46inch 1080p or 50inch 720p?

[pin0yizm]

mainly used for gaming and watching tv.. 50 inch panny cost about 700 and the 46inch panny is 900 .. what do you guys think?

[recS-12]

I would go w/the 1080p. If I'm going to spend 500+ on a tv I would just feel better knowing if I need to utilize 1080p it's been included on my purchase. go for the 1080p. no need to upgrade in the future.

[lojack1976]

I personally think it depends on the models. For example if you are comparing a 50" X1 to a 46" S1 then the X1 will give you a better picture since it has much better blacks that are about the same as the G10. I personally would prefer the deeper blacks over the increase in resolution. If you sit relatively close however then 1080p is more desirable since the difference will be more noticeable.

At these sizes the difference is not going to be huge though. If you sit more than 6ft. away the difference will be barely noticeable if at all. My 50" 768p Panny in the bedroom produces an excellent picture and it replaced a 42" 1080p set. The difference in sharpness is very small and the increase in size and overall picture quality was worth the small sacrifice in resolution. If the 46" you are looking at happens to be a G10 then I would go with that over the 50", but if it is any other model I'd go with the 50" assuming that its an X1.

[pin0yizm]

the 46inch model is the TH46PZ80U is $898 at 6ave and the 50inch is the X1 $743 amazon ..

[Toptube]

games are going to look sharper on the 720p. Overall I think TV will be a better experience in 720p, with a lot of channels still being SD and 720p is probably the dominant form of HD on american networks.


Blu-ray still looks awesome on 720p sets. But if you plan to watch a lot of them or are really into film, it may make sense to go with 1080p.

[Beta Man]

Depends on the viewing distance and if you plan on watching a lot of Blu-rays.

If it's honestly "mostly games and T.V." I would get the 720p regardless of viewing distance......

[perfectdark]

Originally Posted by pin0yizm

mainly used for gaming and watching tv.. 50 inch panny cost about 700 and the 46inch panny is 900 .. what do you guys think?

I would ask what models?

I have a 720p Panny Plasma and the picture quality and sharpness is better than my brothers 40" 1080p Samsung LCD so it all depends. We viewed the same bluray movie Casino Royale via Ps3 HDMI and even our wives could see the difference (and thats saying something)

[Trean]

Originally Posted by Toptube

with a lot of channels still being SD and 720p is probably the dominant form of HD on american networks.

As far as the major 5 network stations:

I know NBC and CBS are 1080i over the air. FOX and ABC are 720p over the air, I believe. I don't know what the CW is.

[pin0yizm]

so TC-P50X1 over TH46PZ80U then? I mean I guess movies will be watched on it also but not that much.

[lojack1976]

Originally Posted by pin0yizm

so TC-P50X1 over TH46PZ80U then? I mean I guess movies will be watched on it also but not that much.

I would take it the TC-P50X1 over it. Its bigger, a newer model, and it has a much better black level.

[Grif32]

Originally Posted by lojack1976

I personally think it depends on the models. For example if you are comparing a 50" X1 to a 46" S1 then the X1 will give you a better picture since it has much better blacks that are about the same as the G10. I personally would prefer the deeper blacks over the increase in resolution. If you sit relatively close however then 1080p is more desirable since the difference will be more noticeable.

At these sizes the difference is not going to be huge though. If you sit more than 6ft. away the difference will be barely noticeable if at all. My 50" 768p Panny in the bedroom produces an excellent picture and it replaced a 42" 1080p set. The difference in sharpness is very small and the increase in size and overall picture quality was worth the small sacrifice in resolution. If the 46" you are looking at happens to be a G10 then I would go with that over the 50", but if it is any other model I'd go with the 50" assuming that its an X1.

The S1 is the better TV and basically the same TV as the G10. (THX display certification, 1080p/24-friendly refresh rate and VieraCast interactive add-ons found on the step-up G10 series)

S1 beats the X1. Blacks are better on the S1 then the X1

The X1 models are also missing the higher-contrast, more-efficient NEO PDP panel found on step-up models like the TC-PS1 series.

Not sure why you would say the X1 is the better TV then the S1..

But in this Case I would go with the larger Screen. I think the X1 for $699 is a steal. If it were more I would get the better TV which is the S1

Here is a thread on avs explaining why the S1 is better then the X1. I know they are comparing 50" to 50" but it's still the S1 vs the X1

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1132596

[eclimax13]

also check sears...you should be able to pick up a tcp50s1 for around $850

[pin0yizm]

picked up the X1 for $646! at sears today.. there was an S1 but closest store that has it was in san diego

[pin0yizm]

well i got assed out, i did in store pick up at sears and received the email that my tv was ready to be picked up, I got there at 7pm... they said they dont have it in stock! I was so pissed! and ofcourse none of the stores around me have it

[lojack1976]

Originally Posted by Grif32

The S1 is the better TV and basically the same TV as the G10. (THX display certification, 1080p/24-friendly refresh rate and VieraCast interactive add-ons found on the step-up G10 series)

S1 beats the X1. Blacks are better on the S1 then the X1

The X1 models are also missing the higher-contrast, more-efficient NEO PDP panel found on step-up models like the TC-PS1 series.

