Suggestion for 50" Plasma

[Sentinel]

After my 18 month old Toshiba 32" 32HL67U LCD television bit the dust, I'm going w/ a plasma.

Considering one of two options:
LG 50PS60 from Sears; or

Panasonic TC-50PS14 from Sams.

Any advice on which to purchase? I've been investigating a lot of reviews and comments on AVS and HT forums. Tending to lean toward the LG, but I'm not clear on longetivity and reliability in terms of LG's offerings.

 

[smitbret]

I like the Panny, but would also suggest the Samsung PN50B550 or PN50B650 if glare isn't a big problem in your viewing area.

 

[gar655]

Panasonic

 

[Tiamat]

From what I have read, plasma = Panasonic or Samsung. What is your budget? The G10 plasmas of Panasonic are coming down in price substaintially. The 50" is hovering around 1300$ with free white glove delivery

 

[tefleming]

I just got the Insignia 50" plasma from Best Buy (the -09 model) for $800.

They're trying to clear out the -09 models to make way for the -10A's.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

panasonic

 

[kalrith]

Out of those two, I would recommend the panny; however, I'd more strongly recommend the Panny G10. It's $1300 on Amazon, so it should actually come out being cheaper if you don't have to pay sales tax.

 

[Rio Rebel]

The "concierge service" with the Panny (standard offering) can't be ignored. Their warranty for the first year is OUTSTANDING.

I had a problem with a speaker, and from my first call to report, it took THREE DAYS to be fixed. They actually ordered a speaker based on my initial call. Very impressed.

 

[Tifababy]

If you're not going to get the Panasonic G10, get the TC-50PS1 at best buy, it's the same TV as the sam's club TC-50PS14, but $100 less this week.

 

[manimal]

The G10 is a fantastic tv for the money, sd on the g10 somehow looked better than the s1 did when messing around with them at a local BB.

 

[Project86]

Can't go wrong with Panasonic (not sure what a panny is, sounds more like undergarments....). Even 720P models generally look excellent.

 

[Sentinel]

Thanks- going to go w/ the G10.

 

[Woofmeister]

I was at a friend's house recently and he had a Vidikron 50-inch Plasma that was simply jaw-dropping.:shocked:

I've got a Samsung 1080p 50-inch plasma myself, and it's a very good picture, but the Vidikron just blew me away in how realistic the picture was. Part of that is professional calibration and the quality of the source (Quantum of Solace Blu-ray), but I'm thinking of going out and buying one of those.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: Woofmeister
I was at a friend's house recently and he had a Vidikron 50-inch Plasma that was simply jaw-dropping.:shocked:

I've got a Samsung 1080p 50-inch plasma myself, and it's a very good picture, but the Vidikron just blew me away in how realistic the picture was. Part of that is professional calibration and the quality of the source (Quantum of Solace Blu-ray), but I'm thinking of going out and buying one of those.

If you want the best 50" plasma, look no further than the Pioneer Elite 111, 101 or Pioneer 500M. There are no better plasmas. But you better get one while you can.

 

[kalrith]

Originally posted by: Woofmeister
I was at a friend's house recently and he had a Vidikron 50-inch Plasma that was simply jaw-dropping.:shocked:

I've got a Samsung 1080p 50-inch plasma myself, and it's a very good picture, but the Vidikron just blew me away in how realistic the picture was. Part of that is professional calibration and the quality of the source (Quantum of Solace Blu-ray), but I'm thinking of going out and buying one of those.

What's your viewing distance? If you're going to go out and buy a new TV, you might want to take the opportunity for a size increase as well (unless you're 6' from you 50"; even 6.7' from a 60" falls within the THX recommendations). I'd second JackBurton's recommendation for the Pioneer Elite as the best-looking TV out there. The Elite 151 would be the most-recent 60" version of the TV and the 600M is the 60" version of the monitor (no tuner, no stand, no speakers).

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: kalrith

Originally posted by: Woofmeister
I was at a friend's house recently and he had a Vidikron 50-inch Plasma that was simply jaw-dropping.:shocked:

I've got a Samsung 1080p 50-inch plasma myself, and it's a very good picture, but the Vidikron just blew me away in how realistic the picture was. Part of that is professional calibration and the quality of the source (Quantum of Solace Blu-ray), but I'm thinking of going out and buying one of those.

