Pioneer 42" KURO Plasma?

Question

I'm thinking of buying a new TV by the end of this month and I've already got one on the mind. A pioneer KURO HD Plasma.

This comes in the 42", 50" and 60" models but I can only afford the 42" one. Problem is, the 42" model is only 720p unlike the other's which are 1080p.

Is there a much of a difference between the 2?

My goal is very good picture quality for home bluray movies and video games. Will 720p look much worse?

Now since plasma has a better picture quality then LCD and that the KURO is able to produce such deep levels of black means that I am not leaving the brand. I couldn't care less if somethign was 'less expensive'.

Answer 1

I'm just gonna copy and paste an answer I gave to someone else:

"In my line of work, I get asked this question a lot. And the answer is simple:

Yes ... and no ... but also, maybe ...

It all depends on the size of the screen and the distance you are sitting from it. That's why there are no 1080P 20" sets. The pixels are already so small and close together that unless you were 18" away you would never notice the difference.

Expanded to a more logical setting. At 50", you will typically notice a difference at around six feet. Any further it's pretty much the same as a 720p set. Six feet is closer than most people sit from their televisions, but, obviously, viewing distances vary from room to room.

A salesperson who is being honest (or knows what they are talking about) will tell you that resolution is about #4 on the list of things to look for in a television. More important are contrast ratio, color saturation and color accuracy. (these, by the way, are great on a Pioneer)

Tragically there are no real industry standards for measuring those three, so you can't really compare Panasonic's 1,000,00:1 contrast with Pioneer's 7800:1. It's apples and oranges.

Go to the store, stand about the distance you will be at home and look at the TV's. Buy the TV that looks the best to you. The numbers are a guideline at best."

At 42" you have to be standing awful close to spot the difference between 720 and 1080. Enjoy your new TV.