What model Panasonic plasma TV should I get?

pglbook

It looks like I will have to replace my 4-year old 42" Panasonic plasma TV as it is sill having issues and I'd rather invest in a bigger and better TV than spending hundreds of dollars trying to fix it.

I'd like to get another Panasonic plasma, either a 60" or 65."
Would a 65" be too big for my living room? The seating distance is a little over 9' from the TV.

I do not need 3D. My budget is around $1300 (won't be able to buy it for a month or so).

I checked out the reviews on Amazon and am leaning toward the following model:

Panasonic TC-P60S60 60-Inch 1080p 600Hz Plasma HDTV.

Does anyone have any experience with this model?
What other models would be recommended?

Thanks.

AsSiMiLaTeD

If you can stretch your budget a little go with the P60ST60, better picture with infinite black panel and 10 pt color calibration. It's a couple hundred bucks over your budget but worth it IMO. The st60 could very well be the last tv you ever need...

chumlie

I'll second the ST60.

JuanR

I will third it, I have the ST55 and think it has fantastic deep black levels. With Thanksgiving Day sales coming you may have timed it perfectly.

pglbook

Thanks for the input. I appreciate it.

I thought the S60 and ST60 were similar models, with the only real difference being that the ST60 has 3D and the S60 does not have 3D. I do not need 3D so I thought I'd save a few hundred dollars and get the S60 rather than the ST60.

However, after reading the posts, I decided to check out the reviews of the ST60 and it appears that the picture quality of the ST60 is a bit superior to that of the S60. So it looks like (thanks to the recommendations of my fellow Polkies) I have decided what model to get: the ST60. Now, it is a matter of saving up money so I can buy it during the holiday season and hopefully get a good deal on it.

One final question: would 60" be too big for a viewing distance of a little over 9' from the TV?
I do not think so but want to make sure.

Thanks again!

chumlie

Not at all. 9' for a 60'' is good.

pglbook

Thanks, chumlie.

zombie boy 2000

It's my understanding that the ONLY adavatage the S60 has over the ST60 is in the category of input lag. Supposedly, the ONLY Achille's heel of the ST60 (especially at it's price point) is for online gaming. Otherwise, it truly is regarded as a giant killer.

EndersShadow

pglbook wrote: »

Thanks for the input. I appreciate it.

I thought the S60 and ST60 were similar models, with the only real difference being that the ST60 has 3D and the S60 does not have 3D. I do not need 3D so I thought I'd save a few hundred dollars and get the S60 rather than the ST60.

However, after reading the posts, I decided to check out the reviews of the ST60 and it appears that the picture quality of the ST60 is a bit superior to that of the S60. So it looks like (thanks to the recommendations of my fellow Polkies) I have decided what model to get: the ST60. Now, it is a matter of saving up money so I can buy it during the holiday season and hopefully get a good deal on it.

One final question: would 60" be too big for a viewing distance of a little over 9' from the TV?
I do not think so but want to make sure.

Thanks again!

I have a 60" Panasonic Plasma ST30 ~10 feet from my setup and by no mean is it too big. The older Tube TV's you needed to sit really far back from to get the best picture, the newer TV's have a much shorter minimum viewing distance. Even my old 56" DLP you could sit up to 6 feet away from as the min.

pglbook

Holy Cow!!!!

I went to the local Best Buy tonight and ended up buying the Panasonic ST 60" plasma TV. The TV won't be delivered until next Saturday but I am super excited. My wife and I saw the TV in the store and, as advertised and as commented on in this forum, it has the best picture I have ever seen on a TV. We both were awestruck at how great the pic is.

We had pretty much decided on this model (thanks to the suggestions on this forum) but, once we saw it, we knew we had to get it. However, we had no idea we'd end up buying it tonight. We decided to go to the local mall and Best Buy just to look it in person and see what price Best Buy had on it. Best Buy had a good price on it and, best of all (I could not have bought it otherwise), they gave us 24-month interest free financing.

I cannot wait to get it. Next weekend cannot come fast enough!


Two additional questions, if you do not mind:

(1) Is the Extended Warranty worth it?
Best Buy offers an additional 2-year warranty for around $230 or a 5-year warranty for around $350. I did not get it but I have 15 days to decide if I want either extended warranty. I almost never get these types of warranties as, for the most part, I do not think they are worth it, but my recent experience of my 42" Panasonic plasma having died after only 4 years is making me think about the extended warranty. Do you think the additional warranty is worth it?

(2) TV stand.
I think the 60" TV should fit fine on the current TV stand we have (which is really the exact size for a 42" TV as the stand is 45" long and 28" tall). But I wonder if anyone has any suggestions on a good TV stand for the Panasonic ST 60.

Thanks again to all for the recommendation!

FTGV

Congrats I doubt you'll be disappointed.I have had a 50ST50 for the better part of a year and am completely happy with it.Fabulous PQ for the money and from what I've read the ST60 is a smig better.

chumlie

Extended warranty isn't worth the money IMO.

pglbook

Thanks, ftgv and chumlie.

Polkie2009

PGL, sorry to hear that your Panny 42" plasma died after only 4 yrs. Panasonic usually has a very__ fine track record and build integrity. Samsung tvs on the other hand can't say the same. Congrats on the new purchase bro!

pglbook

Thanks, Polkie2009. I appreciate it. I have heard that Panasonic has a great track record of reliability. Unfortunately my 42" was one of the ones in a bad batch of Panny plasmas that were made 4 or 5 years ago. There is a lot of info online about others having similar problems with some of the older Panny plasmas. Just bad luck.

I am really looking forward to getting the new TV next Saturday...6 days and counting!!

Jhayman

I have 3 Panasonic Plasma's a 42" a 50" and a 60" the 42 was bought about 6-7 years ago and still going strong.
The 50 is 4 yrs old and the ST60 is under 2 all working flawlessly the st is the better picture of the bunch and while I have had 0 issues I recommended one to a friend and in under 2 yrs went bye bye..
I got my St60 professionally calibrated when I bought it they offered it in the deal, I waited 3 months for the guy to come it was my apt time they want the TV to break in first.
while he was calibrating it he asked me if I noticed anything wrong with the colors I said No, he said all my greys were all mashed together I said cool fix it Please and Thank You..lol
Now it looks Great