Plasma HDTV choice

[Reorx]

My mother inlaw wants a big tv.
I've got it narrowed down.
How would you rate these tv's, from Best to Worst?
From reading reviews...And from what I've seen of the Panasonic and Pioneer's in store (tweeter), I'd rate them as the following:

1 - 60” Pioneer Kuro PDP-6010FD
2 - 58” Panasonic Viera TH-58PZ700U
3 - 58” Panasonic Viera TH-58PZ750U
4 - 58” Samsung FP-T5894W
5 - 58” Samsung FP-T5884

Reorx

 

[acacia987]

yeah thats right

 

[1tribeca]

Switch the Panasonics.

 

[Audioman321]

I quite agree with that list.

 

[Reorx]

I thought about switching the panasonic's around, but, I heard this from a number of review sites.

Panasonic differentiates its 750U from the less-expensive 700U series by including a Studio Reference picture mode and a Pro Setting menu. The Studio Reference picture mode is said to provide "high-quality gradation and color tone for a cinema-like feel," but in our experience it was a bit disappointing.

http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/panasonic-th-58pz750u/4505-6482_7-32487806.html

So I placed the 700u ahead of the 750u. It's cheaper, and maybe she'll buy a blu-ray player to go along with it.

 

[HiDefGuru]

Amen man, Couldn't agree more between the 700 and 750

 

[stratman]

Accurate list.

 

[1tribeca]

Ok, perhaps you folks are correct. I'm not as experienced with the Panny product as I am with Pioneer. Great value either way. I s'ppose it's similiar to the XBR4/5 thing...extra $$$ for a glossy bezel and speakers that are a bit better...I think.

 

[Reorx]

Ok, perhaps you folks are correct. I'm not as experienced with the Panny product as I am with Pioneer. Great value either way. I s'ppose it's similiar to the XBR4/5 thing...extra $$$ for a glossy bezel and speakers that are a bit better...I think.

I always stay far away from Sony due to past experiences.
As for the speakers...To me, the TV is about video...not audio, so I don't worry about the built in speakers. Especially since it'll be hooked into a speaker system.

 

[mouettus]

I don't know what you guys have against Sony that much. They simply make the best LCD out there (XBR4). I don't understand either what the fuzz is about the panasonic plasmas. I think the black levels are horrible, but that's just me.

Apart the fact that I've been robbed by Sony (3500$ for the 46V2500), I like their tvs very mucho. Actually I only like their tvs and the ps3. But I really have to agree that the only tv that maked my jaw touch my feet is the kuro series from pioneer. especially the 50in 1080p one. talk about details and black levels. 5000$ though :S

 

[dobyblue]

Yes, the PDP-6010FD is definitely the tits when it comes to plasma sets on the market right now, with the exception of its Elite counterpart of course.

The new -800 and -850 series Panny's which are coming out this Spring (Fall for the 58" and 65" models, all -850 series plasmas will be IPTV's - http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prModelDetail?storeId=11301&catalogId=13251&itemId=215669&modelNo=Content01072008044553219&surfModel=Content01072008044553219) will all support 24fps via 48Hz using 2:2 pulldown. That's one I have my eye on. For what you get for the dollar, you can't beat the Panasonic's. If money is no object, the Pioneer Elite should take the cake and has 72Hz refresh rate for 1080p24 sources.

I don't know what you guys have against Sony that much. They simply make the best LCD out there (XBR4). I don't understand either what the fuzz is about the panasonic plasmas. I think the black levels are horrible, but that's just me.

It's definitely just you.


Gary Merson couldn't even measure the black levels of the Panasonic 750U.
http://hdguru.com/?p=100

You're right about the Sony LCD's though - they are the only 120Hz sets that consistently correctly use 5:5 pulldown on 1080p24 sources, rather than 3:2 to get to 60Hz then 2:2 to double it, like a number of the Sharp and Samsung sets do.

However the black levels and motion resolution on the new LED LCD sets from Samsung that have the Smart Dimming technology have set benchmarks for LCD. 800 lines of motion resolution when Motion Plus is on. However the blacks are still bested by plasma easily and with the new Panasonic sets acheiving over 900 lines of motion resolution there really shouldn't be many things to sway people away from plasma. It is definitely the best panel technology for film reproduction.

 

[mouettus]

there really shouldn't be many things to sway people away from plasma. It is definitely the best panel technology for film reproduction.

The simple fact that I am using quite often my LCD as a computer monitor is the only reason I went LCD instead of plasma. Pixel burning, no thank you.

 

[dobyblue]

The simple fact that I am using quite often my LCD as a computer monitor is the only reason I went LCD instead of plasma. Pixel burning, no thank you.

Yes pixel burning is not something I want either, luckily that hasn't been an issue with plasma for a couple of years now.

 

[mouettus]

Yes pixel burning is not something I want either, luckily that hasn't been an issue with plasma for a couple of years now.

Yes the technology is indeed better but still... let's say I surf on audioholics for a couple of hours in a row (like right now lol), you can't help it... there's going to be you taskbar printed forever on the bottom of your screen.

 

[bandphan]

Yes the technology is indeed better but still... let's say I surf on audioholics for a couple of hours in a row (like right now lol), you can't help it... there's going to be you taskbar printed forever on the bottom of your screen.

pixel shifting, or orbitor what ever they call it now, if your worried about your task bar just auto hide it if have clients that whatch news channels all day and NO issues.

 

[dobyblue]

Yes the technology is indeed better but still... let's say I surf on audioholics for a couple of hours in a row (like right now lol), you can't help it... there's going to be you taskbar printed forever on the bottom of your screen.

Well I wouldn't recommend plasma for a computer monitor that's going to be used for several hours a day. If it was for a few hours, you might have some image retention, not burn in. If you're also using it for movies and TV's then I don't think the PC usage will be much of an issue.

 

[gus6464]

What's the big deal with Pioneer Kuros? I've seen them in action and for the most part I just find them to be an overpriced Panasonic. Sure the black level is a smudge better but is it twice the price better? Hell no.....