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46" Plasma recommendations wanted

post #1 of 17
5/24/11 at 10:50am
Thread Starter 
I joined this forum years ago when I was about to take the leap to a flat screen. The problem was, every time a new model came out I'd read about all these issues with it. In the end I never did upgrade from my Panasonic 32" GAOO tank.

But here I am again. I'm looking for a 46" plasma. The problem is, 46" does not seem to be a popular size with the manufacturers. I was looking at a Panasonic G25 46" but the reviews I've read haven't been very good. Now I don't know what to do -- again.

So, can anyone point me in the right direction? Here's my wish list:

46"
deep blacks
3D is not important at all
slim isn't important either
excellent image quality
good at handling SD cable -- i.e. good image quality
reliable
available in Toronto, Canada

So that's it. If you can give me some ideas I'll go check out the reviews.

Thanks in advance.
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post #2 of 17
5/24/11 at 11:17am
There are only a few 46" Plasmas this year and the best one by far is the Panasonic ST30 series. My 2nd choice would be last year's 46GT25 series, but the 46ST30 reportedly displays SD much better, and doesn't suffer from the Floating Blacks issue that the 2010 models had.
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post #3 of 17
5/24/11 at 11:33am
Panasonic is your only choice for a 46" plasma.

Get the one with the features you'll use.
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post #4 of 17
5/24/11 at 11:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by RandyWalters View Post

There are only a few 46" Plasmas this year and the best one by far is the Panasonic ST30 series. My 2nd choice would be last year's 46GT25 series, but the 46ST30 reportedly displays SD much better, and doesn't suffer from the Floating Blacks issue that the 2010 models had.

Just to clarify the 46" inch size from last year was the GT24 model.
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post #5 of 17
5/24/11 at 11:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by chunon View Post

Just to clarify the 46" inch size from last year was the GT24 model.

Oh yeah you're right

Virtually the same as the GT25 series though . . . . . .
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post #6 of 17
5/24/11 at 12:16pm
Here's my question - why 46" and not 50" or 51"?
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post #7 of 17
5/24/11 at 12:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by RandyWalters View Post

Oh yeah you're right

Virtually the same as the GT25 series though . . . . . .

Yep pretty much identical
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post #8 of 17
5/24/11 at 8:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scottyb09 View Post

Here's my question - why 46" and not 50" or 51"?

Probably trying to fit a cabinet/entertainment center. People paid a ton of money for these 10 years ago and it makes them sick to sell them for a 1/10th of what they paid.
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post #9 of 17
5/24/11 at 8:53pm
Going with a 50" or 51" screen size yeilds many more choices, but if there is a physical space limitation the 50" GT30 has a narrower bezel so the overall size of the TV is only a little larger than a 46" ST30:

46" ST30 is 44.1" wide x 28.8" high (sitting on it's stand)

50" GT30 is 46.4" wide x 29.7" high (sitting on it's stand)
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post #10 of 17
5/24/11 at 9:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by chunon View Post

Just to clarify the 46" inch size from last year was the GT24 model.

Quote:
Originally Posted by RandyWalters View Post

Oh yeah you're right

Virtually the same as the GT25 series though . . . . . .

Quote:
Originally Posted by chunon View Post

Yep pretty much identical

True, however, note that the distribution of this TV was different; it was for warehouse club stores, and I think it was an exclusive, as usual.
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post #11 of 17
5/25/11 at 8:50am
Thread Starter 
Thanks everyone.

To answer your question re size: 46" is about the max size for this room. I probably should stick to 42" but want something a tad bigger. 50" would be really pushing it and I don't want to overwhelm the room with TV.

I'm going to look at the ST30 today and also at a Sony 46" LED NX720. Not really sure which would be better. The Sony is a lot more money, though.
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post #12 of 17
5/25/11 at 11:00am
To equal the picture quality of the 46ST30, you would need this Sony to do so...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...A13ACIRM091OJE

Conventional wisdom is...

To get the same picture quality with an LCD requires 2x the money to 2.5x the money.

LCD's at only 1.5x the price are at a mismatch in picture quality.
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post #13 of 17
5/25/11 at 11:50am
Thread Starter 
It's funny you should mention the HX929. I was at a local electronics store and the guy wasn't that keen on the ST30, saying it was an average quality plasma, but he was raving about the HX929, saying it was going to be a real game changer. Why? Because it's 960 HZ.

On the Canadian Sonystyle site they conveniently do not provide that information; however, on the US Sonystyle site they list the HZ under the specs and it's not 960 but 240 HZ. You can see it here:

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...specifications

Display

Aspect Ratio : 16:9
Display Resolution : Full HD 1080p
Dynamic Contrast Ratio : Infinite6
Panel Frequency : 240Hz
Screen Size (measured diagonally) : 46"
Viewing Angle (Right/Left) : 178 (89/89)
Viewing Angle (Up/Down) : 178 (89/89)

Frankly, as great as the HX929 looks, I'm really not into buying from a company that is will to provide fraudulent information to its customers.

I'm going to check out that Panny ST30 downtown tomorrow.

Sony Canada might want to clearly state on their site what HZ their TVs are rated at, since their re-sellers clearly are making it up as they go.
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post #14 of 17
5/25/11 at 12:07pm
Well, the guy was right about one thing(read the whole post before you gasp...)

The ST30 is an average plasma.

The 929 Sony is a superb LCD

But when "superb LCD" barely beats an "average plasma"...

I'll take the average plasma any day. Or use the extra money to buy a "better than average plasma" and still have money left over.

But, considering the best 46 is the ST30...maybe there will be a 46VT30(if that will be the numbers for the VT series), since there is no 46GT30.

Put it this way. I have a client who needs 7 TV's for his new home being built. We wants this for the extra bedrooms...
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004M8SBD4
In Chicago, there is already a shortage of this TV. He wants 3 of them.
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post #15 of 17
5/25/11 at 12:15pm
I would go with this years Sony lcd! Your right when you say it is going to be a game changer. Listen to the salesman. He is right! It has a mind blowing PQ!
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post #16 of 17
5/26/11 at 3:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by schan1269 View Post

But, considering the best 46 is the ST30...maybe there will be a 46VT30 (if that will be the numbers for the VT series), since there is no 46GT30.

VT30 series is only 55" & 65"; word is, it's very unlikely there'll be any additions. If anything, they would add a 60" only. 50" is unlikely, and 46" is virtually no chance.

GT30 series, there is at least a small chance they add a 46", maybe as a warehouse club store variant, like last year.
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post #17 of 17
5/26/11 at 5:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bigmac31391 View Post

I would go with this years Sony lcd! Your right when you say it is going to be a game changer. Listen to the salesman. He is right! It has a mind blowing PQ!

Of course you're going to say that since you're an LED Lovin Plasma Hater

But the 46" Sony HX929 list price is THREE TIMES HIGHER than the 46" ST30!! One could buy three 46ST30s for the price of one 46" HX929.

And the ST30 will still look better . . . . . .
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