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Well, for a while I'd thought my plans for a hi-def tv were dead, what with house buying...but we're getting out for less than we though on closing cost, and my wife's given me the OK to buy a plasma TV for a "house warming gift" to myself I want to shoot for 50", because hell, I like big screens. After looking, and asking other questions here, I've more or less decided on going with a plasma. I like how they look a bit better, they're a bit cheaper, etc. I'm trying to keep the TV to 2200 or less. I'm looking at some Phillips, Sony and Panasonic. I'll be sitting about 8 foot away, and the thing will mostly be used for movie watching. Right now I'm DVD only, so I might invest in an upscaling DVD player. I plan to (eventually) purchase the PS3 and go with Blu-Ray, but not right now. I don't really watch TV, so shows/HD broadcast aren't a concern...just upscaled DVDs and movies. Any good ones? Is it possible to get a good 47-50" plasma for 2200?\

EDIT: I'm looking at the Panasonc TH50Pz77u-50 and Samsung FPT5084 are my two top contenders atm.

If you don't have HD media, just get a 720p set and call it a day.
Example: This Samsung 50" 720p set is $1700. The exact same[url] set except 1080p is $2300. Save the $600 and buy a ps3

If you don't mind a refurb you can get one of the best sets available for $1999

1080p+120hz+52"

http://www.buy.com/prod/sharp-lc-52d82u ... 79050.html

PRIME1 wrote:

If you don't mind a refurb you can get one of the best sets available for $1999

1080p+120hz+52"

http://www.buy.com/prod/sharp-lc-52d82u ... 79050.html

Has Sharp sorted out their screen uniformity and banding problmes yet?

paulWTAMU wrote:

EDIT: I'm looking at the Panasonc TH50Pz77u-50 and Samsung FPT5084 are my two top contenders atm.

IMO, either is a fine choice. The Sammy's colors are a bit more accurate IIRC, but the Panny is nice too.

My friend recently bought the 42" panasonic PZ70 and it is a very very nice panel.

Well, went to best buy today (they had a good sale on appliances). Got the appliances, and went to the TV section...they were having a sale on the Samsung 1080p for only 1600
Its gonna be delivered on the 12th, along with the washer, dryer, fridge, stove, TV stand, speakers and receiver. I am very much broke after the house and appliances and all...but I look forward to playing star wars on that thing with a good set of bookshelf speakers. WOOT. WOOT. My wife thinks I'm crazy, and I probably won't get laid for a week, but it's worth it.

EDIT: Harmon Kodon receiver, and two bookshelf speakers. Not a bad audio setup but not fantastic...but what the hell, when/if I upgrade it, I can give those to dad for his stereo. They went down 60 bucks on my reciever and 100 bucks on my fridge too, so I guess sometimes there is some flexibility--at least when you're dropping 5K

I've got a friend with a Panasonic Plasma...I'm fairly sure that it is 50", but I'm not positive of the exact model. (It is a couple of years old at this point.) Great set.

I so totally would have gotten a stand-up receiver.

My wife would shoot me. Not a nice place either, it'd be the gut or balls. She's already sort of miffed about the TV, I don't think I'd still have my parts attached if I spent the 900 or so on speakers/receiver that I wanted to.

In terms of cables--I connect my stuff--speakers, DVD player, PS3 (when I get it) to the receiver, then connect the receiver to the TV via HDMI right? I don't wanna shell out the 200 bucks for installation, so I'll try to bum some knowledge for free
edit to fix typo (600 to 900)

What model receiver?

My receiver
my speakers

Not great, but a huge improvement over the included speakers, and certainly good enough to get me by for a year or two--and afterwards, they can do double duty as a bedroom audio setup

Then yeah, you should be able to route everything through the receiver. BTW, have you gotten a Harmony remote yet? They are a pain to initially set up, but once you get do that, life is heaven and you won't know how you did without.

Congrats on the TV and receiver! Killer deal on the TV. The receiver is okay for now but you'll want to upgrade later. It will only switch HDMI, so you'll still need a seperate audio connection via optical or coax. Which means no lossless sound when you get the PS3, but oh well. Really unless you're short HDMI ports on the TV there's no reason to use the receiver's. The 30w per channel is on the low side, but workable. Just make sure you don't overload the amp with demanding acoustic suspension speakers.

Tell the wife to consider the money spent as an investment which will last for years. Enjoy!

Vrock wrote:

Congrats on the TV and receiver! Killer deal on the TV. The receiver is okay for now but you'll want to upgrade later. It will only switch HDMI, so you'll still need a seperate audio connection via optical or coax. Which means no lossless sound when you get the PS3, but oh well. Really unless you're short HDMI ports on the TV there's no reason to use the receiver's.

I'm a noob. Where did it say it can't decode the audio portion of the HDMI?

So I don't actually need to connect the speakers to the receiver? Thanks
Heh, I saw the deal on the TV and my jaw dropped...the 1080p was 100 *less* than the 720p...baffled me but made the choice easy.

I think the TV has 3 or 4 HDMI ports, but don't hold me to that. Yesterday is a blur--I just spend most of my annual salary between the house and appliances. I saw a freaking amazing package of a set of klipsch speakers and a decent (5.1, 600 watts, forget brand) receiver, but an extra 400 on top of what I was already spending just hit my limit.
Best part is I should get uber reward points back--something like 80 bucks worth, which will help buy *either* a PS3 or an upconverting DVD player.

paulWTAMU wrote:

EDIT: I'm looking at the Panasonc TH50Pz77u-50...

I bought a similar set last year, the TH-50PZ700U, and I couldn't be happier. I bought mine at an Ultimate Electronics $2600 last August, so I'm guessing that the prices have gone down by now, or there's been a replacement model that's been released. The Panny set that you listed has a higher contrast ratio, 10000:1 compared to my 5000:1, and a whole .1 inch extra of screen real estate, but that's about it. The contrast on my set is perfect for me, and I even had to turn it down some. Not to mention, the PZ700U has more inputs than the set you mentioned. Again, if you can find one, I highly recommend it. But, if you end up getting the 50PZ77U, I can all but guarantee that you won't be disappointed.

=Edit=
Whoops....didn't see that you already bought the Samsung. Good job dude, that's a nice set.

Flying Fox wrote:

Vrock wrote:

Congrats on the TV and receiver! Killer deal on the TV. The receiver is okay for now but you'll want to upgrade later. It will only switch HDMI, so you'll still need a seperate audio connection via optical or coax. Which means no lossless sound when you get the PS3, but oh well. Really unless you're short HDMI ports on the TV there's no reason to use the receiver's.

I'm a noob. Where did it say it can't decode the audio portion of the HDMI?

It's in the manual. It's pass-thru only. Essentially it's nothing more than a switch box.

http://manuals.harman.com/HK/HOM/Owner% ... 6%20OM.pdf

paulWTAMU wrote:

So I don't actually need to connect the speakers to the receiver? Thanks

No, you still need to connect the speakers to the receiver.