Bout narrowed down my choices to a new Panasonic 50" plasma or a Samsung 46" LCD, both have nice pictures but I am asking you experts which is the way to go in the long run?

Plasma is the technology to go and panny rocks!!!!

I would go for the Panasonic 50" plasma. I've done my homework the past 6 months and decided to go with the Panasonic 50" TH-50PH9UK. This plasma is a professional/broadcast unit (no tv tuner, there is a card available) and the colors, black level and sharpness is phenomenon compare to that of the high end pioneer exceed $3500. I purchased it at TigerDirect for $1850 with shipping and into the house. Too bad you just miss the additional 4 years warranty from Panasonic which ended March 31, 07. I would not buy the LCD, lucky for me that my friend got the Sharp Aquos 52" LCD from BestBuy before my final decision. I did not like the LCD, and Sharp Aquos wasn't cheap, especially waching from the side. Also, the movement is slow, it's seem like 1/10 of a second behind and it's annoying. Last, I would stick with Panasonic and NOT with Samsung. Check around and see yourself, especially CNET.

panny plasma. i went to bb yesterday just to look at the panny 58px60u on sale. it was beside a panny 50px60u and a samsung 46" lcd and just the better black levels in the panasonic plamsa made a noticeable difference and clearly a better pic quality over the smaller samsung.

i understand it is not controlled and the sets were not calibrated to be at their absolute best but they were all 3 there to compare at the same time, and of course YMMV.....

.... Too bad you just miss the additional 4 years warranty from Panasonic which ended March 31, 07. .....
dongta, panasonic extended that warranty offer to april 30.

they have a new $200 rebate for wall installs on some units.

Bout narrowed down my choices to a new Panasonic 50" plasma or a Samsung 46" LCD, both have nice pictures but I am asking you experts which is the way to go in the long run?

Plasma is the way to go, maybe think about a new Sammy Plasma or Pioneer though. Both are better performers than the current Panasonics.

Plasma, I read that LCD has many issues. Pio 5070 plasma seems soft compare to Sam 5064. I didn't adjust the picture for either set while I was in the store. The Pio seems richer in color while Sam seems brighter but not that realistic as the Pio. I'm currently undecided on which set to purchase. I have too many electronics that are made by Panasonic maybe I go with some other brand instead.

dongta, panasonic extended that warranty offer to april 30.

they have a new $200 rebate for wall installs on some units.Where is the 4 year extended warranty offer displayed? I dont see that documented anywhere?

Thanks for your help :D

After going through a sharp 42 LCD, Sharp 46 LCD, JVC 56 LCoS projection and finally settling on the 50" plasma over the course of about 2 months - you'll appreciate the better color range and contrast ratio of the plasma.

BB

Where is the 4 year extended warranty offer displayed? I dont see that documented anywhere? Thanks for your help :D
http://www.visualapex.com/ProductSupport/Panasonic_warrantyspecial.pdf

or click the Visual Apex link at top right and go to their site. they sell alot of panny commercial plasma and promote the panasonic offer of the 1+4 year ext warranty.

Plasma, I read that LCD has many issues. Pio 5070 plasma seems soft compare to Sam 5064. I didn't adjust the picture for either set while I was in the store. The Pio seems richer in color while Sam seems brighter but not that realistic as the Pio. I'm currently undecided on which set to purchase. I have too many electronics that are made by Panasonic maybe I go with some other brand instead.

Both the Sammy and Pioneer actually both have very accurate color decoding and grayscale tracking. The Sammy's pic can be made to almost exactly replicate the Pio's "Movie" type feel. You just need to know how to set the advanced controls. And the Samsung has ALOT of them. The Samsungs contrast on the otherhand is spectacular and is a step better than the current Pioneers. Regardless, either one will give you a stunning picture.

Get the NEW Panasonic 1080P TH50PZ700. Due in the stores the end of April (two weeks)

Get the NEW Panasonic 1080P TH50PZ700. Due in the stores the end of April (two weeks)
any ideas on the price??

any ideas on the price??

4288$ in Canada.

I would also wait for the 700u. From what I have gathered some say street price around $2400-2500 when it is due out. I think the msrp is $3499.

So judging by the best prices I have found the the 50px600U, you would be getting same size set but 1080 for about $600 more. BUt if you are comparing it to the 46" 1080p lcd you are it would only be a couple more, but 4" larger.

I have the Panny 50phd7uy and a Samsung ln4051. The Panasonic looks way better especially when watching fast moving sports. Not sure why since the have the same inputs and cable boxes. The Panny has been tuned so that may make the difference but I am not sure. I see some pixelization on the Samsung in fast HD Hockey Baseball etc... I think it's pixelization. Looks like a fuzzyness. I haven't tried video games on the Samsung yet but will if I ever get a PS3 or a Wii and compare the 2 tv' that way. Anyway the Panny is safe and a good value imo.

Resurrecting this thread because I'm trying to make the same choice now, but the newer models are out. Any thoughts on the Samsung LN-T4661F or LN-T4665F, which both get great reivews, vs. the latest Pannys, or other good plasmas (it seems like Panny is often the reference set of choice). I'm looking to build a HT from scratch and will probably post a bunch of other questions around the site.

Other equipment:
SA 8300HD digital cable box (Time Warner NYC) via HDMI
Xbox 360 Elite via HDMI
Wii via component video/red-white RCA audio
some mid to high end receiver TBD :)

Thanks!

From what I have been reading, the new Pioneers are the supposed to be the new standard setter for PDPs. You may want to check them out.

The Panasonic imo has the better picture compared to the Samsung...although the new Pioneers are even better. Also, the Panasonic 77U series has about the same glare level as an LCD which is quite nice

Thanks for the advice guys! Looking into Pioneer and Panny now...

