Panasonic 65VT50 vs. 65GT50 ... Whats The Major Difference? Is It Worth It?

To start I understand the VT model won the award for best TV of 2012 and I have read up TONS on the VT model and am close to be sold on it ... BUT ... I am not a huge video buff guy that needs "The Best" all around TV (heck I have had a 55" Vizio XVT Tru-LED Full Array for over 2 years and have loved it) but I want a TV that is awesome and gives atleast close to the best picture as possible and This Panasonic seems to be the clear winner this year ... but for a guy like me is the VT something thats worth it? I don;t know how to calibrate and I probably won't be paying anyone to do that ... I will more than likely just search for certain picture settings from members here and find something that I like and that will be good for me.

I recently purchased the Sharp Quattron 70" Edge-LED TV and love the size (the reason I am at least staying at 65" now) but the picture has some major issues with ghosting/halo on sports and other occasional programs and that is a No Go for this sports buff, so it's going back and I am looking for a replacement, and this 65XX50 is gonna be the TV I think will be the best for me hopefully.

I have tossed around the Panny and the Samsung 8000 but from what I see after the shoot-out results the Panasonic is the way to go in terms of just overall picture quality and other major factors and my assumption is it will just look better and hopefully even be better with the halo effect issue I currently have on the sharp 70" (this is a major deal for me to have my Sports games and primetime shows looking superb).

Now back to my main question .... I think I have basically decided to go with the Panny Plasma and really am close to just pulling the trigger on one of these two models ... but like I said I am not a guy who needs "The Best" ... I want the best, but if the GT really is kinda close to the VT in terms of overall picture quality, panel, etc. etc. then I would much rather save the money and go that route and have some money for say audio upgrades or what not (or just have the extra money now to buy the 4 year BB extended warranty that I would like to have for peace of mind which I may not be able to get with the VT ... Also to the warranty is 100 bucks less for the GT over the VT so there's another $100 bucks in savings from the two).

The price from the VT down to the GT currently is $800 cheaper at BB (VT is 3500, GT is 2700 on sale this week) .... Where is the 800 dollars being applied for a basic guy like me who may not even be able to tell the difference in these two sets???

I am ok with spending more money if there is some big difference between the two that is major driving factor and constitutes the 800 bucks ... if so what may that be?

I am returning the Sharp this week and turning right around and going to BB and buying this Panasonic TV ... I just have No Clue which one to get ... the VT to have the best of the best or save the $800 and get the GT if there is really no huge difference for someone like me.

I am a big sports guy ... I love watching tons of primetime HD programs wife (we have SO many shows we watch), and I have tons of movies and we watch at least one movie a week on bluray. My main thing is a nice clear picture with NO ghosting / halo effect on sports etc., Nice colors and though I do like brightness I am willing to compromise that for a far superior picture. I hate seeing pixelization on the screen from time to time and just want a nice overall TV experience.

I know I have said it many times but I'll say it again ... I'm not a guy that knows much about the video stuff and all the thing I have read that we're tested on the TV shootout this year ... I just know the basics of audio and video and want something NICE ... not over the best king of the hill stuff ... just nice and a GREAT above average performing TV.

So with all that info and what I like and don't like etc. etc.

Would a GT be fine for me or should I stay away from it for some reason and go with the VT for the $880 more? If so "why"?

Please provide as much detailed info as possible to help me with this huge decision.

Thanks you SO much all your help ... AVS members are so awesome and I look forward to hearing from you all.

Thanks Again

Chris
Edited by falconman515 - 8/1/12 at 2:55am

Thanks so much for the feedback guys ... I wanted to touch on the VT being no more then 2999 at BB ... unless you know something I don't I have to buy it for the price that it is currently selling for online and in the store and right now it's on sale for $3500 (on sale from the regular price of 3700) I did notice it was 3400 last week but went up to 3500 this week .... but there is no way to get the VT at BB for 3K like you stated unless you have some sort of discount or work there I would assume. If I could get the VT for 3K at BB I wouldn't even be asking I would just go for the big dog at that price cause the GT is currently on sale for $2700 (down from the regular price of I think 3300) which is a savings for me of $800 plus taxes plus a hundred dollar cheaper warranty so about a savings all in all of about $1K!

Infact though I hate ordering from an online dealer ... Amazon has the GT for $2499 and no tax!!! If I got the GT at BB with 4 year warranty it would be $3,425 .... if I got it from amazing with the Squaretrade 4 year tv warranty the price would be $2,701!!!!!!! (this is another savings over BB price ... I could save $425 buying from amazon for just the tv alone not including the lower warranty ST price over buying from BB).

Anyone ordered TV's from Amazon and how did there delivery work and how is Squaretrades warranty for TV's?

At this price the GT HAS to be the better buy! .... FYI the VT at amazon is $3,369 ... so the price diff. from the GT to the VT at amazons prices with 4 year ST warranty would be $870 ... Basically still the same price difference but wow what a savings buying from Amazon over BB (and BB doesn't have it in stock locally it would have to be delivered as well) ... but the nice thing I like about BB is if for some reason I don't like the TV I can just return it locally and get my money back that day and find something diff., I would assume with Amazon it would take forever to get your money back and would I have to pay return shipping? But WOW the GT is a KILLER Price with Warranty at Amazon though.

