Samsung LN52A650 versus LG 60PG60

Those are 2 completely different sets. Besides the huge size differences between the 2 they are different technologies. Most if not all people in this forum will suggest getting the plasma over and LCD, although I'm sure soon enough there will be several suggestions that you get a Panasonic or Kuro or Samsung instead of the LG, but that's the beside the point of the question at hand.

If you haven't seen the bezel design of the LG, check it out, it's awesome. The 60inch version of the PG60 is highly rated by those that have bought them here and I haven't seen any major complaints. But it's a new model that's only been out for a couple months now so time will tell.

The LG is the plasma and Samsung LCD. I'm surprised no one else has helped out here, but I definitely think the plasma is better. I learned from my own shopping experience that you can't trust what you see in the stores because LCD's often look better in store than Plasmas, but the other way around at home. LCD's are very bright in the stores and that makes everything pop more, plasmas tend to look to dim. But when you get them home you usually dial down all the settings to fairly dim anyways because it looks more natural and easier on the eyes. Besides the motion blur that drives me nuts on LCD's, I can see the back light effect on LCD's and it's obvious to me that it's just a florescent light bulb lighting up the screen. But on plasma I don't see the backlight effect, the whole screen is evenly lit and doesn't get bleeding back light and flashlight effects that you almost always get on LCD.

Plasma's work great for games to, absolutely no lag or ghosting in dark scenes.

Agreed with crkpot, personally I would go for the LG, not a huge fan of them but definitely not a fan of the 650 series LCD's, I could always notice ghosting no matter whether AMP was off or on at any setting. Also consider size is something that you cannot make up for no matter what, 8" is a huge difference and will make a very big difference in actual viewing experience.

Here a question, what is your view distance?

Will you be watching a lot of HD material like blu-ray or HD-DVD?

If you are 10ft from the TV, go with the 60, trust me.

If you are 6ft from the TV, go with the 52 if you really think it looks better, but only if you think so.

Overall, I'd go with the 60.

12FT?

Maximum THX viewing distance of 1080P is 9.4 Feet for 60".

Max for a 52" is 8.2 Feet.

At 12', you should really go with the 60".

I sit at 10 Feet from a 58" (from my eyes to the screen in normal sitting position) with a recommended max of 9.1 Feet. I keep finding myself leaning forward while I watch blu-ray (though not so much with standard def. DVD). I will be pulling my couch ahead I think to make the distance 9 Feet.

You'll be a lot happier and much more impressed with the 60" at that distance. Remember, it may be only 8 inches more, it doesn't "seem" like much, but that actual Area of the screen (square inches, not diagonal!) is actually 33% larger than the 52. So, for your money, you're getting a lot of extra square inches...

PMd

Go with the TH50pz80U,PZ85,or PZ800 and save some money over both the sets and get more for your money and in most eyes a better .You could even get the TH50PX80 for around 1100-1200.Also the Pioneer 50inch would be a great solution.

I disagree with Prigety.

Go with the 60" LG Plasma.
There is no substitute for size.
Especially when watching BD or HD Football games.

With the LG you will (subjectively) get 90% of the performance of the top rated plasma's
at less than half the cost.

Negotiate the best deal you can and enjoy!

Congrats, if you haven't seen it make sure you read up on the PG60 owners thread, it's got a good amount of info and CNET has some recommended settings for the set in a darkly lit area. There's a ton of settings to play with on that set.

Well a lot of the pixelation is because the larger size. Of course you will see more problems on a 60" screen vs a 32" screen.
As for better SD scaling, LG definitely isn't known to be great with it. Pioneer is currently the best set for SD.