Plasma TVs - Native Contrast Ratio?

[aequitas330]

There are two TVs I'm considering, both are Panasonics. Both are 50" and 1080p.

TH50PZ80u - 20,000:1 Native Contrast Ratio. 1,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio.

TH50PZ85u - 30,000:1 Native Contrast Ratio. 1,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio.


Can you even notice the difference at that point? Isn't it kind of like the megapixels with digital cameras? (In terms of just trying to impress with higher numbers without much difference between the two under normal consumer settings)

What would the average person notice with that extra 10k in native contrast?

Isn't the only other real difference that the 85u has a PC input? I'm not sure if the bump in price between the two is justified..

[Rick]

Go for the 800u, it's the next best thing below the Pioneer Kuro series. I got the 50 inch last month for $2600 (tax included) from Magnolia.

Have you looked at avsforum?

Here is a link to the plasma sub-forum. Note: look at the thread on the 800u, it's stickied up top.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=167

[TurboFan]

With out knowing what you plan to use it for (movies, TV, dedicated theater) the 80u will be a great display. In panny, when you opt for the 5 upgrade, you get a bunch of adjustments that most people find to be useless. The 80u will be awesome. The high-end Pioneer are better, but rarely worth the money imo.

[aequitas330]

Originally Posted by rickc

Go for the 800u, it's the next best thing below the Pioneer Kuro series. I got the 50 inch last month for $2600 (tax included) from Magnolia.

Have you looked at avsforum?

Here is a link to the plasma sub-forum. Note: look at the thread on the 800u, it's stickied up top.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=167

I've searched through AVS forum, but it gets a little overwhelming when there are so many massive threads there..

The 800u is out of my range right now, I'm trying to keep it as close to $1500 as possible.

Originally Posted by Laszlo

Panasonic plasma's are great TVs... under Pioneer Elite (which I believe are now discountinued.)

Yeah, the Kuro is the new top of the line Pioneer I believe..

Originally Posted by TurboFan

With out knowing what you plan to use it for (movies, TV, dedicated theater) the 80u will be a great display. In panny, when you opt for the 5 upgrade, you get a bunch of adjustments that most people find to be useless. The 80u will be awesome. The high-end Pioneer are better, but rarely worth the money imo.

How I plan to use it:
--BluRay
--PS3
--Sports
--General TV viewing

I found the 80u from Fry's for $1499. I'm thinking I won't be able to beat that.. I'm also thinking that once you get past 20,000:1 native contrast ratio the differences are marginal. Can the average user even tell a difference between 20k:1 and 30k:1?

[iatacs19]

I got the TH50PZ85u, it's a good TV. I'd get the Pioneer if I had $4000 to spend though.

The contrast ratio is BS, the 80U and 85U have the same contrast ratio, they are quoting different numbers b/c the 85U has C.A.T.S which is a light sensor that auto-dims the picture depending on the ambient light. It is completely worthless, I did choose the 85U b/c it has 3 x HDMI.