Welcome to the IHoP

[///M5 2,833]

Also helps dial things in. How do you know you need a 4" 6" or 8" riser? Guess? Much nicer to ride and change.

[dem beats 1,223]

I wish I would have gotten into sledding. Sounds like fun.

[///M5 2,833]

One other benefit of the adjustable. We all like to trade sleds periodically throughout the day. Good luck with the ape hangers if it's setup for me

[sandt38 448]

Plasmas are more expensive per square inch. Plasmas also offer a much better contrast ratios, and black levels (which are of course related to one another). Plasmas do have issues when brightness is boosted, thanks to their contrast ratios. Plasma's off axis viewing differences compared to LCD are better, compared to LED they are not quite as good. But the difference is negligible. In fact, all 3 are better then CRT TVs, so IMHO it is a moot point.

I prefer plasmas. IMO purity is more important then brightness. I use Avia for my TV set ups, so I deal with my brightness/contrast issues correctly, where many tend to reduce contrast and increase brightness based on personal tastes. But I do control lighting in my rooms, while many do not.

I can argue a million reasons why plasma is better. I personally prefer them. But, similarly, many can argue why LED is better. IMO LCD is too far behind to even be considered in this debate. The technology is played out. The bottom line is, you need to decide what fit's your viewing environment better. If I were unable, or unwilling, to control lighting I would likely select LED simply based on the environment. If I were a purist, I would be all over plasma, and deal with lighting afterwards.

FWIW the KURO displays were some of the finest in the world. However, KURO is no longer made by Pioneer. They are currently outsourced, and no where near the display they used to be. IMO for sub $5K displays, Samsung is impossible to beat.

[sandt38 448]

I wrote a paper a couple years back on Plasma vs LCD/LED TVs. While some aspects have changed, the basis in fact is still the same. I will copy it here.

The question is always apt to arise in any home theater forum, so i will start with... LCD or Plasma?

Let's discuss motion blur:

Motion blur is the effect caused by a delay between picture frames. LCDs were built for single still images (which is why they don't suffer from image burn), and therefore that is what they produce... single still images. This is why motion blur is an issue for them. In order to be used for a moving picture they have to "refresh" their image, or they need to put a new image up on the screen. Hence the term "refresh rate". Now, why did we never have to worry about refresh rates with CRTs? CRTs were developed for moving pictures, and used phosphor, an ever changing, ever moving substance, which sustains the glow after being excited for a period of time. So there is no hesitation between frames. Plasmas perform similarly, using phosphor as well. While LCDs were not designed for motion picture, plasma was. So the reason we don't see refresh rate listings on plasmas, is because they don't need to refresh, they are an ever changing picture.

Now, phosphor is the element that causes "burn in" so long pause times can create issues just like CRTs. BUT!!! CRT is less likely to burn in then plasmas. However, today's plasma manufacturers realize this is an issue, so they have inputted certain protection devices like pixel shift, etc. that help to reduce burn in.

Let's discuss in room lighting:

LCDs are far more forgiving in bright light situations. Plasmas require glass screens, and of course glass reflects light. LCDs are capable of functioning through a diffuser, so the surface is not as reflective. Plasmas do require a more controlled lighting situation.

Finally, let's discuss our resolution:

While a high resolution is desirable, in many cases they really are not necessary. For smaller TVs (I would say up to about 42-45 inch) 720 is perfectly fine. My son has a 40 inch 720 in his room, and there is no issue with PQ. Now, if you go into the family room, with the 50 inch TV, 1080 is really pretty much a requirement. low definition is not a pleasant experience at all on such a big TV.

So I would suggest you base the resolution on the screen size.

LEDs are basically LCDs using LED backlighting. But they definitely are superior to their standard backlit counterparts.

Heat is a TV killer. The vast majority of flat screen failures is due to heat build up. The components are all jammed really tight into a narrow case and they simply cannot get rid of the heat fast enough. If the mfgs cooled the units better, we could expect to see them last beyond 5 years. According to my buddy, the TV repair guy, about 95% of the failures he sees are due specifically to heat issues, not manufacturer defects, cheap components, or poor handling/abuse by the consumer. But, don't expect to see the manufacturers try to cool the cases down. They expect the units to fail within 3-5 years, just outside most extended warranty periods, and far outside most Mfg. standard warranties.

