Help me choose a 50" PLASMA

[Troublesome4u]

Hello. I',m looking to purchase a new Plasma tv. I'm looking at the :shootout:
Samsung HP-R5072 and Pioneer PDP-5060HD. The samsung cost less and has better specs according to the website but you never know unless you see them next to each other. I have two pioneers already and have been very happy with them so far. So which is better? Does anyone have other suggestions on other HDTV's I should be looking at? Has anyone ever heard of the lag on samsung hdtv's when hooked up to a computer for gamming? Thanks

[mjones73]

Can't go wrong with Panasonic, they make very good plasma displays.

[Troublesome4u]

I went to Panasonicusa.com and checked out the plasmas. They are nice but Im looking for something with 1080p res. For the price $3200 shipped, the samsung seems to be the best.
http://www.samsung.com/Products/TV/PlasmaTV/HPR5072XXAA.asp

# New Samsung Generation 5 Panel
- 10,000:1 Contrast Ratio
- 1,300 cd/m² Brightness
# New Premium "Bezel-Less" Design
# 60,000 Hour Panel Life (27 Years @ 6 hrs a day)
# 1366 (H) x 768 (V) Pixel Resolution
# Digital Cable Ready (DCR) Tuner With Cable CARD slot
# Built-in HDTV tuner (ATSC terrestrial tuner)
# 13-Bit Processing (549 Billion Colors)
# Split Screen & Picture-In-Picture
# Samsung DNIe™
# 175°(H/V) Viewing Angle
# 3D Y/C Digital Comb Filter
# Auto Pixel Shift (Burn In Resistant)
# VESA Compatible
# 15-Watt Per Channel Built-in Audio Amplifier
# Built-In 2-Way, 10-Speaker System
# SRS TruSurround XT™
# HDMI, 2 component video, 2 S-Video, 2 composite video, PC inputs and more
# Anynet™ System Control Solution

[Ratman]

Is there a 1080p plasma available yet? :whistle:

http://engadget.com/2006/01/04/pioneer-50-inch-1080p-plasma-screen-due-in-june/



You may have mis-read, but this is the Samsung's spec:
# 1366 (H) x 768 (V) Pixel Resolution

[gparris]

The best plasmas I have ever seen are the Panasonics and remember to check this forums FAQs on buying HDTVs first. :)

Personally, plasmas are pretty much plug and play without many moving parts like the DLPs with their colour wheels spininng, wobble mirrors and the light engine and its fan/bulb combo - the last of which is common to all fixed pixel displays. :D

Check out the set for awhile with various scenes to see if you see any rainbows or if any other household member sees them as it can cause eye strain and take away from the pleasure of HDTV watching. :whistle:

[gparris]

Does anyone make a 1080p plasma? :whistle:

I believe when I googled the 1080p 65" Panasonic plasma it was just coming out along with the 50" Pioneer 1080p PDP just announced at CES.

[Ratman]

LOL... found it! :)
($200 per inch!)

[gparris]

No problem, Ratman, I remember your tag line...Try using Google...Fool!
These sets are intially going to be very expensive for plasmas in 1080p.

Maybe the DLP 1080p or LCoS 1080p sets will have to do for now, unless LCD flat panel 1080p sets at what, a maximum offering of 45 or 46 inches will do - though these are not 50" size desired.

[Ratman]

No problem, Ratman, I remember your tag line...Try using Google...Fool!

:rofl2: LOL... a taste of my own medicine! :D

[Troublesome4u]

Oh thanks I see :wow: . It can just do 1080p but the actual res is lower. So aside from the fact that it has the same resolution as all the othe plasmas how do the other specs compare. They seem high when compared side by side to other plasmas. Is samsungs 10,000:1 contrast comparable to pansonics 4000:1 and so on? Maybe Panasonic uses Better parts?

[mjones73]

Where did you find the Samsung for $3200? Most places I've checked want $4200 for it.

