i'm from monitor section, been reading up on IPS, LCD, colour reproduction, etc.~

buying around 2pm today but I need Plasma model recommendation & don't know anything about (need advise);
=============================================================
1) only play 720p (compressed 4.5GB rips), normal 480p TV contents, and view still pics
2) plasma vs LCD
3) price
4) best for colour reproduction / picture quality
5) very good contrast (darker black)
6) does IPS or TN panels still relevant for TV (it matters for refresh rate and colour reproduction for monitors)?
7) ports for old DVD player and 5.1 sound system (old TV cables' pic attached; it says Y/Video, Video 1, 2, and Video 3/Component)
=============================================================

budget is RM5,000 and 40" - 60" depending on factors above~ I'll most probably be buying a 1366 x 768 or a 16:10 as resolution don't need to be 1080~

for Christmas, I'm buying mum a TV, I really want my mum to have the best as she's very bored at home and I can't be with her all the time~

Player:
I'll read up and research HD player tonight~ for the TV, I hope some good soul will help me with this, thanks~

This post has been edited by sexualpower: Dec 25 2010, 11:33 AM


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1) All TV's are 16:9. I don't think there's any 16:10 TVs.
2) For RM 5k, why do you want to buy 1366 x 768 resolution!!! I bet all TVs at that price is FULL HD. Believe me you'll want 1080p and regret if you get a 1365x768 resolution...
3) Just buy the latest Sharp Quattron LED with the biggest size that RM5K can go...Maybe can get 50"...i am not too sure.
4) HD player, maybe ur TV has built in one oready for RM 5K. If not, buy a WDTV Live if you don't watch RMVB, if watch RMVB buy Acryan Playon HD or other Realtek based chipset player. Buy a branded one with good firmware support.

Merry Christmas!!!

LG Plasma 50' FULL HD tv... around RM4600 i think its ok

thanks so much for your help!~

2) my mum will NEVER watch Blu-Ray, thus, 1080 is definitely no use and I believe that having good native resolution is important, if have 1280 x 720 I'll buy I think~ I've read from sources that 720p and 1080p not much difference, I hope sifu can clear this out for me, coz downloading 1080p movies really take a long time~
3) LED vs Plasma, will the LED win in contrast (darker black) and colour reproduction?~ thanks for your advise, I go research on Sharp Quattron now~
4) oh ic, didn't know got TV with built in player!~ I know WDTV but expensive, got the materials, will go straight to research after buying the TV~ RMVB still exist?~ haha, i never watch those, never go back since I got HD monitor~

thanks so much!~

At RM5K budget, I don't think there is any 720p LCD in the market, all are 1080; maybe some older Plasma are 720 but really at that price, go for FullHD. Plasma is more gentle on the eyes for long period of viewing but best is let your eyes be the judge and better still, let your mum's eyes be the judge. You may want to check my HDTV Blog as a very rough guide.
BTW, when I first have my HDTV, I was also thinking that I will not watch BD movies but after watching a few, I am now a BD convert!

This post has been edited by ronaldkwok: Dec 25 2010, 07:39 AM

1) Don't say never...after your mom watch some BD disc...maybe she don't wanna watch DVD anymore....Your mom will scold you for not introducing her to BD earlier!!! LOL. btw, native resolution are NOT that important....this is movies, not gaming. Gaming in non-native resolution will make the screen blur, but not movies. i know you have prowl in PC forums too long...those theories not applicable for movies, only gaming, ok? Go for FULLHD, you'll regret if you don't. Bluray disc player are very cheap RM399 can get...some Sharp model also comes with built in BD player.

2) WDTV Live very cheap nia....RM299 only. If you don't need RMVB , i recommend WDTV Live. I would personally prefer external HD media player than those built inside TVs coz got better file format support and frequent firmware updates to keep track of latest file format change...and other goodies like online services...etc Youtube, Facebook...

