Panasonic Plasma vs Samsung LCD...

[venkman]

I've been trying to decide on a tv for 2 months and finally got my bonus from work. Now I am buying a tv this weekend. I am stuck trying to choose between the Panasonic TH42PX50 42" Plamsa for 2,699 or the Samsung LNR408D for 2,499. I was planning on using my computer hooked up to the tv so I was leaning towards the Samsung, but I haven't heard much about it's picture quality. I hear just great things about the Panasonic Plasma. I don't really care about the 200 bucks, I'd rather get what's best for me. You guys have never steered me wrong.

Thanks

[edtyct]

There's no really simple answer to this question. The Samsung has practical features that the Panasonic doesn't, like an ATSC tuner and cable card. I haven't seen one in action, but it has a luminance control, which is meant to allow the TV to maximize its black level in scenes that don't need as much brightness as the TV normally produces. If it works as advertised, it's an asset. It's also thirty pounds lighter than the Panasonic. The Samsung's picture is probably like . . . well, an LCD--sharp and bright (despite the luminance control). If you watch a lot of TV that doesn't make many demands on black (as many films do), or tend to keep some ambient light in the room when viewing, the Samsung should satisfy (assuming that its performance and reliability matches other LCDs in its class).

The Pansonic has a distinct advantage when the lights are dimmed--an extraordinary black level, which gives it the best contrast ratio in the business. I doubt that the Samsung could compete with it in a serious home theater for watching movies, at least under typical movie-watching conditions. It also looks less "digital" than LCDs do, which is not necessarily a slap in the face. That crisp digital look certainly has its appeal (I tend to like it), but under the right conditions, the Panasonic can seem very CRT-like, without the baggage. It's light on features in comparison, but its performance is tried and true. Pansonic did not gets its stellar reputation as a plasma maker for nothing.

[ToddL]

All Panasonic plasma up here in Canada have ATSC tuners, even the EDTV models. And the model number is the same TH42PX50, so I am going to say that it does have an ATSC tuner. As far asa Samsung picture quality I haven't seen their plasma but as for their LCD and DLP they don't do the greatest job with sharp outlines of objects and colours aren't as good as a Panasonic. You get more features for less money but for the picture you get what you pay for. This to me seems to be a Samsung trademark. Have a good look at both, and think what weighs out better for you. Let us know what you decide.

[edtyct]

For all you kids out there, laziness once again proves not to pay off. I based my answer on the Dark Ages. As ToddL says, the Panasonic has an ATSC tuner; it also has the cable card slot. The feature advantage for the Samsung just got smaller. Thank you, ToddL.

[ToddL]

For all you kids out there, laziness once again proves not to pay off. I based my answer on the Dark Ages. As ToddL says, the Panasonic has an ATSC tuner; it also has the cable card slot. The feature advantage for the Samsung just got smaller. Thank you, ToddL.

Things like this change everyday if you were to keep up with all of it your head would have to be bigger than a beachball

[paul_pci]

You may wish to wait until spring to make your decision however difficult that may be because Panasonic is introducing newly designed plasma models. Check out this link:

http://www.audioholics.com/ces/CESdi...madisplays.php

Hope this helps or at least exacerbates the confusion.

[BadAssJazz]

I haven't seen a single Samsung flat panel that matches the picture quality of a Panasonic.