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New member Username: MethenewbiePost Number: 10 Registered: Jul-05 | I am pulling my hair out now (whatever's left) after going through a gadzillion sites trying to find a good deal on these babies. What I want......... 50", Silver or combo color exterior, 1365 x 768 resolution, HDTV Tuner integrated, Speakers not required but nice to have (I have my own home audio system), DVi, 1080i, 720p and all that good stuff, of course sharp colors, and true 16:9 aspect ratio, decent warranty, contrast ratio at least 3000:1, budget is around $4000. Please don't point me to websites, I have probably seen 'em all. What I would like are model numbers of specific TVs that you would recommend. Thanks. |
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Bronze Member Username: MethenewbiePost Number: 11 Registered: Jul-05 | I did find one good set. Not sure about quality but here is the model number. Panasonic TH-50PX50U I need more suggestions on specific sets though!! |
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Perrey Z. Unregistered guest | This is the entry level model of the high resolution Panasonic plasma line up. As i said, "entry level" means no picture-in-Picture, no front inputs, no SD or any other form of media card slot {except the CableCARD} The best price i've seen for this model is $4,099.00 plus $249.00 for freight delivery from an authorized internet Panasonic dealer. On your request, i won't direct you to the dealer's website. I regret to inform you, no other TVs with your budget fit your criteria. |
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Bronze Member Username: MethenewbiePost Number: 12 Registered: Jul-05 | perrey, how about with a budget of about 4500? |
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Perrey Z. Unregistered guest | For $4,500.00 you can get the same Panasonic from other retailers. There's a few other 50" models that match some of your requirements, unfortunately, most don't have a ATSC {HD} built-in tuner and/or the resolution is a bit lower than what you wish to get. You've probably had chekced Costco's offerings: 1st one is the Pioneer PDP-5040HD Pros: Price includes white glove shipping and handling., Eligible for the $500.00 mail-in rebate from Pioneer lowering the price to $4,699.99. Cons: The resolution is just 1,268 X 768p. stated Constrast Ratio. The second one is the Optoma PD50A: Pros: Price, $2,999.99. Uses Panasonic's 6th Generation panel with a resolution of 1,368 X 768p. Cons: It doesn't come with a table stand or speakers, has a DVi-HDCP instead of HDMI, stated Contrast Ratio, it's only HD-Ready, however, it does have an NTSC tuner. For that budget, not yet., around November the prices will drop again for this year's models. Hopefully more 1st tier brands like Samsung, Pioneer and Hitachi will have affordable sets in the $4,500.00 to $4,800.00 price range. |
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Bronze Member Username: MethenewbiePost Number: 15 Registered: Jul-05 | What is the difference between DVi-HDCP and HDMI and how much do HD tuners cost if I was to get the Optoma PD50A? What is the difference between Panasonic's 6th generation panel versus 8th generation? or other older generations? I do not need a table stand or speakers since I was planning on using wall mounts and my surround sound system. |
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Bronze Member Username: MethenewbiePost Number: 17 Registered: Jul-05 | Perrey....Can you compare the following sets (I've done some preliminary research...). I think I've only included those TVs which provide what I want, but I may be off on a couple of them. In your comparision, please do not include any TV that doesn't have: 1. Built-in HDTV Tuner 2. The latest input ports INCLUDED in the price. 3. 1366 x 768 native resolution 4. Native 16:9 aspect ratio 5. Less than 3000:1 contrast ratio. I hope to hear from you soon. Thanks in advance for your great help. Really, with the plethora of options available out there, we all need a guide like you. Here are the TVs I found on http://www.plasmahouse.com Panasonic TH-50PHD7UY...it's available for 3200, LG 50PX5D...available for 3800, LG DU-50PX10C ...available for 4150, LG MU-50PM10 ...available for 3650 (does this one have built-in HDTV tuner?), LG MU50PX10C ...available for 4250, NEC PX50XM4A ...available for 4060, Panasonic TH50PX500U ...available for 3900, Panasonic TH50PX50U ...available for 3600, Samsung HPR5052 ...available for 4400. By the way, is there a difference between LG 50PX5D and 50PY2DR other than the DVR? And is HDMI newer or DVi newer? |
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Perrey Z. Unregistered guest | DVI was the standard input for digital video signals only . The new HDMI carries digital video AND audio in one single cable. There's no difference in video quality between these two inputs. HDCP, which stands for High-bandwidth Digital Copy Protection was created by Intel, HDCP is an encryption technology designed to protect digitally trasmited pictures from been copy. HDCP is fully backed by the MPAA and it's members who want to prevent anyone from making copies of their copyrighted material. HDCP not only protects the materials from been illegally copied, but also limit us, the consumers from making back up copies of our own DVD movies to use in the car or take them with us when we travel, basically the plan of the MPAA is if you buy a copy of a DVD movie for $19.99 and that movie accidentally brakes or you lost it, then instead of making a copy of it for $2.00 like the good old days of VHS, you'll be force to buy another one for $19.99. The encryption travels between 2 or more digital sources. Therefore ALL equipment in the system chain MUST be fully HDCP compliant. HDCP cannot be dissable or altered. If you get any device that is not HDCP compliant you will be force to connect the video sources such as satellite receivers, high-def convertion DVD players and HDDs on the component inputs of your TV or video source reducing and limiting the video quality to analog 480p resolution in a digital 1080p/i, 768p and 720p resolution future. HDCP is mandatory on all HDMI inputs but not on DVI-D or DVI-A or DVI-I, check before purchase. |