The only company that was better at making plasmas than Panasonic was Pioneer but they are no longer going to be making them . Also pioneer sold the technology to panasonic so i am looking forward to reading up on the new Panasonic plasmas.

Am I the only guy here scratching my head on this one?

The only company that was better at making plasmas than Panasonic was Pioneer but they are no longer going to be making them . Also pioneer sold the technology to panasonic so i am looking forward to reading up on the new Panasonic plasmas.Do you realize that you just replied to a discussion that ended two years ago? :D

Pioneer didn't sell any of their technology to Panasonic. And while Pioneer made a better performing display, they were not "better at making plasmas" and their inefficient manufacturing/assembling process was a big part of why they lost money on every plasma they ever made and surely contributed to their decision to exit the display business. Pioneer's display division reportedly never made a profit.

I was going say 'add Samsung plasma to your list' but then I saw this is a 2 year old thread :) Did Samsung make plasma's back then and how were they?

I was going say 'add Samsung plasma to your list' but then I saw this is a 2 year old thread :) Did Samsung make plasma's back then and how were they?

yes they made them back then and they were inferior to Pioneer and Panasonic
just like now..........

Are Samsungs really inferior to Panasonic? I'm curious why Samsungs have this rep? Keep in mind, I could careless either way (I don't own a panny or samsung), but will be looking to purchase the p58s1 sometime this year. I have heard issues with samsung's buzzing/etc, which sounds quite annoying, but are there other general problems? My mother just picked up a 46s1 and the display is absolutely gorgeous (I have a big lcd, but will be replacing it with a plasma later this year).

I guess panasonic has been making plasmas for a long time and simply have a reputation of good quality/etc..?

...I guess panasonic has been making plasmas for a long time and simply have a reputation of good quality/etc..?

Exactly. And I think Panasonic is a slightly better brand in general.

Are Samsungs really inferior to Panasonic? I'm curious why Samsungs have this rep? Keep in mind, I could careless either way (I don't own a panny or samsung), but will be looking to purchase the p58s1 sometime this year. I have heard issues with samsung's buzzing/etc, which sounds quite annoying, but are there other general problems? My mother just picked up a 46s1 and the display is absolutely gorgeous (I have a big lcd, but will be replacing it with a plasma later this year).

I guess panasonic has been making plasmas for a long time and simply have a reputation of good quality/etc..?

I am a samsung plasma owner, and although I didn't buy their top of the line, The unit I own is fantastic, and I have had zero problems with it. I watch SD, HD, Bluray and game on it. Fantastic picture at a great price. Here is one guy that wouldn't hesitate twice about buying another sammy plasma...and probably will, unless I go the projector route as I have just moved into a new house that has a basement room just perfect for a home theatre.:D

Hi everyone!

I'm new to the forum, and am thrilled to see there are people out there who actually know enough to help me and aren't trying to sell me something :).

Ok, so my situation: I'm about to move to a new place and am looking to buy a new tv. My budget is 1000 MAX (would rather keep it at 900ish). I'd like the screen to be as large as possible while still maintaining picture quality (duh). I'd also like it to be relatively sleek since it's a fairly small apartment and don't want something that'll look huge and clunky.

The tv will be for my living room. I mainly watch HD-TV and movies, but I do occasionally play Wii :D. I'm not entirely sure how bright the room will be, but size-wise I think it should be 12 by 14, or something similar. I also want to point out that I'm going into medical school, so I'll have a bunch of slides to look at on my computer and stuff, and I'd like my tv to act as a high def screen in case I have to look at very fine detail.

Alright, so that's the gist.

Right now, the top two contenders are the Panasonic Viera TCP42S1 (which costs 900) and the Samsung LN40B540 (which costs 850). So, one plasma and one LCD. I'm pretty much torn, because while the Panasonic has a bigger screen, which I'm definitely interested in, I've never had a plasma before so it sort of makes me nervous (burn-in and all that good stuff). I've heard great things about Samsung LCDs, but the screen IS a bit smaller, and I keep hearing that once you go plasma you never go back etc. So yeah, what are your thoughts? Any advice? Any other tv's I should look at?

Thanks SO much for any help you can give.

Samsung LCD is better.

"LCD is better" HUH? Have you gone to a good specialty store and compared the two technologies?
Plasma Pros: Better and realistic color, no motion issues, no drop off in brightness when off axis, reliable, better REAL contrast, and the only replacement for high quality picture tubes.
Plasma Cons: Image retention...if you pause a video game for a LONG time or watch QVC 24/7. In other words IR is WAY OVERBLOWN in models from Samsung, Panasonic, or Pioneer.
LCD Pros: Bright (I say Too bright) and decent contrast.
LCD Cons: Poor off axis viewing (have you looked at a 950 LED? terrible), cartoon like images, way over saturated color, motion blur (120/240 HZ is a joke).
Reliablity for both Plasma and LCD is very good. We see alot of Fujitsu plasma for repair and a ton of Sharp LCD's for repair. Panasonic and Samsung flat panels have been very reliable.
Now what about glare? A picture tube TV has way more glare and way less light output than either plasma or LCD. Plasma and LCD are both bright as hell. Plasma glare issues are way overblown. Have you looked a a Samsung LCD lately? They have tons of glare.
Bottom line talk to a good saleman at a specialty shop and look for yourself. I will always favor plasma over any flat panel tech that is currently available. Ignore the BS that you hear in the big box stores. No one tech is perfect, but I know my Pioneer Elite Kuro is still king.
I pray that one day LCD will look good and I can recommend it as a great tech. I remember when plasma sucked, boy how my tune has changed!
I'll leave you with a quote from Stuart Silloway Samsung's national training manager:"Plasma is more true to the original content when it comes to color, blacks, and motion, and you don't have to correct plasma the way you do with LCD."