New tv?


Well it looks like the not so old Samsung 50 inch plasma is on its last legs. It has a blue vertical band running down the left side and repair folks are telling me it is likely the display panel which cost as much or more than a new TV to repair. So what are you folks liking these days as the best TV for home theater? This is a set up with an oppo 103 and NAD integrated amp and Sonus fabar toy towers. We are looking for a 55 inch set and are wondering if plasma is still the best way to go? As always thanks for any suggestions.
audiowoman
Bo1972 typed: "I asked people with there expierence in HDMI cables. I said I tested many and there is one which is by far the most convincing."

Which HDMI cable do you like best w/the Plasma TVs? Seems appropriate to this thread.

I just bought a big solar photovoltaic system so my new TV dreams are out until the Black Friday Sales. A cable I might be able to swing though...
It is the Diamond from Audioquest. I use now three of them. One as a monitor cable to my Samsung PS64F8500, one for my Humax decoder and one for my Bluray player. It is both in vision and sound the best I have seen and heard sofar. Pure silver does bring it to another level.
Audiowomen, to sidetrack: I just got a copy of one of your reference CDs because of your listing in a thread (what's your reference music) of Cassandra Wilson "Blue Lights 'Til Dawn" (especially tracks 8&9)
EXTREMELY NICE!!!!!!
Isochronism: Nice to hear from you! I never found the fancy cd racks either, but I bought 6 blue IKEA dvd/cd towers and put them together on one wall. Holds about 900+ cd's and just about full! Of course, they no longer make them in blue, but I think in the next house I'll do a long wall with 6 more black ones in between the blue - kinda cool looking actually and cheap!

Glad you are enjoying Blue LIght Till Dawn - very nice indeed.
In the last few months I did a lot of research in the 2013 screens. There is one simple conclusion I can make. Plasma is still superior to LED. Wenn I watch at the best LED screens I am watching to flaws all the time. ONLY PEOPLE WITH LESS KNOWLEDGE ARE CAPABLE OF BUYING A LED SCREEN. So what are these flaws? First the motion is still inferior to Plasma. Even at bluray you see the problems. I get f..irritated wenn i see this. Many peole are f.. blind because they buy them. How stuppid you can be in my world. Colours are far from realistic. I see one positive thing in the best LED screens these days, there is a little depth. But compared to the best Panasonic and Samsung plasma's which can give a 3d image even without glasses it is still inferior. Watch a movie with a led screen and compare it with a plasma. You will understand that the led screen will make you feel if the movie was recorded with a cheep videocamera. Only with a plasma you can watch it with the feeling of a real movie.
Panasonic vs Samsung:

They both did a great job in improving there plasma's. This is the first year I love Panasonic as I loved it in the past. Blacks are at both inky Black. Colours are realistic and dynamic. They both give a very 3-d image even without glasses. The thing I am most exited for is the motion. Mannnn I try to find flaws in speed but they have done a great job to make it smooth to die for. Another important improvement is the light output. They both improved this part a lot. This makes a big difference, even bigger than I thought. I do not see any reason to buy a led over a plasma anymore. The Samsung F8500 is the strongest screen in the world wenn we look at the light output.( almost at 11000 ansilumen) Many people think that ansilumen is only an advantage in brither rooms. Yes it is an advantage, bur it does even more. It gives the F8500 from Samsung a even more 3-d image. Cause of the extra light on the moving subjects there is more depth. The blacks are already inky black, but the extra light makes the difference in more depth. Wenn you watch the F8500 with video which is shot during daytime you get a much higher realistic feel if you are there in real. This part I do not find in tests, but gives you a big advantage. You also see more definition. Clouds, blue sky's are more realistic of the extra light output. White is maybe the most difficult colour for plasma. Samsung does this better, it is more clean. Panasonic does it a lot better compared to a few years ago.
So which one is better; Samsung or Panasonic?

wenn you have 1000 dollar to spend I would go for a Panasonic. It is more complete over the Samsung.

wenn you have 2000-3000 to spend I also would go for the Panasonic.

wenn You have over 3000 dollar to spend I would go for a Samsung.

Wenn You see to all price tags and sizes Panansonic does a better job in the lower price tags compared to Samsung. I am always looking for the best in every price tag. This is why I sell more Panasonic plasma.s. Because I want always want my client to get the best there is for the money the spend.
So which screen is the best if money doens't matter?

In my world this is the Samsung 64F8500 plasma. Even over the VT60 and ZT60 from Panasonic.......why?

To all the parts which are there to Judge for a screen it is more complete and more stunning to watch. WHich are these parts?

- wenn it is off the Samsung is superior to look at. The shape and material ( blue steel) of the F8500 is a lot more high quality compared to the cheaper look and material use of the Panasonic ZT60 and VT60.

- white is a lot cleaner and more realistic
to the less white of the Pannasonic.

- The image is sharper. The extra light output makes it more easy to see more information.

- the extra light output gives you stunning image even at daylight. Even at maximum sun blacks are still inky black. I never have seen a screens which this dynamic blacks even at daytime.

- the extra light output give an even more 3-d image.

- The extra light output give you the best realistic feeling in watching video what was shot during daytime. This gives me a big smile wenn I am aware how special this is. The Panasonic misses this part and it does more than most people think.

- menu settings are easier to use and more advanged compared to Panasonic there menu

- I was amazed that I like this screen for app and internet use. Panasonic is far away from this level in use.

* Watching tv and video never was this thrilling. For the higher quality it gives it is a bargan for the pleasure it can give. I CAN SAY; I LOVE MY SAMSUNG 64 INCH F8500.
I did test many hdmi cables and there is one wich is superior to all I test. It is not cheap. Maybe even the most expensive one you can buy. But in audio and in picture it is the absolute king: Audioquest Diamond hdmi pure silver. It gives you even more light output. Sounds crazy but after you test it and compared it you understand. Also in definition and in blacks it is f...awesome!
Audiowoman, I found this album since Christian McBride (Bass) plays on it: Danilo Perez (Piano) "Across The Crystal Sea" (NICE) It turned out to have Cassandra Wilson sing on two tracks, which had Initially SOLD me on her, hence I had to go for your recommendation. (VERY NICE) The Ikea racks will hold much more and for much le$$. The "Black and Blue" will be very cool together!! Reminds me of the Gino Vannelli song title, which is the on only G.V. album I'd actually suggest. "A Pauper In Paradise"
I've seen both the 65" Panny ZT and the 64" Samsung PS64F500 at a local Best Buy.

The Sansung is brighter (I checked to make sure the brightness levels were the same on each TV). They both have exceptional picture quality, clearly better than the LEDs nearby.

If I had a dark room I'd buy the Panny, though it'd be only to get the extra 1" diagonal.

Since my room is pretty bright during the day, I'm going to get the Samsung during the black friday sales. Well, that's my plan anyway...