I am ordering a 50" Panasonic (TH-50PHD8UK) on-line. I received an e-mail stating they are going to have them in stock in one week but the guy asked me if I would be interested in switching to a Sony 50" which was just released 2 weeks ago.
The prices are the same but he said:
"The new Sony has a contrast ratio of 10,000:1 versus the 3000:1 of the Panasonic. Also, the Sony comes with a DVI input standard and the DVI input is a $169 upgrade on the panasonic. Also, the Sony FWD models now offer a 30 day replacement period and on-site service for the first year. The Panasonic does not have the 30 day period and the warranty is not on-site."
I ordered the TH-50PHD8UK based on the fact that I am just going to use it as a monitor and the CNET review.
I am interested to hear what other think about the Panasonic vs Sony
Panasonic. However, Panasonic right now is having MAJOR problems keeping up with demand for orders. In fact, their entire production run is spoken for, even those that havent come off of the factory lines yet.
Their ninth generation panels are due out I THINK around March 2006.
You may or may not have frustration waiting for your Panasonic order to be filled. (* If you do order) Your supllier knows this- so they are pushing the less in demand Sony. Thye have them. And they are, in general, more expensive. Contrast ratio numbers are NOT comparable between brands, only within them. I assure you Sony contrast ratios are not 60% better than Panasonic.
I have no beef with Sony Plasmas per se, but Mr Blair the previous poster has had a really bad time and paid a huge amount of money as well.
If your looking at awsome plasmas for the price get the Toshiba 50HP95 instead of the Panasonic.As for Sony they do not make plasmas anymore only lcd's.The Sony with 10,000:1 contrast ratio is the LCos Rear Projections(SXRD).