But if you had an LCD sitting next to it, it would look brighter, and thus attract the eye, and make you want to buy it instead.

It's the same as when comparing audio, and louder seems better.

I know, I was always telling myself that the LCDs are just in extreme mode while the plasma's lack that kind of output, yet I was surprised at how bright the picture actually is on this particular set in comparison.

I was shown a side by side set up in one of the stores when I was looking for my TV, that had one TV setup for normal viewing(not calibrated) and a properly calibrated set. The difference was very noticeable. The salesman asked me to pick the calibrated one, I being savy to the whole idea, knew the softer picture was the calibrated one. The salesman was actually shocked I picked it out. The calibrated picture even looked soft compared to the nearby plasmas.

I'll give another vote to Panasonic plasmas. I've had last year's 65" S1 model for about 9 months now and couldn't be happier! My room has no outside light whatsoever, so I can't comment on any glare from ambient light. Paid $2100 (US), but I think the price is lower now.

$2100 for the 65", amazing, I was looking at it on Boxing day up here for $3000+ I would have bought it for ~$2100 without hesitation. The 58" works in the room but as always for HT bigger is better (let the comments begin )

I was not satisfied with the S1 after viewing comparisons with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix at the store, then immediately afterwords at home. I had read several reviews that says the S1 casts a green tint on everything and that can't be adjusted out. This proved to be the case in my examination also.

For example, at the beginning in the square concrete chamber with the lights where they are attacked by dementors. The S1 showed greenish lights, the Samsung it was yellowish lights with just a slight tint of green.

Then again when Harry was walking down the hallway of his godfathers house. The S1 showed greenish walls, the Samsung it was brownish and gray.

Jay-

My wife and I were originally going for a 46" plasma (our old TV was a 46" CRT rear projection). When we went to the store to make a final decision, she decided that 46" was too small, but liked the 58". We continued to walk around, and pretty soon I noticed that she was no longer with me...she was standing mesmerized in front of the 65" S1. She said that she loved the picture and asked if I thought it was too big (like I was going to say "Oh, yes dear, it is FAR too big for our HT room!") I "worked" with the salesman for awhile and got him to give me the 65" S1 and a Panasonic BluRay player for $2100! Shortly after the TV purchase, we bought our Axiom setup. My wife said that she didn't care what kind, size, or number of speakers I bought as long as they weren't black. She left all the decisions concerning the construction of our HT to me and said she would go along with anything...God I love her!!!

So do I..... !

I love her too!

Cat, after my initial research I discovered that there are faults with all the TVs out there, a slight green tint here and there doesn't bother me (I have Red/Green color deficient sight, my wife doesn't seem to mind this is green tint issue) and I couldn't justify the cost differential to jump to the G/V series which appear to have problems of their own.

The Samsung's were reported to have P/S issues that would hum and some other people had mentioned some problems with the display itself and poor CS from Samsung to repair it. I'll take my green tint and seldom reported failures over that any day.

What is P/S issues?

P/S = Power Supply