I bought a Samsung 50" 1080p DLP (http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-HL-S5087W-1080p-DLP-HDTV/dp/B000F2R5HO/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-9549570-0143337?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1173423247&sr=8-1) and have had it for about a month, but I'm wondering if I should return it and get a 50" plasma now that the prices have dropped so much...either this Panasonic 50" (http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000F4CTUK/ref=s9_asin_image_1/102-9549570-0143337) or this Samsung 50" (http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-HP-S5053-50-Plasma-HDTV/dp/B000EIW3E4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-9549570-0143337?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1173423369&sr=1-1).

The Samsung DLP I have now is pretty good, but I notice some silk screen effects when viewing the guide screen (not a big deal), but I get a lot of image "noise" when anything dark is on the screen (regardless of it being Dish HD or blu-ray movies).

My current setup is as follows:

-TV is in the corner of the room on a stand, so wall-mounting is unimportant.
-Seating positions range from 7 to 11 feet away (is 1080p useless at this distance?)
-TV is in a room with a sliding glass door to the side/behind it, but glare hasn't really been an issue on the DLP nor the CRT I had before.
-TV is used for 3 things: Dish Network HD via HDMI, PS3 for gaming and blu-ray via HDMI, and an international satellite (SD) via composite cables.

Taking these things into consideration, would it be smarter to pay ~$300 more and go from a 1080p DLP to a 720p plasma?

Thanks in advance :)

P.S. This is cross-posted in the plasma forum as well.

Edit: Feel free to post what you voted and why, so I can learn a thing or two.

Considering your viewing distance and the fact that you want a larger screen I would suggest a 56" 1080p DLP. My neighbors 56" 1080p DLP looks just great at 8-12 feet far better then my 46" 720p DLP does even with SD programs.

I have a Sammy HL-S5687W (56" 1080p) and I'm considering exchanging it for a smaller plasma or LCD. It's not because I think it's too big, I love the size, it's the picture that bothers me. Not even really the picture so much as i see the screen that the picture is displayed on. You know, the shiny glass screen? I actually notice it and is starting to bother me. I seem to enjoy my friends 37" Dell LCD more than my 56" DLP. On her LCD all I see is picture and not screen. Am I just crazy or..?

Oh, the viewing angle annoys the heck out of me. I can't feel comfortable just sitting on one end of the couch because the picture will no longer be optimal.

-Seating positions range from 7 to 11 feet away (is 1080p useless at this distance?)At 10', 1080p is of no benefit on a 50" screen.

As walford suggests, you should be looking at a 56" screen. If much of your viewing is done from 10-11', then you should look at the 61". Blu-ray will look even better as you go larger.

The Samsung DLP I have now is pretty good, but I notice some silk screen effects when viewing the guide screen (not a big deal), but I get a lot of image "noise" when anything dark is on the screen (regardless of it being Dish HD or blu-ray movies).Noise in black areas is common on overly compressed signals. A new display would not eliminate that. Did you calibrate your picture with AVIA?

Did you disable the extra dynamic processing features like DNIE, as suggested in the Samsung owner's thread? That can introduce extra artifacts into the signal.

If you have a Samsung DLP with a manufacturing of December or later, you can disable overscan through the service menu to produce a slightly sharper and more detailed picture.

I love the size, it's the picture that bothers me. Not even really the picture so much as i see the screen that the picture is displayed on. You know, the shiny glass screen?Are you talking about reflections or SSE?

If you are talking about reflections, that will be even worse on plasma, and worse on some LCDs as well. Obviously, some LCDs and some RPTVs have better anti-glare screens than others.

It's so hard to explain. I'm talking about the screen itself. I can see the screen that the picture is being displayed on. Kinda like watching live action through a window. On the 37" DELL LCD I was talking about, I feel like I can reach in an tussle Evangeline Lilly's hair, whereas with my DLP, all I can seem to focus on is the damn screen with what should be a gorgeous picture right behind it. Is this just Samsung or all DLPs? If it is - i'm going to CC and getting a smaller non-1080p LCD or plasma.

I don't think anti-glare will help any cuz this is happening in a pitch black room.

Does this make any sense?

At 10', 1080p is of no benefit on a 50" screen.

As walford suggests, you should be looking at a 56" screen. If much of your viewing is done from 10-11', then you should look at the 61". Blu-ray will look even better as you go larger.

Noise in black areas is common on overly compressed signals. A new display would not eliminate that. Did you calibrate your picture with AVIA?

Did you disable the extra dynamic processing features like DNIE, as suggested in the Samsung owner's thread? That can introduce extra artifacts into the signal.

If you have a Samsung DLP with a manufacturing of December or later, you can disable overscan through the service menu to produce a slightly sharper and more detailed picture.

Yes, I did calibrate the picture with AVIA and my sharpness levels are pretty low. I disabled DNIe and DNR almost immediately because I could see how much it ruined the PQ.

I'll look into disabling overscan as well...thanks for the replies.

One last before my final decision.

I'm not a fan of 50" DLPs.....they only become cost effective compared to plasma at 56" minimum, 60" preferred.