This post has been edited by Matrix: Dec 25 2010, 07:56 AM

yes, done reading the HDTV blog, helps so much, only don't understand what is "RCA connection"~ thanks, it'll b plasma then, so that my mum's eyes can be more relaxed~

i'm worried about the upscaling or extrapolation from 720p & 480p to 1080~ like what u've mentioned, I don't know about TVs and we're quite sure of not getting Blu-Ray coz it costs RM30 - RM80 per disc, which is ridiculous~ unless BD is about RM20, then fine, I'll get 1080 right away~

watching 720p using a full HD, will there be any problems due to upscaling / extrapolation to 1080 (since the TV can only show 1080)?~

RCA connectors are those commonly used before the HDMI era. The composite one (yellow for video, red/white for audio) or the component ones (red, blue and green for video) that you use to connect the DVD to the TV. The component output will give a better picture, especially on HDTV; best is of course is HDMI.
There is no problem on the upscaling from 720 materials to show on 1080 TV since it is already HD. As for SD material (480p) some may look a bit worse but some may look a bit better, depends on the upscaling engine but of course don't expect HD quality.
Actually if you look at the price of BD, it is falling and approaching those of DVD; for some titles on offer, it may be even cheaper than DVD! BD is the way to go. Some DVD also look pretty good on HDTV, especially those remastered titles and if you are not too fussy.

This post has been edited by ronaldkwok: Dec 25 2010, 08:17 AM

a) Ahem...ahem...cough hack BD....(sshhhhhh)....or you can share ur collection of 1080p moviesmovie trailers with friends....you can find a lot of "friends" here who probably willing to share with you for a nice "exchange"..
b) No problem at all. I have many 720p movies i watch on my FullHD 40" LCD. Doesn't have as many details as 1080p, but sure won't blur like running a 1024 x 768 on a 1680 x 1050 LCD monitor. Believe me, i game on PC and XBOX as well.

RCA mean things like composite cable, you know that yellow, red, white connector type you see on most CRT TV. That kinda head connector is called RCA.

This post has been edited by Matrix: Dec 25 2010, 08:24 AM

oh ic, then RCA is very important coz got 2 old DVD players at home & 1 VHS!~ just noticed that the HDTV blog is yours!~ thanks a bunch ^5~

for upscaling, I'll ask the people to try NTV7 then, haha~ most of the time, mum will be watching TV only actually~

whoaaa!!~ really?~ i didn't know that BD's price is dropping so fast but checked earlier and it's RM30 - RM60, mum said "crazy", lol~

In that case, better subscribe to Astro Byond, it is the next best thing to BD. Otherwise, no point getting a HDTV other than the bigger screen. Just my view.

This post has been edited by ronaldkwok: Dec 25 2010, 08:38 AM

Plasma suffer burn-ins easily compared to LCD so ensure your mum don't leave the TV with static image (channel logo) for more than 10 mins or watch programs in 4:3 with thick black side bars.

If possible, set screen saver on HD player, DVD player and TV to ON.

haha!~ never thought of sharing but that's great!~ i like trailers!~ actually i dl trailers from hd-trailers.net everyday and that was where my first HD contents came from~

upscaling no problem then it's 1080 Full HD!~

wahlau, another cost for me~ but good suggestion as well wor!~ so now can match with good source~

yeah, read about the burn-ins, thanks a lot for the advise on screen saver!~ great suggestion~

thanks guys, really helped me a lot, need 1 last thing, anyone can suggest best model for a will be buying the monitor and showing u guys the pics~ hopefully mum is satisfied, so is dad, otherwise, my money

This post has been edited by sexualpower: Dec 25 2010, 11:38 AM

I suppose your mum is over 50 years old. If yes, older people's eyes are more sensitive to lights and Plasma would be the most gentle on eyes with LED the harshest.

Tell you what....take your mum down to the showroom but note this:

1. Showroom are all very brightly lighted so they are more suited to display brightly lighted LED. And shows Plasma in worst possible light. But at home, the situation is often reversed. If there are no bright window in house, Plasma would be at their best and beats LCD hands down and on-par with LED

2. Get your mum to stayed locked onto a Plasma for 10 minutes. Then immediately get her to watch an LED. 8 out of 10 older people will say.....wow...too bright lah....eyes can not tahan.

BTW, Plasma's 2 main disadvantages will be:
1. Having glass as screen, they can be very reflective. LCD no such problem. But some LED deliberately add glass to their screen so just as reflective as Plasma.
2. About twice the power consumption of LCD/LED so runs hotter so need better ventilation.

Bottom line: You MUST bring your mum to check both out.

For 5k, just get any that suite the money but remember get 1080P.