What's your viewing distance? If you're going to go out and buy a new TV, you might want to take the opportunity for a size increase as well (unless you're 6' from you 50"; even 6.7' from a 60" falls within the THX recommendations). I'd second JackBurton's recommendation for the Pioneer Elite as the best-looking TV out there. The Elite 151 would be the most-recent 60" version of the TV and the 600M is the 60" version of the monitor (no tuner, no stand, no speakers).

Don't forget the 141. 😉

 

[Riverhound777]

I love my 500M 🙂

 

[kalrith]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: kalrith

Originally posted by: Woofmeister
I was at a friend's house recently and he had a Vidikron 50-inch Plasma that was simply jaw-dropping.:shocked:

I've got a Samsung 1080p 50-inch plasma myself, and it's a very good picture, but the Vidikron just blew me away in how realistic the picture was. Part of that is professional calibration and the quality of the source (Quantum of Solace Blu-ray), but I'm thinking of going out and buying one of those.

What's your viewing distance? If you're going to go out and buy a new TV, you might want to take the opportunity for a size increase as well (unless you're 6' from you 50"; even 6.7' from a 60" falls within the THX recommendations). I'd second JackBurton's recommendation for the Pioneer Elite as the best-looking TV out there. The Elite 151 would be the most-recent 60" version of the TV and the 600M is the 60" version of the monitor (no tuner, no stand, no speakers).

Don't forget the 141. 😉

Woops! I didn't follow the 9G sets that much since I was too busy enjoying my 5080 🙂. If I were in the market for an upgrade and had about $4000 to spend, I get a 600M and have it wall-mounted and professionally calibrated. I am definitely NOT in the market for an upgrade. Anyways, my next upgrade will probably be for a fp, ~80" screen, and a full audio upgrade. Unfortunately that upgrade might never come 🙁.

Edit: Here's hoping that my 5080 lasts forever.

 

[Woofmeister]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: kalrith

Originally posted by: Woofmeister
I was at a friend's house recently and he had a Vidikron 50-inch Plasma that was simply jaw-dropping.:shocked:

I've got a Samsung 1080p 50-inch plasma myself, and it's a very good picture, but the Vidikron just blew me away in how realistic the picture was. Part of that is professional calibration and the quality of the source (Quantum of Solace Blu-ray), but I'm thinking of going out and buying one of those.

What's your viewing distance? If you're going to go out and buy a new TV, you might want to take the opportunity for a size increase as well (unless you're 6' from you 50"; even 6.7' from a 60" falls within the THX recommendations). I'd second JackBurton's recommendation for the Pioneer Elite as the best-looking TV out there. The Elite 151 would be the most-recent 60" version of the TV and the 600M is the 60" version of the monitor (no tuner, no stand, no speakers).

Don't forget the 141. 😉

Funny you should mention it, I've actually looked at a 141 several times. (There's a store near me that I frequent that has one on display) There's no question the 141 is a nice looking panel. The blacks in particular are very impressive. Still, though I've obviously never done a side-by-side comparison, I thought my friend's Vidikron looked better than I recall the 141 did.

I'm happy with my 50-inch right now (seating position ten feet from display), but if I were to go up to a 60-inch and price were no object, I'd at least look at Vidikron's VP 6500 before I went with the 141. I've never seen the VP-6500, but I would certainly try to do so before I plunked down that kind of coin.😉

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: Woofmeister

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: kalrith

Originally posted by: Woofmeister
I was at a friend's house recently and he had a Vidikron 50-inch Plasma that was simply jaw-dropping.:shocked:

I've got a Samsung 1080p 50-inch plasma myself, and it's a very good picture, but the Vidikron just blew me away in how realistic the picture was. Part of that is professional calibration and the quality of the source (Quantum of Solace Blu-ray), but I'm thinking of going out and buying one of those.

What's your viewing distance? If you're going to go out and buy a new TV, you might want to take the opportunity for a size increase as well (unless you're 6' from you 50"; even 6.7' from a 60" falls within the THX recommendations). I'd second JackBurton's recommendation for the Pioneer Elite as the best-looking TV out there. The Elite 151 would be the most-recent 60" version of the TV and the 600M is the 60" version of the monitor (no tuner, no stand, no speakers).

Don't forget the 141. 😉

Funny you should mention it, I've actually looked at a 141 several times. (There's a store near me that I frequent that has one on display) There's no question the 141 is a nice looking panel. The blacks in particular are very impressive. Still, though I've obviously never done a side-by-side comparison, I thought my friend's Vidikron looked better than I recall the 141 did.