LEDs do work on a very low current, and therefore a low temperature model when compared to LCD backlighting, which generates heat, and the phosphorescence in plasmas, which build heat. Also, keep in mind, that heat is a loss of energy, or a reduction in efficiency. So by default, LEDs are also going to be more efficient.

My understanding is that the LEDs also make for deeper blacks then LCD (although not as deep as Plasma), and LEDs still do have the major issue of refresh rates. Remember, an LED TV is really just an LCD using LED backlighting. I know that they produce 240Hz and greater units to eliminate motion blur, but I hate to be the one to break it to you, there are no sources capable of reaching these refresh rates. IIRC 120Hz is the best thing going right now. So you still gain the benefits of phosphorescence just being better for motion images. I am not trying to take away from LED TVS, as i don't really have a lot of time messing with them, and I know that in a showroom with lighting, LEDs look amazing. But just based on how the image is produced, i think simply because of signal transfer that plasma is still better in this regard. But, with regards to light weight, low heat, greater efficiency, longer life, and performance in poorly controlled lighting in rooms, LED is definitely a winner.

Someone argued with me about his LED producing better blacks then any plasma he had seen, so I figured I would add my little reply.

Meh, I am just stating facts. You can search all you want for objective comparisons and see that plasmas have greater contrast ratios and better blacks, simply due to how they function. Subjectively, perhaps your LED is set up better, perhaps it does better in the room's lighting conditions or perhaps because of the color of your walls and plasma's reflectivity, there are many reasons why it would appear to you to be better, but objectively plasmas win the black level battle, simply by design. You can't manipulate physics.

LCD vs LED vs Plasma Debate Point #1: Contrast Ratio

A contrast ratio is the ability of the TV to show the high-contrast areas on the screen. The high contrast areas are the blacks and the whites in the picture. If a TV has a good contrast ratio, it means that it shows the differences between the darker and lighter areas of the screen remarkably well. The acid test of a TV's contrast ratio is in the dark scenes, where it needs to differentiate the shades of black.

Its a well accepted fact that plasma TVs generally have better contrast ratios than LCD and LED TVs. This is because plasma TVs have individual plasma cells, which automatically turn themselves off on the darker parts of the screen. LCD TVs on the other hand have a single liquid crystal and when the TV has to show the dark pictures, the CCFL back-light of the LCD only dims itself and hence the blacks aren't very convincing. On the other hand, LCD TVs powered with an LED back-light have a slight edge as the individual LEDs twist themselves into an 'off' position in the dark parts of the screen thus giving a more convincing black than the LCD TVs.

Verdict: On the contrast ratio parameter, the plasma TV clearly has the upper hand. The LED TV comes next in the race and the LCD TV comes last.

Source for the above

Contrast ratio

A television's contrast ratio represents its ability to show detail in high contrast areas of the screen, in the form of minute gradations of colour and blacks or whites. For example, a panel with a low contrast ratio will struggle to show the higher or lower extremes of an image. In layman's terms, this means detail will be lost in bright areas as well as in dark scenes. In a Blu-ray movie, for example Batman Begins, the loss of detail in dark scenes will quickly become apparent.

Most manufacturers increase the contrast capabilities of their screens by dynamically altering backlight brightness. This allows extra detail to be shown in dark scenes and can be a life-saver for a panel with a low static contrast ratio. Some manufacturers have taken their estimations of this dynamic contrast ratio to excess, rating their screens at contrast ratios of 1,000,000:1 — and even higher. While these figures demonstrate the advantages of dynamic contrast ratio alteration, they don't need to be a big factor in your buying decision.

It is generally accepted that plasma televisions have better contrast ratios than LCD panels, due to the fact that a plasma television can completely deactivate the light source for individual segments of the screen. This means sections of the screen can be completely dark while others are displaying bright colour, unlike a traditional LCD screen which has a single backlight array that can only alter brightness levels for the entire screen.

The latest LED backlight technology allows the television to individually control backlight segments. This technology allows for contrast ratios similar to those produced by plasma television panels. However, edge-lit LED televisions — usually available in an ultra-slim form factor — will have lower dynamic contrast ratios than the backlit LED models so be sure to check this detail before you purchase.

Source for the above

Plasma:

Upside:

Best black levels; very good home theater image quality in best examples; wide viewing angle.

Source for the above

Please, check many, many more links for yourself

While I agree that LEDs do do a much better job at everything compared to traditional backlit LCDs, they still don't do black levels, contrast ratios, or off angle viewing, or reduction in motion blur quite as well as a Plasma.

