Welcome to the Home Theater, DTV, FlatTV and HDTV plasma display information resource,
manufacturing links,
where to buy and
magazines.
We are also building a similar page for
DVD Players and
HDTV Receivers.
In pursuit of a good Home Theater system, I have found that there are four (was five) basic video output devices. Each has benefits and issues.
Type Of Video output | Benefits | Issues |
Conventional CRT |
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Rear Projection |
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Front Projection |
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Plasma Display Panel (PDP) |
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When I first set this page up, there was a fifth choice of LCD. The LCD displays are no longer available nor can you find any information about them anymore. Due to the high cost of LCD manufacturing, and the low candle power they quickly fell out of market favor.
High Definition Television (HDTV) is on the horizon. Very soon HDTV will dominate the market. It will replace television as we know it. Currently there are 7 HDTV channels in the Dallas viewing area. This number is expected to increase to 9 by the end of this year (2002). By the year 2006 all the current TV channels will be converted to HDTV channels. So in the pursuit of a video display system for the home theater at this time, one must be sure to plan accordingly for HDTV. The HDTV specification has 1080 lines and 1920 pixels per line of resolution. Though most systems today don't provide a strict 1080 lines, they are quickly approaching this number. These systems most likely will be more costly than the 480 lines we are accustomed to.
As with many pieces of electronic equipment, they have a finite lifetime. That is if you bought a VCR 15 years ago, weather you use it every day or once a month it is probably on its last leg. The plastics get brittle and break. The internal batteries finally leak enough to damage other components. Servicing it will cost more than a new one and the parts are probably out of manufacturing.
Since the best return on investment is use, the the family room or living room is the best location for a home theater; however, these rooms often are not designed to house a video system that requires reduced light environments. I like an open plan, and blocking the windows seems such a waste. In my search for the best home theater, I have found it interesting how many home theater shops have no windows and use dark wood paneling. I have found that front projection requires a dungeon of a room with no windows. With front projection, a greater viewing distance is necessary to prevent blocking the projector and so viewers won't have to deal with high angle of attach effects on the final image. Rear projection also requires reduced lighting, not as reduced as a front projection, but significant enough that a sunny room would have poor picture quality. The brighter rear projection units suffer the viewing angle and depth of the physical unit is rather large. It is also fair to say that viewing a movie on a 35" direct view video output device just doesn't do justice to the movie. The plasma displays seem to offer the best of all worlds, they are 5" or less in depth, they don't need a mid room projection unit with fan, and they can be viewed in sun lit rooms. Plasma screens don't require another piece of furniture to be built to house them, nor do the require special wiring within the room as in the front projection systems.
This page has been dedicated to the pursuit of the best Home Theater system. So far the Plasma Displays otherwise knows as plasma display panel or PDP for short are the current best solution. They bring the brilliance of the conventional direct view video device and the size of the rear projection screens without the loss in viewing angle and the loss of valuable room space. They can be placed in relatively small room or large rooms without a redesign of the room or a room addition. There are no mid room fans to add to room noise which is then compensated by turning the volume up. Below are the links, model numbers, and resolutions I have found so far on Plasma Display units. The first unit has the best picture quality so far as I have found. Below the plasma displays list you will find another list of locations to buy plasma displays from. This list is in best overall values for plasma displays.
At the bottom of the page, I have described a couple of products that enhance the HDTV viewing experiance.
