I'm being offered a choice of 50" plasma TVs as a replacement for an HP model that has broken. I'd like advice on which to get, and I'm particularly interested in each brand's reputation for quality and durability. I don't want to have to keep making warranty claims and buying new service plans.

I know that this is a very broad question, but I don't need a detailed breakdown of each model's pros and cons. I'm just trying to get an idea of the general consensus on each of the brands. Assuming everything else is equal, including price, picture quality, features, etc, which one is least likely to cause additional headaches in the future?

Pioneer (Kuro) PDP-5080HD (720p)
Samsung PN50A550
LG 50PY3D
Panasonic TH-50PZ85U

I know the Pioneer is the only model that's not 1080p, but 1080p is not important to me. Also, the Pioneer may not be available, so if that's the choice for "best", I may need to know which is considered second best. Ideally, I'd like the general opinion on all four brands, with a somewhat authoritative source behind the reasoning.

Thanks in advance to anyone who cares to reply. I know that the question isn't full of details but the answer doesn't need to be either. I'm just trying to figure out which of these brands has developed a reputation, whether positive or negative, in the plasma display market. Thanks again.

I am not a Pioneer fanboy however...if the 5080 is available....I would take that set over the others. If not....go with the Panny. I have the 720p Panny just released(TH-42PX80U) and I absolutely love it!!!! The PZ85U is 1080p. It is also the same generation panel(2008) as my set. So....Pioneer...or the Panny. :cool:

And if 1080p is not important...how about the TH-50PX80U? Not a possible choice?

Pioneer, Panasonic, Samsung I would trust. Things can happen to any unit but the odds are pretty low. And if it does happen these manufacturers would do their best to take care of you.

Roman did you get my PM/:D

Considering the wide availability of Panasonic (Matsushita) products, maybe Conumer Reports rating of Panasonic at the top, has some merit.
I believe Pioneer was 2nd.
All in all, I don't think most popular brands are far off. But it's 'after purchase' service that would be more important to me.

I would suggest the 5080, but if that is not in, go with the PZ85U.

I own 2 Panasonic (4 years old and 5 months old) and one 2 year old LG and haven't had issues with any of them. I really don't have any personal experience with Pioneer or Samsung plasmas so I can only offer an opinion....I wouldn't have a problem buying a Pioneer plasma but past bad experiences with Samsung products and the subsequent poor customer service...has led me to swear off buying any of their products in the future. Again, that is just my opinion and not based on any real evidence that their plasma tv's are sub-par.

This thread makes no sense as the concept of "reliability" is statistical in nature. To compare brands X and Y you need to have access to their records, which they won't let you, or poll a statistically significant number of owners who had their TV sets long enough. Even Yugos were reliable in the first 24 hours after purchase. What value can you possibly get from a response "mine didn't fail" or "I think brand X is better"?

The second issue is the likely response of brand X vs. brand Y after a failure is reported. Do they stock spare parts? How soon will they send a technician? How much training did they get? Individual onwers are in no position to answer any of these questions with a degree of certainty to be of any value.

Samsung dead last for me from experience, our family has had 2 Samsung Tv, one rear projection and one tube. Both buzzed. Now you only get to make a 1st impression once and that did it for us. We have 2 panny 50 plasmas now and zero issues at all.

Samsung dead last for me from experience, our family has had 2 Samsung Tv, one rear projection and one tube. Both buzzed. Now you only get to make a 1st impression once and that did it for us. We have 2 panny 50 plasmas now and zero issues at all.

I have two Samsungs: a CRT and an LCD. Both flawless. Now what?

I have two Samsungs: a CRT and an LCD. Both flawless. Now what?

I'm going to the gym in one hour, now what?

This thread makes no sense as the concept of "reliability" is statistical in nature. To compare brands X and Y you need to have access to their records, which they won't let you, or poll a statistically significant number of owners who had their TV sets long enough. Even Yugos were reliable in the first 24 hours after purchase. What value can you possibly get from a response "mine didn't fail" or "I think brand X is better"?

The second issue is the likely response of brand X vs. brand Y after a failure is reported. Do they stock spare parts? How soon will they send a technician? How much training did they get? Individual onwers are in no position to answer any of these questions with a degree of certainty to be of any value.

