4 ms·

If you want a TV with amazing picture quality and don't want to pay a lot, there's nothing better than an old plasma TV. I ended up with a Panasonic 42" (Viera?

If you want a TV with amazing picture quality and don't want to pay a lot, there's nothing better than an old plasma TV. I ended up with a Panasonic 42" (Viera?) model, one of the later ones made. It's definitely quite heavy, and after awhile it gets a bit hot and it probably consumes a lot of power, but it easily surpasses the picture quality of today's LCD TVs. The only way to get close to its picture quality is the new fancy OLEDs, etc. I also paid $60 for it. Hard to beat.

cameronh90 4y ago
I had a Panasonic Viera during the plasma glory days and I didn't really like it. The worst problem I had with it was that, like all plasmas, I can see a high frequency flickering on them, especially in my peripheral vision. The second worst problem is they're not very bright. I have a LG C1 now and love it (though there are a few minor issues with that too!).
- skrrtww 4y ago
  I was just trying to figure out what my model is since I've never experienced the flicker, but I'm not home and it's too difficult. Looks like Panasonic has used the Viera designation for a long time and they continue to use it, so there's probably tons of different variations. And yeah, it's not exceedingly bright, but I've only ever noticed the issue if there's direct sunlight shining on it, which is pretty rare.
  - cameronh90 4y ago
    Mine was one of the "600Hz sub field drive" models. I am quite sensitive to flicker in general, though. I see it on DLPs, CFL bulbs and even a lot of LEDs that use PWM. For example, in my area a lot of the new tunnel LED lights have flicker in my peripheral vision, which can be a bit disorienting. With the Viera, it was worse in a bright room (perhaps due to my pupils being smaller) so my solution was to try and keep the room dim when the TV was in use, but that wasn't always feasible.
    - jinto36 4y ago
      I just sold one on behalf of a friend who was moving, probably in the same series as yours- I was very surprised at how easily perceptible the flicker was. It also had some "dot crawl" noise even with HDMI, which seemed odd, could have been some mediocre capacitors already on the edge of normal tolerance after 11 years. It looked great with high-motion colorful content, but the flicker and the noise really bugged me with static scenes. I was just testing it though, ended up selling it for only $100 at a yard sale (46" 1080P). If I didn't already have a 30" 1080i LG CRT with an HDMI input I'd have considered keeping the plasma. The CRT needs some work though, it's not maintaining normal horizontal image size anymore. Tough to find shops that will work on CRTs now, only one or two in my region and I'll have to lug the thing out of my basement and drive a couple hours for it. I haven't tried taking it apart yet, but I don't have a real oscilloscope or the service manual.
- bzzzt 4y ago
  The higher-end models have a higher refresh rates and will flicker less. I've still got a GT60 running and don't notice the flicker. (I can see it when blinking my eyes rapidly, but who does that while watching TV ;) )
rodgerd 4y ago
> don't want to pay a lot Don't want to pay a lot up front. You'll pay a lot to run it.
- dbttdft 4y ago
  Did I just enter some bizzarro world where 500W is now considered high?
  - FabHK 4y ago
    In Germany, keeping 1W running continuously costs you around 3€ a year (see below). So, if you were to leave 500W on continuously, we'd be talking 1500€ a year. 1W x 24h/d x 365d = 8760Wh 8.76kWh x 0.3525€/kWh = 3.09€
    - bzzzt 4y ago
      If it uses 500W it must be a heck of a TV. My last-gen plasma doesn't use more than 180. Simple solution is to just turn the TV off when you're not watching it. Cut viewing time back to 1-3h/day and you're under 200 euro's per year. Don't forget that large LCD TV's use more power too, so you're not going to be able to save all of that by replacing it with an LCD.
    - dbttdft 4y ago
      Just don't run it 24/7, then. I feel like anyone who can actually notice this already has an apartment that provides free electricity. EDIT: Wait, my feeling was right. Your rates are also an order of magnitude above the rest of the world, for some reason. For me running a 500W machine will cost maybe $200 per year with real world usage. > Power prices in Germany are among the highest in Europe. The high costs partly are due to the mandatory support for renewable energy sources – but most customers continue to support the country's energy transition regardless [result of some web search] Fuck outta here with this. As I stated, 500W is nothing. The alternatives (half-working LEDs) are pure garbage. You are all propagandized idiots still consuming and trashing at the same rate but now buying stuff because it's """green""" (TM) while the company knows they are not fixing anything.
bilsbie 4y ago
Micheal Scott?

