Panasonic P50G20 or Samsung PN50C680?

I went with the PN50C680 personally and I love it.

You won't find any professional reviews on it, but it is a really nice TV. I had a PN50C6500 (so a thin Samsung plasma) and I feel the C680 has much better blacks.

I also considered the P50G20, but all the Panasonic problems (rising blacks, floating blacks) scared me from the brand. Plus the c680 is a 3D TV so by going that route I avoided buying a TV that is obsolete the day it leaves the store.

The only thing I don't like about my c680 is it does have a slight buzzing sound. If you are scared of that get them to open it in the store and turn it on before you buy and force them to run through their inventory till you find a non-buzzer. It doesn't bug me that much because it is not loud enough to hear it on my couch.

Many people around here are Panny fans and for good reason. Each major TV under $3k has problems, do research.

I prefer the Panasonic G20 series. I don't notice the floating blacks and the rising blacks have not shown much rise at all on the latest report on cnet. I've heard some reports with burn-in on Samsung Plasmas on Amazon. Supposedly the pixel shift turns off on certain settings.

Your going to be sorry. Mine went down in two months to the ten blinks of death on Thanks Giving day:-( Hopefuly you didn't buy from Best Crap.......

I don't mean to necro-post, but I'm actually having this same exact debate all this time later! I've been researching like crazy the past couple of weeks because I'm finally ready to plunge into the world of flat panel TV's. I currently own a 30" Sony Wega CRT that I LOVE. The picture quality is better on it than on any of my friend's LCD displays imo. From what I've read... I need to go the plasma route to maintain the same level of movie and gaming glory.

At my local best buy both the Panasonic and the Samsung listed in this thread are on clearance and several are "open item" sales so the price is very cheap

Most of what I've read says the Panasonics have deeper blacks and an overall better display, but I can't say I'm not somewhat tempted by the 3-D that the Samsung offers... however I know I'll almost never use it... so ultimately it's going to come down to picture quality and reliability.

I'm looking to hear from people who have owned either set to let me (or anyone else who's looking) know how they've held up and if they regret their purchase or not.

I've also considered the 2011 replacement set for each of these as options since the prices aren't that much higher... but is it really worth it? I've always been a last years model on the cheap sort of guy... lol.

I still have and love my C680. Especially now that I am past 1000 hours, there is no IR ever. I wouldn't trade its vibrant colors for anything else (except maybe a newer model Samsung).

Is the picture quality of the 2D imaging as good as it is without it? I don't know how 3D TV's differ when watching regular HD signals...

Anyone else have feedback on the Panasonic too?

Supposedly the 3D technology will also improve the 2D pic quality as well, due to faster moving phosphors etc.

I mostly watch 2D. There isn't enough 3D stuff out there. The 3D works good though, and is really awesome for sports.

I'm pretty much sold on the Samsung. Samsung also has the cheapest 3D glasses, $50! I'll see if it's still in the store on Monday and if not... I'll go with the Panasonic... lol.

One more quick question... does anyone have experience with the 2011 replacement models for each set? I know the Panasonics is the tc-p50st30 but I don't really know how it compares to the g20. I don't know what the new Samsung is...