Panasonic Tau 36" Flat Screen TV $899 free delivery Circuit City

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JHawk

Senior member
Mar 14, 2001
777
0
71
The Wega is a monster. Took my neighbor and myself and two six packs just to get it from the garage to the family room:D. Seriously all of these are heavy plus they are awkward--all the weight is in the front.
 

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,092
457
136
The TV stand retails for around $199, ouch!

Unless 1) the TV blows me away and I MUST HAVE IT and 2) I can talk the CC sales guy into a combo deal TV, 3 yr extended warranty and TV stand for $1,000 out the door I think I'll pass on this.
 

masterxfob

Diamond Member
May 20, 2001
7,366
5
81
Originally posted by: RossMAN
The TV stand retails for around $199, ouch!

Unless 1) the TV blows me away and I MUST HAVE IT and 2) I can talk the CC sales guy into a combo deal TV, 3 yr extended warranty and TV stand for $1,000 out the door I think I'll pass on this.

wow, you're pushing it. you'd be lucky to find a 36" flat screen for under $1000 out the door, how do you also expect to get a 3 year warranty and tv stand under that price?
 

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,092
457
136
Originally posted by: masterxfob
Originally posted by: RossMAN
The TV stand retails for around $199, ouch!

Unless 1) the TV blows me away and I MUST HAVE IT and 2) I can talk the CC sales guy into a combo deal TV, 3 yr extended warranty and TV stand for $1,000 out the door I think I'll pass on this.

wow, you're pushing it. you'd be lucky to find a 36" flat screen for under $1000 out the door, how do you also expect to get a 3 year warranty and tv stand under that price?

I don't, because I can't afford this and should not buy it BUT I have known CC employees to drastically slash prices if you get the extended warranty. I'm hoping that they shoot me down, otherwise add another few notches to my belt.
 

KJW

Member
Mar 7, 2000
140
0
0
shipping weight is 240 but net weight is 217, which is just under my wall unit's capacity of 240 pounds. whew.
 

kantonburg

Platinum Member
Oct 10, 1999
2,975
1
81
Well pops is going up this afternoon to take a look. He wasn't excited about the 36" screen (wants bigger) but he's limited on space to put a big screen and he just won't like the quality of a widescreen especially since he doesn't watch DVDs. Watches A LOT of cable. It's his hobby I believe. :)

I think he'll be quite impressed with the picture quality of this flat screen.
 

Tallgeese

Diamond Member
Feb 26, 2001
5,775
1
0
Originally posted by: kantonburg
Well pops is going up this afternoon to take a look. He wasn't excited about the 36" screen (wants bigger) but he's limited on space to put a big screen and he just won't like the quality of a widescreen especially since he doesn't watch DVDs. Watches A LOT of cable. It's his hobby I believe. :)

I think he'll be quite impressed with the picture quality of this flat screen.
I know I was...even tho it was parked right next to a 36" Panasonic HD model (at a price of nearly $1600 open box)...this non-HD Tau was QUITE impressive.

Damn...it's killing me letting this one pass by! :(
 

trikster2

Banned
Oct 28, 2000
1,907
0
0
Originally posted by: Aztech
Originally posted by: AU Tiger
.9 inches too wide for my entertainment center
So, are these nice entertainment centers or what? I mean a TV stand can be had for around $75.00 right?

Target has a TV stand that "Fits most 36 inch TVs" on sale for $42 this week..................


 

Tallgeese

Diamond Member
Feb 26, 2001
5,775
1
0
Originally posted by: trikster2
Originally posted by: Aztech
Originally posted by: AU Tiger
.9 inches too wide for my entertainment center
So, are these nice entertainment centers or what? I mean a TV stand can be had for around $75.00 right?
Target has a TV stand that "Fits most 36 inch TVs" on sale for $42 this week..................
I'd make sure that thing wouldn't collapse under the weight of a 230+ lb. TV before buying it tho!

BTW: Prolly OK since it weighs 60 lbs. itself...but I'd still check before putting that nice new TV on it! :Q
 

Aztech

Golden Member
Jan 19, 2002
1,922
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I came across that item in my frantic searching for a stand, but it says it holds most 32inch TVs, not 36s
 

masterxfob

Diamond Member
May 20, 2001
7,366
5
81
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Originally posted by: masterxfob
Originally posted by: RossMAN
The TV stand retails for around $199, ouch!

