Panasonic TC-P55VT50 55" 3D 1080P Plasma - $1,599.98 In-store @ Best Buy

ZT60 is coming out but will be too expensive. VT60 is no longer the flagship but they phased out the GT models so maybe the VT will come down in price to be more like GT pricing.

$1600 + tax and recycle fee in CA may not be as good as some online pricing. But then again the free white glove delivery may compensate for that.

Quote from blackblaze : they did a comparison of the top 4 TVs of 2012, which included 3 plasmas, an LED and added the Kuro for comparison purposes, and the Panasonic VT plasma came in first, the Kuro second, even though the Kuro is slighty older, still has an awesome picture. That speaks volumes for the Panasonic VT line. :

CNET did a review last year. They said that the Kuro and the Sharp Elite still has blacker blacks (based on the numbers) but the VT50 was extremely close that it's hard to discern the difference through the naked eye.

Quote from rajesh43 : Sorry no offense to anyone.......why not get a 3D LED for the same price.Plasma is like way few years ago.......

You so funny!

Google Pioneer Kuro. That's so 2009 and yet it's still being used as a reference today for flagship models by other TV companies. BTW, it was a plasma. No LED/LCD has come close to the PQ of the Kuro of yesteryears. Sharp has done a great job in collaboration with Pioneer to introduced their Elite LCDs but it's still not as good. That's why Panasonic bought the Kuro tech for plasma, so they can implement the same tech in their own plasmas. Also if you can't discern the screen door and soap opera studio effect on LED/LCDs then you don't need plasma's cinematic film-like picture quality.

FYI, PDP tech is a more mature technology. LCD is always playing catch up to match its quality and even with the introduction of the LED backlighting, it still can't match it, otherwise you will have to pay 3X as much.

Quote from bas2000 : Is this really a good deal? Wondering why no one talks about the expensive 3D Active glasses.

I think it's a good deal if it's new and every BBY is offering that price, otherwise not long ago Paul's TV was running a similiar deal no Tax other than CO.
And Passive 3D is horrible right now, you only get half of the resolution. Active 3D is not perfect, but it's the best you can get in a TV for home.

Just called BB and did an OMS (they called it Expresslane) for pickup to a store near me. 45 minute drive, but hard to do when time is pressed taking care of 2 young kids .

CS said they had 4 in the warehouse. I got it for the $1699 + tax price. She said I could bring the Adorama (previous thread) flyer in to see if they'll do a price match. If not I'll attempt the Discover price protection. If neither are successful, I'd still be happy with the price.

I'd rather pay the tax than take chances with the Adorama deal.