HDTV Forum

What's your opinion on the two above 42" Plasma TV's?

The only major difference, other then $200 +or- is the contrast ratio, the 700U is Up To 5000:1 and the 77U is 10,000:1.

Will it make that much difference in picture quality?

I have a 58" 700U and the picture quality is phenomenal. The higher the contract ratio the better though. It gives better blacks which make for a enhanced 3D effect. (I just looked up the specs the 58" 700U has a 10,000 to 1 contrast ratio). I would go for the highest contrast ratio you can get.

The set I have also has an anti glare coating. I agree the Eli that the shiny glass plasmas are a problem in that area.

Very interesting article I might add. Anti-glare was the major factor in my decision.

Hi -

Yours is an often post elsewhere, too !

Since there are no industry standards at all for the testing / reviewing / reporting of all these various huge, numerical values, these soon become only worth what they are -- simply "advertising hype" -
... buy mine because my numbers are bigger !....

Read this for only one of many reviews -
http://www.practical-home-theater-guide ... ratio.html

That difference between your two Panasonics - more importantly - has to do with display treatments for reflections / glare seen by some in that display... very bothersome.
eli whitney

The 58" 700U only has a 5000:1 contrast ratio......I just checked the specs again.

So if I read everything correctly, the 10,000:1 ratio is the way to go along with the anti-glare coating.

I think I'm going to wait until after the super ball, I'm sure prices should drop a little after the game. I'm hoping that's the case!

Hi fastback111 -

Nope - you need to click onto that .. link .. again !

None of those .. 10, 000 , 5,000, 100,000 .. silly specs mean a thing !
There are NO standards for testing / reporting of same. Just watch some samples instead.
eli whitney

Actually Fastback is correct. The Panasonic factory specs are indeed 5000:1 for the 700 series. I was able to find other reviews which stated 10,000:1 (like Cnet - so my quote was incorrect). I bought it because it had the best picture and great reviews for a 58" set. I paid a little over 3 grand on line and the local stores are still selling it for $4500 (and that's without 8.75% sales tax). But the article Eli posted was very good in explaining just what contrast ratio means. You can certainly see a difference in a 500:1 vs 800:1 lcd computer monitor, but at 5000:1 with a Blu-ray DVD it blows the doors off of my CRT direct view Panasonic which has been my benchmark standard for comparison purposes for many years.