Unless 1) the TV blows me away and I MUST HAVE IT and 2) I can talk the CC sales guy into a combo deal TV, 3 yr extended warranty and TV stand for $1,000 out the door I think I'll pass on this.

wow, you're pushing it. you'd be lucky to find a 36" flat screen for under $1000 out the door, how do you also expect to get a 3 year warranty and tv stand under that price?

I don't, because I can't afford this and should not buy it BUT I have known CC employees to drastically slash prices if you get the extended warranty. I'm hoping that they shoot me down, otherwise add another few notches to my belt.

i see, i guess it's a good way to keep yourself from buying it.

anyhow, i tried to bargain the price down a bit but the salesman wouldn't budge an inch. i went to best buy to try a price match but they didn't even carry the tv. i ended up buying the tv from circuit city for $975 out the door with no interest for 12 months.
 

kantonburg

Platinum Member
Oct 10, 1999
2,975
1
81
Well I'm rather upset at CC. My dad went looking for the TV. They did not have one on display and the guy kept trying to sell him the VVega which was about twice as much. They had the 32inch on display and a different 36". Well they told him they didn't have one and he spent about 1.5 hours there looking around. When he was leaving they guy kept pressuring him to buy the VVega but he told him that he was going to Best Buy. Well the little prick goes over to his terminal and low and behold they had 2 in stock. Just as the did when I had called 2 hours earlier to check.

They don't carry the stand and my father was quite upset by the way he was treated as am I. He likes the TV but doesn't want it without the stand that goes with it which does look nice.
 

trikster2

Banned
Oct 28, 2000
1,907
0
0
Originally posted by: Aztech
I came across that item in my frantic searching for a stand, but it says it holds most 32inch TVs, not 36s

online it says 32

the box of the one I looked at in my local target says 36




 

trikster2

Banned
Oct 28, 2000
1,907
0
0
Originally posted by: kantonburg
Well I'm rather upset at CC. My dad went looking for the TV. They did not have one on display and the guy kept trying to sell him the VVega which was about twice as much. They had the 32inch on display and a different 36". Well they told him they didn't have one and he spent about 1.5 hours there looking around. When he was leaving they guy kept pressuring him to buy the VVega but he told him that he was going to Best Buy. Well the little prick goes over to his terminal and low and behold they had 2 in stock. Just as the did when I had called 2 hours earlier to check.

They don't carry the stand and my father was quite upset by the way he was treated as am I. He likes the TV but doesn't want it without the stand that goes with it which does look nice.

You got a salesman who is a real jerk. Is there another CC in the area you can use?

I was at CC this weekend checking this out:

Do you have them in stock?

"yes"

Is there anything else in this price range that is comparable?

"in that price range NOTHING"

What about the sony's isn't the sony better and "only" cost 2 or 3 hundred more.

"LOOK" (points at sony and pan/tau side by side) "The picture is as good or better and the panasonic has a better waranty!"

We started looking at stands and (esp with my wife's input) quickly got to the price of the TV or more.

Jeeze. I rather have an HDTV sitting on the floor. I don't care about the stand.

If we get it, we decided on the cheap target $42 stand. It's nice and low to the ground and feels sturdy. From measurements the front of the tau will be perfectly flush with the front of the stand but further back it will stick out a little. The three shelfs should fit DVD player, Surround sound reciever, DSS nicely. If it crumbles under the weight we'll sue the company as the box clearly states: Fits most 36" TVs.

Also:

Right now I have composite video cables on my system. I notice the tau supports component and S-Video. My DVD player supports component and my Dishnetwork supports S-Video.

Will I gain a lot in quality by moving off from the single regular video cables and using the component for DVD and S-Video for my dishnetwork?

OK quality cables (lowest level monster) will cost $50 to $60 dollars and I don't want to shell out the cash if it's not going to do much for picture quality........

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!



 

KJW

Member
Mar 7, 2000
140
0
0
I picked up GE brand component cables at Target for $10. (Is there really a significant difference from Monster Cables that cost 5x-10x as much?) I can't tell if there is a noticable improvement from the s-video cable I am now using now on my DVD player since the set is too heavy to move by myself to install the new cables..
 

BigSmooth

Lifer
Aug 18, 2000
10,484
12
81
Will I gain a lot in quality by moving off from the single regular video cables and using the component for DVD and S-Video for my dishnetwork?
Yes. S-Video will be noticeably better than composite video (single RCA cable) and component video is even better than S-Video.
 

trikster2

Banned
Oct 28, 2000
1,907
0
0
Originally posted by: kantonburg
Does the stand match the TV? Thats the biggest concern of my parents. Of all things...lol

The one we were looking at does not "match" the TV but it "goes" better with the rest of our living room. I think it will look good with the TV but the stand is fake wood grain and the TV is black/charcoal. They do advertise on the web site a black unit though that may "go" better. But I donno: Miss matched shades of black may look worse than something that is not trying to match like wood grain and black TV.