Each design has it's own drawbacks, however. You simply cannot have the very best of everything. There are certain compromises between all things, it is just up to the user to make an informed decision.

[dem beats 1,223]

Isnt LED simply the brightness feature for an LCD pannell?

[j-roadtatts 1,129]

The Sharp LED-LCD has a light sensor that adjusts according to ambiant light. IIRC you have to set the base brightness.

[///M5 2,833]

Plasma in the bedroom, LED in the living room. Plasma could not handle the glare in my living room, but it's ALL windows and I needed a matte screen. Bought the plasma originally for the living room, but shucks it had to move to the bedroom.

[sandt38 448]

Isnt LED simply the brightness feature for an LCD pannell?

It is simply the back lighting for the screen. LCD is basically lit by an incandescent bulb, where LED is backlit by LED. LED runs cooler, and brighter then incandescent bulbs. It allows for more sharpness, and brightness. This is beneficial in a bright room, but not so much for a lighting controlled room.

[sandt38 448]

Plasma in the bedroom, LED in the living room. Plasma could not handle the glare in my living room, but it's ALL windows and I needed a matte screen. Bought the plasma originally for the living room, but shucks it had to move to the bedroom.

This is exactly why I keep trying to state, you MUST consider the environment when selecting the TV type.

[j-roadtatts 1,129]

I watch less tv in a year than most ppl probably watch in a week.

[j-roadtatts 1,129]

One more hour and my Friday is over!!

[dem beats 1,223]

My living room gets a work out. But I am always doing something else these days.

Food network actually made my ADHD slow enough to watch.

[///M5 2,833]

Plasma in the bedroom, LED in the living room. Plasma could not handle the glare in my living room, but it's ALL windows and I needed a matte screen. Bought the plasma originally for the living room, but shucks it had to move to the bedroom.

This is exactly why I keep trying to state, you MUST consider the environment when selecting the TV type.

Yep, knew that when I bought the plasma, but the price was ridiculous so I had to. Wanted to wait for a thin bezel screen for the living room. It was only a 9 mo solution and really only a couple weeks were bad. When we have trees, no problem. This time of year though, it sucks for football in the living room if you don't have a screen that is setup for it.

[Tirefryr 1,742]

Isnt LED simply the brightness feature for an LCD pannell?

It is simply the back lighting for the screen. LCD is basically lit by an incandescent bulb, where LED is backlit by LED. LED runs cooler, and brighter then incandescent bulbs. It allows for more sharpness, and brightness. This is beneficial in a bright room, but not so much for a lighting controlled room.

The LED TVs are LCDs lit by LEDs.

[dem beats 1,223]

All I know is no matter what the lighting is..... I look GOOD!

[dem beats 1,223]

I am a sexy mother fucker.

Edited October 23, 2012 by dem beats

[OuTLaWeD 110]

I updated the pic from a few pages back, but since you guys don't read backwards here is the tunnel polish

Was stressing over the EGT gauge mount, but you'll see I got smart. Sled came with an extra set of hand protectors so I took the aluminum mount and grabbed a few things from the hardware store and now the EGT follows the bars when I raise and lower them. Nearly 4" of travel which is enough to adjust from sitting to standing. Requires a 1/2" wrench, but I'll keep one in my map bag on the tank.

love the sled, great brand! thanks for the support!

[dem beats 1,223]

I need a giant Italian sammich.

I had one for dinner and it was so not what I wanted that I am now thinking about going out to get ingredients to make one.

[ssh 924]

Finished chm work, now it's time to feast. Steak, kale salad with cranberries, and squash with lots of butter.

[nem 2,019]

All this tv talk makes me appreciate my GE 25" crt that I bought back in 1995 and it still works great. The only bad viewing angle it has is you can not sit directly behind it and view the screen.

[dem beats 1,223]

I feel like all those wives of Asian guys.

[ssh 924]

All this tv talk makes me appreciate my GE 25" crt that I bought back in 1995 and it still works great. The only bad viewing angle it has is you can not sit directly behind it and view the screen.

ROFL

[Tirefryr 1,742]

Nice Neal.

FYI, apparently all it take is 5 doubles of Disarrono and I am FUCKED.

[OuTLaWeD 110]

Nice Neal.

FYI, apparently all it take is 5 doubles of Disarrono and I am FUCKED.

light weight