Panasonic 50" Plasmas vs. Samsung 50" Plasmas - Opinions?

[xneox]

Originally Posted by Twitch9

I'm sorry but i do know what i'm talking about, i have been doing HT installs for over 10 years and keep up with new technology and study almost every set on the market today. If you understand anything about calibration the THX setting can pretty much be achieved on almost any higher end plasma on the Market today, it is an out of the box feature that conforms to George Lucas standard for a video setting. Now that has been said, i agree the Panny 800u has many more features than the Samsung plasma and a better image overall, but for me and most of the people i deal with it's not worth the extra $500-1000 for a TV that would be hard to notice the difference for the average HT owner, that plasma is more for the videophile who has to have the best Panasonic plasma they make plus is it worth all the extra $ for a bit deeper blacks. I have owned LG, Panasonic, Sharp, Sony, and Samsung TV's over the years and if calibrated correctly you can make the image look almost identical with every brand. I don't understand why Samsung gets a bad rap when it comes to plasmas for most consumers it is a great TV for the price point and overall has a excellent image. I get my sets for free and that's why i have a Samsung right now next year it will be something different.

I really don't care what you've been doing for the last 10 years - your post regarding the Panasonic 800u showed either a lack of knowledge about that set, or a blatantly defensive posture about your Sammy, period.

You need to back up a few steps and realize that the THX certification of the 800u sets is MORE THAN JUST A SETTING IN THE MENU.

[My_Two_Cents]

Originally Posted by Twitch9

they are better rated than most panasonic plasmas except for the 800

I'm still waiting to see where Samsung plasmas are better rated than MOST Pany plasmas? Yes, I saw the ONE article, but whaere are all of others that support this? Not trying to start anything ugly, I'm just trying to understand the comment. I've always been under the impression that in terms of overall picture quality, performance and reliability (for plasma), the rankings go:

1) Pioneer Kuro Elite
2) Pioneer Kuro
3) Panasonic (850U/800U---85U/80U)

4) Samsung


5) Everything else

Yes, the latest CR review has things rated differently, but we all know CR is NOT the place to go for electronics ratings.

[dobyblue]

I think the fact that Twitch thinks you can calibrate any TV to look "almost identical" to any other shows that there isn't much to be learned here.

[JJ]

lock, lock, I went with a Kuro last night from Amazon anyway,

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

lock, lock, I went with a Kuro last night from Amazon anyway,

Congrats! You'll love it!

[dobyblue]

Congrats! You are going to LOVE that PDP-5020FD!

[xneox]

Good choice man...good choice.

[Twitch9]

Originally Posted by xneox

I really don't care what you've been doing for the last 10 years - your post regarding the Panasonic 800u showed either a lack of knowledge about that set, or a blatantly defensive posture about your Sammy, period.

You need to back up a few steps and realize that the THX certification of the 800u sets is MORE THAN JUST A SETTING IN THE MENU.

Very nice choice on sets, and if THX is more than just a setting please tell me why, i would love to here this. You do know THX is a standard that George Lucas specifies for Video and sound, the same Dolby and DTS do, it is a SETTING that's all, do some research and you will find out that i am right. Also THX is a feature people over pay for and have know idea what it really is. Answer me one question did you buy THX certified speaker wire and other cables. I'm not defending my Samsung i know there are better plasmas out there just not worth to me the extra money, and like i said i got my Samsung free and have no ties on promoting it to others, they ask my opinion and i tell them what i think.

Go to Wikipedia and look up THX, you will see it is just a standard created by 2 guys for quality and became a setting in receiver, speaker, Tv and so on.

[RIPSeanTaylor21]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

Especially, looking for owners of the TH-50PZ85U and the PN50A650 - these are the sets I'm interested in comparing.

Stats look similar, going to personally see them one of these days.

I've done all the reading and reviews, just wanting to hear from you chaps.

I cancelled my PZ85U order until I do more research. I realized I jumped the gun before my usual research process of electronics. I was highly upset when I realized this.

The 5020 is still an option, although it would require me to return my 32" Samsung bedroom TV. Which I would prefer not to.

Going 46" is also a consideration, but...I'd prefer the 50"!

Budget glimmers around $1,600; LCD is not an option. Dang research. Fun! The 46PZ800U also is tantalizing, but again, size...

HERE IS THE WAY I RANK PLASMAS

1. Pioneer/Pioneer Elite
2. Panasonic
3. Samsung

but then again you can go SUPER HIGH END, and also add

1. Pioneer Elite
2. Fujitsu
3. Bang and Olufsen

I have the Samsung 50 84 1080p Plasma, Samsungs first 1080p Plasma Set's, and I love it, Price wise Samsung would be the best bet, but again, Panasonic is next best to Pioneer.

[Twitch9]

I understand why you are defending the THX setting now it was one of your main reasons for purchasing your TV after looking at you HT. Well get back to me after you have done some reading on the THX setting and what it actually does, you know the reason why that TV is THX, it passed a quality assurance from George Lucas company for producing a standard for video set by them, nothing more. After approved you can then put the THX logo on, make it a setting the coincides with their standard for video so your plasma is almost perfect right out of the box.

Now, i like the 800u i have refereed people to buy them and the video quality is amazing just understand what THX is before you try to defend it.

