64-65" Plasmas - Deciding between Panasonic and Samsung - Page 2

Really? Do you mind sharing the 7 or 8 "professional reviews" you are referring to? By the way, since you are making such a definitive claim, I assume these "professional reviews" make direct comparisons between these two specific models from Panasonic and Samsung, right?



That depends what you value really. For example, some may say that the LG 60PZ950 is the best bang for the buck if you don't care about the lowest black level.



Do you care to elaborate? How does the filter really change the picture quality? For those that don't watch the TV in daylight or watch in their basements, the filter does very little IMHO. I did look at both models extensively, and I much doubt it would have any substantial difference in dim rooms.

While I did get the PN64D7000, I had a really hard time justifying the $600 cost difference.

2011-04-23: HDTVtest's review of the 42VT30B (UK model) by David Mackenzie. Result: Highly Recommended.
2011-04-27: FlatpanelsTV's review of the 50VT30 (European model) by Rasmus Larsen. Result: Highly Recommended.
2011-04-29: Trusted Reviews' look at the 42VT30 by John Archer. Result: Score 9 out of 10. Recommended.
2011-05-01: AV Forums' review of the 50VT30B (UK model) by Phil Hinton. Result: Highly Recommended.
2011-05-02: FullHD.gr review of the 50VT30E (European model) - originally in Greek, translated into English. Result: Best Buy.
2011-05-02: 3DTV Magazine review of the VT30 (European model) - originally in German, translated into English. Result: 5 out of 5 stars.
2011-05-06: Area DVD's review of the 42VT30 (European model) - originally in German, translated into English. Result: Masterpiece Award.

I have the Samsung 64" D8000 and I could NOT be happier. I had a Pioneer plasma that is now going to the bedroom and this Samsung just amazes. THe PQ is asa good as I have ever seen.

i dont use many of the bells and whistles, but the HD picture does not disappoint.

Well, I haven't bothered to read all of these (no links), but I did Google the first one from HDTVtest. First, there is no comparison to the Samsung. In fact, HDTVtest hasn't even reviewed the d7000 or d8000, so it obviosuly doesn't find the vt30 to be "better." Interestingly, though, the review does state regarding the vt30 that "It's not cheap, and doesn't offer the same level of value for money as the GT30 series...."

Look, I'm sure the vt30 has a fantastic picture. I suspect it may be even slightly better than the d7000/8000, but the reviews just haven't really indicated any difference in PQ that most viewers would appreciate. The first one you posted above sure didn't. Thus, most people are going to find the d7000 to be a far better value.

Wait a second, you said you could not find any reviews, this is just a few. There are other ones.
Again most professional reviews have the Panasonic VT30 as the TV of the year.
I also think the D7000 is the best buy of the year.

I was commenting on the lack of reviews performing a head-to-head comparison of the vt30 to d7000/8000. As I said above, the first review you listed doesn't do that, and hasn't even reviewed the Samsung. I haven't bothered reading the rest. If there is one, post a link.

Those are reviews you posted above and yes for the most part they are pretty good, but not a single one of them supports this comment by you. I'm not saying it's not a good tv or even that it's not better in some ways but dude there is no evidence to support a statement like that when trying to help someone buy a TV. It's as close to a lie as there is on this entire forum. Let's not put all of our apples into one basket here.

How can they crown a TV as the TV of the year when they haven't reviewed all the TVs for the year?

No one is denying that the VT30 is an excellent set. None of the reviews make any direct comparison to the Samsung D7000/D8000. In fact, I believe most of them haven't even reviewed the D7000/D8000 to form such an opinion (to quote your own words "not really even close").

Don't fight it you know the truth....they both are great.

My opinion: I would go with Panasonic mainly because of some of the issues I have read about the Samsungs. Internal Cracked screens, The AR filter peeling, and lack of customer support. If samsung did not have these issues I would go with the D7000, but since they do I would have to go with the VT30.

I think the D7000 is a great buy. Cheaper too. I just worried too much about the possibility of getting one of those few sets that did have physical issues.

Both TVs are great TVs

I just picked up a d8000, it just looked better than the vt30. (vt 30 looks ancient) and imo i think the picture quality on the d8000 looks far better (vt looked grainy)

LOL, 1 lifting filter doesn't make a panic dude.

You gotta love people like you that take 1 or 2 people having problems with a brand new product and damn the entire line.

