Plasma thoughts & suggestions for a noob.

[trombone dixie]

I've used my LCD monitor for blu-ray viewing for far too long and saved up enough for my first full set-up. I've decided to go plamsa because the top three 2011 models on cnet happen to be plasmas. After hours of research I've narrowed it down to three models:

Panasonic VT30 Series (55')

Samsung PND8000 Series (51' or 59')

Samsung PND7000 Series (51' or 59')

I honestly don't care for 3D as I will scarcely watch blu-rays in 3D. So if you know of any non-3D plasmas that compete with the picture and black level quality of these three models please let me know. I'd greatly appreciate your thoughts and opinions on which one I should get. According to cnet the pq wasn't much of a difference between the 7000 series and 8000 series. If that's true I wouldn't mind saving extra money. Thanks in advance for any suggestions and thoughts.

Ps. I'm also in the market for a sound system, etc. For my first set-up I was thinking of just going for a soundbar because this TV will be in my bedroom until I move into my own place. Any suggestions on audio would be awesome as well.

[frogmort]

Originally Posted by trombone dixie

I've used my LCD monitor for blu-ray viewing for far too long and saved up enough for my first full set-up. I've decided to go plamsa because the top three 2011 models on cnet happen to be plasmas. After hours of research I've narrowed it down to three models:

Panasonic VT30 Series (55')

Samsung PND8000 Series (51' or 59')

Samsung PND7000 Series (51' or 59')

I honestly don't care for 3D as I will scarcely watch blu-rays in 3D. So if you know of any non-3D plasmas that compete with the picture and black level quality of these three models please let me know. I'd greatly appreciate your thoughts and opinions on which one I should get. According to cnet the pq wasn't much of a difference between the 7000 series and 8000 series. If that's true I wouldn't mind saving extra money. Thanks in advance for any suggestions and thoughts.

Ps. I'm also in the market for a sound system, etc. For my first set-up I was thinking of just going for a soundbar because this TV will be in my bedroom until I move into my own place. Any suggestions on audio would be awesome as well.

I personally prefer Panasonic, it's what I have. I have a rather low end TC-P42s1 1080p plasma, and it looks awesome. I'm sure the top end Pannys are much better.

[The Godfather]

Personally I prefer a LED by Samsung or Pansonic. They give out much better Details than any Plasma. Plasma gives good Color enhancement but lack details and sometimes tend to be too dark. I would look into a 46" LED because it it back lit and tend to brighten the picture up more for brighter color and more in dept details.

[trombone dixie]

Originally Posted by The Godfather

Personally I prefer a LED by Samsung or Pansonic. They give out much better Details than any Plasma. Plasma gives good Color enhancement but lack details and sometimes tend to be too dark. I would look into a 46" LED because it it back lit and tend to brighten the picture up more for brighter color and more in dept details.

Honestly I've never really known the differences between plasma and LED. Plasmas have better wide viewing correct?

If I went LED, I would have to go backlit. So I'd probably get a Sony XBR HX929. My dad's work gets a 30% discount on Sony products. Isn't there a really nice Sharp LED?

[EchopleX]

Plasma definitely has the better PQ of all the different sets out there imo, they just require a little more maitenance but room lighting would be my deciding factor. If you have a bright room, go with the LED or LCD. If you can control your lighting, then go with the plasma. Also, check out the Samsung series 5 (LNXXD550) It has the same panel as the higher end series 6, 7, 8 but no internet apps and custom calibration but there is a way to unlock to get the calibration features found on the series 7. Hope that helps.

[trombone dixie]

Originally Posted by EchopleX

Plasma definitely has the better PQ of all the different sets out there imo, they just require a little more maitenance but room lighting would be my deciding factor. If you have a bright room, go with the LED or LCD. If you can control your lighting, then go with the plasma. Also, check out the Samsung series 5 (LNXXD550) It has the same panel as the higher end series 6, 7, 8 but no internet apps and custom calibration but there is a way to unlock to get the calibration features found on the series 7. Hope that helps.

My bedroom has three windows without blinds but I was thinking of putting my set-up right in front of them. Does light leak through the back???

[EchopleX]

Originally Posted by trombone dixie

My bedroom has three windows without blinds but I was thinking of putting my set-up right in front of them. Does light leak through the back???

That shouldn't be a problem then.

[Gempulse]

Originally Posted by trombone dixie

Honestly I've never really known the differences between plasma and LED. Plasmas have better wide viewing correct?

