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Need some help with entry level plasma

post #1 of 8
2/21/12 at 9:43am
Thread Starter 
I am ejecting my 32 in Sony CRT and looking to get first flat panel. My most serious limitation is that I need to get it at BB due to gift cards...(credit card rewards put to good use).

I am leaning toward plasmas to get most bang for my buck. My budget is $700-900 if possible. Prefer 46-51 inch. 3D/Internet are "gravy" but not at the top of my priorities. For Living Room, windows off to the side, not behind the viewer, so glare may be (minor) issue. Most TV watching in evening. Seating distance will be 8+ feet. Sound not a major issue as I have sound system.

I am leaning strongly toward Sam PN51D550. BB has held this at $900 for past few months. I will likely not use 3d, but the lower model PN51D530 seems to have issues with it suddenly stopping.

I could save a few bucks and go with Sam PN51D490, which is only 720p, but I don't want to kick myself later wishing I went 1080p.

I really liked the Pan ST30, but was not able to get the $729 deal at BB, as they are all gone. (I'm not interested in display model).

Only other option appears to be LG 50PV400 ($750) which is not 3D. Again, not big deal for me if it otherwise gives good performance.

You guys are the best. Thanks for any input!
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post #2 of 8
2/21/12 at 10:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ssmaniac View Post

I am ejecting my 32 in Sony CRT and looking to get first flat panel. My most serious limitation is that I need to get it at BB due to gift cards...(credit card rewards put to good use).

I am leaning toward plasmas to get most bang for my buck. My budget is $700-900 if possible. Prefer 46-51 inch. 3D/Internet are "gravy" but not at the top of my priorities. For Living Room, windows off to the side, not behind the viewer, so glare may be (minor) issue. Most TV watching in evening. Seating distance will be 8+ feet. Sound not a major issue as I have sound system.

I am leaning strongly toward Sam PN51D550. BB has held this at $900 for past few months. I will likely not use 3d, but the lower model PN51D530 seems to have issues with it suddenly stopping.

I could save a few bucks and go with Sam PN51D490, which is only 720p, but I don't want to kick myself later wishing I went 1080p.

I really liked the Pan ST30, but was not able to get the $729 deal at BB, as they are all gone. (I'm not interested in display model).

Only other option appears to be LG 50PV400 ($750) which is not 3D. Again, not big deal for me if it otherwise gives good performance.

You guys are the best. Thanks for any input!


if you have a fry's near by the had the D6500 for 999.00
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post #3 of 8
2/22/12 at 10:07am
Just to add to the previous post, Best Buy will usually price match Frys if you have one close by.
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post #4 of 8
2/22/12 at 2:02pm
Thread Starter 
Thank you both for the replies. No Fry's within 90 miles...
Any other thoughts? Thanks
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post #5 of 8
2/22/12 at 2:23pm
At a 10 foot viewing distance (or farther) would not object to a 50" 1366x768 set, but only if there was a significant price discount as compared to a 50" 1080p set.

Sounds like you have already read some negative posts about one of the Samsungs. Alas, it seems that all of the likely candidates have at least the POTENTIAL for one glitch or another.

Beyond viewing distance, you should also consider how you will use the panel: Primarily Blu-ray movies? SD DVDs?
SD cable or "HD" cable?
Will you play video games on the set? Or try to use it as a Very Large Monitor?

Then visit some of the owner threads / boards (and TRY to find some reviews) to see whether one set or another has the reputation of handling YOUR likely usage mix better than the others...

Good Luck!
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post #6 of 8
2/23/12 at 8:50am
Thread Starter 
Dierk-
Thanks for the reply. Good points. I have considered all of those factors. This is main (family) tv, what will be used 90% for Dish Network HD viewing, 5% OTA (mainly occasional sports event that looks better OTA than through Dish) and 5% BD. 3D and internet use not really an issue. 3D is novelty, but Dish doesn't have much 3d content, and I don't have 3d BD player.

Maybe 720p is way to go, as I can get Samsung PN51D450 for $599 (non 3d, 720p) or PN51D490 for $699 (720p 3d).
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post #7 of 8
2/23/12 at 12:23pm
Target and Best Buy both have had the 50490 for $599 and Walmart had the 50450 for $548.
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post #8 of 8
2/23/12 at 12:53pm
Quote:


Maybe 720p is way to go, as I can get Samsung PN51D450 for $599 (non 3d, 720p) or PN51D490 for $699 (720p 3d).

We have 3 (Panasonic) Plasmas in the house: 42", 50", and 60."

The 60" is a new ST30 (1080p), the 50" is a 1366x768 panel, and the 42" (the oldest) is 1024x768. The 42" shows "obvious" SDE at any viewing distance closer than about 8 feet, but still looks pretty good from 9 ft & beyond.

With Blu-ray disks (or HD-DVDs...) the 60" Looks Great (the odd Green & Pink tinting notwithstanding). But at a 9ft viewing distance, ANY OTHER Content, including "HD TV" programming tends to show off the flaws in the source material. (The best HD TV material, via Uverse, does look pretty good on the 60 - but much of the "HD" programming really deserves to be called "pseudo-HD"!)

At 9ft or beyond, the 50" set - even though "only" 1366x768 - easily provides the best PQ for Upconverted SD DVDs, as well as any other SD material that we happen to watch, and still manages to look Pretty Darn Good with HD sources.

Would avoid the new 50" Panasonic "720p" sets, but we know several people with 50" 720p Samsungs, and they have been happy with them - although the screens tend to be rather reflective!

Still, if the price difference were within $150 or so, would be hard pressed NOT to select a 1080p set: but then its NOT MY MONEY!
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