What Plasma did you buy?

[Stormspace]

I just recently bought an Akai 42" plasma hdtv monitor and although the DVD playback is incredible, TiVo playback leaves something to be desired. Several members of my household are supremely disappointed in the TiVo playback at basic quality. Obviously these people are the ones that saw the in store demo and believed they'd actually get that kind of picture for broadcast tv.

I have noticed that warm colors tend to cause more distortion than cool colors on the screen, reds, oranges, as opposed to blues and greens. Overall I'm pleased with it, but it seems as if medium quality is going to be the new standard for tivo recordings.

Any one have any tips for HDTV use with an SA2?

[timr_42]

Would you recommed that one? I've been looking at an Akai and at the price it is (under 1600) almost to low to pass. Other that basic Tivo replay are you happy with it?

[Booka]

Consumer Reports just reviewed all manner of HDTVs and in the plasma category they said that Panasonic as a brand had everyone else beat (March 2006 issue).

[Stormspace]

Would you recommed that one? I've been looking at an Akai and at the price it is (under 1600) almost to low to pass. Other that basic Tivo replay are you happy with it?

It was 1497.00 at sams and looks really good with regard to DVD. I think it displays fine SD content when the tivo is set to a sufficient quality. My only disappointment with it is how it handles different screen formats. Anamorphic seems to be completely useless; Letterbox seems fine but it cuts off the TiVo menus; Wide appears to be the best, but it does introduce some distortion; While FillAll and 4:3 seem pretty much useless as one introduces too much distortion and the other reduces the set to a much smaller screen.

As for the TiVo, why do they have an option for 16:9? It doesn't seem to do anything.

[brebeans]

Hi:
It's my understanding that Tivo is not compatible or does not "play" in high definition. That is why some folks are investigating switching to cable dvrs.

So, it's no wonder that the quality of Tivo recordings is not the HD quality you are expecting.

I might be wrong on this, but that's what I recall from earlier posts regarding Tivo and HD.

Anyone else have different info on this?

[Stormspace]

Hi:
It's my understanding that Tivo is not compatible or does not "play" in high definition. That is why some folks are investigating switching to cable dvrs.

So, it's no wonder that the quality of Tivo recordings is not the HD quality you are expecting.

I might be wrong on this, but that's what I recall from earlier posts regarding Tivo and HD.

Anyone else have different info on this?

This is precisely the issue with SA TiVo's on HD equipment. However at basic quality the display is unwatchable on some shows. The color banding and distortion become so distracting that you can't see the show. The reason for bumping up to medium quality. Right now I have room to do this on certain shows, but not all.

[windracer]

As for the TiVo, why do they have an option for 16:9? It doesn't seem to do anything.
I think that's only used by the DVD models (like the Humax and Toshiba).

I've got a 42" Panny plasma and it took a little while to get used to the slightly granier quality of the TiVo's PQ. I only record my daughter's cartoons (like Dora and Diego) in Basic, everything else is in at least Medium. I'm using component outs from the Toshiba to the Panny, but of course it's just basic analog cable to begin with so the picture isn't that great anyway.

One benefit to this: my wife can finally appreciate how great HD content looks. :)

[Stormspace]

Well, one thing is certain. I'm going to have to go to wireless G to get my transfer speed back up to where it was.

[HDTiVo]

Storm -

In one post you say Anamorphic is useless and another you say DVDs look great. These are at odds. Does your TV not handle anamorphic SD content properly?

Regardless, you should set your TiVo's TV Aspect Ratio setting to 16:9. Tell your DVD player you've got a 16:9 TV also. Then try anamorphic DVDs.

If you can find mpegs that are 16:9 anamorphic, they are going to look really nice played from the TiVo - nice like your DVDs look nice compared to your old set.

[Stormspace]

Storm -

In one post you say Anamorphic is useless and another you say DVDs look great. These are at odds. Does your TV not handle anamorphic SD content properly?

Regardless, you should set your TiVo's TV Aspect Ratio setting to 16:9.

If you can find mpegs that are 16:9 anamorphic, they are going to look really nice played from the TiVo - nice like your DVDs look nice compared to your old set.

None of the DVD's I've played have been anamorphic. Almost all of them are Letterbox with a spattering of Full Screen. I may be able to set one for anamorphic if it's an option on the DVD, but for the most part I don't buy anything but the letterbox editions.

[HDTiVo]

None of the DVD's I've played have been anamorphic. Almost all of them are Letterbox with a spattering of Full Screen. I may be able to set one for anamorphic if it's an option on the DVD, but for the most part I don't buy anything but the letterbox editions.
Looks like your buying habits may be changing soon... ;)

[finaldiet]

The HP42 plasma is the panny42 plasma. HP is cheaper. Buy from costco since they have a 5 year return policy' no questions asked.

