42'' plasma/LCD suggestions

[bucknut43210]

I'm looking for a low priced plasma or LCD display (I'm a sports watcher, so it may need to be plasma for my price range.) I already have a 1080p so a 720p would be acceptable for me. I'm currently looking at either a Samsung PN42B450 or a Panasonic TC-P42X1. I was wondering if anyone on here has experience on either television, a comparison of the two, or perhaps another suggestion of a 42" TV in the $600 area.

[hdtvnewbie]

I'm looking for a low priced plasma or LCD display (I'm a sports watcher, so it may need to be plasma for my price range.) I already have a 1080p so a 720p would be acceptable for me. I'm currently looking at either a Samsung PN42B450 or a Panasonic TC-P42X1. I was wondering if anyone on here has experience on either television, a comparison of the two, or perhaps another suggestion of a 42" TV in the $600 area.

I generally am a fan of Panasonic-brand products and can't ever remember not being satisfied with anything I've bought made by Panasonic, including a 30-year old portable radio I still have. In fact, I am still using a 32" Quasar (made by Panasonic) (4:3) TV I like so much that I don't plan on getting rid of it until it's dead as a doornail. That said, my brother recently bought a 42" Panasonic Viera Plasma and am not at all impressed with the picture. It's okay, but there's just no "wow factor". Samsungs tend to get good reviews for picture quality and I am very impressed with my brother's 58" Samsung plasma ... great, great picture; great reviews; and it was about $1,700 last time I looked. I liked the picture so much, I almost bought one myself. But, I still can't get over the fact that Samsung is now considered a desirable brand. It used to be a junker brand back in the old days.

I would wait until February to buy, the prices go down after Christmas return season and inventory is over.

[hdtvnewbie]

Check this out. Until recently, they were still selling my 30-year old table radio. I bought it at Tempo - Buckeye Mart! lol

http://www.jackbergsales.com/electronics/panasonicrf1104.htm

[nicholc2]

Either one will do you well. I will say that the 720p Panny's tend to have very bad gamma response. I'm not sure why they make them that way. That's really the only bad thing about them. For 720p, I'd go with the Sammy. But either will do you well.

[bucknut43210]

Thankyou for the replies. I was dead set on the samsung (my other plasma is a samsung and is a fantastic television) but then saw the Panny for $524 at HHGregg, which is $100 less than anywhere I have found the Samsung. Perhaps I will wait till around february, although I'm not sure the girlfriend will be happy about that as this is pretty much for her (somehow I got tricked into going in for half)

Edit: I just wanted to add for those who may wish to respond, I'd also be interested in a 37-40" LCD if there were very little motion artifacts, however there are no LCDs in my price range that are not a 60hz refresh rate. But if anybody has any good experience with a certain model, the info would be very helpful and greatly appreciated.

[hdtvnewbie]

Thankyou for the replies. I was dead set on the samsung (my other plasma is a samsung and is a fantastic television) but then saw the Panny for $524 at HHGregg, which is $100 less than anywhere I have found the Samsung.

Great price, but in the long run I get too big of a kick out of watching vivid screen colors. I would rather pay the extra $100 and get a picture I like. But then again, if you won't be watching it ... I guess, who cares?

[markm]

Nicholc2,

Not intending to hijack the thread - but any thoughts on the 1080p V10 from Panasonic? Same problem with gamma response?

Thanks,
Mark

[nicholc2]

Nicholc2,

Not intending to hijack the thread - but any thoughts on the 1080p V10 from Panasonic? Same problem with gamma response?

Thanks,
Mark

No, the 1080p sets don't have the issue. The V10 is a good set.