Please help TH58PX600 or 55HDX99

[radman1960]

First of all just want to thank everybody for input on such a great site. Spent last few months following several different threads.

I’m finally ready to buy (got my wife’s blessing) a new plasma this weekend but still not sure which way to go, I have swayed back and forth I think both are great units and I understand that there seems to be a fix in place or very close for the flicker on the Hitachi.
The 2 units we have narrowed this down to (both units are the exact same price at both dealers)
Panasonic 58" TH58PX600
Hitachi 55” 55HDX99 Director's Series

Went to 2 different dealers, 1 was leaning towards the Panasonic and the other towards the Hitachi (go figure, nobody going to make it easy). But both said you will not make a mistake regardless how you go.

My wife feels the picture is a little crisper on the Panasonic especially in fast moving scenes, as well as on images that have diagonal lines (the kids were watching the new Cars DVD today and the hood lines on the cars were more pronounce on the Panasonic. I did notice it, but not that much of a issue. Both units looked very good.

We were at the other dealer and watching Discovery HD and some scenes the flesh tones were not as realistic on the Panasonic, as well the definition in facial features were better on the Hitachi. But some scenes with a plane flying across he landscape were better on the Panasonic.

Any feedback would be great, I have been watching prices and checking out different models for the last year as well as driving my wife and kids nuts so I was told to buy it this week or else???

Thanks
Rob

[Mr. Sony]

Buy the panny. The pq is outstanding and mabye you should take another look at it with discovery hd, my friend has a hitachi similar to the one you mentioned and flesh tones are WAY more realistic on the panny. The panny has the most life-like images i've seen on any tv.

Panasonic is a high end plasma maker and their sets recieve great praise, I too plan to purchase a panny but will be getting the 65" 1080p version if I can find a good price. I used to be completely loyal to sony but even their great xbr2 and xbr3 lcd's and xbr2 sxrd's are no match to the panny.

Hope this helps. :)

[radman1960]

Thanks,

[Elemental1]

It's a 'no-brainer'.
3 more inches AND better PQ. :D

[radman1960]

Does anybody think I should go with the Hitachi 55HDX99?

[dandirk]

You're not going to find many here that will support another plasma if Pioneer or Panansonic are on the list... maybe if a certain price point or feature is REALLY wanted...

General order of plasma company quality (from AVS post observations):

1. Fujitsu
2. Pioneer/NEC (NECs 50" is supposed to be really nice)
3. Panasonic/NEC
4. pretty much all other well known TV name brands
5. No Name brands maxtent (just an example, they have some good price/performace ratios) etc...

As you may assume, higher on the list, higher the cost. Pioneer and Panasonic are considered very close in performance. Panny's have the blacks and Pios have the colors... Pannys are also usually cheaper.

I my self am seriously looking at a Panny 58" 600u, debating the size. If I decide to go 50", it will probably be a Pio...

[Cleveland Plasma]

^^^ Right on (Nice list) !! Go with the Panasonic.