I have said the same thing before on this forum. CR can only estimate repair data. They do not have anything actual. Since the difference between the 3 brands mentioned is only a couple of percent that difference would fall into the category of statistically insignificant

Sasmung LCD = flawless? You are one lucky guy.

I always thought Consumer Reports surveys people who own the products.

Anyway, they had an issue last month featuring HDTVs and gave Sony and Panasonic the highest ratings for reliability, Pioneer was a close second to Panasonic. Not sure about Samsung or LG. I wouldn't buy an LG product simply because the light inside my friend's LG fridge melted the plastic cover. LG wouldn't replace it, claiming he left the fridge door open. Even if he did, a light should never get that hot in the first place.

As you requested - my reply pertains to reliability only...
My ratings from best to worst would be:
1) Panasonic
2) Pioneer
3) Samsung
4) LG (you might remember them as Goldstar)

I will add that Panasonic's in-warranty failure rate is roughly 1/2 the industry average and has been for many years.

I'm going to the gym in one hour, now what?

My statement that neither of my Samsungs failed yet, followed by "Now what" (meaning: so what) was meant to illustrate the futility of reporting individual experiences such as mine or the person's I quoted. On the other hand, citing credible sources like CR makes sense.

Also, "flawless" was in reference to the operation without a failure, not to the PQ.

I always thought Consumer Reports surveys people who own the products.

Anyway, they had an issue last month featuring HDTVs and gave Sony and Panasonic the highest ratings for reliability, Pioneer was a close second to Panasonic. Not sure about Samsung or LG. I wouldn't buy an LG product simply because the light inside my friend's LG fridge melted the plastic cover. LG wouldn't replace it, claiming he left the fridge door open. Even if he did, a light should never get that hot in the first place.

Not a huge fan of CR for many things technical, but they are fairly good a separating the hype from the substance. And the incidents of repair are done with surveys as stated. Again, the manufacturer's response to a problem is where the tire really meets the road.

As you requested - my reply pertains to reliability only...
My ratings from best to worst would be:
1) Panasonic
2) Pioneer
3) Samsung
4) LG (you might remember them as Goldstar)

I will add that Panasonic's in-warranty failure rate is roughly 1/2 the industry average and has been for many years.

How did you arrive at this?
By the way, I had a very good Goldstar VCR that lasted a long time.

How did you arrive at this?
By the way, I had a very good Goldstar VCR that lasted a long time.

I spent more than twenty years in consumer electronics sales and service. Although I left the profession in the 1990s, I still have several friends in the field. The Panasonic statistic is well known in the industry and has been sited by others on this forum. If my memory serves, the last mention I saw of it was actually in a Samsung document from about a year ago. To be clear - the claim refers to all consumer electronics products, not just plasma TV's but I assume the ratio is similar.

For the average consumer, choosing a reliable product is a very complicated issue. I.E… A friend of mine just purchased a Sears stove. He said he saw a Frigidaire model that he liked but heard they weren’t dependable so he bought the Sears instead - of course the Sears model he purchased turned out to have been made by Frigidaire (before anyone jumps on me, not all Sears stoves are made by Frigidaire but this one was). Lucky for him Frigidaire is making better products after being purchased by Electrolux but the point is he meant to avoid a particular brand and wound up with just what he didn't want. In the 1990’s Panasonic’s low-end Microwaves and VCR's were rebranded Goldstar units and for the past several years their conventional TV’s have been made by other companies. So unfortunately for consumers, they don't always know what they're actually getting, even when they purchase a trusted brand. Fortunately Panasonic is still building their own plasma televisions.

As to your Goldstar VCR… A valid recommendation (good or bad) can’t be based on one experience. I have a 12” Sylvania color portable from 1980 with a ‘click-click-click’ rotary tuner which still works surprisingly well. Still, my overall experience tells me that Sylvania never made the best TV’s. These rankings are based on my own years of experience as well as that of others who remain in the field and sell/install/repair these sets on a daily basis.

I have a LG42PC3D that I have had since late 2006, I was initially very happy with my purchase. Now I regret it, I get flickers / red sparkles throughout the picture, I would stay away from LG.