Joined
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337 Posts
Well...
I have owned two Panasonics now. The first was the 77U (as the skit in the show "In Living Color" would say, "hated it"). I didn't hate it. It's a fantastic set with HD sources to it, but that filter on the glass has to go. So I went to the 700U. IMHO, an entirely different "look", but within the same Panasonic "look" category. Way better in so many ways. I went to the store today, under worst conditions, of course, though at this store, at least there aren't tons of tvs and lots of light like at Best Buy...and saw the Samsung. I have seen this set in the store previously twice and also at Best Buy.
It was not until today that I became thoroughly impressed by the set, likely after having been able to spend enough time doing some adjustments to it, and also knowing what I have seen with standard def content at home with my Panasonics.
Overall, the Samsung is on a different level for sharpness, something I value a lot because the Plasmas (Panasonics) I have had are very good with higher def sources, but even with an upscaled DVD, do not get sharp enough for me. Samsung with the better standard definition commercials being shown was at the level of sharpness I can only wish the Panasonic could be at. This was a first thing that "really" struck me as being what I was "needing" from a set. I cannot stand seeing even an upscaled DVD not look as sharp as what I was watching in this store tonight.
Color wise, the Samsung is way better. The colors are nowhere near as saturated. Sure, I can take down the saturation with the Panasonic, but the color is still way too dense and does not look like a real color to me. It's hard to explain, but when a "flat" color should be a "flat" color, it shows on the Samsung when adjusted correctly, but I cannot get the Panasonic to show the same "flat" color...it seems to "add" something to that color so that a flat maroon is more like a cartoonish maroon (more like a deepish maroon/red). All in all, the color is really as spot on as I have seen in these three plasmas and in spite I do love the coloration of the Panasonic, I don't think I have ever been able to get it to look as "realistic" as I was able to do with very quick adjustments on the Samsung panel tonight.
Overall impression is the Samsung is in a different league. I have not seen the Kuro just yet and maybe I never broke in my Panasonics for 1000 hours to see that they are the better set, but I think 100 hours should be enough for the Panasonic and I really don't believe in break-in very much...I think some things can change with time, but I don't see some miracle breakthroughs happening that transform the set into a new beast!
So at this point, I have to say the Samsung is in a different class. Where it fits in the Plasma and any panel available today is hard to say without having all the panels around me, but I can say with pretty good certainty that the Samsung is in its own league above the Panasonic 2007 sets, and will only come down to it vs. the Kuro in my book for best plasma of 2007.
Just my .02 so have at it Panny people!
Cheers!
P.S. I have always loved Panasonic and will always have my eye on them. But at this time, I feel confident to say what I just have.
I have owned two Panasonics now. The first was the 77U (as the skit in the show "In Living Color" would say, "hated it"). I didn't hate it. It's a fantastic set with HD sources to it, but that filter on the glass has to go. So I went to the 700U. IMHO, an entirely different "look", but within the same Panasonic "look" category. Way better in so many ways. I went to the store today, under worst conditions, of course, though at this store, at least there aren't tons of tvs and lots of light like at Best Buy...and saw the Samsung. I have seen this set in the store previously twice and also at Best Buy.
It was not until today that I became thoroughly impressed by the set, likely after having been able to spend enough time doing some adjustments to it, and also knowing what I have seen with standard def content at home with my Panasonics.
Overall, the Samsung is on a different level for sharpness, something I value a lot because the Plasmas (Panasonics) I have had are very good with higher def sources, but even with an upscaled DVD, do not get sharp enough for me. Samsung with the better standard definition commercials being shown was at the level of sharpness I can only wish the Panasonic could be at. This was a first thing that "really" struck me as being what I was "needing" from a set. I cannot stand seeing even an upscaled DVD not look as sharp as what I was watching in this store tonight.
Color wise, the Samsung is way better. The colors are nowhere near as saturated. Sure, I can take down the saturation with the Panasonic, but the color is still way too dense and does not look like a real color to me. It's hard to explain, but when a "flat" color should be a "flat" color, it shows on the Samsung when adjusted correctly, but I cannot get the Panasonic to show the same "flat" color...it seems to "add" something to that color so that a flat maroon is more like a cartoonish maroon (more like a deepish maroon/red). All in all, the color is really as spot on as I have seen in these three plasmas and in spite I do love the coloration of the Panasonic, I don't think I have ever been able to get it to look as "realistic" as I was able to do with very quick adjustments on the Samsung panel tonight.
Overall impression is the Samsung is in a different league. I have not seen the Kuro just yet and maybe I never broke in my Panasonics for 1000 hours to see that they are the better set, but I think 100 hours should be enough for the Panasonic and I really don't believe in break-in very much...I think some things can change with time, but I don't see some miracle breakthroughs happening that transform the set into a new beast!
So at this point, I have to say the Samsung is in a different class. Where it fits in the Plasma and any panel available today is hard to say without having all the panels around me, but I can say with pretty good certainty that the Samsung is in its own league above the Panasonic 2007 sets, and will only come down to it vs. the Kuro in my book for best plasma of 2007.
Just my .02 so have at it Panny people!
Cheers!
P.S. I have always loved Panasonic and will always have my eye on them. But at this time, I feel confident to say what I just have.
