Plasma vs. LCD

Odd thing I can't figure out. I don't seem to have surround sound since I've hooked up my plasma and blu-ray. Can't imagine what would have been switched "off". But I'm only getting sound from the front. I do, currently, have my center channel disconnected so would this have impacted anything? I wouldn't think it would.
 
Which speakers get used depends how the amp is setup and the audio source you are using.
Also if you have routed Blu Ray sound through the TV to the amp, you may not get surround sound.
No centre speaker means no centre channel.
If the amp is feeding mono sounds (same sound in both L/R speakers) to the centre speaker, you will lose most speech.
Same when playing 5.1 movies.
The centre speaker is important.
 
Nenu said:
Which speakers get used depends how the amp is setup and the audio source you are using.
Also if you have routed Blu Ray sound through the TV to the amp, you may not get surround sound.
No centre speaker means no centre channel.
If the amp is feeding mono sounds (same sound in both L/R speakers) to the centre speaker, you will lose most speech.
Same when playing 5.1 movies.
The centre speaker is important.
Click to expand...

Right, I get that. I know some equipment can adjust automatically. Plus, I just connected an optical between the blu-ray and the amp so I'm circumventing the TV when using the blu-ray. But I'm finding this true through the Marantz DVD player as well now. Doesn't make sense.

As I said I didn't have the blu-ray previous and I'm now using component for the Marantz DVD. Just wondering if I'm overlooking something based on how things are now hooked up.
 
You need to get to grips with how your amp and players work.
Read the manuals and look up anything you dont understand, google is great.
Choose the correct surround sound mode(s) (or the one "you" prefer) for the device you have connected/are switched to.
Both the player and the amp need to be set up.

Stop messing about and connect the centre speaker up.
Theres no point in saying it doesnt work right but you disconnected the centre speaker and then asking will this have any effect!
Its easy enough for you to try.

ps component is a video connection and has little to do with audio.
 
Nenu said:
You need to get to grips with how your amp and players work.
Read the manuals and look up anything you dont understand, google is great.
Choose the correct surround sound mode(s) (or the one "you" prefer) for the device you have connected/are switched to.
Both the player and the amp need to be set up.

Stop messing about and connect the centre speaker up.
Theres no point in saying it doesnt work right but you disconnected the centre speaker and then asking will this have any effect!
Its easy enough for you to try.

ps component is a video connection and has little to do with audio.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the knock up along side the head. But, my impression has been that forums are where people provide feedback and help each other out. Correct me if I'm wrong. I'd like to know what the purpose of a forum is and maybe you can clear this up. I'd never bother going to any forum if all I did is spend my time (I'm self-employed if that helps you understand) searching Google.

If you're telling me that I shouldn't spend my time coming here then maybe you're right Nenu!

I don't have a place to set the CC because of my setup (it used to set on top of my big 36" CRT). I'm currently having my brother build something. But also the surround did work as I believe I previously mentioned (at least with the Marantz DVD unit). This is what does not make sense.

In short I thought this was an okay place to ask these types of questions.
 
Last edited:
Its hard to provide constructive help when you havent tried things and therefore have nothing specific to report and little for us to work with.
You need to understand your amp and players at least a bit.
Exasperating for us too dude.
 
Okay, I've been stressed this week and took a deep breath.

I've plugged the CC back in and no sound either. I'll print out the manual for the amp.
 
I've gone through and checked the fronts, rears, CC are all enabled along with the SW. No idea what has happened. No reason they should not be working. I do not see any adjustment for these items based on a specific source. But like I said I had all of this functioning with the Marantz DVD previous and now, somehow, I don't with the blu-ray or DVD after the blu-ray and plasma addition.

Sorry...confused.
 
Okay... when do we get to the point where we fully trust our instincts. I've been doing tech for years in different capacities and still tend to go for brain surgery. I grabbed the amp's remote (which I never use) and used the Surround button to cycle through. I'm back on track! I was trying to do this via the setup at the amp and it didn't work. Hmm..

edit: apparently I must have bumped this button on the remote to disable something
 
Heh, glad you sorted it :)
I understand your frustration though, feather cushions make good punchbags.
 
There is really NOTHING to debate about this, Plasma has better image quality in every way. The Panasonic plasmas are the best bang for the buck in televisions, I think. LCD just is not any good.
 
Blackstone said:
LCD just is not any good.
Click to expand...

That sir is fail. Yes I think plasma has better image but LCDs are still being sold more than plasmas. If i was buying a TV just for television, i would go plasma, but anything else I would go LCD - gaming/monitor.
 
