I owned 2 Vizio 50 inch plasmas and returned both after seeing a myriad of problems over time. Sad. I had such high hopes.

Now without a tv, I must act quickly. Black friday approaches and many interesting deals.

Our room is a small, cozy living room and we sit about 11 feet from the panel. It's bright room with large windows. The windows have shades, but we like the light and leave them up most times.

I have seen a few 50 inch plasma panels for around a grand.

That's in my price range and also up a few hundred...

I'd also consider and LCD, but am mostly turned off by any RP/DLP units.

Please make some recommendations considering my room and budget.

Thanks....

AR

I'm in a similar situation, budget is a bit higher around $1500. I'm looking at the panny's, either TH-50PX77U or TH-50PH10UK with the new HDMI board.

Great looking anti-glare screens, good picture quality, hard not to love. I'd like to go a bit bigger to the 58" screen, but doesn't look like it's in the cards...

I have had great luck with anything Panasonic. I gave away a perfectly good SD 32 inch CRT to make way for the old Vizio plasma. 50 inches is a nice size and our room accommodated it well.

Is there a distance to screen size ratio that I should be considering? Like I said our distance is between 9 (from slight off center angle) and 11 (from center) feet.

We aren't planning to hang the panel. We have a nice tv stand unit from Ikea.

Thanks for any advice you guys can give me!!

AR

Viewing Distance Chart (http://s3.carltonbale.com/resolution_chart.html)

50" at 10' is about the maximum for full resolution of 720p definition with 20/20 vision. Thus unless your eyesight is significantly better than that, there is no PQ improvement for moving to 1080p.

Honestly, the most effective fix for you is to swap your shades for blackout curtains. You'll still get as much light as before with them open, and your viewing experience will improve dramatically with them shut.

Curtains, shades...that's my wife's domain. ;) I'm not rocking that boat right now.

Although we have roll up shades and they actually darken quite well.

But what TV? Please also consider that we watch a fair amount of SD programming (old shows on Gameshow network or Comedy Network).

Thanks to all for your advice....

AR

After the Vizio "experience" I was leaning LCD. I think mostly for the matte screens. Now, I've read up a bit on the TH-50PX77U and it's cousin at Costco the TH-50PC77U.

There are some pretty good prices out there right now. I'm interested and motivated.

At this price range, is this the best I can do??

Let's hear it from the forum!!

Thanks to all..

AR

How does the 77u rate against the TH-50PX75U.

Also, are the 42 inch versions consistent or not?

Thanks again!

AR

Got my answer with more research on the 75U v. 77U. Not the same TV and the 75U is a step down. Got it.

I'm leaning towards the TH-50PX77U and it's cousin at Costco the TH-50PC77U. However, price is an issue and the 42 inch versions are looking good on that issue.

Does anyone feel that both the 50 inch and 42 inch are comparable?

Thanks.

AR

hp-t5054 good tv

OK....the Panny TH-50PX77U vs. the Hitachi P50H401....

any comparison? Is Panny just waaaay better?

To complicate matters I see the Panny PZ77U at 1080p out there too...

So many choices...

Please advise...

AR

The 77U would be GREAT choice, excellent TV, however a 50" would be out of your price range I'm afraid. Unless you wanted to step down to a 42", then it would be in your range.

advice #1 set your price limit. #2 decide what size...at 9 feet 42 inch is too small. #3 decide what picture factor is most important #4 determine quality reliability factor (i.e. no vizio)...

likely youll decide on panny

On the way home I looked at the ones on display at Circuit City I was leaning heavily towards the Panny TH-50PX77U. This is at the top of my price range.

Like many other shoppers, I want to feel like I got a deal.....

However, as is usually the case, 1. You get what you pay for; and 2. It's better to buy the best and only cry once.

That being said, what is the reliability of the X77U? Would anyone recommend an extended warranty? I believe my credit card (amex) will double a manufacter's wrrty., so that may be sufficient.

Comments?? Thanks again!

AR

On the way home I looked at the ones on display at Circuit City I was leaning heavily towards the Panny TH-50PX77U. This is at the top of my price range.

Like many other shoppers, I want to feel like I got a deal.....

However, as is usually the case, 1. You get what you pay for; and 2. It's better to buy the best and only cry once.

That being said, what is the reliability of the X77U? Would anyone recommend an extended warranty? I believe my credit card (amex) will double a manufacter's wrrty., so that may be sufficient.

Comments?? Thanks again!

AR


I think that the PX77U would be a great tv for your room. I have the 1080p 42 version (PZ77U) but doubt that the 1080p is necessary but got an awesome deal. These panasonics are going to be big sale items in the next month b/c they are good tv's and are going for very low prices. I would either get one and watch for prices to drop and get a price match or wait until a sale (as I am not sure of the 50" prices and price talk is not technically allowed on these forums).

As for performance and reliability the panasonic plasmas are tops in the plasma industry. I don't think you will find as better performance to price ratio.

Good luck

If they is that much sunlight coming in a non-glare stlye LCD my be the answer. Like the Toshiba 57LX177, little more than your posted buget, OK much more......

I have a decent amount of sunlight coming in on my 50px60u (which has much more glare than the 77's I've seen this year). If I close the cheap vertical blinds to keep the direct sun shining in, it's more than fine... But, the light comes in perpendicular to my TV. If the sliding glass door were opposite the display, I think it'd be tough. I do lust after those anti-glare screens.

Our living room is about 12X14 and the TV will be on the 12' wall across from a triple panel glass door to the patio on the North side of the house. I've been looking at the Panasonic TH50PC77U (720P) and the TH50PE700U (1080P) and would like to know if at a viewing distance of 6 - 12 feet, would I see a significant difference in PQ between the 2 and do you think it's worth an additional $700.00? I say 6 -12 feet viewing distance because I have couches on the 14' walls and a Lazy Boy ~ 12' away just off center. I could sure use some expert help. Thanks!

Ron,

After 8'-9' your eyes won't be able to see the difference between 720p and 1080p. You should save the money and pick up either a blu ray or hd-dvd player to feed into the set you do end up choosing.

mbrodie617, Thanks for the response. I kind of knew that it was close to that distance where the resolution doesn't matter anymore.
Thanks again!