Dilemma abounds - Hitachi vs Panasonic (1 Viewer)

[Koren T. Wolf]

let me thank all in advance for your replies. I value the wisdom and opinions that flow through this site.

The day has finally come for me to make the plunge and purchase a new tv / monitor. I have an old Mitsubishi CRT (a monstrous 350lb behemoth), but after the second time it was fixed, the chap asked me to not bring it back again. The next time i move it, it's going in the ground. That time is fast approaching.

I've weighed the pros and cons and have settled on plasma. (I never thought i'd actually buy a plasma, so i'm as shocked as anyone.) The reasons include: black level, response rate, size to dollar ratio, etc. I have a room which has several windows in it, however, that room is only used for tv / movie viewing so if i have to, i'll cover the damn windows with cardboard or black spray paint.
I've considered the LCDs (RP and Flat-panel) and think the RP is a dead technology and i don't enjoy the idea of dropping $200-$300 every few years for a new bulb. For a similarly sized FP LCD, the cost is just too high for me.

I'm looking at the 50-55" range. The choices i have narrowed it to are the Panasonic 50PX60 ($2700 CDN) and Hitachi 55HDT79 ($3400 CDN). What are peoples' thoughts on these two - the pros / cons etc?
I hear the colour is much better on the Hitachi, but is it worth an extra $700 (more actually since there would be 14% tax - to take it to almost $4K, but if i go for the Panasonic, there won't be any because of a sale)? does that 5" make that much of a difference if i'm sitting 11' from the monitor?
considerations:
- viewing will be HD hockey, non-HD movies, standard tv, limited gaming
- i don't need a PC input
- are 2 HDMI enough (DVD / HD box...anything else?), or is 3 better? (no HDMI switching on receiver - it is an Onkyo NR900)
- it will be for HT, so i don't care if it has speakers
- cost (as for most people)
- colour quality and black levels
- can the Panasonic be finely tuned? i know you can tune / adjust the hell out of the Hitachi

(I did look at the Panasonic 50PX600, but the only difference between it and the PX60 appears to be a set of speakers. *pfft. Also, the Hitachi 55HDX99 is just too pricey for me @ $4800 CDN.)

any and all thoughts are welcomed.

 

[ChrisClearman]

The Panny is absolutely the best bang for the buck. If the Hitachi was the same size I'd say buy the Panny and don't look back. But you can't go wrong with extra size.

The only other 50" plasma I'd consider is the Vizio, just because of the price and I think the cabinet looks better.

There are several with "better" pictures, but not worth the extra cost to me.

 

[Paul_Dunlop]

Hi
I am extremely close to picking up the Panny that you are looking at

A friend of mine recently got the 58" version and he is a huge fan of it

It can be calibrated, and a big benefit is that someone professionally calibrated it and posted the settings - here is the link

http://www.plasmatvbuyingguide.com/p...0u-review.html

You getting it from Future Shop? I talked to them yesterday, and with the Sanus wall mount (199.00) it was going to be $2799 - I think I can get another $100.00 off

 

[Koren T. Wolf]

Paul,
I doubt i'd pick up a TV from Future Shop or BB just because i prefer to help out the "little guys" who specialise in this stuff, and they usually let me bend their ear for a few hours, and know a whole lot more. I tend to frequent the following:

House of Sound (Kerr Str, Oakville)
http://www.powerlineelectronics.com/
http://easthamiltonradio.on.ca/

House of Sound doesn't sell tvs, but the Owner is extremely knowledgable about all things A/V. He knew more about tvs / plasmas / LCDs (even though he doesn't have one in the store) than anywhere else i've gone.

That said, the price from FS is fairly competitive to what i've seen around.

 

[Paul_Dunlop]

^ I agree


I bought my Denon receiver and speakers stands from EHR
All my speakers were bought from Bay Bloor Radio

I am waiting on a quote from David at EHR for the TV - not sure he will be able to match the Future Shop amount though

I guess with TV's, I think the big box are OK, because I've done all the research myself online

The friend I mentioned with the 58" got it from EHR

Thanks for the link to House of Sound - I may check that out

 

[Koren T. Wolf]

re: House of Sound - if you like vinyl, you'll like the stuff they carry. speak with Chris (shorter guy, curly hair).

good point on the big boxes for price.

 

[Koren T. Wolf]

thanks to Paul and Chris for their replies...anyone else have any opinions on the matter?

 

[ff92]

I struggled making a decision on which monitor to buy for many, many months. I researched frantically and when I finally decided on a model I headed down to the specialty shop to buy. With all of the options and technologies I decided it was probably best to just see for myself which display provided what I thought was the best picture through normal non HD digital cable, HD channnels being scarce, and I found that display to be the Hitachi, not the Sharp Aquos LCD my research pointed to. I picked the 42HDX99 because it looked pretty good with a poor signal, I assumed it would only get better with HD input and so on. I am 12' away and I watch mostly hockey and I find with that size monitor at that distance I am still moving my head laterally to follow the puck, trying to cover the whole screen, so size isn't really an issue. I got it for $2600 CDN plus tax and a free tilting wall mount on Dec. 30/07. I'm sure the non director series models should be a couple hundred dollars less than that. I never pictured myself purchasing a Hitachi tv in the past, but I am extremely pleased with this one. Good luck!

 

[Koren T. Wolf]

Thanks for the reply. i really liked the Hitachi picture when i saw it, and the only real difference i could notice between the HDX and HDT (other than price) was the case on the thing. I was sketchy about it because i think it will be too big for the distance i have (10.5'), and should consider a 50".
I know hitachi is bringing out their new line in mid-summer so i may wait until autumn before i purchase a tv. the other reason being that the panasonics are now impossible to find and the new line of 50PX600 will come out in April / May once the new factory is going full-bore. Maybe the new model will have some other tasty tidbits on it.

 

[Michael TLV]

Greetings

Blacks just are not as good on the Hitachi as on the Panasonic. Haven't seen such weak blacks like this except on the budget brands. :frowning:

Regards

 

[Paul_Dunlop]

I ended up getting the Panny 50PX60U for 2499.99 - which included the 199.99 Sanus mount (from future shop)

I did have to take back the mount and buy a better one - they had a Sanus adjustable for 299.99 - I didn't need the tilting feature, but it let me expand it to cover 3 studs instead of only 2

Only about 60 hrs on it so far - I am using the break in dvd and watching some movies - very happy with it so far