If using old type of antenna for TV channel (not Astro B.yond), the image won't be as clear as you seen in CRT, but the output is same nor matter your TV is 720P(HD ready) or 1080P(Full HD).

But they is a different when playback HD content (maybe not now but in future).

My suggestion:

Get 720P(HD ready) / better 1080P(True HD) for TV size 32inch and below.

Get 1080P(True HD) for TV size 40inch and above.


With your budget of 5K, they is no point and wrong decision choosing a 720P TV only.

This post has been edited by Andrewtst: Dec 25 2010, 12:18 PM

Ha ha ha...after getting the 50" and a WDTV Live, you mum will not want to watch any TV3, 4, 5 or 6 or NTV7!
Semua series english or Hong Kong (just showing) also can be share and in 720p resolution also!

This post has been edited by DarkNite: Dec 25 2010, 12:36 PM

confirmed getting Plasma 50" - 60"~

need help with:
1) model
2) player for .mkv, Blu-Ray

media player budget?

out of time, buying in 1h, please recommend Plasma model, RM5k budget, 50" - 60", SOS, please help, thanks guys!~

media player RM500 budget~

panasonic v20

I like color that are more natural so will go for Panasonic 50V for RM5.5K. If out of budget, get the 50U for RM3.5-3.7K.

If I like vivid color, can look at Samsung. Also heard Samsung better with Standard Definition program.

This post has been edited by Optiplex330: Dec 25 2010, 12:48 PM

here's a comprehensive comparison of all the lcd and plasmas :-

http://www.lcdtvbuyingguide.com/

For RM5000 you are down to 2 choices for 50in and above full hd:-

1. Sony 55in ex500 lcd full hd 100hz - RM5500 with rebate
2. Samsung 50inpn50c6500 plasma full hd - RM4900
3. LG Pk550 50in plasma - RM3300

i doubt that you can get the stok on the spot as now many models of tv are lacking stoks..

The current price for LG Plasma 50PK550 50" Full HD is just RM3600..just wanna share with everybody here.

guys, thanks so much for your help~ mum was touched but when we went to Seng Heng and Tai Heng Seremban, none of the models mentioned was available;
---------------------------------
Panasonic U, V
Sony EX
Samsung PN, C series
LG PK
---------------------------------

only available is LG PJ350, which was found at RM3,100 in Seremban~ according to the sales person in Tai Heng, all Samsung models are available for ordering~

tonight after dinner, will be going to Jusco, Carrefour, and Tesco as these places should have more choices and available stock~

now, time to research player, most probably ask Yangxi about his HDPRO R1055 / 1073DD~ thanks guys, merry christmas and I'll give full review and full pics after purchase of both Plasma and media player~

appreciate your help, thanks to your list, at least I'm able to tell whether the models in the shops are up to date or not~

seems like u're right, could be because of Xmas shopping~

The HDPRO R1055 with the latest Realtek chipset is pretty good if you do not need networking. It can play all the common video formats with full HD audio bitstream. (The WDTV is also popular but cannot play RMVB files.) It has the full output ports - HDMI, composite, component, both digital optical and coaxial output. For inputs, it has 3+1 USB and also a Memory card slot. I think you cannot get anything better at RM199. Reliability is too early to tell since it is new but the built is solid and Yangxi has pretty good after sales support for a one-man show. I have one and find the GUI better than the older HDPRO 1073DD (the one with networking).

Though you may not want to play BD now, I cannot help but mention that for BD player, the Samsung BD C5500 at RM399 is again hard to beat at this price. It can play all Region A BD (ori or otherwise) and also upscales DVD to your HDTV. With this BD player, no need to get a HDMI DVD player that costs RM299 for most branded ones. Hope this helps and good luck in your quest!

This post has been edited by ronaldkwok: Dec 25 2010, 05:45 PM

thanks, ronald, u've been so helpful~ I've met Yangxi many years before and read his review on the 1055~ fortunately, I don't play RMVB and I'll be researching the player for BD, it may have to wait for another 1 week for that~

currently still browsing on Plasma 50" and 60", hope to get some reviews from Googling~ hopefully can find a nice one tonight either at Jusco/Carrefour/Tesco~

will give my own reviews as compared to my monitor as well (i think it's appropriate as many have asked about using TV as monitor coz LCD has no radiation but Plasma does)~

Been following this thread What u said is right,I'm also looking around for Samsung BD-C5500,mainly because I have a lot of DVD's at home,so it can upscale it

I believe most, if not all, BD players will upscale DVD, but each brand has a different engine so the results will probably be different. I pick the Samsung simply because it was the cheapest branded BD player (RM399) at that time. Now I see other brands are also selling at this price such as LG and Philips so it is good for us consumers since now we have more choice. Owners of the other brands at this price may want to share their experience to benefit pontential buyers. Good news must be shared, it is Christmas!

