74 replies to this topic

[JohnA]

I am looking at getting a new TV

currently have a 50" pioneer plasma, which is over 5 years old so am going to retire it to the spare room and grab a 65".

now i havent looked at plasma tv's since i purchased the pioneer, but 2 have caught my eye.

the samsung ps64d8000 or the panasonic thp65vt30a.

i am not fussed on 3d but do want the best picture quality.

any bad reports on either of these tv's or any other options in the 65" range to compete with these

thanks

[cooksta]

JohnA, on Oct 11 2011, 09:39 AM, said:

I am looking at getting a new TV

2 have caught my eye.

the samsung ps64d8000 or the panasonic thp65vt30a.

i am not fussed on 3d but do want the best picture quality.

any bad reports on either of these tv's or any other options in the 65" range to compete with these

thanks

Hi John, I have the Panasonic 65vt30a. Picture quality varies from average (fta Sd) to simply stunning (bluray).

FTA sd can look quite good but this varies according to what is being broadcast at the time. generally older programs look the worst while current programs do look quite good, though with reduced detail as opposed to HD fta. There is some softness with sd fta at times but this is not always there.

FTA hd, for the first time with this tv I get that "looking through a window" feeling with HD fta. This is despite my impression that HD fta aint what it used to be.

Bluray; simply awesome; out of the box THX setting damn good for most people. I do intend to get my set professionally calibrated.

Floating brightness has been a reported problem with the Pana, this has been fixed with August builds afaia. I have a July build and I have not seen it on my set.

IMO your options are either the Samsung or the Panasonic, really up to you to to let yours eyes decide.

[JohnA]

thanks for the reply cooksta.

biggest problem with trying to view for oneself is finding a store that has them both to view the same content side by side.

Everything i have read seems to point to the pana.

I do like the look of the samsung with the nice silver frame, but pq is more important then that

[pgdownload]

Similar Thread with some thoughts.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

[cooksta]

JohnA, on Oct 11 2011, 10:20 AM, said:

I do like the look of the samsung with the nice silver frame, but pq is more important then that

From reading reviews it seems to be 6 for 1 half a dozen for the other between the Samsung and the Panasonic for picture quality, both have their good and bad points.

The Vt30a has a silver frame around the edge which up close reminds me of a microwave oven, I dont like that much.

It also has an ECO mode, had to turn that off as picture was too dull. I have not changed contrast setting yet as I am still running set in. Then I will get it calibrated.

Whats surprised me most was rated power consumption of the 65, something like 270 watts in normal mode,less than my old 800a series 50".

[JohnA]

thanks again guys

wife like the slimline samsung, i am leaning towards the pana myself

big weight difference between the 2 also

[cooksta]

JohnA, on Oct 11 2011, 12:35 PM, said:

thanks again guys

wife like the slimline samsung, i am leaning towards the pana myself

big weight difference between the 2 also

The panasonic is very thin also, with bulge at bottom for speakers.

The Panasonic has an extra sheet of glass across the front to give the edgeless look which adds to the weight. Took 3 of us to lift onto wall bracket.

[Dissociative]

i narrowed down to the same two recently and after checking them out and reading reviews, user comments etc, came to the conclusion that there isn't much in it PQ wise.

i went with the sammy in the end because i think aesthetically its the best looking telly around and a refreshing change from all the piano black sets out there. its also a little cheaper.

i have had a few issues with mine though, which are still to be resolved (refer other thread in 3d section). hoping to get them resolved soon as there isn't any other TV id rather have still.

there are a few options now on the LCD/LED side as well if of interest. There is the new 60" D8000 Samsung and a 70" Sharp (not sure if thats quite out yet). i think the extra size would be nice, as big as 64" is i still want more!!

[JohnA]

thanks for the reply mate.

Went with the wife to JB today and they had them side by side, so was good to see them in the flesh.
Damn hard to tell them apart.

From the pictures online, wife preferred the samsung, after seeing them in the flesh, she now prefers the panasonic.

Without even trying we were able to talk the guy down to $4700, but if we get the extra glasses and a 3d blu ray player he said he'd be able to do even better again.

Of course i didnt push too hard as wasnt going to purchase today, only went to see them.

I did read your issues in the other thread and whilst i was there, had a close listen to see if i could hear any buzzing, but nothing.

I am still doing a little research on all the features on both, then just pick one.

At the end of the day, i also think price may play a big factor, since they are so close in quality.

A little disappointed they only have 12 month warranty though

[Dissociative]

Thanks for checking re the buzz. I think it might just be something with mine as other owners of that tv report no buzz.

