Between the Samsung LN46a550 and the Panasonic TH-42PZ80U which, if either, would give "acceptable", or best, results with SD and ED cable on an
SA3250 box? Also the same question with a conventional DVD source.
At present, I am bluerayless and HD programming is hard to see with my hours.

Between the Samsung LN46a550 and the Panasonic TH-42PZ80U which, if either, would give "acceptable", or best, results with SD and ED cable on an SA3250 box? Also the same question with a conventional DVD source.

At present, I am bluerayless and HD programming is hard to see with my hours.The Plasma will display it better for sure. Even the best LCDs won't display SD as well as a good Panny Plasma.

If you want to watch more HD on your own schedule, why don't you upgrade your SA3250 to an SA8300HD DVR instead? Having the ability to record HD at any hour and replay it whenever if want is worth the extra ten bucks a month!

Shouldn't it come down to processing and not the display type? The 80/85U handles SD content rather poorly, most reviews preferred the Samsung's handling of SD content.

Shouldn't it come down to processing and not the display type? The 80/85U handles SD content rather poorly, most reviews preferred the Samsung's handling of SD content.

Do you have any links to those? I currently have a 2 week old 40lna550 and have contemplated returning it for the PZ80 as the SD has been less than impressive and that's 80% of what my wife watches with this set. I'm still tweaking on it and it's improved and my next step is to run new cable as it's about 20 years old. My Pioneer is way ahead of the Samsung in processing.

maxdog, I agree about the Pioneer. I owned the 85U and SD processing wasn't very good. CNET mentions it in their review http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/panasonic-viera-th-46pz85u/4505-6482_7-32887121.html?tag=mncol;lst
Note the past tense of the word own, they just aren't good TVs IMHO. You'd be best off spending on an 800U.

Between the Samsung LN46a550 and the Panasonic TH-42PZ80U which, if either, would give "acceptable", or best, results with SD and ED cable on an
SA3250 box? Also the same question with a conventional DVD source.
At present, I am bluerayless and HD programming is hard to see with my hours.

Nothing personal, OP, but why would you/anybody elect to purchase a HD display and feed it SD broadcasts?
SD DVD on the other hand, especially upscaled, will be decent. PS: The smaller PDP should offer the better image. LCD tends to be brutal on low res feeds.

Content is king, HD is nice but TV is more than about showing pretty pictures. There's TONS of great stuff in SD only that shouldn't be abandoned.

Thanks RW for the info. You're right. I just found a seller that includes a nearly free HD pvr rental with purchase for six months. Now all I have to do is finish off the age old LCD/Plasma question.

I'm gathering that there is a feeling by many that as a general rule plasma 's tend to handle SD content better than LCD's, with exeptions I'm sure? If so, Is this an inherrent property of the displays themselves or the type/quality of processing necessary?

The Marx brothers aren't in HD, but I would take them over almost any explosive heavy, generic action movie from hollywood on Blueray.
Except maybe Diehard.

I'm gathering that there is a feeling by many that as a general rule plasma 's tend to handle SD content better than LCD's, with exeptions I'm sure? If so, Is this an inherrent property of the displays themselves or the type/quality of processing necessary?

I think that what Patrick said is true, SD will depend allot on the processor the set uses. If it is not a good processor it will look crappy on LCD or plasma. HD content typically will look better as a general rule because this is what the set is really made for, but how it handles SD is IMO much more important.

There is just to much content out there that I find interesting in SD that is not available to me in HD yet.

I think that what Patrick said is true, SD will depend allot on the processor the set uses. If it is not a good processor it will look crappy on LCD or plasma.
Which 46" or 47" sets have the best processors?

does it have to be 46" or 47" you are aiming for an lcd size which has been said lcd dont do a good job at SD compared to its plasma of the same legue...

but to answer your question, the tv cloest to that size that handles the abosolute best on SD is the pioneer kuro tvs. (2007 and 2008)

after pioneer it goes to panasonic then samsung. note this is 6k and bellow mark not a high end brands/ or scalers involved.

I think that what Patrick said is true, SD will depend allot on the processor the set uses. If it is not a good processor it will look crappy on LCD or plasma. HD content typically will look better as a general rule because this is what the set is really made for, but how it handles SD is IMO much more important.

There is just to much content out there that I find interesting in SD that is not available to me in HD yet.

I've seen the light, plasma wise and I have come down to two entry level plasmas, the Panasonic TH-42PX80, and the Samsung PN42A450.
I've read their threads, reviews, and comparisons, but I can't really get a sense of how they compare with SD. Any direct observations, especially if you've owned both, would be greatly appreciated.

Strangely, the PX80 seems to be rated higher in it's Cnet review, in this regard, than the Z80/85 models.

but to answer your question, the tv cloest to that size that handles the abosolute best on SD is the pioneer kuro tvs. (2007 and 2008)
This does not answer my question. It has to be a 46" or 47" set, because 47" is the largest set that will fit in my setup.

well if thats the case i see only 2 options

1) get a size that is made for plasma 42" 50" and doesnt panasonic make 46"?

and

2) get an lcd with inferior results in sacrifise in not getting plasma or making adjustments with your current setup.

This does not answer my question. It has to be a 46" or 47" set, because 47" is the largest set that will fit in my setup.

Sounds like you need a 46PZ80U. Cheapest 46" from Panasonic.

As far as the SD goes, in my limited experience I would say plasmas do it better. Before I had my 85u I briefly had a Sony S3000. It was a good midrange set from Sony, but SD looked like absolute garbage on that thing. The 85u Panny completely destroys the LCD in SD performance. I don't know much about the processing but I would assume they would be comparable on these two sets. But the difference was HUGE. SD actually looks really good on my plasma.