Good lcd's or plasmas for calibrating?

CaPo · 17-02-2009, 8:27 PM

Hi, im looking at getting a new tv soon and one of the things im prioritizing is that it has the controls required so that it can be calibrated to a high standard, I dont see the point on spending a fortune on a screen no matter how good it is if the picture cant be made accurate.

So, what are the best makes of tv for this? At the moment im considering a Pioneer plasma or a Sony LCD, of 50 or 52" screen, 1080p of course. Any other makes I should consider?

Basically, what tv's have you isf calibraters had the best results with?

Thanks,
Joe

Piers · 17-02-2009, 10:56 PM

Give us a clue as to budget.

No plasma screen that I have yet seen has all the controls (which actually work) that I would like.

Adding an external processor can overcome this. Current top of the range is the Lumagen Radiance which sorts grayscale / colour gamut / gamma. It costs!

Without an external processor I would probably go for a Pioneer plasma (despite their exit from the market). They calibrate well though can be bettered with the Radiance.

LCD has come on in leaps and bounds over the past couple of years but I am still not convinced. Some of the Sony's are very "calibrator unfriendly". Still plasma for me.

CaPo · 18-02-2009, 9:37 AM

Looking to spend about £1500, the Pioneer PDP-LX5090 seems a very attractive option at a little over that, im just hoping they are still available once ive got the money together. Sony is the backup if I cant get a Pioneer, the extra 2" would be nice as well.

I was going to say I could get the tv with the thought of getting the Lumagen at a later date when I seen your post, but then I looked it up and saw the price.

Gordon @ Convergent AV · 18-02-2009, 2:09 PM

The TV set with the best calibration features I've seen are actually Samsungs. Their CMS works properly. However, getting correct colour and greyscale and gamma is one part. How the image is displayed and processed is another. Many folk aren't too pleased with some of the motion processing on SAMSUNG and Sony sets.

If it were me I'd view the Pioneer plasmas and the Samsung lcd's and then make your mind up.

I would also add that I believe LG have put good calibration tools in their top plasmas but I have yet to verifty they work or see what sort of other issues they may have. Might also be worth a viewing.

Gordon

D65 · 18-02-2009, 7:55 PM

Hi,

The pioneers are probably your best bet. My personal favorite to calibrate.

Great for both HD and SD material.

LCD is a bit of a letdown for standard def. IMHO

Dimitri

CaPo · 18-02-2009, 9:18 PM

Pioneer is definately my favorite atm I reckon.
Ill check out the Samsungs, I hadnt really looked at them as I seen them as a more "budget" make, probably wrongly.
SD viewing isnt too much of an issue, as long as the 360 and blu-rays look top notch

CaPo · 19-02-2009, 9:10 PM

How do Panasonic plasmas compare?

Gordon @ Convergent AV · 20-02-2009, 9:45 AM

I like the look of Panasonic commercial plasmas. While they can be calibrated they do not have the tools in them for extrememe accuracy like others mentioned. Using an external video processor like a Lumagen can mitigtate this though and increase the image quality in all sorts of other ways at the same time.

irg · 22-02-2009, 8:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaPo

Looking to spend about £1500, the Pioneer PDP-LX5090 seems a very attractive option at a little over that, im just hoping they are still available once ive got the money together. Sony is the backup if I cant get a Pioneer, the extra 2" would be nice as well.

I was going to say I could get the tv with the thought of getting the Lumagen at a later date when I seen your post, but then I looked it up and saw the price.

I spoke to a Pioneer rep yesterday and he said their 9th gen plasmas should be available for the next several months.