Panasonic always get high reviews for their plasma displays. They also market a retail and a commercial line, the commercial lines tend to be cheaper because they have less bells and whistles. If you don't need a built in ATSC tuner and speakers, check out the TH-50PHD8UK, it can be had online for $3k before shipping. It comes standard with component connections and you can add HDMI inputs at $155 a piece. The Panasonics have slots you can use different types of input cards with.

http://www.visualapex.com/plasma/Plasma_details.asp?chPartNumber=TH-50PHD8UK&MFR=Panasonic

[Troublesome4u]

This is where I found it for the price. Froogle.com is my friend. http://www.bwayphoto.com/product.asp?item=sahpr5072&l=PriceRunner

This new plasma is to replace a pioneer PDP-502mx I've had since 2000. I just had to replace the power suply on it.

I haven't check out the commercial line yet so I'll do that now. Well Panasonic does seem good and you really seem to like it so now I will begin researching them. thanks

[jrowland96]

Not sure if Broadway photo is one of the sites, but I believe it's a con/shell game. I'm into digital photography, and there were a bunch of "online retail" sites that are all owned by the same company, and have EXTREMELY LOW prices. Basically, it's a bait/switch game, where they give you this price, but then want something like $400 for the power cable (that's included if you know what you're shopping for), etc. If you tell them you don't want the "extra stuff", then your order becomes permanently back-ordered until you end up cancelling. If you take the $400 cable/battery and any other "extras" (in the case of a digital camera), it ships immediately but you end up paying the same/more than you would have from a reputable place in the first place.

Like I said, I'm not sure if the site you mention was one of that group (it's name sounded familiar, and they were all NY "companies") but there was a whole slew of online camera/plasma type retailers that were in the list. Do some serious user reviews of this company before placing an order would be my advice.

When it sounds too good to be true, it is! :)

good luck! :)

John

[Troublesome4u]

Thanks good info I will be careful. There were many site that had the around the same price I just clicked and linked the second one I saw. I'll be more careful to not link unreputable site.

[wayne1932]

I have the R5012, 50 inch plasma with ATSC tuner that I bought at Sam's club for $3276 plus tax. I have had it a couple of months and have been very pleased. :)

[Troublesome4u]

Wayne192, Really :pimpy:. What other models were you comparing at the time of purchase? How do the blacks look? Do you have a link for Sam's club? Thanks

[badchad]

As a certified noob to High def. and these forums; I'll offer my highly subjective opinion on the matter as I just purchased my 50" plasma (you may crucify me later).

When I was plasma shopping, I found that Panasonics looked the best. After the Panasonics everything else looked fairly comparable (they "brought up the rear of the pack" so to speak). However, I only saw the displays in the store which was obviously a problem ("torch mode", lighting etc.).

Since I couldn't afford the Panasonic I decided that the rest of the TV's wouldn't be significantly different, so I went with what was cheapest. I'm a poor student so money was obviously the major issue with me.

I ended up getting a 50 inch Akai. Apparently, they are made by Samsung and manufactured in the same factory etc. I got a 2006 Akai PDP5025, which isn't even listed on the website yet. It has slightly better specs and HDMI input; which is different than the model lsited on the website.

I paid $2495 for mine. Far cheaper than either the panasonic or samsung (for an "in store" "bricks and mortar" purchase). No online shipping, no hassles, just packed it in the minivan and took off.

I'm very pleased with it thus far; although it's my first HD so I have little to compare it to. The purists and hardcore enthusiasts may tell you how cheap and crappy Akai is "you get what you pay for" but I'm happy. In addition 99% of the population (non-enthusiasts) would be unable to distinguish my set from other plasma sets (except for maybe the panasonic). For example, you won't be drinking beer with your friends watching the game and have a buddy say: "Gee, you set is displaying some crushed whites, along with overly warm red tones".

And as someone else said, be careful of some sites. After reading reviews I was hesitant to purchase online and I'm glad I didn't.

[mjones73]

If you look into plasma further, you'll see there's only like 6 companies that make the panels, anyone else selling sets, such as your Akai is using someone elses panel. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, just at that point, what sets the Akai apart from other people using Samsung panels is the supporting electronics, features, and price of the set.

[Ratman]

... and warranty/service.