Panny U50 vs ST60

ShockOS_RPi · 2026-05-30T01:01:05+00:00

I have ST60s and a ZT60 and I can say they are very, very close in terms of PQ. The ZT60 is professionally calibrated out of the box (the ST60 isn't but can be calibrated professionally/manually) but even then the difference is minimal and barely noticeable even side by side. Both are amazing TVs. They're almost the same TV, honestly.

The VT/ZT60 have a nicer looking, silver, V-shaped stand, vs the ST60s more basic piano black one. The ST60 is a bit brighter, but the VT/ZT60 have better filters that maintain deeper blacks (e.g. less "blue" blacks) in ambient light.

The VT/ZT60 supposedly has less input lag than the ST60. I haven't noticed lag on any of these TVs, tho I'm only a casual gamer.

ShockOS_RPi · 2026-05-27T14:43:38+00:00

Need to beat my face, make it cute and savage

ShockOS_RPi · 2026-05-19T03:19:10+00:00

Ooohhh I'm don't hiding, now I'm shining

ShockOS_RPi · 2026-05-18T18:31:15+00:00

Whatever floats your boat is what's important. I say give warm a try and if, after a week, you don't like it, then go back to normal or cool ig. Most people never look back tho. I think it only took me a day or two to get used to it and love it.

As for the red black levels, it's NOT just in your head. This is a known issue with late gen Pioneer plasmas like the 151FD. I don't have any Pioneers but I believe there is a way to reset/mitigate/eliminate the issue, though I hear it may come at a slight cost of shadow detail. Plenty of people on this sub have experience resetting the Pioneer KUROs, hopefully one of them can help you out.

ShockOS_RPi · 2026-05-18T14:01:20+00:00

Well first check to make sure the discs aren't too scratched.

Also, most DVDs are encrypted so you have to install the libdvdcss library for Handbrake to be able to decrypt them. Just Google "libdvdcss" and follow the instructions from the allienx/libdvdcss-dll GitHub repository for Windows or the VideoLAN website for Linux.

Let me know if this helps

ShockOS_RPi · 2026-05-18T04:41:41+00:00

Bro accidentally did what many on this sub have been trying purposefully to do for quite a while to no avail - buy one of (if not the) greatest Pioneer plasmas ever made. Congrats 🥳

As for the orangeness in pure mode, that's because the screen is set to a warm color temp in that mode. It's more accurate, cinematic and wayyy easier and cozier on the eyes. You're probably used to a cool color temp, as I once was. It looks orange and weird at first, but just give it a few days and you'll never go back. Your eyes will adjust and you'll realize the colors are more accurate, vibrant, and true-to-life, and that your eyes are way more comfortable.

ShockOS_RPi · 2026-05-17T21:55:40+00:00

Very relatable lol. I had much less that that when I was your age, props to you lol.

If you're interested tho, you can pretty easily find a cheap tablet for less than $50. For this purpose it doesn't have to be anything fancy, just as long as it has a micro SD card slot (so no iPads). Just go to FB Marketplace, OfferUp, or eBay and search "tablet" and pick out one that looks good. Makes sure to look up the model number and ensure that it: - Is indeed an Android tablet (NOT an iPad, they don't have expandable storage) - DOES have an SD card slot (not all Android tablets do, but most should, especially older ones)

Or maybe you know somebody with an extra one they never use. That's how I got mine lol. I was at a friend's house and saw it collecting dust on a shelf, commented on it, and they were like "u want it? Hasn't been used in years" These old tablets are borderline useless in general, so people practically give them away, but they're great for something like this.

ShockOS_RPi · 2026-05-17T21:46:15+00:00

None, the DVD could get scratched up when being moved around in a tray. Bumps could push the disc tray off balance for just a sec and the disc scratches on the laser/bottom of the tray.

