AVS › AVS Forum › Display Devices › Plasma Flat Panel Displays › Panasonic 50G20/G25 or LG 50PK550
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Panasonic 50G20/G25 or LG 50PK550

post #1 of 23
4/28/10 at 6:59pm
Thread Starter 
I want a 50 inch plasma and I've boiled it down to these two options. I mainly use the TV for watching shows/movies, I have a PS3 and would consider myself a casual gamer (I play once in a while) so I'm unsure about which one of these to buy. I'm also in Canada so the prices here are higher than in the US.

LG

Pros:

-Good image quality? (based on reviews I've seen, good quality post-calibration)
-Cheap price ($1200 CDN)
-Proper 1080p/24 playback with 72Hz mode

Cons:

-No THX mode/easy calibration
-Lots of glare
-High input lag

Panasonic

Pros:

-Great black levels/PQ
-THX calibration
-Low input lag
-Not as much glare

Cons:

-Rising blacks over time
-Bad 1080p/24 playback (AFAIK the 48Hz mode has a lot of flicker)
-High price ($2000 CDN)


The price is a huge factor here since I don't want to spend a lot (I don't like spending $2k but I figure that if the Panasonic is really worth it I can invest more into it) but the LG is really tempting right now with the lower price and proper 1080p/24 playback. My biggest hesitation with the LG is the input lag but I don't know if it's noticeable with games. What should I do?
Reply
Reply

AVS Top Picks

post #2 of 23
4/28/10 at 7:13pm
The LG PG 750 just came out and it has the THX. Price is not higher. I just ordered one today but you can look at the links on the forum for mor info.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 23
4/28/10 at 7:25pm
i have the 60pk550 and the 50g10 all i have to said im very impressed with the 60pk550 and their costumer support on lg vs panasonic, lg have their own tech,panasonic they just call your local tech repair and they dont have a clue of what to do.panasonic never been honest with their costumers never fixed the problem of black levels and lies a lot with the TV spec to attract people to buy the product and for me THX is only a marketing gimmick.
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 23
4/29/10 at 10:46am
I would go with the G25
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 23
4/29/10 at 10:57am
I would go with the LG PK550
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 23
4/29/10 at 11:03am
Speaking as a fellow Canadian, i see no reason to pay the bloated Panasonic prices when you have LGs and Samsungs priced at least (relatively)close to what they are in the states.

For the price of the 50" G20, you can get an LG 60PK550 for the same price (1970 at Costco)

Not sure what you mean by "easy calibration". LG has a Picture Wizard to get you at least started on calibrating.

THX is not the end-all of getting the best pic. And Chad B who reviewed the pk550 said the default settings on the Expert 1 mode were more accurate than he usually sees on TVs.

The only way i'd go for the G20 is if your room as super bright and you got a great deal on one. Also input lag may be an issue but i'm not a gamer anyway. Then again, i wouldn't touch Panasonic this year anyway with floating and rising blacks.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 23
4/29/10 at 11:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by grubgrubgrub View Post

What should I do?

The "Official" LG PK550 thread is getting long but might be worth a skim-read as those issues are discussed in some depth, esp. the input lag and some possible workarounds.

(I have a 50PK550 and use it for most but not all my PS3 games.)


http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1235720
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 23
4/29/10 at 11:05am
I'd buy the pk 550 and test it out in your room to make sure the reflections don't bother you too much. it is definitely the best bang for your buck
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 23
4/29/10 at 11:20am
Thought I would mention that Future Shop is now selling the LG 50PK550 for $1098.99 (CDN of course)

It says regular price on the website and it went down to that price a few days ago I think.
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 23
4/29/10 at 1:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hawkeye101 View Post

Thought I would mention that Future Shop is now selling the LG 50PK550 for $1098.99 (CDN of course)

It says regular price on the website and it went down to that price a few days ago I think.

Which is an absolute steal when you compare it to the G25 they're selling ON SALE after $300 off at $1699 ($1999 regular)


the 60pk550 is now 1899 i just noticed too. a steal!
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 23
4/29/10 at 1:42pm
That is what my final choices came to when I upgraded from my 2 year old 42" LG plasma. I really wanted to get the G25, but the black level rise (which may or may not be as bad as it is being talked about), floating black levels, the 48hz issues and not putting a CMS adjustment on the USA versions ( I do full calibrations on my sets) is what kept me in the LG camp. Yes, it has glare, but so did my 42" one. It is not an issue in my environment (controlled lighting) but may be in yours. IR on the LG is next to nothing (and mine is still new) and vastly improved over my 2008 model. The black levels are MUCH better. Also, my blu-ray movies play smoother due to proper 3:3 pulldown. Factor in the price difference and the LG come out the winner.
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 23
4/29/10 at 1:44pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by barrist View Post

Speaking as a fellow Canadian, i see no reason to pay the bloated Panasonic prices when you have LGs and Samsungs priced at least (relatively)close to what they are in the states.

For the price of the 50" G20, you can get an LG 60PK550 for the same price (1970 at Costco)

Not sure what you mean by "easy calibration". LG has a Picture Wizard to get you at least started on calibrating.

