I'm moving to an apartment and due to space limitations have decided to upgrade from a Sony 30HS420 CRT to a flat panel so I can hang it on the wall. I'll be viewing both HD and SD content, mostly DVDs and Digital Cable--I'm not making the jump to Blu-ray just yet (and probably won't for a while). I'll also be doing quite a bit of gaming with my Xbox 360. The couch is going to be roughly 10'-12' from the TV.

I'm not sure whether to go Plasma or LCD, 720p or 1080p, or what size would be best--but right now I'm thinking 42" or 46". Any suggestions? I've been looking at the Panasonic TH42PZ80U and the Samsung LN46A530. I'd appreciate any comments on those sets, or if anyone can recommend something better under $1500.

Thanks

If you can get a 46" in you can get 50"... you know you will always wish it was bigger :)

42" is too small from the couch. A Panasonic 46pz85u is under your budget and you might want to go 50" maybe the Panasonic 50PX80.

Yep definitely a 50PX80, seems like a good choice. Best bang for buck in your situation IMHO.

definitely get a plasma over an lcd since you are going to watch tv as well besides gaming it will clear off the temporarly ir, also get a 50" you wont regreat it, last since you have a budget you will have to cross off pioneer and first suggestion is a panasonic then a samsung.

pioneer is the closest if not the only flat panel to surpass crt tube PQ. all else brands lack compare to CRT.

panasonic is very good with IR resistant compared to samsung therefore a better choice.

and better blacks for what i was told.

samsung has better accuracy i guess not i would not consider this as a major deal otherwise i would of gotten a pioneer again to begin with.

regardless of tvs break it in as the first hundred hrs are the most delicate after that as the tv ages it gets better in IR resistant and will look better with time as their is a shift every several hundred hrs (no need to worry)

Also, unless you have to have a flat panel tv, you could always get a rear projection (DLP). Circuit City has the HL50A650 for a grand:D Or you could probably get an LED model in (or near) your price range.


Good luck!!!!