Calling all TV Gurus! Second opinion on TV choice.

[Internetlad]

So thanks to my children (1 and 3) my 47 inch wal*mart  $500 special tv now has a shattered panel, but this does mean that I now get to look at new units!

Long and short is that after careful consideration, I've decided "why not plasma" and am considering the TC-P50ST60  ( http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-TC-P50ST60-50-Inch-Includes-Glasses/dp/B00AVRJK3K )

I'm at an altitude of ~4500 ft which is far below the rated 10K ft, and I'm mainly looking for a smart TV with great picture for a great price, the 3D doesn't seem to be great but it's an afterthought. For a grand this TV seems right up my alley.

I would be right in assuming that this would have a solid glass screen, right? (never owned a plasma), and other than that, nothing i'm leaving out?

[tp4tissue]

So thanks to my children (1 and 3) my 47 inch wal*mart  $500 special tv now has a shattered panel, but this does mean that I now get to look at new units!

Long and short is that after careful consideration, I've decided "why not plasma" and am considering the TC-P50ST60  ( http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-TC-P50ST60-50-Inch-Includes-Glasses/dp/B00AVRJK3K )

I'm at an altitude of ~4500 ft which is far below the rated 10K ft, and I'm mainly looking for a smart TV with great picture for a great price, the 3D doesn't seem to be great but it's an afterthought. For a grand this TV seems right up my alley.

I would be right in assuming that this would have a solid glass screen, right? (never owned a plasma), and other than that, nothing i'm leaving out?

Instead of buying a big tv.. Have you considered buying a monitor for every person in your house, so they can all watch and do their own thing? 

[tp4tissue]

As far as TVs under $2000, the Largest you can find for that price is usually the best bet..

Picture quality, black level, contrast,  all very-subjective... and after proper calibration.. They don't perform that much better or worse than one another..


All of the stats that the hobbyists chase are actually only relevant to "printing" where accuracy matters... for watching a tv-show accuracy is pointless...

EVEN if by definition you can get a better picture from a certain panel... it does nothing for your subjective experience unless you have 2 panels to compare side by side...

And then you can feel good about yourself for all of 1 week... then come to the realization that you could've spent less money and be just as happy... because it's really JUST A TV.. to watch brainless entertainment...

[olivier.nyc]

i have had a panasonic plasma for years.
they are truly amazing.
quickly as they will likely stop making them soon 

http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/17/nikkei-panasonic-may-end-plasma-hdtv-production-soon/

[tp4tissue]

i have had a panasonic plasma for years.
they are truly amazing.
quickly as they will likely stop making them soon 

http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/17/nikkei-panasonic-may-end-plasma-hdtv-production-soon/

wouldn't that mean you should stop buying them because they're gonna start stop fixing them also?

[Internetlad]

i have had a panasonic plasma for years.
they are truly amazing.
quickly as they will likely stop making them soon 

http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/17/nikkei-panasonic-may-end-plasma-hdtv-production-soon/

wouldn't that mean you should stop buying them because they're gonna start stop fixing them also?

Would you expect any company to fix a tv after warranty is out?

[esoomenona]

Plasma in my opinion is much greater. The only downfall is the heat. They produce a good amount of heat. But if you're in a cold area or heat doesn't bother you, it isn't an issue.

LCD screens (and yes, this includes LED TVs, which are just LCD screens with LED backlighting) are horrible for movies. Have you ever watched a movie on a Samsung TV and it looks like live TV? Usually, they have an option to adjust or "correct" this, but sometimes it comes out looking jumpy and stuttery. Samsung is the worst offender, which is sad because they're the most popular at this time.

I'm looking at snatching up a bigger plasma TV than my current 50" before they stop making them. Or hope that when they do stop, the price on them drops significantly.

[Internetlad]

Plasma in my opinion is much greater. The only downfall is the heat. They produce a good amount of heat. But if you're in a cold area or heat doesn't bother you, it isn't an issue.

LCD screens (and yes, this includes LED TVs, which are just LCD screens with LED backlighting) are horrible for movies. Have you ever watched a movie on a Samsung TV and it looks like live TV? Usually, they have an option to adjust or "correct" this, but sometimes it comes out looking jumpy and stuttery. Samsung is the worst offender, which is sad because they're the most popular at this time.

I'm looking at snatching up a bigger plasma TV than my current 50" before they stop making them. Or hope that when they do stop, the price on them drops significantly.

Hits on every point, 100% agreed.

[osi]

Plasma TVs are a dying breed. They do however offer the deepest black levels. This is arguable and definitely debatable.

I have a Samsung LED, one of the early generations and I love it. Thin, light, sexy.

Honestly, If you can hold out why not wait for Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales?

[Internetlad]

I was going to keep an eye out. I haven't seen a good sale on a panasonic plasma in recent memory (not that i've been watching) and getting one on the exact model I'm looking for would most likely be like winning a small lottery. I guess when you're (debatably) top of the heap you can afford not to cut prices.

I'm in the market by my accountant (read:wife) has other ideas about that. The TV gets rave reviews for the price and should withstand a little more punishment with the solid glass panel on front than the plastic LCD panel on my previous model.

[tp4tissue]

I was going to keep an eye out. I haven't seen a good sale on a panasonic plasma in recent memory (not that i've been watching) and getting one on the exact model I'm looking for would most likely be like winning a small lottery. I guess when you're (debatably) top of the heap you can afford not to cut prices.

I'm in the market by my accountant (read:wife) has other ideas about that. The TV gets rave reviews for the price and should withstand a little more punishment with the solid glass panel on front than the plastic LCD panel on my previous model.

ah... perhaps you need to look into strength vs hardness vs toughness

[stealthycow]

Plasma in my opinion is much greater. The only downfall is the heat. They produce a good amount of heat. But if you're in a cold area or heat doesn't bother you, it isn't an issue.

LCD screens (and yes, this includes LED TVs, which are just LCD screens with LED backlighting) are horrible for movies. Have you ever watched a movie on a Samsung TV and it looks like live TV? Usually, they have an option to adjust or "correct" this, but sometimes it comes out looking jumpy and stuttery. Samsung is the worst offender, which is sad because they're the most popular at this time.

I'm looking at snatching up a bigger plasma TV than my current 50" before they stop making them. Or hope that when they do stop, the price on them drops significantly.

I live in south florida and my plasma is in my small bedroom and I don't notice the heat. I can feel warmth if I put my hands on the back of the TV, but that's it. And I hate and am very sensitive to heat.



I'd say the biggest problem plasmas have is brightness. Until you get to the more expensive options they're not very bright. It's not a problem for me because I have blinds and can turn off my lights if I really want the best PQ, but if your TV is going in a room flooded with sunlight and curtains aren't an option, daytime viewing could be not-so-great. Then again, an equally priced LED is going to be not-so-great at 1PM or 10PM, so...



But I love my plasma. After owning a plasma I'm going to have a really hard time buying a new TV if samsung and LG follow panasonic and leave the plasma business. Hopefully OLED works out. Looks promising.