THX is not the end-all of getting the best pic. And Chad B who reviewed the pk550 said the default settings on the Expert 1 mode were more accurate than he usually sees on TVs.

The only way i'd go for the G20 is if your room as super bright and you got a great deal on one. Also input lag may be an issue but i'm not a gamer anyway. Then again, i wouldn't touch Panasonic this year anyway with floating and rising blacks.

Thank you for this response, I think that I will end up getting the LG. I'd really love a Panasonic but I'm guessing that in the next year or two they'll sort out their issues and maybe (MAYBE!) stop price gouging Canadians. I've read a few people say that the lag isn't too big of an issue with their games so I'm not as hesitant as before.

I read through most of the PK550 thread, I didn't see too much on the input lag but I'm curious about the calibration. Has anyone posted results from a proper calibration yet? I know lots of people do this with the Panasonics but I haven't seen any for the LG models.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 23
4/29/10 at 1:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by grubgrubgrub View Post

Thank you for this response, I think that I will end up getting the LG. I'd really love a Panasonic but I'm guessing that in the next year or two they'll sort out their issues and maybe (MAYBE!) stop price gouging Canadians. I've read a few people say that the lag isn't too big of an issue with their games so I'm not as hesitant as before.

I read through most of the PK550 thread, I didn't see too much on the input lag but I'm curious about the calibration. Has anyone posted results from a proper calibration yet? I know lots of people do this with the Panasonics but I haven't seen any for the LG models.

shaddix i believe is going to be getting his pk550 calibrated by Chad B sometime soon
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 23
4/29/10 at 1:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mbf9999 View Post

The LG PG 750 just came out and it has the THX. Price is not higher. I just ordered one today but you can look at the links on the forum for mor info.

Be carefull, the 750 may have THX, but you should still get a professional calibration. Also, I believe that the 750 has a much worse black level. Many people believe that the 550 is actually much better than 750
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 23
4/29/10 at 1:56pm
Does anyone know what the motion resolution is on the LG 50PK550? The Samsung 550 & 590 etc apparently have 1080 lines of motion resolution, and the Pananonic's do too AFAIK.
Reply
Reply
post #16 of 23
4/30/10 at 2:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by grubgrubgrub View Post


LG

Cons:

-No THX mode/easy calibration


Wrong ...... it has THX calibration + a few more modes. You can adjust these easily if neccessary.

Yeah, I've got the 550.
Reply
Reply
post #17 of 23
4/30/10 at 3:41am
I have the G20 which is a nice set. I do notice the floating blacks with movies. I only got this tv while I returned my B650. My return went through and I just ordered the 60pk550. The G20 is a nice set but........
Reply
Reply
post #18 of 23
4/30/10 at 3:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by marconist View Post

Wrong ...... it has THX calibration + a few more modes. You can adjust these easily if neccessary.

Yeah, I've got the 550.

In North America, the 550 does not have it.

The European one i believe has been reported to have the undefeatable edge enhancement as well, so its probably using the same software as 750/950.
Reply
Reply
post #19 of 23
4/30/10 at 10:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by barrist View Post

shaddix i believe is going to be getting his pk550 calibrated by Chad B sometime soon

Yeah whenever I can get him down here to Alabama haha

@Hawkeye101: motion resolution is approx 900 lines, it's the same on the Panasonics if you don't use motion interpolation(yes the pannys use interpolation called blur reduction I think) I don't know about the samsungs.
Reply
Reply
post #20 of 23
5/31/10 at 3:00pm
Thread Resurrection.

For the people who were thinking about such decisions and made one, are they happy?

Looking at both of these sets also.
Reply
Reply
post #21 of 23
5/31/10 at 3:16pm
I just returned my 60PK550 for a 54 G25 and couldn't be happier. The glare was just too much on the LG although overall I do feel the LG is a great TV.
Reply
Reply
post #22 of 23
5/31/10 at 3:19pm
I chose between these two sets as well and picked the lg. I had sears on the phone about to order a g20 as well because I had to return the lg so many times. They didn't have any in stock in my area though so I went to hhgregg and got a good deal on a pk550. I really think I would have been happy with either. I have all 3 game systems so the low input lag would have been nice but I also watch only bluray so I'm also very happy to have the lg. Most comments I see on the pk550s input lag is that they don't notice it or its not enough to hinder gameplay, even though it is high.(You wouldn't want to play fighting games on it)

My experience with proper 24p playback on this lg has me to where ill never buy another tv without it and ill never recommend a tv without it. If I remember ill post again about the picture after the 17th of june. Chad is gonna be down here to calibrate it for me
Reply
Reply
post #23 of 23
5/31/10 at 8:28pm
The 50G20 vs the 50PK550 are like the Lakers vs Celtics.....two prideful teams at the top of their game
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Plasma Flat Panel Displays

AVS Top Picks

AVS › AVS Forum › Display Devices › Plasma Flat Panel Displays › Panasonic 50G20/G25 or LG 50PK550