Panasonic Plasmas: ST30 vs. ST50

falconcry72
falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
edited April 2012 in Electronics
So, I'm in the market for a flat panel TV. Let's keep this thread to plasmas. I've narrowed it down to the Panasonic ST, it's just a matter of getting last year's model (ST30) for a deep discount, or getting this year's model (ST50) for a a little more coin.

Anybody have any good info on the differences between the two??? From what I can tell, it seems the biggest difference is the aesthetic of the bezel, which is slicker, thinner, and lighter weight than the previous version. But what about actual video performance? I think the ST50 might have a better glare resistance, and a web browser, but is the ST50 basically just an ST30 in a prettier package?

Anybody seen both?
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  • gce
    gce Posts: 2,158
    edited April 2012
    The best info Would be here http://www.avsforum.com/ on both ST30 and ST50. I have the VT30 and love it but they say the xx50 models are better. To soon to tell thou.
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,068
    edited April 2012
    I'd call it a toss up...get the one that offers the best deal. You're probably splitting hairs with the comparison. I have the ST65 & it's gorgeous beyond belief. Also get the largest screen you can otherwise you'll be second guessing yourself. I picked mine up at Sears for an incredible deal.
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited April 2012
    What is the best delta on price you have found?

    I will call a friend of mine that sells for Panasonic and get back.
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited April 2012
    thsmith wrote: »
    What is the best delta on price you have found?

    I've seen the 55" ST30 for 1000, whereas the 55" ST50 is more like 1500. 50% ain't no joke.
    I will call a friend of mine that sells for Panasonic and get back.

    That would be awesome. Thanks.
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,068
    edited April 2012
    Definitely check out Sears...someone was looking out for me when I just happened to wander in their TV dept. I picked up my ST65" 3D brand new in box, not a floor model for $1199.00. I couldn't pass it up.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited April 2012
    falconcry72 wrote: »
    I've seen the 55" ST30 for 1000, whereas the 55" ST50 is more like 1500. 50% ain't no joke.



    That would be awesome. Thanks.

    For $200 more you can step up to the GT series which is well worth it.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,195
    edited April 2012
    With every new model from Panasonic , they tweak them with better glass , blacks , processors , etc. You get more features and yet they keep the retail price very close to the same as last years model.

    The ST series is a nice entry level that can satisfy up to the videophile. The question is are you looking for the best deal. I actually would suggest looking for a GT series last year over this years ST. Last Years ST will be the best deal and I can't see you not being happy with the Tv and the deal. But if your willing to get a new ST then look into last years GT model. Or if you really want the ultimate Plasma get last years VT series which smokes the ST and GT.

    I tv isn't something you buy every years or even every few years so really I strongly suggest spending the max amount of money you can and get the best one. Personally I would not own a ST model , yes they are very nice for the money but the GT and VT are so much better for not that much more money. Price to performance ratio is very strong in the Panasoinc lines.
    Dan
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  • Lietuvis91
    Lietuvis91 Posts: 908
    edited April 2012
    Following Dan's logic, this would seem like a pretty darn good deal:

    Panasonic Viera TC-P65GT30 65" Plasma 3D HDTV for $1696.97.. $50 Shipping
    http://www.pcrichard.com/catalog/product.jsp?modelNo=TCP65GT30&CID=AFC_Pricegrabber&gdftrk=gdfV2677_a_7c796_a_7c3134_a_7cTCP65GT30
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  • photocrazy
    photocrazy Posts: 89
    edited April 2012
    I read about some green blob and gamma issues with last years ST/GT series in avs forum.
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited April 2012
    mantis wrote: »
    With every new model from Panasonic , they tweak them with better glass , blacks , processors , etc. You get more features and yet they keep the retail price very close to the same as last years model.

    The ST series is a nice entry level that can satisfy up to the videophile. The question is are you looking for the best deal. I actually would suggest looking for a GT series last year over this years ST. Last Years ST will be the best deal and I can't see you not being happy with the Tv and the deal. But if your willing to get a new ST then look into last years GT model. Or if you really want the ultimate Plasma get last years VT series which smokes the ST and GT.

