70 replies to this topic

[diesel]

Ok guys, I'm heading down the path of buying a new TV and have pretty much narrowed it down to either a 65" Panasonic ST30 or a 64" Samsung D550.

Now I know that I would probably get the 64" Samsung D8000 for similar if not cheaper than the Panasonic ST30, so certainly on price alone the D550 is leading the pack. Or do I get the 60" ST30...though I have long wanted to upgrade to a 65" screen so would I regret not going bigger - more than like I think.
I think if the price difference between the 64" D550 and the 65" ST30 were a couple of hundred dollars, I'd stick with Panasonic.

So what are the main differences between an ST30 and a D550? From spec sheets what I could glean so far is;

ST30
supports USB HDD PVR recording
Has an ARC HDMI input
No 3D eye wear included
2 x 10w speakers
SDXC card reader

D550
No ARC HDMI support
includes 1 x pair of 3D glasses
2 x 15w speakers
EPG (Samsung) - NO (can someone explain if this is the FTA EPG or something else Samsung has?)
swivel stand

Do they have similar screen filters or is one better than the other?

I guess I'm looking for some input from folks in terms of any differences or pros/cons before I commit to the Samsung D550.
The room it's going into is 6m wide x 5m deep. Ceilings are 10' and there is a side wall with about +3m of window/double sliding glass doors. So there will be some issues with light and reflection, but it's in a similar setup as my current 50" in another part of the house which has double glass french doors, so we are used to reflections, and manage accordingly with blinds/curtains.

Edited by diesel, 31 August 2011 - 09:00 PM.

[nickc]

Hi Diesel
Make sure you go and have a look at the 550, it's pretty reflective, though you do say you've dealt with that issue before.
Cheers
N

diesel, on Aug 31 2011, 08:58 PM, said:

Ok guys, I'm heading down the path of buying a new TV and have pretty much narrowed it down to either a 65" Panasonic ST30 or a 64" Samsung D550.

Now I know that I would probably get the 64" Samsung D8000 for similar if not cheaper than the Panasonic ST30, so certainly on price alone the D550 is leading the pack. Or do I get the 60" ST30...though I have long wanted to upgrade to a 65" screen so would I regret not going bigger - more than like I think.
I think if the price difference between the 64" D550 and the 65" ST30 were a couple of hundred dollars, I'd stick with Panasonic.

So what are the main differences between an ST30 and a D550? From spec sheets what I could glean so far is;

ST30
supports USB HDD PVR recording
Has an ARC HDMI input
No 3D eye wear included
2 x 10w speakers
SDXC card reader

D550
No ARC HDMI support
includes 1 x pair of 3D glasses
2 x 15w speakers
EPG (Samsung) - NO (can someone explain if this is the FTA EPG or something else Samsung has?)
swivel stand

Do they have similar screen filters or is one better than the other?

I guess I'm looking for some input from folks in terms of any differences or pros/cons before I commit to the Samsung D550.
The room it's going into is 6m wide x 5m deep. Ceilings are 10' and there is a side wall with about +3m of window/double sliding glass doors. So there will be some issues with light and reflection, but it's in a similar setup as my current 50" in another part of the house which has double glass french doors, so we are used to reflections, and manage accordingly with blinds/curtains.

[Owen]

You pay your money and you make your choice, only you can decide what set of compromises best suit.
I recommend against a 60" as you will almost certainly regret the purchase long term.

I reckon the 65ST30 is better overall than the 64D550 but its a lot more expensive and the 64D8000 is the go if you are spending that much. The screen filter and anti reflective coating of the D8000 will be invaluable in your room.

Edited by Owen, 01 September 2011 - 12:22 PM.

[andys]

Owen, on Sep 1 2011, 12:18 PM, said:

You pay your money and you make your choice, only you can decide what set of compromises best suit.
I recommend against a 60" as you will almost certainly regret the purchase long term.

I reckon the 65ST30 is better overall than the 64D550 but its a lot more expensive and the 64D8000 is the go if you are spending that much. The screen filter and anti reflective coating of the D8000 will be invaluable in your room.

Completely agree with Owen. The D8000 is the better option, and better value for money. The Sammy Real Black Filter is the best filter on the market today. The D550 just doesn't cut it in a bright environment. Only you can decide though!

Andys.

[diesel]

Thanks guys. $1k is a lot for the benefits of the screen filter - the difference in price between the 64D550 and the 64D8000. I know if I wait until the new year, I'll be able to get a better price on the D8000, but I would really like to get the TV soon....I wish the Panasonic ST30 65" was a sub $3k and the choice would be far easier!

[Felix.]

I thought the best price you were able get for the D550 was $2,550 versus $3,150 for the D8000 so isn't the diff $600??

Edited by Felix., 04 September 2011 - 08:07 PM.

[diesel]

Yes, but since then, a couple of people have pointed me to $2300 and $2100 prices for the D550.

[Felix.]

Indeed $2,100 would be hard to ignore for the 64D550.

[Calciatore]

Felix., on Sep 5 2011, 12:42 PM, said:

Indeed $2,100 would be hard to ignore for the 64D550.

This is true. I bought the Panasonic Plasma TH-65PZ850A for $6,000, about 2 years ago.

Now I could have bought 3 of these Samsung TV's for the price I bought the Panasonic for!

[Felix.]

Ha ha 4 years ago I paid $8,600 for the Pioneer LX608A which was a decent deal for a product that had a RRP of $12K at the time. It's remarkable what you can get for the money nowadays such as a quality 64" Samsung plasma for $2,100.

Edited by Felix., 05 September 2011 - 02:09 PM.

[1080pwanab]

Felix., on Sep 5 2011, 12:42 PM, said:

Indeed $2,100 would be hard to ignore for the 64D550.

