tlwizard

I guess I don't. I'm not back home until the 6th, but is there a way I can check or are there any tests I can run for you?

nando820

Just an FYI Frys has for sale this week Panasonic THX certified TC-P65VT30 for $2,799.00. My dad and I recently got one and I humbly believe is the most beautiful TV I have ever laid my eyes on..

http://www.frys.com/product/6629194?...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG


PS: Bestbuy also has it on sale for $2,999 on their website. But I have noticed twice already that their Magnolia store sections actually have a lower pricepoint than they display on the Bestbuy website. So who knows it just might be lower...

X

I believe you can pricematch with Amazon and get it for $100 or $200 less. Depends on whether they pricematch the particular store. I've seen reference to people getting it for around $2500.

X

I think it may be difficult to test this. Obviously, if the entire content of a 1920x1080 screen isn't shown, it's not 1:1 pixel mapped. But it still could be interpreted, meaning each pixel isn't specifically mapped to a particular pixel because it's processed internally.

With a LCD you can see it pretty easily. A dot on an "i" will take up one and only one pixel. Adjacent pixels will not show any of it. Vertical or horizontal lines will not bleed over as shadows to adjacent pixels.

But I think the plasma, due to not having the same type of individual pixels as a LCD makes it harder to tell. You probably have to stand back a bit and just see if it looks good to you. I had been standing very close to the screen (as you would do with a LCD) and wasn't satisfied.

tlwizard

Just got home and standing up close or far away, everything looks crisp and clean to me. I don't know if it has anything to do with the video card in my htpc or not (ATI Radeon 5450 I believe.) But that's just my experience to report. I also don't know if I have one of the newer panels or not (or the engine update) that addressed the brightness fluctuation. I assume I do, since I haven't had that problem at all, but I wonder if that might help what you've been seeing as well.

X

So you wouldn't have any problem using it as a computer monitor? Text looks crisp and clear enough?

tlwizard

I do some web-browsing on it, but nothing longer than 30 minutes at a time. My girlfriend has played Civ V on it and loved it. We do youtube videos and hulu and all that. And I think as I mentioned earlier I use it to stream movies from my server. Both the movies and the Media Center and HTPC skins look great. I haven't done any word-processing or anything along those lines, but it's been crisp and clear, yes. I feel like if I using it as a computer monitor all day long, then I might up text to 125% since I sit about 10 feet away. At 30 minutes at a time, though, 100% is more than fine for me.

Sdallnct

Panasonic PT-AR100U

X

I'm not really interested in putting a projector in my bedroom.

soundman2

I was at Best Buy looking at some TVs. Sometime in future considering upgrade.
I looked at Panasonic VT30 55 and 65 inch - I was blown away by the picture!! I know VT line is their top of the line. But it looked very life like with amazing blacks. They have them in the Magnolia section, of course they are calibrated to give best picture possible.
I checked price on 55 inch it seems to come up $2149 at both Amazon and BB online, But If I recall correctly may have been $2000 in the store.

Spiky

Really? When did they start doing that?

Numanoid

I use my Samsung PN59D6500 as a computer monitor (with an HTPC) in full 1920x1080 and it's beautiful. But as I said earlier, you have to use a specific input to achieve that, ironically NOT the one labelled "PC".

Brian Shannon

I saw the same sets at that store and while they did look good I really doubt that anything has been calibrated

soundman2

The sales guy at Magnolia was friendly and a spent a good amount of time chatting. No pressure to sell just answering whatever questions I asked him. He did seem to know his stuff. I usually stroll in there just for fun. I did find a good deal on a new Onkyo receiver under $800 ( NR3007) there last year, when I was least expecting it. ( sorry to go off topic)

So he showed me two sets ( 42inch) one calibrated and one uncalibrated sitting side by side. And mentioned they calibrated their top TVs - of course I am taking his word for it but then again, they also sell their calibration package !!

TheBigDave

Amazon has dropped the price on the Panasonic VIERA TC-P60ST30 60-Inch 1080p 600 Hz 3D Plasma HDTV down to $1,249.98.

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-VIER...dp/B004MME774/

nando820

9.2 channels!!! thats insane! me wants!!

X

I see the TC-P65VT30 is available for around $2500 as well. Amazon will price match one of the sellers.

I think they're trying to clear out the 2011 models to make room for the 2012 ones.

K&AJones

As Big Dave has noted that ST30 60' is a heack-of-a-deal. The ST30's have several positive reviews. I picked up the 55" GT30 but I see the price has gone back up $250!! They're becoming scarce. Besides the Panny 60" ST30 iId consider that Samsung 59" D6500 as well. It's one step below the highly rated D7000 and at under $1500.00 that's not bad either. But I'm partial to Panasonic. But that under $1300 for the ST30 won't last long.

TheBigDave

Amazon has run out of stock on the ST30. Good thing I got my order in yesterday morning.

You can get it for the same price at Costco.com ($1200 + $50 Shipping). Costco also extends the warranty to 2 years with an option to add an extra 3 years coverage for $100. And they accept returns for 90 days.

I would've bought it at Costco, but I had a bunch of Amazon GC saved up.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...atchallpartial

TheBigDave

This is back In Stock at Amazon if anyone missed it.

TAC

Does this tv put off alot of heat? And does it have a loud buzzing sound? My 50 inch Samsung Plasma has both problems. Thanks

K&AJones

I've read over in the VS forums some have mentioned buszing but most have said they don't hear anything from where they sit. I have new Panasonic GT30 and don't hear a thing. And heat....nothing much and nothing like the older Plasmas of yesterday. Any doubt go in a B.B store in the evening when the TV's have been on for6-8 hrs straight and hold your hand up 9"-12" away. Hardly nothing. At leas the Panasonic was that way.

TAC

Thanks

JimRochester

My Panasonic Plasma is from 2007 but it has been a great set. All I did was make sure I changed up what I was watching the first week or so. so there wasn't too much of one ratio. Nothing too stagnant, not too many 2.35 or 1.33 images and I used tweaktv to get a setting

SexualPudding

I definitely think the bigger bang for the buck is to be had with the 60ST30 from Panasonic. I just don't think that anything the GT30 offers is enough of an upgrade to warrant the sometimes big price difference. The main differences between the two are that the GT30 has a nicer looking bezel design and the THX mode it has. All of that being said, I bought the GT30 over the ST30 mainly because I really didn't care for the physical look of the ST30, and since I had a bunch of store credit with Sears, I went for the GT. I love it, and I think anyone would really like the ST30 as well. The image quality is fantastic.