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Perrey Z. Unregistered guest | Here's the only models that match your inquiry. 1-Philips FlatTV #50PF7320A/37 Pros: 10,000:1 Contrast Ratio {Panel could be Samsung or LG.} 1,366 X 768p Resolution. Pixel Plus {this is a great invention, it makes the picture look like everything is live.} Built-in NTSC {TV}, ATSC {Over-the-Air HD} and QAM {digital Cable} tuners. CableCARD slot. Digital media reader, Memory card types: Compact Flash, Compact Flash Type II, Memory Stick, Microdrive, MMC, SD and SM card slot. 2-HDMI inputs. 1-USB 1.1 input. Made in Belgium. Cons: No longer includes the wall bracket or the HDMI to DVI cable. The owner's manual is in CD-ROM format, most features are lock and not mentioned on the quick guide, which is the paper booklet. Quick guide is somewhat difficult to understand. 2-Philips FlatTV #50PF9630A/37 Pros: Same as 7320A, but Pixel plus feature is the newer version, Pixel Plus 2HD which makes the picture look amazing and ultra realistic. Also it has Ambilight. {another great invetion.} Cons: Same as 7320A. Personal note: I have the 42PF9966/37 with Pixel Plus and Ambilight and i couldn't be happier, one incredible set. 3-LG Flatron #50PX5D This model Does not have a integrated DVR, that's Best Buy's idea to avoid any price match with the 50PX4DR-H which is the real unit with the intergated DVR. Both models share similar cosmetics. Pros: 5,000:1 Contrast Ratio. 1,366 X 768p Resolution. Built-in NTSC, ASTC and QAM tuners. Built-in EPG {TV Guide}. CableCARD slot. 1-HDMI input. 2-IEEE 1394 firewire inputs. 9-in-2 Multi-memory card reader. {same as Philips units.} 2-years warranty. Cons: LG has prohibit the sale of their products online making it impossible to find a lower price than their new retail partner-Best Buy. 4-LG Flatron #50PX4DR-H The second unit with the integrated 160GB hard drive DVR., does share the cosmetic appearance with the 50PX5D. Apparently is only for Best Buy. Pros: Same specs. as the 50PX5D. Cons: Same deal with LG and online sales, only available at certain Best Buy locations. 5-LG Flatron #50PY2DR The original integrated DVR unit., same specifications as the models above. The only difference is the remote control and the cosmestic appearance, the 50PY2DR is a blend of High Gloss Black and Matte Black. Personal Note: I've seen the 60" version and it's gorgeous! and very easy to operate unfortunately the price won't be going down until December. 6-Panasonic Viera TH-50PX50U Pros: 1,366 X 768p resolution. 3,000:1 Contrast Ratio. Built-in NTSC, ATSC and QAM tuners. CableCARD slot. 1-HDMI input. Slender, only 3.3" thick. Made in Japan. Cons: No Picture-in Picture. No SD or any type of media card slot. No PC input {VGA D-Sub 15} input. No front A/V inputs. Odd looking plastic stand. 7-Panasonic Viera TH-50PX500U Pros: Same as above, plus... Multiple Picture-in-Picture formats. SD and most types of multi media card reader slot. PC input. High Gloss Black mask. Swivel diamond-shaped stand. Price is dropping fast!. Cons: Not widely available at any B&M retailers to see it in person. 8-Samsung Tantus #HP-R5072X Pros: 1,366 X 768p Resolution. 10,000:1 Contrast Ratio. Built-in NTSC. ATSC and QAM tuners. CableCARD slot. 1-HDMI imput. High-Gloss Black bezel. "Floating in the air" bezel design theme. Pleasant melody when you turn it on and off. Cons: Remote is the same generic gray one use on most Samsungs. |
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Perrey Z. Unregistered guest | The LG DU-50PX10C and MU-50PX10C are commercial/professional monitors, they don't have any type of tuners, speakers or table stands., on top of that, they're 2-years old. The MU-50PM10 is another monitor introduced last year, like the models above it does not include anything a consumer unit would normally had. There's nothing wrong or bad about purchasing plasma or LCD professional monitors for the home, they tend to be alot cheaper and some brands have up to 3-years of warranty. If you're going to have satellite or digital cable, you can control these monitors from thouse receivers. as for the speakers and stand, if you're planning to have a home theater you won't need speakers and most certainly you aren't going to set it on a table cabinet, right? As a matter of fact, high-end plasma units like Runco, Maxx, Dukane, Helios and Fujitsu are actual monitors, i'm still contemplating the idea of purchasing some for my house. One of the things newer monitors do have is a DVI-HDCP input instead of the HDMI. but like i said, there's not lost of picture quality between both inputs. Your purchase must be a smooth and hassle-free experience, that's why i strongly advise you not to do any business with http://www.plasmahouse.com/ they are in "Crocklyn" and NOT authorized to sell ANY brand they claim to carry. please check this link; http://www.resellerratings.com/seller2974.html you'll read past experiences of other customers who unfortunately purchase from these dishonest people. The "good" reviews are clearly written by the staff at Plasma House.com pretending to be satisfied customers. |
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Bronze Member Username: MethenewbiePost Number: 18 Registered: Jul-05 | for the LG 50PX50D, it's showing up as available on mydigitaluniverse. are you sure they can't sell either? |
