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Need a hint of advice picking out a new Panasonic this weekend!

post #1 of 25
8/10/12 at 12:29am
Thread Starter 
Howdy,

I currently have a TC-P50S2 that has treated me very well. We purchased a new home and I'm ultimately building a gameroom / media room and want the latest and greatest for it but I need to be smart in my decision making process. The TV's sole purpose will be football, movies, and some XBOX Live. The room will have some ambient light during the day and will be dark at night (naturally...lol). I am not blacking the room out because I enjoy the daylight.

Here's the TVs I'm debating and why:

60ST50 - $1799 @ Best Buy but they don't have it in stock. Paul's TV has it on for $1549 but I want instant gratification.

60GT50 - $1899 / $1799 I'm looking at this one because I can't find the ST50 anywhere in stock and this one is. I don't feel that I need the THX so I was planning on shooting for a solid price match on it.

OR

55ST50 - $1349 - Its less expensive and not that much difference in overall size.

55GT50 - $1799 - This one really isn't an option unless I can get it down to $1500 locally to match Paul's.

OR

L55ET5 - This thing is on sale for $999 at my local Fry's along with 4 pairs of glasses. I wasn't really interested in an LED but would I be a fool to pay a minimum of $350 more for the plasma? That is a smoking deal, right?

I'm looking at the ST / GT line up over the UT because of the Infinite Black Panel and the 8 Train Speakers as well as 3 HDMI ports vs the two on the UT. Are these things worthwhile advantages for someone who is happy with an S2?

Please offer me any feedback that you might have to help me make a decision. The truth is, no matter what I buy I won't have a ton of time to enjoy it so I am floundering back and forth between the baddest of the bad (GT) and just getting another TV (UT).

Thanks in advance guys and gals!

Marcus
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post #2 of 25
8/10/12 at 3:10am
the ET5 sale is over, and they sold out pretty quickly.
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post #3 of 25
8/10/12 at 6:42am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the response.

It's in my cart and in stock at my local store for $999 right now.

Marcus
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post #4 of 25
8/10/12 at 11:37am
Thread Starter 
No one has any input at all?
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post #5 of 25
8/10/12 at 12:13pm
Don't throw the 8 train speaker into the mix without having heard it.

I think you should get the biggest ST50 that you can afford even if it means waiting. It may be torture but in the end you'll be glad that you waited. I bought the 60GT50 and sent it back for the 55VT50. The improvements in the VT50 were not significant to over come the awesomeness of the 60 inches. Even my hubby, who could care less about tvs and size agreed. So the 55VT50 went back- we have no doubts that we made the right decision.

I would have recommended the GT50 if you said that you had a bright room and wanted more options for different environments. IMO, that is what the GT50 does better than the ST50. I also like the picture better on the GT than the VT, the filter is different on the VT50.
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post #6 of 25
8/10/12 at 12:21pm
Thread Starter 
I'm trying to give my local shops a shot at my business and just called one of them. The guy was trying to sell me an ST30 for more than I can buy an ST50 for and said "I don't know if there were any changes for 2012".

It's sad that I can get better service from the kids (literally) at Best Buy than a grown man working in a specialty store. Sigh.

_____________________

Thank you very much sheshechic!

I am pretty sold on the ST series! Now I just have to FIND ONE! biggrin.gif
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post #7 of 25
8/10/12 at 12:49pm
If you happen to live near Fry's they have the 55ST50 for $1199 this week. It is in their add a "Major Name Brand" here : Frys Ad
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post #8 of 25
8/10/12 at 1:14pm
If you print out the shopping cart from Pauls TV, best buy will price match it, as they did it for me for me when i recently bought a 55-ST50. Additionally, i am pretty sure Pauls charges a restocking fee if you decided to return the tv for whatever reason, and for a fact, Bestbuy will not charge a penny for a30 day return. Also, i too decided that 55" was not the right size, so i returned the 55" for a 60". It was definitely worth the hassle!
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post #9 of 25
8/10/12 at 3:35pm
Thread Starter 
I'm getting so frustrated! Lol!

There aren't any 60ST50s to be had so I had a deal worked out for $1799 on a 60GT50 at Best Buy and BOOM. Sold out of those all over the city too. Lmao!