Where can this tv be had for $2.1k? Thanks

[Felix.]

1080pwanab, on Sep 5 2011, 01:30 PM, said:

Where can this tv be had for $2.1k? Thanks

Not sure. Diesel mentioned in post #7 that he had been pointed to that price by others so will leave him to answer that one.

Edited by Felix., 05 September 2011 - 05:18 PM.

[SLE355]

I was just down at Retravision and they had the 64" 550 and 65"ST playing something animated, at $1300 cheaper sticker price i'd take the 550 every day of the week. I know it's animated but the pic was superb on the 550.

Also had the 64D8000 mounted on a bracket and i've now decided this is the TV for me! Will look awesome wall monted over my white lowline cabinet.

[diesel]

I still unsure after seeing an ST30 60" next to the D550 64" and the blacks were significantly better on the Panasonic. They were distinctly grey on the Samsung. They were both fed the same content via HDMI, and not matter of playing around with the PQ settings on the Samsung could I get it to look better. I'm sure you probably could with more time (I spent an hour there) but it just put some doubts in my mind.

[chunky18887]

I've been tossing up between the 60ST30 and the 64D550.

Both of them I should be able to get for around the ~$2200 mark.

With the Samsung I get;
- an extra 4 inches

but with the Panasonic I get;
- better blacks
- lower input lag [if the models test the same as the Euro models.]

that's really all I want in my TV is accurate colour reproduction and low input lag.
I don't need speakers because I've got a receiver, I don't need smart TV because I've got an HTPC, I don't need PVR function because there's nothing worth recording, I don't need 3D because there's nothing worth watching, Hell I don't even need a tuner because the rubbish SD digital broadcasts looks horrible on a TV this big.

I honestly think if Panasonic/Samsung/Sony made a large panel with all the extra "features" taken out, basically a commercial panel with sufficient connection options [and maybe with a tuner] and sold it at a reasonable price it would be one of their best sellers.

[diesel]

chunky18887, on Sep 15 2011, 11:43 PM, said:

I've been tossing up between the 60ST30 and the 64D550.

Both of them I should be able to get for around the ~$2200 mark.

JB HiFi has a 10% off sale this weekend and the 60ST30 is $2246I reckon you could get it under $2k
I was pretty much decided to get the D550, but after seeing it next to a 60" ST30, the blacks were much better on the Panasonic and this has swayed me to spend the extra on either an ST30 or a D8000

chunky18887, on Sep 15 2011, 11:43 PM, said:

I honestly think if Panasonic/Samsung/Sony made a large panel with all the extra "features" taken out, basically a commercial panel with sufficient connection options [and maybe with a tuner] and sold it at a reasonable price it would be one of their best sellers.

Panasonic definitely sell commercial plasmas where you can add 'modules' with the connection types you want, however, they they tend to be just as expensive if not more so. Probably because they don't sell the volume like they do with consumer grade plasmas..

Edited by diesel, 16 September 2011 - 08:05 AM.

[chunky18887]

diesel, on Sep 16 2011, 08:01 AM, said:

Panasonic definitely sell commercial plasmas where you can add 'modules' with the connection types you want, however, they they tend to be just as expensive if not more so. Probably because they don't sell the volume like they do with consumer grade plasmas..

That's the point I was trying to make. I'll always read on whirlpool, or hear in store "There's nothing to watch in 3D, but the 3D panels have the best 2D picture" or "Turn motionflow/clearmotion off as it makes everything look like a soap opera filmed with handycams" manufacturers cram all these 'features' in to their sets that no one actually wants. They just buy them because those models have the better panels.

If something like a 65VT30 with all the useless 'features' removed was available to purchase, I think it would be a big seller with people that have a home theatre set-up, as long as it was priced accordingly. The commercial panels are MORE expensive than the equivalent consumer panel with features removed, which doesn't make sense at all.

[Owen]

Commercial panels are very different to the domestic models and sell in small volumes to a market that can claim the purchase off tax, hence the higher price.

[diesel]

An 85" VX200 panel would look nice in my lounge room....except it's the price of a mid-spec small car!    

[Owen]

Hah, bring on the 103", but at that sort of price there is no excuse for less then G9 Kuro performance or better.

Panasonic have so far been incapable of producing a high end panel, even with their commercial displays.

Edited by Owen, 16 September 2011 - 10:25 PM.

[SLE355]

diesel, on Sep 10 2011, 09:43 PM, said:

I still unsure after seeing an ST30 60" next to the D550 64" and the blacks were significantly better on the Panasonic. They were distinctly grey on the Samsung. They were both fed the same content via HDMI, and not matter of playing around with the PQ settings on the Samsung could I get it to look better. I'm sure you probably could with more time (I spent an hour there) but it just put some doubts in my mind.

I saw the 64" D8000 and 550 next to each other yesterday, massive differance in black's, the 550 is very gray next to the D8000. The anti-reflective coating works well too.

[Owen]

SLE355, on Sep 17 2011, 12:55 PM, said:

I saw the 64" D8000 and 550 next to each other yesterday, massive differance in black's, the 550 is very gray next to the D8000.

Only if there is significant ambient light.

[SLE355]

Owen, on Sep 18 2011, 09:35 PM, said:

Only if there is significant ambient light.

True, the first time i saw them they weren't next to each other so it was hard to 'compare' but the 550 in that store was in a darker environment. The second time when next to each other was in a well lit JB store.

[diesel]

I saw all three (D8000, D550 and ST30) all in a reasonably well lit HN store. Not as bright as typical JB stores that I have been into, but certainly greyish blacks on the D550

[Owen]

No doubt about that as the D550 does not have a screen filter worth mentioning, however view in a dark room and screen filters make no difference and the D550 should then look much the same as the D8000.

Edited by Owen, 18 September 2011 - 10:53 PM.