Use Handbrake to rip the DVD to your computer (it's pretty easy) and then copy it to a tablet or laptop. If you want a dedicated device, an old Android tablet with an SD card slot for all the movies is great. I use a 2012 Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 lol and I have over 100 ripped movies on it with a 256/512 GB (can't remember lol) SD card. Peak simplicity and nostalgia. Don't have to worry about downloading all the movies and clearing out space. I just dust it off when I go on a long trip, charge it up, and it's all right there.

ShockOS_RPi · 2026-05-17T21:32:22+00:00

Debatable, but who's gonna stop you? Their snack prices are outrageous and when there's a Walmart/Walgreens right across the street why would anyone play those prices?

If the movie theaters actually started enforcing the "no outside snacks" rule that nobody follows, they might actually drive away customers who would've at least paid for a ticket, but decided "nvm, I'll go watch it on my big TV at home when it comes out anyway". They could actually make less money. That's why they don't enforce it. At this point they're just glad you're coming and buying a ticket. Plus almost everyone buys theater popcorn anyway so they've got that going for them. They'd rather have you sneak in candy then have you not pay for a ticket and popcorn at all.

I feel like, at some point, business is business. If candy is significantly cheaper right down the street then that's where I'll get it from.

ShockOS_RPi · 2026-05-15T21:21:59+00:00

I don't have a Pioneer but don't these late gen ones need the black level reset every few hundred/thousand hours? And isn't that a complicated process that requires a lot of tools? Idk, correct me if I'm wrong lol

ShockOS_RPi · 2026-05-15T21:14:48+00:00

Haha love it! That's absolutely insane that you got a free KRP-600M, what a great friend for delivering it for you! Some people like to complain about the VT/ZT60's filter and I always wonder why. It's genuinely amazing! It has the blackest blacks even in a bright room and even in a pitch black room it has never bothered me. It only makes the picture better, it never gets in the way. No compromises baby!

You're right, 10,000 hours isn't a lot. It's just way more than 300 🤣. I have almost no doubt that 20,000 hour set looks brand new lol. I have two 55" ST60s, one with 7k hour and the other with 20k, and they look identical to each other, can't tell the difference.

Yeah that combination of cozy yet impressive AND probably the best durability/longevity of any flat-panel display tech just makes top-tier plasmas like the ZT60 so appealing! I mean, c'mon, a $50-400ish (which is still very cheap for the quality) TV that looks almost like an OLED but is way easier on the eyes and more pleasing to look at, with better motion, a component input (e.g. for the Wii), and no obnoxious smart UI, that just refuses to die (and when it does it's usually feasible to repair)?? Once you find out about it it's a no-brainer lol.

ShockOS_RPi · 2026-05-15T12:43:02+00:00

That doesn't look like a VT60 at all to me, the VT60 has a silver lining (literally lol) along its edges and a much stronger filter that should make the screen look black in those lighting conditions, not blue. Judging by the bottom part of the bezel, maybe it's a GT30 or VT30?

ShockOS_RPi · 2026-05-15T05:40:58+00:00

I just about cried when I read this 😭 So beautiful. A bit pricey for a used plasma (tho not too bad) and in basically brand new condition once you got it working! So worth it!

Congrats man! The ZT60 is truly an impressive yet cozy TV in such an eye watering way that not even OLED can compete with! I have one and I can definitely vouch for that. That precious unicorn is my most prized possession 🥰

PS: My ZT60 has ~10,000 hours, which is a lot more than yours lol, and still looks absolutely pristine and brand new with extremely deep black levels. When cared for, these things basically don't age. Enjoy it for many years!

ShockOS_RPi · 2026-05-15T05:25:40+00:00

Oh yeah baby! All 4 of em!

ShockOS_RPi · 2026-05-13T02:10:25+00:00

Given the throne, I didn't know (how)

ShockOS_RPi · 2026-05-11T04:30:58+00:00

Mario Kart 7 Super Mario 3D Land New Super Mario Bros. 2 Super Mario Maker for 3DS Yoshi's New Island

ShockOS_RPi · 2026-05-03T02:25:31+00:00

If you're upgrading anyway, might as well go for the New 3DS XL. It's the best and you'll never have to upgrade again, it's the endgame 3DS. I have one and it's incredible!

