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50" Plasma or 42" LED? (Panasonic Viera UT50 or LG LM6200)

post #1 of 10
8/1/12 at 12:34pm
Thread Starter 
Hey guys,

So I've been researching and researching about which TV to get...and I'm sick of fretting over it---so I kind of just want to buy one today.

I have a budget of $800, the TV is for my room (a pretty decent sized room), and I will mostly be watching videos and playing games off of my computer. No cable TV, so that's that.

I'm looking at either a used Panasonic Viera TC-P50UT50 Plasma for $738 or a used LG 42LM6200 LED for $695.78.

Both TV's look great---I've seen them both. And they are 2012 models, so they have lots of neat features like 3D (I'm not a fan of 3D though), wifi connection, and apps.

I know that the UT50 has deeper blacks and better picture quality, but it is HUGE, is terribly dim compared to the LCD-LED, and only has 2 HDMI ports.

The LM6200 is really bright and crisp (which I like) and has 4 HDMI ports...but of course the picture quality isn't as solid, it's much smaller for only a $30-40 difference, and does not have the same smooth refresh rate that a plasma has.

The decision is killing me. Ha, I need help making it. What do you think?
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post #2 of 10
8/1/12 at 12:37pm
Well I own a 50inch Plasma from Samsung and I love it! Plasmas are better for darker rooms and they project colors better (if im not mistaken).
However those LED TVs are super nice too biggrin.gif
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post #3 of 10
8/1/12 at 12:43pm
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that's really a "You" decision. I have a 50" plasma and have yet to see an LCD that compares to it. But at the same time I'll agree that plasma is not right for every situation/room condition. You've seen them both, are you leaning towards one over the other?
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post #4 of 10
8/1/12 at 12:44pm
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I have the VT50 myself, I know there is a slight difference in the panels (The VT50 uses an even darker panel) but they are, besides that, more or less the same.

Was SUPER worried when I went out to pick a TV, and had the VT50 in mind. In the store there was no doubt about it - The picture quality on it WAS better, by miles - And oh boy does night scenes look perfect. Though, when standing there, in the middle of a lit shop - Surrounded by LED tvs with super bright "Store mode" screens - Crackling with near sun-intensity colors and brightness - Yes the VT50 (And UT50) looks very very dark.

The clerk was awesome though, he had the VT50 delivered to my house for a demo - As he kept insisting that in normal living room conditions it would outshine every single TV I had ever seen.

And so it did ...

It aint dark - Its perfect. There is no burn-in or retention, that is a problem they had 2 generations ago. The 2012 Plasma series is the best quality I ever seen - Oh, and it rocks my socks off when I drag my PC into the living room in the weekends smile.gif
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post #5 of 10
8/1/12 at 12:57pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by WaRTaco View Post

Well I own a 50inch Plasma from Samsung and I love it! Plasmas are better for darker rooms and they project colors better (if im not mistaken).
However those LED TVs are super nice too biggrin.gif

Ya that's where I'm at! I know that plasmas have a capability for good colors and all that...but LED's definitely look pretty.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pao View Post

that's really a "You" decision. I have a 50" plasma and have yet to see an LCD that compares to it. But at the same time I'll agree that plasma is not right for every situation/room condition. You've seen them both, are you leaning towards one over the other?

Haha the "Me" decision part is the hardest part! For some reason, I've been leaning towards the UT50, but only because I am a snob for getting the 1. most bang for my buck (great picture quality and size for not much money)....and 2) Ha this is really superficial of me, but CNET voted it their best budget TV so far in 2012.

I'm mostly just worried about it being simply monstrous in my room. I do like to keep things sort of minimal. But I think if I mount it against the wall with a swivel (everything in my room is off-center, so I'd need it to swivel), it wouldn't be too bad.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gomi View Post

I have the VT50 myself, I know there is a slight difference in the panels (The VT50 uses an even darker panel) but they are, besides that, more or less the same.
Was SUPER worried when I went out to pick a TV, and had the VT50 in mind. In the store there was no doubt about it - The picture quality on it WAS better, by miles - And oh boy does night scenes look perfect. Though, when standing there, in the middle of a lit shop - Surrounded by LED tvs with super bright "Store mode" screens - Crackling with near sun-intensity colors and brightness - Yes the VT50 (And UT50) looks very very dark.
The clerk was awesome though, he had the VT50 delivered to my house for a demo - As he kept insisting that in normal living room conditions it would outshine every single TV I had ever seen.
And so it did ...
It aint dark - Its perfect. There is no burn-in or retention, that is a problem they had 2 generations ago. The 2012 Plasma series is the best quality I ever seen - Oh, and it rocks my socks off when I drag my PC into the living room in the weekends smile.gif

Ya that was exactly my reaction when I saw the UT50 in-store----It was crammed in-between two LED's, and they just drowned the poor UT50 out with their brightness. Ha, definitely solar-worthy brightness too what with the Torching the LED demos had been set at. But that's awesome that the clerk let you demo it at home. And that is seriously positive about the brightness. I feel that, this TV that I get is going to stay with me for quite a few years...and when I get a living room at some point, that's where it will be.

So perhaps it would be okay to tolerate a 50" in my room for right now until that time comes---but I'll still be enjoying the hell out of the great picture quality.

Thanks you guys for the quick input. I really appreciate it.
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post #6 of 10
8/1/12 at 2:11pm
I don't know whether you will use 3D but if you do, you have to also consider active (Panasonic) vs passive (LG) glasses.

Passive 3D glasses are a couple of bucks each and LG TVs usually come with 7 pairs of them. So if you plan gathering friends to watch 3D movies, LG it is for me. (I made the mistake and got a Samsung for me)
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post #7 of 10
8/1/12 at 6:30pm
depends on budget....

Bad reading comprehension skills.
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post #8 of 10
8/1/12 at 6:34pm
I vote for 50" . I got a 46 for my living room and wish I had spent the extra just for size.

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post #9 of 10
8/1/12 at 6:39pm
Anyway, plasmas do use more power and glare more. it really depends on how you are going to use it.
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post #10 of 10
8/1/12 at 7:08pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Peiler View Post

I don't know whether you will use 3D but if you do, you have to also consider active (Panasonic) vs passive (LG) glasses.
Passive 3D glasses are a couple of bucks each and LG TVs usually come with 7 pairs of them. So if you plan gathering friends to watch 3D movies, LG it is for me. (I made the mistake and got a Samsung for me)

You know to be honest, I really am not the biggest fan of 3D. Ha the only time I've thought it added some fun to a movie was in Avatar...in the IMAX theater. But that's about it. Still, I definitely see where you are coming from. Passive 3D glasses are sooo much less expensive than the Active 3D glasses. However, it so happens, I own a few pairs of active 3D glasses already...so that's covered if I need it. ^_^
Quote:
Originally Posted by steadly2004 View Post

I vote for 50" . I got a 46 for my living room and wish I had spent the extra just for size.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

Ya I see how that would be definitely a downer. My room is no living room, but it isn't small either...so I think the 50" will work. But when I move it to a living room down the line (ha, I won't be able to afford a TV for some time again), it will definitely not be a problem.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chinesekiwi View Post

Anyway, plasmas do use more power and glare more. it really depends on how you are going to use it.

Ha ya I have a budget that is pretty set in stone....but what I like about these two that I can choose from is that they are both solid TV's made in 2012 that are less than $800. I'm not even hooking up a cable box to this TV...it's just going to be games and movies from my computer, Netflix app, and maybe a PS3 next year or something. And it's mostly just for me...there won't really be any parties in my room ha.
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