Κώστας Φ.
Truth hurts. Here's a teddy bear.
- Μηνύματα
- 8.978
- Reaction score
- 895
Greatest flat panel ever.
Αφιερωμένο, με πολύ αγάπη, στους άσχετους πωλητές που λένε στον κόσμο ότι η τεχνολογία Plasma έχει τελειώσει και πως οι LCD είναι μονόδρομος... Δείτε μετρήσεις και κλάψτε... :cool_1:
Let's start with the big one. The black level, as measured in our lab, is 0.004 foot-lamberts. For comparison, the best black level we've measured on a plasma previously was 0.012 ft-L, which was a Panasonic TH-42PX60U. The best black level on an LCD we've ever measured was 0.006 ft-L on the Sharp LC-52D92U. So that 0.004 ft-L is lower than any other flat panel we've ever measured. While excellent, it's still not black. As in, you can still see when the TV is on or tell the black letterbox bars from the dark room beyond. I know, I'm asking for a lot. I mean, you'd have to get a projector and a pretty big screen to reach a better black level (or, admittedly, a CRT). But as impressive as that measurement is, it isn't even the amazing part.
At 4,020:1, the PRO-110FD's full-on/full-off contrast ratio is so good, it is nearly double that of the next best flat panel. Read that again. Double. This isn't an incremental improvement, as we've seen with all flat panels over the past few years. This is a marked jump. And that's comparing it with the best of the rest. If you take the average contrast ratio of current flat panels, it's three or four times better. The irony is that plasmas aren't supposed to have a good full-on/full-off contrast ratio; it's in their very design not to. I'll come back to that, as this still isn't the amazing part.
ANSI contrast ratio, which is the measurement of eight 100-percent-white and eight 0-percent-black squares arranged in a checkerboard pattern, provides a sort of worst-case scenario of what you'll see on the screen in terms of contrast ratio. The measured ANSI contrast of 3,239:1 is almost three times better than the best plasmas and most LCDs, and a full 50 percent better than the highest we've previously measured. And even all of that pales in comparison with this next measurement.
All of these tests so far aren't even letting a plasma perform at its best. All plasmas have built-in limiters, so things like a 100-IRE full-white field won't cause the TV to melt. So their full-on/full-off numbers, at least how we measure them, are misleadingly low. This is why I always mention what a plasma can do on a 100-IRE window (roughly 25 percent of the screen), which is a more accurate representation of the contrast ratio you're seeing when you're watching TV or movies. LCDs don't need this test because they'll measure identical to their full-on/full-off numbers. That's just how they work. With this test-and this is what it looks like when you're watching actual video-the contrast ratio is 10,645:1. This is above and beyond any other flat panel on the market, by far. In fact, there are only a few displays of any type on the market that can boast this kind of contrast ratio without "dynamic" helpers such as irises or adjustable backlights, and all of them are front projectors.
Even the vaunted CRT would find it difficult to beat this beast, as CRTs had notoriously bad ANSI contrast measurements (although, admittedly, the best had an immeasurably low black level).
...
Honey, How Much Can We Get for the Kids?
At $5,999 the Pioneer Elite is roughly twice as expensive as a 50-inch Panasonic plasma or Sharp LCD. However, as you've seen, the performance is well more than twice as good. But before you call that loan shark, consider this, the $3,500 Pioneer PDP-5080HD is the same size and will have nearly identical performance as in the KURO line as well (You can read a review of that plasma here at UltimateAVMag.com). The catch? It's "only" 768p; but from where you're sitting, you probably won't be able to see that difference anyway.
It's rare that I'm impressed by a display, and I don't think I've ever been this impressed by a flat panel. A jaded reviewer I may be, but even I can't help but be impressed by this plasma. The PRO-110FD measures, performs, and looks better than any other flat panel on the market, and it's one of the best displays of any type available now. No matter what type of TV you're looking to buy, you owe it to yourself to see how one of these looks, just for comparison. On second thought, maybe that's a bad idea. . .
Highlights:
• Everything
Connections
Inputs:
Video: HDMI (4, v1.3), PC-RGB (1), component video (2-shared), S-video (1-shared), composite video (3-shared)
Audio: Stereo analog (5)
Outputs:
Video: None
Audio: Optical (1), stereo analog (1), 1/4 headphones (1), speaker level (2)
Additional:
RF (2), USB (1), Ethernet (1), CableCARD (1)
Features
Type: Plasma
Screen Size (diagonal, inches): 50
Native Resolution / Aspect Ratio: 1,920 by 1,080 / 16:9
Half Life: 60,000 Hours
Wall Mount or Stand Included?: Stand
Dimensions (H x W x D, inches): 28.03 x 56.84 x 4.72
Weight (pounds): 99.4
Price: $5,999
Build Quality 96 (Excellent)
• Feels like a $6,000 product should
• Good luck finding burn-in
Value 91 (Good)
• It sure is crazy expensive
• But for this level of performance. . .
Features 98 (Excellent)
• 72-hertz mode is great
• Four HDMI inputs
Performance 98 (Excellent)
• You have to see it to believe it
• Near-perfect processing
Ergonomics 96 (Excellent)
• Backlit remote
• Direct input access
Overall 96 (Excellent)
It is, without a doubt, one of the greatest flat-screen TVs ever made. It really is that much better than everything else out there. How's that for hyperbole?
Full Review: hometheatermag.com