    I tv isn't something you buy every years or even every few years so really I strongly suggest spending the max amount of money you can and get the best one. Personally I would not own a ST model , yes they are very nice for the money but the GT and VT are so much better for not that much more money. Price to performance ratio is very strong in the Panasoinc lines.

    Ok, so I was under the impression that the ST looked as good as the GT. Help me learn. What does the GT have that the ST doesn't?
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,068
    edited April 2012
    falconcry72 wrote: »
    Ok, so I was under the impression that the ST looked as good as the GT. Help me learn. What does the GT have that the ST doesn't?

    For starters a higher price tag & that's about it.

    What's there to learn. Let your eyes guide you not a magazine piece. Your eyes never lie. I firmly believe that you would have to have superman's eyes to tell any of them apart when they are all properly calibrated. I had my heart set on the VT series but after viewing them in person I can honestly say I made the perfect decision with my ST30 65". Stunninginly good picture.
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited April 2012
    pearsall001 wrote: »
    For starters a higher price tag & that's about it.

    What's there to learn. Let your eyes guide you not a magazine piece. Your eyes never lie. I firmly believe that you would have to have superman's eyes to tell any of them apart when they are all properly calibrated. I had my heart set on the VT series but after viewing them in person I can honestly say I made the perfect decision with my ST30 65". Stunninginly good picture.

    Cool. So back to the real question: is there an appreciable difference in picture quality between the 30 series and the new 50 series. I'm not sure if I'll be able to see both next to each other, as I'd imagine dealers would have one or the other, but I could be wrong. It's happened before.
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited April 2012
    falconcry72 wrote: »
    I've seen the 55" ST30 for 1000, whereas the 55" ST50 is more like 1500. 50% ain't no joke.



    That would be awesome. Thanks.

    My friend said the differences were the ST was a bit brighter and has more apps. He said go with the best price between the 2, in his opinion.

    I have to agree with Mantis logic.
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  • polk500
    polk500 Posts: 1,171
    edited April 2012
    I also agree that you should go with the most you can afford very good sound advice; when I purchase our Panasonic this year I done the online reading to the point that I couldn’t find any more reviews as I realized I was reading the same ones over and over again.
    As it was a big purchase and I wanted to make the best decision possible.
    I shopped around till I got the best deal in my neck of the woods at $2500.00 plus of course taxes at 5%.
    It was from the guy who sold me most of my Audio equipment at Visions as he point out you spend thousands in Audio why skimp in the Video department (as I was going to go with the ST model) they go hand in hand.
    We when with the 65” VT30 model: Could not be happier in THX mode it is a unbelievable picture even after a few weeks every time I watch sports, or movies it like WOW (I watched Brave heart last evening it was like going to the theatre fantastic picture and great bass from my new polk's put a big smile on my face) Any way happy hunting I'm sure you will be please with whatever model you decide on.

    Cheers Roger
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  • cstmar01
    cstmar01 Posts: 4,424
    edited April 2012
    The GT adds THX certification (if you care) as well as I think it has the better black panel in it vs the ST which helps with black level and reduces glare.

    I know Best Buy by me has their GT31 which was for best buy only which would be a 55" with 2 pairs of glasses, wi fi dongle, and skype cam for 1330.00 new in the box.

    Our store had like 5 of them sitting there and it is a nice set. The manager also sd he would possibly take some more off to move them seeing they are last years and they got so many of them.

    oh and about AVS. I find people on there that are freaking crazy about their TV's, not that its a bad thing but then people will read their input and say I can't ever buy this TV because of XYZ issue.

    I personally own a VT25 and never had an issue with it. I got a great price on it and honestly have never been happier with the picture quality. I still want to go bigger but seeing its 50" already in a bedroom its really big enough for now.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,572
    edited April 2012
    The GT adds THX certification (if you care) as well as I think it has the better black panel in it vs the ST which helps with black level and reduces glare.

    That is correct and why I went with the GT. The THX mode is da bomb.
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  • cstmar01
    cstmar01 Posts: 4,424
    edited April 2012
    I like the THX mode as it gets you pretty close to being calibrated without doing the calibration. Some people don't care and still have them cali.

