"Professional" or "Commerical" Display Monitors


As an audiophile first, and a home theatre enthusiast second, I am always irritated by the cheapo internal amps and speakers attached to flat panel and traditional televisions.

Certainly with DVDs and even with television, I am more than happy to monitor through a proper audio system, which I have for both my home theatre projector setup and also next to my TV.

Yet even in audiophile and video forums, consumer grade displays with the cheesey speakers are regularly featured on the latest recommended list.

Some have suggested that the speakers, at least, can often be detached and discarded, but this offends my high end sensibilities, and I dont really want to pay for something I am not going to use.

Does anyone have links to more information, vendors, dealers, manufacturers etc for both flat panel and traditional CRT monitors WITHOUT tuners and WITHOUT amps and speakers, please? Does this exist for LCD display screens with video inputs as well?

Is there any lag in the video technology for this market? Or can I - hopefully - buy the latest, greatest, HDTV displays without all the consumer grade garbage?

Obviously, for less money would be even more thrilling.

Thanks for your ideas.
cwlondon
Panasonic TH-50PHD7UY might do the trick for you.

See http://www.greathometheater.com/plasma.html

Usually the new technology comes out at the top levels (with bells and whistles) and then trickles down. But this industrial model has the goods without the extras.

Be sure the hookups (inputs) satisfy your needs.

Bob Wood
Woodburger

Thanks for the tip. But further to my point, only ONE item, comes up on Ebay for the monitor you mention, and it seems to be the mounting bracket.

TIC

I assumed videophiles had tuned into this concept, but for me "hugely popular" has not yet translated into ease of research or purchase.

So if anyone has any other links which might compare models, or lead to reliable dealers, that would be great.

Oh and thanks for reminding me about stands, perhaps the cheesiest of comsumer ploys.

The last time I bought a Sony TV from one of the big box retailers, there were generous enough to throw in a gorgeous particle board, vinyl coated stand which was a $500.00 value ?!

So yes, definitely no stands, no speakers, no amps, no tuners, no low level consumer grade inputs, no "free" cables. Did I miss anything?

Just component and/or HDMI inputs into a great, HDTV ready monitor
Cw,

OK, by highly popular, I mean among the "informed". You are correct, these commercial versions are not generally available in you local B&M stores.

For lots on forum information on commercial plasmas, check the display forum at www.AVSforum.com. They are THE videophile geek forum on the net.

Now, about table stands, I'm not talking about something that you sit the TV on. Commercial Plasmas do not have any "feet". They are made to be wall mounted, or you must buy an optional "table top" stand that connects to the TV to give it some legs to stand on.

Another thing is that some commercial plasmas do not actually have built in HDMI connections. You must buy and install a "blade" (add-on card) to get HDMI.

As far as models to research, here are some popular one:

Panasonic TH-37PWD8K (37" EDTV/852X480 resolution)
Panasonic TH-37PHD8K (37" HDTV/1024X720 resolution)
Panasonic TH-42PWD8K (42" EDTV)
Panasonic TH-42PHD8K (42" HDTV)
Panasonic TH-50PWD8K (50" HDTV)
Panasonic TH-65PHD8K (65" HDTV)

There are also commercial models of NEC, Pioneer, Sony and Samsung TVs. They are similar in function to the Panasonics listed above.

Here is how I would find models. Go to http://www.pricescan.com/electronics/03010105.asp?displaytyp=plasma and check the manufacturers that interest you. Each page has a thumbnail photo of the TVs. It is fairly obvious which ones do not include speakers.

They Pannys are probably the most popular commercial plasmas, but they others have their fans too.

Enjoy,

TIC
I went with the Professional model Panasonic 42" EDTV model, and have been extremely pleased with it. Make sure it has the inputs you need, or purchase the add-on boards to satisfy your current and future needs. Each year when the new models come out, the add-on boards are not necessarily compatible with older models. I know that my unit which is only 3 years old cannot take any HDMI boards that were released after after that model year.

Since I get all my programming via a cable box or DVD player, I also appreciated not having to pay for an onboard tuner. The professional models do have some amplification for optional speakers.
Does anyone know if this type of monitor only device might also be available in small sizes of < 15"?