50" Panasonic VIERA TC-P50U50 1080p Plasma HDTV $550 + Free Shipping @ Fry's

Quote from turnne : that reviews show the Samsung with a higher score?...9.2 vs 7.5 though on a realistic note I dont think anyone is cross shopping these two The Samsung would be more a match for the Panasonic GT50 The picture quality of the Panasonic for $550 cant be beat for that price in this size I think they actually palletize and unitize TV's( on skids) when they are shipped to retail locations Thats a lot different than shipping a single box with a common carrier

Yeah sometimes they do have them on pallets sometimes they don't. You'd be surprised of how big retail stores like sears and best buy get quantities of 1 - 10 on a lot of their TV's.

Quote from turnne : that reviews show the Samsung with a higher score?...9.2 vs 7.5 though on a realistic note I dont think anyone is cross shopping these two The Samsung would be more a match for the Panasonic GT50 The picture quality of the Panasonic for $550 cant be beat for that price in this size

Yea the score on the Samsung is higher, I think because of it having 3d and smart features. But reading it and picture quality and performance, the Panasonic is better. According to them. I haven't seen that particular Samsung, but the Panasonic has an awesome picture. I had a different Samsung and returned due to some picture issues.

Quote from Redrum509 : Been a Panasonic plasma owner since 2009. I bought this tv at Costco to replace my 42 inch panny I also bought from Costco back in 2009. I will never buy anything other than plasma. Panasonic is the king of plasma now that pioneer is no more. Those that are on the fence differently get this tv.

Same here, although I'm not quite sure when the 42" was purchased, Both have excellent picture quality. No brainerif you don't need a 3D or smart TV.

Quote from alexomid : Yeah sometimes they do have them on pallets sometimes they don't. You'd be surprised of how big retail stores like sears and best buy get quantities of 1 - 10 on a lot of their TV's.

Well..in the case of BB and Sears their product is shipped to a distribution center...and then goes to the retail store

I would bet in the case of TV's sent to their dist center..its in pallets
From there to the store...likely a mixed truck of many items
However ..this is different because the distance is much closer

On another note

I have ordered and received intact...a Samsung 46 LED shipped Fed Ex ground...as well as a 58" Samsung Plasma via truck...both from Vanns.com

Quote from kmlm13 : Yea the score on the Samsung is higher, I think because of it having 3d and smart features. But reading it and picture quality and performance, the Panasonic is better. According to them. I haven't seen that particular Samsung, but the Panasonic has an awesome picture. I had a different Samsung and returned due to some picture issues.

well I think the price of the Panasonic also gives it some points in their review
...and it probably should. I just dont think that anyone is cross shopping this Panasonic and the Samsung E7000...the Samsung is a clear Panasonic GT competitor

On another note...the same website rates the Samsung E8000 as their top TV..even over the Panasonic VT50

That is the ONLY review that I have seen to rate the Samsung 8000 above the Panasonic VT50
I think the Panasonic VT50 is better...and I own the Samsung E8000
Both great TV's..no doubt... and its splitting hairs to compare the two

Picked up my U50 in Plano,TX. There were two others on hold at the front of the store. Very happy.

So what's the recommendation on breaking this thing in? Bought an ST50 (little higher end in their 2012 line) for my dad earlier this year and followed a procedure from a well known Panasonic calibrator everybody on AVS referred to. Ran a continous color pattern for the first 100 hours out of the box to ensure a uniform break in of the panel.

Would the same be recommended for this TV?

If your plan is to get the plasma calibrated and want to hasten the process, then follow the break in process, which serves to age the colors evenly. The colors decay at different rates so you want them all at the same degree of intensity or peak condition before calibration takes place. This applies to any plasma model.

For everyone else, break in is not needed if you have no intention to have the panel calibrated. It's a myth that the break-in procedure was ever supposed to help minimize any potential image retention issues, btw. It's purpose is strictly for calibration prep.

Quote from alexomid : So you're against shipping? How do you think the TV's go from manufacturer to retail location?

Huh? No, I've had all three of my plasma tv's shipped to me. They just need to be treated well, and regular UPS ground can be pretty rough handling. Certainly a manufacturer has interest in getting their product to retailers intact, so they're going to exercise a little more care than UPS ground treatment provides. Mostly they just need to be kept upright as specified on the carton.

Very good deal for a VERY good monitor.

I just picked one up at Fry's tonight for $549.

I didn't see this thread, and started one a few minutes ago about this deal.

I already have one Panny 50" plasma (a higher-end model), so I grabbed this one for the office.

You can't beat this deal for a 50" with this picture quality. This has the same guts as the higher-end Pannys.

Tim

Quote from stormyq : Picked up my U50 in Plano,TX. There were two others on hold at the front of the store. Very happy. So what's the recommendation on breaking this thing in? Bought an ST50 (little higher end in their 2012 line) for my dad earlier this year and followed a procedure from a well known Panasonic calibrator everybody on AVS referred to. Ran a continous color pattern for the first 100 hours out of the box to ensure a uniform break in of the panel. Would the same be recommended for this TV?

Here are the settings from the AVS Forum. I would trust these.

SETTINGS

I always calibrate using the DVD player hooked up through Component cables and believe the TV tampers with the picture less. I have Color Management and CATS turned off. Then I use those setting for the other inputs. I could never get a bright enough picture using the DVDs. This doesn't mean you can't get a great picture, it just means the Gray Scale won't be balanced. I ended up just tweaking it to what I like. Anyway here's what I have, only 10 hours on the unit. I've got it to about a 9.5 out of 10, comparing it to my old one.

PICTURE:

Picture Mode: Cimema
Contrast:100
Brightness:58
Color 43
Tint:0
Sharpness:50
Color Temp: Normal
Color Management: On
CATS: On
Video NR: Weak
Block NR: Off
Mosquito NR: Off
Black Level: Light
3:2 Pulldown Auto

AUDIO:

Bass: +11
Treble: +2
Balance:0
A.I. sound: Off
Surround: Off
Bass Boost: On
Volume Leveler: 0

Quote from kmlm13 : http://www.televisioninfo.com/con...Review.htm http://www.televisioninfo.com/con...Review.htm Reviews for both, reading the reviews shows the Pana has a better picture etc. Got the Pana and couldn't be happier. For 550 it's, as they say, a steal.

Thanks for the links. I'm going to stick with my Samsung since it has a much better viewing angle.

Quote from nizwhat : Thanks for the links. I'm going to stick with my Samsung since it has a much better viewing angle.

Speaking of the view angle, I have no idea why they gave the Panasonic such a low grade since testing that at home, the view angles are quite better that what they listed there.

Quote from kmlm13 : Speaking of the view angle, I have no idea why they gave the Panasonic such a low grade since testing that at home, the view angles are quite better that what they listed there.

I have never seen a plasma with a bad viewing angle....no matter how entry level or high end

That is an LED issue

Quote from turnne : I have never seen a plasma with a bad viewing angle....no matter how entry level or high end That is an LED issue

Not just LED, LCD. Plasmas don't suffer from viewing angles...only glare/lighting issues.