Panasonic TH-50PX60U 50-Inch Plasma HDTV (2006 Model)
Amazing - simply amazing
I've had this TV for approximately 2 weeks now - It's my first Plasma TV - replaced a 10 year old 46\\" LCD television.  After visiting every local store and kicking tires - I was sold that Plasma was the way to go.  The clarity of the picture - 160 degree viewing angle with no decline in picture quality and sharp picture during fast moving picture ( i.e. sports ) + the vivid sharpness of blacks / reds / oranges / greens / blues made it pretty easy decision. <br /> <br />I went with the PANASONIC b/c of Consumer reports review of last years models.  It was rated as best picture for non HD programming over any of it's competitors.  Going shopping for these things locally is similar to buying a used car - b/c most stores won't show you anything but a HD signal - but I was able to get one store to show me a digital signal to a couple models and was able to view a DVD of TOP GUN on this and a few other models. Alot of brands will have a significant dropoff in quality from HD to digital signal - NOT this panasonic. <br /> <br />The picture in HD is simply amazing.  Clarity / sharpness / at all angles of viewing both near and far away from the screen.  The speakers are very good too - I will play a movie through the Home Theatrre - but day to day viewing the speakers will be more than adequate for most viewers.   <br /> <br />The picture in non - HD programming - Comcast digital cable signal.  About 85 % of the programming is pretty close to the same quality as High Def.  Alot of the cable programming seems to be formatted in anticipation of High Def viewing and look very sharp and clear.  Occasionally ( maybe 10 - 15 % of cable programming ) you'll get a feed that's not quite as sharp and ther'es a noticeable decline in picture quality from the HD or normal Digital programming.  However - I've checked that same  programming on my older CRT television - I found that the ( Non-HD programming with poor signal ) picture on the 50\\" plasma is the same quality as what I'm gettingon my 20\\" non digital television.  The only difference is that most of the programming is so much better in quality on this plasma TV that it seems like the picture isn't good for those few broadcasts.  BUT - it's not poor picture from plasma Tube - it's just a bad signal that looks worse in comparison to the other channels and/or programming.    <br /> <br />*** Don't let a salesperson talk you out of this TV if you have a large pictue window.  I almost decided against the Plasma tube b/c a circuit city salesperson said the reflection would annoy me with a large window in the room.  We have a west facing picture window in the rear with a tree outside the window. There is reflection on this tube - but it's no different than the reflection you'd get with a standard CRT tube television.  We just pull down the shades a bit - and we haven't noticed anything that would be bothersome when viewing a program. We bought it with the assurance that if the reflection was an issue we could swap it out for a LCD or other television.  We're keeping the Panasonic Plasma!!!! <br /> <br />I'm totally happy we bought this TV - and have no regrets for choosing the Panasonic.  I'd buy this TV again in a heartbeat.  The only thing I don't know about is the longevity of this type of tube - but I'll learn that over time.  We spent 400 bucks on an in home 4 year service plan to accompany the TV. The marketing says it will last 27 years if viewed 6 hours per day - but I think that's a little optimistic.  I did however learn in my research that this technology has been around for 30 or 40 years so I'm hoping that means there won't be any technical quirks to still work out. <br /> <br />Jake