OK, now back to the TV's themselves here.............

I see that the advantages are the VT being better in a brighter room ... I myself have a somewhat bright room but not so bright where there is direct sunlight coming in from any windows like a bay window etc. so I don't think that would be a major advantage for me.

The Infinite Black Ultra I assume goes side by side with the VT having darker blacks ... that would be awesome to have the darkest blacks but keep in mind I have never had a plasma screen and with coming from an old rear projection 720p Sony, then to the Vizio XVT LED .... I would assume the blacks even on the GT would look WAY blacker then anything else I have ever been used to and not sure if getting a tiny bit better blacks would be worth the huge diff. in cost.

The 24p Cinematic Playback 96 Hz/48 Hz is something I have no clue about and will need to research more maybe and could possibly one advantage for me (wont know till I know what it is).

The Advanced Calibration ... I know its recommended to have this done and have a pro come and calibrate this set but I know it's something I will Never do or pay for so the advanced calibration option the VT gas over the GT really will never apply for me. Like I said I am simple kinda guy but would like the best set out of the box that I can just tweak a bit and have a killer picture over other set that are not so good out of the box.

And the One Sheet Glass bezel design ... another thing I will need to find the advantage of .... really I'm only concerned about the PQ so if this is to maybe keep the profile down and make the tv smaller etc. then thats something that doesn't really appeal to me(really If I would have a killer tv that was still 3" thick I'm fine with it) since it will be on a stand and not be wall mounted.

The one thing stated above that seems to be a "Plus" for me if it is correct is that the GT is a tad bit brighter then the VT (which he said is good for sports) ... I actually would want the brightest panel possible in this Plasma since I do watch sports almost more than anything else, and I like the brightness when watching my primetime programs as well.

Now Movies we watch on occasion and the blacker the better which the VT is top notch in ... but back to my point I don't need the "Best of the Best" of everything and if the blacks are just a TAD bit better then the GT, that won't matter to much to me.

I know it sounds like the GT possibly the way to go and I am talking myself into to just buying the GT instead of the VT ... but I still don't see the advantages of the $800-1000 more over the GT for a user like me!?!?!

Once again thanks SO much the feedback guys, any feedback or suggestions are good feedback and suggestions regardless and I would love to hear more ... I am taking this Sharp back today or tomm. and would really like to order one or the other by Friday if possible ... just wanted to advice from the best here before I make that decision.

Thanks again.
Edited by falconman515 - 8/1/12 at 11:30am

Thanks so much for this info .... I think I have actually decided I will be moving away from the VT .... it's just to much of a high end AV guy kinda TV ... if the GT and even ST have just about as good picture quality that's all I'm looking for .... I have a critical eye but this eye has only been trained on an old Sony Rear Projection and a Vizio XVT LED for the bast 5 years now ... so I could only Imagine how much more Amazing any of these 3 tv's will be for my "basic" critical eye.

NOW ... though it sounds like I just keep moving back and moving ... I have read a lot that the PQ is a lot the same in all 3 panels .... Like you said above the maybe the ST would be a better deal and have it calibrated ... but I don't think I would ever have this done (or even know where to go to have someone do it) .... I am now thinking ... Hmmmmm GT or now maybe should I be looking at the ST?!?!?

Like I said it's gonna be a huge step up from where I am now on any 3 of them ... and the ST is $00 less!

Really I'm just trying to find the HUGE difference in these TV's that makes them 800 apart from the GT to the VT and 400 from the ST to the GT.

You stated the dual processor is a factor .... and from what I see on the spec sheets for all 3 of these TV's side by side (thanks to Fresh'slink) The ST is lacking the following from the GT ......

Only 3 HDMI (which is Very bad for the stuff I have and may be a deal breaker alone)
No Face Detection on 2D to 3D conversion (not sure what this is really)
24, 576 Shades of Gradation (still no clue what this is yet and the benefit)
THX3D Certified (cool to say your TV is THX certified and I'm sure the settings are nice if your not calibrating)
And I think the Looks are far better on the GT over the ST
Not sure if the screen filter is same either (maybe the screen is better on the GT over the ST ... not sure)

These may be enough to pay the extra 400 bucks probably ... guess that's something I need to figure our .... I need to find out what the shades of gradation is and how it's a benefit for me.

Weeelll .... looks like IO have decided now at best for me anyway the best route will be the GT .... I don't like the 3 HDMI on the ST so thats a rough one to swallow, having THX is just ... well ... Cool, and I'm sure the other 2 things are a good thing. I wonder if the screen is the same as far as the filter from the GT to ST?

Still trying to figure all this out ... and now I need to decide if I want to order from Amazon and save $400 bucks or get it from BB to have them here local for peace of mind if I need to return it.

Thanks again for all the feedback and I look forward to hearing much more before I make my final decision.

