Panasonic or Sony direct view? + Questions

[yonlorelle]

Hi all,

I am going to be purchasing a new direct view HDTV this week. Currently I have a Toshiba 26HF84 which is going back this weekend. It was a mistake to buy this TV as I am having most problems that people have described here(poor image quality/grainy, the gray/light lines on top, flashing in 1080i mode, etc).

I read somewhere that you shouldn't try to enter the HD market cheaply, and I've certainly learned that.

Now, I am looking to replace it with the Panasonic CT-26WX15 or possibly a Sony KV-30HS420.

From what I have read and understand, the Panasonic only supports 480p/1080i, but not 480i/720p - is that correct? I would assume that it up-scales the resolutions it doesn't support (720p -> 1080i)? Would that cause any problems or iregularities with the image? Why wouldn't it support everything, just cheaper not to?

The Sony supports all the formats as far as I can tell. It's a bigger TV (30") and comes with a higher price of course. From what I've read, everyone loves the sony.

Any suggestions or recommendations? My basic requirements are HD/Direct View/HDMI/ <= 30in TV.

Your input is greatly appreciated.

[kny3twalker]

From what I have read and understand, the Panasonic only supports 480p/1080i, but not 480i/720p - is that correct? I would assume that it up-scales the resolutions it doesn't support (720p -> 1080i)? Would that cause any problems or iregularities with the image? Why wouldn't it support everything, just cheaper not to?

no thats all backwards
the panasonic will take 480i, 480p, 1080i as input and displays 480p for the first two and displays 1080i for 1080i
it do not accept 720p at all as input

The Sony supports all the formats as far as I can tell. It's a bigger TV (30") and comes with a higher price of course. From what I've read, everyone loves the sony.

no the Sony will accept 720p which the panasonic does not
but the Sony does not display 720p either

and since you seem to be willing to spend more on a Sony anyways why not buy the KD30XS955?

[jdawg131]

If you go with the KD30XSS955, use this coupon, http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...5&type=category, at your local Best and you'll be able to snag the tv for under $850.

[yonlorelle]

[QUOTE=jdawg131]If you go with the KD30XSS955, use this coupon, (removed), at your local Best and you'll be able to snag the tv for under $850.[/QUOTE]

That URL gives me 404 Page Not Found error.. How can I find it on their site?

So the KD30XS955 supports all those formats natively?

With the Panasonic, if something was being broadcasted in 720p, it wouldn't be able to display it at all?


Thanks!

[yonlorelle]

I've been reading that the KD-30XS955 has had problems with the power supply. Has anyone ran into any problems?

[kny3twalker]

I do not have any issues with mine
and the panasonic would not display anything if it was feed a 720p feed

but you should know that all HD cable and satellite boxes have scalars
so either way it would be scaled
either by the TV in the case of a Sony and such or by the STB

[yonlorelle]

[QUOTE=kny3twalker]I do not have any issues with mine
and the panasonic would not display anything if it was feed a 720p feed

but you should know that all HD cable and satellite boxes have scalars
so either way it would be scaled
either by the TV in the case of a Sony and such or by the STB[/QUOTE]

How long have you had the XS, if you don't mind?

Also, just so I understand completely, the XS support 720p natively, correct?

I have a comcast HD box, and it does scale as you said, however I'd like to buy a TV that supports all the popular formats natively.

[jdawg131]

Unfortunately, I couldn't locate the coupon. Even without the coupon though, the tv is still under $1,000.

[ZRX Ry]

I'm going through much the same process here. I've been wanting an HDTV set for quite a while and had sort of gravitated towards plasma or direct view LCD originally, for the reduced weight, the "wow" factor of flat panels, the complete lack of geometry and convergence issues, and, in the case of LCD, lack of burn-in issues. However, I was finding the cost/performance ratio of most of what was available to me through retailers I trust was just not sufficient.

Anyways, a week and a half ago I took a run to Costco with a friend to see what they have and came across a Sony KDE 37XS955 Plasma display, which is based on the 1024x1024 Alis planel. 1000:1 CR claimed, in the same ballpark as current LCD panels. Tons 'o features - cablecard, QAM, optical audio out, etc. Only problem is that its black levels and grey scales just plain suck, at least to my eyes. And really, 37" is almost a bit big for my space. It's too bad, because it's a beautiful, well-featured set, other than the PQ.

So I've returned to the land of direct-view CRT as my best bet for good PQ at a reasonable price. 34" will have to do as that is the largest direct-view WS CRT available. Considered the Sony 34HS... but I don't like the look of the cabinet, and it does not have the inputs that I want. I like the 34XS955 but the only place I've seen it available in Canada is through the Sony Store/sonystyle.ca, at a MSRP of $2699. Might be able to knock them down a bit, though.

