Need New Flat Panel for My Man Cave!

[willy0508]

So I'm in the market for a new Flat Panel for my newly built man-cave. It will mostly be for Sports, BluRay, and 360/PS3 gaming. I've been searching for about 2 weeks now and I have it narrowed down to one of these trying to stay under/at $1000. (Wifey set a limit with the new baby )

Sony Bravia KDL-W5100,
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-BRAVIA-KD...&s=electronics

Sony KDL-40XBR7,
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...cm_rdp_product

Samsung LN40B630
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-LN40B6...7697135&sr=1-1

Panasonic VIERA G10 Series TC-P42G10
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-VIER...7961511&sr=8-1


Are these all pretty much even on picture quality/features being in the same price range? I feel like I'm over thinking this too much, but really want to get the best possible with what I have to spend.

Thanks

PS: it's going to be in a room that get some decent light during the day but will be used mostly in the evening or at night.

[DeathKnight]

The vast majority of the people here will tell you to get the Panny plasma. You might as well go with that and close the thread

[SeRRasalmus]

id wait for the led tv's to come down and get a cheaper one right now till then but thats just me

[Bires]

Originally Posted by DeathKnight

The vast majority of the people here will tell you to get the Panny plasma. You might as well go with that and close the thread

Yup. For under a grand, you can't beat them. The LED-LCD TV's are nice, but they won't be under $1000 for at least a couple of years, unless you buy a vizio. (shutter)

[Quickstrike]

Panasonic.

LED LCD's still have poor viewing angles - among other things.

[confusedsoul]

Can't help but wonder if you won't be able to find the TC-P50S1 for under $1000 sometime soon. Unless you don't have room for the extra 8".

If not, the 42" S1 is a Sears Black Friday doorbuster and will be priced at $649.99 fyi. Goodluck!

[huskylord]

Panny

(hugs his th50pz800u)

[willy0508]

So it looks like the vast majority of you like the Panny

I was leaning that way so this may put it over the top. So is the Pic Quality
just better on the Pannies than the LCD's? I've never owned a Plasma, but have a 50" DLP and we have an LCD in the bedroom (small older model).

So what's the major difference between the S1 and the G10? I may be able to wait for Black Friday to save $200 if they are close in features and Pic Quality. If the G10 is substantially better I can get it now for $899. The S1 is $797 right now

[Meteor|WAR]

Plasma picture quality is superior to LCD. Black level, color accuracy, viewing angles. LCD is better in the power consumption department but the newer plasmas have gotten much, much more energy efficient.

The main things the G10 has that the S1 doesnt have are ethernet cable connection to receive firmware updates and use the new Viera Cast feature, the THX certification and AVCHD playback through the SD card reader. As for picture quality I'd say they are about the same.

This is a list of all the things the G10 has over the S1:

Five Color Temp choices: Cool 2/Cool 1/Normal/Warm 1/Warm 2 (S1 only has the usual 3: Cool/Normal/Warm)

THX mode

48Hz mode

Sub Pixel Control

Viera Cast IPTV

Analog Audio Output

Can play AVCHD/MPEG2 video from the SD card slot

Bass Boost: Enhances bass sound and provides powerful sound. (On/Off)

x.v.Color: Provides the appropriate picture when images corresponding to “x.v.Color” are input via the HDMI input of this TV. (Off/Auto)

LAN Port

VGA port

Nicer Pedestal Stand

Get a G10.

[willy0508]

So it looks like either a G10 or a S1. Need to review those features and see IF I can live without.....probably not
Also, does the G10 or S1 have a glass panel or do they have the anti glare screens? Really won't make much of a difference but just wondering.

Thanks guys great info here as always!

edit: Never mind found they both have anti glare screens.

[Meteor|WAR]

Originally Posted by willy0508

So it looks like either a G10 or a S1. Need to review those features and see IF I can live without.....probably not
Also, does the G10 or S1 have a glass panel or do they have the anti glare screens? Really won't make much of a difference but just wondering.

Thanks guys great info here as always!

edit: Never mind found they both have anti glare screens.

The 12th-gen Pannys have anti-reflective filter coating on the glass screen. But even with the AR coating, you'll still see reflections if you have a lamp in front of it. It does cut down on the severity of it though.

Just get a G10. Watch the prices on Amazon. Maybe you'll catch a lightning deal and get it for cheap. Sometimes they even throw in a free Blu-Ray player.

For all the info you'll ever need on the G10 series start reading this massive thread:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1128052

[OzzieBloke]

Panasonic

Loving my P50V10

[badboy]

This forum is in love with plasmas

I like me Samsung led better than the panny.

I like my colors to stand out. I know its not the "correct" colors but damn they are so much more alive and drool worthy
I thought I was watching in 3d the first time I put on a blu-ray movie.

Pannys colors are much more mellow and not as WOW when you come into a room. But yes they are the "correct" colors compared to my sammy

But I dont care what you think!

[Chuki]

I picked up my Panny 50S1 for $750 from Sears when they were having a Saturday late night sale. Got like 25% off using sears card, this that and the other.

TV is Amazing! Also I can make my colors pop like an LCD too. Set the pictures mode to Vibrant, seems to be just as bright as most other LCDs. Although way to effin bright, I have a dimly lit room. So putting it on vibrant is torture on my eyes.

