best LCD/Plasma to get with a budget

[IndyColtsFan]

Thanks for the review! I do have a question/concern about the G25, and plasmas in general...

I plan on building an HTPC relatively soon. I've heard mixed things about plasmas and how they operate with HTPCs, particularly with regard to ghosting. Anyone have experience or wisdom to share on this topic?

If possible, make sure your HTPC has HDMI out. I built a new HTPC earlier this year with an Athlon X4 and the board has built-in Radeon graphics with HDMI out. It looks pretty nice. Now, granted, my HTPC is used as more of a front-end streamer for my Xboxes and PS3 so I don't actually display its output on my plasma much, but from what I recall, it was pretty clear. Even my old HTPC looked decent using a DVI-->HDMI conversion cable.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

One other thing I'll mention is that the G25 seems to be slow in initiating a network connection. My Panasonic BD player is very slow at it too, so it may be the fact that I have both plugged into a wireless N bridge that is causing them to be a little slow. YMMV. It isn't that big of a deal, but you just need to keep it in mind and wait 30 seconds to a minute after powering the device on before you can use Netflix.

 

[Seleni]

I just picked up P50s2 at HHGregg for $ 700, using coupon and price match of a local PC Richards, I am glad they honored both for the deal. Looked at the P54s2 but for $225 more and to me the picture looked better on the 50, same settings I grabbed from TV tweak. Not worth the $225 more for me, and the p50G20 is nice but did not want to spend over $800 total (tax and all). I though the picture was just a hair better on the G20, but it does offer internet and has some added features like playing sdhc video files, but not worth $275 to me.

 

[Triumph]

I just picked up P50s2 at HHGregg for $ 700, using coupon and price match of a local PC Richards, I am glad they honored both for the deal. Looked at the P54s2 but for $225 more and to me the picture looked better on the 50, same settings I grabbed from TV tweak. Not worth the $225 more for me, and the p50G20 is nice but did not want to spend over $800 total (tax and all). I though the picture was just a hair better on the G20, but it does offer internet and has some added features like playing sdhc video files, but not worth $275 to me.

Damn. I just ordered the P50S2 from Panasonic and got an employee discount through a Slickdeals deal, and it was still $770. You got a good deal.

 

[HydroSqueegee]

I just picked up P50s2 at HHGregg for $ 700, using coupon and price match of a local PC Richards, I am glad they honored both for the deal. Looked at the P54s2 but for $225 more and to me the picture looked better on the 50, same settings I grabbed from TV tweak. Not worth the $225 more for me, and the p50G20 is nice but did not want to spend over $800 total (tax and all). I though the picture was just a hair better on the G20, but it does offer internet and has some added features like playing sdhc video files, but not worth $275 to me.

what coupon did you use?

 

[Anubis]

Guys, I have a 50" Panasonic G25. The display is as impressive as everyone says, particularly in THX mode. There are a couple of things that are annoying, but definitely not show stoppers:

1. The TV has Netflix built-in, which is great. What isn't so great is that playing Netflix from the TV bypasses the TV's processing logic. What this means is that you can't adjust the screen mode for Netflix content (ie, can't go to Full, Just, etc). So if you're streaming a 4:3 program, you're going to get black bars. If it bugs you too much, the way to avoid this is to use a BD player or something else as your Netflix streamer. I am going to set our BD player up as our default Netflix device. If it doesn't bug you, then no problems at all!

2. The cable box guide comes over as 4:3 as well, and I haven't been able to adjust that. My wife claims she was able to stretch it to the whole screen, but I am not sure how as I checked all the settings. I was able to do this fine on my older Panasonic plasma. My guess is that it is a glitch between HDMI on my Scientific Atlanta box and the new plasma, as I always had the box connected via component on my old plasma. Those SA boxes are notorious for having HDMI issues so if I had to make a wager, I'd say the cable box is at fault.

All in all, I love the G25 and would seriously recommend it.

humm so the guide is supposed to be full screen? i have a SA box as well (TWC) and ive never seen mine be full, now sometimes its smaller then it should be, this isn't a TV issue its a handshake issue depending on the order i turn shit on it, simply turning the cable box off and on again fixes it. on the 4:3 TV downstairs the guide is not full screen when watching HD content over component

not specific to the G25 but the optical out is only 2 channel, so watching netflix you will only get 2 channel audio if you use it to plug into an AVR

 

[Eluros]

Well, after having done a lot of research, I will be purchasing the G25 tomorrow evening, unless I learn/read something that changes my mind, first. As always, appreciate everyone's feedback/guidance.

 

[Howard]

Well, after having done a lot of research, I will be purchasing the G25 tomorrow evening, unless I learn/read something that changes my mind, first. As always, appreciate everyone's feedback/guidance.

The PK550 series is great in low ambient light.

 

[HydroSqueegee]

well i just got home from the store. Best Buy has that 36mo same as cash... so i broke down and bought the LN46C670.

I was eyeballing the C650 a few months back and knew the C670 was just the best buy brand and i had actually resigned myself to a plasma because it was going to be cheaper. But Best buy had what i wanted for $999 this evening and i pulled the trigger. Ittl take me a couple days to get everything set up, but i'll have pics when i do.

thanks all for the advice!



and some how a Wii got put in the cart long with a couple games... the wife denies everything...

 

[Seleni]

what coupon did you use?

