Which brands/models have VA panels?

woppy101

IPS screens also have worse DSE than VA screens due to the passive 3d screen filter

AlanX

Are you saying that IPS screens are always passive 3D, and VA panels active? If so, that would be a quick and easy indication of the panel type, as you can read active/passive 3D from the published spec sheet.

DavidT

The last post on the AVS thread was today.

AlanX

Thanks for that. I looked at the bottom of the page for page navigation, but it seems it only shows at the top - so I thought it was just the one page. I'll take a good look now that I know it's still active.

desinho

That is what I was saying yes in my first reply, as a general rule of thumb (but with a few, rare, exceptions like the Sony 42 inch W8 and 39 inch LG LB650 that are passive 3D but with a VA panel)

AlanX

Thanks, a useful pointer. Interestingly, I was looking at a Panasonic 802 in JL yesterday, which looked very impressive - good blacks and no clay-face (admittedly not in good lighting). But then discovered that they use active 3D, and someone here mentioned their VA panel. So it looks like these are another VA user alongside Samsung.
Still veering towards the Samsung 65HU7500 based on what I've seen, if I can justify the extra cost to myself (and one other!!).

desinho

Where did you read it has VA? Afaik it has IPS panels as also mentioned in the review (and specs list "polarized 3D" = passive) Panasonic TX-60AS802 (AS802) TV Review | AVForums
AX802 4K is a VA model but the AS802 has local dimming I believe so that could explain the black levels you saw ,,,

BigD18t

Panasonic has two 802 ranges, the AS 1080p model with IPS and the AX 4k with VA active.

AlanX

Yes, perhaps I should have made it clear that I was talking about the AX802 (4K). I hadn't realised that the AS802 (HD) belonged to the 'other camp' (IPS).

thetrellan

I finally understand why LED TVs changed the terminology for backlighting.  3D now uses the old nomenclature of passive and active, and it's causing no end of confusion. Passive MATRIX is indirect backlighting, and that's what it's called now.  Indirect backlighting.  Passive 3D display is when the glasses you view 3D with aren't powered.  Two completely different technologies.  3D has nothing to do with choosing a screen unless you plan on viewing 3D content.

I have always believed that the narrow viewing angle was a consequence of indirect backlighting.  If that's true, then VA uses indirect backlighting, and IPS must use direct backlighting.  The latter is when every RGB element has its own dedicated backlighting, as opposed to having the backlighting arranged along the sides of the screen and projected to each element.

That would explain the relatively weak darks of IPS.  Because each pixel is lit to some degree even if the color being displayed is black.  It might also explain the narrow viewing angle, which was my original reasoning.  But VA and IPS are new terms to me.  I have been googling for a few hours now, and have come up with nothing definitive.

Can someone please tell me if VA is a panel arrangement specifically designed to use indirect backlighting and if IPS always uses direct?  Just tried again since writing that last sentence. Still coming up empty. If there is no connection please advise.

This is all strictly for my own edification.  When buying, I tend to go where I can see what I'm getting, and ignore all terminology.  Especially since salesmen like to talk like they understand when really they haven't a clue, and frankly there are way too many technologies involved in screen technology to consider every aspect anyway.  If I like the colors, contrast, and viewing angles, that's what I get.

So my advice is to take your list of requirements to the sales floor and see for yourself how it might need refinement.  But that's just me.  All this googling to no avail just gives me a headache.