Frustrating to demo Plasma

[manzb]

Guys,

You need not to have a demo for Panny Plasma. Sure it will please your eyes.
It can give you a guarentee that, Its PQ is far better than any LED back lited LCD (So called LED TV's)

You can blindly order panny plasma.
I bought 50" ST30 before 3 years for 1L. (That time i had demo options in all the Panny brand shop).

Less manufucturing cost with more margin is pushing the LED sales by dealers.

Only a Full Array LED can neay be Panny Plasma, which will be multiple time costlier than Panny.
(or) Wait for some time and let OLED take the market. (Plasma + LED brightness), then go gor OLED.

Agree with you.

Regarding the VFM factor- the price of 46W950 (1.3 lacs) is just a tad over 50ST60 (1.2 lacs). So now the price benefit of plasmas are not that great as it used to be earlier.

 

[Swarna Surjya Chakraborty]

Exactly the same thing faced by me when I was searching for a panel 6 months back. Most of the retailers are shying away from Plasmas these days. When I talked about Plasma they simply tried to forcefully push towards LEDs citing numerous reasons against Plasmas. Are Panny, Sammy and LG not in favour of selling Plasmas any more? IMO the PQ of LED is not natural.
Are plasmas making way for OLEDs?

 

[Swamy_HT]

Who are all used to record the music from 'round plate' to the magnetic cassettes such as Sony-90,TDK-90. They knows the difference in music compared to the current digital (CD/MP3/AAC) music.

Nowdays, No where you can find a place to record in magnetic cassetts which are 100 times better than the current digital music. Sony is currently working on releasing audio CD in blurday CD's (Cost. approx.1000 Rs) per movie song release with uncompressed (or) lossless DTS/Dolby HD audio.

Now you need to pay Rs.1000 instead of Rs.50 paid in earlier days to get the same quality.

And another beauty is, now all the audio system is turned into satellite speakers (2 to 3 inch speakers), which far low quality compared to earlier days stereo systems. Now the same big spekers are only available in Bookshelf (or) Floor stand with much more higher price.

IMO, SONY/PANNY/LG...All are corporate business. Business is always less manufucturing cost with higher margin..(Technology changes are used as the reason for this and for their BRAND retention).

 

[Vishal]

It's unfortunate to read that multiple FM's have had or are having the same issues about finding Plasma. Its like trying to find good LP records ..

I am planning to demo the ST60 this week at Panny Ghatkopar. And then the big decision ..

 

[reignofchaos]

Considering plasma reliability of late personally I would stay clear of them. Also Panasonic is shuttering plasma production from next year.

 

[Vishal]

Also Panasonic is shuttering plasma production from next year.

What is your source for this or is it more of market rumors (just curious)? In the US/UK/Japan .. Panasonic keeps bringing in new models every year.

The best TV in the world today as per many reviewers - CNET, MIT,WhatHiFi etc is the Panny ZT and VT. Also they have the undisputed #1 position in Commercial Display (read Plasma). Look at boardrooms of most companies, they have Panny has their VC display.

I seriously doubt if they would shutter their Plasma business unless the company shuts down.

 

[mastiguy]

@Vishal:

Please check the below link. As they want to shift towards OLED Technology, they would like to put a halt to the PLasma versions.

Panasonic to close down plasma TV factory in Shanghai - The Japan Daily Press

 

[prosenjit]

well vishal one thing i can say...
if you dont care about image retention horrors...and your room light is managable..
and u know plasma cons
you can bet on panny plasmas picture quality and win..
without a demo..
even st not needed....buy a UTseries at much low price..still much better picture than so called LED tvs..which is unneccessarily bright and cinemas look like hdtv shoots...(still people like it)!!!
the cinema colour palatte is somehow missing...which is very present in plsamas..

so u can buy a panny plasma without demo..well make sure to take a fresh piece only..

 

[Vishal]

@ mastiguy: Thanks for the link. There is a thread about Panny shutting its Plasma division in the forum and I should read what's the latest there.

Panny has been losing money on Plasma yet it keeps churning out the best TV's. it seems that Plasma as a technology will move to something better and maybe more profitable. A bit like LCD is now pretty much dead and morphed to LED-LCD.

However, it doesn't take away from the fact that today it does produce a stunning PQ. As Prosenjit Da suggests there might be an amazing arbitrage and value to buy a top class TV at Plasma prices, as OLED will be very very expensive initially. Or one can play safe and get a top end LED.

Personally, as a TV owner I am not too fussed about what happens to the tech AFTER I buy it, unlike say a car or computer. Lots of people still own and cherish their SONY Trinitron CRT (my grandma for one) and works great for SD.

 

[Swamy_HT]

What is your source for this or is it more of market rumors (just curious)? In the US/UK/Japan .. Panasonic keeps bringing in new models every year.

The best TV in the world today as per many reviewers - CNET, MIT,WhatHiFi etc is the Panny ZT and VT. Also they have the undisputed #1 position in Commercial Display (read Plasma). Look at boardrooms of most companies, they have Panny has their VC display.

I seriously doubt if they would shutter their Plasma business unless the company shuts down.

The same story in U.S also when i visit 2 years back, All the shops are filled with LED-LCD TVs with very few Plasma dispaly. Only on CNET & Reviewers sites are stating the QUALITY TRUTH based on their review. All dealers & shops pushing LED-LCD.

Even panny is creating quality Plasma TV's, But the real commercial world (Distributors,Dealers,Shop keepers...etc) made the failiure of Plasma Commercially. But still.. the videophile preference is PLASMA...!!!

