Advice for a non-videophile from other non-videophiles

Well, im pretty sure you would be very happy with any of those 3 sets, but what is the most important to you in a tv?


Do you care about the cosmestics of the set? (many people prefer the look of the V10's bezel)


I believe that most review sites agreed that the V10 had "more accurate colors" on paper, but it seems that most S1/G10 owners here cant complain


Finally, I assume tv size isnt so much an issue? Since the V10 is only 50"+.


besides that, i think many would agree that they are all very similar performing PQ wise. Not equal, but similar.


You sound very similar to me, in the fact that I dont pay to close attention to how well a tv performs in lab tests, but more so how it looks to my eyes (correct me if im wrong haha). That being said, when I went into my local store and got to look at the G10 in their magnolia area, it was a jawdropping set, and in my opinion you cant go wrong with its current prices. I also think that while the proper 24p playback of the V10 would be nice, i dont think it is worth another $1000. So for my opinion, I would easilly buy the G10 since it isnt that much more expensive then the S1, plus you get all the bells and whistles (minus the 96hz/and better thx mode?).


besides if you go out and buy a g10 and then tell us how much you love it, maybe ill finally break down and buy one haha! happy hunting


edit: oh and as far as the panasonics being a good buy, it seems like they are regarded as the most reliable plasma's, so more peace of mind for a first time buyer is always a plus!



good info -> http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...7#post16291267

Cosmetics on the TV is something I don't even consider. It's the least important aspect of the TV.


While I don't doubt that the Panasonics are excellent sets, having seen some in action, I am wondering, as a non-videophile, can I get a different brand at a lower price that will give me a picture I am very hapy with. I know it's all based on perception of the individual, but if anyone bought a set other than Panasonic (or Poineer) that found the set to be amazing as well, that would be something interesting to hear. As long as you are not some "fanboy" touting whatever brand you have a hardon for.


My budget allows me to either get a 54" S1 or G10, or a 50" V10. I've taped loose leaf pages together to give me the dimension of the actual viewing area for a 50" and 54" screen, and will be taping them to the wall to see what size is best for the room, keeping in mind the rule of thumb about buying a size bigger than you planned. That will determine whether I get a V10 or not. Though, I could easily save up the extra $300 for a 54" V10, I am not sure I want to spend that much on a TV...


But it sounds like there s no plasma that can really compare to Panasonic as for as picture and features at a lower price point. It's the old dilemma of trying to get the most features while spending as little as possible for those features. But as someone who isn't a videophile, I am not sure not have x.y. Color or 24p playback will be something I notice or regret not having. If I haven't seen it, I can't miss it, right? But something can still just not look right.

I would consider Vizio, but i can't seem to find a store in Ottawa that sells them.



And as far as I know, I may end up being more critical after getting a TV. I haven't spent much time at all watching HD content on an HDTV. Seems like I have some more research to do. Samsung may be a more affordable option.


Though spending the amount on the Panasonic might not be a waste since I intend on having this TV last me for a very, very long time. I am not someone to update my stuff every few years for a newer model.


If anyone here who lives in Canada (preferably Ontario), knows where you can buy a Vizio, I might look into that brand. They seem to have a decent reputation for good sets.



Quote:
Originally Posted by eday_2010 /forum/post/16856420


Very shortly I will be buying my first HDTV. I've decided on plasma because I cannot stand the juddering and weird look a lot of LCDs have with movies.


I've been leaning towards Panasonic's units; either an S10, G10, or V10. They are pretty pricey in Canada though. Even if I purchase the TV from Panasonic through DirectBuy, it's still slightly more than what is goes for in the US at retail.


So I am having trouble justifying spending that much on a Panasonic when there are other brand name plasmas for less. As a non-videophile, will I really notice the differences in colour and black levels to say "Boy, it was sure worth spending an extra $1000 on this Panasonic"? My dad has an LG plasma. As far as I know he never got it calibrated or anything, and never broke it in. LGs get a lot of flack on here, but to me the picture on his TV looks great. I'm coming from having a CRT TV my entire life, so almost any HDTV looks good to me.


So as a newcomer, is one of these more pricey Panasonics a good buy, or would I be just as well off with something less costly? Does x.y.Color make that much of a difference? What about 24p cinema playback? My TV will mainly be used for console gaming, blu-rays, SD content streamed from my computer thru an xbox 360, and eventually cable or satellite (but that is not for a few years).


I don't want to buy an expensive TV and regret spending so much when there are cheaper TVs available. But at the same time I don't want to regret not spending enough for a good TV. I know videophiles are very picky about colour and brightness and black levels; that's why I asked for advice from other non-videophiles or newcomers. though advice from veterans is also welcome

Click to expand...

