Panny z85 over z800?

[MADCOW]

The Panny z800 seems to have only 2 features over the z85. THX mode,, and the 48hz mode which causes so much flickering it's essentially useless.

Would proper manual optimization of the z85, not equal the benefits of the z800s thx mode?

Specwise everything else seems the same, but the z800 goes for $1000 more.

Is there some other advantages to the z800 that I'm not aware of? Deeper black level perhaps, or more accurate colours, what's the deal?

 

[PENG]

There are more differences, and I think the 850 has a better plasma screen as well.

http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vModelComparisonResults?storeId=15001&catalogId=13401&catGroupId=75003&surfCategory=VIERA%26%23174%3B%20Plasma%20HDTVs&cacheProgram=11002&cachePartner=7000000000000005702&items=228664|221678|

 

[MADCOW]

It's the z85 vs the z800 that are my potential choices though.

The only things I can see different between the z85 and the z800 are difference in speakers (irrelevant for me), the 800 has slightly more Shades of Gradation, 48hz mode, an extra HDMI input, and thx mode.

Now the only thing on that list that could be relevant for me is the THX mode.

The question is, would it make a difference over a properly optimized z85.

I just can't see it being worth that much extra money for slightly more shades of gradation, one more hmdi input, a useless 24p cinema mode, and a THX mode, that you can get similar or better results than by optimizing.

http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vModelComparisonResults?storeId=15001&catalogId=13401&catGroupId=75003&surfCategory=VIERA%26%23174%3B%20Plasma%20HDTVs&cacheProgram=11002&cachePartner=7000000000000005702&items=227174|221678|

 

[PENG]

It's the z85 vs the z800 that are my potential choices though.

Sorry I made a mistake. However, the PZ800 is listed for only $300 more. Street price difference may be less. It also has a swivel stand, and that one piece glass over the whole front of the TV is nice. If those features are not important to you then the PZ85 may be a better deal. Please also note that neither set allows color temperature adjustment, so the THX mode may be a good feature to have because it supposedly gets you close to the ideal color temperature.

 

[MADCOW]

Ya, the street prices where I'm at are off by a thousand bucks between these 2 tvs. And like I said the THX mode is the only feature I see as a relevant reason to purchase the 800 over the 85.

Without proper color adjustment though, I don't know. I only want the z85 if I can calibrate it close to "perfection".

As far as the z800, I can get the Pioneer KURO 5020 for about $500 less than the 800, but as far as I know that TV also lacks colour temperature adjustment.

It looks like I am going to have to wait a long time for prices on the z800 to drop then.

 

[MADCOW]

Opps, the prices are not off by as much as I thought.

I was comparing the 58inch z800 to the 50 inch of the others. I didn't even notice, I guess the 50 inchers are getting harder to track down.

Maybe I'll just grab the Pioneer 5020, at least I'll have the best black levels in town!

 

[Bluesmoke]

Just get the Kuro. Everyone I see dabating about which Panasonic to get ends up researching and ends up with the Kuro anyway.