Hopefully not a dead horse: Help me pick out a new HDTV

[bluesdoggy]

my 50 inch Panasonic read projection LCD finally bit the dust after many years of admiral service. Its time to get something new.<BR><BR>Room characteristics: Dark (black-out curtains) to warm-medium light. Most viewing is from approximately 12 feet away dead-on center. <BR><BR>Usage: Gaming, Blu-ray, dvd, "HD" Television ala DirectTv.<BR><BR>Other: Sound will be going through a receiver so speaker quality on the display isn't important.<BR><BR>Price Range: i'd prefer 2500 or less. I would also prefer a 12-month same as cash /interest free option. Local retail options are Best Buy, Sam's Club, Circuit City, HH Gregg, Electronic Express.<BR><BR>My research so far is leading me towards a 50 inch Panasonic Plasma:<BR><BR>http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Panasonic-50-Plasma-HDTV...ccd/productDetail.do<BR><BR>or <BR><BR>http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Panasonic-50-Plasma-HDTV...ccd/productDetail.do<BR><BR>I've seen some debate over whether or not the benefits of 1080p are observable to any noticeable degree at this screen size and viewing distance. Based on personal experience, I do notice a difference on a 52 inch screen from the same approximate viewing distance at a friend's house. <BR><BR>I appreciate any suggestions / info. I did search, but didn't see any live threads that seemed to help me.

 

[JaySmuv]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by bluesdoggy:<BR>Based on personal experience, I do notice a difference on a 52 inch screen from the same approximate viewing distance at a friend's house. <BR> </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>You answered the question right there. If you notice it, then you should definately go 1080p. You're probably right at the threshold where the only opinion that matters is yours. A few feet further out or on a smaller TV it may not be necessary.<BR><BR>I say go with the 1080p and that the Panasonic is probably a great choice. Although, I have a 50" Samsung plasma that isn't 1080p and I still love it.

 

[Gregorius]

I'm also in the market for a HDTV, I'll probably be buying in the next 2-3 weeks or so. There have been some recent threads in this forum on this topic, one of them lead me to check out the reviews on cnet.com.<br><br>Based on my research I've been leaning towards getting a DLP, most likely one of the newer Samsung models. According to the reviews they look to be excellent TVs, and of course the price is pretty good.<br><br>I'm a little put off by the strong opposition to DLP technology... I keep hearing people telling me to stay away from DLP at any cost. Plus there's the availability factor, DLPs are relatively hard to find. Just this week I talked to the owner of an electronics store that had been reccommended to me, and he almost got sick to his stomach when I asked him if he carried DLPs.<br><br>I'm still undecided on what I'm going to get... I don't know which sources of information to believe anymore. -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_mad.gif --

 

[colo]

As a price reference, I paid $1800 for the 77U at Fry's last weekend. It's very nice.<BR><BR><BR><BR><BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by bluesdoggy:<BR>my 50 inch Panasonic read projection LCD finally bit the dust after many years of admiral service. Its time to get something new.<BR><BR>Room characteristics: Dark (black-out curtains) to warm-medium light. Most viewing is from approximately 12 feet away dead-on center. <BR><BR>Usage: Gaming, Blu-ray, dvd, "HD" Television ala DirectTv.<BR><BR>Other: Sound will be going through a receiver so speaker quality on the display isn't important.<BR><BR>Price Range: i'd prefer 2500 or less. I would also prefer a 12-month same as cash /interest free option. Local retail options are Best Buy, Sam's Club, Circuit City, HH Gregg, Electronic Express.<BR><BR>My research so far is leading me towards a 50 inch Panasonic Plasma:<BR><BR>http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Panasonic-50-Plasma-HDTV...ccd/productDetail.do<BR><BR>or <BR><BR>http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Panasonic-50-Plasma-HDTV...ccd/productDetail.do<BR><BR>I've seen some debate over whether or not the benefits of 1080p are observable to any noticeable degree at this screen size and viewing distance. Based on personal experience, I do notice a difference on a 52 inch screen from the same approximate viewing distance at a friend's house. <BR><BR>I appreciate any suggestions / info. I did search, but didn't see any live threads that seemed to help me. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

[theeric]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by colo:<BR>As a price reference, I paid $1800 for the 77U at Fry's last weekend. It's very nice.<BR><BR> </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>++ Panasonic makes very nice plasmas. We have the 50PX77u and like it a lot.<BR><BR>Their next generation units (TH-50PZ85 etc.) are either available now or very soon.