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Perrey Z. Unregistered guest | Be extremely careful! the prices for the LG 50PX5D seems good but all of thouse resellers had a few things in common plus the photo is not accurate. Basic rules why you or anyone should not deal with this people: #1 They are all in Brooklyn or as i said "Crocklyn". NYC has a reputation as the place to avoid when shopping for electronics over the internet. The rate of online fraud is higher when dealing with e-tailers from this area. #2 The prices are WAY below the MAP. There's a big chance they don't even have the unit in stock. #3 This is a consumer unit, according to LG Electronics anyone caught selling consumer units over the internet is going to be facing legal action with them. #4 None of them are authorized, so the warranty will be automatically void. #5 You or anyone that purchase from these places is taking a dangerous risk of receiving refurbished, open box, grey market goods or worse, stolen merchandise. Check this out; mydigitaluniverse.com rating is just 6.25, not good at all... http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1086.html digitalcraze.com 2-reviews and they're not favorable. http://www.resellerratings.com/seller8551.html plasmakings.com AKA PC Video mall, PC Video Online and pricemad.com http://www.resellerratings.com/seller6713.html pricemad.com all the "Very Satisfied" reviews are fake, only the "Very Disatisfied" is authentic. http://www.resellerratings.com/seller8520.html |
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Perrey Z. Unregistered guest | I forgot two of the biggest in Brooklyn... Marine Park AKA MP Superstore and Abe's of Maine which BTW is not in Maine but in good old Brooklyn. MPSuperstore.com full of short fake reviews. http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1849.html Now... the real MP Superstore known here as Marine Park... http://www.resellerratings.com/seller2069.html Abe's of Maine another non-Authorized Brooklyn e-tailer selling refurbished merchandise and stolen goods from Huppin's Hi-Fi {AKA http://www.onecall.com/} and not to mention full of short fake reviews. http://www.resellerratings.com/seller2003.html Take my advise, avoid all these places, you might think you'll be saving a few hundred$, but you have no idea what's in store for you if you give these criminals your busine$$. |
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Bronze Member Username: MethenewbiePost Number: 19 Registered: Jul-05 | Perrey, what do you think about buying from etronics.com? check out their reseller ratings. Pls compare LG RU-50PZ61 with the Philips 50PF7320A/37 and Philips 50PF9630A/37. Please also compare Samsung HPR5052 against the 2 Philips plasmas. Where can I buy the sets mention in this post right here other than Best Buy. They charge tax and "special delivery" on top of the shipping even on the internet!!! |
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Bronze Member Username: MethenewbiePost Number: 20 Registered: Jul-05 | Philips 50PF9966 on amazon.com. what do you think? Please also look at SAMSUNG HP-P5071 50" Plasma HDTV on amazon.com |
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Bronze Member Username: MethenewbiePost Number: 21 Registered: Jul-05 | what's going on in this whole section? no posts since this morning. |
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Bronze Member Username: MethenewbiePost Number: 22 Registered: Jul-05 | Perrey, please also mention whether the LG RU-50PZ61, Philips 50PF7320A/37 , 50PF9630A/37 and Samsung HPR5052 , HP-P5071 have zoom capabilities? |
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Perrey Z. Unregistered guest | You can check specific features on each model by visiting their respective websites. The Philips 50PF7320A/37 won't be available until September. Philips 50PF9966/37 has been discontinued however it's still available from a few B&M retailers and online authorized e-tailers like: Great products, Philips takes their own unique innovative technologies and stylish designs and manufacture some of the most beautiful sets in the industry with top notch quality., i have a 42" version {previously mentioned on my comparision reply above} and won't change it for anything. Today i got my Panasonic TH-37PX50U., I must tell you, what a dissapointment that unit and/or the entire PX50U series is. First of all, it doesn't have ANY type of burn-in prevention, NOTHING!, No pixel shifting/ Screen Orbiter, No White wash screen to age the pixels evenly. The settings are fair, nothing fancy, really. When you use the integrated ATSC {HDTV} tuner the TV will lock the digital channels on 4:3 aspect ratio, and there's no way to strech the picture to "Just" or "Full", to fill the screen, 2 side bars in either Gray or Black appear, again, there's no way to strech or remove thouse side bars from the screen. The fan is not so silent, you can hear the "buzz" from as far as 10-feet., the audio settings is poor and limited, There times when you can't control the speakers balance, only Tremble and Bass and not that much, the level will only go up to +15. The remote is a headache, you need to aim it directly at the left near the power LED and press the remote keys VERY hard and several times to get a command. I mentioned this on a early thread about the new low resolution version, at that time i though the sets at sears needed new batteries, there was noting wrong with thier batteries, they were working "properly". Assembly was a breeze, however Panasonic needs to take a page of Philips in how to packed TVs with unassemble stands., on these Panasonics the stand is located under the display so you need to take the TV out of the carton, set it screen flat down on some cloth {It does mention this option on the stand manual.} or rest it to a chair or sofa to take out and assemble the stand. There's no main On/Off power button, the front panel power button is the only button you press to turn the TV On or Off. Funny thing is the HDMI will not work with any other brand {Samsung, LG, Denon} of high-Def up conversion DVD players, only Panasonic models. If you would had asked me if i would Recommend the PX50U series i would have said maybe because the prices from some authorized e-tailers justify the lack of non-essential features, but now that i got one and had the opportunity to spend a few hours with it i'll say, No way! get something else. |
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JMR Unregistered guest | Perrey, As you found out the hard way Panny cut some big corners on the 50u's. Can you return it? I would grab a commercial model if you dont need the tuner and speakers. Are you also hae problems with the greens? The unit's i have seen had a neon look to the green. Was able to tune it down but it was still odd. I think Panny is fealing the heat from the Koren makers and this was the way they went. As I am sure you know with the commercial models you get all the screen saver stuff and a MUCH better build quality. I hope you can return the set with little hassel. |
