Hi,

I was wondering if anyone has this model plasma, and if so, what are your thoughts about it?

We want to compare it to the NEC 42XR3W (which I am nearly going to buy) but someone thru a spanner in the works with a plasma review which was written in today's Sun newspaper.

Any comments greatly appreciated.

Kay.

Do a search on this forum, there are heaps of threads about this (as far back as around Nov. last year, when people were anticipating its arrival). That should give you a pretty good understanding...

Many members have this (including me)...If you have any specific question/s, we can try to answer them...

Ritesh

PS: Regarding comparing articles in the Sun, there was one written about this plasma a while back, do a search on the Australian Google...

PPS: I am not familiar with the NEC model numbers, but if it is the latest one, then there is a thread on NEC as well, and quite a few members are very happy with it... not sure if the model you listed is the same one though... again read that thread... it is a current thread...

Kay,

I nearly bought a Hitachi PD5000 plasma a few months back - but, with all due respect to Hitachi 42PD5000 owners, it is not in the same league as the NEC 42XM3W (matte black) or 42XR3W (silver) models for colour processing and artifact-free HDTV. You will probably also get the NEC a little cheaper than the Hitachi?

There is no better plasma than the NEC 42" [at the moment] ... though there may be equals at much higher prices.

I don't wish this to turn this into a hitachi vs NEC debate. As Ritesh said a while back now, one thing the hitachi's/fujitsu's HD plasmas do still hold over the other non alis brands is pure resolution. Nothing else beats its (1 megapixel) 1024x1024 resolution.

As far as PQ I've seen some of the most jaw dropping pictures on my hitachi hooked up to the teac HD box and to the denon dvd player. Part of this might be due to the fact with a HD transmittion it can display (1024 out of the 1080 lines) in the vertical resolution with no scalling required. The horizontal resolution is scalled the same as other 1024 resolution plasmas presumably.

That said I would probably not be buying a hitachi plasma right now given the new model is right around the corner (unless ofcourse you can get one at a bargain basement price - which is likely in runouts)

And looking at the specs of the latest model and I understand its based on the US model then this is going to be one hell of a plasma to beat. Given it has the 62 billion what ever colours like the current NEC plus still being the highest resolution panels around (unless your talking lcds - but theyre still a bit half baked)

As you say Ian with any plasma the comment "[at the moment]" needs apply!

http://www.hitachi.us/tv/browse/plasma/plasma/42hdt51.shtml - this is one mean plasma!

Hi Kay

I would look at the XM3W which is that black version

I had a call from Geoff at eHome about two weeks ago and at that point in time he had the Hitachi 7000 and the NEC sitting side by side and in his opion the NEC still had the better PQ.
He had asked if i would have like ot come down and view both myself but at that time i had no time to check it out.

IMHO i did look at the Hitachi when searching for a new plasma but found the Hitachi's to be very grainey at time.

I work at the new National building at Docklands and down here we have 23 Pioneer 50" MXE1's and 9 Hitachi 42PD5000TA's and can tell you i do not like the PQ on any of them compared to what i have at home.

This is just my opinion

The Hitachi is going pretty cheap I think ($5,500 including speakers and stand). I may have to see if Geoff (e-home) can throw in the NEC speakers for a bit cheaper cause I'm still leaning towards NEC.
Kay.

BTW, regarding the NEC, the only thing that I'll confirm (Ian, Glenn or Angelo can probably give more info. on that...)... it's the internal 60hz processing issue that was raised a while back... not sure what the outcome of that was, but if you buying that, probably best to look into that issue...

Ritesh

I'm not sure how to answer this for Kay. One forum visitor to my place when the panel was brand new definitely noticed the 60Hz 'native' judder ... and I did on that day too ... but I honestly don't now, even when looking for it!?! Was it more pronounced when new than when run in? Is it only noticeable in the first day or two while one is getting used to the much larger screen? I don't know!

Maybe it's a similar issue to rainbow effects with DLP and 50Hz flicker with CRT - it depends on one's own sensitivity to the problem, plus how much one has acclimatised to watching the panel?

When I eventually get my HTPC hooked up to the panel, I hope to track down exactly what is going on and whether the issue is real or imagined. However, Angelo is a better guide to this because he has a bigger screen and his eyes are more sensitive to judder than mine.