kk...

[havanisda]

Why was I under the impression that 1 HDMI cable was supposed 2 elimin8 all RCAs. I thought I could run my HDMI cable from my TV<>HTIB and that would gimme all the audio/video signals thru that 1 cable.

DirectTV wants $100 per sat box 2 upgrade 2 HD boxes + $10/month. :tdown:

[STEye]

Why was I under the impression that 1 HDMI cable was supposed 2 elimin8 all RCAs. I thought I could run my HDMI cable from my TV<>HTIB and that would gimme all the audio/video signals thru that 1 cable.

DirectTV wants $100 per sat box 2 upgrade 2 HD boxes + $10/month. :tdown:

One for each device! Wow DirectTV is expensive!

[havanisda]

They're all expensive these days. Both sat & cable. I mean unless u wanna go w/a rooftop antenna and just pull the networks 4 free your always gonna be screwed. :mad:

[kagenmateer]

Why was I under the impression that 1 HDMI cable was supposed 2 elimin8 all RCAs. I thought I could run my HDMI cable from my TV<>HTIB and that would gimme all the audio/video signals thru that 1 cable.
Think of it this way: signals can only travel one direction through an HDMI cable. So the HTIB is sending picture and sound to the TV, but nothing can come back from the TV to the HTIB.

DirectTV wants $100 per sat box 2 upgrade 2 HD boxes + $10/month. :tdown:
Bullchit. They'll always try to get an extra couple hundred bucks from if you if you call up and ask "how much?". Tell them Dish will give you all your equipment for free and your friend just signed up for DirecTV and got two HD DVRs for free...watch how quickly the story changes. :tup:

I sell DirecTV and I never charge for equipment anymore.

[havanisda]

That's a bluff they can call cuz it's like a 2 year contract and if u cancel its something like a $200 cancellation fee.
So the ? is how do I get their HD receiver cheaper w/or w/out goin directly thru them.

[Dookie]

Directv will upgrade your box if you ask for it, like Kagen said. Directv upgraded my box to HD/DVR for no additional cost besides the additional $10 a month HD service.

[kagenmateer]

That's a bluff they can call cuz it's like a 2 year contract and if u cancel its something like a $200 cancellation fee.
So the ? is how do I get their HD receiver cheaper w/or w/out goin directly thru them.

Are you currently in contract, or would you be new to them? If you'd be new, then srsly call up and say "I'm thinking about signing up with DirecTV, but Dish will give me all my equipment and installation for free". What they care about most is that you are a new customer and agree to sign the 2 year contract, making a little extra on the equipment is much less important to them than that. Keep in mind, you're not talking to DirecTV...you're talking to a representative that is most incentivized by the contract, and getting extra money from you up front for equipment is only icing on the cake.

[havanisda]

The saga continues..... I'm in a contract w/them, they said since I've only been a customer for 2 yrs they can't upgrade me 4 free. However I thought it was as simple as swappin out my current sat box 4 an HD box. That's not the case, They said they have 2 also upgrade the dish 2 an HD dish. My current dish can't receive the HD signal. The best they can do is gimme free installation on the new dish and sat box. Still gonna cost me the $100 tho.

[kagenmateer]

Tell them you're gonna go to Dish Network who is more than willing to give you all your equipment (and install) for free. Seriously, tell them this word for word, "If you can't give me my equipment for free, then I'll call Dish as soon as I hang up and sign up for HD, and when I call back, it'll be to cancel your service". Your call will get transferred to the "customer retention" department and doors will begin to open. If the guy you say that to doesn't tranfer you, then hang up and call back and whomever picks up the phone, tell that person "Hi, I'd like to cancel my service". They'll ask why, then you say, "because Dish is offering me all my HD equipment for free and DirecTV wants to charge me $100". He should then either make it happen or transfer you the retention department. The retention department is incentivesed on keeping your business. Absolute worst case scenario is that you still pay the $100, but you get a bunch of free programming and/or bill credits too. Tell them you'd be willing to pay the $100 up front if they'll take $10 off 10 bills. Sometimes that's how they work it out. Good luck!