I work in an AV store where we get to stand around and watch plasma screens all day. I'd say for your money you'd be better off with the largest widescreen CRT TV you can find, or just get a projector to hang from the ceiling.
I say this because every DVD I've played on our plasmas (high end Sony DVD players connected via component cables) exhibit extremely noticeable colour banding and grain. Correct me if I'm wrong but this occurs because the plasma screen has twice the amount of pixels as used to encode the DVD movie, and you basically end up seeing the effects of MPEG2 compression. On certain movies (Reservoir Dogs- R2 anamorphic) it's not so bad because most of the colours on screen contrast from each other. It's when you have gradual changes in colour shades (like in most of the darker scenes in FOTR) that you can see the banding.
Of course, that's just my opinion. Personally I'd wait till HD-DVD comes out (if ever) before spending so much on a plasma.
Think about it, for the price of a plasma alone you can get a projector and a full high end AV setup including a 6.1 sound system.

I'll bet those plasma screens would look a lot better if they were driven by an HTPC that could output a resolution that would match the native resolution of the screen.

Like projectors, I'll bet their built-in scalars are not that great.

That's what I've always thought. The only conventional way to fully utilise the technology on a plasma screen is to hook a computer up to it, and even then you have to do it properly, ie know what resolutions to use, and not go ahead and watch VCD's on it or something.

I have found that using a progressive output DVD player, I do not see any pq problems. I was not pleased with the PQ when not using progressive scanned output.

I looked into the largest screen tube set, but that is quite small. I almost pulled the trigger on the RCA F38810 which is 38" and 16:9, but it's discontinued (and not replaced) and has a LOT of quality problems. The Loews Aconda is almost $5000 for a 38" set. Otherwise, the largest 16:9 sets are all 34", which is substantially smaller than the 42" plasma. For me, the 42" is about the smallest I want in my room.

My room and situation (as noted earlier) do not lend itself well to a front projector, though I think I will pick one up for business if I can find a good deal.

Personally, I wouldn't be happy with a 42" screen, now that I've been spoiled by a 65" rp. A 42-incher (which a couple of my friends have) looks like a big tv. Our 65-incher looks like a small movie screen. Different visual impact, and very bright with a viewing angle that covers our entire seating area. And of course, the front-projectors I've seen look simply like a movie screen, period! When the FP is in a darkened room, bright and properly set-up (unlike pretty much any bar I've seen one in) they look great. Alas, we can't have a dedicated room for one, and so the rp is the next-best option IMO.

home theater has a big story on plasma this month.

The best ones are there and the other manufactures are catching up. I expect price to drop but for quality the top lines are pretty much there.

Get a projector...wait on the plasma...you'll thank me. If you don't like it...you can really thank me and send me the projector

-pedagogue

ps. I'll pick up shipping....

After a lot of looking I am narrowing it down to the new panny plasma commin out this summer, projection Sony KP46WT500 and Toshiba projection 42HDX82.

I know all about the plasma now

Are the projection TV's that much worse? I have a small space for the TV so the plasma would be nice for space reasons but the big screens can squeeze in. Good reviews on these models and $3,000 less is tempting! Also has the DVI/HDCP I need. What is the diff between the CRT v. LCD I keep reading about - any big factor?

Also - I have Tivo/direct TV - does that mean I can't watch HDTV until they come out with their new boxes in Dec?

Help has been great - getting close to a decision!!! Help me out please!!

Projection TV's are better, not worse. They're just bulkier and need a more darkened room.

I have recently bought the Pioneer 43" and on the whole I am delighted with it. The colours are great but I would agree that some of my older dvd's are completely unwatchable because of the bleed factor buffy series 1-3. FOTR does have problem with the colour in the Mines or Moria but after the first vieing when I was being ubber critical I haven't really noticed it. For me the infulencing factor was the phyical deminsions of the screen. I wanted a big screen but here in the UK 14' rooms are concidered large so rear projection and CRT are out of the question. This is also my sitting room so the last thing I wanted was a projector and screen hanging form the ceiling.

I hate to say this, but Sony's high end dvd players leave a quite a bit to be desired when it comes to picture quality.

Which 43" model and what dvd player? I watched the Mines scene over and over at CES on the new 50" (503/5030) and it was perfect

Are projections really considered better than plasma?

It does save me a lot of space to use the plasma but for the extra $3,000 I can make it fit. Would you guys rather have the two projections I mentioned than the plasma?

I think it's too simplistic to say one is better than the other. It depends on what you want and what you can do. Lots of variables. Each technology has it's positives and negatives. I highly recommend reading up on them to see what they are. I posted earlier in this thread about some negatives from each technology. Do a search on AVS forum also.

My only objection is to people that say plasma does not have a good picture. Maybe not in the store you saw it. Maybe not with that crappy feed I have seen at BestBuy or whatever. But a properly setup Panasonic, Fujitsu, or Pioneer blows most people away.

To recap, for me the projection does not work as well. I can have a problem with the rainbow effect. This does not affect everyone, but you might want to check out some DLP/LCD projection systems. The issues for me for a projector were:

1. Rainbow effect
2. Concern over lamp life and costs
3. Difficult to install. I would have to ceiling mount and then route cabling thru the ceiling and down thru the walls. I don't have a spot in front of the viewing area for a projector on a table/floor.
4. It needs a screen. Which means a motorized one. Which means it needs to come down to watch anything. Not an issue for me for movies, but others in the family wanted a simple TV.

