[maxpc]

Can't decide on which TV to buy? Any suggestions?


Option 1: Samsung PN50A550 set for $1300 (1080p).

Option 2: Panasonic TH50PX80U (Costco Version) (720p) for $1150


I'd like to get the TH50PZ80U, but $1650 here in Canada is too much


If you had to pick what would you buy? I'd like to the get the Samsung as it's 1080p, but everyone tells me not to buy Samsung plasma's as they have burn in issues.


Set will be used for:

1. A lot of TV (HD/Standard) and some sports

2. Movies

3. A little bit of gaming.


Anyone have any comments. This has been bothering me for the last week .

 

[jjeeffff]



Quote:
Originally Posted by maxpc /forum/post/15406291


Can't decide on which TV to buy? Any suggestions?


Option 1: Samsung PN50A550 set for $1300 (1080p).

Option 2: Panasonic TH50PX80U (Costco Version) (720p) for $1150


I'd like to get the TH50PZ80U, but $1650 here in Canada is too much


If you had to pick what would you buy? I'd like to the get the Samsung as it's 1080p, but everyone tells me not to buy Samsung plasma's as they have burn in issues.


Set will be used for:

1. A lot of TV (HD/Standard) and some sports

2. Movies

3. A little bit of gaming.


Anyone have any comments. This has been bothering me for the last week .

I actually have both sets and prefer the Samsung by a mile. The picture is better and more tweakable than the Panny, the Panny color looks a little washed out to me, but the blacks are slightly better, and I can tell a difference in the resolution. I have had no IR or burn in on either set and did no break in at all on either set. If you can get the 550 for $1300 I would go that route. Hope this helps.

 

[iserum]

your prices are higher for those sets, 50PX80 is selling for 899 for a while.

 

[chrisherbert]

He's in Canada, where prices are higher.


This is a hard call. Samsung has better color but worse black levels and is more prone to image retention (not necessarily burn in). How far will you be sitting from the TV? Will it be in a bright room?

 

[maxpc]



Quote:
Originally Posted by jjeeffff /forum/post/15406936


I actually have both sets and prefer the Samsung by a mile. The picture is better and more tweakable than the Panny, the Panny color looks a little washed out to me, but the blacks are slightly better, and I can tell a difference in the resolution. I have had no IR or burn in on either set and did no break in at all on either set. If you can get the 550 for $1300 I would go that route. Hope this helps.

The price is right for the 550, as I'd like to have 1080p. I really wish the PZ80 had a better price

Quote:
Originally Posted by iserum /forum/post/15407379


your prices are higher for those sets, 50PX80 is selling for 899 for a while.

Most places actually have the Px80 at $1299,

Quote:
Originally Posted by chrisherbert /forum/post/15407588


He's in Canada, where prices are higher.


This is a hard call. Samsung has better color but worse black levels and is more prone to image retention (not necessarily burn in). How far will you be sitting from the TV? Will it be in a bright room?

Distance from TV will be in the range of 7 -12 feet. It's in a basement so it's not too bright.. I can control the lighting

 

[badmeng]

I would get the Samsung A550 over the Px80.

 

[maxpc]

I may have found a pz80 for $1500

I'm going to try and pick it up tomorrow

Still the PN50A550 for $1300 looks real good.

 

[IINEWBIEII]

Been looking at both these sets for months now and thinking about pulling the trigger after finding the Px80 for $899 (not the black friday stripped down version, like the samsung). I've gone back in forth so many times about LCD or Plasma, 1080P or 720P... All my friends are telling me not to go Plasma and definitely not 720P but with everything I've read (and my coach 10+ feet away in a dark basement) for a 50' Panny Plasma and with all the customer reviews I've read, $899 sounds like a steal. No?

 

[chrisherbert]



Quote:
Originally Posted by IINEWBIEII /forum/post/15420224


Been looking at both these sets for months now and thinking about pulling the trigger after finding the Px80 for $899 (not the black friday stripped down version, like the samsung). I've gone back in forth so many times about LCD or Plasma, 1080P or 720P... All my friends are telling me not to go Plasma and definitely not 720P but with everything I've read (and my coach 10+ feet away in a dark basement) for a 50' Panny Plasma and with all the customer reviews I've read, $899 sounds like a steal. No?

