Which Plasma to buy?

[ctribble]

Can somebody tell me the major difference in these two plasmas?
Both are Panasonic...
TH42PHD8UK

and the

TH42PX50U

Is the first one more for Business type applications and the second one..used for home use?

I know my cable company broadcast in 1080I.
THanks for the help
C>T>

 

[tedmjr2]

The PHD8UK is a monitor. Since you'll be using the cable company, there's no need to pay for a built-in tuner that the PX50U provides. If you already have a 5.1 sound system, then again you'll not need to pay for the speakers you won't be using that come attached to the PX50U.

The TH-42PHD8UK can be purchased for about $2,300 (incl. shipping) from a reputable and authorized Panasonic dealer. The TH-42PX50U is probably over $2,800 (incl. shipping).

If you don't yet have a 5.1 sound system, a pair of speakers can be purchased customized by Panasonic for the monitor or you can use any small pair of speakers to handle the 10-15W output. You'll probably need an HDMI or DVI board ($150) to go with the monitor. Also, you'll either need to purchase a table stand or wall mounting hardware for a monitor.

 

[BMXTRIX]

As far as I know the glass is the same and the processing is the same.

The 8UK lacks the following items:
Speakers
Tuner (NTSC)
Tuner (ATSC)
CableCard Slot
HDMI Input
2 Component Inputs (8UK has 1 instead of 2)
It also lists the 50U as having 8.5 billion colors vs. 3.6 billion on the 8UK which must mean the processing is not the same on both displays. Probably more video oriented on the 50U

You can look at specs for each unit here:
http://www.bestbuyplasma.com/Plasma/product.asp_X_Sku_Y_TH42PX50U_Z_tab_Y_tab2
and
http://www.bestbuyplasma.com/Plasma/product.asp_X_Sku_Y_TH42PHD8UK_Z_tab_Y_tab2

 

[Apogee]

I think the speaker that comes with the tv is good idea, since you don't want to use your receiver all the time.....

 

[ctribble]

Thanks

I appreciate the help guys...I am going with the one with speakers.
C.T.

 

[Johnny Canuck]

I have ordered one too.... 2 weeks to wait.

 

[Geno]

You might want to take a look at the Vizio 50" at Costco. $2500, has speakers, but no tuners. Two HDMI inputs, two Components.

 

[zilla]

Thanks for the info guys, I'm in the same market and looking hard at both of those plasmas.

 

[Johnny Canuck]

1)What is Vizio? I know I would not be spending that kind of cash on a no-name

2) Nor would I even consider a TV or anything electronic for that matter from Costco.

Panasonic is the best in plasmas.

JC

 

[klsfdx]

Vizio

Just purchased a 37" Visio LCD at Costco, but compared all of the brands and plasma vs LCD. Visio is a fairly new entity based in Costa Mesa CA, but their products are made in Asia of course. The guy who started the company had been in the computer monitor market prior to home entertainement. A few reviews online helped me make my decision.
So far I am incredibly impressed with this unit and I recommend expanding your shopping horizons to save 7 to 8 hundred dollars over a comparable product, but that's just me. Everyone who has seen the picture at my home is mezemerized by it. The other advantage is that at Costco for the next year I can take it back no questions asked. Later too when the price of Plasmas come down and if my needs to go larger increase the LCD would make an incredible gaming screen for my kids game boxes. KLSFDX

 

[279BLUE]

Consider this another vote for Costco. I have taken electronic items back that went out WAY past the manufacturers warranty & they refunded full cash price w/ no questions.

 

[Johnny Canuck]

Costco must be different in the US. Up here in Canada, Costco is equivalent to Wal-Mart. They sell crap. Their clothes, like Calvin Klein for example, are not real calvin Klein but stuff that real stores would not sell, almost like a factory clearance outlet. The CD's they sell are end pressings, like Columbia House, so they sell them cheap and they are not of the same quality. Their electronics are names like Yorx, Lloyds, Emerson, and the odd Sony crap that people go "wow!! A sony!!!" So sorry to slag you, but no way no how would I drop cash like that at Costco..at least not in Canada. Costco is for fat people looking to buy a hundred muffins or 10 pounds of Froot Loops.

 

[thoward4444]

Th-42phd8uk

I just bought a TH-42PHD8UK and have been very happy with the picture quality. Just make sure you buy the HDMI video board to get the best possible picture. With the TY-FB7HM HDMI board the display can render 4,096 gradation levels, double what it can without the HDMI board.