    Also I thought that last year's model GT had more shades of gradiant then the ST but could be wrong. I think this year the VT50 is the only one that does have the highest plus the best black panel. The VT50 for this year also uses only one panel of glasses vs the normal double.
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited April 2012
    Ok so I'm thinking last year's 30 series is going to be the best bang for my buck, given the current deals, and I'm not waiting till christmas season for a deal on the new 50 series.

    in that respect, I'm now seeing great deals on the VT30's. Is the VT worth a couple hundred bucks more than the ST? What's the biggest real-world difference??

    Thanks.
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  • Lietuvis91
    Lietuvis91 Posts: 908
    edited April 2012
    where do you see good deals on VT series?! I think one of the main advantages of VT is it can play 24p, which I think is uncompressed video straight off the blue ray @ 96fps vs 60fps on the GT and ST models. It's suppose to have better motion image quality. I am a huge blue ray fan, so I would definitely want to have this feature.

    It does make me wonder if your avr needs to support this feature if your BR player and the TV have that ability...:confused:
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  • jon s
    jon s Posts: 905
    edited April 2012
    You might want to wait for the VT50 series to come out shortly. Preliminary reports say that the contrast is supposedly as good if not better than the last Pioneer Kuros and the current Sharp Elite screens. According to Joel Silva of ISF, the new Panasonic has fixed all the color calibration and gamma issues of the previous models. The panels use a single glass techonology (it has it pros and cons) to get better contrast, has brighter light output and uses less power.

    I'd love to get one but the maximum size I can get is a 46" due to room constraints. They only come in 55" and 65" screen sizes.
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited April 2012
    Lietuvis91 wrote: »
    where do you see good deals on VT series?!

    The really good deals on are refurbs... <1500 for a 55'.
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited April 2012
    jon s wrote: »
    You might want to wait for the VT50 series to come out shortly.

    I'm sure they'll be gorgeous... but I'm also sure they'll be outside my budget.
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  • Lietuvis91
    Lietuvis91 Posts: 908
    edited April 2012
    falconcry72 wrote: »
    The really good deals on are refurbs... <1500 for a 55'.

    Is there a particular online distributor that has them on sale right now? Got link?

    @$1500 for a VT 55 inch I might just pick one up and call it a day...
    jon s wrote: »
    Preliminary reports say that the contrast is supposedly as good if not better than the last Pioneer Kuros and the current Sharp Elite screens.

    Now THIS would be too cool, but that does bring up the questions of "at what price?!". They might have to charge a good bit more for those models...
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  • polkfarmboy
    polkfarmboy Posts: 5,703
    edited April 2012
    Hold out for a 2k 4k :cheesygrin:
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  • jon s
    jon s Posts: 905
    edited April 2012
    Panasonic VT50 plasma set prices (retail).... 55" $2500 65" $3700

    it shud be a lot less at market prices.... Availability is set for June 2012.
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  • Lietuvis91
    Lietuvis91 Posts: 908
    edited April 2012
    polkfarmboy wrote: »
    Hold out for a 2k 4k :cheesygrin:

    I really would like to know what this means.
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  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 8,762
    edited April 2012
    Lietuvis91 wrote: »
    I really would like to know what this means.

    Good luck with that...
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  • mrbiron
    mrbiron Posts: 5,711
    edited April 2012
    I recently bought the 55ST30 that you are debating over....get it, save some money, awesome picture.
    That will be all.
    Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!!
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited April 2012
    mrbiron wrote: »
    I recently bought the 55ST30 that you are debating over....get it, save some money, awesome picture.
    That will be all.

    That's the direction I'm currently leaning...
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  • praedet
    praedet Posts: 314
    edited April 2012
    Lietuvis91 wrote: »
    Following Dan's logic, this would seem like a pretty darn good deal:

    Panasonic Viera TC-P65GT30 65" Plasma 3D HDTV for $1696.97.. $50 Shipping
    http://www.pcrichard.com/catalog/product.jsp?modelNo=TCP65GT30&CID=AFC_Pricegrabber&gdftrk=gdfV2677_a_7c796_a_7c3134_a_7cTCP65GT30
    Son of a &*($#!

    Now you made me buy one of these!

    Time to enter the modern age and get rid of the picture tube!
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