Panny 47WX49?

I just got this set a few weeks ago and am absolutely in love with it. I had a few problems with it this past week, but it is a normal break in problem that is very easily fixed(after the initial flipping out).
You can find this for about 1699 in a brick and mortar store. It is a wonderful set. The stretch modes are OK, I just adjusted to them for standard cable and some games. Progressive scan DVDs on this are awesome! I havent even had this set ISF calibrated yet, but if you look at some other threads, supposedly the $400 for a ISF on this could almost double the performance. The only weak point to the set is that it locks into full mode when in progressive mode, but lots of 16:9 sets do that, so make sure to get a DVD player with a scaling function, like the JVCs
I couldnt recommend it higher!

 

What happens with a progressive or interlaced dvd player which is playing a non-anamorphic DVD? What can you do in each case? Progressive and interlaced? I heard you can't zoom the progressive so you end up with squashed image and black bars top and bottom or grey bars on the side and black bars on the top?.

 

That is what scaling does chris. If the disc is flagged correctly, the players with a scaling function then format non-anamorphic material for a 16:9 set. So, if I put in my Powerpuff Girls DVDs, which are full frame and not flagged for anamorphic enhancement, then the player adds black bars to the side of the image, thus making the progressive image look like standard 4:3 material unstretched by the the TV locking into full mode. Some letterbox non-anamorphic DVDs have letterbox flags, so the scaling DVD player would zoom the image in player, so it would look proper on the TV.
JVC progressive scan models do this, as well as the Panasonic RP-91. I have a JVC SA75GD, which I bought because it features the scaler.
Do a search on scaling DVD players and find it out, if I find a post soon I will post a link.

Now if you have a progressive signal that is not anamorphic, like lots of Xbox and Gamecube games, then the TV still locks into Full mode and distorts the images a little. It doesnt bother me, as the picture quality is amazing in progressive on games. Some games are also designed for progressive 16:9 displays, like Dead or Alive 3 on XBOX. That is one of the most Jaw droppingly gorgeous things you can put on your monitor!

 

Right, so with the Panny, its good to get a DVD player with scaling. So if you have Laserdisc, you're sheite out of luck? You can't scale a 16:9 laserdisc so its gonna look weird, right?

 

NO, you use zoom mode. The TV wouldnt lock into full mode since LD is not progressive. It only locks in progressive mode. With the LD, use the zoom function, it would fill the screen and look like an anamorphic DVD, just loss in resolution. Any letterbox non progressive source you could do that with, or non letterbox.

 

Actually, when you say 16:9 laserdisc, do you mean simply letterbox , or anamorphic? I dont know of any anamorphic LDs but maybe one. If it is anamorphic, then full would work. Otherwise, zoom.

 

Actually, I found the strech modes in the Panasonic to be noticably inferior to that of the toshiba, sony and pioneer. This is an important issue to me since I will be watching primarily DirecTV for the forseeable future. If it weren't for that, I'd consider it much more seriously. The Mitsu strech didn't impress me much either. Does anyone have any opinions on the strech modes for samsung or phillips?

 

Yeah, but non-anamorphic DVD and laserdisc are both 4:3 right? So you'd have to scale and zoom them, right? Some kind of stretch?

 

I think the stretch mode or "JUST" mode on the Panny, or any other widescreen RPTV is a matter of opinion. I did extensive comparisons on all the widescreen RPTV's and found the Panny to be superior to most, if not all. I watch a lot of regular programming (NBC,FOX,HBO etc) and noticed a "stretch" effect for about the first hour of watching it, then it appeared normal. In fact, most houseguests that I have had rarely ever notice, and everyone has had nothing but nice commemts on the picture quality. I have done the basic tweaks found at www.panny.tv and had the basic ISF done, and personally I think the picture is nicer than sets that cost thousands more.
Chris

 

Yeah, its the cheapest HD RPTV that does 480p DVD very well. The next I would consider are the Sony 51" KP and the JVC iArt 48". I used to think about the Pioneer, but its far too expensive for a 53". As good as it is. I am actually saving for an LCD projector like the Panny ae100 but I still window shop the RPTV's

 

Not sure but the JVC is comparable. Possibley the same or better in zooming and scaling etc. Not sure if anyones compared them? Perhaps in a JVC iArt thread?

 

The JVC I havent heard anything about but have seen it and played with it in stores. It looks great out of the box, but upconverts everything to 1080i, which I do not know if it can be disabled. Also, the cabinet is hideous!
Other then that, what I saw was great.