Panasonic Viera 720p TH-42PX80U

This is my first HDTV purchase.  I am very happy with it.  Purchased in April of 2008 for $950.00.  I sell HDTVs for a living and could have gone with any set I wanted.  Six months later I still think I made the right decision.  It is still (in my opinion) the best "value" HDTV on the market. 

I spend my days looking at many other brands and models of HDTVs.  My store sells, Samsung, LG, Sharp, Toshiba, Pioneer, Hitachi, JVC, Magnavox, and obviously Panasonic.  Only Pioneer gives you the same quality as a Panasonic, but the prices are significantly higher.  If you want a great HDTV that doesn't cost a fortune this is one of your best options. 

I have DirectTV HD and a Sony PS3 BluRay player.  Both are connected using HDMI 1.3.  HDTV looks excellent.  BluRays look excellent also and the PS3 does a great job upconverting my DVDs.  Clarity is fantastic and color is great too!  I have my settings set to a mix between their factory preset of Vivid and Standard. 

Another selling feature that the Panasonic's have that many other TV manufacturers don't is their Anti-Image Retention option.  It is a pixel orbiter that operates similar to a screen saver on a computer, but you can't see it.  It rotates one pixel up and down the screen to help reduce burn-in.  It is very noticable on our sales floor when you compare it to the LG's and the Samsungs.

I did to have one service call in the first 3 months to fix a yellow band the came up.  It was 3 inches wide and ran vertically up the entire length of the screen directly in the middle.  I called the local tv repair man and he fixed it the same day without the need for any parts.  Apparantly there was a loose color ribbon or something...  He said it was the first case he had seen like it.  (something was probably jarred loose in shipping I'd guess)  No cost to me, everything was covered under the factory warranty.  I have not had any problems since either. 

That has been my only problem/complaint.  I couldn't be happier with my decision and would definately do the same again.  I sold my parents the same model and my uncle the same thing, but 1080p instead (Th-42PZ80U).