bug230

Panasonic TH-50PH9UK Black 50" 16:9 Professional Series HD Plasma

$900 instant savings and $100 mail in rebate
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16889187012

also

Panasonic TH-42PH9UK Black 42" 16:9 Professional Series HD Plasma

$700 instant savings
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16889187013


enjoy! I'll be ording the 50" tomorrow and maybe the 42" for the bedroom.

bkknight369

thats an awesome deal

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

That's only a monitor though, no tuner.

soopa

I haven't used the built-in tuner of any of my televisions in at least 6 years. between tivo's and cable boxes... who needs it.

RaviNJCLs

iTrader: (4)

That is a pretty good deal.

yunginTL

so this doesn't have hdmi built in either?

Moog-Type-S

...agree with others who say a tuner is not needed.

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

Ok, guess it's just my basic cable watching ass that needs a tuner

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

I think you guys are missing the point of fuzzy's post.

It really is just a monitor.

It has no co-ax connection, no HDMI or DVI input, no built-in speakers, nothing. So if you want to use it as a TV you'll need a cable box or sat box and you can hook it up via component. Or you can buy add-on "slots" which allows you to add inputs. So you could buy an HDMI "slot", install it into the back of the set, then you'll have HDMI connectivity.

And, on top of all of that, you need to buy some kind of audio system since there are no speakers built-in.

So be prepared to spend several hundred dollars more just to make it watchable. It's still a good deal b/c of the quality of the set... but it is far from a plug and play set.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

I also don't understand how they can advertise 1080p support when the native resolution of the set is 1366 x 768, also known as 720p.

Me thinks it cannot support 1080p and that is a mis-print. I'm also not able to pull up that TV on Panasonic's website to verify.

Still, it's a good deal, but the odds are it's a 720p set and like I said above, it's not plug and play as a TV...

doopstr

For anything you stick on the wall, monitor > TV imho. I love the clean look of it on the wall with no speakers. What's the point of having a nice display if you don't have the sound system to back it up? If I needed another one I would get that Panny and whatever board I need for HDMI in a heartbeat.

Also, the Panny monitor probably does accept 1080p input but will output 720p. My NEC monitor will accept 1080p on component only, not HDMI. All output is 720p. Now I sort of wished I waited a year, what a price drop. Oh well, no matter when you buy it will be cheaper in 6 months I guess.

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

Better deal on that TV + you can still use the $100 rebate

http://www.tvauthority.com/Plasma-TV...K.asp?aff=5183

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

And agreed... but I think there's a misconception about this TV based on the way I was reading the few replies above. And there are exceptions where a plasma with speakers is desired. Example, our plasma is in our bedroom. I have no need for a sound system in there. So that's where people need to be careful, b/c if they intend to put this monitor in a location like that, you can't just buy it and use it. You DO need a tuner and you DO need an audio system to watch TV. Otherwise, yes, I agree, if this is your main TV, then you should have a sweet sound system to back it up.

Still makes no sense about the 1080p though. Since every device that outputs in 1080p also outputs in 720p and 1080i, it makes no sense for them to even list 1080p if it can't be displayed. If you had your BluRay set to output to 1080p only, odds are that TV would not be able to display it. So it's very misleading b/c in reality, it's only a 720p set...

.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Better price, but for me, NewEgg is cheaper. NewEgg charges $99 shipping to my zip. TVAuthority charges $195 shipping to my zip.

bug230

Here is a review with a video that explains alot about this plasma.
http://reviews.cnet.com/Panasonic_TH...-31986328.html

This plasma is a monitor right out of the box. But like bean said it has expansion slot where you can change the imputs. I like the versatillity of this because when new technologies come out it makes this plasma kind of future proof. I also like the ability to tune the picture more than the consumer models.

They have all kinds of card including HDMI.


here is a list of all the imputs blades available:
http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp...K&displayTab=S

here is the link to panasonic:
http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp...del=TH-50PH9UK

doopstr

I dunno about cards actually future proofing a monitor. Say your monitor is 5 years old and some new fancy connector comes out. What's the chance of cards that the current year's monitor accept actually working in yours?

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

Woops. I was looking at the 42" price on tvauthority.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

That HDMI card can be had for around $150 also. There are also others available since I believe there are 3 slots on the TV which can be used to add connectivity... but HDMI would be the only one I'd personally be interested in.

edit - That article lists the HDMI adapter as $110. TV Authority had it for $149. Still add that in, plus a wall mount or stand ($150-$300), plus renting or purchasing a cable or sat box, plus an audio system, and you can get a true idea of the cost of this thing. If this were to be purchased as a main TV or a Home Theater display, it's perfect... but for "standard" consumer use, you're probably better off going to an electronics store for a more "plug & play" plasma...

