Fujitsu 50" - unimpressed?

[lesterm]

Hi all,

I recently had two plasma's installed in my vacation home in Florida - one 50" Fujitsu and a 42" LG. With broadcast HD content, I don't notice a huge difference between the two sets - am I just blind? I also have a 32" Samsung LCD at my other residence, and I would say that the HD looks best on that set. Evidently, the Fujitsu is supposed to have the better PQ in terms of the plasmas - is there anything I should look at closely to try and see the PQ difference between the two sets. Do custom installers typically calibrate these sets after installation? I should probably just ask, but given my frustration with my CI (see below), I hesitate to keep contacting them with inane questions.

Also, as a side note and a gripe - I had my FL home done by a custom installer, and when I went to the house to verify the work after completion, I noticed that they connected the 42" LG to the DVD player by a COMPOSITE connection. I was a bit puzzled, and I looked on the installation proposal, and noticed they spec'd a component connection. Due to the length of the cable run (>50' or so), I imagine that there would have been a serious difference between the composite and component, not only in terms of quality, but also in terms of price. If I hadn't checked the actual connections (and if I were less tech savvy), I would never had noticed this oversight. Do you think this happens often in the CI world, or is this just a mistake? I mean, they also programmed the remote, and it is set to AV1 instead of Component, which is how I first noticed the error - so this seems like a purposeful error, rather than just a causal oversight.

[Frost147]

Someone trying the cheap-jack an installation? NEVER! How can you even THINK of accusing someone of doing such a dastardly deed:) :)

And at least up here (north of the 49th parallel) no installer will do a pro calibration on their own. You'd have to make other arrangements with a professional for that type of added service. C'mon, you really want one of the "Pull 'N Clamp" boys to dink around the innards of your plasmas and LCD? Asking for trouble, that is. Asking for it.

I hope you held back the obligatory 10% of the final cost, to be released only after you've signed off that all is to your spec and expectations.

Composite does not equal component in anyone's book - except maybe a dunderhead. But even then, they had to know enough of what they were doing to set up your remote that way too, right?

It appears like someone tried to pull a "swifty" on ya - and you caught it. Good for you - now have them do it right the 2nd time, before making that final payment.

What touch-holes.

[Ken Ross]

Your is the first post like this I've ever read on the 50" Fujitsu plasma. Yes, it should blow away a 42" LG. Perhaps you don't have the settings or connections correct?

[lesterm]

Perhaps the connections aren't proper on the Fujitsu panel; given the mistake on the LG installation, I have my doubts about the company. I went with them because they were highly regarded, and my visit to the company left me very impressed. Don't get me wrong, the Fujitsu PQ is *very good*, I just don't see it as being tremendously impressive given the price over, for example, the Panasonic plasma. I paid them in full before actually checking everything out, but they were very gracious when I called them on the composite connection - they are coming back to rectify the situation.

I hope they didn't connect the Fujitsu via composite as well. Given the nature of the installation, I didn't really have the desire to check the DVD player, considering I would have to get behind a custom installed cabinet and everything. I imagine that the on-screen menu's should give me some indication as to the connection - does anyone know what the screen should say when I switch to a component connection on the Fujitsu (like component 1 or something like that? Or are the inputs on the Fujitsu more generic - I seem to recall it saying something like Input 1 when I turn on the cable box, which is connected via a high def connection) I am in NC right now, so I can't check anything ATM.

[Jim Boden]

[QUOTE=Frost147]And at least up here (north of the 49th parallel) no installer will do a pro calibration on their own.[/QUOTE]

I don't know if this is part of your sarcasm, but this statement is completely false.

[omeletpants]

[QUOTE=lesterm] Don't get me wrong, the Fujitsu PQ is *very good*, I just don't see it as being tremendously impressive given the price over, for example, the Panasonic plasma.

[/QUOTE]

If they were side-by-side you might change your impression

[Robonaut]

I would think that the Fujitsu should look quite a bit better than the LG if for no other reason than it's extra resolution.

Still, Home Theater magazine wasn't that impressed with the the Fujitsu plasma that they reviewed in October (see here (http://hometheatermag.com/plasmadisplays/1006fujitsu/) ), so it may not just be you.

[Halfpipetrick]

One thing to take into account as well is that in general the picture on a 42" is going to look crisper than on a 50" panel due to the tighter pixel structure, etc. However, being that Fujitsu is the best PDP on the market today (not many will dispute this...) it should still look better than your 42" LG particularly when connected via HDMI.