Not sure why you would say the X1 is the better TV then the S1..

But in this Case I would go with the larger Screen. I think the X1 for $699 is a steal. If it were more I would get the better TV which is the S1

Here is a thread on avs explaining why the S1 is better then the X1. I know they are comparing 50" to 50" but it's still the S1 vs the X1

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1132596

Sorry, but you can look at the Cnet review of the X1 and they clearly stated that it had better blacks than the S1. The S1 doesn't have blacks anywhere near the G10. I've seen all three of these side by side many times and I've heavily scrutinized them since I briefly considered the S1...very briefly.

The S1 is only better in resolution, but in regards to actual picture quality it was purposely gimped to be quite a bit lesser than the G10. Think about it...why would they sell the S1 for considerably less while giving you the same picture as the G10? People aren't paying the extra money for THX and 48Hz playback that's for sure. Its just a considerably better set.

The X1 on the other hand has a picture nearly identical to the G10 save for the resolution difference with it being 768p. Seeing the X1 beside the S1 was like night and day and I've seen them several times in different stores. The S1's only marketing point over it is resolution. The X1 clearly has deeper blacks which I've witnessed firsthand.

[PaulJunior]

How about a $999 Vivitek full HD projector?

[eclimax13]

Originally Posted by lojack1976

Sorry, but you can look at the Cnet review of the X1 and they clearly stated that it had better blacks than the S1. The S1 doesn't have blacks anywhere near the G10. I've seen all three of these side by side many times and I've heavily scrutinized them since I briefly considered the S1...very briefly.

The S1 is only better in resolution, but in regards to actual picture quality it was purposely gimped to be quite a bit lesser than the G10. Think about it...why would they sell the S1 for considerably less while giving you the same picture as the G10? People aren't paying the extra money for THX and 48Hz playback that's for sure. Its just a considerably better set.

The X1 on the other hand has a picture nearly identical to the G10 save for the resolution difference with it being 768p. Seeing the X1 beside the S1 was like night and day and I've seen them several times in different stores. The S1's only marketing point over it is resolution. The X1 clearly has deeper blacks which I've witnessed firsthand.

i own all three models and i can tell you your black level theory is wrong...also at no time did i hear any mention of the x1 having better blacks than any other panasonic plasma in cnets review...in fact they said that the s1 actually rivals the kuro in black levels

[lojack1976]

Originally Posted by eclimax13

i own all three models and i can tell you your black level theory is wrong...also at no time did i hear any mention of the x1 having better blacks than any other panasonic plasma in cnets review...in fact they said that the s1 actually rivals the kuro in black levels

You must have misread something. Here is a direct quote from Cnet's X1 review:

"Black level: The Panasonic TC-P50X1's best picture quality characteristic is its capability to deliver a deep shade of black, which, as usual, lends the entire picture depth and pop in all lighting conditions. In a darkened home theater, watching dim scenes like the nighttime drive at the beginning of Chapter 7, the 50X1 handily out-blacked the LCDs (aside from the LED-powered Sony) and even looked a bit darker than Panasonic's own TC-P42S1 despite that more-expensive series' higher contrast ratio spec. The Panasonic G10 delivered a slightly deeper shade of black, however, and of course the Pioneer plasma was a good deal darker."

I've seen the X1 beside the S1 several times and it was obvious that the X1 produces the darker shade of black.

[Grif32]

Originally Posted by lojack1976

You must have misread something. Here is a direct quote from Cnet's X1 review:

"Black level: The Panasonic TC-P50X1's best picture quality characteristic is its capability to deliver a deep shade of black, which, as usual, lends the entire picture depth and pop in all lighting conditions. In a darkened home theater, watching dim scenes like the nighttime drive at the beginning of Chapter 7, the 50X1 handily out-blacked the LCDs (aside from the LED-powered Sony) and even looked a bit darker than Panasonic's own TC-P42S1 despite that more-expensive series' higher contrast ratio spec. The Panasonic G10 delivered a slightly deeper shade of black, however, and of course the Pioneer plasma was a good deal darker."

I've seen the X1 beside the S1 several times and it was obvious that the X1 produces the darker shade of black.

First you are comparing these models in the Store ... Nothing like when you get them home like eclimax13 who owns them in his home. Not looking at them in a store setting.



2nd you are taking Cnet's Review on the X1 and the Blacks. Well this is what they say about the S1.

"Its picture quality is also very good, starting with deep black levels that nearly rival the all-time champ in that department, Pioneer's Kuro models"

So I am not sure why they say the X1 looked darker but the S1 blacks rival Pioneer's kuro. Makes Zero sense.

And yes the extra money for the G10 is because of the THX, plus the other couple features the G10 has over the S1 ie.. Vierra Cast

G10 is a better TV then the S1 but not buy much.

My buddy bought the X1 and it's a great tv for the money... I was surprised at how nice this TV was but my co-worker bought the S1 and it looked so much better to me in a home setting then the x1

[PaulJunior]

Have you considered buying a projector?