I'm happy with my 50-inch right now (seating position ten feet from display), but if I were to go up to a 60-inch and price were no objecdt, I'd at least look at Vidikron's VP 6500 before I went with the 141.

Yep. And you definitely should take a look at as many displays as you can before purchasing. But take into consideration the environment and the settings. I'll guarantee you the 141 you saw (most likely in BB Magnolia) was not ISF calibrated. And in a home environment, I'm sure the 141 will trump the Vidikron. I'd however possibly consider the Vidikron if you live at a high elevation. Runco sets are good about that too. But if PQ is your main concern, you ain't beating a 9G Pioneer Elite.

 

[kalrith]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: Woofmeister

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: kalrith

Originally posted by: Woofmeister
I was at a friend's house recently and he had a Vidikron 50-inch Plasma that was simply jaw-dropping.:shocked:

I've got a Samsung 1080p 50-inch plasma myself, and it's a very good picture, but the Vidikron just blew me away in how realistic the picture was. Part of that is professional calibration and the quality of the source (Quantum of Solace Blu-ray), but I'm thinking of going out and buying one of those.

What's your viewing distance? If you're going to go out and buy a new TV, you might want to take the opportunity for a size increase as well (unless you're 6' from you 50"; even 6.7' from a 60" falls within the THX recommendations). I'd second JackBurton's recommendation for the Pioneer Elite as the best-looking TV out there. The Elite 151 would be the most-recent 60" version of the TV and the 600M is the 60" version of the monitor (no tuner, no stand, no speakers).

Don't forget the 141. 😉

Funny you should mention it, I've actually looked at a 141 several times. (There's a store near me that I frequent that has one on display) There's no question the 141 is a nice looking panel. The blacks in particular are very impressive. Still, though I've obviously never done a side-by-side comparison, I thought my friend's Vidikron looked better than I recall the 141 did.

I'm happy with my 50-inch right now (seating position ten feet from display), but if I were to go up to a 60-inch and price were no objecdt, I'd at least look at Vidikron's VP 6500 before I went with the 141.

Yep. And you definitely should take a look at as many displays you can before purchasing. But take into consideration the environment and the settings. I'll guarantee you the 141 you saw (most likely in BB Magnolia) was not ISF calibrated. And in a home environment, I'm sure the 141 will trump the Vidikron. I'd however possibly consider the Vidikron if you live at a high elevation. Runco sets are good about that too. But if PQ is your main concern, you ain't beating a 9G Pioneer Elite.

You beat me to it. You can't compare an uncalibrated set with a questionable source in a store setting to a calibrated set with a BD source in a home setting. I'd also completely agree with your statement about nothing beating the PQ of a 9G Pioneer Elite.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: kalrith
You beat me to it. You can't compare an uncalibrated set with a questionable source in a store setting to a calibrated set with a BD source in a home setting. I'd also completely agree with your statement about nothing beating the PQ of a 9G Pioneer Elite.

I can attest to the fact that the 141 with a BDP-09FD Blu-ray player looks fantastic in a home environment. 😉

 

[Woofmeister]

Originally posted by: kalrith

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: Woofmeister

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: kalrith

Originally posted by: Woofmeister
I was at a friend's house recently and he had a Vidikron 50-inch Plasma that was simply jaw-dropping.:shocked:

I've got a Samsung 1080p 50-inch plasma myself, and it's a very good picture, but the Vidikron just blew me away in how realistic the picture was. Part of that is professional calibration and the quality of the source (Quantum of Solace Blu-ray), but I'm thinking of going out and buying one of those.

What's your viewing distance? If you're going to go out and buy a new TV, you might want to take the opportunity for a size increase as well (unless you're 6' from you 50"; even 6.7' from a 60" falls within the THX recommendations). I'd second JackBurton's recommendation for the Pioneer Elite as the best-looking TV out there. The Elite 151 would be the most-recent 60" version of the TV and the 600M is the 60" version of the monitor (no tuner, no stand, no speakers).

Don't forget the 141. 😉

Funny you should mention it, I've actually looked at a 141 several times. (There's a store near me that I frequent that has one on display) There's no question the 141 is a nice looking panel. The blacks in particular are very impressive. Still, though I've obviously never done a side-by-side comparison, I thought my friend's Vidikron looked better than I recall the 141 did.