 

[bluesdoggy]

i actually went and looked at the 77u. Despite the amazing reviews...for lack of a better phrase, i hated the thing. I checked it out at circuit city (i know i know, but hear me out) by taking in a calibration suite on my laptop along with a couple of dvds and a bluray. Hooked up a ps3 to the display after calibrating the color and threw in Pirates of carribean 3. I found the picture to be "dim" overall and it seemed to lack some of the color depth and crispness i was expecting. Black levels were very good, but the overall color tone was quite muddy. While i knew this display was technically amazing, it just didn't do it for me. Maybe i saw a crappy unit, maybe the anti-glare treatment really messed with things (it is reported online to give the display more "flat" look... and i can definately see that.). On the plus side, the anti-glare worked veyr well.. easily showed less glare than other near by plasmas.<BR><BR>The next thing i looked at was the 70U. They had it listed at 2699 and it really impressed me its quality. I played around with it for almost an hour, and was left really wanting to buy. My wife and i left and got a bite to eat at local restaurant while i researched the model and compared prices. My only hesitation was the price (it was available cheaper online)... but we had the money, wanted the instant gratifcation and loved the display, so back to the store we went. Turns out they were out of stock but had 1 open box unit that had come back. I was able to confirm it had only been out for 2 days, and was returned because it didn't fit the cabinet that it was bought for. They offered it to me for 2200 with the full 1 year manu warrenty as well as 30 day return with no restock fee. I bit on that and have just finished setting up the display at home. My initial impressions are very favorable. Everything i've tried thus far (360, DirectTv HD, PS3 game and blu-ray) has looked incredible. This panasonic display is far and away the best plasma i've seen.

 

[Aurich]

The 77U is crap. It has an anti-glare coating to make it more LCD-like which you don't need since you have light control, and all it does is muddy up the picture and fuck up the blacks. The reason you see them on sale is because Panasonic is having trouble moving them, and they got returned a lot by unhappy buyers.<br><br>The other unit you saw (and bought I guess -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif -- ) was actually the 700U, and it's out of stock because it's out of production. Sounds like you got a good deal, the new units (like the PZ85U) are already hitting the stores, but CC will charge you a good $500 more than what you paid. I almost bought a 700U myself but decided to wait for the next gen, enjoy!

 

[pokrface]

I just picked up a Sony KDS-60A3000, which is a 60" LCOS (~lcd rear projection) set. The black levels are great, the color accuracy is amazing, and I'm thoroughly happy with it. Last week it was $2199, but you can find it on sale this week for $1899 (which I babble about in this thread).<BR><BR>It's my first HDTV, and it's had a busy first week, but it's been great.

 

[wzpgsr]

If you're looking at 50" plasmas, don't discount the Pioneer Kuro 5080HD. Yes, it's a 720p set, but the overall quality trumps other plasmas in the same price range, regardless of resolution. I believe the 5080HD has been officially discontinued, but there may still be some out there.

 

[tabish]

FWIW, CNet has good reviews of HDTV's: http://reviews.cnet.com/televisions/

 

[theeric]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Aurich:<BR>The 77U is crap. It has an anti-glare coating to make it more LCD-like which you don't need since you have light control, and all it does is muddy up the picture and fuck up the blacks. The reason you see them on sale is because Panasonic is having trouble moving them, and they got returned a lot by unhappy buyers.<BR> </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>I like mine. I don't see any problem with the blacks.

 

[polar]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I almost bought a 700U myself but decided to wait for the next gen, enjoy! </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>I <3 my 700

 

[Aurich]

<blockquote class="ip-ubbcode-quote">
<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div>
<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by theeric:<br>I like mine. I don't see any problem with the blacks. </div>
</blockquote>
<br>If you're happy with your set then great, please don't go looking for problems when you don't notice them. -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif --<br><br>I don't care for LCD TVs, and I don't want my plasma to try and look like one. Just my 2 cents.