51" Samsung PN51E550 1080p 600Hz 3D Slim Plasma Smart HDTV with Built-In Wi-Fi + 2 Pairs of 3D Glasses $698 + Free Shipping

I have this model and it's a great TV. Personally, I'm overall sold on Plasma over LED any day of the week. Now, individually some plasma models might suck and an LED might be better, but in the vast world of technology, Plasma's FTW in my book. LCD and LED's often have a hint of looking unnatural to me and the motion isn't as good for sports IMO.

Quote from Fadekyn : Really good deal. (Not thread crapping, but if you plan to play games or run anything with a static picture, expect some possibility of burn in. Samsung does have a rep for having the least burn in potential of all plasmas, but the possiblity is still there depending on the length of time the picture is static. Also, don't believe the people that say plasmas don't burn in, they do. There's a reason why in the options there is a screen wipe mode, just for such occasions. If burn in doesn't occur then why the screen wipe mode?)

I think plasma burn-in has been less of an issue with subsequent generations and officially, you no longer need to run a burn-in disk or any color cycler for the first 24 or 48 hours of ownership.

However, if you plan on exclusively watching 4:3, maybe Plasma's aren't the best for you, but if you're like me and watch a wide-mix of 16:9, 2:35:1 and an occasional 4:3, I can safely say that burn-in is absolutely not an issue.

any idea if this is good for playing xbox on? and how the 3d is?

looks like a universal price drop at several stores

ABT Electronics too


http://www.abt.com/product/59620/...1E550.html

Quote from mprayii : I bought a 50UT50 on sunday, I have 3 windows on 2 different walls (one actually faces the tv) in my relatively small front room (16x16) and I get VERY little glare. I only notice it when the tv is off. I love this TV, but I was scared to buy it because of all the people claiming it has reflective issues. Makes me wonder if any of them actually own it! By the way, if you see the 50UT50 as an open box at your best buy, offer them $529 for it. That's what the mananger gave me mine for, and it wasn't missing anything - no damage.

Lucky you. I got a 55UT50 2 weeks ago. I have windows to the side, and a kitchen with fluorescent lighting behind. When a dark image is displayed, the glare is almost mirror-like, worse than a 10 year old Panasonic plasma in the same location. It even bothers my wife! Sending my UT50 back and picking up an ST50.

I would've loved to have kept the UT50, it's the best bang-for-your-buck set right now.

Quote from AWil : Screen wipe is for image retention (which can be cured), not burn-in (which is permanent).

It's all just varying degrees of burn in. Just like there are many different words in the Eskimo language for ice. In the end it's still ice.

Quote from aradwanski : any idea if this is good for playing xbox on? and how the 3d is?

I've got the 51E7000 and absolutely love it. the features are great, the remote is excellent, PQ is top notch, though the costco 50" panasonic plasma from BF was MAYBE a notch better in my opinion (both were calibrated by eye using disney WOW, still haven't completely calibrated the E7000). however, the fact that the panasonic couldn't do 24p properly was a huge deal breaker for me. if i'm correct, this panel does 24p very well and the 3d on the 7000 is also super.

i played tons of far cry 3 on this and was always impressed. the IR is much better on this than the panasonic in that regard...

also, if you're using an HTPC with your TV, i couldn't get proper scaling with the panasonic plasma, with this my scaling is perfect.

Quote from yourwhiteshadow : also, if you're using an HTPC with your TV, i couldn't get proper scaling with the panasonic plasma, with this my scaling is perfect.

What resolution are you trying to scale?

Panasonic does default to a 5% overscan. This can be defeated to 0% in the advanced video setting menu. I also realize significant improvement with '1080p Pure DIrect Mode' enabled.

I'm at a loss to see how there could ever be an issue from an HTPC if the output is set to 1080p 4:4:4 or RGB.

Perhaps if one was limited by an onboard video chip with poor or no scaling capability.

Otherwise, no one need be afraid of a 'poor scaling on HTPC' issue with a Panny Plasma.

Quote from yourwhiteshadow : I've got the 51E7000 and absolutely love it. the features are great, the remote is excellent, PQ is top notch, though the costco 50" panasonic plasma from BF was MAYBE a notch better in my opinion (both were calibrated by eye using disney WOW, still haven't completely calibrated the E7000). however, the fact that the panasonic couldn't do 24p properly was a huge deal breaker for me. if i'm correct, this panel does 24p very well and the 3d on the 7000 is also super. i played tons of far cry 3 on this and was always impressed. the IR is much better on this than the panasonic in that regard... also, if you're using an HTPC with your TV, i couldn't get proper scaling with the panasonic plasma, with this my scaling is perfect.

The 51E7000 is back on sale for $999 at BB and may be a few dollars cheaper at Sears, but it is worth the extra $300+tax is my question?? I've read nothing but great reviews on the E7000. Looking for someone who has seen both and could give a comparison.

Got the E1E7000 a month or so ago for $798 at Amazon. Great TV.

Quote from Fadekyn : It's all just varying degrees of burn in. Just like there are many different words in the Eskimo language for ice. In the end it's still ice.

If anything, it would be varying degrees of image retention, with burn-in being the most extreme type. Image retention can't be on the burn-in spectrum, since it isn't permanent (and burn-in, by definition, is permanent).

Quote from chri521 : Is there another deal running for the UT50? The 55 or 50 incher?

Costco has the 55" for $800, Newegg has the 50" for $650.

http://www.priceviewer.com/costco...TC-P55UT50

Quote from smallzjohnson : The 51E7000 is back on sale for $999 at BB and may be a few dollars cheaper at Sears, but it is worth the extra $300+tax is my question?? I've read nothing but great reviews on the E7000. Looking for someone who has seen both and could give a comparison.

No honestly I don't think the difference is worth it, but its easy for me to say since i bought the E7000 for $999 w/$200 BB gc. the very next day they did the buy a $50 GC and get $10 free, so i bought a couple... i returned the TV, but some nice girl let me keep the $200 because I was going to rebuy it with the $50+10 GCs, and then used the $200 GC, so I ended up getting this thing for $722 out the door....

Quote from Slee_Stack : What resolution are you trying to scale? Panasonic does default to a 5% overscan. This can be defeated to 0% in the advanced video setting menu. I also realize significant improvement with '1080p Pure DIrect Mode' enabled. I'm at a loss to see how there could ever be an issue from an HTPC if the output is set to 1080p 4:4:4 or RGB. Perhaps if one was limited by an onboard video chip with poor or no scaling capability. Otherwise, no one need be afraid of a 'poor scaling on HTPC' issue with a Panny Plasma.

1920x1080p. i tried everything, i think people on AVS had problems with it too. even if the overscanning issue got solved, it would still be too bad that it flickered like a strobe light on 24p content at 48Hz... for a home theater TV that TC-P50U54 was not ideal. but for people who watch nothing but 60p content that was the way to go, in my opinion.

Any comments on the glossy screen problem?