Which plasma would be best for me?

[balloonshark]

I'm in the market for my first HDTV. I'm sitting about 10' to 11' away from the TV. My input sources will be regular cable (not digital), vcr/dvd combo and a new PS3. I also have an Onkyo HT-RC 160 AV receiver that hasn't been connected to the PS3 yet.

I was really wanting a 46" to 50" Panasonic Plasma but I found these 2 models that seem like a decent deal at the moment. Why would you pick either one and which seems like the better deal?

S2 Panasonic 42" 1080p Plasma HDTV TC-P42S2 for $530 shipped.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16889187153

Panasonic TC-P46C2 46-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV for $550 shipped.
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-TC-P...dp/B0036VNQ0Q/

Here is a link to a comparison of both models. Hopefully it works. http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vModelComparisonResults?storeId=15001&catalogId=13401&catGroupId=103502&surfCategory=All%20VIERA%26%23174%3B%20Flat-Panel%20HDTVs&cacheProgram=11002&cachePartner=7000000000000005702&items=390517|403580|

Also, should I wait a bit longer for the new models to come out for better prices on the old models?

 

[sMiLeYz]

are you kidding? S2 is 1080p and the C2 is 720p. S2 by far, I own the S2 42"-- love it. It is a million times better than any LCD in the 42" size.

 

[fralexandr]

since you'll be sitting 10' to 11' away I'd go with the larger 46" 720p, unless you'll be using the TV with a computer often or plan on sitting closer to the TV in the future.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Since you really want a 46" or 50" TV, I'd wait and in the meantime, maybe save more money. At the distance you'll be sitting at, a 720P set would be fine (IIRC), but I'd still go for a 1080P set in case you move the TV or something of that nature.

The Panasonic 50" G25 plasma is hovering around $1000 on Amazon and is a good model.

 

[Patrickz0rs]

I'm in the market for my first HDTV. I'm sitting about 10' to 11' away from the TV. My input sources will be regular cable (not digital), vcr/dvd combo and a new PS3. I also have an Onkyo HT-RC 160 AV receiver that hasn't been connected to the PS3 yet.

I was really wanting a 46" to 50" Panasonic Plasma but I found these 2 models that seem like a decent deal at the moment. Why would you pick either one and which seems like the better deal?

S2 Panasonic 42" 1080p Plasma HDTV TC-P42S2 for $530 shipped.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16889187153

Panasonic TC-P46C2 46-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV for $550 shipped.
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-TC-P...dp/B0036VNQ0Q/

Here is a link to a comparison of both models. Hopefully it works. http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vModelComparisonResults?storeId=15001&catalogId=13401&catGroupId=103502&surfCategory=All%20VIERA%26%23174%3B%20Flat-Panel%20HDTVs&cacheProgram=11002&cachePartner=7000000000000005702&items=390517|403580|

Also, should I wait a bit longer for the new models to come out for better prices on the old models?

I would save up and upgrade to HD cable service then purchase a new TV. Buying such a great TV is a waste without HD programming.

 

[s44]

Don't go under 50" (720p should be fine at your distance). Also, get an antenna for OTA HD.

 

[schmunk]

I would save up and upgrade to HD cable service then purchase a new TV. Buying such a great TV is a waste without HD programming.

Over the Air HDTV is better quality than the compressed crap comcast signal, plus there are also blu-rays to play. I was looking at a 42" and a 46", I finally got out a tape measure, and some thick blue painters tape and marked out a 42" rectangle and sat on my couch and thought about it for a day, walking in and out of the room etc. Next day I did a 46". It helped me decide on what seemed a good fit for the space, I went with 46".

In my opinion, buying anything less than 1080P is throwing you money down a tube. Go forward (DVI to HDMI out from HTPC, upconvert DVD players have HDMI, PS3, Blu-Ray, a few set top boxes, etc). Kind of like 1680 by 1050 is ok for a 23" LCD, but when you can find 1080P ones for similar price, wouldnt you rather have better resolution?

 

[Gibson486]

I would save up and upgrade to HD cable service then purchase a new TV. Buying such a great TV is a waste without HD programming.

yeah, your TV will look like crap without it....

 

[Shadowknight]

I would save up and upgrade to HD cable service then purchase a new TV. Buying such a great TV is a waste without HD programming.

He'll still get the locals in HD, provided the tv has a built-in QAM tuner (which most do nowadays).

 

[schmunk]

He'll still get the locals in HD, provided the tv has a built-in QAM tuner (which most do nowadays).

You guys know they still make antennaes, right? :biggrin:

 

[0roo0roo]

Don't go under 50" (720p should be fine at your distance). Also, get an antenna for OTA HD.

This....