Yes, it's a good deal. 720p should look very good from that distance, though you might see a little bit more detail with a 1080p set (depending on your vision). You just have to ask yourself whether it's worth the premium you'll pay.

 

[IINEWBIEII]

Thanks for the quick reply chrisherbert.... now my last decision I need to make is if I want to spend $ 299.99 protection plan for the protection plan. Its a third of the total price of the tv itself, very expensive for a 3 year deal, however just browsing over alot of the threads on the Px80 and I still read alot about potential IR, burn-in, and other defects with this unit which really scares me.... Should I get it or pass? I own everything Panasonic and they've never disappointed me in the past but also never owned a plasma either..

 

[BleachrcreachR]

I just bought the px50u and I decided not to get the protection for the same reason. Just felt like it was the too much for something I may never use. Oh by the way I have the 42px60u (2006 model) and I have to say I love it !! Best tv I ever owned that is why I went with this one. Love panny and I got the tv for $949 great price. just my opinion.

 

[Crow331]

I NEVER buy the protection plans on anything that I buy. They make tvs and electronics so well these days, I think they are mostly a waste of money. Maybe I've been lucky, but everything I have bought has outlived the warranty and more! Thus saving a TON of money! With that said, I heard too many stories about Plasma dead pixels, burn-in etc and opted for the plan at Best Buy .... though it made it easier because I price matched the tv down to $899 and therefore the plan was only $160 for 4 years .... worth my piece of mind on this one.

 

[jpniner]

I was just at best buy, like the px80 alot, couldn't tell any difference between it and the 1080p from my distance, certainly not a $500 difference for sure.


BB sales guy told me they are trying to unload them for next years models coming, had it priced at 1099, I figure I can find it for under $1k(50" version) somewhere online. Only way I'd go 1080p is if the difference in cost was only $200 or less and then it would be tough call. I sit 15ft away normally, so 1080p seems useless to me

 

[Crow331]

Dude, I bought it last night at Best Buy. Sears has it for $899 until January 3rd and Best Buy price matched it

 

[chrisherbert]



Quote:
Originally Posted by IINEWBIEII /forum/post/15424857


Thanks for the quick reply chrisherbert.... now my last decision I need to make is if I want to spend $ 299.99 protection plan for the protection plan. Its a third of the total price of the tv itself, very expensive for a 3 year deal, however just browsing over alot of the threads on the Px80 and I still read alot about potential IR, burn-in, and other defects with this unit which really scares me.... Should I get it or pass? I own everything Panasonic and they've never disappointed me in the past but also never owned a plasma either..

IR and burn in won't be covered by any protection plan. I would not get an extended warranty. You'll have a year from the manufacturer anyway.

 

[Crow331]

The service guy at Best Buy says that their plan now DOES cover burn in .... he said it didn't used to but now does.... in-home service. FYI

Pardon my ignorance, what is IR?

 

[jpniner]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Crow331 /forum/post/15426222


Dude, I bought it last night at Best Buy. Sears has it for $899 until January 3rd and Best Buy price matched it

think they'll run out of stock on these in the next month? I was thinking of waiting till Superbowl week to find a deal? worth paying the tax at the price to get BB warranty and close by service.


BB I was at was out of new units, tried to sell me an Open Box for $999....Wonder if I brought up Sears price and offered 799 for the open box they'd take it.

 

[Crow331]

Don't know, but I literally got the last one in stock at my Best Buy last night. 2 people were in line buying the same tv ($1099) and I got the last one (price match $899) .... I would think they would still have them in a month but I have no idea what the inventory is.


The other thing is, the Sears sale price ends in 4 days so that particular price match won't be around in a month .... though I'm sure it will come around again. They looked up the Sears price right there online, I didn't even have to bring in a flyer or anything

 

[chrisherbert]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Crow331 /forum/post/15426326


The service guy at Best Buy says that their plan now DOES cover burn in .... he said it didn't used to but now does.... in-home service. FYI

Pardon my ignorance, what is IR?

Regardless of what he said, I doubt they will cover burn in.


IR is image retention, which wouldn't be covered by a warranty because it's temporary.

 

[Crow331]

Well I haven't looked over the warranty specifics since I just bought it last night, but the guy I was dealing with was a manager and specifically brought up the "burn-in under warranty" comment, without me asking, saying that it was definitely covered and new to their plan .... no reason to doubt him but I will check out the warranty when I get home