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Bronze Member Username: MethenewbiePost Number: 23 Registered: Jul-05 | Perrey, JMR, Does the Philips 50PF9966 have PIP and Zoom? Is the HD tuner built-in? |
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JMR Unregistered guest | Sorry Can't help you on the Philips line as I have never used them personaly or in comercial installs. Perrey might be able to help you. I can tell you that I have been hearing alot of good press on the new units. |
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Perrey Z. Unregistered guest | James, Unfortunately i can't., i got it online from Onecall.com and they don't accept returns on any TV larger than 20"., I hope i can sell it on eBay and at least get 80% of what i paid. Not green hues, yet. but a buzzing noise seems to be present for up to 2-hours after i turn it on and once in a while ater that. One thing i did like was the easy and quick setup, the colors are very well defined and blacks are truly black. I was thinking in getting a 42" or 50" 7UY because the 37" 7UY is/was ED, but i was affraid the famous power supply might had failed during the warranty period and i didn't want to deal with the hassle of transporting the unit. |
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Perrey Z. Unregistered guest | James, Unfortunately i can't., i got it online from Onecall.com and they don't accept returns on any TV larger than 20"., I hope i can sell it on eBay and at least get 80% of what i paid. Not green hues, yet. but a buzzing noise seems to be present for up to 2-hours after i turn it on and once in a while ater that. One thing i did like was the easy and quick setup, the colors are very well defined and blacks are truly black. I was thinking in getting a 42" or 50" 7UY because the 37" 7UY is/was ED, but i was affraid the famous power supply might had failed during the warranty period and i didn't want to deal with the hassle of transporting the unit to the service center, which is 2-counties away. |
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Perrey Z. Unregistered guest | Me, The Philips does have the "Zoom" and a few other Aspect Ratios, including Automatic, which will automatically eliminate any black bars and will strech the picture without distortion. There's several Picture-in-Picture modes, including the normal P-i-P, Picture-by-Picture {side-by-side} Multiple picture, which varies from 3-small windows to 1 half side., 6 or 8-windows., the P-I-P feature has it's own tuner., You can swap the images to any position you like. It doesn't have an integrated HDTV tuner. The accessories included are the DVI-D to HDMI cable, Glass stand and flat-on-the-wall bracket. Fanless operation, multiple Ambilight settings, The HDMI accepts any brand of high-def up conversion DVD player., I love mine, it's one of the best Plasmas from 2004. |
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JMR Unregistered guest | Perrey, You need to call onecall and through a B*TCH FIT. I would go nuts on them. If that does not work call Panny and freek out them. Sounds like you have a case to me. Good Luck. |
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Perrey Z. Unregistered guest | I'm going to call Onecall and ask them to take it back because their saleman told me the TV had the screen saver features. And i'm also planning to write a letter to Panasonic, and complaint about this. What amaze me is that lesser known and totally unknown brands like HiSense and ProView add this essential feature into their plasma units, why Panasonic had to be the exception? Misleading information can hurt the image of a company., Apparently, Panasonic wants that. I hope i can get this thing out of here before the month is over. Thanks for your good wishes. |
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JMR Unregistered guest | What's really odd is that the comercial sets have a bunch of screen savers. Why the heck would they not do this on the consumer? If Onecall told it did have the feture they need to take it back. PERIOD. Did you pay with a credit card? If so dispute the charge. Let me know how it goes for you! |
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Perrey Z. Unregistered guest | I did notice that. Do you know if this feature could be turn on or off on the service manual? I spke with a TV technician early today about this and he said similar models use the same boards, the factory choose to turn on or off the features than won't apply to te specific model but they can be turn back on again. I'm thinking this might be a solution. Are you aware of any other previous consumer models with this inconvinience? I use a bank card, disputing this charge with them won't be easy but i'll try. I guess i'll have to wait until monday to speak with a representative and see what they can do on this situation. I call and email them, the person who took my call said someone will get back to me no later than Monday. |
