I've had a 47" Panasonic CRT RPTV for a little over five years now (PT-47WX53). It's been professionally calibrated and has an excellent picture, but we're getting ready to move to a new place in a few months and I don't want to attempt to drag this behemoth of a television with us.

Budget for the new TV is $2000 or less. It's going to be flat-panel, but I'm not sure whether LCD or plasma is the way to go. I'd like 50" or bigger, since we'll probably wall-mount it and therefore the viewing distance will be a bit greater than what we have currently.

I see plenty of articles and posts comparing the PQ of LCD vs. plasma. However, no one seems to mention how either technology compares to my old(er)-fashioned RPTV. Will I be pleased with the quality of either or both of these flat-panels, or will it be a letdown? Given that the new set will cost about 2x what I paid for the Panasonic five years ago, I'm hoping for an even better picture, but I'm not sure what I'm in for.

Probably help if you gave them some details about the light situation, and seating in the viewing room, and what you're going to be doing with it. Games, Bluray, HD cable/ Sat etc.

Probably help if you gave them some details about the light situation, and seating in the viewing room, and what you're going to be doing with it. Games, Bluray, HD cable/ Sat etc.

It's mostly HDTV, Blu-Ray, DVD viewing. Very little gaming.

As far as the light situation, I can't predict what it'll be like in the new place, but I'm sure the room won't be cavelike. I know that glare can be an issue with plasmas. TV viewing is about 30% daytime, 70% nighttime; however, if the screen is basically unwatchable during the day (or with lights on in the room at night), that would be a dealbreaker. As much as I want the best possible picture for home theater, I don't want it at the cost of all other types of viewing. (Someday I hope to have the money and space to have a separate home theater room, but I'm not there yet.)

I replaced my PT47X54 last Christmas with a Samsung PN50A450 (50" 720p plasma). Boy, am I happy I did. Unlike yours, my rpcrt was never professionally calibrated, and towards the end was showing signs of death, but still, it never looked as good as the Samsung. Beautiful, natural picture, 720p turns out to be plenty of resolution, good user-level controls.

I don't know about plasma vs. lcd, really --- I read a bunch of user comments before deciding, and I thought I noticed some consensus that plasma has a better picture, dollar for dollar. But I don't have an independent opinion. My TV is in a rather dark room, which plays a role, I'm sure.

If you're coming from CRT, go plasma. It's a much more "CRT-like picture". LCD's motion blur is obvious and sickening (IMO) if you got that route from CRT.

Only thing I didn't like as a CRT owner about my plasma was the dithering. Plasma doesn't do smooth gradients but you know, you can't really notice it at a decent distance.

You mention glare, that can be an even bigger problem on some LCDs which have glossy screens. Either will be better in bright light and with glare than your RPTV, so I don't think you need to worry about that.

I replaced my RPTV with a Panny pz80U. Though far from perfect, the pz80U is far superior to my old Hitachi. Better overall color and contrast, brighter, sharper, more uniform picture, just all around a vastly superior TV. Drawback is a red push that can't be corrected on the pz80.

I should state that I did not calibrate either TV...

Thanks for all the tips. I'm pretty strongly in the plasma camp at this point and will probably go with the Panasonic TC-P50X1. For around $1K it seems like a good deal.

Thanks for all the tips. I'm pretty strongly in the plasma camp at this point and will probably go with the Panasonic TC-P50X1. For around $1K it seems like a good deal.

Good choice. You could also check the LG 50PQ30 and Samsung 50B450 as comparisons to the X1. If you haven't already.