I am gonna go home and recollect my thoughts. I can still get a 55ST50 for $1199 but for another $500 I think the 60" GT is a worthwhile investment.

Any thoughts on that?

Thanks for all of yalls help!!
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post #10 of 25
8/10/12 at 6:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sheshechic View Post

Don't throw the 8 train speaker into the mix without having heard it.
I think you should get the biggest ST50 that you can afford even if it means waiting. It may be torture but in the end you'll be glad that you waited. I bought the 60GT50 and sent it back for the 55VT50. The improvements in the VT50 were not significant to over come the awesomeness of the 60 inches. Even my hubby, who could care less about tvs and size agreed. So the 55VT50 went back- we have no doubts that we made the right decision.
I would have recommended the GT50 if you said that you had a bright room and wanted more options for different environments. IMO, that is what the GT50 does better than the ST50. I also like the picture better on the GT than the VT, the filter is different on the VT50.

Does going from a 55" to a 60" really make that big of a difference? When I was considering my TV I got the 50ST50 (mainly because its for a bedroom) and I was coming from a 30" set. I figured an extra 5" wasn't worth an extra $300 (50 to 55"). Do you think it is?
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusR View Post

I'm getting so frustrated! Lol!
There aren't any 60ST50s to be had so I had a deal worked out for $1799 on a 60GT50 at Best Buy and BOOM. Sold out of those all over the city too. Lmao!
I am gonna go home and recollect my thoughts. I can still get a 55ST50 for $1199 but for another $500 I think the 60" GT is a worthwhile investment.
Any thoughts on that?
Thanks for all of yalls help!!

How much light are we talking here during the day? If you get a great deal of sunlight then the 60" GT may be the better option because of the reasons pointed out by sheshechic. If not, I would go with the ST50. I think the ST truly is a tremendous value for what you get.
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post #11 of 25
8/10/12 at 7:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frankie1588 View Post

Does going from a 55" to a 60" really make that big of a difference? When I was considering my TV I got the 50ST50 (mainly because its for a bedroom) and I was coming from a 30" set. I figured an extra 5" wasn't worth an extra $300 (50 to 55"). Do you think it is?
How much light are we talking here during the day? If you get a great deal of sunlight then the 60" GT may be the better option. If not, I would go with the ST50. I think the ST truly is a tremendous value for what you get.

I would probably say yes but why not punch in the sizes and viewing distance here and that may help you with your decision:

http://myhometheater.homestead.com/viewingdistancecalculator.html
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post #12 of 25
8/10/12 at 7:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by PeterG View Post

I would probably say yes but why not punch in the sizes and viewing distance here and that may help you with your decision:
http://myhometheater.homestead.com/viewingdistancecalculator.html

I already have the 50ST50 tongue.gif. My viewing distance falls in line (7.5 ft back). Thanks though! I just wasn't sure if an extra 5" warranted $300.
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post #13 of 25
8/10/12 at 7:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusR View Post

I'm getting so frustrated! Lol!
There aren't any 60ST50s to be had so I had a deal worked out for $1799 on a 60GT50 at Best Buy and BOOM. Sold out of those all over the city too. Lmao!
I am gonna go home and recollect my thoughts. I can still get a 55ST50 for $1199 but for another $500 I think the 60" GT is a worthwhile investment.
Any thoughts on that?
Thanks for all of yalls help!!

Dude! Get the best price you can find, take it to Amazon for a price match and then sit back and wait for delivery. Actually, once it says shipped give it 24 hours and call the delivery company & stay on top of them. This is your best chance. Panasonic has been having problems keeping supply going and some models are taking longer than others.
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post #14 of 25
8/10/12 at 7:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frankie1588 View Post

Does going from a 55" to a 60" really make that big of a difference? When I was considering my TV I got the 50ST50 (mainly because its for a bedroom) and I was coming from a 30" set. I figured an extra 5" wasn't worth an extra $300 (50 to 55"). Do you think it is?

If you've never owned a 60" then it won't matter, bigger is bigger but try going down in size. Also, the price difference for the 60GT50 was about $100 less ($1799) than what I paid for the 55VT50.

BTW, they do shrink. wink.gif
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post #15 of 25
8/10/12 at 10:42pm
Thread Starter 
Well...I am home and I have a shiny new TV.