If I went LED, I would have to go backlit. So I'd probably get a Sony XBR HX929. My dad's work gets a 30% discount on Sony products. Isn't there a really nice Sharp LED?

The Sharp Elite LED is currently the best TV available for purchase arguably, but it's very expensive(5k for 60inch, 7-8k for the 70inch). With this said, I would still rather go with plasma because of the near perfect viewing angles, & superior motion.

Plasmas usually provide deeper black levels on axis & off. Better color accuracy. Off axis viewing. Better motion.

I don't like LED-LCD TV's because the picture quality drops off or diminishes if you move anywhere away from the center. & With most LED-LCD TV's they suffer from flash lighting and blooming, which is incredibly annoying and distracting.

If I were you, I would go with the D7000 or the VT30. The VT30 is going to provide a deeper black level than the D7000, though the D7000 has better color accuracy. For me, I would rather have the better black levels, though you can't go wrong with either, really.

Also, I would like to mention that some of the Samsung plasma models suffer from fluctuating brightness issues. This used to be an issue on the Panasonic TV's earlier this year, but Panasonic has addressed the fluctuating brightness issue and has established a fix for it.

In all honesty, I would say go for the VT30.

[trombone dixie]

Originally Posted by EchopleX

That shouldn't be a problem then.

If not I was planning on talking to the landlord about installing some blinds fixtures.

[EchopleX]

My Best Buy still has the VT25 for $1099 which is a steal. It was voted Best TV for 2010 if I remember correctly but if you want a great bang for the buck, go with the D550. You can get a 51" for about $799-$999 and free glasses in most cases. I've had no brightness pops or buzzing as some have complained about and supposedly the new firmware got rid of those issues.

[Gempulse]

Originally Posted by EchopleX

My Best Buy still has the VT25 for $1099 which is a steal. It was voted Best TV for 2010 if I remember correctly but if you want a great bang for the buck, go with the D550. You can get a 51" for about $799-$999 and free glasses in most cases. I've had no brightness pops or buzzing as some have complained about and supposedly the new firmware got rid of those issues.

No new firmware for Samsung plasmas has addressed or fixed the fluctuating brightness issues. That would be awesome, though.

[EchopleX]

Originally Posted by Gempulse

No new firmware for Samsung plasmas has addressed or fixed the fluctuating brightness issues. That would be awesome, though.

I thought I read somewhere on the avs forums that the new firmware addressed this issue? Either way, I didn't notice any improvements except my brightness settings went from "66" to "59" after I recalibrated the set.

[elwaylite]

No 51" Samsung, they lose on black level. In 55-59, take the larger screen because the D7000 and 8000 are excellent sets.

The floating blacks are still there were with the Samsung, but many of us have found simply reducing the Contrast setting all but kills them.

[elwaylite]

Originally Posted by EchopleX

I thought I read somewhere on the avs forums that the new firmware addressed this issue? Either way, I didn't notice any improvements except my brightness settings went from "66" to "59" after I recalibrated the set.

They have not. There are 3D fluctuations that have been being fixed, but not the floating blacks/gamma shifts.

[trombone dixie]

Originally Posted by elwaylite

No 51" Samsung, they lose on black level. In 55-59, take the larger screen because the D7000 and 8000 are excellent sets.

The floating blacks are still there were with the Samsung, but many of us have found simply reducing the Contrast setting all but kills them.

Are there any good deals on 59' anywhere? I was hoping to spend under $2,000 on the TV, which is why I listed the 51'. At the same time though, I don't want to sacrifice good pq and blacks for a deal.

[Gempulse]

You can get the 59 D7000 on Amazon for $1665. Great deal.

[trombone dixie]

Originally Posted by Gempulse

You can get the 59 D7000 on Amazon for $1665. Great deal.

Linky? Is it new or used?

[trombone dixie]

Oo-de-lally, that price is really tempting for the PN59D7000. I wonder if there will be any awesome deals on the 55VT30 around Thanksgiving?

[trombone dixie]

What are the differences between the PND7000s and PND8000s? I know that the 8000 has the spider legs and some additional internet and apps features. Anything else?

[Gempulse]

No difference between the D8000 and 7000 except the 8000 has a "better" remote and offers more internet functionality. I also think the D8000 has slightly different calibration controls but nothing major. Go for the D7000, for that price Im sure you wont be dissapointed. Inky blacks + excellent color acurracy = great viewing experience.