Finally settled on the Panasonic 34WX15 as the best bet for my purposes - good resolution, better than the Sony HS set, not quite as good as the XS955. PQ is said to be quite good, certainly comparable to the Sonys, anyway. The lack of 720p input shouldn't be an issue for me, as my digital cable STB only outputs 1080i, anyway. Lots of inputs, including an HDMI. Priced at $1399.99 at Futureshop Canada currently, plus $50 for shipping. Only available on the web. I ordered one today, may have it before the weekend.

[yonlorelle]

Here is a weird question..

Do these Sony's have the horizontal lines going across the screen if you look closely? I remember in older Sony's (SD) you could see 2 lines going across, which drove me insane..

[yonlorelle]

Am I crazy? Can you still see those lines with these newer HDTV sets?

[EMG7895]

I dont see them on mine but I havent noticed them or remember them on any of my old sets. I prefer the sony but the panasonic would be my second choice.

[DanOK]

Best Buy coupon link (it is available from the list of categories on the TV front page):

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?type=category&id=pcmcat70500050005

[kny3twalker]

How long have you had the XS, if you don't mind?

Also, just so I understand completely, the XS support 720p natively, correct?

I have a comcast HD box, and it does scale as you said, however I'd like to buy a TV that supports all the popular formats natively.

since december of 2004

the XS does accept 720p as input but scales to 1080i, 720p sources
there is no Consumer CRT that supports native 720p displaying

the only instance which 720p would be required where no scaling is available is on 720p xbox title whihc there are only a handful of
but you could still do 480p widescreen

Anyways, a week and a half ago I took a run to Costco with a friend to see what they have and came across a Sony KDE 37XS955 Plasma display, which is based on the 1024x1024 Alis planel. 1000:1 CR claimed, in the same ballpark as current LCD panels. Tons 'o features - cablecard, QAM, optical audio out, etc. Only problem is that its black levels and grey scales just plain suck, at least to my eyes. And really, 37" is almost a bit big for my space. It's too bad, because it's a beautiful, well-featured set, other than the PQ.

look at a pioneer or panasonic plasma
your opinion may change
and about Contrast Ratio, do not buy into the numbers
plasma have much better contrast or range of grays than LCDs

the EDTVs from panasonic and although not HD displays
can match CRTs in terms of black level

Considered the Sony 34HS... but I don't like the look of the cabinet, and it does not have the inputs that I want.

cabinet is nearly the same as the XS and XBR TVs, and the inputs are the exact same as the XS and XBR - minus cable card slot and ATSC tuner

the benefit of the XS and XBR TVs is there super fine pitch tube
nearly twice the resolution of the HS model

Do these Sony's have the horizontal lines going across the screen if you look closely? I remember in older Sony's (SD) you could see 2 lines going across, which drove me insane..

all Sony tubes use an aperature grill
so yes the lines will be there
but a properly calibrated TV should not show them
I have yet to see them and my sight is quite good

[yonlorelle]

[QUOTE=kny3twalker]
all Sony tubes use an aperature grill
so yes the lines will be there
but a properly calibrated TV should not show them
I have yet to see them and my sight is quite good[/QUOTE]

How would I go about to properly tune the XS?

Thanks for all the info!

[ZRX Ry]

[QUOTE=kny3twalker]
look at a pioneer or panasonic plasma
your opinion may change
and about Contrast Ratio, do not buy into the numbers
plasma have much better contrast or range of grays than LCDs

the EDTVs from panasonic and although not HD displays
can match CRTs in terms of black level
[/QUOTE]
Panasonic and Pio plasmas are too $$$$ for me. I only picked up the Sony because Costco had it at a knock-down price, and really spent more money than I was orignally planning. And to think I had actually considered LCDs - and 32 inchers by good brands are almost as expensive as a 34XS955. I think I'll wait a bit for the flat panel market to mature - it can only get better and in the meantime I'll still get to enjoy the limited HD content available on my CRT.

cabinet is nearly the same as the XS and XBR TVs, and the inputs are the exact same as the XS and XBR - minus cable card slot and ATSC tuner

the benefit of the XS and XBR TVs is there super fine pitch tube
nearly twice the resolution of the HS model

To my eye the Panasonic's cabinet looks significantly better than the HS's. You're right about the inputs, though - for some reason I thought it didn't have HDMI. Anyway, the price/performance/feature combination on the Panny is good for me at this time. And if it still isn't good enough then I'll consider the XS955, but it's still pricey in Canada, $2699 list and I haven't seen it much elsewhere.

all Sony tubes use an aperature grill
so yes the lines will be there
but a properly calibrated TV should not show them
I have yet to see them and my sight is quite good
They're easy to see on my 20" Trinitron monitor at work, not so much on my 17" at home, but I've never noticed them at a normal viewing distance on a Sony TV.

[kny3twalker]

How would I go about to properly tune the XS?

either connect your cable to it from the wall not from the Set top box, if you have HD in your area
then it will tune unencrypted channels (do a channel scan of course first)
rent a cable card and then rescan and you should get all the encrypted and unencrypted channels

for Over the Air HD and digital
get an antenna
then run the channel scan
use webantenna.org to find which way to point it