Samsung PN58A650 Plasma or Samsung HL61A750 LED DLP??

Chris S · 06-30-2008, 08:31 AM

I'm completely stuck trying to decide between these two displays. I haven't been able to find the LED DLP in a store yet but I have seen the Plasma and it does look very nice. It was sitting next to a Kuro (forget which model) and held it's own pretty well. But for about $1200 less the option of a slightly larger DLP is very enticing. I know that I sacrifice the higher contrast ratio of the plasma but get a slightly deeper black level... argh!

I really in need of some help!

Man-Fai Wong · 06-30-2008, 03:17 PM

Chris,

If you look back a handful threads from mid-June, you'll find a couple threads debating on this exact subject -- though we weren't specifically considering the Series 6 plasma.

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htf/...-question.html

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htf/...-question.html

If you can wait for some price slashing, I'd suggest waiting as long as you can for the plasma. If not, the Series 7 LED DLP looked pretty good to me though, yeah, it has its caveats. Did you try looking in Circuit City? That's where I found one on display up here in the NYC area -- couldn't find it anywhere else.

_Man_

Chris S · 06-30-2008, 04:14 PM

Thanks Man-Fai! I did do a search before posting and must have missed the threads you linked. I'm guessing the titles probably threw me off. And I didn't check Circuit City (probably the only store I missed

) so I'll definitely give them a shot later today or tomorrow.

So far my biggest issue (and this sounds so HT elitist...) is that fact that I'm coming from an 84' front projection setup in my old house and letting go of that screen size has been really hard.

Steve Schaffer · 07-01-2008, 02:09 PM

I've seen the new 750 series LED DLP sets and they are significantly better than last year's efforts--noticeably brighter, less hotspotting, better off-angle viewing. There is a 67" model available--Sears sells them though they aren't normally on display in the stores (most do have the 61 on display). Price is about $2300-2400 for the 67, vs just under 2k for the 61.

If I were going plasma I'd definitely get a Panasonic or Pioneer over a Samsung.

The DLP is not going to be wall-hangable and does dim when you're off-angle, more so in the vertical plane than horizontally. It does produce a very nice "projected film" type image for movies.

DaleAV · 07-28-2008, 01:22 PM

For the techies, the latest Samsungs are getting more attention. In particular, the 550/650 models and the soon to be released 760.
The large number of controls available plus the ability to calibrate the display and yield impressive results. There are user controls for primary as well as secondary colors, plus gamma.
This is a big leap over what's available in Panasonic displays, and even the entry level (5/6020) Kuros for that matter.
Which one has the better black level (Panny or Sammy) may be argued, but they are very competitive displays on all counts.
Panasonic does a very commendable job for the limited controls (user or service menus) it offers. The Samsung, lends itself to professional calibration, an expense some are not willing to undertake, but will bring the best of that display.
Great review and calibration (by Bruce Blackburn) of a '550 (and comparison with a Panasonic) in the latest issue of Widescreen Review.

**HTF Ads**

Gregg Loewen · 07-28-2008, 10:25 PM

hi guys
Dale is refering to the Sammy flat panels not the DLPs.
The WSR article is by Doug Blackburn...a very nice fellow.

Regards

Gregg

Cloud · 07-29-2008, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris S

I haven't been able to find the LED DLP in a store yet

Just an FYI, I was having the same problem and I asked someone at both circuit city and best buy in my area and they had them in back but not out on display. Best Buy brought one out and hooked up a demo PS3 for me to check out a blu-ray on it and even let me set it up the way I would normally instead of the store demo settings the tv comes with. If you look a few posts down for my review, you'll see I was happy enough with it that I bought it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris S

I know that I sacrifice the higher contrast ratio of the plasma but get a slightly deeper black level... argh!

The HL61A750 has a 10,000:1 contrast ratio too.

DaleAV · 07-29-2008, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gregg Loewen

hi guys
Dale is refering to the Sammy flat panels not the DLPs.
The WSR article is by Doug Blackburn...a very nice fellow.

Regards

Gregg

Have you had similar good luck with the Sansung plasmas, Gregg?