[ZeoTiVo]

I could not satnd basic quality on my old 27inch Quasar tube TV.

does your plasma have the ability to have settings based on input so you can tune the plasma to something more suited to SD on the TiVo input ?

[moyekj]

This is a common problem people buying HDTVs are running into. They expect magically for everything to look better than their old tube. Fact is most SD broadcasts (analog or digital) look better on your old tube than on your HDTV. The HDTV is really only good for DVD playback and HD broadcasts. For anyone that asks me about what TV to buy I always say unless you watch a lot of DVDs (with progressive scan of course) or have a lot of HD programming available to you don't bother getting an HDTV.

I do all my SD watching on an old 27" tube and DVD, HD watching on my HDTV.

[Jabberer]

Plasma TVs are EEEEEVIL! EEEEVIL I say! That plasma should be getting used where it can do the most good - in blood transfusions! Why, with the number of those TVs they're selling, they could...eh? what? different plasma? Oh. Well. Hmmm. Never mind....

[windracer]

This is a common problem people buying HDTVs are running into. They expect magically for everything to look better than their old tube. Fact is most SD broadcasts (analog or digital) look better on your old tube than on your HDTV.
Very true ... it would be nice if these big electronics stores would also have an SD feed into their displays so they could show people what their existing content will look like. You'd think that would help lower the rate of returns they probably get, not to mention this would educate the public.

I'm not a PQ snob (not to imply you or anyone else in this thread is!) so I'm fine with watching SD content on my plasma, even stretched out to 16:9 in "just" mode on my Panny. It was rough the first week, but you get used to it.

Now as soon as that S3 comes out ... :)

[Stormspace]

I could not satnd basic quality on my old 27inch Quasar tube TV.

does your plasma have the ability to have settings based on input so you can tune the plasma to something more suited to SD on the TiVo input ?

I don't know if the screen settings are saved based on input or not. I haven't tried. My first guess is that screen display settings are global, but I'll check.

[Stormspace]

This is a common problem people buying HDTVs are running into. They expect magically for everything to look better than their old tube. Fact is most SD broadcasts (analog or digital) look better on your old tube than on your HDTV. The HDTV is really only good for DVD playback and HD broadcasts. For anyone that asks me about what TV to buy I always say unless you watch a lot of DVDs (with progressive scan of course) or have a lot of HD programming available to you don't bother getting an HDTV.

I do all my SD watching on an old 27" tube and DVD, HD watching on my HDTV.

I knew there were going to be issues involving SD and the TiVo. No probs there, I just wanted a big screen and getting a CRT wasn't an option for me.

[Steve_Martin]

I have found that digital SD channels look pretty stunning on our plasma. The analog channels pretty much depends on how good or bad the signal source is, but even with a good analog signal, it's not as good as analog on a quality CRT. This is on cable with a Panny PX50U using a CableCard decoder.

[SteelersTiVo]

I bought my Plasma (see sig below) at BB right before the Super Bowl! I got a good deal on it and even another $100 off when I went to pick it up as you get 30-60 days (I forget which) after your purchase to get a better price, so keep track for sales after you buy anything at BB...

SD playback on the D*TiVo leaves a little to be desired with some broadcasts better than others. But as others have said you get used to it.

DVDs are better yet through component connections and even some DVDs look better than others depending on the studio transfer, etc.

OTA HD channels are by far the best with 720p channels (ABC, Fox, ESPN) looking better for sports & action-type broadcasts producing a clearer, more stable image. 1080i channels (CBS, NBC, PBS, HBO, HDNet, DiscoveryHD, and Showtime) contain greater detail and are better for subject matter with very little movement.

One last note: It really does matter how far you are away from the set when watching, I tend to sit closer than most so I tend to notice more imperfections. When buying select the size for the room it will displayed in but also for how close you will be when viewing it.

[moyekj]

One last note: It really does matter how far you are away from the set when watching, I tend to sit closer than most so I tend to notice more imperfections. Very good point... I too sit closer than most at around 5' from my 30" LCD HDTV so can pick out any imperfections. If I must watch SD on the HDTV I sit back about 12' back or so and then it looks OK.

[mattman]

I've personally been considering one of the Philips Ambilight (I think that's the model name) Plasmas, as the prices have dropped considerably lately. My brother, who spent YEARS researching his NEC 60" plasma began to focus mainly on the electronics, as that seems to be the biggest difference when watching SD. If you have better electronics, you get a better up or down conversion, at least from his point of view.

