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Should I Keep Panasonic TC-P50GT30?

3234 Views 15 Replies 8 Participants Last post by chunon, Aug 16, 2011

PixelDot

Discussion Starter · Aug 15, 2011

I just purchased the TC-P50GT30. The store I went to only had the 1080 resolution model (TC-P50GT30) and some other Panasonic but 720 resolution.

I wanted to buy a Panasonic 50" plasma either way. Just wasn't sure if it was worth paying for the 3D and THX in the GT30 model.

I doubt I will use the 3D mode. And I am not sure if having the THX is big advantage over another Panasonic model that does not have it.

Just can't help wondering if I should have gotten another Panasonic 50" plasma that would of cost less without the 3D and THX features. Would the quality be the same? It is my first plasma TV.

Any thoughts on this?

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

Acid Snow

· #2 · Aug 15, 2011

Most people gain their highest state of happiness when they're in anticipation of something, weather it be a pay-raise, a new car or a new 50" TV, we all love to have a goal to work towards (even when achieving that goal is less exciting than its' anticipation). ...Due to the huge selection of "buy this or buy that," that people have, most people feel stressed over any choice they eventually make, so for you to doubt your purchase is just a natural response: "Did I buy the right TV?"

IMO don't fret on that stuff, just realize the fact that you bought a good TV that can display full 1080p and play any future BluRay at their native resolution. ...720p is rather outdated IMO, because it doesn't do BluRay justice, but if you're only watching HD-cable TV then you'd have good reason to consider 720p.

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_thx1138_

· #3 · Aug 15, 2011

Don't listen to this cat above cuz he's truly on ACID, weather 720 or 1080 the tv will do bluray it's due justice, look at it this way ...your future proof...you can sit down knowing you'll get many hours of use out of your set for the coming years and who knows maybe a 3d flick to show off once in a blue..you made the right choice enjoy!

MattB0801

· #4 · Aug 15, 2011

If you want to save a few bucks get the ST30. It has the same panel as the GT30 but doesn't have THX mode. I wouldn't step down to the non 3dtvs though. The 2d picture is superior on the 3d models. There is a 1080p non 3d model(S30) but it uses a different panel that is widely considered to be inferior to the ST30 and GT30.

PixelDot

Discussion Starter · #5 · Aug 15, 2011

I was thinking that maybe down the line I might splurge for 3D glasses but I right now I do not feel and need to do so. But I guess it's nice to know it is an option.

It was tax-free day and figure why not but a TV? I just was not expecting to purchase it at BestBuy since I had a terrible experience the first time I tried to purchase a plasma TV. I could not find a significantly better deal on-line this time around. Plus if I need service or decide to return it, the store is just minutes away. I also purchase a two year protection plan. I figure it might be worth it for such an expensive TV and plus I have five year old.

The TV will be delivered shortly. Is it pretty much plug and play?

Also, are there any guidelines on care and generally how long I can expect the plasma TV to last?

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MattB0801

· #6 · Aug 15, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by PixelDot

The TV will be delivered shortly. Is it pretty much plug and play?

Also, are there any guidelines on care and generally how long I can expect the plasma TV to last?

If you search google for "2011 Panasonic Settings/Issues Thread" you can find a recommended break in procedure and settings. If you want to use it right away just plug your sources in and you should be good to go.

Panasonic rates the GT30 at 100,000 hours before the panel brightness will be half of what it is at the beginning.

Just so you know, there is a known bug present in the 2011 Panasonics known as fluctuating brightness. The good news is that it has been fixed. The bad news is that your TV was released before the fix was implemented. Search google for "2011 Panasonic Fluctuating Brightness Master Discussion Thread". Jump to around the 160th page for the relevant info.

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3reach

· #7 · Aug 15, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattB0801

If you want to save a few bucks get the ST30. It has the same panel as the GT30 but doesn't have THX mode. I wouldn't step down to the non 3dtvs though. The 2d picture is superior on the 3d models. There is a 1080p non 3d model(S30) but it uses a different panel that is widely considered to be inferior to the ST30 and GT30.

No. The Gt30 has much deeper blacks, .005 vs .008.

Quite a difference, I wouldn't return it for a St30 if I were you OP. Then again, I care about picture quality, you may not.

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PixelDot

Discussion Starter · #8 · Aug 15, 2011

Fluctuating brightness (FBrs)? Great! I thought getting the GT30 would be a better choice over the ST30 model. I kept on reading about users experiencing green tint issues with the picture quality on the ST30 series.

I only read bits and pieces about the fluctuating brightness issue so far.

- Is FBrs inherent in all GT30 TVs or random ones?

- I can't tell if the fix could be a firmware upgrade or hardware solution

- The TV was not in the store but coming from the warehouse. It will not be delivered for about two weeks. I am wondering if that means the TV set I will be getting will be the"fixed" version? I doubt the BestBuy staff would know.