On the other hand, ALL Panasonics WILL have raising blacks. (from an engineer)

ALL Panasonics will have Floating whites. (from an engineer)

So you keep spreading your FUD about Samsung, and we'll see how many buy the Panasonic then come back here telling us how the FW issue bugs the crap out of them.

And yet your doing the exact same thing in reverse. The cracked glass problem with Samsung this year is arguably much worse then the floating whites. The cracked glass leaves your tv totally useless and from all reports Samsung is acting like it is user error...every time. Not to mention the peeling adhesive..which is what I think you are referring to. The FW are just annoying as hell for the Panasonic. Neither TV is perfect and both put out a great picture.

BTW, the rising blacks are gone this year from the Panasonics....according to engineers at Panasonic. There is a long thread about it over at HDJ. Do we believe them...I think most are skeptical.

I was in the same boat as you and here is what I found

VT30- no glasses + out of my price range
D800- Features I dont want / need
65ST30- Love the size, don't like the aesthetics of it, no glasses (even though 3D isnt my thing)

64D7000- found a great price shipped online, 30 day return policy, price even lower if you dont want the 3D starter pack.

have to compare weights without stands.. D8000 stand does look flimsy compared to VT30 stand... no doubt. By some reports it is unstable (the claw) as well. VT30 is heavier most likely because of the extra glass and speakers.. not because it's built better.

VT's come with one pair in the box (glasses)..

Doh! Still, out of my price range, and I wouldn't want to share with the GF so I'd need at least 1 more pair.

"On the other hand, ALL Panasonics WILL have raising blacks. (from an engineer)

ALL Panasonics will have Floating whites. (from an engineer)"

Please stop saying this as if it's true.

Lol....no one knows the future...it will take months or years to find out...lol

The "floating whites" issue, according to threads I've read here, is actually also visible on Samsung, and it's fixable. It was discovered by one owner to be a feature that changes the picture based on a light sensor. It's as sensitive as someone getting up from the sofa causing the brightness to change. It's called C.A.T. on the Panasonic (I think) and I have no idea what the feature is called on the Samsung. The hardcore avs-philes here recommend disabling that feature. Then you have no more floating or rising "whites".

Many of you say you're waiting for Panasonic to make a deal with the glasses. I think if you speak to human beings at your preferred dealer, they'll make an agreement with you that if panasonic comes out with such an offer after you buy the set, they will still honor the offer. Regardless of what TV you buy, I'd recommend you also get them to agree to honor any Memorial Day specials they'll be having! (Like 10% off sales).

I have been looking long and hard and waiting to buy 4 of these units for myself and a friend. I have been waiting for detailed reviews. I was leaning toward Panasonic, but "Chad B's" review and comments have me now considering the Samsung instead:

Color seemed a little drab on the VT30; fleshtones much more natural and appealing on the Samsung.

Complete calibration on the Panasonic isn't possible due to messed up firmware, leaving a new set owner to hope for an as-yet-unannounced fix in a future firmware update.

Given the choice of VT30 and D8000, he'd pick the VT30 if they fix the firmware, the D8000 if they do not. We are currently in a state of "not". EDITED TO ADD: "Hiresolution" replied to this thread saying that there is a Panasonic firmware update next month.

I am now debating between the two sets and strongly considering the D7000, because these TV's are expensive and the only way to get better is to find a rare unopened Kuro (selling for $10K on Ebay) or get a Runco or B&O, which I believe start even higher than that.

And of course the owner of Cleveland Plasma and others have been quick to point out that these are all "great sets". Conversely, a guy I know who sells Runco said to me "all the TV manufacturers are either out of business now or racing to the bottom".

Forgive me for not providing hyperlinks. They are in the popular threads on these subjects. If anyone challenges I will find the exact citations.

Edited to

They have announced new firmware available next month.....for the VT30. IMO Sumsungs have always had quality control problems....they should stick to refrigerators.

Thank you for the correction! But still, I have to wonder if I'm making a rational purchase by including confidence that certain problems will be fixed in a future update, instead of waiting to confirm!

Here's my 2 cents. With all due respect to Chad, to my untrained eyes, the VT30 provides incredible PQ (in uncalibrated THX mode), and many regular people have posted similarly in the VT30 thread (and many professional reviews have been very positive as well). I just sit back and enjoy, without studying the screen or looking for issues. I understand why the professional calibrators look for all these issues, but IMO regular people who just sit back and watch movies will love any of these top plasmas.

With respect to Chad he had the opportunity to see these two sets side by side so any minor differences would be detectable to his trained eyes. Most general tv watchers would not pick up on things like he would.