The Plasma TV Owners Thread

http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/samsung-pn51f8500/4505-6482_7-35731512.html

Good overview of the set...

Derek

 

I have the same 50" Panny Erik mentioned and I don't sense it "heats the room" at all. I wish it did - it gets cold in my basement!

 

Very sorry to hear that, Blair. I have the same model. Is yours 50" or 55"? Keep us posted on how the service of the unit goes.

 

60"
The 55" would have been sufficient (and cheaper) but by the time we decided to go for it the 55's were gone.

 

At eight to nine feet even a 720p set will look fine. Considering how affordable 60" or 65" 1080p s3ets are it's a shame you can't fit one. I sit nine feet from a bottom of the line Samsung 58" plasma and after two years it's beginning to look small.

Good luck and enjoy.

 

I actually do notice some heat coming off the unit - but mostly when close to it when I turn it off by the switch on the front.

When I 'shut down' for the night, I turn off the Plasma, the AVR, and my amp the old fashioned way via fingers on the power switches.

When I do this at the Panny, I can feel some heat.

I can't say whether I notice any ambient room changes in temp though.

 

Does it say whether it's okay to use the TV to roast marshmallows?

 

Mine doesn't get that hot IMO

 

All plasmas get warm. Think of them as thousands of tiny fluorescent tubes. It's plasma in there and it generates heat. The brighter you run it the more heat there is from the screen in front and from the power supply in back. You'll never cook an egg on any part of it, but it might warm the room just a bit.

 

They used to be FAR hotter though.

I sold them for several years, and the first several years, they would literally be almost too hot to comfortably touch for more than a few seconds.

In the last handful of years, they run far cooler.

A typical Fluorescent LCD runs just as hot.

 

Yeah, it's all power dissipation. LED or OLED is so much more efficient/cooler. Still like the look of my plasma picture though. An no way a 2 year old is going to crack that plate glass front, whereas an LCD would be a goner and spidered in a hurry from a direct hit.

 

My Panasonic TC-P50VT25 doesn't get that warm at all. Of course that's a couple of years on down the line. Still looks amazing to me.

 

Yeah, the P50VT25 uses about 1/2 the power of my 50PK750. Glad to see they are getting "greener" as far as wattage, much of the excess in mine is just wasted heat.

 

It took awhile to get around to dealing with this. TV was still watchable and we had other things going on.
That thin vertical got worse (wider) eventually the screen went black on the extreme right side, about 4" wide, top to bottom.

Got the verdict today from the authorized depot (I know these guys, they're good): UNREPAIRABLE
They tried a new board of some sort but that didn't' help.
Panasonic will send an RA to the dealer so he can take it back.

But here's the problem......what do I get now?
Panny said they'll replace with a new ST60.
I'll gain a couple of convenience features I'll never use but lose THX and who knows what else.
Plus my GT50 was $750 off, on a straight replacement I'm essentially paying full list for the ST60.
I will not accept the ST60 unless there is money coming back ($400 maybe?).
I found another dealer who actually has a brand new GT50 in stock, he's trying to clear it out.
I'd like the original dealer to issue a full refund so I can go buy the same model elsewhere.
But they don't want to do that, they'll offer in store credit which I'm not interested in.

Forgetting price, and despite the loss of the THX feature, is the ST60 a fair equivalent?
Or do I hold out for another GT50?

 

After two months of wrangling we finally have a resolution.
My salesman tried to help but the dealer was essentially useless. To be fair they were in a no win position.
So I got the name of someone up the chain at Panasonic and sent a very polite but firm e-mail.
Two days later: an offer to replace my 60GT50 with a 60VT60 for a very nominal upcharge.
All things considered it's very fair and I'm looking forward to getting the VT60.

 

Good to hear Blair, let us know how the VT60 compares with the GT50. Thank goodness our GT50 still looks like new and wishing you the same with the new VT.

 

So you've got one too, Dave?

We should talk more often LOL.
Another local Forum member we both know also has one.
At least you guys haven't had any trouble with them

 

I had an older 2007 Panny that got warm enough to regularly heat an entire room by itself. Great in the winter, not so great in the summer. The newest models barely get warm at all in comparison.

 

The manual says it's a TC-P50GT30. I don't know if that translates into the 50GT but it sure looks good.
Who's that?
Yes, thank goodness. 2 years old in Mar. /14 and still looks as good as the day we purchased it. fingers and shoe-laces crossed