What really makes a difference? (Big Plasmas)

I'm in the market of a new display. I'm replacing a 10 YO 60" Toshiba tube rear projector. In my situation size matters. My viewing position is 15-ish feet back from the screen. So to keep around the same screen area, and get some benefit from HD, If figure I need at least a 60" screen.

I've been going around in circles for years on this. I'm close to settling on the Samsung PN63A650.

I've considered and dismissed a number of other alternatives:

58" Panasonic (to small)
67" Samsung LED DLP (Geometry issues, uneven brightness across the screen, narrow viewing angle)
All other DLPs (light bulb, color wheel).
Varions 65" panels - Panasonic Plasma, Sharp LCD (too expensive).
Pioneer 60" Kuros (too expensive)

This left me with the 63" Samsung and the LG 60PG60. The sammy being a little bit bigger gives it the advantage.

Now reading some of the reviews of the 63" Samsungs (more the A760 - I haven't found a good professional review of the A650, and they seem like the same basic panel), it seems like the reviewers felt the Samsungs were weaker than some of the other panels, especially in black level, grey scale, and maybe color accuracy. Some of this is priced in. I knew the Kuros had better black level than anyone, and I give the Panny some points over the Samsung on picture quality.

But in reality, not having the panels side by side, is any of this going to make much of a difference. Given that I've been living for years with and aging SD projector with visible geometry and convergence problems, anything I'm going to get is going to be a quantum leap. Any of the other choices have their own tradeoffs (price, size, other PQ issues.) Should I keep going in circles waiting for the perfect panel that may or may not every hit the market, or should I just buy the damn Samsung. Is there anything on the horizon (say three months or so), I should wait for?

Moneywize, I figure I can get the Samsung for <$3500. Any other choices would need to be in that price range also.

I have the raw space, but the lighting/window situation and room configuration don't work for front projection.

I saw the PN63H760 last night. The picture looked fine, but the didn't have any decent material (some sort of Samsung demo disk).

I might want to see the new models. I dearly wish Panasonic would slot something in between the 58" and 65".


From 58" to 63" is pretty significant. Maybe like 20% of screen area.

I tend to agrre with you, but...

As I said below, I've seen the A760, but I've never seen the A650 in person. From what I've read, both use essentially the same panel, the the A760 having more features (which I can't see ever needing), so I expect the picture would be much different.

It's likely to still be in the $5-6K range. That takes it out of the competition.

That's the key question: What is the best size/PQ/cost trade off. Going to one extreme, is the 60" Elite Kuro's PQ improvement worth the extra $2500? If it is, I could fade the 3" smaller screen. I've seen it, and can't say I think so.

Now maybe if I had both panels side by side, and it jumped right out at me, I might think differently, but I tend to doubt it.

^
You're correct. I considered and rejected a couple different rear projectors, most recently the Samsung 67" LED DLP. I just couldn't get past looking at it with its uneven brightness and geometry issues, and the plasmas/lcd panels next to it with none of those problems.

It's a shame though, if it worked it would have suited me well. But it doesn't.

Right now, I feel the Samsung 63" plasma is the best trade off for me. I want to get some more feedback on the models in question before I pull the trigger.

You'd have to see my apt to see why this wouldn't work. I have a 17" ceiling in the viewing area, and it is flanked by 12" windows. It would never be dark enough for front projection in daylight, and not being able to use the ceiling makes mounting that much more difficult. Also the screen would have to be mounted on a brick wall, which I don't to have to drill into, and wouldn't look good with a screen on it.

It's going to be a flat panel. If the room were different, I would entertain the concept of front projection.

Okayokayokay, I'll give the 6020 another look. I tend to think I'll still end up with the Sammy.