But that damn 42" version is soooooo tempting

.

bug230

If you subsribe to a cable or sat. service the box takes the place of the built in tuner.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Well, duh, I know that. But this set does NOT have a built-in tuner, hence the reason you MUST have a cable or sat box in order to use it as THIS set as a TV.

But yes, normally if a TV has a built-in tuner you don't need a STB and if you have one, it replaces the tuner. But, as mentioned several times, that is not the case here as was indicated in that reply (and if you leave that sentence in the context it was used).

.

bug230

Whoops that was supposed to be a question and not a statement. But you answered my question anyways.

Sorry I'm still in the learning process...the AVS forums have helped me a lot!

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

LOL.. no worries. I thought I was going crazy. I actually checked all of the links again thinking I mis-read it and it did come with a tuner

fdl

This is their commercial version. Great bang for the buck, but you need to go in understanding its missing alot of things, like inputs and speakers.

Ashburner

This is the kind of TV (Monitor) that I picture at the airport displaying flight information. For me, it's not my style. I like features included with my TV. 50" wouldn't be big enough for my home theatre and a lack of features makes it impractical as a bedroom TV.

bug230

If the 50" doesn't suit you, you may want to check out the 103"

http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp...el=TH-103PF9UK

bug230

OK I just placed my order...too bad I have to wait until we close on the new place to install the display. Damn builder is dragging their feet our original COE date was two month ago and now we are looking at mid December. Oh well at least I can stare at a 50" cardboard box till then.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

^ Nice!

Did you go with the stand or buy the wall mount?

Any thoughts to the audio system, or are you going to wait on that until you move in? I've been seriously toying with this for the bonus room since that room has surround sound built in, and I already have the receiver there. The wife doesn't like the idea though, she wants to get a 60" for downstairs and move the 50" DLP up to the bonus room which was our original plan. But that is a sick deal. Oh well...

bug230

As of right now this is kind of what I had in mind. One of my architect friends has a laser cutting machine in his studio and he is going to create a clear plastic custom bracket for mounting the plasma on the wall. I intend to stick all of the components in a nearby closet and control every thing off of IR sensors.

As for the audio, this display will be going into the living room pre-wired for 5.1. Right now I have some nice PSB in-room speakers but I think I’m going put those up in the loft and to go with an in-wall system. I have a decent receiver but it’s a few years old and I’m considering an upgrade. As you can see I haven’t put much consideration into the audio but I’ve got time. Do you have any suggestions?

Billiam

Two additional points on these Panny's:

1) With the connector blade slots, you could configure these monitors with two HDMI inputs. Something that (the last time I checked) is still difficult to find on 42" and 50" consumer plasmas.

2) Panasonic offers (overpriced) add-on speakers for these guys so I would think there has to be some basic audio capability and an output of some sort. Assuming they don't use any sort of bastard connector, you can probably attach whatever pair of powered speakers you'd like to these guys. Further research is necessary of course.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

I don't know, the living room pre-wired for 5.1 sounds good to me! We had our house wired as well. I forget the brand speakers we got, but on a scale of 1-10 I'd give them a 6 or so. One day I'll upgrade them, but for now they're doing fine.

I'm using a Pioneer receiver now on both setups. It's about a year old at this point, but it still kicks. Only thing that sucks is that it doesn't have HDMI connectivity, but so far I've been OK just using digital audio connections and the HDMI for video only.

2001AudiS4

Almost all Monitors have audio outputs in the form of normal speaker terminals. You can but in wall speakers or just about anything speaker if you really wish and just connect them directly to the tv if you do not wish to go the full surround sound route.

Bug 230- I suggest you check you the Marantz receivers. You could get buy with the SR4001 or SR5001 (if you desire multi-zone functionality). Both are capable receivers. If you are willing to spend a little extra, then check out th SR7001 or SR8001. Both are THX certified and have I believe 4 HDMI inputs and at least one out (the SR8001 has two HDMI outputs). They both also have 4 Component inputs and 2 outputs. They sound incredible and are very well built. You will love any of these receivers if you get one.

2001AudiS4

I wonder if the stand for the consumer line fits the pro series. I have a stand in my basement new in the box that a customer didn't want. I'll have to see if it fits. I'd sell it for maybe $50 shipped if it fits. I doubt it will though. Its a different design.

bug230

Thanks for the info I'll check out those Marantz receivers this week. Luckily I have a buddy that owns an A/V company...I'll see if he is a Marantz dealer.

kensteele

almost pulled the trigger on this but i gotta wait....just went over to avsforum haven't been there since last year...there's too much going on (prices, new sets, deals, christmas) to simply buy this panny monitor. how's it going to look with tivo hd, ps3?

keg1997

^^^^Just about to do the same thing. I've got a 10K that I can use on some house things and I'm thinking a nice HD big screen for the master BR would be fantastic....