I am looking to pick up one of these 2 TVs in the next couple days and I am wondering which one people consider the better of the 2?

What features does each have that the other doesn't?

If you have owned one or have experience with them, what do you like and dislike about them?

Are either of these older models or brand new?

Which has the better picture quality?

Better audio?
I won't have money for external speakers for a couple months.

Is either considered more reliable?

They are both on sale for the exact same price at 2 different stores and they are my maximum(actually over) price by budget, so please don't suggest another TV even if it is literally $50 or $100 more.

Thanks

Which has the better picture quality?


Panasonic imo. Samsungs still have false contouring afaik. Check out Cnet reviews.




Is either considered more reliable?


From the lack of complaints here panasonic seems very reliable.

I've been googling the panny for about 20 minutes now and there isn't a ton of info on it.

Is it a new model?

I went on panasonic's website and the TH-C42HD18 and the px80 have pretty much identical specs save for an extra hdmi port but the px80 is $100 more on sale than the TH-C42HD18 on sale.

Also, I haven't researched the p400 much yet, but the specs seem almost identical to the 450.
Is there a major difference?

What's up with this?

I would compare side-by-side before you believe what you read here. I'll bet that if you placed tape over the nameplate that most would choose the Samsung. The Samsung will provide a more detailed picture and less motion artifacts and more accurate colors.

I can't really compare them side by side they are sold in different stores.

I saw the Panny today at Costco, it was in an extremely bright area of the store and it still looked pretty crisp.
It was running off a demo DVD, I would imagine it was set on torch mode.

crutchfield.com has the full specs. & pictures on the Samsung A400 & the Panny PX80 which is the same as the Costco HD18 without the Front HDMI Input.

If I was you I would go with the Costco Panny just because you have 90 days to test it out & if you don't like it or a better deal comes along (Someone got the Panny for $599.99) you can take it back plus Costco throws in an extra year on the warranty.

I bought my daughter the 50" Panny PX80 & the reason I went with it over a Samsung was, Better Sound Quality, Less IR & most of all Better Build Quality & Parts & Service.

the costco c42hd18 has 1 less hdmi but is replaced with an svideo hookup under the front panel. the costco model is also a flat black whereas the px model has a glossy black. the glossy black is shiny like samsung's models, ps3's, ect. it looks much better. the flat black makes the tv not look as modern. that said, i have the costco model. you'll probably not miss the front hdmi input and the trim color is up to you. i have the c50hd18 and it being so big, i don't notice the trim much anyway.. given if both were the same price, i would buy the px.

I just talked with a Panasonic sales rep (calling their number) and they told me that the only difference between the two panasonic models is the hdmi on the front and the color. Also the Samsung has less I/O ports than either Panasonic. Amazon is the way to go for the PX.

And now with Costco selling the Panasonic Model TH-C42HD18 for less than $630 it is certainly tempting with Christmas coming up. ;)

Pretty easy decision in my mind.