I'm pretty overwhelmed on what to get but do know that it will reside in either the lcd or plasma camp. Any suggestions here will be greatly appreciated. Don't want banding, ghosting etc...
Do want decent black levels. Would like it to handle standard def well too. Will sit 9.5 feet from tv. Will be used with HD Comcast and high def dvd. Thanks.

Check out the Pioneer PDP-5080HD. If you shop around, you can find a good price.

Hands down the Panasonic 58PH10UKA is among the best $2500 and under display you can for the money! Also you have Pioneer 5080HD and Samsung 5084.

As far as banding, it is still noticeable on all displays. As the higher bit processors become available more within the 24-bit range, banding should be non-existent. Processors are between 10-bit and 18-bit. However, Black levels looks good on all of these displays. Ghosting/motion blur isn't an issue at all as well.

Chris

At 9.5 feet, you will barely see any benefit from 1080p on a 50" display. You'd see a bit more on a 58" display, but these are probably out of your price range unless you buy a pervious year model.

If you look around (check the forum sponsors above.. invision, visual apex, plasma concepts), you might be able to find a Pioneer 5080 below your price ceiling. You will definitely be able to find a Samsung 5084 from a retail location for less. These are the two sets I would consider. Personally I went with the 5084 because I sit close enough to benefit from 1080p resolution.. if I were at 9.5ft, I probably would have gone with the 5080.

I just saw a Vizio Galleria(?) on shopnbc.com this morning for $1500 or $1600. Was a 46" 1080P.

My local Best Buy had the Samsung 5084 in stock and matched the price I brought in from the Vanns website - so I took it home. Read the forum for that model last night and people seemed satisfied. Thanks everybody.