Ok...I have decided that I am going to get a plasma TV. 50", 720p (I would like 1080p, but it is way out of my price range).

The three models I am considering:

Vizio VP50
Panasonic TH-50PX600U
Pioneer PDP-5080HD


I know the order (from what I have gathered and read here) would be in that order from worst to best.

Ideally, the VP50 falls into my price range the best. I recently found the 600U for a little less than $100 more shipped online. Locally, I got a store to pricematch (somewhat) that online price, and can get the 600U locally for about $300 more than the VP50 ($214 more than online 600U). I haven't investigated the 5080 yet because my friend is looking into his EPP for Pioneer. He thinks his EPP price will be comparible to the local 600U price.

So I guess here is my question: Is the 600U $300 better than the VP50 locally? Or would the internet deal be better? Take into account the VP50 would have a 2 year warranty, and the 600U only has the manufacturers included in the price.

I am also somewhat hesitant to make such a large purchase online with the restrictions that have been given to HDTVs. Meaning, specifically, a lot of them have no returns (unless there is damage to the box and you refuse delivery). Should any issues arise in the first 14-30 days with a local purchase, I can take it back. No such luck with an online purchase.

Obviously, if the 5080 deal comes through for the same price as the 600U, I am going to get that. If not, which would be the better purchase?


Edit: Cleared up a question.

IMO the px6700u is worth double the vizio. So, to answer your question, yes it is worth the money.

Hate to bust your bubble but the EPP price on the 5080 is going to be somewhere in the 2400 to 2600 range.

Do not get the Vizio if you are serious about high def. I have seen the Vizio plasma at a friend's house and was not impressed at all...

The consesus is that the Pioneer 5080 is the best out of the 3, but costs about 1k more than the Panny. The 600u is a respectable plasma which have received a lot of very good reviews.

Ignore the Visio, for one. It's a low end panel and not worth a look in the face of the other two.

The Panasonic is a very good panel, however, but the 5080 is tops. If you can afford the 5080, go for that as it is pretty much the single best plasma on the market today. If you can't find a good deal on one, however, the 600u is still an excellent panel.

Ignore the Visio, for one. It's a low end panel and not worth a look in the face of the other two.

The Panasonic is a very good panel, however, but the 5080 is tops. If you can afford the 5080, go for that as it is pretty much the single best plasma on the market today. If you can't find a good deal on one, however, the 600u is still an excellent panel.
My $0.02 dark1x hit it on the nose. I guess that is a second.

Cheers, :)

Gary

You should be able to get a pretty good deal on the 5070 but the 5080 seems to be an improvement. I've seen several Vizio's in peoples homes and they looked pretty good to me. Panny and Pioneer have a well earned and established reputation for reliability.

Do not get the Vizio if you are serious about high def. I have seen the Vizio plasma at a friend's house and was not impressed at all...
Just to be on the opposite side, I've seen several Vizios (both the VP50 and the previous model, P50) and they looked remarkable. I personally would be hard pressed to spend almost $1k more for negligible difference in picture quality.

And do take in consideration the fact that online returns are orders of magnitude more difficult than standard brick and mortar returns. I would even go as far as suggesting to purchase it with a credit card (nowadays, any decend Gold/Platinum or any Amex) that offers extended warranty.

Good luck on your purchase and try not to overanalyze it too much!


//edit: Ouch, bite my tongue. Searching the Panny 50px600u shows that its price on Amazon is the same as the Vizio VP50 on Costco. Still, Costco is a local retailer (easy returns) while Amazon (via TigerDirect) is not, though Tiger does allow returns in 30 days, while Costco is 90.