Best 50 or 52 inch Panasonic TV

[deckeda]

lazydays wrote:
... audio output (monitor to 1970's stereo) with variable audio level ...

Unless something's happened and the market's reversed course, modern TVs only have digital outputs, typically just 1 TOSLink and no headphone jack or other analog output.

There are cheap and questionable D/A converters available but what you want is a new surround receiver. You may consider that grossly overkill. I did too, at first but the alternatives all suck more.

Put the '70s receiver in your "audio" or other room.

[Bill in NC]

Panasonic ST plasma as others have said.

Will not be as bright as a LCD.

I picked up the "S" 50" last year for $650 delivered (given that price I wouldn't have gone for the ST)

[Speedy]

My three year old Vizio crushes my same age Panny. Both 50", both plasma. Neither model is made anymore so I won't bother looking up the numbers. Picture, sound, ports, features - Vizio wins. Each was $900 shipped.

[LyleH]

Bought my Panasonic Viera TC-P55ST50 a month ago from Video Only for $1249. Very nice TV, but it does not have an anti-glare screen like my prior 2007 Panasonic Plasma TH-50PC77U. The 77U still works fine, but I wanted 1080 instead of 720, and a larger screen. In my searching it seemed like the ones with 3D had the better reviews, even though I didn't want/need 3D. Of course, most Plasma TV's use quite a bit more electricity than LCD/LED's.

I haven't really adjusted the picture yet - I found the "Game" mode and like the picture so have left it on that for now. Have to get back to the AVS forum to correctly adjust the picture.

I use a wireless headset, and tried one of the D/A converters, but couldn't get it to work with the headset. So I just plugged the headset audio into the audio-out on my cable box. It's just stereo, but that's all I need. The volume control is separate from the TV's volume control, which works for me. LyleH

[GeneL]

N-OS X-tasy! recommended the 60" GT series plasma and I went for it.

Picture is great and I love the size. For me it's a real theatrical experience and well worth it. In fact, I would urge you to go for the 60" set if the price differential isn't a deal breaker.

I'm using the TV in an 11X14 foot bedroom and you'd be amazed how close you can sit to the screen because it's so sharp.

I had been considering a 50" or 55" set, but I'm really glad that I went for the 60" model.

My MAJOR drawback is the amount of heat this baby generates.

Between the TV, cable DVR, Yamaha Receiver and my MacPro, the room temperature is 10 to 20 degrees higher than outside temp.

I have to say that this room seems to always retain more heat than the rest of the house, I think mainly because of the afternoon sun.

I bought a Haier portable AC, which can do the job, but the current draw is too much for our circuit breaker and it tends to trip it. No easy solution, except to turn everything off except the TV, cable box and the Haier AC.

All in all, I am happy with the TV and love the fact that there is some 3D programming available from Cox. An important point if you get a Panasonic 3D model, make sure that you get the latest generation rechargeable glasses TY-EW3D3LU. They are lighter and brighter and no battery replacement to worry about.

[sunfalcon]

I've had a 50" Samsung plasma for three years now and LOVE it!

[Carm]

Still have a LG 50" plasma. Over 4 years old and still looks great. Bought a 55" Vizio on Black Friday last year and had to redo the living room "frame" above the fireplace for the TeeVee. Plasma is 720p and Vizio is 1080p.

[freeradical]

deckeda wrote:
[quote=lazydays]
... audio output (monitor to 1970's stereo) with variable audio level ...

Unless something's happened and the market's reversed course, modern TVs only have digital outputs, typically just 1 TOSLink and no headphone jack or other analog output.

There are cheap and questionable D/A converters available but what you want is a new surround receiver. You may consider that grossly overkill. I did too, at first but the alternatives all suck more.

Put the '70s receiver in your "audio" or other room.
Yeah, very few new TV's have analog audio out. Since I essentially use my TV as a monitor - I don't have cable, and I seldom watch OTA TV - I have a somewhat ugly but workable solution. I take the analog audio outputs of all my video devices - DVD player, Roku box, ASUS OPlay, VCR - and run them through a switch. The output of the switch box goes to a line input of a stereo. I don't have a surround sound receiver. :-)

[silvarios]

Robert M wrote: Given the choice, I'd seriously consider going for that model and use it in conjunction with a Roku type device. Just something to think about.

This.

[lazydays]

Stavs (or anyone who can answer), can you confirm that the PS55ST50 is 51" wide? I've found amazon dimensions to sometimes be inaccurate.

Do you know if the volume control on the tv works when using a digital to analog converter?

Last, I have dishHD but lots of content is still in standard def. Does it look acceptable on the 55 or would it be better to stick with the 50"?

Thanks