Anyone running into greens coming out on the S1 series from Panasonic. I thought I had spotted it before and it was subtle but I watched the movie Heat on TV last night and whoa. I was suprised at how much green I saw coming through in that movie. Not sure if it's because there is a lot of grey tones and some affect from the contrast or what.
 
When I first got mine (42PZ80B), I was playing one particular game cant remember which and the green trails/traces were quite noticeable.
(I think it was either Assassins Creed or Mass Effect)
It was most apparent with white moving fast on a black background.
I hope this is what you meant?
I havent seen any other game do it since.

Now the only time I ever see green trails/traces is when the titles are rolling on a black background at the end of a TV program/film.
It is very mild though and not an issue, now 1.5 years after buying the TV.
tbh I'd forgotten about it, its been that long since I noticed it.
 
Nenu said:
When I first got mine (42PZ80B), I was playing one particular game cant remember which and the green trails/traces were quite noticeable.
(I think it was either Assassins Creed or Mass Effect)
It was most apparent with white moving fast on a black background.
I hope this is what you meant?
I havent seen any other game do it since.

Now the only time I ever see green trails/traces is when the titles are rolling on a black background at the end of a TV program/film.
It is very mild though and not an issue, now 1.5 years after buying the TV.
tbh I'd forgotten about it, its been that long since I noticed it.
Click to expand...

No it's not green trails at all. I was watching the movie Heat on some TV channel (oh, ION) and I noticed there were a lot of grey colors in the movie and this green push was noticeable. I spotted green showing up where it didn't belong. I thought maybe I had spotted this before but you really had to look. Last night it was quite noticeable. It's seems this is what some are calling "green push" if I understand correctly.
 
Last edited:
I personally never understood the concept of generally spending more per square inch on an LCD vs Plasma.

I researched for nearly 6 months, went to countless TV stores, and after having my 58" PZ800U from Panasonic for a little over two months now, nothing I have seen in stores compares. My dad wants to ditch his DLP and get the same TV I have, and my entire family always wants to come over on Sundays and Monday nights to watch football... and they all have LCD and DLP TVs. Especially after realizing the power consumption on my TV is less than some similarly sized LCDs, the only negative for me was the reflective screen, burn in, and weight. None of those things have been an issue. Playing Forza 2 for 3-4 hours straight left no burn in at all, closing my blinds makes glare a non-issue, and I have only had to lift the thing once.
 
SBMongoos said:
.....I've been reading now with the LCDs running 120/240Hz (and especially LED) that they are getting so sharp that backdrops and starting to look fake as they provide too much detail. Can't imagine the impact it will have on the talking heads on cable news.
Click to expand...

I was checking out TVs recently and saw a side by side of a 120Hz and a "regular" LCD and I was thinking to myself..Whoa, WTF?! I couldn't believe the difference, and I agree with your comment about looking fake because of the level of detail. Sure catches your eye though when they're side by side, hehe.
 
MoparMadness said:
I was checking out TVs recently and saw a side by side of a 120Hz and a "regular" LCD and I was thinking to myself..Whoa, WTF?! I couldn't believe the difference, and I agree with your comment about looking fake because of the level of detail. Sure catches your eye though when they're side by side, hehe.
Click to expand...

How true. Paying attention to detail is my blood so these units caught my attention at first. I actually read some where else about the possible downsides to too much detail and so I started to compare the TVs with a different eye.
 
I was lookign at a bluray movie being played on a new LED tv at my local frys and the detail was too much. It looked like a bunch of guys running around with makeup on and the CGI was even more obvious than before.
 
FRAGizm said:
That sir is fail. Yes I think plasma has better image but LCDs are still being sold more than plasmas. If i was buying a TV just for television, i would go plasma, but anything else I would go LCD - gaming/monitor.
Click to expand...

Sorry for dredging this old thread back up, but I had a mini version of this debate with my sister on Thanksgiving. She said she was looking at 50 inch HDTVs and asked me if I knew of any good deals. I told her if I were buying one for myself, I'd probably go for the Samsung 50" B530 plasma for $899 at Dell. She said she didn't want a plasma because her kids use their Xbox 360 a lot and she heard from several people that she should avoid using an Xbox on a plasma TV. I told her I didn't think that was correct. I told her she would have to watch out for burn in using an Xbox on a plasma, but performance-wise, LCD and plasma should be about the same for the Xbox.

Personally, I don't game or even own a console, so I don't have any first hand experience on the issue. I am curious to hear what you guys have to say on the subject. Is there any reason to stay away from plasmas if you plan on using it for Xbox Live about 50% of the time?
 
