Which Panasonic plasma - Blu-ray Forum

smiley · 01-19-2009, 09:54 PM

I am planning to purchase a 50" Panasonic plasma TV. I am planning to get one of the 1080P models with 30000:1 contrast. I am wondering if the more expensive models are worth it? Or should I go with the TH-50PZ85U?

crackinhedz · 01-19-2009, 09:55 PM

if price is a concern, go with the 85u.

if its not a concern, id try the 800u

smiley · 01-19-2009, 09:56 PM

Also I am not inerested in sound. I do not plan to use the TV speakers and I am not really interested in vera cast. All I am really looking at is picture quality.

brett_day · 01-19-2009, 10:08 PM

85u is an awesome tv! as crackin said if you can afford the 800u go for it, any of the panny plasma PQ will blow you away! My 80u is stunning! Actually just wrote a review about it here

http://www.epinions.com/review/Panas...t_458315435652

DrinkMore · 01-19-2009, 10:12 PM

Looks like you have your answers

smiley · 01-20-2009, 03:04 AM

What about the TH-50PZ850U it says Digital Cinima Color. Does this make a big difference?

ZIPPO · 01-20-2009, 03:11 AM

Nice review Brett.

Hammie · 01-20-2009, 04:11 AM

I love my 850. Not sure if the DCC makes a difference, but I feel that it has better colors and blacks than the Samsung 860 I returned in order to get the Panny.

brett_day · 01-20-2009, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZIPPO

Nice review Brett.

thank you sir! Love spreading the good word about panny plasmas

Bizdady · 01-20-2009, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brett_day

85u is an awesome tv! as crackin said if you can afford the 800u go for it, any of the panny plasma PQ will blow you away! My 80u is stunning! Actually just wrote a review about it here

http://www.epinions.com/review/Panas...t_458315435652

SOLD!! oh wait you already sold me last year lol

smiley · 01-20-2009, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by louhamilton

I love my 850. Not sure if the DCC makes a difference, but I feel that it has better colors and blacks than the Samsung 860 I returned in order to get the Panny.

What about th 850 compared to the 800 or 85? Would be nice if I could go to a store and see them all side by side properly calibrated. But I don't see that happening.

nicholas01 · 01-20-2009, 04:08 PM

Go with the 800U...I've had mine for almost 4 months and I still can't wait to get home every day after work to turn it on!!

I used the following settings on THX mode and it is absolutely stunning...it has that 'window' effect almost all the time when watching in HD!!

User Menu
Mode: THX
Picture: 100
Brightness: 49
Color: 59
Tint: +1
Sharpness: 60
Color temp: Warm
Black level: Light
HD size: Size 2

Service Menu -- Defaults and changes in parentheses
R-CUT: 84 (80, +4)
G-CUT: 80 (80, 0)
B-CUT: 7F (80, -1)
R-DRV: F2 (FC, -10)
G-DRV: FF (E2, +29)
B-DRV: 96 (83, +19)

Pelican170 · 01-20-2009, 04:17 PM

I love my 800U!

Pelican170 · 01-20-2009, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicholas01

Go with the 800U...I've had mine for almost 4 months and I still can't wait to get home every day after work to turn it on!!

I used the following settings on THX mode and it is absolutely stunning...it has that 'window' effect almost all the time when watching in HD!!

User Menu
Mode: THX
Picture: 100
Brightness: 49
Color: 59
Tint: +1
Sharpness: 60
Color temp: Warm
Black level: Light
HD size: Size 2

Service Menu -- Defaults and changes in parentheses
R-CUT: 84 (80, +4)
G-CUT: 80 (80, 0)
B-CUT: 7F (80, -1)
R-DRV: F2 (FC, -10)
G-DRV: FF (E2, +29)
B-DRV: 96 (83, +19)

Thats a pretty high "picture" Setting. Isnt that the same as Contrast? And if so, im not sure you want that at 100

dobyblue · 01-20-2009, 05:51 PM

The new Panny's will be hitting stores in March.
If you're not in a hurry you might want to wait until the MSRP's come out towards the end of Feb, could be very pleasing.

smiley · 01-20-2009, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dobyblue

The new Panny's will be hitting stores in March.
If you're not in a hurry you might want to wait until the MSRP's come out towards the end of Feb, could be very pleasing.

Thank's for the tip. Maybe I will wait.

nicholas01 · 01-20-2009, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pelican170

Thats a pretty high "picture" Setting. Isnt that the same as Contrast? And if so, im not sure you want that at 100

For THX-warm mode, 100 is ok for Picture/Contrast. I actually checked it with DVE and AVC-HD and the greyscale is accurate and no blooming. You definitely don't want to go above 80 on any of the other modes (i.e., Custom, Standard, Vivid, or Game)

Pelican170 · 01-20-2009, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicholas01

For THX-warm mode, 100 is ok for Picture/Contrast. I actually checked it with DVE and AVC-HD and the greyscale is accurate and no blooming. You definitely don't want to go above 80 on any of the other modes (i.e., Custom, Standard, Vivid, or Game)

Ok good to know, im going to check that setting out when i get home. I still havent gotten a chance to use my calibration disk with it. just been lazy lol

smiley · 02-24-2009, 09:39 PM

Couldn't wait any longer so I got a TH-58PZ850U. Went a little bigger than I was planing. My old TV was a 42 inch 768P H.P. plasma with 10,000:1 contrast ratio. That TV wasn't bad for what I paid for it but this one is amazing. Just got it mounted on the wall and put the transformers BD in and played about 5 minutes of it and had to go to work. Can't wait to get home to watch it more. It's amazing what I have been missing. Also I should probably callibrate it.

lghaze42 · 02-26-2009, 11:24 PM

I paid $1910 for my 800 u from J&R Music World.If you can swing it this is an awesome set.