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Bronze Member Username: David_nguyenBoston, MA USA Post Number: 32 Registered: Apr-05 | I've been going back and forth between three models, only two brands. I've done a lot of comparisons, and here is what i've found: For the size and picture quality you get for the money, it's hard to beat the Panasonic TH-50PHD7UY. PROS: It undeniably has the best black level of any plasma display on the market, and a high contrast level. The picture quality, although not as tight as the Pioneer PDP 5050HD or Elite series, with some tweaking by an ISF certified professional, can get pretty darn close. It also has several slots for expandibility. CONS: This is a biggie: If you have any problems with it, you have to take it to an authorized Panasonic SERVICE center, since it is the professional series. This means you have to pack it up, and drive it potentially many miles away to get it repaired under warranty. Also, it has limited inputs, for example, if you want HDMI, you have to buy the expansion board (~$150). It's a monitor only (not really a CON), so you'll need speakers and a tuner (cable/satellite box). Also, the display of standard television broadcasts is not so great, but HD is fantastic. Styling is pretty plain-Jane too. Simple black bezel, nothing fancy. Now the other models are the Pioneer Elite PRO-1120HD. Besides going with a RUNCO or Faroudja, it'll be tough to beat the picture clarity and sharpness of this screen. The cell structures for each plasma cell are smaller and tighter which provides for a sharper picture. It comes with a 2 year in house warranty. The external media box has all the connections you'll ever need (such as 2 HDMI connections. The physical appearance is pretty sleek looking too. This model also has a unique interface that allows an ISF professional to super-tweak the set. If you don't want the external media box or speakers, opt for the PRO-1010HD; it's just the monitor. The CON: Very expensive. The last television I'm considering is the Pioneer PDP-5050HD. The picture quality is essentially the same as the Elite series. The main difference is this one does not have the ISF interface, comes with a 1 year (vs a 2 year) in house warranty. It's also about $1-2k less than the Elite. $4650 delivered from http://www.cozainc.com/, an authorized Pioneer dealer (they are the cheapest of all the online dealers). One thing about Pioneers: Only buy from an authorized dealer, otherwise you'll void the warranty. And there is a $500 rebate going on right now for many of the Pioneer models, including the ones mentioned above. Hope that helps, David |
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New member Username: LongknockPost Number: 1 Registered: Aug-05 | Same issues as Me. I have a Phillips DVD & 5.1 surround w/dolby decoder which I've found to be a great system for the price! I don't have satellite and rely on the cable tuner box from my cable provider. I want 50 inches of plasma with the best picture and would consider DVR, HDTV tuner, etc. Sounds like Perry likes the Phillips Models. I've been pulling my hair out as well trying to decipher all these model numbers and manufacturers. I just want the latest, best unit on the market with the best reliability, longevity and warranty. I'm not real technically savvy and I drive a ford truck even though I could afford a hummer if I wanted to. You have my respect and confidence - what manufacturer and model do you suggest I buy? I'm in Kansas City. |
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Bronze Member Username: MethenewbiePost Number: 27 Registered: Jul-05 | Matthew, First of all, if you want a "quality" home entertainment system, you have to invest that money you saved by not buying a Hummer. At the very least, you should get something like KEF 1005s The price included 1. the Plasma TV 2. Shipping 3. Wall Mount Brackets 4. Table Stand 5. Attached Speakers (which of course I rarely use thanks to the AV235) The Ambilight is really a "cool" feature to have. Philips (as far as I know) is the ONLY brand to ship with wall mount brackets for free. You go to any website to buy these brackets and they'll fleece you........... PLUS SHIPPING!! I prefer the "all-inclusive" or what you call in terms of car buying "bumper to bumper" coverage. If you have the time and the patience to continue researching for another month to save say....$100 (IF that much!!), then you can buy the TV and the stand separately (non-Philips brand). Another thing to note is that contrast ratio (black levels versus white levels) are not that big of a deal. As long as you have something like 3000:1, you are fine. To get the most bang for your buck, I would suggest you choose a TV with the following: 50" (60" becomes prohibitively expensive) 1365 x 768 resolution (dont settle for less), HDTV Tuner integrated DVi, 1080i, 720p, HDMI included, true 16:9 aspect ratio, contrast ratio at least 3000:1, Now with the HDTV Tuner included the price may go up just a lil bit, but not $2000 as you thought. The price will probably go up by less than $500. Dont get a DVR inclusive TV. Which means you saved $1500. For the DVR.....just get it from your cable provider. If he charges you like 5 bucks a month for it.... dividing $1500 / 5 = 300 months before you end up spending that $1500 you saved That is about 300 / 12 = 25 years!!! At 10 bucks a month, you are still 12.5 years away from breaking even if you buy a TV with DVR built-in! LGs are good and I would have really liked one myself, but.........as Perrey pointed out......This Their customer service was friendly and helpful. I was ALWAYS able to get in touch with them (with an order in thousands of dollars, you would think that I'd like to talk to them more than once :-]) Their local shipping counterpart gave me a call ahead asking when was a good day and time to deliver. All in all, a painless experience. You WILL find sites out there with lower prices......WAYYYYY lower prices, but do you really want your money in the hands of someone in a warehouse in "Crooklyn, NY" :-)) Go to http://www.resellerratings.com/ and enter store name on the right hand side top. That will show you how well they have fared. BEFORE you buy, I suggest that you come here and post which site you are going to buy from and which model. More knowledgeable people like Perrey and JMR will let you if the site is reputable. |
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Bronze Member Username: MethenewbiePost Number: 28 Registered: Jul-05 | Oh by the way, if you go for KEF 1005s, you can call the number on http://www.kef.com and get wall mounts for the speakers too. |
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Perrey Z. Unregistered guest | Me, I'm glad you got your Philips 50PF9966/37 unit in perfect condition. I'm planning to purchase my next TV, a Hitachi CMP-4212U from Thanks! |
