$1999 42" Plasma HDTV @ Costco

[Zoglog]

By the way guys, it isnt just an Xbox issue. It's an issue with 480p with certain things. My PS2 on progressive scan displays the same problems.

Here's a pic
color problem

 

[jimmythehammer]

I could not get good color out of my Sony DVD in 480p mode. Red's were blue, washed out too. No odd lines or anything. I tried Y Cr Cb and Y Pb Pr connections on the P42. My dvd has Y Pb Pr 480p mode. With Y Pb Pr the 480p caused some weird split screen problem, reconnected with Y Cr Cb on tv w/dvd in 480p mode and picture was not split but color was bad. I don?t know the technical difference between Y Cr Cb and Y Pb Pr (maybe none?) on the P42. The cable's cardboard box says Y Pb Pr cable, but the ends of the cable are labeled Y Cr Cb.
Another question is that when playing a widescreen format movie I expected the picture to fill the entire screen - but I'm still getting the look of a standard tv playing wide screen. The P42 only seems to have three options - wide, 1:1 and one other. Any ideas?
Sorry this is some technical talk, I'll take it somewhere else if this forum is inappropriate.

Wayne

 

[huesmann]

Jimmy, reading the thread over at AVSforums might answer some of your questions.

 

[jimmythehammer]

Originally posted by: huesmann
Jimmy, reading the thread over at AVSforums might answer some of your questions.

I went to AVSforums and it is a good Loooonng read. Thanks.
UPDATE:
I checked the 480p again when I got home from work and had no problem going to 480p mode. I had a s-video cable hooked up (so I could compare the two formats) and think I had it on s-video input when I switched the DVD player to 480p mode which made me think 480p was not working.
That said, the default color in 480p mode is not great. There is a lot of green in the shadows and facial features. And when a text message (like PLAY or PAUSE) is displayed in white there is a green blur within the white text. It may be possible to adjust this out, I played with it a little, but no luck yet.
I have a JVC VX-N40BK dvd and a Toshiba SD-K620KU dvd with component outputs I will try here in the next few days.

 

[camelcowboy]

So I returned the Vizio with the green line going through it, and luckily there was another one available. I've been getting the same problem with 420p, it does some split screen thing that looks horrible. I tried it with two different dvd players, a jvc and a pioneer. I figured I would try the svideo suggestion that jimmy did but with no luck, same problem.... interesting. Btw, the picture with sdtv looks pretty nasty.

 

[Zoglog]

You plugged it into the wrong component port camel. Make sure you use the ypbrb one.

I think it would be worth noting that I've had nothing but bad luck with Vinc's Tech support. I cannot reach them over the phone. On hold for 30minutes. And when I finally get through I get no real answer on any real fix for the problem. Now I guess I have to either fax them a copy of a serial of the TV or e-mail them. (Which I dont know how I'm gonna get since I don't want to rip it off the BOX so I can return it just in case).

Ugh I'm so pissed at Vinc right now, I'm thinking of just returning the set.

 

[imported_Bud]

FYI-I asked Vinc techsupp a question about the YPbPr Vs. YCbCr inputs and they responded overnight. I guess they're happy to answer a pre-sales question vs. a "it ain't working" question.

Also, Vinc seems to have added the glossy / specs (not the usermanual yet) for the P42HDe in addition to the P42HD on their website.

-Bud

 

[huesmann]

YPbPr works with my progressive scan DVD player. You need to make sure the player is set to output component AND set to output progressive.

 

[Nikepete]

The progressive DVD's YPbPr also works well on my P42HDe. No problems here.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Apex
The specs on vinc's site are of the older panel.


When you buy it at Costco, look at the box. The contrast ratio is marked on the box. 5000:1 is the new one, that you want. 3000:1 is the older one.

Specs at http://www.vinc.com/product.asp?ID=76&PID=15&SEQ=2 for VIZIO P42 HDe 42" Plasma TV:

Panel:
42? Diagonal, 16:9 Aspect Ratio

Resolution:
1024 x 768 pixels

Pixel (Dot) Pitch:
0.90 mm x 0.676 mm (H x V)

Display Compatibility:
HDTV (720p)

Signal Compatibility:
480i (SDTV), 480p (EDTV), 720p (HDTV) and 1080i (HDTV)

Brightness:
1000 cd/m2 typical

Contrast:
5000:1 typical

Viewing Angle:
>160 degrees (horizontal and vertical)

Inputs:
2 x Composite Video (2 x RCA), 2 x S-Video, 2 x Component (YCbCr and YPbPr), 1 x Digital Video (1 x DVI), 1 x Analog RGB (1 x 15-pin D-Sub), 4 x Audio (Left + Right), 1 x RF (1 x F Connector for internal NTSC Tuner), 1 x Audio (1 x Stereo Mini Jack)

Features:
PiP, POP, CC, V-Chip, 3D Comb Filter, 3:2 Pull Down, Gamma Correction, Scalar and De-interlacer, NTSC Video decoding via RF (Antenna, Cable or Satellite [Set top box may be required]) or Video (CVBS, S-Video or Component YCbCr), Progressive Scan Video via Component YPbPr, VGA or DVI, HDTV via Component YPbPr, VGA or DVI (Set top box may be required), Computer 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768 via VGA or DVI, SRS and BBE Sound enhancement.

