Which TV?

[Smokey Joe]

There is only a few displays that have good internal scalers without large costs, you get what you pay for. Only a few panels can turn off all internal processing allowing for an external scaler processor to take over the duties, of note is the Premiere Panasonic Plasmas VX100 series, alas you have a RRP of $10,000 for the 50in and $16,000 for the 65in.
Yes people buy these panels, I have 2 to calibrate in a couple weeks.

I don't disagree with you Agent, I just say just don't expect miracles with cheaper range TV's and internal scalers. Inwhich case the best way and cheaper way is to avoid allowing the display device, Plasma,LCD,LED or projector to do the major scaling job for older source material. Send it native resolution,Thus consider a modern player(BD) like a OPPO or reasonble quality player, a Panasonic BD player can be had for $300, (de-zoned for DVD free of charge within warrranty period). So to be native resolution from player output the display needs to do 1920*1080 or 1280*720 natively (Only expensive scalers allow for more range in scalling). Thus for this reason of native resolution I say it is better to go with a 1920*1080 panel or display unit. You can achieve the best results for less cost.

[famin]

OK, done the deed....

went for a 50" Panasonic Viera series V Plasma in the end
was considering an add on samsung small stereo as well to increase the sound (wife is deaf in one ear) but we'll check out the native speakers first.
The stereo gives usb in and ipod docking as well.

was looking at home theater but needed wireless rear speakers and was another grand so we'll save for that later too.

best bang for buck I think at $2750

now watch the prices drop!!!!!!

[Chomp]

Prices drop! you don't want to know how much my 50" plasma cost 4 1/2 years ago.

Just to get it I had to sneak out from hospital the morning after Jane had our first baby and put it in that night. I think she said something like 'You _didn't_ buy that tv while I was in hospital having a baby'


Yip I did

[Sloop]

Prices drop! you don't want to know how much my 50" plasma cost 4 1/2 years ago.

Just to get it I had to sneak out from hospital the morning after Jane had our first baby and put it in that night. I think she said something like 'You _didn't_ buy that tv while I was in hospital having a baby'


Yip I did

Skills, Chomp - ex SAS or SIS?

[Agent X20]

Nice one famin - Joco got one of those recently and he LOVES it. Good pick!

[Smokey Joe]

Good choice Famin, just note there is 2 hidden pro1 and pro2 modes for day and night setup.

These can be enabled as isfDay and isfNight, the idea they are calibrated within reasonble tolerances of the HD standards, where night is set to view for comfy night time levels and day to cope with daytime light levels.

[famin]

thanks for the tip smokey... how are these modes found?

[Smokey Joe]

all in the manual,
although the isf modes are activated by password

The modes are designed for setting up to the offcial standards Rec709, known as HiDef to mortals.
They are not setup out of the box, requires a video generator, probes and software to measure accurately.(value of my gear now 11~12k nzd)

Default modes are mixed bag of close to far far away from official standards, why you might ask? marketing and legacy.

Closest out of the box, Cinema and warm or THX.

RUN in the panel before extended computer, pS3 or movie watching where bars are present.
Run in period is aprox 100~200 hrs use.

Light devices such as plasma and LCD age per the halflife time scale, where the rated hours means the panel will be half the brightness as new.
The slope follows a log type curve, where new you have a near virtical decay, hence wear, or aging is most obvious and where the disparity between pixels might show the burn in effect. ie that HUD message as full luminance on dark background as most games do.

You can age quickly by using full white at 75% luminance, or just watch normal tv, just zoom so the whole panel is being used during the first 200 hours.
no bars from 4:3 or 2:35 material.

Shops generally fail to mention these important details.

[Sloop]

Shops generally fail to mention these important details.

Aint that nice of them, considering the not inconsiderable expense of the item! Bastards, I say!! Another case of definitely caveat emptor.