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New member Username: LongknockPost Number: 5 Registered: Aug-05 | I found the following deal at Monitor Outlet - one of Pioneer's authorized internet dealers. Then I called dtvcity and they gave me basically the same deal. I also called crooklyn (ibuyplasma) just to see how they can offer this for around $4,000 and it didn't take long for me to understand. ********************************************* Monitor Outlet, Inc. 6801 Lake Worth Rd. Suite 330 Lake Worth, FL 33467 Committed to Customer Service Tel (888)478-6161 Fax (888)478-0831 PIONEER, PDP-5050HD PLASMA TV - 50" M10449 $4889.00 Part #: PDP-5050HD PHILIPS, PRIORITY SERVICE PLAN - 5 YEAR $529.00 Part #: PPS5YR Plasma 3-4 Day Fully Insured Shipping $0.00 3% DISCOUNT - BANK WIRE TRANSFER ($162.54) Plus they will send me an invoice from a local dealer so that the current $500 Rebate is honored by Pioneer. What's up with that? |
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Perrey Z. Unregistered guest | Hmm... two things that worry me: #1 The wire transfer. That doesn't sound safe, specially if they preffer Western Union. #2 The idea of creating a phony invoice for you to be eligible for the mail-in rebate., if they are really authorized they don't need to do this. |
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Bronze Member Username: MethenewbiePost Number: 29 Registered: Jul-05 | Perrey, they use Pilot Air freight. pretty good. though if Pilot is not national, then it may vary from state to state. they ship from Delaware. One quirk with the DVD connection though. Switched to progressive scan and obtained RGB cable for best picture. Well...the video shifts 1 inch to the right?!??! weird....4:3 letter box, pan scan, 16:9 all fail to resolve this. tried doing this with both the TV and DVD. By the way...My subwoofer is using a red n white audio cable (pretty thin) and going into subwoofer out on my receiver. However...only the red goes into the receiver bcoz only one out is provided on the receiver for subwoofer. I guess I'm gonna post this in the audio section to figure out what the hell i'm supposed to do. |
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Bronze Member Username: MethenewbiePost Number: 33 Registered: Jul-05 | Perrey, subwoofer issue resolved. audio and video looks great. belkin cable for dvd video and s-video for dish network satellite. By the way, I tried several different things with the TV settings and receiver settings when my DVD is set to progressive scan. That 1-inch shift to the right still exists. Any suggested solutions? Here is what happens. When I switch DVD to progressive scan. It shows a "test screen" to let me know this is what the image is gonna look like. At this point, the shift doesn't exist. Then it flickers and comes back with the same test screen, only this time with a dialog box of OK and CANCEL on top of it. When I click OK, the image goes blank and comes back again, only this time with the image shift to right. Any answers? |
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nirradcassidy Unregistered guest | Thought I'd jump into the fray here as I'm ready to buy a plasma. I'm trying to decide between LG 50px5d and Pioneer Pro 1010hd. If anyone has any thoughts about this please let me know. Also, BestBuy might be the only online place to buy LG's but my local dealer sells them and while I do buy tons of stuff online, I think I'd prefer a local dealer for my plasma. Too many potential headaches. I got my dealer down to the following prices: 5300 for the LG 5700 for Pioneer. His opinion is that LG is the better value. Very close picture, though the Pioneer is ultimately more fine tuneable. I would very much appreciate your thoughts. Thanks. Darrin |
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Bronze Member Username: MethenewbiePost Number: 34 Registered: Jul-05 | I am not sure if Pioneer has the "washing out" of burn-in issues. LG does have that. If you don't get that in Pioneer, stick to LG. FYI...you are ready to buy a plasma, but are you ready to buy cables??? If you are setting up a home entertainment system like I did with kef 1005s 5.1 surround sound, then you will have to invest in some serious audio video cabling to take advantage of the plasma clarity. If you don't, you will be disappointed. I kid you not, subwoofer and DVD to A/V receiver wiring, Satellite receiver wiring and video wiring from receiver to TV all takes about roughly $400 if you want to get GREAT picture AND sound. Do yourself a favor and save that money by buying online. I did tons of research on all this stuff before deciding to buy Philips, so now I know what I am talking about. My first choice was LG as well, but price v/s bang for the buck. Philips beats it in my opinion. Those $$$ that you will save by buying online are what you can use for a $300 professional installation and a $400 home theater wires. Even if all you are buying is the plasma, you should consider buying online since places like bestbuy, circuit city, are all going to have their customer service/ sales rep/ showroom display margins. Remember, you are not really reducing your risk by buying from a local dealer. If you buy from a reputable site online and stay away from Crooklyn dealers, you will be happy you bought it online. |
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Anonymous | I have not seen one review of the LG 50px5d anywhere. It has good specifications and stats, but not sure how it's picture quality will compare with Panasonic and Pioneer. I've seen it at a local authorized dealer for $4999. When comparing the similar 50px4dr at Best Buy, the picture did not look as good as the Panny 50px50u. Any input from anyone would be appreciated. |
