They gave me the following two options:
1. Panasonic 50" Plasma 1080p (TC-P50S30) http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Panasonic+-+50%22+Class+/+Plasma+/+1080p+/+600Hz+/+HDTV/2120201.p?id=1218310004114&skuId=2120201&st=2120201&cp=1&lp=1
2. LG 55" LCD 1080p (55LK520) – http://www.bestbuy.com/site/LG+-+55%22+Class+/+1080p+/+120Hz+/+LCD+HDTV/2138291.p?id=1218310762197&skuId=2138291&st=2138291&cp=1&lp=1
The LG is a lot more expensive and I love the increase in size, but it's LCD. I've heard great things about Panasonics Plasma's but I really hate the look of the border (I know that's a really weird thing to take into account but it looks cheap). My old Sammy had the awesome glass border with uniform edge and looked beautiful on my wall.
We require a wide viewing angle as the seating is pretty close to the tv and extends to all angles. I know LCDs angles are not as good so this may be an issue. I also loved the true blacks and non "blockiness" of my Samsung Plasma during fast movements. Is the LCD technology better now that this is a non issue? It's so hard to compare picture quality in the stores.
If I weren't to go with either, I would get an $800 credit to apply to a different tv since the Panasonic's more comparable to the Samsung. I could get a Samsung 51" Plasma http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung+-+51%26%2334%3B+Class+/+Plasma+/+1080p+/+600Hz+/+HDTV/2584325.p?id=1218337329459&skuId=2584325 for that price, but it only has 2 HDMI connections which is a huge drawback since I currently have 4.
Tough decision. Would love the advice.
The final decision as to what type of flat panel television to purchase (LCD or Plasma) is really up to you here are pros & cons of each for your decision
Pros of Plasma
- Better contrast ratio
- better ability to render deep blacks, more color depth,
- better motion tracking (response time)
- more availability in very large screen sizes.
Cons of Plasma
- more susceptible to burn-in (although this is not as much of a factor now, due to technology improvements in the past few years)
- more heat generation (as well as more power consumption)
- screen glare in brightly lit rooms
- heavier weight, and more delicate to ship.
Good brand that I would recommend for Plasma is Panasonic or Samsung
Pros of LCD
- LCD television advantages include no burn-in susceptibility
- cooler running
- less screen glare, more functional at high altitudes
- longer display life (although improvements are being made in Plasma screen life)
- looks better in brightly lit rooms
- less power consumption than Plasma.
Cons of LCD
- Lower contrast ratio
- not as good rendering deep blacks
- not as good at tracking motion (although this is improving, especially with the implementation of 120Hz refresh rates (and some now offer 240Hz) on higher-end models).
Good brand for LCD that I would recommend is Samsung or Sony
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Go online to Home Theater Magazine and read the reviews on tvs, along with the pro and con of each technology. Panasonic is the only Plasma tv that is being recommended and have more Plasma tv being recommended than any type of tv from other manufacturer. The Panasonic 50" Plasma model S30 is selling at Best Buy for around $770 online. The higher end model is G30 and the top of the line is V30. Hope this will help you out.
Since you previously owned a plasma and loved it, I think moving to an LCD will not be a good choice. You will most likely notice every ghosting and judder effect when looking at the inferior technology of LCD sets. Viewing angle is still a problem with LCD, as well as fast motion.
Panasonic is the current leader in the plasma pack, with near flawless fast motion pictures, unsurpassed picture response time, and best levels of black performance. I think you will be happier with the Panasonic plasma even despite it's lame border (yes I agree they don't look as sleek and sophisticated). You will probably end up totally ignoring it once you see the HD picture and incredible motion tracking.
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