I figure the $42 stand will be just to keep it off the floor while we take our time searching for the ultimate entertainment center (ARGGGGG like I care. I just wanna watch TV not furniture!)
 

fugue

Junior Member
Dec 24, 2000
6
0
0
Better component or s-video cables do make a bit of a difference if you have a nice enough set
to pick up on it (like this), but Monster Cables are usually overpriced. You can get some decent
upgraded cables for probably half the price of what Monster usually is. I have one of these tvs
on hold for later this afternoon. I'll post back if I hit some good cable deals...
 

tigerbait

Diamond Member
Jan 8, 2001
5,155
1
0
Right now I have composite video cables on my system. I notice the tau supports component and S-Video. My DVD player supports component and my Dishnetwork supports S-Video.

Will I gain a lot in quality by moving off from the single regular video cables and using the component for DVD and S-Video for my dishnetwork?

OK quality cables (lowest level monster) will cost $50 to $60 dollars and I don't want to shell out the cash if it's not going to do much for picture quality........

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!

I'd definitely recommend using the component for DVD and S-video for Dish, but I don't recommend paying the inflated price for monster cables.

I'd take a look at parts express for some cheap cables
 

Openlate

Junior Member
Jan 22, 2003
3
0
0
Last month I bought the same TV w/o the PIP. Picked it up from CC for $959.99. Picture is fantastic.

While I was there they had about five 32"+ TV stands for only $1.97 that were open box buys. The tops of all the stands were pretty trashed due to many demo TV's being slid on and off in the store. Anyway, the Panasonic covers the whole top perfectly - like it was made for it.

Here is a pic of the TV on the stand,

36" Pansonic Tau on stand
(note the scan lines on the TV are from the digital camera).

I have since returned this TV in place of the newer one with PIP that costs less.

Check out your local CC for any open box TV stands. $1.97 VS $199.99... sweet deal.
 

trikster2

Banned
Oct 28, 2000
1,907
0
0
Originally posted by: Openlate
Last month I bought the same TV w/o the PIP. Picked it up from CC for $959.99. Picture is fantastic.

While I was there they had about five 32"+ TV stands for only $1.97 that were open box buys. The tops of all the stands were pretty trashed due to many demo TV's being slid on and off in the store. Anyway, the Panasonic covers the whole top perfectly - like it was made for it.

Here is a pic of the TV on the stand,

36" Pansonic Tau on stand
(note the scan lines on the TV are from the digital camera).

I have since returned this TV in place of the newer one with PIP that costs less.

Check out your local CC for any open box TV stands. $1.97 VS $199.99... sweet deal.

Nice picture!

Notice your five remote controls

I've got the same thing. Have yet to find a remote that works with: DishPVR, TV, Old Panasonic DVD, Onkyo reciever.

Either they just don't work (i.e. dishPVR remote with panasonic DVD) or they work but it is all dorked up (Like my onkyo reciever. remote works but you have to tap the volume to make it go up or down. Volume level is 0 to 100 so 100 taps to go full range. silly).


Regarding cheap cables:

The bottom of this page has a cheap s-video/audio cable combo
 

fugue

Junior Member
Dec 24, 2000
6
0
0
Has anyone in the Chicagoland area found a Best Buy or elsewhere with stock which could be used for pricematching?
 

Openlate

Junior Member
Jan 22, 2003
3
0
0
Originally posted by: trikster2

Nice picture!

Notice your five remote controls

I've got the same thing. Have yet to find a remote that works with: DishPVR, TV, Old Panasonic DVD, Onkyo reciever.

Either they just don't work (i.e. dishPVR remote with panasonic DVD) or they work but it is all dorked up (Like my onkyo reciever. remote works but you have to tap the volume to make it go up or down. Volume level is 0 to 100 so 100 taps to go full range. silly).

I am actually using just one remote. That is simply my collection of remotes, haha.

I use the Philips 8-Device Universal Remote With LCD

Operates everything without a problem. TV, DVD, Digicable, Receiver. Can learn commands from other remotes also. Highly recommended. It takes about 30mins to an hour to really get it dialed in exactly how you want it.