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MattB0801

· #9 · Aug 15, 2011

I doubt he's going to be hooking up some machine up to his TV to measure black levels. If you look around nobody says the black levels on the GT30 blow the ST30s out of the water. Once you get to a certain point black is black. He was asking if he could save some money, and I was letting him know that in fact he could without a considerable loss in picture quality.

MattB0801

· #10 · Aug 15, 2011

Some people say they don't have Fbr but if Panasonic released a fix, it means they admit there is a problem. There is both a software update and a hardware update, but both require a tech visit. They accomplish the same thing. It just depends if you get a Panasonic tech or a 3rd party tech. I would say it is very unlikely that your TV will have the update. There is a way to tell based upon the serial number. It should be in the thread I told you about above. I know the updated TVs will have a August build date or later.

tazz3

· #11 · Aug 15, 2011

keep the gt30 its a nice tv. and the glasses are geting cheap

3reach

· #12 · Aug 16, 2011

Quote:
Originally Posted by MattB0801 /forum/post/20825512

I doubt he's going to be hooking up some machine up to his TV to measure black levels. If you look around nobody says the black levels on the GT30 blow the ST30s out of the water. Once you get to a certain point black is black. He was asking if he could save some money, and I was letting him know that in fact he could without a considerable loss in picture quality.

So much wrong in this post.

dlplover

· #13 · Aug 16, 2011

Quote:
Originally Posted by MattB0801 /forum/post/20825512

I doubt he's going to be hooking up some machine up to his TV to measure black levels. If you look around nobody says the black levels on the GT30 blow the ST30s out of the water. Once you get to a certain point black is black. He was asking if he could save some money, and I was letting him know that in fact he could without a considerable loss in picture quality.

Yes he will be and that machine is a DVD/BR player. In general, the curve for noticing that something isn't completely black accelerates the more you deviate from true black (although can depend to a degree on the person and whether or not they have night-blindness from lack of vitamins).

ST30 has blacks that are near 2x brighter than the GT30. At .004 (a friend's kuro that I see somewhat regularly), blacks are still noticable as not being black with the light off but not to the point where it ruins the picture. This can also be improved by the simple step of adding led backlighting to increase the perceived contrast. At .001/.0005 even a tiny light-source in the room will mask any hint of not being 100% black. Now back to the ST30 - at .008 that's pretty close to .010, which is won't appear true black even with ambient backlighting. Of course different people have different tolerances, but if he can afford the higher quality set, he should go with it.

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dlplover

· #14 · Aug 16, 2011

Quote:
Originally Posted by PixelDot /forum/post/20825465

Fluctuating brightness (FBrs)? Great! I thought getting the GT30 would be a better choice over the ST30 model. I kept on reading about users experiencing green tint issues with the picture quality on the ST30 series.

I only read bits and pieces about the fluctuating brightness issue so far.

- Is FBrs inherent in all GT30 TVs or random ones?

- I can't tell if the fix could be a firmware upgrade or hardware solution

- The TV was not in the store but coming from the warehouse. It will not be delivered for about two weeks. I am wondering if that means the TV set I will be getting will be the"fixed" version? I doubt the BestBuy staff would know.

I believe Panasonic is fixing any of the affected sets. You can give them a call to check. I would definitely keep the GT30. It's a nice set, better PQ than ST30 and you get 3-D in the mix (which actually is a nice feature though not one I would consider a must-have in lieu of good PQ).

If you can afford the GT30, I'd go with it. If you feel like it's a major stretch and that you really should go lower, then the ST30 will still be a good set.

PixelDot

Discussion Starter · #15 · Aug 16, 2011

I probably will keep the set. I waited this long and debated a lot between the GT30 and ST30. Even though I have read that both series supposedly uses the same flay screen. It feels like you have to tweak the color/settings more often with the ST30 than with the GT30 which has THX.

How does THX work? Is it only applicable to DVDs and streaming movies that were made with this feature in mind. Or could it enhance to varying degrees other types of cable programming?

Also, MattB0801 mentioned it is possible to check the serial number to see if my set is one of the affected ones. If so, I do not see anything on Panasonic's Web site.

I just got a response back from Panasonic about the FBrs. It sounds like it is a firmware fix. Hopefully that's all it is instead of a hardware issue.

chunon

· #16 · Aug 16, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by PixelDot

I probably will keep the set. I waited this long and debated a lot between the GT30 and ST30. Even though I have read that both series supposedly uses the same flay screen. It feels like you have to tweak the color/settings more often with the ST30 than with the GT30 which has THX.

How does THX work? Is it only applicable to DVDs and streaming movies that were made with this feature in mind. Or could it enhance to varying degrees other types of cable programming?

Also, MattB0801 mentioned it is possible to check the serial number to see if my set is one of the affected ones. If so, I do not see anything on Panasonic's Web site.

I just got a response back from Panasonic about the FBrs. It sounds like it is a firmware fix. Hopefully that's all it is instead of a hardware issue.

THX mode is going it influence your cable picture as well. Its just the inconsitency of source quality that will show variance. It will be much more consitent for DVD material.

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