Panasonic 65''V30 Vs 65''G30- $600 price difference worth it?

[newone]

I keep flip flopping on which tv to buy.Thanks for everyone's advice and after viewing the larger plasmas, I've decided on 65''. Is the V series worth $600 more than the G series?

[RipleyLV426]

Originally Posted by newone

I keep flip flopping on which tv to buy.Thanks for everyone's advice and after viewing the larger plasmas, I've decided on 65''. Is the V series worth $600 more than the G series?

That seems to be a very popular question/deciding factor between the two models (including with me and I'm still in a toss up between the two)

VT Positives:
True 24p (GT can be tweaked to get pretty close from what I've told but sacrifices some of the black depth)
Includes one pair of 3D glasses ($160 worth a piece)
Inifinite black pro (slightly better blacks)
Cool one sheet glass display
WI-Fi built in (GT does have a dongle though)

So, I guess the question is whether those aspects are worth $600
For me, it's either $1360 for GT 55'' or $1700 for VT 55''...You and me both are going I keep going back and forth too because $300 is a big difference, as is $600.

[Gempulse]

Just because I am a fiend for inky blacks, I would(and did) go for the VT30. This display is amazing in every way. The ONLY issue that I have with this panel is that the blacks are 100% pitch black-but no display as of yet has been able to achieve such low mll.

[RipleyLV426]

Better blacks is a plus...The real kicker for me is the 24p/96hz playback and if that is a big enough difference to jump to the VT30. 85-90% of my time is watching blus on my TV, I'm a film buff and a film graduate to boot, so I do love me some true film playback. I just don't want any soap opera look or judder. That stuff just looks so unnatural on those uncalibrated TV's turned all the way up in stores.

One way to look at it too is the $1700 VT includes the $160 pair of glasses. So I guess, really the TV itself is $1540. So I guess it's only $180 more for the VT which seems like a no brainer. Haha, listen to me trying to rationalize myself

Would anyone else be able to attest to the GT and VT differences in respect to true film 24p playback and or any of the other comparisions between the models? Thanks to all for the input. I will make my decision by this weekend!

[Blue Bull]

Greetings,
If you guys don't mind me asking? Where are the 65VT available for $1700?! That is a hell of a great deal!!

[Scottyp3]

Originally Posted by Blue Bull

Greetings,
If you guys don't mind me asking? Where are the 65VT available for $1700?! That is a hell of a great deal!!

no kidding

Cant find one for less than 4k in Canada

IF anyone knows a spot in canada selling for less please dont hesitate to pm me

[newone]

A couple places online have the 65''V30 for about $2800( I assume the 55' is also priced well. Abes of Maine seems to be the most trusted seller of the online sites. I would never order online to save a few bucks, but it's about $500 cheaper than Best Buy. I think he may be referring to the 55'' @ $1700. If not I'll take 2 lol, please tell me.

[John Bierly]

Just upgraded from a 50" 2010 G25 to a 65" GT30.

WHOA.

I'd been saving for a VT30 because I really wanted proper 24p, but when I read CNET's review that the GT handled 24p really well at 60Hz, and that CNET tested their VT in 60hz because of the contouring at 96Hz, I decided to go with the GT and use the extra hundreds to get a 3D Panasonic Home Theater in a Box and Squaretrade Warranties for both.

I could not be happier.

I LOVED the picture quality on my G25 (in amazing-out-of-the-box THX mode) after learning to live with the floating blacks and the 60Hz hitching (which was better than the 48Hz flickering).

But I am absolutely blown away by how superior the GT's processing is.

24p at 60Hz is outstanding, and light years more natural that it was on the G25. I seriously can't believe how much of a difference it is.

I probably even would have gone with an ST, but the G25 got me so used to THX mode that I went for the GT, which looks even better in THX than the G25 did. (Cinema also looks ridiculously good, but I like THX for that extra pop.)

I got an August build with a safe serial number, and I haven't seen a single floating black (which is something that never stopped driving me crazy with the G25, which has found a happy home with one of my co-workers who bought it for her newly finished basement).

I'm seriously blown away by this set. (And believe me, I'm annoyingly obsessive over every little detail to the point of mental illness.)

Couldn't be happier. Absolutely in love. Especially pleased with the infinitely superior processing of 24p at 60Hz over the G25. And the extra real estate is ruling my world. (If anyone out there is waffling over going another size bigger, take the plunge if space and budget allow. I am so happy that I did.)

I got my 65" GT30 for $2199 at Amazon, who price-matched U.S. Appliance. I believe Fry's currently has the GT30 for $2199, which Amazon will also match.

[Grif32]

The GT is more comparable to the ST and the VT blows away the GT. It's a beautiful TV. Don't get me wrong the GT/ST are both sweet TV's but the VT is that much nicer of a TV.

[Grif32]

Originally Posted by John Bierly

Just upgraded from a 50" 2010 G25 to a 65" GT30.

WHOA.

I'd been saving for a VT30 because I really wanted proper 24p, but when I read CNET's review that the GT handled 24p really well at 60Hz, and that CNET tested their VT in 60hz because of the contouring at 96Hz, I decided to go with the GT and use the extra hundreds to get a 3D Panasonic Home Theater in a Box and Squaretrade Warranties for both.

I could not be happier.

I LOVED the picture quality on my G25 (in amazing-out-of-the-box THX mode) after learning to live with the floating blacks and the 60Hz hitching (which was better than the 48Hz flickering).

But I am absolutely blown away by how superior the GT's processing is.

24p at 60Hz is outstanding, and light years more natural that it was on the G25. I seriously can't believe how much of a difference it is.

I probably even would have gone with an ST, but the G25 got me so used to THX mode that I went for the GT, which looks even better in THX than the G25 did. (Cinema also looks ridiculously good, but I like THX for that extra pop.)

