Is now a good time to buy a Panasonic plasma?
Is now a good time to buy a Panasonic plasma?
Author
Discussion

PhilboSE

Original Poster:

5,778 posts

250 months

Tuesday 19th November 2013
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So, I need another new television. 50" plasma it is. It will be Panasonic 50GT or 50VT. 4K LED or HD-OLED are just too new and expensive.

The trick is that I don't need this new television for another 2 or probably 3 months. So should I buy it now, while stocks are available, or should I wait and risk stock depletion? Will prices get slashed to clear old stock when they get end of lifed, or will they go up as the cognoscenti seek out the last few best ever plasmas?

FlossyThePig

4,138 posts

267 months

Tuesday 19th November 2013
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Has anybody done a direct comparison between the latest LED/LCD and Plasma TVs?

Both sets side by side and adjusted for optimal output.


belleair302

6,995 posts

231 months

Tuesday 19th November 2013
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Three weeks ago I purchased a GT 50 and it is a stunning piece of equipment. Well worth purchasing with a killer picture....

Patch1875

5,043 posts

156 months

Tuesday 19th November 2013
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Best screen out there at the moment, tempted to pull the trigger myself (55vt65)but there are a few scary stories with image retention/burn, I know it's a trait of plasmas but I do have sky sports news on a lot also I do a fair bit of gaming.

Other contender on the LCD side is the sony w905 but that's not without its faults.

Thankfully my 2005 pioneer is still holding on for dear life!


tdm34

7,479 posts

234 months

Wednesday 20th November 2013
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With my selling head on, Panasonic are currently out of stock of GT60s (both sizes) with a small chance of one more batch to come
sometime in December, Stocks of ST/VT/ZT are available but sometime in December by my reckoning they'll have dried up.

So in my honest opinion i'd move sharpish....... wink

Zod

35,295 posts

282 months

Wednesday 20th November 2013
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I have a 55VT50. It's very impressive. I won't be buying another TV until I can get a 4K OLED panel for under £3k.

tdm34

7,479 posts

234 months

Wednesday 20th November 2013
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Patch1875 said:
Best screen out there at the moment, tempted to pull the trigger myself (55vt65)but there are a few scary stories with image retention/burn, I know it's a trait of plasmas but I do have sky sports news on a lot also I do a fair bit of gaming.

Other contender on the LCD side is the sony w905 but that's not without its faults.

Thankfully my 2005 pioneer is still holding on for dear life!
Easily sorted, just give the set an easy time for the first couple of weeks and after that be sensible with the settings avoiding dynamic
modes

Patch1875

5,043 posts

156 months

Wednesday 20th November 2013
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tdm34 said:
Patch1875 said:
Best screen out there at the moment, tempted to pull the trigger myself (55vt65)but there are a few scary stories with image retention/burn, I know it's a trait of plasmas but I do have sky sports news on a lot also I do a fair bit of gaming.

Other contender on the LCD side is the sony w905 but that's not without its faults.

Thankfully my 2005 pioneer is still holding on for dear life!
Easily sorted, just give the set an easy time for the first couple of weeks and after that be sensible with the settings avoiding dynamic
modes
Cheers for that so your saying that once run in I can leave soccer Saturday on for 5 hours and not end up with burn ?

kwakamat

23 posts

153 months

Thursday 21st November 2013
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One of the best tv's I have ever bought was a panasonic p50st30 just two years ago. A mate of mine liked it so much he badgered me to buy it, after I saw the p50gt60b I gave in very quickly.

I'm two days into using this absolutely fantastic plasma and at £1149 with a 5 year guarantee from richer sounds I'm a very happy chappy. From conversations with the store, there won't be many (if any) plasmas left from panasonic at all in the new year.

Hope you get what you're looking for

kwakamat

23 posts

153 months

Thursday 21st November 2013
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Oh I should say don't get that tv unless you have HD channels available and HD streaming (netflix etc) and/or blu ray player. Standard tv looks very poor now sadly but I don't care! Batman 2 is just UNBELIEVABLE viewing on this thing!

tdm34

7,479 posts

234 months

Thursday 21st November 2013
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Patch1875 said:
tdm34 said:
Patch1875 said:
Best screen out there at the moment, tempted to pull the trigger myself (55vt65)but there are a few scary stories with image retention/burn, I know it's a trait of plasmas but I do have sky sports news on a lot also I do a fair bit of gaming.

Other contender on the LCD side is the sony w905 but that's not without its faults.

Thankfully my 2005 pioneer is still holding on for dear life!
Easily sorted, just give the set an easy time for the first couple of weeks and after that be sensible with the settings avoiding dynamic
modes
Cheers for that so your saying that once run in I can leave soccer Saturday on for 5 hours and not end up with burn ?
As long as you're sensible with the settings, you occasionally get IR (temporary burn-in) but changing channels for 10-15 minutes normally sorts it..

XB70

2,491 posts

220 months

Saturday 23rd November 2013
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Just bought a 65vt60 this afternoon and will be delivered next week. The zt is not available here in oz, or the five year warranties.

Already there is a bitofma rush on them here. I think oz get the last shipment in decembertoo.

PhilboSE

Original Poster:

5,778 posts

250 months

Monday 25th November 2013
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tdm34 said:
With my selling head on, Panasonic are currently out of stock of GT60s (both sizes) with a small chance of one more batch to come
sometime in December, Stocks of ST/VT/ZT are available but sometime in December by my reckoning they'll have dried up.

So in my honest opinion i'd move sharpish....... wink
Thanks all.

I should have been more clear in my OP; I already have a number of Panasonic plasmas (including a 65VT) so I don't need confirmation that these are great screens. I just need to buy another one and was wondering if it was better to buy now or wait.

tdm34's response was the kind of thing I was looking for...supply is becoming constrained so it's time to source one I think.

conkerman

3,494 posts

159 months

Monday 25th November 2013
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I have an old VT and I love it. I really don't see how they could get much better. The picture is magnificent.

Although mine is now covered in mucky handprints from my youngest. Harrumph!

joe_90

4,206 posts

255 months

Monday 25th November 2013
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I have an old (9 years) panasonic plasma, and a number of people (who have purchased ste 40" lcd) comment on the picture quality, and ask if I have a new tv. This normally tends to happen when streaming a kids film like Planes or something. The colours just pop, are sharp with no bleed and the blacks/grey are not stepped.

You cannot go wrong with a panny plasma, I also game on mine and have had a bit of retention, but no burn in at all ever.

allgonepetetong

1,188 posts

243 months

Wednesday 27th November 2013
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tdm34 said:
With my selling head on, Panasonic are currently out of stock of GT60s (both sizes) with a small chance of one more batch to come
sometime in December, Stocks of ST/VT/ZT are available but sometime in December by my reckoning they'll have dried up.

So in my honest opinion i'd move sharpish....... wink
I can't comment on how quick they'll sell, but can vouch for the VT65 as an ownership proposition.

I bought the 55" version from TDM above and love it on Sky HD. Just waiting for the weekend when I can get a full fat 1080p Blu-Ray on it.

Awesome!

Patch1875

5,043 posts

156 months

Wednesday 27th November 2013
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Any special PH prices for the 55vt65 then tdm;)biggrin