Why are upscale(read : German) tv manufacturers not manufacturing plasma televisions?

[issigonis]

>>>

The upscale television manufacturers, especially the last of the Germans, such as Loewe and Metz, who have their design and manufacturing units in Germany, do not manufacture plasma televisions. They focus on LCD tvs with LED as the backlighting mechanism.

Plasma's pre-eminence in superior picture quality by way of colour depth, deepest blacks and so on, is near universal.

So why do these manufacturers not manufacture plasmas?

I am curious to know the answers.
(Bang & Olufsen has plasma tvs in screen sizes of 65, 85 & 103 inches apart from LCD tvs).

Regards
issigonis

 

[just4kix]

Re: Why are upscale(read : German) tv manufacturers not manufacturing plasma televisi

Notwithstanding the benefits or superiority of the plasma technology, it's popularity is on the bane. People want to look at and buy slim and sexy LED TV models. You will see plasma disappear from the market in one or two years. OLEDs, if and when they become cheaper, will rule the market.

 

[longshanks]

Re: Why are upscale(read : German) tv manufacturers not manufacturing plasma televisi

Loewe and Metz dont sell much even in Germany so they don't have much to spend on research these days, in fact loewe were buying their CRT tubes from Philips even during their days of making reference CRT's.

Making a plasma is not as easy as making an LCD TV, and plasma is not as profitable as LCD's that is why you see many Chinese branded LCD's while only top manufactures makes plasma television.

 

[prosenjit]

Re: Why are upscale(read : German) tv manufacturers not manufacturing plasma televisi

and this is very common in many products you can see.
timberland is not famous for formal shoes
glen dont make wine
darjeeling tea brands dont make coffee

 

[sandesh1978]

Re: Why are upscale(read : German) tv manufacturers not manufacturing plasma televisi

Any idea why sony is never into plasma... Just curious ...

 

[anm]

Re: Why are upscale(read : German) tv manufacturers not manufacturing plasma televisi

regarding sexy, I think my samsung plasma is sexy and thin as LEDs out there.

 

[vktyagi]

Re: Why are upscale(read : German) tv manufacturers not manufacturing plasma televisi

Notwithstanding the benefits or superiority of the plasma technology, it's popularity is on the bane. People want to look at and buy slim and sexy LED TV models. You will see plasma disappear from the market in one or two years. OLEDs, if and when they become cheaper, will rule the market.

Modern plasmas too are reasonably slim an sexy. The force driving customer away from plasma is the sales people who tell them the "disadvantages" of plasma foremost of which is, plasma is older and obsolete technology followed by low life expectancy, high power consumption, generation of heat and leakage of gas etc.

 

[issigonis]

Re: Why are upscale(read : German) tv manufacturers not manufacturing plasma televisi

>>>

Sorry, intended or unintended negative publicity re. plasma technology, regardless of correctness cannot explain why Germans are staying away. I can understand if high costs of design and manufacture in Germany is the reason, vis-avis costs obtaining in China/Thailand.

Further, the Teutonic auto brands (Audi, BMW & Daimler Benz) have done very well in growth markets such as China and (VFM heaven - India), especially amongst the brand conscious and the enthusiasts. These three marques are definitely more expensive than mainstream marques such as Toyota, Ford & GM.

Why haven't Loewe and Metz taken up the challenge?

Still curious.

Regards
issigonis

 

[longshanks]

Re: Why are upscale(read : German) tv manufacturers not manufacturing plasma televisi

Any idea why sony is never into plasma... Just curious ...

Sony did make a few plasma TV's but they found very little success, Philips was once the market leader in plasma and made some really nice plasma during their time then Panasonic, pioneer and Samsung caught up.

Also making a plasma costs more than making LCD so Sony at its present down situation will not take that risk.

 

[manish1283]

Re: Why are upscale(read : German) tv manufacturers not manufacturing plasma televisi

regarding sexy, I think my samsung plasma is sexy and thin as LEDs out there.

Correct!! My Samsung Plasma E490 is slimmer than by neighbor Samsung 4 series backlit LED.
And also PQ is also better than that of Sammmy LED.

 

[just4kix]

Re: Why are upscale(read : German) tv manufacturers not manufacturing plasma televisi

Correct!! My Samsung Plasma E490 is slimmer than by neighbor Samsung 4 series backlit LED.
And also PQ is also better than that of Sammmy LED.

You are missing the point. It is not just "slimmer". If you look at the latest plasma vs. the latest LEDs, the LED TVs hold the edge. Besides, LCD with CCFL backlit technology will be "fatter" any day. Look at the overall size, thickness, bezel width, desktop stand, brushed metal finish, etc.

 

[shanmune]

Re: Why are upscale(read : German) tv manufacturers not manufacturing plasma televisi

Correct!! My Samsung Plasma E490 is slimmer than by neighbor Samsung 4 series backlit LED.
And also PQ is also better than that of Sammmy LED.

My personal opinion :- I guess TVs are suppose to show images with good/great PQ rather than participating as slimmer models in fashion shows
I some how hate this modern design philosophy - Focussing too much on looks, smart features, etc instead of working more on the actual job of attaining higher PQ.

 

[viper08]

Re: Why are upscale(read : German) tv manufacturers not manufacturing plasma televisi

Any idea why sony is never into plasma... Just curious ...

Sony made some plasma TVs. But they were mostly monitors coupled with added detachable speakers
Series were PFM= Professional Flat Monitor and BVM= Broadcast Video Monitor, FWD= Flat Wide Display

In fact I am still using 42" FWD daily which is few years old with very good PQ and anti reflective protective glass just like gorilla glass high models come with. But its bulky, heavy (approx 27lg) and only 480p (EDTV)

Sony lost plasma for various reasons. Mainly cost of making and competition from Koreans.

 

[shanmune]

Re: Why are upscale(read : German) tv manufacturers not manufacturing plasma televisi

Another reason for Sony to walk out of Plasma is that there were already big players (like Panasonic, Philips, Sharp) in Plasma market and Sony had a very small share and so they couldn't compete. I guess they also ventured into plasma a bit late compared to others. The reason could be that they were doing really well (if not, outstanding) in CRT.

In fact, I have this question. What if Sony didn't exit CRT ? What if they continued to produce CRT for hardcore videophiles rather than buying the LCD panels from others ? They might have produced the best TV in this universe. I have that disappointment with Sony though I understand there would be some business reasons for them to do so.

 

[viper08]

Re: Why are upscale(read : German) tv manufacturers not manufacturing plasma televisi

In fact, I have this question. What if Sony didn't exit CRT ? What if they continued to produce CRT for hardcore videophiles rather than buying the LCD panels from others ? They might have produced the best TV in this universe. I have that disappointment with Sony though I understand there would be some business reasons for them to do so.

Shift in demand. People wanted flat, bigger sizes, and lighter TVs which cant be made using CRT tech although its proven, robust and offers best PQ till date.

 

[issigonis]

Re: Why are upscale(read : German) tv manufacturers not manufacturing plasma televisi

>>>
Let us return to the topic of the thread and not digress into the relative aesthetics of various non-German brands.

I am curious about the absence of the Germans from plasma technology except perhaps B&O, given that the Germans are characterised by high levels of engineering design, build quality, feature finesse and of course higher cost structures relative to the competition from the east Asians.

Regards
issigonis

 

[just4kix]

Re: Why are upscale(read : German) tv manufacturers not manufacturing plasma televisi

If I may say so, German companies were never very strong in consumer electronics, at least not internationally. I can't remember any famous German names apart from Grundig, Telefunken and Metz.