Hey guys, quick question for you. My friend is considering buying a new TV, right now he can get the 800U for $2659 or the 85U for $2204. Now looking at the spec's posted on CC's website they look nearly exactly the same spec wise, is there something I'm missing? Is the 800U really worth the extra 455 dollars?

I highly doubt he'll hook either set up to a good surround sound system so audio isn't much of a difference. I have the 80U and I think he's pretty much set on the 85U but I told him I would ask the "experts" first. He needs to pick it up before Saturday to get the discounts!

Welcome to the forum. You can't discuss prices here unless its the MSRP (so edit your post).

On topic: I personally went with the 80U instead of the 800U and the 85U because the difference was negligible between the 3 of them.

If you MUST have one of those then go with the 85U and save your money and spend it elsewhere.

I disagree. I think the difference between the PZ800 and the two entry level sets is significant (I do agree that there is little difference bewteen the PZ80 and the PZ85). I would (and will) pay the premium for the PZ800. If the PZ800 wasn't around, I'd go with a Samsung. This year's entry level Samsung plasma have more accurate colors and better processing than the entry level Pannys. That said, the PZ800 blows away the Samsungs and the lower tier Pannys. The THX mode alone is worth the premium as it is nearly dead on accurate right out of the box for dark room movie watching, and so for the casual reviewer eliminates the need for professional calibration. Read the Cnet review of this set. It is their highest rated set to date and marketedly better than the PZ80 and the PZ85.

Finally, if I'm reading your post right, your friend won't be hooking up his set to surround sound system, so that is another edge to the PZ800, which has the best internal sound of any television on the market today. And, while a lesser consideration, the set just plain looks better. I find the styling of the PZ85 unattractive.

That said, the PZ800 blows away the Samsungs and the lower tier Pannys. The THX mode alone is worth the premium as it is nearly dead on accurate right out of the box for dark room movie watching, and so for the casual reviewer eliminates the need for professional calibration. Read the Cnet review of this set. It is their highest rated set to date and marketedly better than the PZ80 and the PZ85.

This is basically the same conclusion I came to. I'm probably going to be getting a PZ800U when I move in about two months (unless crazy things start happening with Pioneer pricing.) CNet thought the 800 was noticeably better in terms of color accuracy than the 80/85, and apparently the service menu has more adjustments available. The 850 is supposed to be even more tweakable, but is just becoming available and costs substantially more.

The 80/85/800/850 all use the same panel. The difference is all in the processing/menu options, and the number/placement of inputs.

Note that if you don't want to step up to the 800, the 80 and 85 should look identical if you turn off the feature on the 85 that automatically adjusts the picture settings relative to the ambient light level (which you probably don't want on anyway if you can control the light levels in your viewing area.) The street pricing difference between the 80 and 85 seems to be pretty small already, though.

I disagree. I think the difference between the PZ800 and the two entry level sets is significant (I do agree that there is little difference bewteen the PZ80 and the PZ85). I would (and will) pay the premium for the PZ800.

What about the PZ850? What makes it cost more then the 800?

Does it also have internal speakers as good as the 800?

Thx

Here are some differences:

xxPZ800u THX mode Not found on any other Panasonic's i.e. 80u 85u or 850u, which (at least according to CNET's review) makes a world of difference in the sets performance.

xxPZ850u Rs232 port, Viera cast IPTV, Studio Reference Mode, Digital Cinema Color, and a Pro-Setting. None of which are found on the 800u series.

These links may also be useful as well:
http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/shop/Televisions/VIERA-174;-Plasma-HDTVs.list.75003_11002_7000000000000005702

http://www.tvover.net/2008/01/09/Panasonic+VIERA+HDTVs+Enable+IPTV+And+YouTube+Features.aspx
http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/panasonic-viera-th-50pz800u/4505-6482_7-32886472.html (http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/panasonic-viera-th-50pz800u/4505-6482_7-32886472.html)

One more thing. It seems as if the speakers are the same, according to the Panasonic web site. I don't know however if the pro setting mode found on the 850u series would allow for audio adjustments or if it is solely for video.

Good Luck.

P.S. I've been surfing/lurking these threads for over a year now, and people seem to have only great things to say about purchasing through the forum sponsors. Cleveland Plasma, Invision, Visual Apex, all seem to be top notch. Might be worth your friends while to contact them... just a thought

Again Good Luck

Here are some differences:

xxPZ800u THX mode Not found on any other Panasonic's i.e. 80u 85u or 850u, which (at least according to CNET's review) makes a world of difference in the sets performance.
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Thanks!

