Hi guys,
My first post to this forum.
I was in the same dilemma when I went to purchase a 32" LCD.
Found Sony to be expensive and lacking in features.
Finalized on Samsung 5, since I felt was value for money with nice features like PIP with (HDMI, Component, AV, PC, etc), USB connectivity, good reviews.
But then, when I finally went to the shop, the guys there first tried pushing me for a Sony and then they said Panasonic is a fantastic TV ( which I knew about). So just before I could pay cash for the samy the owner told me to take a look at the LX800. He sat with me and should me the advantages of better clarity and motion side by side with a 5 series. End of it I said I want a samy. Why ?
1. Firstly, some actor's shirt's second line was clearer on the panasonic and not so clear on the 5 series, I didnt care cause while watching the tv to enjoy, it really does not matter ( i work for a video broadcast company and gone through some trainings in MPEG compression, the compression works on visual perception and when we show a beautiful lady dancing and someone is looking at one particular rose in the garden for clarity, we call him having a jaundice eyes), when the story line holds you don't recogonize objects what the director does not want you to see other than the main objects.
2. He showed me some SD video and said look how smooth the image is flowing on the panny, I could not see the difference. In my lab I have kept 3 different brand tvs and compared all this stuff of motion. When I cant see it what is the point. He showed me CNBC stock ticker and showed me the 100 hz technology. It was a little clearer than the sammy, but who the hell cares, and it happens only in the very fast ticker, not the normal ones.
3. IPS technology, great, retains the video clarity in 160 degs angle. But I didnt have that necessity. I am a movie freak, like to watch always from the sweet spot. Its not a restaurent where every table needs to see the screen.
Now, why did I still go for the samsung 5 series. Simple, though it had 5% less clarity (which I could recogonize) it did not add artifacts. I was sold when they played a scene from DOOM - II DVD where there is a pan shot and all the TVs except the phillips, sony X and samsung 5 series would just break the motion ( 2:3 pulldown i guess). The samsung was so smooth, it was a different experience. I watch a lot of DVDs and always hate the choppy pan / motion shots. The samsung did the trick MoviePlus feature I guess.
Also the contrast, the TV is damn bright. If you feel it is artificial you cut it down. But helps if you are in a bright room in the afternoon.
So, I have owned a 5 series for 2 weeks now, just love how the video is so smooth. For the other differences with LX800, I just couldn't make out. Plus the 5 series was a good 5k less.
Hope it helps in your choosing.
