[TRADERXFAN]

Here is a little story of how I came to own my panasonic 65v10 about 4 months ago.

We had bought a 52 samsung LCD 650a model last year for our 2nd tv room from amazon. We thought a lot of it. Looks really good.  So much so we decided to replace our 61 jvc rear projection, and we  wanted  something bigger for that room.   

Did some  research on Cnet, and looked at tv's at Best buy. In that environment my eye went towards the LCD. But seemed like plasma still was getting better ratings.
 I read up on things over on avs forum. They have quite a bit of discussion, but I found most helpful a  calibrator's  perspective on some different models.

http://hdtvbychadb.com/reviews.htm 


Based on that, and prices on LCDs vs Plasma at that size, I started looking closer at panasonics plasmas. And then found out I was elgible for a panasonic special purchase program through my company affiliation. However, I learned, also from avs forum, that there was a screaming good deal, and that actually beat this purchase program price. It was at ABC warehouse. So I drove over to South bend IN to pick it up and it saved me about 175 bucks over the purchase program, all things considered.

Very excited to get it home and turn it on... well, I was dissapointed.  I thought I made a huge mistake, that I should have stuck with LCD.  But, thank the Lord, that was just break in issues. Because after a day or so it was looking really good.  Now there is a hallway in my house where I can stand between rooms and see both tvs, like a quick a-b. So I was able to compare the same source material, dishnetwork hd. And also from directly in front, (but a little slower going back and forth) And I can confirm that the plasma was the better of these two models.  My wife still says every now and then how much she loves this TV.

Also learned that the brick and mortar stores aren't quite out of the game yet. So its worth checking around. Maybe its the economy or something, but they can still be competitive.

-Tony

[ctviggen]

So you can cook with Rachel Ray.  aa

I can see the utility of this at times, but I find myself going online to get recipes instead of watching TV (and I have many, many hours of Good Eats and other shows taped).  I can see wanting a network connection/computer in the kitchen, but I'm still having a hard time with a TV.

[Phil A]

I noticed Costco has the 54 inch Panasonic for $1,199.99.  I am in the market for a new bedroom TV (I have a 42 inch 1st generation 1080p LCD that will go to the kitchen and replace a 32 inch 720p LCD) and I am tempted.  I have a mount for that size already sitting there.  I do use the TV mainly for sleep timer at night so I am considering an LED due to the energy efficiency.  I do have a  Blu-Ray player in the bedroom system but only watch a couple of movies a year in there.  I guess sometime in the next month or so I'll make up my mind.  If Costco still has sets left, it is very tempting at that price point

You have a 42 inch TV in your kitchen?  What do you do with it?  That is, why would you want a TV in your kitchen?

I have a 32 inch now.  When I upgrade the bedroom TV, the 42 inch will go there.  My kitchen has a morning room and is large.  I have the TV over the fireplace (2 sided that goes from the morning room to the grand room - if you look at my gallery you'll see a grand room entrance shot and the kitchen is behind the main listening chair.  If I am eating, I watch the news or if in the middle of a game it comes in handy.  I had a 13 inch CRT at one point on one of those swivel out trays and it just does not cut it).  Where my kitchen table is, it is probably 20+ feet to the TV.  It does not see tons of use but sees enough use that I want a TV in there.

[Phil A]

So you can cook with Rachel Ray.  aa

Unfortunately my cooking skills are limited to one finger - hitting the numerical pad on the microwave.   I'll add a picture to my gallery from the table to the TV. 

[Jon L]

Do all plasmas "buzz"?

I've noticed a buzzing sound from a couple of plasmas, including Samsung.  Is this normal for plasmas?  Obviously, I don't hear it when there is dialogue/music, but during quiet scenes, I can hear the buzzing from my sofa, about 15 feet away..

[TRADERXFAN]

I have seen that comment on avs about the samsungs a couple of times. I don't hear anything on my panasonic, unless I get right up to it, with no sound.

 Also this seems to fluctuate based on output.

[bummrush]

  Any buzz, for me would be unacceptable, i have a Hitachi,no buzz, and actually good sound for a tv

[Phil A]

Do all plasmas "buzz"?

I've noticed a buzzing sound from a couple of plasmas, including Samsung.  Is this normal for plasmas?  Obviously, I don't hear it when there is dialogue/music, but during quiet scenes, I can hear the buzzing from my sofa, about 15 feet away..

I've heard that some Plasmas do this when they are in higher altitudes.

[Bob in St. Louis]

On my 50" Samsung plasma:
I can hear it "hiss", but only when standing very close to it. From a seated position, maybe 12' away, you can't hear it. Only when the sound is mute and the room is quite, you can hear the hiss if you're VERY close to it. Almost sounds like air is leaking. It's actually louder standing behind the unit as opposed to in front of it.
Seems to me, that it's not as loud as that weird noise a CRT unit emits. You know, the noise you can "sense" from the other room that a tv is turned on. Impossible to explain to a person that's never heard it, but if you know what I mean, then a plasma is NOT as bad as that "thing" a CRT does.

make sense? 