 

[just4kix]

The 50ST60 should be retailing at 1-1.05L. Just because there is no stock, dealers are able to jack up the price by 15K stating that the MRP is 1.33K.

 

[Swamy_HT]

@ mastiguy: Thanks for the link. There is a thread about Panny shutting its Plasma division in the forum and I should read what's the latest there.

Panny has been losing money on Plasma yet it keeps churning out the best TV's. it seems that Plasma as a technology will move to something better and maybe more profitable. A bit like LCD is now pretty much dead and morphed to LED-LCD.

However, it doesn't take away from the fact that today it does produce a stunning PQ. As Prosenjit Da suggests there might be an amazing arbitrage and value to buy a top class TV at Plasma prices, as OLED will be very very expensive initially. Or one can play safe and get a top end LED.

Personally, as a TV owner I am not too fussed about what happens to the tech AFTER I buy it, unlike say a car or computer. Lots of people still own and cherish their SONY Trinitron CRT (my grandma for one) and works great for SD.

IMO, If your most watching contents are SD relayed. Never buy LCD/Plasma, Stay with CRT. If you prefer to watch 1080p/720p contents and Star TV HD, Zee Studio HD...etc, Then go for panny Plasma. Even they shut, sure panny will provide service support. The pannel life time is huge even you watch 8 hrs a day. Plasma and CRT both are using same Phosphorous for lighting. Since our eyes used with CRT for very long time, we prefer Plasma in terms of colors. IMO, go for Panny.

 

[Dirac]

P for plasma.
P for Panny.

 

[Vishal]

Credit to Swarna Da who posted this in a separate thread just a while back ..

Panasonic buries rumors of plasma TV's death | Original Story | Taaza News

So, if this is indeed authentic it is time for Plasma lovers to cheer, back-slap each other and enjoy good PQ. However, let's be clear that Plasma will not survive unless it becomes financially viable to the manufacturers and us, the consumers.

Let us do our part to keep this tech alive. If you own one, talk to your friends/neighbors/family etc outside this forum making them aware about what Plasma is all about.
More importantly, put some pressure on your local dealer/retailer to stock more Plasma. Email/Write to Panny or Sammy to release more models and market the Plasma more. Get those retailers out of their lazy a**es and get them to stock a different product for a different consumer.

I'm not saying Plasma is better than LED - each has their own target audience but let both be served well.

 

[mastiguy]

@ Vishal: Thnx for the info....

I have raised the query in the Facebook page of Panasonic India, regarding the non availabilty of the Plasma TV's at Brand shop itself and the vague answers provided by them.

To my surprises, instead of clarifying they have deleted my post.

I think bloody Indian dealers want to bury the Plasma TV's for their own monetary benefits.

 

[Dirac]

Yes. Very true that the plasma lovers have something to really cheer up.
So its more work for sammy. With panny alive and down the line models like vt70 st70 and zt70 could be very tough to compete with.
I was almost on the verge of importing a vt60. But now I have shelved my plans.
Will wait for the vt70.
But what could be the further improvement areas for them?
One good thing that could happen is that eventually a studio master panel could end up in the next year's st70.

 

[adder]

Panasonic VT70 if it launched will mostly not have any picture quality upgrade over the VT60 series.Since panasonic has stopped the R&D for plasmas ,they will instead be diverting the resources towards OLED R&D.

 

[just4kix]

Credit to Swarna Da who posted this in a separate thread just a while back ..

Panasonic buries rumors of plasma TV's death | Original Story | Taaza News

So, if this is indeed authentic it is time for Plasma lovers to cheer, back-slap each other and enjoy good PQ. However, let's be clear that Plasma will not survive unless it becomes financially viable to the manufacturers and us, the consumers.

Let us do our part to keep this tech alive. If you own one, talk to your friends/neighbors/family etc outside this forum making them aware about what Plasma is all about.
More importantly, put some pressure on your local dealer/retailer to stock more Plasma. Email/Write to Panny or Sammy to release more models and market the Plasma more. Get those retailers out of their lazy a**es and get them to stock a different product for a different consumer.

I'm not saying Plasma is better than LED - each has their own target audience but let both be served well.

Hi Vishal, although I like plasma over LCD/LED, I always try to be very objective in giving a "buy" advice. I look at the user's requirement carefully and then try to steer him/her to an informed decision. If I find that user is uninitiated in plasma, I do make the plasma benefits clear (as well as the drawbacks). Whether one likes it or not, LED is the sales king, even it is not the performance king. I do my bit and try to win people over to the plasma side but people are just too scared about plasma:

- is it a dead technology?
- will it inflate my bills?
- isn't LED the latest and the bestest?
- the sheep mentality: my neighbour bought it; everybody is buying it; so I must buy it

I did stop my own sister from buying the LED. She was hell bent on buying a Samsung 5 Series from the (army) canteen. I convinced her not to and told her plasma is better. But I think that she also bought plasma (42UT50) due to the price advantage.

 

[Vishal]

Yupp guys, its coz of you that I've become aware of Plasma and starting to demo it. I had also dismissed it initially primarily because of ignorance.

In my view, its not that most customers are scared, they are prolly plain ignorant. Just like the uninitiated believe that Denon, Marantz or Yamaha etc etc HT is the best way to enjoy music

hehe had to drop that one ...

 

[sanjeevji]

Issue is companies have decided not to promote it. It is not available in shops and I doubt what would be the service level after 2 years. In India, we purchase for next 5 years (min)!