psg

Doesn't matter, right? I just learn the hard way that it does. I used to feed two TVs with one Sat decoder, feeding one far away using the HDMI output of the decoder and the other using the component output (to the AVR and then a 50-inch 720p plasma in my HT room). When I upgraded to Optik TV a while back, each TV now had its own decoder but I didn't bother to swap in a HDMI cable in the HT room and kept using the component cable to my AVR (and then HDMI to the TV). I was never happy with the blacks on that TV. Jump to this week when I get my fancy new Samung 60F8500 plasma. The picture is much better, but even after I calibrate black levels (brightness set to factory 45) I am loosing a lot of details in crushed blacks watching TV. Anything dark is black. I have to crank up brightness to 65 to make up some of the detail. But the picture is perfect on Blurays. So I figure it must be a setting on the Optik TV decoder... then it hits me that it is getting an analog signal from my component connection and reconverting it to digital to send over HDMI to the TV! I swap in an HDMI cable between the TV decoder and the AVR and BAM! The picture is now perfect with brightness set to 45! Lots of dark detail! So the black levels weren't so bad on my old TV! I have been giving it a handicap for years using component instead of HDMI! Years lost!

Samsung 60F8500 it is! Fantastic picture on this thing. It's as good as reviews say it is.

Clearly you are!

They had a deal with Monster and wired speakers using their wire, until Monster starting selling speakers (as I recall) and the deal went sour.

Wow... just wow.

Loved Noah Jones and Holly Cole when they still did jazz.

Mine says... EDIT: Forum Ultra Veteran. Posting to find out also increases my post count and gets me closer to the next level. Edit2: Turbox, I'll trade you your Jubs for my KHorns and my Ultra title.

If best is that works with one particular set-up, then why don't you judge until you've heard it on a number of systems and/or locations?

In spite of how great a bargain the F5300 is, I splurged on the F8500. Should be delivered early next week.

Well, I went to the store. They had the 60F5300 in one room connected to a cable provider and a smaller 51F8500 in another room connected to Bell Satellite, making it hard to compare. All their sets are out of the box and not calibrated (not likely not using a movie mode). Both images looked good to me, with good blacks, so I am not really much closer to deciding. I did like the brushed metal finish of the F8500.

You are both right! The F5300 is the sensible choice and best bang for the buck at C$900, and the F8500 is one of the last flagship plasmas one can buy, and they are at a liquidation price at C$1800. I'll go to the store tomorrow to see if they have any of them to actually see in person. I don't need light canon output, given that there are no windows on the HT room. So the F8500 would really get me color accuracy and better blacks. It's also 3D. I likely wouldn't use its smart TV features since I'd have to run audio back to the receiver in the back of the room if I did. I use a blu-ray player for netflix. Thanks guys! Interesting perspective from AVS as well: http://www.avsforum.com/forum/167-plasma-flat-panel-displays/1689586-samsung-pn64f5300-vs-pn60f5300-vs-pn60f8500.html#post27503946 The obvious best "bang for the buck" of your choices is the PN60F5300 for $900.00. Then to get the PN64F5300 it takes another $1040.00 to get 4 more inches? Something is not right there. Of course the overall best picture will the the 8500 but not double the picture quality of the 5300. Bill

BTW, the Samsung PN60F8500 for C$1800 is a liquidation price, down from... C$3300!! (Best Buy lists it for C$3000)

TV are much more expensive in Canada. The UN65H7150 is C$2,739 http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/samsung-samsung-65-1080p-240hz-3d-led-smart-tv-un65h7150-un65h7150afxzc/10290948.aspx People say plasma are way better but I must admit that the C$1000 Sony LED 55-inch I got last years for my teenagers' room looks almost 3D'ish in realism, so maybe I am not so picky? Going cheaper to buy in a few years won't happen; my wife would freak out. Plus 1080p is fine at this size. I'll go 4K on the projector! The F8500 is the 2013 Samsung flagship and has great reviews. The F5300 is a budget set with great performance for its price class. Decisions, decisions! Guess I'll go check them out. But with my luck they won't have them on the floor...

Sure, but within the parameters of my question? From what I understand, plasma is better suited than LED from my application (not ambient light; glare not a concern). Plasma are on the way out, so now is the time to buy them. OLED sets are waay out of my budget.

Hi all, In Canada, I can locally get: Samsung PN60F5300 for C$900 (with 50 montly no interest payments) Samsung PN60F8500 for C$1800 (with 50 montly no interest payments) Samsung PN64F5300 for C$1940 I haven't even seen them yet. The room is light-controlled (no windows) and seating has no wide angles. This is for TV as I project onto 120" for movies. I wanted big (around 65-inch) but the quality difference from F5300 to F8500 might be worth downgrading in size a bit? OTOH, if I go 60-inch is the F8500 really worth double the price of the F5300? Thanks!

Not what I said at all. I said relying on measurements instead of listening is a fools journey, the implication is totally fabricated on your part. My statements are only an opinion, I'm sure Thebes is a big boy and can take a contrary opinion without thinking I'm making a personal attack . When on a forum, you are in fact addressing not just Thebes, but everyone; otherwise use PM. If you are sure that your comments could not possibly be read as confrontational by anyone on the forum, then at least I have done my bit to tell you that you are wrong about that. You are free to do what you want with that piece of information.

Others managed to do without implying other people are fools not worthy of being called audiophiles.

I do the reverse and have Heresy II on the sides and pro as rears. Works for me.

Thebes, Every change you make to your system changes the sound. It's up to the listener to determine if the change was for the better or not. We are not listening to measurements and if you are, you are on a fools journey. For most people here standard stranded zip cord (say that fast three times) is their reference standard, it's just not my reference standard, nor the choice of many audiophiles. You get my vote for the most confrontational post of the thread! It's a good thing that a flame war didn't ensue.

Ouch, you dropped to well under 10000 with the new count!

The K43 woofer handles 200W instead of the K33 100W; it's huge in comparison. It doesn't go as low but that doesn't change much of anything in a La Scala. The other drivers are the same as in a standard La Scala. Great for HT!

Better than a La Scala then?

Gotta disagree with the spacing. I get fantastic imaging with KHorns 18 to 20 feet apart.