[Hammie]

Originally Posted by Twitch9

I understand why you are defending the THX setting now it was one of your main reasons for purchasing your TV after looking at you HT. Well get back to me after you have done some reading on the THX setting and what it actually does, you know the reason why that TV is THX, it passed a quality assurance from George Lucas company for producing a standard for video set by them, nothing more. After approved you can then put the THX logo on, make it a setting the coincides with their standard for video so your plasma is almost perfect right out of the box.

Now, i like the 800u i have refereed people to buy them and the video quality is amazing just understand what THX is before you try to defend it.

Not trying to start anything here but as you even mentioned, it is a "standard" and is meant to fall within a level of quality agreed upon within the HT industry. Although on the 800u, it is a "setting," that setting should falls within a level of approved colors under the THX certification. This is different than a setting such a Vivid or Standard, which is just something a manufacturer puts together that looks a certain way but doesn't comply to any industry standard.

In addition, the THX setting on the 800u still is not perfect (again as you mentioned). It has been noted in other forums that it still needs to be ISF calibrated to get a true accurate representation of colors. I can't remember for sure, but I belive the red is slightly off and needs to be tweaked in the SM.

Granted, I have an 850u, but still plan on getting it ISF calibrated probably over the summer beause I know it is not perfect either. (BTW, show me a perfect TV out of the box.) In the mean time, I will play around and try my hand at calibrating it.

[Twitch9]

Originally Posted by louhamilton

Not trying to start anything here but as you even mentioned, it is a "standard" and is meant to fall within a level of quality agreed upon within the HT industry. Although on the 800u, it is a "setting," that setting should falls within a level of approved colors under the THX certification. This is different than a setting such a Vivid or Standard, which is just something a manufacturer puts together that looks a certain way but doesn't comply to any industry standard.

(BTW, show me a perfect TV out of the box.)

100% agree

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by Twitch9

Go to Wikipedia and look up THX, you will see it is just a standard created by 2 guys for quality and became a setting in receiver, speaker, Tv and so on.

Actually there are numerous standards.

Originally Posted by Twitch9

Also THX is a feature people over pay for and have know idea what it really is.

Actually numerous people paid LESS for the Ultra2 certified Onkyo xx5 receivers than almost any other receiver in that performance mark when looking at benchmark testing. THX certified speaker wire isn't overpriced because of THX certification, it's overpriced because it's sold by Monster Cable. Their non-THX products are just as overpriced.

[Twitch9]

I agree with you there that monster is way overpriced.

[xneox]

Originally Posted by louhamilton

Not trying to start anything here but as you even mentioned, it is a "standard" and is meant to fall within a level of quality agreed upon within the HT industry. Although on the 800u, it is a "setting," that setting should falls within a level of approved colors under the THX certification. This is different than a setting such a Vivid or Standard, which is just something a manufacturer puts together that looks a certain way but doesn't comply to any industry standard.

People seem to be stuck on the false idea that the THX cert is just a setting. Yes, there is a setting on the 800u called THX, but the certification is more than just the setting itself.

Do THX certified AV receivers have only ONE THX 'setting', outside of which the receiver is NOT THX certified? No. They don't.

[CBCstillmatic]

if your just comparing these 2 sets then check this out.

http://plasmatvbuyingguide.com/plasm...-pn50a650.html

I have the PN50A550 as my main set and a 42PZ85U in the bedroom and I like my Sammy more. The 650 adds a 4th HDMI port, better anti-reflect screen than the 550 and the touch of color. It also supposed to sport DNIe pro as apposed to DNIe+ on the 550, though I hear there isn't much difference between the picture on both sets. Hope this helps.

[repete66211]

Originally Posted by xneox

People seem to be stuck on the false idea that the THX cert is just a setting. Yes, there is a setting on the 800u called THX, but the certification is more than just the setting itself.

But THX is a setting on this TV. It's the picture setting calibrated to meet the THX standard. People at THX set what they consider to be ideal color/brightness/contrast/etc. and the THX setting on the TV reproduces that ideal. It's like the THX label on any other product. When a cable or receiver has it, it means that cable or receiver meets the minimum requirements THX has set for audio or video quality. The label is THX's brand of approval. But this doesn't mean another TV/cable/receiver without the THX approval can't reproduce the exact same standard. The THX setting saves the trouble of having to manually calibrate the TV.

[kabukijoe]

Originally Posted by JasonR

http://plasmatvbuyingguide.com/plasm...-pn50a650.html

This is exactly what I was going to post...

but anyways I do own a PN50A650 and absolutly love it, the picture is amazing, and the the design of the tv is beautiful. My roommate bought a Panasonic 46 inch plasma (not 100% sure of the model but I know it's comparable) I personally think my Samsung's picture looks a little better. The picture looks a little more accurate to me. Both are very nice though

[DBlackGT]

Yeah both are extremely nice sets. And it really dpends on who rates it to determine which set is better. I know Home Theater Magazine loves the 85U while CNET.com rates the 650 higher. They are so close in picture/feature quality that it all boils down to personal preference in my opinion. And to be quite honest I would have gone with the Samsung over my Panasonic if it wasn't for the extreme aount of problems I had with the Samsung plasma's.