Wrong website! If you are looking for advice from audio/videophiles, you're in the right place. If you want advice from non-videophiles who have little or no knowledge of the subject in an effort to save money, then walk into BB, Walmart or Brandsmart and wait for someone to say, "May I help you?"


Edit: I'd still like to help. Establish your budget. The best TV on the market that's reasonably affordable will probably be more than you're willing to pay. Be patient. Check the web each day for sales. Make sure the company you buy from is authorized and will not void the warranty. Visit your local high-end audio-video stores. Most items are subject to negotiation when it comes to price. Some theater salons WILL match the price quoted to you by stores none of US would ever buy from. Stay away from big box stores when evaluating TV performance. Those TV's are never set up correctly. The contrast levels are normally driven to 100% because brightness sells. Your local high-end salon will most likely have their demo's ISF certified or calibrated in house by qualified technicians. Talk to the real experts. Explain to them the dynamics of the room you plan to watch TV in. How much ambient lighting? Viewing angles required? Distance to main sitting area? These are the main considerations when purchasing a TV; Not money! If you cannot afford the TV that best serves your needs, then you may want to consider putting the money aside, wait a couple of months while you accumulate additional funds, then buy the TV of your dreams! If you settle for a sub-standard product, you'll always own a sub-standard product, and you'll think about that everytime you turn it on!



Quote:
Originally Posted by TRT /forum/post/16861123


Wrong website! If you are looking for advice from audio/videophiles, you're in the right place. If you want advice from non-videophiles who have little or no knowledge of the subject in an effort to save money, then walk into BB, Walmart or Brandsmart and wait for someone to say, "May I help you?"


Edit: I'd still like to help. Establish your budget. The best TV on the market that's reasonably affordable will probably be more than you're willing to pay. Be patient. Check the web each day for sales. Make sure the company you buy from is authorized and will not void the warranty. Visit your local high-end audio-video stores. Most items are subject to negotiation when it comes to price. Some theater salons WILL match the price quoted to you by stores none of US would ever buy from. Stay away from big box stores when evaluating TV performance. Those TV's are never set up correctly. The contrast levels are normally driven to 100% because brightness sells. Your local high-end salon will most likely have their demo's ISF certified or calibrated in house by qualified technicians. Talk to the real experts. Explain to them the dynamics of the room you plan to watch TV in. How much ambient lighting? Viewing angles required? Distance to main sitting area? These are the main considerations when purchasing a TV; Not money! If you cannot afford the TV that best serves your needs, then you may want to consider putting the money aside, wait a couple of months while you accumulate additional funds, then buy the TV of your dreams! If you settle for a sub-standard product, you'll always own a sub-standard product, and you'll think about that everytime you turn it on!

Click to expand...

I tend not to really judge the image quality of a set from what i see on showroom floors since i know they have everything cranked up, and split 1 single 350 times, which also doesn't help.


I was looking more along the lines of responses from people who didn't buy the expensive Panasonic, who maybe bought a Samsung, or LG, or Sanyo, and wanted to hear if they find the TV meets all their needs, or if the set disappoints them in some ways.


The main consideration for me is money. I already know how far I will be from the set, giving me the max size the set could go to, That I have looked into. The livingroom gets pretty bright in the day, but the TV will be used mostly at night. I know LCDs are better fro bright rooms, but that weird motion a lot of LCDs seem to have with movies is one aspect that is causing me to pick plasma instead. Plus, I do not want to buy a TV solely to suit the room it will be in now since we are planning on moving in a couple of years anyways. So yes, it comes down to money.


Do I want to spend a lot of money on a TV or all things? Do I need x.y.Color? Do I need 24p cinema playback? Sure, they are nice to have, but do I need them? Does a Blu-ray not look good without those? Does it look stunning with them? These are things I don't know. Talking to anyone is a store about such things isn't a solution for me since they almost always want to sell you the model that is a bit more expensive. If you tell them your budget, they want to sell you a TV that reaches it, even if a cheaper one is more than you need.


If I do end up buying a Panasonic, or even a Samsung it will be directly from Panasonic (or Samsung), through DirectBuy. So I will be paying the same price for the TV that Best Buy and Futureshop pay when they buy them for resale. So I'll save a lot just by not paying retail, but it's still a lot mainly because I am in Canada. For instance, if you look at the cost of the Panasonic TC-P54V10 on Amazon.com, that is the price in Canadian dollars that I would be paying to buy it directly from Panasonic. And it retails here for a lot more than that.


Basically, as a newcomer, will the difference between the S1, G10, and V10 really be that drastic, as far as Picture quality, blu-ray playback, gaming, and features?