Very nice to hear ... I think I have now decided to get the TV from Amazon .... plus I found out since I am a Costco member they have a 3 year extended warranty deal for members for $100! So just when I thought I was gonna buy from Amazing and get the squaretrade 4 year warranty for $202 ... I think 3 years (4 total after the 1 year manuf.) is a good amount of time for $100! ... another 100 bucks saved!

Well it looks as if the warranty is covered and the Amazon order is a good deal since they are very reputable and great with there return / exchange 30 day policy.

I have been reading up a bit more and have read a bunch about the fear of Burn In on these sets .... I am now kinda worried about this happening ... I watch a TON of sports center and they have there ticker at the bottom and sometimes I just have SC on running for hours and hours at a time while working around the house and doing things. Is this something that's hit and miss or maybe something I think about and second guess my purchase cause of this?

But even if I change my mind about this Panny and look at say a nice LED ... what in the world is out there that's 65" and up thats actually GOOD? I know I can get the Elite but there is NO way I would shell out that kind of money ... there is the 65" Sammy 8000 but that too is $3500 and from the HDTV shootout it did good but not as good as the Panny did.

I am just coming up with scenarios to try and get all angles covered here and make sure this is the right choice and this burn in issue is a concern to me as I don't think the Squaretrade extended warranty will cover this issue.

Plus I keep hearing about the Buzzing that I know is common in Plasma's ... I have VERY sensitive hearing and I hope its not bad enough in this GT unit for me to hear it while watching regular tv at a low volume late at night after the wife goes to sleep ... I would hate to be sitting in the living room hearing a slight buzz / humm in the background ... that would Really ruin the viewing experience for me (and I am a night owl and watch MANY hours of TV after the wife goes to bed at a lower then average volume).

Once again thanks again for all the feedback and I hope to see tons more since the Sharp 70" is boxed up and heading back tomm. and I would love to buy something before Friday!

I've gotta know how you did this and what's the process in trying to get a price match .... please PM on how you accomplished this, cause I would for sure give it a shot!

How well does this TV do with Ghosting and the Halo effect on sports? That is the BIG kicker for me. Like a fluid football game without all that crappy halo effect around the players and other stuff throughout the game.

??? Anyone able to give any feedback on this question? FYI I have Comcast Xfinity HD service running through a TiVo Premier STB.

I just returned my 70" Sharp 847 Edge-Lit LED TV for HORRIBLE ghosting!

When I watched sports all I saw a Halo effect all around the players as they ran and even walked!

This is a 100% deal-breaker for me and the TV was gone within the week (would have taken it back that night if I could have).

Maybe it's a thing of the past for Plasma's (this will be my first plasma ever ... only had LCD / LED TV's in the past and currently) TV's but the Sharp I just returned has it BAD.

OK .... I have rad some about it but I just read a new review on Amazon for this TV about the bad "Image Retention" (IR .. or as some would call Burn-In) so I decided to do a search here ..... WAY to many people seem to have IR issues with these Panasonic Plasma Screens

Here is one of the main threads that has me worried .... http://www.avsforum.com/t/1414908/panasonic-st50-image-retention-please-help

And THIS is almost a deal breaker review for on this GT50 now .... http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33199_7-57449881-221/samsung-plasma-wins-cnets-accidental-burn-in-test/

And all this"Break In" period with slides and junk is all I hear people saying ... I in no way will be monitoring watch and due break in periods with low settings and run slides ... I want to buy a TV and watch TV ... THATS IT!

I watch Sports Center ... ALL THE TIME! For some times hours at a time ... I am also worried about network and HD symbols in the corners but really ESPN has me VERY worried.

I watch SO much programming on ESPN and even during commercials they still have ESPN ticker at the bottom going on most of em if not all.

I read some people have seen these ESPN tickers in the Panasonic XXST50 (and GT/VT) at there local Magnolia rooms.

From what I read most people who say this doesn't happen ... don't really watch any kind of programs more than likely that have static logos ... this kind of TV is NOT for sports ... cause it's static central on sports for hours and hours at a time.

I can in no way have this as this will drive me nuts a few months down the road after my Amazon 30 return has past and I read that this issue Is Not covered by Panasonic!?!?!

So a couple months goes by and I have a ticker burned into my screen .... I would absolutely be so friggin pissed it would hurt!

Many people say "don't listen to the IR and burn-in are a thing of the past" comments cause there are TONS of people who have it.

This is the one last thing now deterring me from pulling the trigger here now.

HELP ... If this is common for these Panny screens ... what in the heck am I suppose to look at now?


EDIT: WOW .. the more I read about this and through this thread, no way I want to deal with stuff like this .... I think I may be back to the drawing board and veering away from Plasma ... I can handle something like a LED (heck I have a Vizio XVT LED that I LOVE ... but just want bigger) that has lighter blacks etc. etc. then worrying about watching a game or having it on EPSN for hours while I work around the house and end up with a faint ESPN logo in the bottom right of my screen forever! I was 24 hours away from pulling the trigger on this ... glad I read that one new review on Amazon ... cause based on my TV viewing habits, this TV and plasma in general may not be the way to go.
Edited by falconman515 - 8/5/12 at 12:45am