Manufacturer and Model Number |
Diagonal Size |
Aspect Ratio |
Resolution ROWxCOL |
Contrast Ratio |
Luminance cd/m^2 |
Samsung PDP-63HD | 63 | 16:9 | 1366x768 | 700:1 | 450 |
NEC PlasmaSync 61MP1 | 61 | 16:9 | 1365x768 | 700:1 | ? |
Runco PL-61cx | 61 | 16:9 | 1366x768 | 1000:1 | . |
Plasmaco/Panasonic Plasmaco | 60 | 16:9 | 1366x768 | 500:1 | 450 |
LG Electronics MP/MT/MU/MZ-60PZ10 | 60 | 16:9 | 1280x720 | 250:1 | 180 |
Zenith DPDP60W | 60 | 16:9 | 1280x720 | 330:1 | 180 |
NEC PlasmaSync 50MP2 | 50 | 16:9 | 1365x768 | ?:1 | . |
NEC PlasmaSync 50MP1 | 50 | 16:9 | 1365x768 | 580:1 | . |
NEC PlasmaSync 5000W | 50 | 16:9 | 1365x768 | 400:1 | . |
Panasonic TH-50PHD3U | 50 | 16:9 | 1366x768 | 3000:1 | 500 |
Toshiba 50HP81 | 50 | 16:9 | 1366x768 | 3000:1 | 500 |
Panasonic PT-50PD3-P | 50 | 16:9 | 1366x768 | 3000:1 | 500 |
Pioneer's PDP-502MX | 50 | 16:9 | 1280x768 | ? | . |
Pioneer PDP-505HD | 50 | 16:9 | 1280x768 | ? | . |
Pioneer PDP-501MC ^^^--- Replaced by PDP-505HD |
50 | 16:9 | 1280x768 | ? | . |
Pioneer's PDP-V501 | 50 | 16:9 | 1280x768 | ? | 350 |
Sharp PZ-50HV2U | 50 | 16:9 | 1280x768 | 830:1 | 350 |
Eizo P5071 | 50 | 16:9 | 1280x768 | 550:1 | 200 |
Eizo P5070 Discontinued |
50 | 16:9 | 1280x768 | ? | . |
Samsung PDP-50SD | 50 | 16:9 | 1366x768 | 600:1 dr | 500 |
Runco PL-50c | 50 | 16:9 | 1280x768 | 420:1 | . |
NEC PlasmaSync 50PD1 | 50 | 16:9 | 853x480 | 350:1 | 330 |
Sony PFM-510A2WU | 42 | 16:9 | 1024x1024 | ? | . |
Sony PFM-510A1WU ^^^---Investigating current status |
42 | 16:9 | 1024x1024 | 400:1 | . |
Hitachi CMP4120HDUS | 42 | 16:9 | 1024x1024 | 700:1 | 600 |
Hitachi CMP4121HDU | 42 | 16:9 | 1024x1024 | . | 750 |
Hitachi 42HDW10 | 42 | 16:9 | 1024x1024 | . | 750 |
Hitachi CMP402HDE | 42 | 16:9 | 1024x1024 | 350:1 | 250 |
Hitachi CMP402HDU | 42 | 16:9 | 1024x1024 | 350:1 | 250 |
Fujitsu Plasmavision 4222 | 42 | 16:9 | 1024x1024 | 350:1 | 500 |
Fujitsu Plasmavision 4221 | 42 | 16:9 | 1024x1024 | 350:1 | 500 |
Marantz PD-4298HD | 42 | 16:9 | 1024x1024 | 450:1 | . |
Sharp PZ-43HV2U | 43 | 16:9 | 1024x768 | 830:1 | 350 |
Panasonic TH-42WD4UY | 42 | 16:9 | 852x480 | 3000:1 | 780 |
Panasonic PT-42PD3-P | 42 | 16:9 | 852x480 | 2300:1 | 650 |
Samsung PDP-42SD | 42 | 16:9 | 852x480 | 700:1 dr | 660 |
NEC PlasmaSync 42MP2 | 42 | 16:9 | 853x480 | 550:1 | . |
NEC PlasmaSync 42MP1 Replaced by NEC PlasmaSync 42MP2 |
42 | 16:9 | 853x480 | 450:1 | . |
NEC PlasmaSync 42PD2 | 42 | 16:9 | 853x480 | 400:1 | . |
RCA PR42300 | 42 | 16:9 | 853x480 | 500:1 | . |
NEC PlasmaSync 42PD1 Replaced by NEC PlasmaSync 42PD2 |
42 | 16:9 | 853x480 | 400:1 | . |
LG Electronics MP/MT/MU/MZ-42PZ10 | 42 | 16:9 | 852x480 | 500:1 | 250 |
NEC PlasmaSync 4210W Replaced by new models |
42 | 16:9 | 853x480 | ? | . |
NEC PlasmaSync 4205W | 42 | 16:9 | 853x480 | 350:1 | . |
NEC PlasmaSync 4200W | 42 | 16:9 | 853x480 | . | . |
Sony PFM-500A3WU | 42 | 16:9 | 852x480 | ? | . |
Electrograph DTS42DD | 42 | 16:9 | 852x480 | 400:1 | . |
Sony PFM-500A2WU | 42 | 16:9 | 852x480 | 400:1 | . |
Sony PFM-500A1WU ^^^---Product has been obsoleted by newer product |
42 | 16:9 | 852x480 | 400:1 | . |
Fujitsu Plasmavision 4214 | 42 | 16:9 | 852x480 | 580:1 | 400 |
Fujitsu Plasmavision 4209 | 42 | 16:9 | 852x480 | 450:1 | 300 |
Fujitsu Plasmavision 4203, 4207 ^^^---Replaced by newer models |
42 | 16:9 | 852x480 | 400:1 | . |