Re price, not sure about the pana but a few on here have reported $3150 for the samsung.

[Dissociative]

Duplicate*

Edited by Dissociative, 12 October 2011 - 09:37 PM.

[JohnA]

picked up the samsung today. Price was too good to pass up.
They werent willing to discount the pana as much.

One issue though, have put it on its stand and its not level. The right side sits a little lower then the left

have i installed it incorrectly or is there some adjustment

[JohnA]

people with the samsung, have you downloaded the app to control it with your iphone, ipad, or touch

i just put it on my ipad and works a damn treat

http://itunes.apple....d359580639?mt=8

[petetherock]

John, I am in the process of making my own decision, were you concerned at all with the Korean vs Japanese and any reliability issues?

Thanks

[JohnA]

petetherock, on Oct 14 2011, 12:47 PM, said:

John, I am in the process of making my own decision, were you concerned at all with the Korean vs Japanese and any reliability issues?

Thanks

no, didnt let things like that get in the way of my choice.

A couple of things i will say though.

the stand that comes with the samsung is not very good. My tv didnt sit straight on it. Had to make a slight mod to level it.

I too have a very slight buzz, but it goes away and only comes back every now and again, but not very loud.
If it continues i will put a warranty claim in

Have also read of some pana buzzing also.

Looking at them side by side was very hard to tell apart. So for whatever small difference there was in PQ, i was not prepared to pay over $1k extra for it.

I do prefer the look of the pana on the stands, but i will get the slim line picture hanging wall mount for my samsung.

[Owen]

JohnA, on Oct 14 2011, 12:38 PM, said:

people with the samsung, have you downloaded the app to control it with your iphone, ipad, or touch

i just put it on my ipad and works a damn treat

http://itunes.apple....d359580639?mt=8

I question why anyone would want to do that. What's the remote control for?

Maybe the dog can use it for a chew toy.

Edited by Owen, 14 October 2011 - 07:58 PM.

[JohnA]

Owen, on Oct 14 2011, 08:56 PM, said:

I question why anyone would want to do that. What's the remote control for?

Maybe the dog can use it for a chew toy.

so when the wife has the remote to switch to her crap shows, i can over ride it  

[neK]

Does the Samsung 64" D550 or D8000 have the floating black issue that panasonic has?

Because I have witnessed something similar on my Panasonic 50" px70a when playing back an xvid using my Panasonic Bluray player and it annoyed the crap out of me..... even though it was only for a second (but for some reason when i used my PC to play it back on the 50" it didnt have the problem).

I would really like to buy a new bigger TV, but this whole floating blacks is just holding me back.

Edited by neK, 21 October 2011 - 11:37 PM.

[Drizt]

JohnA,

You still happy with the TV?  Doing some research for a family member

[JohnA]

Drizt
Had a couple small issues with my first one, second one still has a slight buzz, but pq is very good

You are welcome to come have a look if you like.

[Drizt]

JohnA, on Oct 24 2011, 11:00 PM, said:

Drizt
Had a couple small issues with my first one, second one still has a slight buzz, but pq is very good

You are welcome to come have a look if you like.

Cheers mate.

Just one more question.

Have you had any issues with (or noticed) any image retention?  

Image retention is massively annoying on my Samsung 50" 650B.  I was hoping this was resolved in the newer models.

[JohnA]

Drizt by image retention to you mean burn in?

if so, no havent notice any

[Drizt]

JohnA, on Oct 25 2011, 10:24 AM, said:

Drizt by image retention to you mean burn in?

if so, no havent notice any

Nope.  

Play a bluray and you get to the menu screen which is generally in 16x9.  Then when you play the movie it will be in scope (top and bottom black bars).  On mine you can see a noticeable outline of the previous menu in the black bars.  Very annoying.

[JohnA]

Drizt, on Oct 25 2011, 10:39 AM, said:

Nope.  

Play a bluray and you get to the menu screen which is generally in 16x9.  Then when you play the movie it will be in scope (top and bottom black bars).  On mine you can see a noticeable outline of the previous menu in the black bars.  Very annoying.

i'll check it out tomorrow for you and report back...cant say i have noticed it though, but will double check it now

[Drizt]

JohnA, on Oct 25 2011, 10:55 AM, said:

i'll check it out tomorrow for you and report back...cant say i have noticed it though, but will double check it now

Thanks mate.

I notice it a lot when I am using my PS3 as it is 16x9 on the menu.  If I leave it on the menu for a minute or so then go into a movie, the black bars are not just black   This image retention hangs around for ages in the black bars.  If you play a full screen image for a while it usually goes away much quicker.