Which one? Samsung PS50D550 and Panasonic TX-P50ST30B cost the same now

[Kojak71]

Originally I wanted to get TX-P46ST30B, but 50" version is now cheaper than the 46", weird! Anyway the girlfriend keeps telling me that bigger is always better (?) so we are looking at these 50-51" sets. The ST30 has now dropped to D550's price point (I've found both on the high street for £700 including 2 pairs of 3D glasses!). So I was wondering which one really is the better buy.

Although we will be watching HD movies, most of the time is spent watching SD content (25Hz/30Hz xvid files + Freeview). Apart from the usual news/documentaries/dramas we also enjoy watching sport, particularly F1 & BTCC. I'll also be using the TV for gaming (Xbox360, PS3, Wii & PC). I've got an old 5.1 surround system, and it looks like I'll be using the TV's optical out to feed into the amplifier.

On paper the ST30 should be ahead. But on the forums the ST30's reputation is tarnished with much talk about the the green splat + 50Hz bug issues, and many prefer the D550. I've tried to demo these in various stores to try and see for myself the foibles of both these TVs, but the store lighting and the lack of aerial feeds make it difficult to make any real world objective comparison. Oh the agony of choice!

[tele1962]

Hello Kojak, welcome to the forum.

I realy do not have any experence with the Samsung. But just at a guess and reading reviews etc i would go for the Panasonic (i have the GT) green splodges and all.
You have done the right thing trying to demo these TV's but as you say it is a right royal pain in the ass doing this in a shop enviroment, if you can and if you live in the UK try and see if you can get to Richer Sounds as they often have demo rooms avialable.

[FoxHounder]

I'll also be using the TV for gaming (Xbox360, PS3, Wii & PC).

Panasonic seems to be ahead in that area, since they've got very low input-lag and are more resistant to image retention effect. I'd go with Panny between that two.

[Kojak71]

Hello Kojak, welcome to the forum.

... if you can and if you live in the UK try and see if you can get to Richer Sounds as they often have demo rooms available.

Thanks for the welcome. Need to find a Richer Sounds with a demo room then, unfortunately they don't sell the D550 (neither do John Lewis), but at least I can test the ST30.

[panman40]

Hello Kojak, welcome to the forum.

... if you can and if you live in the UK try and see if you can get to Richer Sounds as they often have demo rooms available.

Thanks for the welcome. Need to find a Richer Sounds with a demo room then, unfortunately they don't sell the D550 (neither do John Lewis), but at least I can test the ST30.
[/quote
I was only saying the other day that every time i go into a Pana Store the ST30 appears to have the best PQ from all the Plasmas even the VT . And like foxhounder says they are more resilient to iR 

[David Mackenzie]

We reviewed both the PS51D550 and the TX-P42ST30.

In short:

Panasonic:
* better ambient light filter = richer picture in normal lighting conditions
* better black level

Samsung:
* better screen uniformity (no green splodges etc)
* slightly better motion quality
* full HD 3D resolution (little-known fact, the Panasonic ST30 is just short of resolving full 1080 lines)

Both were very good for gaming, very low lag.

[tele1962]

We reviewed both the PS51D550 and the TX-P42ST30.

In short:

Panasonic:
* better ambient light filter = richer picture in normal lighting conditions
* better black level

Samsung:
* better screen uniformity (no green splodges etc)
* slightly better motion quality
* full HD 3D resolution (little-known fact, the Panasonic ST30 is just short of resolving full 1080 lines)

Both were very good for gaming, very low lag.

Wow i didn't know that about the Panny David?

[David Mackenzie]

What about it? The reduced 3D resolution? The entire 2011 lineup has that (even the VT), in fact I think we're the only review site to have mentioned it.

[tele1962]

What about it? The reduced 3D resolution? The entire 2011 lineup has that (even the VT), in fact I think we're the only review site to have mentioned it.

Yeah that's the one, i wonder why no one else has mentioned it?

[David Mackenzie]

For a long time, there were no 3D test patterns for resolution. We made our own that we've been using since the first month of 3D TV availability. That's probably why we had a head-start on detecting such issues and why we're (I think) the only site measuring Greyscale in 3D.

Hopefully the situation changes once Joe Kane and co. put out a version of Digital Video Essentials in 3D (which seems to have been in the works for some time).

[Insanity202]

For a long time, there were no 3D test patterns for resolution. We made our own that we've been using since the first month of 3D TV availability. That's probably why we had a head-start on detecting such issues and why we're (I think) the only site measuring Greyscale in 3D.

Hopefully the situation changes once Joe Kane and co. put out a version of Digital Video Essentials in 3D (which seems to have been in the works for some time).

Fantastic work David. This is a great thing for you guys to find out. 

[Kojak71]

Panasonic:
* better ambient light filter = richer picture in normal lighting conditions
* better black level

Samsung:
* better screen uniformity (no green splodges etc)
* slightly better motion quality
* full HD 3D resolution (little-known fact, the Panasonic ST30 is just short of resolving full 1080 lines)

Hi David,

I think I had read both of those reviews about a 3 or 4 dozen times before posting this thread on the forum, I just couldn't decide, but you've summed up the differences rather succinctly. To be honest we'll be watching TV most of the time, movies less so (but when I do my eyes are glued to the screen). Given the dearth of good 3D content, I'll probably end up using the 3D for gaming predominantly (PC gaming).

So would you put Pany's better black levels & ambient light filter above Samsung's better motion quality at 50Hz & screen uniformity? Would Pany's 3D sub 1080 line resolution be a problem for 3D gaming?

[David Mackenzie]

For gaming it might be visible, yes, but I can't speak for your own eyes of course...

If 3D is your predominant use, I'd probably go for the Samsung - it's cheaper and the darkening effect of the 3D glasses will probably mitigate the weaker black level anyway.

[accord]

Hi everybody  my first post . I have 42 g10 and i really like the clean looking looking image of panasonic plasma tvs so i was thinking of  getting the samsung d550 since its cheaper and has no 50hz issue but iam afraid the image wil look noisy and not as sharp or clear as panasonic  .

[tele1962]

Hi everybody  my first post . I have 42 g10 and i really like the clean looking looking image of panasonic plasma tvs so i was thinking of  getting the samsung d550 since its cheaper and has no 50hz issue but iam afraid the image wil look noisy and not as sharp or clear as panasonic  .

Hello Accord and welcome to the forum. I would go and demo one first but i think you will be very pleased with what you see.