60 in. TV recommendations welcomed...

blueboxer

Time to upgrade the downstairs tv and move that up to the game room. I have gotten somewhat familiar with the basics of looking for quality HT/stereo equipment, but have not kept up with the progression of HDTV's and performance ratings. Any recommendation for a 60 in. tv (plus or minus) would be very appreciated. I have typically stuck with Samsung and would prefer to stay that course, but overall picture quality is the main requirement. Will be sending the video signal via either a NAD T175 or Anthem D2.

Preferences would be:

1. Samsung
2. Energy Star
3. Picture quality (don't really care about 3d or apps)

The above is not exclusive to any other options (with the exception of the third).

Sherardp

I recommend a two way setup. Smaller 42-46 inch flat screen for day time viewing, 96 inch screen with Epson projector for movies in the evening if this is going in the family room/living room. HDMI in, split out to both displays. All for the same price as a 60 inch screen.

blueboxer

I am not sure that is feasible in my rooms, with the low ceiling in the game room and fans in the downstairs family room, I see more issues than I would want to have to overcome. Downstairs has the 10 ft ceilings, but the fan hangs down right in the middle of the room, and in the desert, it is not going to be sacrificed. lol

Upstairs only has 9ft ceilings, and another ceiling fan dead center where I would have wanted to mount the projector. Think sticking with a large plasma or lcd is still my preferred option.

acmf74

I have the Sony EX-500 in 60" for HT.

Blu-Rays look awesome on it.

blueboxer

That looks promising, not too bad on pricing either.

gmm141

I just purchased a Panasonic 54" VT25 3D Plasma (they have it in 58" and 65") in December.

The picture blows me away every time I look at it. I have a Samsung 6400 LCD that is less than a year old and it does not compare to the picture quality of the Pany plasma.

If you subtract out the 3d and judge it only on it's 2D, it is still the best TV I have ever seen. I was on the fence between the Samsung 7000 and 8000 LED's for my basement HT so I went to the store to take a look at them...
Then I saw the Panasonic and there was no comparison.

Plus, it was $650 Less than the Samsung 55" 8000 serries and $350 LESS expensive then the Samsung 55" 7000 series.

If you have no interest in the bells and whistles and sell off the free bluray player, glasses, and 3D DVD's that you get with package that some retailers are offering you end up saving a bundle.

Best of luck, and have fun shopping. I sure did.

Glowrdr

Just an FYI, there is a 50" version too (at least the VT20) - I just bought one today. Have to agree though - best picture I've ever seen. A lot of reviews claim this is the first TV that is comparible (if not just as good) as the Kuro's.

BTW - The difference between the VT20 and the 25 is just an RS-232 for automation, and some super secret advanced calibration setting (for pro-calibration use)

I picked up the 50" for $2k (with an extra set of glasses). So for the price, I got the TV, BRP, 4 pairs of glasses and Avatar. Keep it all, or sell off everything and you'd have a pretty sweet TV for roughly $1500

Conradicles

Get the biggest Panny Plasma you can afford!

steveinaz

I just bought a 58" Panny plasma that I am extremely pleased with, $1099 at Sears. I've got just over 100hrs on it.

TC-P58S2.

gmm141

I paid $1850 delivered for the 54" VT25 TV, BRP, 3 pairs of glasses total, and Avatar

dvran

I think Samsung sizes for plasmas are 50, 58 and 65.

MCCOBRA

Samsung plasma 58" pn58c7000. 3d and a bad **** tv. Picked it up for 1799 from lcdtvs.com. 5000000:1 contrast ratio

blueboxer

A couple good recommendations, time to shop around and see what happens.

Glowrdr

gmm141 wrote: »

I paid $1850 delivered for the 54" VT25 TV, BRP, 3 pairs of glasses total, and Avatar

Damn.. where'd you score that from? That's what I paid for the 50 (I paid more, but got a 4th pair of glasses at the same time)

mantis

Samsung Pn65c7000 , this Tv is amazing and in my opinion better then the Panasonic. I think it has better blacks to the eye , better correct color and deep depth of field. I could care less about 3D bt for Cable , Apple TV and Blu ray movies this Tv is as good as it gets.
The 8000 series is also very nice but slightly more money but worth the extra cost.

Check them out and directly compare to theVT series of Panasonic.

Another Mention is the LG PK60950 series Tv. This also is a pretty damn good Tv and I would also take it over the current VT series Panasonic.

I Install these Tv's just about every single day and I see things in the Panasonic that lets me down as the Samsung and LG always impress.

I have a ISF Samsung 7000 series Plasma calibration coming up so I'll report back how easy / hard good it came out. last TV I ISF calibrated was a Pioneer Elite Kuro which was as easy as pie. Those TV's are just about perfect out of the box. Crazy they need to come back.

larry777

+1 for giving the Samsung models a fair comparison.

danz1906

The LG PK-750 and LG PK-950.

jbooker82

LG 3d tv's:
LG Infinia 60PX950 for the 60 inch or LG Infinia 50PX950 for the 50 inch.

http://www.lg.com/us/tv-audio-video/televisions/index.jsp

Since your in the market for a new tv it would be worth it to get a 3d tv. It doesnt cost much more. It would be hard to dich a good tv just to upgrade to 3d but since your in the market I wouldn't pass one up.

The local tv shop in Lincoln, Nebraska had the LG Infinia 50PX950 50" Plasma and 2 pair of 3d glasses for $1300 bucks. The 60 inch LG Infinia 60PX950 and 2 pair of glasses was $1,999.

In order to get a good 3d LED tv you need at least a 240 hz refresh rate. 480 hz would be preferd. The tv osilates back and forth showing images for one eye then the other. So it displays 2 pics for 1 image. So a 240hz tv is really only a 120 hz tv in 3d mode. The high end 480hz 3d tv's are around $3,500 and up. You get way more TV for your dollar if you get a Plasma. Since it is going in the basement glare shouldnt be an issue.

blueboxer

Dan, is that the complete and correct model number for the Samsung? I cut and pasted it into a search, but didn't get any returns. Samsung is my preferred brand and I would like to stay with it if possible.