DDR4040 said:
Personally, I don't game or even own a console, so I don't have any first hand experience on the issue. I am curious to hear what you guys have to say on the subject. Is there any reason to stay away from plasmas if you plan on using it for Xbox Live about 50% of the time?
Click to expand...

It's not just games, it's any static image as plasma is prone to burn in. My opinion is this, why spend money on a technology that's being phased out.
 
Plasma is a nogo.... Its old expensive hot and power hogging. Not to mention burn in issues.

LCD is going to be king for a long time, followed by laser.
 
You clearly speak with a lack of experience and knowledge :)
 
DDR4040 said:
Sorry for dredging this old thread back up, but I had a mini version of this debate with my sister on Thanksgiving. She said she was looking at 50 inch HDTVs and asked me if I knew of any good deals. I told her if I were buying one for myself, I'd probably go for the Samsung 50" B530 plasma for $899 at Dell. She said she didn't want a plasma because her kids use their Xbox 360 a lot and she heard from several people that she should avoid using an Xbox on a plasma TV. I told her I didn't think that was correct. I told her she would have to watch out for burn in using an Xbox on a plasma, but performance-wise, LCD and plasma should be about the same for the Xbox.

Personally, I don't game or even own a console, so I don't have any first hand experience on the issue. I am curious to hear what you guys have to say on the subject. Is there any reason to stay away from plasmas if you plan on using it for Xbox Live about 50% of the time?
Click to expand...

Not first-hand, but close. One of my close friends has a Sammy plasma. Burn-in isn't an issue with this tv, but burn-in refers to a permanent modification to the screen. Temporary image retention is still an issue (an issue that can affect LCDs as well). I have seen it on his TV and he has to run a special program on the TV to eliminate it. He hates it.
 
BigDH01 said:
Not first-hand, but close. One of my close friends has a Sammy plasma. Burn-in isn't an issue with this tv, but burn-in refers to a permanent modification to the screen. Temporary image retention is still an issue (an issue that can affect LCDs as well). I have seen it on his TV and he has to run a special program on the TV to eliminate it. He hates it.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. Calling it burn in was just laziness on my part in my OP. I explained image retention to my sister and told her if she did start to see it, she could run a "screensaver" to get rid of it but she was still skeptical. She was trying to tell me that an Xbox "looks better" on an LCD than a plasma. From what I know of the 2 formats, that didn't seem likely, but like I said, I have zero Xbox experience.
 
Have the Samsung B650 50" plasma. Does get some image retention pretty quickly, but it disappears quickly as well, just have to watch something that doesn't have static images on the screen. Can really only see it when that area is completely black too, after watching a movie it is gone completely again.

Have the LG 47LH90 47" 240Hz LED LCD shipping to me atm for the bedroom, so guess I'll see which is better then.
 
DDR4040 said:
Thanks for the reply. Calling it burn in was just laziness on my part in my OP. I explained image retention to my sister and told her if she did start to see it, she could run a "screensaver" to get rid of it but she was still skeptical. She was trying to tell me that an Xbox "looks better" on an LCD than a plasma. From what I know of the 2 formats, that didn't seem likely, but like I said, I have zero Xbox experience.
Click to expand...

I've played the 360 on both my LCD (Sammy 52" A650) and my friend's plasma, and any difference that might exist between the quality of the screens was quickly overshadowed by gameplay. In other words, there was no flaw in either screen that was distracting.

And I'm obviously a bit subjective here, but as far as picture quality goes, I don't see any real difference between his TV and mine. It might be the way I have my room setup, but blacks on my Sammy are as dark as the blacks on his plasma and usually as dark as the bezel on the Sammy (granted, I'm comparing my high-end-for-the-time LCD to his somewhat low-end plasma). The only real thing I dislike about my LCD is the fact that blacks will wash out off angle. I've learned to live with this sacrifice much as my friend has learned to live with image retention.

I have another friend that just got the 6000 series Sammy LED LCD, and I must say, without changing settings and going off angle, I noticed a bit of backlight bleed on the edges (this is an edge lit display). I haven't been over to help him adjust settings, but just from my cursory examination I found the problem to be somewhat annoying. Haven't noticed this issue on LED backlit panels like the LG.
 
DDR4040 said:
Thanks for the reply. Calling it burn in was just laziness on my part in my OP. I explained image retention to my sister and told her if she did start to see it, she could run a "screensaver" to get rid of it but she was still skeptical. She was trying to tell me that an Xbox "looks better" on an LCD than a plasma. From what I know of the 2 formats, that didn't seem likely, but like I said, I have zero Xbox experience.
Click to expand...