This post has been edited by ronaldkwok: Dec 25 2010, 06:42 PM

Yes,I find it is quite cheap too,only RM399 for a Samsung But I can't find much shops selling it,they are mostly selling Philips,I saw one shop selling Philips BDP-2700 for RM399,same price as this Samsung BD-C5500,what do u think?Take the Philips or continue looking at samsung?

Cannot really comment on the Philips since I have not used one before. I believe the BDP2700 is an old model (someone correct me if I am wrong), better go for the Philips BDP3100, a newer model that I saw somewhere also at RM399. Owners of these Philips models may want to comment.

I'm using the Phillips 3100 so far so good. I suggest threadstarter if u want best price go to desa.

This post has been edited by DannyOP: Dec 25 2010, 07:16 PM

But does the Philips 3100 support MKV?No right?

if u r in seremban u can make a visit at a shop near rahang call hong bee,i bought 4 pcs of lcd from there after felt cheated by xxxx heng 2 years ago.i went there last week saw a samsung 50 in fhd plasma forgot what series and told about rm3800 .look for the short guy with spec,a nice salesman.

here's another useful site for comparing plasma tvs. Most of the models are available in KL so I found this site to be very useful before I bought mine :-

http://www.plasmatvbuyingguide.com/

actually BD2700 is newer model

realy??? wow, hyper cheap ady nwdays where? desa?

50" Full HD from LG and Panasonic are now all priced similarly at RM3.5-3.8K. Go compare and see which one you like.

Ya, you are right, after some checking, the Philips BDP2700 is indeed a newer model than the BDP3100. Out of curiosity, I compared the specs of both and surprised that though both support Dolby True HD, only BDP3100 supports DTS-HD Master Audio while the BDP2700 only has DTS 2.0+Digital Out so it is like moving backwards to me. Just wonder why or I missed something? Audio sifus here may want to comment on this.

BD2700 is newer model?That's very weird,why is it newer model but the model number goes backwards?

thanks so much for all your help, ady ordered Panny Viera TH-P50X20K but no news from supplier yet, price is at RM2,700 and bargained for free HDMI cable (confirmed cheapo type ones)~ is there chance that there is no old stock?~

is it normal that those 2010 models are still priced so high even though 2011 models should be out in 3 - 4 months' time?~

anyway, now looking for something to play .mkv files, .flv files, .avi files and other media like pictures (hope no burn-out) and other media~ do i need a media player + HDD?~ is there any other setup for this (I have an old year 2003 T-bred that can play 720p but no HDMI output, although can use LAN)~

I read review on 1055 media player from Yangxi and wonder whether a TV can straightaway play the above media just by plugging in a HDD~ possible?~

Hey good buy man,50'' for RM2700

I think these 2010 models are quite cheap already,probably will be cheaper once the 2011 models comes out.

I think a good media player for you would be WDTV Live,that's what everyone will recommend anyway,or Yangxi

haha, i think so too, but can't wait till 2011 models, i expect they will be introduced in Mar or Apr~

yup. yangxi 1055 can play straight away all media files buy just plugging the HDD. just the downside of it, no LAN port for network or stream, and no wifi.

This post has been edited by creative zn: Dec 28 2010, 11:56 PM

paid liau~ now only remember i need recording function, for mum to record NTV7, which is very important, any players can do that?~ still waiting for Yangxi to online~

mind telling us whos the supplier?
got a fren that might be interested.

This post has been edited by boygenetic: Dec 29 2010, 08:02 AM

Yangxi is his LN member name~ met him years ago for DVD-R COD~

been selling stuffs for years, absolutely recommended by me~

Yangxi's threads <<-- click here

alrighty, thanks !!! though hes in Melaka.

I wonder if the player is his own?Did he invent it himself,I mean

full HD only 1080 ma.