Bob

[honesthoff]

Get the Z or V series Panny, if you can't find a Kuros.  I bought the 50" Z after about 2 months of looking at everything.  LCD was not a real option, and the new (at the time) 8500 series Samsung LED was close, but 1K more and not as good with blacks or refresh.  The extra dollar and a half per year energy costs are a marketing gimmick.

[kip_]

Get the Z or V series Panny, if you can't find a Kuros.  I bought the 50" Z after about 2 months of looking at everything.  LCD was not a real option, and the new (at the time) 8500 series Samsung LED was close, but 1K more and not as good with blacks or refresh.  The extra dollar and a half per year energy costs are a marketing gimmick.

I second the Panasonic recommendation, I have a 54S1 and it's gorgeous. Great blacks and contrast.

[Will2]

Ok - I read this thread and found it very useful - thanks all - and went out and placed an order for a Pioneer Kuro 500m Saturday morning - and was very happy.  Well, I just got an e-mail from Electronic Express (two days later) saying they sold the last one minutes before I placed my order  .  The only one's left online are for sale for $1,000 more than they were selling for a month ago.  So, back to square one for me - what is the next best deal to go for now?  Looking for about 50", monitor is ok - best value for money today with comparable to Kuros quality.  Can anyone point me to a product number and source?  Would be much appreciated.

Cheers
Will

[nature boy]

Will,

I think the 500M's are still available from Value Electronics for $2199 delivered (w/in 200 miles of store), it that's what you want.

http://www.valueelectronics.com/avstc.htm

Please note however their reseller ratings are not the best:

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/ValueElectronics

I have not purchased from them.

NB

[Will2]

Will,

I think the 500M's are still available from Value Electronics for $2199 delivered (w/in 200 miles of store), it that's what you want.

http://www.valueelectronics.com/avstc.htm

Please note however their reseller ratings are not the best:

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/ValueElectronics

I have not purchased from them.

NB

Thanks NB - just checked them out and they say they are out too - looks like I'm certainly the "late bird" who misses the worm in this case.  Please keep those recommendations coming!!

Will

[Atlplasma]

Will,

I think the 500M's are still available from Value Electronics for $2199 delivered (w/in 200 miles of store), it that's what you want.

http://www.valueelectronics.com/avstc.htm

Please note however their reseller ratings are not the best:

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/ValueElectronics

I have not purchased from them.

NB

Thanks NB - just checked them out and they say they are out too - looks like I'm certainly the "late bird" who misses the worm in this case.  Please keep those recommendations coming!!

Will

I know you're looking at plasmas (and personally I like my Pioneer), but you might want to check out this review by JJ Johnson over at the Secrets site. He gives one model of Vizio LCD a stellar review. It's 55 inches and available for around $1800.

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/televisions-products-menu-column2-45/747-vizio-vf551xvt-55q-lcd-led-hdtv.html

[zybar]

I know you're looking at plasmas (and personally I like my Pioneer), but you might want to check out this review by JJ Johnson over at the Secrets site. He gives one model of Vizio LCD a stellar review. It's 55 inches and available for around $1800.

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/televisions-products-menu-column2-45/747-vizio-vf551xvt-55q-lcd-led-hdtv.html

John isn't prone to exaggerating or hyping a product, so this review carries some decent weight with me.

To give you another point of view, here is a positive, but less glowing review:

http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/vizio-vf551xvt/4505-6482_7-33485116.html?tag=centerColumnArea1.2

And one final review:

http://www.bigpicturebigsound.com/VIZIO-VF551XVT-LCD-LED-HDTV.shtml

George

[toobluvr]

  I have a Hitachi 42 in plasma,3 yrs old,performs perfect.Looked at Sony LCD's ,picture was absolutely no better and in fact worse then the Hitachi,If you watch ,really and this includes almost any scene at certain points ,the motion of plasma compared to lcd is clearly with plasma,no comparison,sports with plasma much better.
 Probably marketing with the numbers bs. I think at the time i bought mine Hitachi still made all their own glass,,so that did influence me a bit also.

I too bought a 42 inch Hitachi Plasma two years ago.  I'm not super anal about video.....it is almost an afterthought to me.  I mainly want a decent picture and a good price.  But I did shop around a bit and to my eyes the Hitachi picture was better than most (if not all) of the big names recommended in this thread.

Additionally and FWIW, the salesman was very high on the Hitachi picture quality, and the overall quality of its parts and manufacturing.  He said they were a big supplier of quality parts to the military, and that they also make almost all their TV parts in-house.  I have no idea if it is true, but quality parts and an integrated manufacturing process sounded good to me.
 
The price was nice and it has performed flawlessly and has a great picture, so I am happy with it.