OK, narrowed it down to a couple of choices all in my price range, my needs
- will be in a room where I have solid curtains so getting the room dark is not a problem
- Will do some light Wii gaming with young kids
- Will watch general TV, sports and movies as this is in the family room
- Will be hooked up to surround sound/receiver etc

Here is the list:

Panasonic TC-P54G10 $1,578 http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-VIERA-TC-P54G10-54-Inch-Plasma/dp/B00267PY6K/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1250345788&sr=8-4

Samsung PN58B550 $1,999 http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-PN58B550-58-Inch-1080p-Plasma/dp/B001ULCYHU/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=IYNFWM3L31FZA&colid=3F8GBCD2SRMQS

Samsung PN58B650 $2,299 http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-PN58B650-58-Inch-1080p-Plasma/dp/B001W6NU9Y/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2LKSPLM118KD6&colid=3F8GBCD2SRMQS

Edit - now also considering the Panny v10 54" version vs G10, but wondering if worth the extra $700?

If I missed any models you think I should consider let me now.
Again, these are in my price range - I've heard good things about both brands but that's just general chat so I want the experts opinions - thanks all I appreciate it.
Cheers

I'd take door #1

I have a B650 and would highly recommend it.

Get the Panasonic G10, i have one and i love it. Highly recommend it. It also has great reviews.

BTW, there is a post purchase $200 rebate on the Panasonic TC-P54G10. so this would drop your total price to $1378. Seems like a good deal to me. I can't recommend any one of the sets over another though, as I am trying to decide on a plasma to replace my aging Toshiba Cinema Series 36" CRT.

NB

the B650 will support 24 frames rate and not the others....
so if you are going to watch blu-ray and don't 2:3 pull-down this is your choice

not sur ebut I think the b650 also has only one sheet of glass but the g10, has 2 which can be anoying

Yes, all the panasonics have that second sheet of glass. That creates "shadow" reflections when you're sitting off-center. Watching a baseball game recently, I found the reflections of the players white uniforms very annoying.

...not sur ebut I think the b650 also has only one sheet of glass but the g10, has 2 which can be anoying

Yes, all the panasonics have that second sheet of glass. That creates "shadow" reflections when you're sitting off-center. Watching a baseball game recently, I found the reflections of the players white uniforms very annoying.

On the other hand, I wonder if the second sheet of glass also helps prevent the buzzing noise that is present on the Samsungs...

You should also consider the Panny V10 (54" and 58").

OK, narrowed it down to a couple of choices all in my price range, my needs
- will be in a room where I have solid curtains so getting the room dark is not a problem
- Will do some light Wii gaming with young kids
- Will watch general TV, sports and movies as this is in the family room
- Will be hooked up to surround sound/receiver etc

Here is the list:

Panasonic TC-P54G10 $1,578 http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-VIERA-TC-P54G10-54-Inch-Plasma/dp/B00267PY6K/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1250345788&sr=8-4

Samsung PN58B550 $1,999 http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-PN58B550-58-Inch-1080p-Plasma/dp/B001ULCYHU/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=IYNFWM3L31FZA&colid=3F8GBCD2SRMQS

Samsung PN58B650 $2,299 http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-PN58B650-58-Inch-1080p-Plasma/dp/B001W6NU9Y/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2LKSPLM118KD6&colid=3F8GBCD2SRMQS

If I missed any models you think I should consider let me now.
Again, these are in my price range - I've heard good things about both brands but that's just general chat so I want the experts opinions - thanks all I appreciate it.
Cheers


Wife will allow me :eek::eek::eek:

Just got the PN63B550. Works just fine for me. Your Panny choice is 54", while the others are 58". Depending on where you are coming from, that's a big difference in the viewing size. Don't have buyer's remorse. I'm glad I went with 63", since I'm "downsizing" from a 67" DLP. Any smaller and I wouldn't have been happy, in spite of PQ differences.

It's up to you on the feature differences between the B550 and B560 models. A good calibration can make up differences in PQ.

Thanks all, The V10 looks quite good, but not sure if I want to spend the extra money, I'll probably regret, but I think I'm going with the 54" G10 after reading plenty of reviews, etc.

Not sure if CONN's is in NY but the have the Panasonic Viera TC-P54S1 for WAY under those prices!

Why not consider the Pioneer Kuro KRP-500m?

Wife will allow me :eek::eek::eek:

Yeah Merc sometimes that's how it works.
And it works well.

posts deleted: coupon & pricing posts are not allowed

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please limit your posts to technical talk

Thanks

I like the G10, but I own the Panasonic G15...I would recommend that one since its the G10 with a thinner bezel if you someday want to mount it up it'd look better and more flush.

Is the v10 worth the extra money over the g10 - $800 diff on the 54" model.

Also www.abt.com has the v10 54" for about $450 more than I've found the g10 - worth it, anyone ordered from them - reputation good, I've never bought from them. http://www.abt.com/product/40809/Panasonic-TCP54V10.html

I've read the g10 doesn't handle blue ray great at 48hz where the v10 goes up to 96hz.

I'd take door #1

Absolutely...Really there is no other logical choice...

ABT has a very good reputation. I never order from them because they are located in IL as am I, so I have to pay tax. If I didn't have to pay tax, I'd probably already have bought several things from them.

Decided on the 58V10. Waiting on Cleveland Plasma to get them in and ship. Now I just have to find something to store the components in.

Thanks for all the help and suggestions.

Decided on the 58V10. Waiting on Cleveland Plasma to get them in and ship. Now I just have to find something to store the components in.

Thanks for all the help and suggestions.

uh oh! they better hurry up before wifey changes her mind :eek:

I know the feeling, and I'm not even married yet...double...:eek:

I actually used the Jedi mind trick on her - showed her what a 50" would look like on the wall and how much open space there would be and then showed her what 58" would look like. Told her it would fill the wall so much better - she agreed right away, maybe its time to go into sales :D