Interface:
1 x RS 232 (9-pin D-Sub)

Speakers:
2 x 15W

Power Consumption:
440 W

Dimensions:
40.9" x 25.45" x 5.2" w/o stand or speakers; 48.65" x 27.2" x 10.6" w/stand and speakers

Gross Weight:
115.8 lbs w/stand and speakers (Net Weight: 85 lbs w/stand and speakers)

 

[JasonG]

Well, I've had mine since Monday and overall I am very satisfied.

Luckily, I don't have a problem with the progressive component output from the DVD. DVD's look great.

Also, once I figured out how to change my Comcast DVR box to output 1080i, all channels look better and HD programming is amazing!

I can't wait until everything is HD.

Good luck everyone.

Jason

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: JasonG
Well, I've had mine since Monday and overall I am very satisfied.

Luckily, I don't have a problem with the progressive component output from the DVD. DVD's look great.

Also, once I figured out how to change my Comcast DVR box to output 1080i, all channels look better and HD programming is amazing!

I can't wait until everything is HD.

Good luck everyone.

Jason

Don't hold your breath for all HD programming. That's a long long ways off. There's precious little now and it doesn't seem to be growing very fast. It is absolutely wonderful, though, what little there is - especially when the content is good!!!!!

I went to Costco last night and being curious (as I always am, anyway) I gawked at all the big displays, looking this time for the Visio Plasma in the OP. I only spotted the EDTV version, though. However, I saw several similar displays including $5000 HDTV plasmas and I have to say that none of these holds a candle to my Sanyo PLV-Z2 front projection system which I bought for under $2000, including my Gatorboard screen picked up at an art store. The Z2 blows them all away. The picture is bigger, brighter (in a dark room, albeit) and I think the colors are much more realistic and there's far less of a sense of graininess. Also, the Z2's native resolution is 720p, which my DVD player upscales to and is also the broadcast resolution of many local digital TV stations. However, TV broadcast in 1080i looks just as good - uh, especially when in HD!

If I were to buy today, it would be the new Z3, which has significant improvements over my Z2 - dust blob control built in and better contrast ratio. Last time I was into one of the Plasma threads in this forum it was a post there that got me on the trail of front projection and I'm glad it worked out that way.

 

[LikeLinus]

Does anyone know much about a Daewoo 46" Plasma? A store around here has them for $1999. Large than the 42" but I don't know about the quality

 

[huesmann]

Is the Daewoo an ED or HD unit?

 

[ntdz]

I bought this plasma and I like it a lot. My xbox looks like sh!t on it, but I never play it so I don't care. HDTV looks unbelievable and dvds look great. I much prefer this 42" plasma to my 65" rear projection hdtv. I just like it much better. BTW, HL2 on this plasma is something else...something you all should experience

 

[eric2288]

Originally posted by: ntdz
I bought this plasma and I like it a lot. My xbox looks like sh!t on it, but I never play it so I don't care. HDTV looks unbelievable and dvds look great. I much prefer this 42" plasma to my 65" rear projection hdtv. I just like it much better. BTW, HL2 on this plasma is something else...something you all should experience

I like to play xbox games a lot, so does this plasma tv works with xbox (480p) input or not? :Q

 

[huesmann]

This plasma does seem to have issues with Xbox, rather, Xbox seems to have issues with this TV. There's a thread on AVS forums about it.

 

[Zoglog]

It's not just xbox folks. It's also with ps2 and various other progressive scan devices at 480p.

people just single out xbox because most of the games are in 480p and most people on xbox have the hdpack while for ps2 that's not so much th ecase.

 

[9ball]

I saw this at the south city costco while it was playing HD content, it looked great, even in the brightly lite show room. but I need my money for vacations

 

[huesmann]

Originally posted by: Zoglog
It's not just xbox folks. It's also with ps2 and various other progressive scan devices at 480p.

people just single out xbox because most of the games are in 480p and most people on xbox have the hdpack while for ps2 that's not so much th ecase.

Other devices, like the progressive scan DVD player many of us are using with it, problem free?

 

[joemiller13]

If you just purchased a P42HD, how do you know if you have the "e" or not?

(From vizio): The model number on the box, the manual and their website does not reflect the "e". The way you tell is because (1) the box says 5000:1 contrast, (2) the beginning of the serial numbers are as follows:

for "e" model: DTPBBTAE ...
for non "e" model: DTPABSAE ...

 

[huesmann]

The HD is in a brown carton, the HDe is in a white+orange carton.

 

[Zoglog]

Beats me, what software revision are you using.

All I know is the ps2 and xbox have this problem so it isnt just xbox. It's major banding and it's really annoying since most games are in 480p on xbox. So far Vizio tech support has not gotten back (been 2 weeks). I am not sure if they wille ver fix. Well at least we can return to costco in 2 months if they don't.
AVSforum is nice but it seems most people there don't use consoles so there isnt much discussion on this problem going on.

 

[mikester0421]

Hey All,

Is this TV still available? I noticed that it is no longer listed on either the Costco website or the Samsclub website.

I got my bonus and I think it is time to bite. If I get the Xbox adapter the displays through the DB15 port, do I then get 480P without problems? I really only plan on using the DVI and SVGA ports on the unit anyway (have a dual-dvi video card).

Do you think I can still get it for $2000 or is that gone now (I am not a current Costco member)?

If someone has the time (and wants to show off) perhaps you could take a picture of the unit with a good movie on it (preferably not porn) and share it with everyone.

Thanks

 

[huesmann]

It was never available on the Costco website. If you're lucky you can find a store that still has stock, but unless you got a raincheck, you're SOL on getting it for $2k.

No pr0n? What--you don't dig the boom-chicka-wow-wow?