New TV

switchAMG

switchAMG

New member
Looking for a new TV for the basement -- between 55-60" -- nothing larger.

I have two other Samsung LED smart tv's in my house -- a 32" in the bedroom and a 40" in the living room.

I have been out of the tv game for a bit -- torn between a plasma and a few different LED's -- all Samsung. Plasma seems like great value for the dollar. It is going into a basement that doesn't have much natural light.

Seems to me I can get a Plasma for half the price of a similiar LED?

Is CMR BS?

Here are some I am looking at, big delta in price point -- I am comfortable spending a couple thousand but if its not worth it I would rather not.

LED:

Samsung UN55F6300 : $1378 (Smart, not 3d)
Samsung UN60FH6200 : $1698 (smart, not 3d)
Samsung UN60F6400 : $1998 (smart, 3d)
Samsung UN60F7100 : $2398 (smart, not 3d)

Plasma:

Samsung PN60F5300 : $998 (not smart, not 3d)
Samsung PN60F5500 : $1198 (smart, 3d)
Samsung PN60F8500 : $2998 (smart, 3d, real black pro panel)
 
Samsung UN60F7100 - Does have 3D
Samsung PN60F8500

I have whittled down the choices to which ones you should choose. Now its up to what you prefer, LCD or Plasma, and which one you can compromise features with. I have last years LCD model, the ES7100, so I can give you some pointers on the new set as most cinephiles here will instantly shout plasma.

CMR (clear motion rate, aka back light scanning) is not BS, it can really cut down on perceived motion blur. The F7100 should have a CMR of 720, or 3 times per frame, as its a 240hz panel. the difference is almost unnoticeable when viewing normal video/movies. If you play games though it really shines, and if you turn up the blur and judder reduction to 10 its down right mind boggling.

The F8500 is a great panel as well, a proper 96hz panel with 4:4 pulldown. Unfortunately I believe this is for 24fps content only, so the panel will revert to 60hz on everything else. Most people don't notice, but I am sensitive to the flicker so you should see it for yourself to make the decision.
 
Sorry I can't be of more help, but I will say that LG is many times rated higher in terms of picture quality than Samsung when it comes to TVs, but it varies by model (I was all set to buy a Samsung but then dug in and found several reviews for the size/price point I was looking indicating that LG was better). Samsung is really good a making things flashy and feature-laden without always having the quality to make it worthwhile.
 
There is only one caveat I would consider on LG tvs which could be a deal breaker for him. LG uses passive 3D instead of active. Even with their 3D interlacing techniques, its still not as good as Samsung's active 3D.
 
As someone who can see all of the LCD motion smoothing stuff, it does look really sweet for a bit, but then it can either become annoying or actually make you feel ill.

This is even on the uber highend 4K Samsungs.

Also colour reproduction on a tuned plasma is just something that is amazing to behold.
 
Since the TV is for the basement I'd say go for a Panasonic plasma. Can't go wrong with it.

ST60 - basic model
GT60 - better 3D
ZT60/65 VT60/65
 
twiSt said:
Since the TV is for the basement I'd say go for a Panasonic plasma. Can't go wrong with it.

ST60 - basic model
GT60 - better 3D
ZT60/65 VT60/65
Click to expand...

I don't know about the more basic models, but I have read that the VT/ZT units are pretty scarce these days. People are spending more money on used floor model TV's then I spent on my brand new 65VT60 a few months back.
 
It's really tough finding Panny plasmas since they stopped making them. I have about a month to keep looking through.

sent from my mother****ing Note 3 using Tapatalk
 
Get one while you can. General public interest in plasma has waned to the point where its not really profitable to build them anymore. Sucks for those of us who appreciated them and don't follow the hype.
 
Happy with my LG plasma, only complaint is that i sometimes wished it was a tad brighter for gaming. But other than that im impressed with its performance. You may still be able to find them around.
 
Still have my panasonic v series plasma. Has never let me down. But image retention even after breaking it in is a bitch.
 
I've got a "cheap" P-series Panasonic and I wish I'd bought 5 of them. It looks way better than the expensive LEDs I've seen.

I plan on buying another plasma while I still can.
 
swingline said:
I plan on buying another plasma while I still can.
Click to expand...

I keep telling myself this as well.

I wanted to get one of Panasonic's final plasmas last year before they become hard to find for decent prices (which they are now) but just haven't been able to justify it financially. My 5 year old G10 is still perfectly fine, albeit slightly risen black levels.
 
Yea about to buy a Panasonic S series my self. Only thing is, I wish I had bought an ST series before they where gone. ST's picture almost looks identical and about the same price as the S series.... only it has 3D. Which although I probably would almost never use... you can't exactly add that feature to a TV.


p.s. Just noticed stores here in B.C. are slashing the in stores prices of their Plasma displays. So you might want to go do some recon.
 
Trunks0 said:
Yea about to buy a Panasonic S series my self. Only thing is, I wish I had bought an ST series before they where gone. ST's picture almost looks identical and about the same price as the S series.... only it has 3D. Which although I probably would almost never use... you can't exactly add that feature to a TV.
Click to expand...

You're not missing anything with the 3D on the ST series; it's marginal at best.
 
Still shopping (basement reno isnt complete for a couple more weeks)

Now torn between Samsung 8500 and Panasonic VT60

Both about $3000

**** LOL I originally wanted to spend $1500 on a 60"
 
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