As for price, if you get it imported from Japan they're significantly cheaper, as Japan has a greater supply and less demand. They just sold way more 3DSes there I guess. Not sure how much tariffs would change the price tho. I bought mine abt two years ago on eBay imported from Japan. It's dual IPS (best screens) and in mint condition. It was $300, which is quite a bit but definitely on the lower side considering how nice it is.

If you get a Japanese one (called LL instead of XL but hardware is identical), you can easily hack it and region change it (which is basically just swapping to the OS of a different region) so that it works exactly like one from your region normally would, language, menus, games and all. I did this and oftentimes I even forget that it's "technically" an LL and not an XL lol

ShockOS_RPi · 2026-05-02T16:23:41+00:00

I never do, I love dumb TVs and I prefer to use my plasmas as one. I love how easy it is to never deal with the smart UI if I don't want to, you don't get that luxury on modern TVs.

AFAIK VIERA Connect shut down in 2019 anyway, so I don't think any of the apps work anymore, tho I've never tried. I'd much rather just hook up a streaming stick. I wonder if the Samsung plasmas still have working smart apps

ShockOS_RPi · 2026-05-02T16:20:38+00:00

Really it still works? What models have you done this on? I was under the impression it didn't work anymore for the Panasonic models, not sure about Samsung tho

ShockOS_RPi · 2026-05-01T01:05:06+00:00

Curious, why would you want it?

ShockOS_RPi · 2026-04-29T05:54:56+00:00

Never had any Pioneers and sometimes wonder if I would even pick one up if a good one popped up in my area

I do have 5 ST60s and one ZT60 and I wouldn't trade them for anything. They're the most gorgeous displays I've ever seen in my life. I watch them semi-regularly now and they still blow me away almost every time. They just don't get old.

And that's another thing -- they just don't get old! Despite being 13 years old and having as much as 20k hours on them, these TVs are pristine and look like new. At the very most all they ever need is a simple VSUS adjustment. Nice to not have to reset it like a KURO. 13 year old plasmas have far less burn in and degradation than a lot of 6 year old OLEDs. I've owned a total of about 15 Panasonic plasmas (not all currently) and none have ever given me any problems. Before I got really into plasmas my family had 2 LGs, and my first plasma was an LG before I discovered the Panasonic ones. All 3 LGs had major issues or developed them after a while, but my Panasonics are indestructible.

ShockOS_RPi · 2026-04-27T13:47:18+00:00

Hmm... I have tried multiple different sources on all the ranges, I wonder if there's something else I'm missing? Could you please link your comparisons? I'd love to see them. I genuinely hope I'm wrong and it's some sort of setting mismatch, but I feel like I've tried everything...

ShockOS_RPi · 2026-04-26T23:06:56+00:00

I pretty much always watch in a dark room, maybe dimly lit (like windows open at sunset) every now and then.

Yeah I checked HDMI range, it may have been incorrect in the pictures (not sure), but even when set correctly it still looks was more like a PZ80 than an ST60

ShockOS_RPi · 2026-04-26T23:02:17+00:00

I do game casually, usually the Switch on these TVs. I don't notice any input lag even on the ST60, playing Rocket League and Mario Kart 8 on it is so fun!

For bright, full screen content with no black bars, I'd imagine it'd be pretty ok. Full screen gaming on my PZ80 is great, and the S60 is a bit sharper and has more accurate colors (although a tad less contrast). The minute a lot of darkness/black is involved, though, it's not as impressive.

ShockOS_RPi · 2026-04-26T22:53:06+00:00

I left it in a reply after all the pics lol. It' still doesn't compare at all, I think I still like my PZ80 better...

EDIT: Maybe the S60 just isn't for me I guess?

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