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Bronze Member Username: David_nguyenBoston, MA USA Post Number: 33 Registered: Apr-05 | I've been doing a lot of research and have just put my television on order. If you have the budget for the pro-1010, then there really is no comparison in terms of picture quality: the Pioneer will blow the LG out of the water. Pioneers have a much tighter cell casing structure, which provides a much sharper picture, in comparison to almost all consumer level plasmas. When I say "consumer" i mean "affordable," which is, of course, all relative. To go up a notch from the Elite, you'd have to go either Runco or Faroudja. Anyways, the 1010 hd is a monitor only; it has no speakers or tuner. This is of course not an issue if you have external speakers and a tuner box such as satellite or cable. The difference between this and the 1120, besides the 1120 having the separate video processor and speakers, the 1120's screen is made up of 2 layers of special glass, whereas the 1010 is only one. This dramatically decreases the glare off the screen, thus increasing the viewability and overall picture quality. Now, if you want the Elite picture quality, and are willing to settle for a little less features, go for the Pioneer PDP-5050HD. Same quality pic as the Elite, but it is only a 1 year in home warranty, as opposed to the 2 year, it does not have the special ISF interface which allows for an ISF professional to further tweak the pic, and the speakers aren't quite as good. Otherwise, the price is about $2k cheaper. I looked around: Coza, Inc (http://www.cozainc.com/) has the cheapest price: $4699 delivered. Plus they are an authorized Pioneer dealer so you get the $500 rebate (btw - I do not work for Coza, Inc.). If you don't get the Pioneer, consider the Panasonic TH-50PHD7UY (monitor only). Picture quality to Price, it can't be beat. Plus, with a little tweaking from an ISF professional (about $250), you can an almost Elite-like picture quality. Hope that helped, good luck. Dave |
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Perrey Z. Unregistered guest | I saw these two {LG and Pioneer} yesterday and Pioneer is a much more sofisticated unit, {along with it's high price.} LG offers a terrific product with lots of picture and sound adjustments, screen saver features most Japanese brands can't compare to or offer at LG's prices. The only advantages is the Pioneer let's you switch between ISF calibrated and normal settings and you don't have to worry losing the calibrated settings. The price you'll paid for a Pioneer is for a few extras inputs, the extra fine {ISF} tunning features, 5-color temperature settings, and the deep encased cell structure technology, which Pioneer claims eliminates bleeding and delivers accurate colors. Contrast ratio doesn't make much difference, i've seen units with 700:1, 1,000:1, 3,000:1, 5,000:1 and the newest 10,000:1 panels and to tell you the truth, i don't know what manufacture's brag about, there's no visible difference between them, i notice Blacks and Whites look marvelous on all of them. |
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Crayzei Unregistered guest | Does anyone know if the Phillips 50PF9966/37 has a PC input? |
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Perrey Z. Unregistered guest | No VGA D-sub 15., you'll need to use the TV's HDMI input. The HDMI is compatible with DVI devices. A DVI-to-HDMI cable is included with the unit. The resolutions modes the TV will display are as follow: VGA 640 X 480 60Hz. SVGA 800 X 600 60Hz. XGA 1,024 X 768 60Hz. Good luck! |
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Crayzei Unregistered guest | Perrey, What is your opinion on the Phillips 50PF9630A? After a month of research, I think this is the best value for the buck. Thanks. |
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Perrey Z. Unregistered guest | Personally, i don't like the new cosmetic design. The built-in side speakers add to much bulk to it not to mention it looks like an LG. Compare to last year's 50PF9966/37 The 50" looks huge on the wall! the Picture quality, Ambilight, Pixel Plus and inputs bay are as always all great. But for me the style kills the posibility of purchasing one. I was at Circuit City today and they are selling them for $3,719.99., Last Thursday they were selling it for $4,498.99 at first i thought it was an Open box unit or a typo but the salesman told me that's their in-store sales price. Looks like the prices for the 50" and up are becoming more affordable. |
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New member Username: PlasmatvmanPost Number: 4 Registered: Aug-05 | I found it at http://www.plasmahouse.com for a decent price, they have a few left in stock according to their website. They sell all kinds of plasma tvs |
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Unregistered guest | Folks - you've scared me, but thanks. I was looking at the Pioneer PDP-5051HD and was probably going to go with the Panasonic TH42PX50U. Now I am not so sure. I may just settle for a DLP. BTW, I bought a few things at one-call. That was about 6 years ago - I thought they were okay, but I did not have problems. |
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Unregistered guest | Folks - you've scared me, but thanks. I was looking at the Pioneer PDP-5051HD and was probably going to go with the Panasonic TH42PX50U. Now I am not so sure. I may just settle for a DLP. BTW, I bought a few things at one-call. That was about 6 years ago - I thought they were okay, but I did not have problems. |
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Sheila H. Unregistered guest | I have been researching plasmas for the past 6 months and am more confused than ever. Electronics are not my forte and I understand very little of the specifics. At this point I am trying to decide between the Pioneer PDP-5051HD (Yep, that's Best Buy) and the Panasonic Onyx TH50XVS30. I am desperate for some REAL information, not just commission generated gobbly-gook from the salesmen. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. |