I think that by the time I paid for the ceiling installation, motorized screen, and cabling installation, it would not have been cheaper than my plasma. Again, very subjective, but I would not have wanted to do it all myself. Specially the cabling.

For me (stress this!), the advantage of size was not a something I cared about. I wanted a 42" min screen, but I don't need anything bigger than 50" or so. If I did, I can sit closer. I am very happy with going to 42" from my old 26" 4:3 set. My room is also not that large, so that has a lot to do with it.

Sounds like something is not right. Everything I have read about the Pioneer 43" set indicates great colors. Precious, what kind of DVD player? Progressive output? Component cables?

OK Randy - I have come full circle after much research and am looking at the Pioneer 433CMX that you first suggested. Seemds like many happy people at AVS forum purchased it. Few last questions for you:

Is it actual HDTV monitor simply awaiting the hookup?

I believe it is both DVI/HDCP protected?

What is this 5002 card that people are discussing as to it?

Speakers included or extra? Are they worth getting.

Pioneer as reputable a brand as Panny?

Know anyone who has it or have you seen it personally?

Price also looks good - should be able to get it at $4,000 -

Thanks for all the help - it seems that we are redoing our room so the plasma would be better suited than the projection. Looks like the Pioneer could be the one - and I wouldn't have to wait until July!!! Patience is not one of my traits! Thanks a bunch to Randy or anyone else who posts info!!!!

For sources of the plasma, look to Lisa at http://www.plasmaextreme.us

The cool thing about the PDP-433CMX is that it can accept plug in cards so you can upgrade to accept other inputs. It is 43", so it's 1" bigger and it's 1024 x 768. Check out the new card, the A303.

One thought is you can get it now without the card, if you want to wait.

The only downside of using plasmaextreme.us is that they don't take credit cards. If that is a deal breaker, than look elsewhere. I have heard people being happy with dsmartstores.com also and bhphoto.com, or you can look at your local brick and mortar.

You can hook it up out of the box except you will need RCA-BNC adapters. There are some part numbers listed on avsforum. They are inexpensive.

The plug in card is what makes it DVI/HDCP.

The 5002 cars is the standard card that allows more I/O and some features. Check out plasmaextreme's site. There is a PDF of the card and the monitor.

I would not get speakers. The only reason to do so is to not use your receiver and system. 2 little speakers driven by the plasma will not match your system. They are not included and are not cheap.

I think both brands are very reliable.

I have seen it at Tweeter and a few other shops. I really like the Pioneer.

Once again thank you Randy! I think Pioneer may be the one - they made a nice car stereo I had! -

Why the RCA-BNC adapter? What is the point with that?

I assume that when I get my Tivo/HDTV in Dec (confirmed to me by tivo!) - that it will be true HDTV not this virtual stuff? I guess I will just have to enjoy the basic picture until then. No probs with direct tv?

assume DVD's look great - progressive scan.

This has helped a great deal - I can't thank you all enough

The RCA chose to use BNC connectors for the component input. Silly.

I am waiting for the new HD-Tivo also. For now, I use the TiVO to record in best mode and output S-Video to the plasma. I just can't record the HD stuff, but that is okay.

DVDs are awesome with progressive scan. I still get a thrill out of it.

Kiddets, come join us at www.AVS.com! You will find more information than you can absorb on plasmas. Don't beleive the trolls, plasma is the ONLY way to go!

Srgilbert

Randy posted the link to that site and I have been there - it actually educated me a great deal on DVI/HDCP - I was all ready to jump on a Panny without it before I was led there. I have posted at the forum and not too many people answer my questions so I think this site is more friendly.

However - I did a search on the Pioneer 43" plasma and it got good reviews so that is the way I am leaning. We are doing some minor work on the home to make the room a little bigger - if it is done soon I will get th ePioneer - if it takes ntil July I may go for the new Panys.

I have decided on plasma - I just hope it will look good without an HDTV box until my HDTV Tivo is released in Dec. Also I hope I figure out how to do those RCA connectors - sounds complicated! Should I go for the attachment speakers or just put it through the surround system and save the $700!

The RCA thing is a total no-brainer. Don't worry.

The one major downside of AVS in my opinion (not to get into a forum pissing war) is the new rules about stating where you bought something and prices being prohibited because the site owners also run a store.

And you are right, DVDtalk is friendlier IMO. There is a lot of info at AVS though.

Since I also live at high altitude (7670') this caused me to have to eliminate plasma displays from consideration. But I thought I should point out that there are some higher end plasma brands (Marantz, for example) that have models certified for high altitude. The local HT guy here has installed them in Telluride (around 9000 feet) and found that they work fine.

I can't afford ten grand or so for these but I thought I'd mention it for those that live at high elevations and have large wallets.

I have no idea what Marantz is, but if you are comparing a $10K 42" Marantz with a $4K 42" Sony, I think I'd buy the Sony and spend the extra $6K moving to Hawaii. Problem solved.