I ended up talking myself into a 55ST50 and Best Buy price matched Fry's at $1199. I drove all over the place and searched within 100 miles for a 60ST or 60GT without any luck. I could have had the 60GT by Tues or Wed but I was ready to put this thing to bed.

My initial impression is WOW. This is a hell of a TV but I'm not sure it is big enough for the wall I want to hang it on. I had planned on being about 12 feet away and that has changed now that the set is in the room. I'll be a good 18' from the tv on the new wall. This may never end. Lol

This TV is light years ahead of the tc-p50s2 that is downstairs and I thing the 8-train sound is well done. If I get a bigger tv this one will just move downstairs.

Thank you for all of the help! I will keep this updated!
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post #16 of 25
8/10/12 at 10:55pm
18 feet!? Yeah you need a 60 or 65 inch set. Why not order one and return the 55" when the bigger one comes in?
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post #17 of 25
8/10/12 at 11:05pm
Thread Starter 
I agree. I never considered setting up our theater this way until the new tv was here as sitting on the temporary stand.

I first have to figure out how to run the wires to the wall I want to use and then I can go to the next step. wink.gif

Marcus
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post #18 of 25
8/11/12 at 1:02pm
[quote name="MarcusR" url="/t/1424015/need-a-hint-of-advice-picking-out-a-new-panasonic-this-weekend#post_22297805".....ended up talking myself into a 55ST50 .... I had planned on being about 12 feet away and that has changed now that the set is in the room. I'll be a good 18' from the tv ...[/quote]

Depending upon program material, 12ft from a 55" is not a BAD distance - but with HD material you could certainly sit closer. (Our primary seating positions are 9ft from a 60ST50, and I sometimes move BACK to 12ft for quasi-HD sources.)

Just to throw a monkey wrench into the works: At 18ft, you sound like a candidate for a PROJECTOR and a truly Large screen! biggrin.gif
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post #19 of 25
8/11/12 at 3:53pm
Thread Starter 
I'm back...

I returned the 55ST50 to Best Buy and ordered a 60ST50 from Omar at Paul's TV for $1499. biggrin.gif

Should be a winner!!
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post #20 of 25
8/11/12 at 7:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusR View Post

I'm back...
I returned the 55ST50 to Best Buy and ordered a 60ST50 from Omar at Paul's TV for $1499. biggrin.gif
Should be a winner!!

How long will you have to wait?
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post #21 of 25
8/11/12 at 8:09pm
Thread Starter 
They said 3-5 days. Should I be worried?
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post #22 of 25
8/11/12 at 8:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusR View Post

They said 3-5 days. Should I be worried?

Nope, I was just concerned for your patience level. wink.gif I hope that time passes quickly for you.
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post #23 of 25
8/11/12 at 8:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frankie1588 View Post

Does going from a 55" to a 60" really make that big of a difference? When I was considering my TV I got the 50ST50 (mainly because its for a bedroom) and I was coming from a 30" set. I figured an extra 5" wasn't worth an extra $300 (50 to 55"). Do you think it is?
How much light are we talking here during the day? If you get a great deal of sunlight then the 60" GT may be the better option because of the reasons pointed out by sheshechic. If not, I would go with the ST50. I think the ST truly is a tremendous value for what you get.

I've read that the optimal experience for 3D in the home starts at around 65. I went from a 52" Sony XBR4. I was going to get the biggest Panny plasma that I could. 65" makes a big different. I sit about 8-10 feet away. When I put in hubble 3D I actually got somewhat motion sick from all the flying around in space stuff(I'm pretty sensitive to this, I can't go to IMAX as it throws my equilibrium off and I walk sideways for 2 days afterwards). It was AWESOME!
Edited by mpalmieri1203 - 8/11/12 at 11:48pm
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post #24 of 25
8/11/12 at 8:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusR View Post

They said 3-5 days. Should I be worried?

I bought my 65" at Pauls. Great service and it arrived when they said it would.
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post #25 of 25
8/11/12 at 9:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mpalmieri1203 View Post

I can't go to IMAX as it throws my equilibrium off and I walk sideways for 2 days afterwards). It was AWESOME!

LOL!smile.gif
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