A $9,000 bargain TV
FSB tech columnist Jonathan Blum is raving about the Runco PlasmaWall XP-50DHD. What do you think?
From Paul V, Lorton VA I worked for a Runco dealer for years, and they had their products in all of our stores. One day I went in with a $2,000 LCD projector and put it up against their $12,000 projector. Runco was better, but not significantly… That was 6 years ago. Now, if sources are correct, Runco is sourcing Panasonic glass, which is notably weaker than Pioneer glass. So, I reitorate: The Runco is about $5,000 more than it should be. There is no information in this 'review' that actually shows how good this display is, but it simply states the Runco marketing lines.
Plasma is marginally better than LCD, and the best LCDs are a hair short of the best plasmas. But, above all else, for years, has stood Pioneer Elite plasmas, and Runco is no Pioneer Elite, or they would have their product in serious A/V magazines getting serious reviews.
Don't go into a showroom where you have no clue what settings have been done on the displays to enhance them for sales. There's a reason why actual A/V magazines stay in business with their serious reviews… They get real numbers and perform real tests and have an actual point of comparison without the gush of marketing lines that were presented in this case.
Sony is not much better than other LCD TVs by the way. They have many different products in their lineup, some better than others, but Sharp, Sony, and Samsung have some of the best LCD panels on the market…
They still aren't plasma, and they still fall well short of Pioneer.
Runco may not fall short of Pioneer, but I challenge Runco to step up to the plate and go head to head. It's a simple enough request… If they are going to claim to be the best, then why not actually go up against the best? Otherwise, they prove themselves unworthy of making any claims, and those who simply say "Go see for yourself!" – Yes, I've seen a 75%+ failure rate of Runco product myself. I've seen $2,000 projectors that look maybe 5-10% worse than $12,000 projectors. I've seen 50"+ Runco plasma displays that have used NEC glass, that looked 5% better than the comparible NEC model that was $5,000 less.
Come on Runco – if you are the best, then stop hiding behind your name! Step into the ring and actually dare to put forth your 'best' against the industries best.
I know where my money is going to be bet.
From Jonathan Derda, Colorado Springs, CO If you are one of the lucky few to have a Runco dealer in your area you should go to a showroom to see it for yourself. I have compared the newest 1080P Sony XBR LCD to a 1080P Runco LCD. The difference is profound. The Sony looked like a cartoon representation of film, while the Runco looked like film. Specifications are usually exaggerated, trust your eyes.
BTW the Sony is much better than most other LCD TVs.
From Paul V, Lorton, VA I'm wondering what displays this was compared to before the decision was made to declare it to be truly worth the money. No mention is made of greyscale tracking, or if the set was ISF calibrated, or what the ANSI contrast ratio measured out to. It was just a non-technical gush of how fantastic the display is… This is in stark contrast to the very serious gush that accompanies the Pioneer Elite displays which can also be ISF calibrated, and have ANSI contrast ratios, and black levels which are generally untouched by any other displays in the industry.
For half the price – I think you can do a lot better, and buy from a company that actually is willing to have its product reviewed by a professional who is willing to put in the work.
Show me the numbers on the Runco, then tell me how good it is, until then, it seems they should be running scared from the Pioneer Elites and even the Sonys. Runco is no Ferrari – Ferrari would happily go up against the competition, Runco is a cowardly company and has been for years.
From Pat, Mequon WI I don't think I would get it for $1000.00. There is absolutely nothing but garbage to watch on TV adn good movies are hard to find.
I rather spend the money on trips, live shows and concerts.
From Jonathan Derda, Colorado Springs, CO At first blush it is hard to call anything that costs more than twice it's competition a bargain, but if your looking for the most accurate studio quality television on the market, then Runco should be on the top of your list.
If you are used to products like Viking, Sub Zero, Burberry, Porsche, Bvlgari, etc. being in your possession why would you accept a Sony TV as being the best available? A Sony to a Runco is like a Timex to a Carier. Extrapolate that 9K investment over the 10+ years you will be the proud owner of a Runco and it suddenly becomes a bargain.
From Charles, Dallas, Texas Yes, $9000 can be a "bargain" with the right frame of mind. Six years ago, I bought a 50-inch Pioneer Elite Plasma display for $10,000, at a time when they were retailing for $20,000. I was very prooud of my "bargain'(I had a connection with the wholesaler). Even though prices have dropped consistently since then, I got to enjoy the State of the Art for several years before everyone else. That's worth a few bucks.
I am almost at a loss for words when I read your comments Paul V of Lorton VA. You tell them to "step into the ring" and "dare to put forth your best". Why the huge chip on your shoulder? I guess you are really passionate about TVs!
Whether or not Runco makes the best plasma is debatable but your dependance on numbers and "professional" reviews is unsound.
A person needs to judge a product based on what they see, not what some third party tells them. Do research to create a narrow list of products you are interested in but don't dispel a product just because it wasn't some magazines flavor of the month!
If you are unsure of the settings of TVs on showroom floors, then ask a salesman to show them to you. Any reputable dealer would be more than happy to do that. If some setting seem skewed then ask your salesman to make adjustments.
I have seen the same reliability issues with certain Runco products but I still recommend them because of their expeditious handling of any problem. Runco is not a mass produced product and it is going to have kinks just like any other high performance machine. The important thing is that they are going to stand by their products and make things right for the person who invested in them.
Lastly, Runco does source their plasma glass from a variety of different manufacturers. They only get "A" grade glass that meets their highest specifications. Most manufacturers don't use "A" grade glass in their own TVs. Runco has designed it's own video processor, Vivix, and it is better than anything in a Sony, Samsung, or Sharp TV.
If you are in the market for a high performance television follow the advice of Paul V, read reviews and numbers and be a little skeptical of what you see on the showroom floor. But use your eyes, they are your best tool.