I found a comparison matrix on amazon. I can't seem to paste the link. But if you search for panasonic 50 plasma, the listings that come up have this table.


It indicates the pz800 and 850 both have THX certification. Don't know if that is the same as THX "mode".

So whats this H.624 codec it mentions?

I found a comparison matrix on amazon......It indicates the pz800 and 850 both have THX certification. Don't know if that is the same as THX "mode". I'm pretty sure that the PZ850U does not have the THX certification or THX mode. You can't really trust specs listed on Amazon (or any other e-tailer site) because they're often full of errors.

Use the Panasonic website's comparison feature if possible for more accurate info.

So whats this H.624 codec it mentions?
Let me preface this by saying I'm no expert only an enthusiast, but
if my understanding is correct,
H.264 is a video compression standard. It's also called MPEG4-part10. It won't have any bearing on your friends normal TV /DVD viewing (including Bluray) unless he owns a HDEF video camera/camcorder that exclusively utilizes H.264 codec. If he were to try and watch his recording directly from such camera to T.V. he probably wouldn't be able to view it. Additionally H.264 is needed on the xx850u if he were to utilize Viera Cast. Viewing some online content might require it. Connecting a home-theater PC to the TV would make the sets ability to decode H.264 redundant. Apple Quick Time 7 can process H.264...
Sorry for the long winded explanation. In short IMHO Viera Cast along with H.264 wouldn't make or break the deal for me. Now access to Pro setting menu... That might make a difference, at least to me.

I was about to pull the trigger on the panny 85U when I noticed that forum members were differentiating between the 80u/85u and 800u/850u as entry level and pro.

80u/85u - entry level
800u/850u - pro

I've done comparisons on panasonic's web page and aside from the viera cast and thx modes, what makes the pro models more appealing? Is it just more settings?

I noticed the gradients number more on the pro series. Does this make a big difference?

Should there be a big difference in picture quality if one compares the 85u and 850u side by side?

I was about to pull the trigger on the panny 85U when I noticed that forum members were differentiating between the 80u/85u and 800u/850u as entry level and pro.

80u/85u - entry level
800u/850u - pro

I've done comparisons on panasonic's web page and aside from the viera cast and thx modes, what makes the pro models more appealing? Is it just more settings?

I noticed the gradients number more on the pro series. Does this make a big difference?

Should there be a big difference in picture quality if one compares the 85u and 850u side by side?


Wider color gamut, with the 850 having the widest (most). Also the 800 and 850 have more service menu adjustments (calibration). There is a huge PQ difference between the 85 and the 850

I purchased the 85U and absolutely love it. The 800U and 850U are phenomenal tv's and the 850U goes beyond THX certifications with its Hollywood Labs certification and its currently internet ready for a few sites.

Hi All,

Most of the PZ series here in England have been reviewed and it seems their weak-spot is relatively poor SD quality with a very soft picture, especially from off air tv transmissions - the PZ800 is only just beginning to hit the shops so it will be some time before it gets a review so can anyone who has one or has been able to compare the PZ800 against the Kuro's on SD be able to shed some light? I am hoping it will have better SD performance than the rest of the PZ range being the top end model.

Thanks,

Bazzy!

I wouldn't count on it being different since it shares the same panel.

FWIW, as much as I really love the new Pannys, it's truly hard to beat the SD video processing performance of a Kuro. I dont' see how the 800U/850U would even make a difference.

Also, not totally unrelated, I wonder though if some of the folks who have complained about excess video noise on their new PZ85 series HDTVs have looked into replacing the various cables running through their homes, and looked into the quality of the various cable/sat set top boxes(?) When I had Comcast install in my home, I had them remove a lot of old cable/connectors/splitters and replace not only that but also swap out a box for better performance. Going from a Motorola 6412 phase II to a phase III even made a difference in the signal quality on my old but reliable Sony Trinitron set. I would imagine it could be more pronounounced on a HDTV.

-Pedro

can anyone who has one or has been able to compare the PZ800 against the Kuro's on SD be able to shed some light? I am hoping it will have better SD performance than the rest of the PZ range being the top end model.

That said, the PZ800 blows away the Samsungs and the lower tier Pannys.

"Totally blows away" is WAY to strong of a statement. If the PZ800 totally blew the Sammys and lower tier Panny's away, I'd have gone with the 800u because the other plasmas would have been total crap. That definitely wasn't the case. Instead I went with the Sammy a550 because it was as good as the 800 in some regards (color and detail) and nearly as good in others (black levels), and it was $1200 less expensive than the Panny. That allowed me to get a second 42" 720p plasma (a450) for presentation work.