OK...time to upgrade

[flyinghi5]

I jumped on the HD bandwagon many years ago when I purchased my Panasonic TH-42PHD5 monitor. When I purchased this unit it cost as much as the current Pioneer 60" set.

Now It's time to upgrade and I am looking at either the Pioneer PHD-5010 or the Panasonic TH-50PZ85U. I read some reviews on the Pioneer that the digital optic out does not have 5.1 capability but the web site states that the output is dolby. Can anyone confirm for sure if this is a Dolby 5.1 output? I really couldn't see any digital optic cable that would not have 5.1 capability??

I am leaning towards the Pioneer since it will do 72hz and has the cable card slot. Could go for the Panasonic if it is confirmed that it will do true 1080p/24 but not sure how much longer I want to wait.

Any other thoughts that might help me decide.

[Chevypower]

All the new Panasonics will do true 1080/24p. That is the PZ800(1080), PZ85(1080), PZ80(1080p) and PX80 (720p). I don't know anything about the cable card slot, Panasonic site says ATSC and QAM tuner, will QAM give all digital cable channels direct to the TV?

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by Chevypower

All the new Panasonics will do true 1080/24p. That is the PZ800(1080), PZ85(1080), PZ80(1080p) and PX80 (720p). I don't know anything about the cable card slot, Panasonic site says ATSC and QAM tuner, will QAM give all digital cable channels direct to the TV?

That's not correct.

All the new Panasonics will handshake with a 1080p24 signal, but the -85 and -80 series will perform 3:2 pulldown and display at 60Hz.

Only the -800 and -850 lines will support 1080p24 reproduction at a multiple of 24...in this case 48Hz (2:2 pulldown)

[Chevypower]

OK thanks Dobyblue, I guess i will be buying the PZ800 then. I did read it was native, but the Panasonic website does say 3:2. I just called Panasonic and they said they do have a CableCard slot.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by Chevypower

OK thanks Dobyblue, I guess i will be buying the PZ800 then. I did read it was native, but the Panasonic website does say 3:2. I just called Panasonic and they said they do have a CableCard slot.

They did screw up their original press release and stated it as being 24p native.

The manual states otherwise.

Look, they still haven't corrected it!

http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs...62008124647947

I think the -800 will be worth waiting for though.

[Chevypower]

Yeah i checked out the 850, the additional specs on that are nothing i care about - YouTube etc. Let's hope the price on the 800 is as attractive as the specs.

[TKEdcifrk198]

Yea it would be strange for an optical port not to support 5.1. But dude if it is between a Pioneer and a panny go Pioneer!

[ManUtd]

Go for the PRO-110FD and be done with it.

Seriously, I suggest that you wait for the 800 series and decide then to avoid any buyers remorse.

[flyinghi5]

Thanks for all the help guys. I just seen that the 800 series Panasonics are the only ones that will have true 24p. I also agree that someone must be mistaken that the optic cable will only do 2 channel audio - I just don't believe it.

It does indeed look like I will be getting the Pioneer. The Pro-110FD is out of my price range so I going to have to go with the PDP-5010 but would just love to have the Pro.

[MaleManGuy]

Originally Posted by flyinghi5

Thanks for all the help guys. I just seen that the 800 series Panasonics are the only ones that will have true 24p. I also agree that someone must be mistaken that the optic cable will only do 2 channel audio - I just don't believe it.

It does indeed look like I will be getting the Pioneer. The Pro-110FD is out of my price range so I going to have to go with the PDP-5010 but would just love to have the Pro.

The panasonic PZ800 will be better than the Pioneer 5010... with 30,000:1 contrast and newer technology... I am sure it will give the "old" Kuro a run for their money. I'd do the panasonic personally... in fact I may upgrade my 750U to the 800 or 850. :-) Especially with the true 24fps 2:2 pulldown

[Gremal]

Originally Posted by MaleManGuy

The panasonic PZ800 will be better than the Pioneer 5010... with 30,000:1 contrast and newer technology... I am sure it will give the "old" Kuro a run for their money. I'd do the panasonic personally... in fact I may upgrade my 750U to the 800 or 850. :-) Especially with the true 24fps 2:2 pulldown

Highly recommend the Pioneer. The Panasonics are not as good in terms of black level or contrast, and there is no "old" kuro unless you mean the non 1080p models that came out a couple months before the 5010.

[Chevypower]

Actually the Panasonics are not far behind the much more expensive Kuro. The current Panasonic has 5000:1 contrast, and the Panasonic PZ85, PZ800 and PZ850 will all have 30,000:1 contrast. I always take price into consideration, but I am a fussy on how the image will look, and anyone would be silly not to have a serious look at the PZ800 before forking out extra for the current Pioneer.

[ManUtd]

These contrast ratio numbers are meaningless when you compare TVs from different companies because there is no single standard method of measuring them. So I never paid attention to them.

[Chevypower]

I agree, but I am comparing the same product from the same company, so you would expect the comparison to be more meaningful. Eg I am not comparing a Sony LCD to a Panasonic Plasma, i was comparing two Panasonic Plasma TVs

[ManUtd]

Originally Posted by Chevypower

I agree, but I am comparing the same product from the same company, so you would expect the comparison to be more meaningful. Eg I am not comparing a Sony LCD to a Panasonic Plasma, i was comparing two Panasonic Plasma TVs

Sorry my post wasn't directed to you, I was making a general point to everyone else who pay attention to contrast ratios between manufacturers.

[MaleManGuy]

Originally Posted by Gremal

Highly recommend the Pioneer. The Panasonics are not as good in terms of black level or contrast, and there is no "old" kuro unless you mean the non 1080p models that came out a couple months before the 5010.

The Kuro is old now. Things change fast and now panasonic is leap frogging Pioneer with their 80x series that is 30000:1 contrast and 1,000,000:1 DC... which is actually blacker than the CURRENT (old) Kuros which are 1080p. Hard to find specs... but I saw some companies saying Pioneers were 20,000:1 contrast ratio. The panasonics are 2:2 pull-down and 100,000 hour life... heck, that's even better than pioneer (for the new panasonics that is)

So... with the Panasonics going from 5000:1 to 30000:1...holeee crap what a difference... that would be closer to the extreme contrast kuro... and definitely better than the existing (old) kuro I bet ;-) The panasonic is highly recommended too... depends who you talk to.

Best 1080p plasma HDTV, 50 inch.
If you want the highest 1080p resolution, critics say that the 50-inch Panasonic TH-50PZ700U offers a strong blend of performance and value. Black levels are among the best available, though not quite as deep as on the more expensive Pioneer KURO PDP-5808HD. Colors are first rate, and there's plenty of contrast and shadow detail.

That's the old panasonics, 5000:1. The new 800 series will be darker darker darker in comparison... while they currently are pretty close to each other right now.

[ManUtd]

I had high hopes for the Panasonic's 11G panels until I saw this thread at AVS.