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Bronze Member Username: David_nguyenBoston, MA USA Post Number: 34 Registered: Apr-05 | Sheila, for starters, I am not a salesman of any kind. I have been researching plasmas for a while, and I am familiar with those two models (although it was the PDP-5050HD), both of which are excellent models. The Onyx is the consumer version of the extremely popular professional series by Panasonic, the TH-50PHD7UY. The difference between these two Panasonic models being the consumer line (Onyx) has the separate media tuner and speakers. Otherwise the picture engine is identical. If you were to decide to get the Panasonic, you may want to consider the professional series, especially if you intend to hook the TV's sound through a separate sound system, and use a separate input for video such as cable or satellite. Overall, I believe the Pioneer model has a higher quality picture - the deep encased cell structure essentially lends to a tighter picture; equal to the Elite series. The difference between the PDP and the PRO (Elite) series are pretty minor: fewer inputs such as HDMI, speakers aren't as good, and I believe the Elite PRO 1120HD uses two panes of glass on the screen, while the PDP uses one (less expensive, slightly more glare). While the Panasonic's tend to have better black levels, the difference is hardly noticeable, unless you're viewing under ideal conditions and are very picky. Pioneer's are also known to be more reliable in general, over other models. They have excellent warranties and support as well. For the best bang for the money, the professional series Panasonic is quite a bargain. Plus, with some tweaking by an ISF professional, the picture can [almost - but not quite] rival the Pioneer. After several months of research, I decide to go with a Pioneer Elite PRO-1120HD. The reason for this was the quality of picture; number of inputs available on the separate outboard tuner; the warranty; and the overall Pioneer reputation. Again, let me reiterate, I do not represent any type of consumer electronics industry. I a consultant for a software/technology consulting firm in Boston. I'm just another gadget freak who wants the best! Hope that helped. If you have other questions, feel free to email me at dnguyen29@comcast.net. David |
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kshould Unregistered guest | All, Have seen questions posed about the Samsung HPR5050, but no answers and no online reviews. Does anyone have actual experience with this product? I am comparing to Panasonic TH-50PX50U. $300 delta in price at local Best Buy...and trying to decide! Appreciate any advice and expertise. Thanks. |
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Sheila H. Unregistered guest | After reading David's very imformative and detailed information (Much Thanks!) I went to Best Buy to buy the Pioneer 5051. They were having an amazing sale and consequently,the plasmas were bought out across the state of FL. So, I inquired if I could get a raincheck and was told "Like,no way" because that plasma was being clearanced to make way for the new 5062. Was I being fed another load of bull or has anyone heard of this "brand-new" Pioneer technology? |
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Bronze Member Username: David_nguyenBoston, MA USA Post Number: 35 Registered: Apr-05 | Sheila, check out the PDP-5050HD. Pioneer's having a $500 rebate on it if you buy it from an authorized dealer. I checked all the authorized Pioneer online dealers and found that http://www.cozainc.com had it cheapest; last time i checked it was $4699, shipped. Plus with the $500 rebate, it makes for a nice deal. I haven't heard anything about the 5062, sorry. Maybe the folks at Coza can tell you more. |
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New member Username: Tj8999dwsPost Number: 1 Registered: Sep-05 | I just picked up my Samsung HPR5052 yesterday. I have DirecTV and unfortunately have a round dish. I understand I need to have a triple LNB dish for HDTV. My question - the images (watching CNN, Fox news, etc) make the people look "squatty". Is this a problem I can expect with high def or is the issue someone related to my current signal? Or maybe there is something in the setup that I need to do? |
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Bronze Member Username: David_nguyenBoston, MA USA Post Number: 36 Registered: Apr-05 | Tim, Check the aspect ratio that your TV is set to. Chances are that your screen is set to 16:9, or to stretch to fill the screen. If you're watching a program that is being broadcast in 4:3 (whether it's HD or not - most HD programs are 16:9), then you'll get the results as you are describing. Hope that helps. David |
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New member Username: Tj8999dwsPost Number: 2 Registered: Sep-05 | Thanks David. I hope that is all it is. Will check tonight. |
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New member Username: Tj8999dwsPost Number: 3 Registered: Sep-05 | My problem was the aspect ratio. So after switching from 16:9 to 4:3, I have grey space on each side of the screen. Now the image size is that of a 32" television. I won't have my triple lnb dish from DTV until Monday. Hopefully the image quality will improve with the new dish. |
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VTT Unregistered guest | Not a BS. Pioneer released its 6th Generation Plasma Models with MUCH BETTER Contrast Ratio & Blacks levels (The only weakness Pio Plasmas had). 3000:1 for the 43" Models 4000:1 for the 50" Models The PDP-4360HD , PDP-5060HD and the Elite PRO-930HD and PRO-1130HD Models should be available by the end of this month. http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/press/release/detail/0,,2076_4313_27330556 5,00.html http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/press/release/detail/0,,2076_4313_27330556 8,00.html . |
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Sheila H. Unregistered guest | Thanks David (again) and VTT. Looks like the research continues..... |
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Unregistered guest | I would like to buy a plasma TV from Costco since they have a very generous return policy (Full refund if you are dissatisfied for any reason at any time). The downside is a limited selection. I am looking at the Phillips 50PF7320A and the JVC PD-50X795. One of my concerns is whether either of these sets incorporate screen savers or other technologies which protect the screen from burn-in. Does anyone have any feedback? |