I'm happy with my 50-inch right now (seating position ten feet from display), but if I were to go up to a 60-inch and price were no objecdt, I'd at least look at Vidikron's VP 6500 before I went with the 141.

Yep. And you definitely should take a look at as many displays you can before purchasing. But take into consideration the environment and the settings. I'll guarantee you the 141 you saw (most likely in BB Magnolia) was not ISF calibrated. And in a home environment, I'm sure the 141 will trump the Vidikron. I'd however possibly consider the Vidikron if you live at a high elevation. Runco sets are good about that too. But if PQ is your main concern, you ain't beating a 9G Pioneer Elite.

You beat me to it. You can't compare an uncalibrated set with a questionable source in a store setting to a calibrated set with a BD source in a home setting. I'd also completely agree with your statement about nothing beating the PQ of a 9G Pioneer Elite.

Agree with all of the above except for the "uncalibrated set" part. I did not see the 141 in Best Buy/Magnolia, I saw it at a small specialty store near me called Audio Den where the staff carefully calibrates everything they display. That's one of the reasons I go there even though I usually end up buying gear someplace else. 🙁

As I said, the PQ on the 141 was very good when I saw it and the Pioneer Elites would be on anybody's top list for high-end plasmas. That being said, have you ever seen the Vidikrons?

 

[kalrith]

Originally posted by: Woofmeister

Originally posted by: kalrith

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: Woofmeister

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: kalrith

Originally posted by: Woofmeister
I was at a friend's house recently and he had a Vidikron 50-inch Plasma that was simply jaw-dropping.:shocked:

I've got a Samsung 1080p 50-inch plasma myself, and it's a very good picture, but the Vidikron just blew me away in how realistic the picture was. Part of that is professional calibration and the quality of the source (Quantum of Solace Blu-ray), but I'm thinking of going out and buying one of those.

What's your viewing distance? If you're going to go out and buy a new TV, you might want to take the opportunity for a size increase as well (unless you're 6' from you 50"; even 6.7' from a 60" falls within the THX recommendations). I'd second JackBurton's recommendation for the Pioneer Elite as the best-looking TV out there. The Elite 151 would be the most-recent 60" version of the TV and the 600M is the 60" version of the monitor (no tuner, no stand, no speakers).

Don't forget the 141. 😉

Funny you should mention it, I've actually looked at a 141 several times. (There's a store near me that I frequent that has one on display) There's no question the 141 is a nice looking panel. The blacks in particular are very impressive. Still, though I've obviously never done a side-by-side comparison, I thought my friend's Vidikron looked better than I recall the 141 did.

I'm happy with my 50-inch right now (seating position ten feet from display), but if I were to go up to a 60-inch and price were no objecdt, I'd at least look at Vidikron's VP 6500 before I went with the 141.

Yep. And you definitely should take a look at as many displays you can before purchasing. But take into consideration the environment and the settings. I'll guarantee you the 141 you saw (most likely in BB Magnolia) was not ISF calibrated. And in a home environment, I'm sure the 141 will trump the Vidikron. I'd however possibly consider the Vidikron if you live at a high elevation. Runco sets are good about that too. But if PQ is your main concern, you ain't beating a 9G Pioneer Elite.

You beat me to it. You can't compare an uncalibrated set with a questionable source in a store setting to a calibrated set with a BD source in a home setting. I'd also completely agree with your statement about nothing beating the PQ of a 9G Pioneer Elite.

Agree with all of the above except for the "uncalibrated set" part. I did not see the 141 in Best Buy/Magnolia, I saw it at a small specialty store near me called Audio Den where the staff carefully calibrates everything they display. That's one of the reasons I go there even though I usually end up buying gear someplace else. 🙁

As I said, the PQ on the 141 was very good when I saw it and the Pioneer Elites would be on anybody's top list for high-end plasmas. That being said, have you ever seen the Vidikrons?

I haven't, but for $20,000 the VP-6500HD had better be many, many, many, many, many times better than the $3,400 600M.

Edit: I know that compares MSRP to street price, but I couldn't find any info on how much the Vidikrons cost on the street.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: kalrith
I haven't, but for $20,000 the VP-6500HD had better be many, many, many, many, many times better than the $3,400 600M.

Edit: I know that compares MSRP to street price, but I couldn't find any info on how much the Vidikrons cost on the street.

kalrith, take a look at the date on that article. That was 65" plasma in 2007. In 2007 Pioneer released their first 50" 1080p Elite for $10K. :Q