$75 dollar coupon form website and the PC richards Price match.
On floor $ 899.99 at HH
PC Richards was 796.97
103.02 + 10% (price match) 10.30 = 113.32
75 dollar coupon for spending over 700
899.99
(113.32)
(75.00)
$711.67

They gave me a little resistance over using the coupon and the price match, but I read the coupon, and won my argument about the fact the coupon did not saying it can not be combined with the price match policy.
Took it to 711.67, then the salesman honeslty said to me i will knock off the $ 11 and change to make it $700.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

humm so the guide is supposed to be full screen? i have a SA box as well (TWC) and ive never seen mine be full, now sometimes its smaller then it should be, this isn't a TV issue its a handshake issue depending on the order i turn shit on it, simply turning the cable box off and on again fixes it. on the 4:3 TV downstairs the guide is not full screen when watching HD content over component

I suspect it is a handshake issue with the SA box or something of that nature as well. Maybe I'll try cycling the power on it and see what happens.

The SA box itself has a setting that you can set to stretch to full screen, as does the plasma. I have both set. On our old plasma, we had the SA box connected directly to the TV via component and it worked fine and the guide covered the screen.

On the new TV, you have the 4:3 black bars. Now, there are more variables at play here -- it is connected via HDMI and do a Denon AVR-2310CI rather than directly to the TV. I briefly had the SA box connected to the G25 via component and I honestly don't remember if it stretched across the screen or not.

not specific to the G25 but the optical out is only 2 channel, so watching netflix you will only get 2 channel audio if you use it to plug into an AVR

Yeah, I've decided to use the Netflix player on my BD player instead for a couple of different reasons -- 1) The sound restriction you mention above and 2) It should be able to utilize the G25's different screen modes. Panasonic bypassed the G25's processing on the TV's Netflix implementation, and that is kind of annoying.

 

[Anubis]

On the new TV, you have the 4:3 black bars. Now, there are more variables at play here -- it is connected via HDMI and do a Denon AVR-2310CI rather than directly to the TV. I briefly had the SA box connected to the G25 via component and I honestly don't remember if it stretched across the screen or not.

that's how mine is 4:3. when i said "smaller then normal" above its like squished 4:3

whats the setting on the box/TV to stretch the guide? mines also going through a denon AVR

on the 4:3 TV the guide is FS when watching SD content, when you switch to HD content the guide is 4:3 but not full screen, ill see if i can get pics today. its the same model SA HD box i have on the plasma

 

[IndyColtsFan]

that's how mine is 4:3. when i said "smaller then normal" above its like squished 4:3

whats the setting on the box/TV to stretch the guide? mines also going through a denon AVR

on the 4:3 TV the guide is FS when watching SD content, when you switch to HD content the guide is 4:3 but not full screen, ill see if i can get pics today. its the same model SA HD box i have on the plasma

The box setting is stretch and the TV is set to either Full or Just, IIRC.

I'll play with it a little more as well.

 

[Bullhonkie]

not specific to the G25 but the optical out is only 2 channel, so watching netflix you will only get 2 channel audio if you use it to plug into an AVR

I get DD 5.1 through my G25's optical out when using the internal tuner with OTA broadcasts. But for Netflix you're right, it's definitely only 2 channel stereo.

 

[Anubis]

The box setting is stretch and the TV is set to either Full or Just, IIRC.

I'll play with it a little more as well.

i changed some settings in the box with no change, i don't really care im just curious

poor quality pics inc

Normal on Plasma



Squished on the plasma


SD on 4:3 TV


HD on 4:3 TV

 

[IndyColtsFan]

i changed some settings in the box with no change, i don't really care im just curious

poor quality pics inc

Normal on Plasma



Squished on the plasma

How do you get the "squished on plasma" display?

 

[Anubis]

happens when the cbl box powers on before the AVR or if i leave the CBL box on and change the input method on the AVR from Cbl to say blu ray and then back

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Do you also notice your Netflix on the G25 being a little jerky at times? Like when people move, they might appear to move more slowly than you think they should be moving?

 

[Anubis]

i dont use netflix so i cant comment on it

 

[IndyColtsFan]

i dont use netflix so i cant comment on it

I did a search and others have mentioned the same problem. It isn't terrible, but it is kind of annoying.

So, I finally got around to firing up Netflix on my DMP-BD65K Blu Ray player. I wanted to have it be the primary Netflix streamer because of the issues I mentioned with the G25's Netflix earlier (namely, not being able to stretch the picture and no 5/1 sound). Guess what? The BD65K's Netflix interface ONLY shows your instant queue. It does fix the two issues above but the interface is extremely limited compared to the G25's player.

The solution? I told my wife to get me the top Roku for Xmas. :awe:

 

[Seleni]

my 50s2 is gone, never picked it up but I did pay for it. Did a return for credit and grabbed the p54G25. It was alot more TV, and I had to have it.

 

[Anubis]

lol nice pickup, i kinda wish i got the 54, but the 50 is working fine

 

[Seleni]

Well I am done with my second plasma on to third, Well my p54G25 was 10 days old and maybe had 40 hours of use, break-in disc and a couple of blu-rays. I was out of town for 5 days. A pixel died already, well I saved my Box and all packing and returned it to HH Gregg. They said sorry we don't have any in stock, and offered me a slightly higher priced LED, I said I will wait, p54G25 is what i want. This TV looks better to me than any I have ever seen, LEDs look to cartoony, and LCDs blurr to much for me. Well I will be hanging the second G25 on my wall in about 25 hours. Hope I have better luck this time.

 

[CallMeJoe]

I'm looking at entry level HDTV, more in the $600 range.
Any comment on these two?
Panasonic 42" LCD TC-L42U22
Panasonic 46" Plasma TC-P46C2

I like the larger size of the Plasma and don't think the 720P resolution will be a problem, since I'll have about a 10' viewing distance.
The LCD will give better resistance to reflections and lower power consumption, is 1080P, plus Sears includes a free $130 BD player.

Yes, $600 really is my budget limit. More than that takes away from other priorities, and even these would be a major upgrade from my 27" Emerson CRT.

 

[0roo0roo]

42" too small for 10 foot..that is far.