01-19-2009, 09:54 PM	#1
smiley Active Member Member since:Jun 2007 Location:Barron, WI Blu-ray collection:144	Which Panasonic plasma I am planning to purchase a 50" Panasonic plasma TV. I am planning to get one of the 1080P models with 30000:1 contrast. I am wondering if the more expensive models are worth it? Or should I go with the TH-50PZ85U?

01-19-2009, 09:56 PM	#3
smiley Active Member Member since:Jun 2007 Location:Barron, WI Blu-ray collection:144	Also I am not inerested in sound. I do not plan to use the TV speakers and I am not really interested in vera cast. All I am really looking at is picture quality. Last edited by smiley; 01-19-2009 at 09:58 PM.

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01-19-2009, 09:55 PM	#2
crackinhedz Super Moderator Member since:Feb 2007 Home Theater Gallery:10 Blu-ray reviews:8 Trading Score:19	if price is a concern, go with the 85u. if its not a concern, id try the 800u

01-19-2009, 10:08 PM	#4
brett_day Blu-ray Guru Member since:Mar 2008 Location:Moore, Oklahoma Home Theater Gallery:18 Blu-ray collection:45 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:1	85u is an awesome tv! as crackin said if you can afford the 800u go for it, any of the panny plasma PQ will blow you away! My 80u is stunning! Actually just wrote a review about it here http://www.epinions.com/review/Panas...t_458315435652

01-19-2009, 10:12 PM	#5
DrinkMore Banned Member since:Apr 2007 Location:That's What She Said! Blu-ray collection:140 Blu-ray reviews:7 Trading Score:3	Looks like you have your answers

01-20-2009, 03:04 AM	#6
smiley Active Member Member since:Jun 2007 Location:Barron, WI Blu-ray collection:144	What about the TH-50PZ850U it says Digital Cinima Color. Does this make a big difference?

01-20-2009, 03:11 AM	#7
ZIPPO Blu-ray Guru Member since:May 2008 Location:Columbus, Ohio Home Theater Gallery:148 Blu-ray collection:472 Blu-ray reviews:3 Trading Score:3	Nice review Brett.

01-20-2009, 04:11 AM	#8
Hammie Blu-ray Champion Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:May 2008 Location:Washington, DC Metro Home Theater Gallery:53 Blu-ray collection:545 DVD collection:12 Trading Score:12	I love my 850. Not sure if the DCC makes a difference, but I feel that it has better colors and blacks than the Samsung 860 I returned in order to get the Panny.

01-20-2009, 04:08 PM	#12
nicholas01 Member Member since:Apr 2008	Go with the 800U...I've had mine for almost 4 months and I still can't wait to get home every day after work to turn it on!! I used the following settings on THX mode and it is absolutely stunning...it has that 'window' effect almost all the time when watching in HD!! User Menu Mode: THX Picture: 100 Brightness: 49 Color: 59 Tint: +1 Sharpness: 60 Color temp: Warm Black level: Light HD size: Size 2 Service Menu -- Defaults and changes in parentheses R-CUT: 84 (80, +4) G-CUT: 80 (80, 0) B-CUT: 7F (80, -1) R-DRV: F2 (FC, -10) G-DRV: FF (E2, +29) B-DRV: 96 (83, +19)

01-20-2009, 04:17 PM	#13
Pelican170 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Newtown, CT 4K collection:127 Blu-ray collection:735 DVD collection:256 Trading Score:13	I love my 800U!

01-20-2009, 05:51 PM	#15
dobyblue Super Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jul 2006 Location:Ontario, Canada Home Theater Gallery:71 4K collection:55 Blu-ray collection:655 Blu-ray reviews: 15	The new Panny's will be hitting stores in March. If you're not in a hurry you might want to wait until the MSRP's come out towards the end of Feb, could be very pleasing.

02-24-2009, 09:39 PM	#19
smiley Active Member Member since:Jun 2007 Location:Barron, WI Blu-ray collection:144	Couldn't wait any longer so I got a TH-58PZ850U. Went a little bigger than I was planing. My old TV was a 42 inch 768P H.P. plasma with 10,000:1 contrast ratio. That TV wasn't bad for what I paid for it but this one is amazing. Just got it mounted on the wall and put the transformers BD in and played about 5 minutes of it and had to go to work. Can't wait to get home to watch it more. It's amazing what I have been missing. Also I should probably callibrate it.

02-26-2009, 11:24 PM	#20
lghaze42 Senior Member Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Princeton West Virginia Home Theater Gallery:23	I paid $1910 for my 800 u from J&R Music World.If you can swing it this is an awesome set.

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