Here's the scoop - I'm looking for a wall mountable, flat panel TV and the following conditions should be weighed in helping me make my decision: I have DIRECTV w/ the HR20 receiver and love to watch HDTV as all of us do, but still watch a considerable amount of SDTV especially the History, Speed, TLC and Discovery channels. I'm looking at mounting the set about half way up an 8 foot wall and my family room is light controlled (i.e. blinds). My couch is approximately 16 feet away and situated directly in front of the TV and my recliner is about 14 feet away and 35' off-center. I plan on having my XBOX 360 hooked up mostly for the HD-DVD player add-on and some gaming. I can get both TV's for the same price of $1,980 through accommodation pricing. Please help me make my decision.

Scott

If you don't mind breaking it in, and varying your content, then you would get a much better picture out of the plasma, (not to mention no motion blurring or ghosting). If you don't want to have to exercise a little caution here and there to prevent/minimize IR, then the LCD would be the way to go.

Here's the scoop - I'm looking for a wall mountable, flat panel TV and the following conditions should be weighed in helping me make my decision: I have DIRECTV w/ the HR20 receiver and love to watch HDTV as all of us do, but still watch a considerable amount of SDTV especially the History, Speed, TLC and Discovery channels. I'm looking at mounting the set about half way up an 8 foot wall and my family room is light controlled (i.e. blinds). My couch is approximately 16 feet away and situated directly in front of the TV and my recliner is about 14 feet away and 35' off-center. I plan on having my XBOX 360 hooked up mostly for the HD-DVD player add-on and some gaming. I can get both TV's for the same price of $1,980 through accommodation pricing. Please help me make my decision.

Scott

I have a Very bright living room and aprox your scale -go for the Sony! Regardless of the ability to dim the room (so can we) you have the best of both and the PQ is excellent on our Sony. I watch sports and am not aware of any motion problem, either.
Enjoy. :)

Both panels are awesome (as well they should for 2k), but in my opinion, the Panasonic will give you a deeper, more natural picture. I really notice this with football and golf, at times it almost feels like you can step through the panel and onto the green; it’s amazing.

But if you anticipate any issues with lighting, or plan on doing much gaming, go with the Sony.

The plasma will give you a better picture assuming your blinds are closed.

If your wife likes to keep the blinds open, and you do a lot of daytime viewing, then you should probably go with the LCD.