Hi Anfieldude, what is the black level measurement for Pioneer KRP-500 A? Is it comparable to KRP-600M?

That's funny. Now you sounded like a Sammy fanboy. LOL

the 2010 samsung plasma are just not that bad. you made them sound like they're not even worth checking out. all i've said (even when you're choosing your set) is to check them out. do a side by side comparison. that's all i did. i reckon even you did check them out. noticed any significant difference in black level performance?

anyway,
at the end of last year, got a lot of buzz that leds with local dimming could possibly take the throne from plasmas. 2011 saw a lot of led models released with local dimming capability and yet nobody bothers to talk about them. IINM even medium range LG have local dimming this year.
either they're still bad or they're not yet widely available on the shelves.

When I do my selection of Plasma, I heard of this black issue but don't really know what they are so it wasn't in my consideration.

I picked Panasonic primarily because I find it's color more natural than Samsung. May be it's just rumor but my friend told me Panasonic are more reliable.

well i'm aware of the issue and know what to look for. even then i couldn't detect any significant difference between them. even tried to look for the floating black and couldn't find any scene that had the issue. maybe you can't do a proper comparison in a showroom, or my eyes are really just not sensitive enough to tell between $hit and gold

This thread is to document the black level measurements of the various displays that I have measured black levels in Malaysia/Singapore or anywhere in Asia

My equipment:

For the purposes of black level measurements I will use the following

1. X-Rite Chroma 5E
Specs : 0.02cd/m2 - 1000cd/m2
          (0.006ft/L - 291ft/L)

2. Klein K-10
Measurement Range:
0.00006-2919 fL; 0.0002-10,000 cd/m2

cd/m2 - Candela/meter2
ft/L - foot Lamberts

I also own a EyeOne Pro Spectrophotometer that is used for calibration but not suitable for black level measurements.

The lower the number indicates lower black levels (better). These measurements are for a full/window black 0% IRE signal. As I get ANSI contrast measurements, I will add to this thread.

Plasma

Pioneer 428XG (2000hrs)    - 0.009ft/L
Pioneer 508XG (~3000hrs)  - 0.008ft/L
KRP600M (1200hrs) - 0.001ft/L

Panasonic 50VT20 (200+hrs) - 0.005ft/L
Panasonic 50V20 (1500hrs) - 0.009ft/L
Panasonic 50U20 (300hrs) -0.009ft/L
Panasonic 50U20 (1200hrs) - 0.024ft/L
Panasonic 42X10 (2000hrs) - 0.08ft/L

Samsung 50C650 ~500hrs - 0.06ft/L (0.12ft/L with Cinema Smooth on)

Edit: Corrected typo on older C650 Plasma

Are you using checkered box black and white for your black and white level measurements? or whole screen white and whole screen black?

These measurements are black window.

I have not done ANSI measurements (checkerboard) on the sets except my own Kuros (428XG and KRP-600M)

I added ANSI measurements (checkerboard) on my 2 sets.

Anfield.. do you remember the initial measurement of the Black level on the V20? Was it the same as the VT20?
The reason i ask this is because there seems to be a lot of confusion in relation to the exact model that it relates to in the US/UK (i.e G or V)

Sorry, want to tumpang tanya. I wanted to get  k-10 probe, may I know where did you guys bought it from?

Thanks in advance.

I added 2011 Panasonic data. Will add as I calibrate more soon. A step back for black levels as far as 2011 is concerned. Tallies with what has been observed in the states and in the UK. Also energy savings is also capping the overall peak contrast of the 2011 sets. As a comparison, I could get 36ft/L in the U20, I could not go above 27ft/L in the 2011 U30.