Here's the deal - the person my family/friends go to regarding ?'s about "what to buy" for electronics is very the person I am trying to buy a 50" plasma tv for!! I ordered the XBox 360 for my husband and now I am trying to buy him the best 50" available (for approx $5k or less) for him to play it on. First I was told the Panas.TH-50PX50U was best for the $$, then I saw the Pioneer Elite Pro-1120HD (WOW! although VERY pricy) and now I read threads about the Pion. 5060 being a great pick... Any advice-PLEASE?!?!?
...one more was recommended..Pion PDP-504CMX. I understand there are no speakers with this display - my main concern is picture quality.
Galileo
Unregistered guest
Posted on
I have the Panasonic TH50PX500U for 2 months now, picture quality is awesome and the unit has no fan so it's very quiet. I went with this Plasma TV due to the picture quality and reliability of the manufacture/model. This model superseded the TH-50PX50U with additional features. Congrats on getting the Xbox 360, they are hard item to get your hands on this xmas!
Either. The Pio performs better in ambient light and the Panny is better in dark rooms. This is due to a difference in black levels. There is no wrong choice here. Watch for dead pixel return policies from your reseller of choice. That would be my only caveat for either.
ANYWAY, thanks for the feedback guys! I did go to Magnolia and Best Buy tonight (since both are authorized Pio dealers) and I have to say the Elite is the elite of the bunch...wow. As is the price...wow. And I guess they already have a newer model - the 1130. I also saw the Pio 5060 and 6060 @ BBuy which looked very nice (did I mention BBuy is the most expensive place to buy those models, too??) I think the Panasonic is the best buy for your $, but the Pioneer just seemed to have rich color (I guess due to the darker blacks). The room it will be in is very light - one entire wall is all glass - and it's long, so I'd like a good picture 20ft away from the tv.
So now my next question - what do you guys think about buying a plasma w/o the 1yr manufacturer's warranty? I have found the Elite for $2k LESS, but because it's so cheap, Pio won't offer their warranty.
BTW, any comments about the Sony 50 (you know, the one that's the size of a 60"!)...looked pretty nice, too...
Galileo
Unregistered guest
Posted on
Buying a plasma w/o the 1yr manufacturer's warranty = if it needs less than 2,000 repair bill within one year, your ahead in the game. Wow, 2K's less, are you buying a used or refurbished unit? Some credit cards companies as a benefit offer to double the manufactures warranty up to one year. Example, one year manufactures warranty, CC company will cover the product another year for total of 2 years of coverage. Better hurry and purchase one, the xbox 360 needs the HDTV.
Hi Shannon- Does this mean you don't have a sister? Oh well.
1. Sony isnt a good bet for Plasmas these days. Feel free to peruse some of the other threads to learn more.
2. The above poster is correct in that the use of certain credit cards doubles the manufacturer's warranty.
3. Electronics that malfunction will suaully do so within the first 90 days. The caveat is dead/stuck pixels. This is not considered a Malfunction and so return policies regarding dead pixels are variable. Of course hopefully you get a plasma that doesnt have any at all. But if you do, and the reseller wont take the return, it could be an unhappy scene, depending up on how many there are, where they are, and how tolerant you and your husband are of such things. Ask BB or whoever you purchase from, online reseller or not, what their return policy is on dead pixels. One? Six? Location? etc. I doubt you would have any other issues with a Pio or Panny plasma.
BTW- The glass wall comment is interesting. Firstly, feel free to invite me over as it sounds like a cool room and view. Seriously though, an open glass wall can cause significant reflection on the glass of a plasma. You will have to consider this when deciding on placement for the plasma as far as the sun etc. Glare is not your friend. Also, at 20 feet viewing distance, a 60 inch plasma makes sense. Quite expensive though. You California guys have all the fun!
Well, I did it!! - went with the Pio Elite 50"... it was just too gorgeous not to get!!! It should arrive next week - it's a brand new unit. I did opt for the extended warr which WAS available for the Elite @ the online store I purchased it from... and @ $4900 vs $6500, it was worth the extra $600 (however 2 days after purchasing the tv went up $500!!)!!! I was considering the Pio 61" and I also found a good price ($6k), but then you have to get a surround sys (which we don't have - shocking, I know!!), etc etc, and we want to get the articulating arm that extends out, turns up/down, around, inside out and backflips - HA! - and 60+'s are so big it makes me nervous. So he should be happy with this - let's hope anyway!! Good to know about the light - we were lucky with the 37 Sharp LCD (minimal/no glare), but of course we never got around to mounting it on the wall. I do have some sheers to hang which should eliminate some of the glare. I will keep you posted!!!
