I have a 52" XBR5. I love the TV. For the most part I am a fan of LCD. Problem is I have a habit of buying a TV once a year and I need/want a bigger TV. (yes it's a sickness). I have seen the XBR8 4 different times. twice I was blown away, and twice I thought it was decent. I just got back from BB and watched Kung FU Panda on the Panny 800 and the XBR8. To be honest (I didn't play with the settings), I was VERY impressed with the Panny. I'm sorta shocked I was. Now, Kung FU Panda on my XBR5 Looks INCREDIBLE! It actually made me enjoy my TV all over again. (In my opinion, animation looks so much better on an LCD) but realistically how many animations moves does one watch a year? not many.

Yes the Kuro is the best TV but not a HUGE jump over the previous gen. (hoping next year it will be MUCH better). So, I think for the price & size, the Panny is the way to go for now. There is NO WAY the Sony TV is worth almost 7000!! It's only 55". They are NUTS, especially when you can get a 58" Panny for WAY under 3,000.00

Just nervous about getting a Plasma and picture quality vs my XBR5

Thoughts?

Kind of ironic that your name is buylongterm, huh?:)

Kind of ironic that your name is buylongterm, huh?:)


LOL! OMG, I can't stop laughing! Good catch! :)

Pick up the Panny and you'll never look back.

Pick up the Panny and you'll never look back.

Thanks, but I already know how you feel. You saw the Panny with me! DUH.

Thanks, but I already know how you feel. You saw the Panny with me! DUH.

I know, but I felt bad that nobody is replying much to your thread. Just trying to bump it up for you.

I have a 52" XBR5. I love the TV. For the most part I am a fan of LCD. Problem is I have a habit of buying a TV once a year and I need/want a bigger TV. (yes it's a sickness). I have seen the XBR8 4 different times. twice I was blown away, and twice I thought it was decent. I just got back from BB and watched Kung FU Panda on the Panny 800 and the XBR8. To be honest (I didn't play with the settings), I was VERY impressed with the Panny. I'm sorta shocked I was. Now, Kung FU Panda on my XBR5 Looks INCREDIBLE! It actually made me enjoy my TV all over again. (In my opinion, animation looks so much better on an LCD) but realistically how many animations moves does one watch a year? not many.

Yes the Kuro is the best TV but not a HUGE jump over the previous gen. (hoping next year it will be MUCH better). So, I think for the price & size, the Panny is the way to go for now. There is NO WAY the Sony TV is worth almost 7000!! It's only 55". They are NUTS, especially when you can get a 58" Panny for WAY under 3,000.00

Just nervous about getting a Plasma and picture quality vs my XBR5

Thoughts?

Panny definitely puts out a nice TV and will be a dramatic improvement over your current set.

In terms of your thoughts about the pioneers, I think the improvements from the 8G to 9G panels are much more substantial than you give them credit for. I have read some saying it is the biggest improvement in plasma displays to date. Other than thickness and/or energy efficiency I doubt next years panels will have much, if anything, over the current kuro panels when comparing picture quality

What about IR playing games? My kids and I play a crap load of games. I heard it isn't an issue if you watch your brightness levels! I personally like my TV bright and the last thing I want to worry about is IR.

What about IR playing games? My kids and I play a crap load of games. I heard it isn't an issue if you watch your brightness levels! I personally like my TV bright and the last thing I want to worry about is IR.

panny and pioneer don't seem to have any issues with IR. Samsung panels seem to the ones with the most issues.

That said, with a proper break-in, it wouldn't be a concern of mine

panny and pioneer don't seem to have any issues with IR. Samsung panels seem to the ones with the most issues.

That said, with a proper break-in, it wouldn't be a concern of mine

Thanks for the info. It just seems when owning a Plasma, you have to walk on pins and needles all the time. My buddy had a Panny 750 and my son brought his XBOX over and played games for about an hour. He DEFINITELY had IR. (called and bitched me out).

All your concerns about IR or Burn-in have been well documented in this forum a million times. If you're worried do a search...

All-in-all if you like a super bright set and are that worried about your gaming experience, I'd maybe just stick to what you feel comfortable with.

Thanks for the info. It just seems when owning a Plasma, you have to walk on pins and needles all the time. My buddy had a Panny 750 and my son brought his XBOX over and played games for about an hour. He DEFINITELY had IR. (called and bitched me out).

in the chance it does happen, there are downloadable DVDs that play an all white screen that can be used to get rid of it. I own two PDP - a 2.5 yr old panny that hasn't had games played on it, but has had a paused image for nearly 24 hrs on it and it left slight IR that was gone after about 5 minutes of watching another program.

What about IR playing games? My kids and I play a crap load of games. I heard it isn't an issue if you watch your brightness levels! I personally like my TV bright and the last thing I want to worry about is IR.There are dozens of owners in the various PZ80U/PZ85U/PZ800U threads that game heavily on their Plasmas and report that the IR goes away very quickly. Maybe search all those various threads for terms like GAME or IR or RETENTION and see all the owners' comments. These current Pannys are also plenty bright, brighther than last years model that i have. I like a bright TV and i don't even run mine all the way up, and the new ones are considerably brighter than mine.

There are dozens of owners in the various PZ80U/PZ85U/PZ800U threads that game heavily on their Plasmas and report that the IR goes away very quickly. Maybe search all those various threads for terms like GAME or IR or RETENTION and see all the owners' comments. These current Pannys are also plenty bright, brighther than last years model that i have. I like a bright TV and i don't even run mine all the way up, and the new ones are considerably brighter than mine.


Thank you for your posts. I'm just so damn anal that I don't want to sit around worrying if I'm going to get IR. I just want to be able to enjoy the TV. :-)

BTW, is there a PQ difference between the 850 and 800? I could care less about the internet features on the 850, but PQ is the most important thing for me. (I'm also assuming you think the Panny is a MUCH better TV than my XBR5)