cameronh90 4y ago

I had a Panasonic Viera during the plasma glory days and I didn't really like it. The worst problem I had with it was that, like all plasmas, I can see a high frequency flickering on them, especially in my peripheral vision. The second worst problem is they're not very bright. I have a LG C1 now and love it (though there are a few minor issues with that too!).

skrrtww 4y ago
I was just trying to figure out what my model is since I've never experienced the flicker, but I'm not home and it's too difficult. Looks like Panasonic has used the Viera designation for a long time and they continue to use it, so there's probably tons of different variations. And yeah, it's not exceedingly bright, but I've only ever noticed the issue if there's direct sunlight shining on it, which is pretty rare.
- cameronh90 4y ago
  Mine was one of the "600Hz sub field drive" models. I am quite sensitive to flicker in general, though. I see it on DLPs, CFL bulbs and even a lot of LEDs that use PWM. For example, in my area a lot of the new tunnel LED lights have flicker in my peripheral vision, which can be a bit disorienting. With the Viera, it was worse in a bright room (perhaps due to my pupils being smaller) so my solution was to try and keep the room dim when the TV was in use, but that wasn't always feasible.
  - jinto36 4y ago
    I just sold one on behalf of a friend who was moving, probably in the same series as yours- I was very surprised at how easily perceptible the flicker was. It also had some "dot crawl" noise even with HDMI, which seemed odd, could have been some mediocre capacitors already on the edge of normal tolerance after 11 years. It looked great with high-motion colorful content, but the flicker and the noise really bugged me with static scenes. I was just testing it though, ended up selling it for only $100 at a yard sale (46" 1080P). If I didn't already have a 30" 1080i LG CRT with an HDMI input I'd have considered keeping the plasma. The CRT needs some work though, it's not maintaining normal horizontal image size anymore. Tough to find shops that will work on CRTs now, only one or two in my region and I'll have to lug the thing out of my basement and drive a couple hours for it. I haven't tried taking it apart yet, but I don't have a real oscilloscope or the service manual.
bzzzt 4y ago
The higher-end models have a higher refresh rates and will flicker less. I've still got a GT60 running and don't notice the flicker. (I can see it when blinking my eyes rapidly, but who does that while watching TV ;) )

rodgerd 4y ago

> don't want to pay a lot Don't want to pay a lot up front. You'll pay a lot to run it.

dbttdft 4y ago
Did I just enter some bizzarro world where 500W is now considered high?
- FabHK 4y ago
  In Germany, keeping 1W running continuously costs you around 3€ a year (see below). So, if you were to leave 500W on continuously, we'd be talking 1500€ a year. 1W x 24h/d x 365d = 8760Wh 8.76kWh x 0.3525€/kWh = 3.09€
  - bzzzt 4y ago
    If it uses 500W it must be a heck of a TV. My last-gen plasma doesn't use more than 180. Simple solution is to just turn the TV off when you're not watching it. Cut viewing time back to 1-3h/day and you're under 200 euro's per year. Don't forget that large LCD TV's use more power too, so you're not going to be able to save all of that by replacing it with an LCD.
  - dbttdft 4y ago
    Just don't run it 24/7, then. I feel like anyone who can actually notice this already has an apartment that provides free electricity. EDIT: Wait, my feeling was right. Your rates are also an order of magnitude above the rest of the world, for some reason. For me running a 500W machine will cost maybe $200 per year with real world usage. > Power prices in Germany are among the highest in Europe. The high costs partly are due to the mandatory support for renewable energy sources – but most customers continue to support the country's energy transition regardless [result of some web search] Fuck outta here with this. As I stated, 500W is nothing. The alternatives (half-working LEDs) are pure garbage. You are all propagandized idiots still consuming and trashing at the same rate but now buying stuff because it's """green""" (TM) while the company knows they are not fixing anything.

bilsbie 4y ago

Micheal Scott?