From reading around the web, the only diffrence in the Panny Neo-PDP panels is the hardware surrounding it. ISF calibrated they should "technically" all be capable of the exact same picture.

My vote goes to a S1 or higher! Just pick the one that fits your budgets and additional features you want. I have a PS3 so all that viera cast stuff is of no intrest to me. My PC's have HDMI outs, so the vga port is useless. The analog outs are of no use to me. Most TV veiwing I do I just use the built in speakers. For movies I use the optical out to my receiver.

[DeathKnight]

If it wasn't for the fact that I use my TV for lots of PC use I'd have a Panny plasma instead of an LCD. Don't have room right now for two large TV's otherwise I'd have the plasma for movies and console gaming and just use the LCD for PC.

[Bires]

A good TV shouldn't look like a TV at all. It should look like a window.

(Panasonic 50" S1 in the living room and 42" PX upstairs in the office)


BTW: Unless they upgraded it for the G and V lines, the PC input on almost ALL flat panels are not 1080p native. They are 1366×768 with exterpolation. Use HDMI from your PC for a pixel-perfect screen.

[traitoR]

Originally Posted by badboy

This forum is in love with plasmas

With so many true enthusiasts and more tech oriented people choosing Plasma theres got to be something to it then.

I know my Panasonic can still impress visitors and it's going on 3 generations old now.

Just recently i wanted to see just how much power my TV, Stereo, Satellite receiver, Bluray player uses because i keep reading how LCD are so much better in that department, i was really surprised by my findings.

Using my 42 " Panasonic Plasma TV on average 4-6 hours a day with around 2-4 movies a week where the 7.1 700 watt stereo/Bluray was on gave me the following power consumption. Keep in mind the entire setup draws a constant 17 watts at all times, ( standby ) more than likely almost all going to the Satellite receiver.

TV, Stereo, Dish 6.14 KW/H for 164.46 hours sample size @ .1022 rate = $0.626 a week in power costs before delivery charge and taxes. ( Actual power consumption )

30 Day extrapolation for 720 Hours at my average use = 26.88 KW/H , so $2.75 a month.

I can't complain.

[Rad2owns]

I like Samsung over Panny any day.
Ive seen a lot of both setup in bright and Dark environments and with me playing with the settings of all of them.

[Cartigan]

Originally Posted by Bires

BTW: Unless they upgraded it for the G and V lines, the PC input on almost ALL flat panels are not 1080p native. They are 1366×768 with exterpolation. Use HDMI from your PC for a pixel-perfect screen.

HDMI input to my Samsung from VGA or HDMI looks the same, it cuts off the bottom of the screen -_-

[willy0508]

I think I'll get the G10. We have a Samsung LCD in the one room and a 50" DLP in another. I'm liking what I'm reading on here and on AVS about the G10. The price is right too. If I don't like it I can always return it.

Thanks for all the help!

[Meteor|WAR]

Good choice. Let me know if you have any questions about it when you set it up as I've read many posts discussing the G10 plasmas over at the AVS forum.

[Dawg]

I'd take a solid 50" LCD over a 42" plasma - there's really no substitute for size. LCDs aren't cheap unfortunately, so it's not like you save money going LCD.

[Bires]

50" G15 for $1200 (shipped) with free wall mount:

http://www.abesofmaine.com/item.do?i...5&l=PRICEGRABB

Also, www.6ave.com (where almost my entire HT setup came from) has Panasonics on sale this week.

AND...

Black Friday is coming up, the G10 should drop to $1100.

[Meteor|WAR]

Right now at amazon.com the 50" G10 is $1,276.95 shipped and they give you a free Panasonic Blu-Ray player.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.htm...d_i=B001UAEWUS

Definitely the best deal going at the moment. If you want it hurry deal ends on the 21st.

[caveman-jim]

Originally Posted by willy0508

Need New Flat Panel for My Man, Cave!

Sweet!




Oh wai

[MyTMouse]

The Panasonic Plasma TVs are amazing. If I were to buy a TV right now it'd be a 54" G or V series

[Qb2k5]

Panny viera 42" 2008 owner here. The solid blacks and motion are hands down worth it.

[willy0508]

Thanks for the replies all it looks like the Panny is in my future. Going bigger than 42" will not work so I'll be ordering as soon as I can. Need new tires for the car so that comes first. If that doesn't cost me too much I'll look at the TV this weekend.

[MyTMouse]

Originally Posted by willy0508

Thanks for the replies all it looks like the Panny is in my future. Going bigger than 42" will not work so I'll be ordering as soon as I can. Need new tires for the car so that comes first. If that doesn't cost me too much I'll look at the TV this weekend.

I'm guessing you don't have room for a bigger set?

Off-topic:

If you're looking for a great set of all-season tires that can handle pretty much all weather conditions and are decently priced look at getting Hankook Optimo H727 tires. Basically the highest-rated AS tire at cunsumer reports this year...100,000 mile tread life and only cost me $97 each installed

[willy0508]

Unfortunately bigger that 42 will not work for me.

Also, thanks for the info on the tires, luckily my father is the Manager at a Ford
dealership so I get a GOOD discount!