 

[balloonshark]

Thanks for your input everyone. I really wish I could get satellite service but the landlord said no to a dish. That would also translate into no antennas outdoors and the closest TV station is an hours drive from here. Not many local stations where I live in WV. I'm also not sure what HD content Suddenlink would have if I did get digital cable.

I guess I'm just wanting a larger TV as my 30" SDTV is getting hard to see as I approach 40. I do think that waiting for a good deal on a 50" is a good idea. I would regret getting a smaller set now to save a few bucks even if it is tempting.

If anyone happens to see a good deal on a 50" panasonic plasma please bump this thread. I would love to find one for $600 or under.

Also, what do you think about the 50" 720p panasonic plasma? I'm asking about the actual TV.

 

[0roo0roo]

slickdeals and such had a thread on epp sales, direct panasonic employee purchase program...if your company is involved in the program you can get good prices on their plasmas. http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2410692

 

[Shadowknight]

You guys know they still make antennaes, right? :biggrin:

I have and am still using an antenna since 1998. The point is, he's already paying for basic cable, and an earlier poster was complaining about him not paying for HD channels, when he'll still get the locals in HD from his cable provider without paying extra.

 

[Emulex]

42-50" is so 2006

need to be up there 58-65" now for plasma mate. esp for 1080p at that viewing

 

[balloonshark]

Just an update. I ordered the 50" C2 model (720p) from tigerdirect for $550 shipped. I'm having a bit of buyers remorse because I didn't wait for a 1080p deal. Do you think that the 720p would be ok in my situation? Was it a decent deal? Please keep in mind that I don't have much of an income and my only HD source is my PS3. I also don't have any blu-ray movies but I do have a decent dvd collection.

 

[0roo0roo]

You have no money, you can't wait for a 1080p one, they don't come 550 shipped
ps3 is basically 720p most of the time. it'll be fine. even at 50" only sitting up close can you see the difference between 1080p and 720p. i've fed 720 and 1080p into a 1080p s2 and it looks basically the same, it is hard to tell from monitor distance, and next to impossible back at 6 feet. though when i run a desktop ..well it is obvious that way since you have to read small text and stuff up close.

 

[queequeg99]

I really wish I could get satellite service but the landlord said no to a dish.

Depending on your situation, your landlord's word might not be the last on the issue of a satellite dish:

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/consumerdish.html

Note that even if you can legally benefit from this rule, there are some practical reasons why you wouldn't want to push the issue (i.e. you will likely have a pretty pissed off landlord, which is rarely a good thing).

 

[smitbret]

+1 for the 720p 50"

Keep in mind that the only way to get real 1080p is with Blu-Ray or a handful of video games. All of your HD programming is 720p or 1080i. You'll be more than happy with the tv you bought. If you didn't know it already, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference, especially at 10 to 11 feet. Contrast levels and color reproduction are gonna be more important than 1080p, anyway. Go to www.avsforum.com to get some calibration settings and you'll love it.

 

[balloonshark]

OrooOroo and smitbret,

Thanks for reinforcing that 720p will work fine . It gets a little confusing when one person says you need 1080p while others say 720p is good enough. I really needed a larger tv as it's getting harder to read writing on my 30". Part of this is because I'm getting older lol.

queequeg99,

Thanks for the antenna information. I don't think it would help me as I don't have an "exclusive use area" where the dish could be mounted. I also wouldn't want to piss off my landlord as you mentioned. He has treated me well plus he had to replace my fridge and water heater and I've only lived here 2 years.

 

[sdifox]

OrooOroo and smitbret,

Thanks for reinforcing that 720p will work fine . It gets a little confusing when one person says you need 1080p while others say 720p is good enough. I really needed a larger tv as it's getting harder to read writing on my 30". Part of this is because I'm getting older lol.

queequeg99,

Thanks for the antenna information. I don't think it would help me as I don't have an "exclusive use area" where the dish could be mounted. I also wouldn't want to piss off my landlord as you mentioned. He has treated me well plus he had to replace my fridge and water heater and I've only lived here 2 years.

Size of display is more important than the resolution difference between 720p and 1080p. Especially at the distance you are talking about.

You are not trying to use it as your computer monitor are you? It's a bit far.

 

[Patranus]

Panasonic Professional Plasma.

 

[balloonshark]

Size of display is more important than the resolution difference between 720p and 1080p. Especially at the distance you are talking about.

You are not trying to use it as your computer monitor are you? It's a bit far.

Thanks sdifox. I'm not going to use it as a computer monitor. I may find a reason to eventually but it would be for entertainment purposes only.

 

[sdifox]

Thanks sdifox. I'm not going to use it as a computer monitor. I may find a reason to eventually but it would be for entertainment purposes only.

Also, you should head over to antenna.web to figure out what kind of antenna and direction you need.

Worst case scenario, build your own antenna.