IEE Ruggedized, shock-resistant UltraVue 42
^^^---The company has decided not to continue promoting the Ultravue Plasma Display |
42 | 16:9 | 853x480 | ? | . |
DAEWOO Electronics Co., Ltd DSP-4210GM | 42 | 16:9 | 852x480 | 500:1 | . |
Toshiba DP42W1 | 42 | 16:9 | 852x480 | 550:1 | 350 |
Revox E-542 | 42 | 16:9 | 852x480 | 500:1 | 260 |
Panasonic PT-42PD1-P | 42 | 16:9 | 852x480 | 550:1 | 550 |
Marantz PD-4290D | 42 | 16:9 | 853x480 | 450:1 | . |
Marantz PD-4280 | 42 | 16:9 | 853x480 | ? | . |
Runco PL-42cx | 42 | 16:9 | 853x480 | 1500:1 | . |
JVC GD-V4200PZWG | 42 | 16:9 | 853x480 | 500:1 | 240 |
Eiki PLD-42UE | 42 | 16:9 | 852x480 | 400:1 | 300 |
Conrac XsightA | 42 | 16:9 | 852x480 | 400:1 | 300 |
Conrac 4042A UFD | 42 | 16:9 | 852x480 | 450:1 | 260 |
Zenith IQB42P97G | 42 | 16:9 | 852x480 | 400:1 | . |
Akai DP-W4200 | 42 | 16:9 | 853x480 | 400:1 | . |
Philips 42PW9962 | 42 | 16:9 | 852x480 | 350:1 | 250 |
Hitachi CMP401XU | 41 | 4:3 | 1024x768 | 150:1 | 120 |
Pioneer PDP-V402 | 40 | 4:3 | 640x480 | ? | . |
Mitsubishi Leonardo[tm] | 40 | 4:3 | 640x480 | 150:1 | 300 |
Pioneer PDP-V401 | 40 | 4:3 | 640x480 | 150:1 | 400 |
Mitsubishi DiamondPanel ^^^--- Mitsubishi no longer sells this product |
40 | ? | . | ||
Panasonic TH-37PWD4UZ | 37 | 16:9 | 852x480 | 3000:1 | 650 |
Looking for a very good HDTV receiver? The Samsung SIR-T150 HDTV receiver should meet with your demands. It is available at Best Buy and many Web outlets. The receiver provides composit, s-video, component, and RGB outputs, and the picture quality is execelent.
OK, now that you have a good display and video source you may have noticed that the medium for transferring the Video and Audio is less than desirable. Have you looked into CAT-5 to move your video? Check out the CAT-5 Video Baluns. CAT-5 is extremely cheap compared to Video cable and can run for much longer distances without video loss.
A very good video selector is the SIMA SVS-4. It has 4 input sources composite or S-Video and 2 outputs. It converts the composite to S-Video for output if needed. Automatically switches when detecting a new video source. This product eliminates the need for having a super remote that attempts to control all devices. It also allows the user to use the TIVO remote which has not been delt with on the super remotes. For those that have a TIVO you know what I am talking about. The TIVO is the only remote we use, the Sima does the rest. All for $149 at Best Buy.
I normally don't put a product down unless it really is a piece of junk. I normally just don't promote it. But after pruchasing an RCA VH920 selector I was truely unimpressed. This video selector claimed to be able to switch based on the input equipments remote 'on' sequence. Well it works for RCA devices, but doesn't work for Toshiba DVD or TIVO input devices. There are also many reports of poor IR operation for the devices it can learn. After returning it I bought the SIMA and wow! a video selector worth the price.
If you have found a manufacturer, a place to buy, magazine or other high definition television links that you think should be included in the above lists. Fill in the below form and submit it.
Legend:
PDP - Plasma Display Panel
HDTV - High Definition Television
FlatTV - Flat Screen TV
Last updated:
Comments and suggestions to <denis@beaureview.com>