I got an August build with a safe serial number, and I haven't seen a single floating black (which is something that never stopped driving me crazy with the G25, which has found a happy home with one of my co-workers who bought it for her newly finished basement).

I'm seriously blown away by this set. (And believe me, I'm annoyingly obsessive over every little detail to the point of mental illness.)

Couldn't be happier. Absolutely in love. Especially pleased with the infinitely superior processing of 24p at 60Hz over the G25. And the extra real estate is ruling my world. (If anyone out there is waffling over going another size bigger, take the plunge if space and budget allow. I am so happy that I did.)

I got my 65" GT30 for $2199 at Amazon, who price-matched U.S. Appliance. I believe Fry's currently has the GT30 for $2199, which Amazon will also match.

This years GT30's do not have the floating Blacks, I think you are getting is confused with the fluctuating brightness issue. 2 Seperate issues...

But like you said, it should be fixed with the August build date.

[John Bierly]

Originally Posted by Grif32

This years GT30's do not have the floating Blacks, I think you are getting is confused with the fluctuating brightness issue. 2 Seperate issues...

But like you said, it should be fixed with the August build date.

Ah, I see. Thanks for clearing that up, and I'm sorry if I caused any confusion. Either way, nothing in the picture floats or fluctuates or flips or flops or flaps, so I'm happy, ha.

And I don't dispute the VT's superiority. For me, it came down to what else I could do with the extra hundreds of dollars and still walk away with a huge, beautiful TV that I'm completely happy with. And that's what I got in the GT.

[John Bierly]

My shoddy cell phone camera and flash aren't doing anything any favors, but you get the idea:

http://www.johnbierly.com/wp-content...-47-14_671.jpg

Huge fan of this huge TV.

[Grif32]

Originally Posted by John Bierly

Ah, I see. Thanks for clearing that up, and I'm sorry if I caused any confusion. Either way, nothing in the picture floats or fluctuates or flips or flops or flaps, so I'm happy, ha.

And I don't dispute the VT's superiority. For me, it came down to what else I could do with the extra hundreds of dollars and still walk away with a huge, beautiful TV that I'm completely happy with. And that's what I got in the GT.

haha I hear ya. That is why I went with the ST over the GT. Just not that much of a difference to justify the price difference at the time IMHO. I own 4 Panny Plasma's and wouldn't own any other brand. Love them.

Panny did a great job with the ST,GT and VT series this year...

I think the OP would be happy with the GT and pocket the difference which you can do a lot with.

either way you can not go wrong.

[Gempulse]

Originally Posted by RipleyLV426

Better blacks is a plus...The real kicker for me is the 24p/96hz playback and if that is a big enough difference to jump to the VT30. 85-90% of my time is watching blus on my TV, I'm a film buff and a film graduate to boot, so I do love me some true film playback. I just don't want any soap opera look or judder. That stuff just looks so unnatural on those uncalibrated TV's turned all the way up in stores.

One way to look at it too is the $1700 VT includes the $160 pair of glasses. So I guess, really the TV itself is $1540. So I guess it's only $180 more for the VT which seems like a no brainer. Haha, listen to me trying to rationalize myself

Would anyone else be able to attest to the GT and VT differences in respect to true film 24p playback and or any of the other comparisions between the models? Thanks to all for the input. I will make my decision by this weekend!

If you are not as worried about the deeper black levels that the VT30 provides and are just wanting true 24p playback, then perhaps the GT30 is the TV for you. The black levels on the GT30, while not as black as the VT30 are still deep and could perhaps even lower over time.

I have heard that the 24p motion on the GT30 is pretty impressive.

[RipleyLV426]

Thanks for all your helpful input Gem (and others).

Once I decide, what is the best way to break it in? I have the Disney's WOW blu. Is there something in particular which would have slides/patters or just play movies that are 1:85:1 etc.. that I should play for a few days to work the panel out before calibrating?

[My_Two_Cents]

Originally Posted by Gempulse

I have heard that the 24p motion on the GT30 is pretty impressive.

Are you sure? I've read the 24p handling using 3:2 at 60Hz is considered excellent, but the 48Hz 24p mode does result in flicker for many. For this reason, I've not even played with the 24p mode on my GT30, as I'm happy with how things look at 60Hz. One of these days I'm going to have to do a back-to-back comparison to see for myself.

[newone]

I've decided on the 65''V30. Some of the online deals are making the price appealing enough. Unless anyone thinks the V50 models will be that much better? Here we go again, LOL

[Gempulse]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

Are you sure? I've read the 24p handling using 3:2 at 60Hz is considered excellent, but the 48Hz 24p mode does result in flicker for many. For this reason, I've not even played with the 24p mode on my GT30, as I'm happy with how things look at 60Hz. One of these days I'm going to have to do a back-to-back comparison to see for myself.

I meant 24p @ 60hz. I have my VT30 at 24p 60hz and the motion is outstanding.

[John Bierly]

On my 2010 G25, I could easily differentiate between the far superior 24p motion at 48Hz compared to the hitching at 60Hz. The problem was that 48Hz flickered so badly that I had to keep it at 60Hz.

However, on my new GT30, I can tell zero motion difference between 48Hz and 60Hz -- except for the fact that 48Hz flickers just as badly as it did on the older G25. So I just leave the GT at 60Hz, which looks absolutely amazing when processing 24p. So smooth, so natural.

(And this is in THX mode, without Motion Smoother turned on. In fact, you can't even turn on Motion Smoother in THX.)

This is all coming from a guy who's obsessive and picky to the point of mental illness, so if I can't find anything to nitpick about, I'm sure any normal human being would be fine with the GT's transparent pulldown at 60Hz as I am.