Matt

[NJChris]

I've got a Pioneer 5040 (50") Plasma. I have the HD DirecTV tivo, a regular Directv tivo and a standalone (have a basic cable feed).

When I first used the standalone, I noticed the compression a lot. But I tweaked my settings and it looks pretty good now, to me.

A little softer picture helped as well as some of the smoothing options on the TV.

[Stu_Bee]

I have 42" Panasonic.
- Comcast CableCard directly plugged into the tv (for when bypassing the Tivo),
- Comcast Digital Cablebox (non hd) hooked up to Tivo.

Watching the olympics in HD have really made me itch for a HD DVR....still hanging on for either the Tivo Series3 unit, or the Comcast/Tivo Unit in the 'near' future.

Anyways...SD content via the Digital Cable -> Tivo, isnt' great but it does seem to depend on what channel I'm watching. I've noticed channels like HBO are much clearer than some of the network channels, thus providing better viewing quailty on the large screen. However since my Digital Cable box doesn't render HD, I can't really get any letterbox channels, so they are all stretched.

What I should do, is switch my Comcast Digital Cablebox for a Comcast HD CableBox, then output from the Comcast HD Box to the Tivo using Svideo. According to other posts I've read, this will allow me to record HD channels on the Tivo (albeit in SD resolution). So i'm hoping I could then record HD letterboxed shows, then just hit the zoom button on my Panny to watch in better WideScreen format.

Hope that makes sense.

[synch22]

SHarp Aquos LCD, yes the tivo picture is not great but it still serves the purpose. I amdebating however to get a hd box from the cable company and hd dvr, and retire the tivo to the bedroom with the regular tv. I watch most my tv in the bedroom so it would still be great.

[m_jonis]

42" Toshiba (42HP95) onsale at BB during Christmas. As much as I wanted the Panasonic, the more than $1,000 price difference, IMO, was NOT in Pansonics favor (yeah, it may have looked a LITTLE nicer, but not $1,000 worth).

And, on the Tivo, it looks like poop. Even at "highest" quality. Due to the converting from digital cable to analag and the MPEG artificacts are VERY plain to see (but I knew that going into the decision).

I'm just biding my time for either Verizon FIOS TV to come my way (they claim this year we'll have it) and get the motorola DVR (sorry Tivo), OR, if the Series 3 comes out by mid-year AND is price "right" (if it's a thousand bucks, forget it. I'll drop Tivo in a heartbeat and go to the Motorola unit).

[Lord_Skywalker]

Zenith 50" Plasma (Z50PX2D) purchased at BB right after the holidays during the three-year free financing plan. Best decision I have made since buying my 05 Mustang.

[audiocrawford]

Several members of my household are supremely disappointed in the TiVo playback at basic quality.

Basic quality on any TV, let alone a Plasma, is going to stink.

I only have an SD TV don't use anything less than "high" for anything but talk-shows and bad animation (i.e. South Park), which I do at medium.

Start recording at high or best and you will see a world of difference.

AC

[pdhenry]

Several members of my household are supremely disappointed in the TiVo playback at basic quality.I don't need a Plasma TV to be disappointed with Basic quality. By default I record at High quality with HBO programs that I plan to archive at Best quality. Programs that are on all the time like Good Eats are set up for Medium quality. I never do anything at Basic, and I'm watching on a 15-year-old CRT.

HD sets will accentuate the TiVo's compression artifacts at any quality.

And some day I'll read all of the posts before adding my own...

[user x]

After much research I decided on the Panasonic TH-42PWD8UK wich is from their commercial line and has been a very popular choice as well as being rated one of the top plasmas on the market. The best part is the price. $1350 + $200 shipping from Visual Apex and I have been very happy. SD content with my stand alone Tivo and dish network feed was a shocker at first but once I played around with the picture settings it is now at an acceptable level. Progressive scan DVD's look amazing on this set.

[Moebius]

I'm with Zeo on the basic quality bit. When I got my first 130 model 40 hour unit, I had every intention of using basic to get the extra space, but after about 2 recordings even on my 27" CRT, I realized that was never going to happen. I ended up setting default to High and a few of the SPs to Best, and ordered a 120 gig from Weaknees after about a month.

With the plasma (42" Panny ED btw), obviously all the flaws of SD programming are magnified, but considering I could see them at 27 inches, it's not too big of a deal. Like Windracer, I play the SD stuff from the TiVo using the "Just" stretch mode which does a pretty good job and is perfectly watchable. The SD recordings of the Olympics actually looked pretty darn good (granted nothing compared to the HD broadcast we watched of them).

While I'm eager for S3, or the TiVo Comcast deal to come to fruition, I can definatly survive with the current setup.