Yeah that doesn't make sense at all... I use my plasma for 80% xbox and maybe 20% movies, if that -- wouldn't ever go back to an LCD... maybe a localized dimming led lcd when they get cheaper, but the picture quality on a nice plasma blows me away. I have a 50in Panasonic. No regrets whatsoever for going Plasma.
 
PolygonGTC said:
It's not just games, it's any static image as plasma is prone to burn in. My opinion is this, why spend money on a technology that's being phased out.
Click to expand...

Apparently this isnt true at all. Plasma will end up lasting just as long as LCD. OLED will prolly be what replaces plasma in PQ, not LCD. I read somewhere plasmas made a big rebound this year.

I was over my LCD love affair once i got my sammy 50 plasma home.
 
Righty said:
Apparently this isnt true at all. Plasma will end up lasting just as long as LCD. OLED will prolly be what replaces plasma in PQ, not LCD. I read somewhere plasmas made a big rebound this year.

I was over my LCD love affair once i got my sammy 50 plasma home.
Click to expand...

How is it not true? Plasma has a tendency to burn in if a static image is left on the screen for a long period of time. Some have less of an issue than others. I don't know about plasma being around as long as LCD. It will be a while before OLED really becomes affordable. Even some people with the money to buy one don't want to.

As for the plasma rebound, you can attribute that to price. They are far more affordable than LCD. I'm not saying that LCD is better. They both have their trade offs.
 
PolygonGTC said:
How is it not true? Plasma has a tendency to burn in if a static image is left on the screen for a long period of time. Some have less of an issue than others. I don't know about plasma being around as long as LCD. It will be a while before OLED really becomes affordable. Even some people with the money to buy one don't want to.

As for the plasma rebound, you can attribute that to price. They are far more affordable than LCD. I'm not saying that LCD is better. They both have their trade offs.
Click to expand...

Sorry i meant the whole plasmas (being phased out). I do hear you have to try pretty hard to burn one in nowadays. My sammy has pixel shifting to help prevent it. I will report back, im using mine as a HTPC and spend a more time on the web than watching movies/tv. And absolutely its the price. As you say, that says nothing of the quality.
 
The big downside to plasma is power consumption and size. I don't know if they still have issues with the lifespan or not. The fact that they don't have issues response issues like LCD, mainly because they don't have response time, I'd actually considered one since I'm looking for a HDTV.
 
Power consumption is an issue

The Neo PDP are more efficient than previous plasmas but current LCDs still are the most efficient.

I don't think size matters. Plasmas are thin, maybe not as thin as LCDs but I don't see why it should matter unless you look at the tv from the side. Can't tell how thin it is when looking at the front of the TV.

They also weigh more but it is not like you have to hold the tv in your hands while watching it...
 
needmorecarnitine said:
Power consumption is an issue

The Neo PDP are more efficient than previous plasmas but current LCDs still are the most efficient.

I don't think size matters. Plasmas are thin, maybe not as thin as LCDs but I don't see why it should matter unless you look at the tv from the side. Can't tell how thin it is when looking at the front of the TV.

They also weigh more but it is not like you have to hold the tv in your hands while watching it...
Click to expand...

To me the power consumption and size issues are nit picks. However, if the lifespan issues still exist then that's a huge issue. It kept me from buying one when they came out.
 
Panasonic Plasma 1080p screen half life (until brightness halves) is 100,000 hours.
720p are 60,000 hours.
The highest LCD I have seen is 40,000 hours.
 
Just looking today and it seems they're between 60,000 and 100,000 on LCD. It seems they have improved it vastly. When they first came out it was pretty bad.
 
40,000 is still like 4.5 years. By that time most people get bored with it and move onto the next.
 
just wondering, is power consuption really that big of a deal?

Im honestly asking, I was told even with a plasma burning more power it would probably only equate to like $30 a year. Is this true or is it alot more?

Now with that said, im looking at getting a new 50"+ TV after christmas. I plan to watch alot of tv and blu-ray and some light gaming and not sure if I should go for a plasma or LCD.

I like plasmas cause they look good and are cheap and im told that to get the same motion anti-blur as a plasma i would need to fork over cash for a 120hz lcd, is this true or can 60hz LCD's perform just fine in fast movies and such in HD (lcd's like sharps aquos D65u series, there nice and affordable when on sale)

im not very knowledable in tv's and just want best picture for my money
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top