I've seen the Samsung PS50A556S for £950. It's a 50" 1080p Plasma TV and the finance is quite reasonable so that I could afford it from Dixons.

Do have some reservations however... Namely it's a plasma, should I bite it and fork out the extra £300 (which means 22% more in finance too) for an LCD equiv?

Anyone know of this TV? What would your advice be? Or do you have any 47-52" 1080p recommendations around the £1k mark?

I can't say I am familiar with the Samsung you mention but I managed a deal before Christmas on  the Panasonic TH50pz80.. 50" plasma(1080p).I have to say that digital tv looks very good(via V+ box) and HD is just on another planet.I was fortunate to get a package deal...tv,panasonic wall bracket,panasonic 5 yr warranty and the  Panasonic DMP-BD35 blu- ray player for £1174. When fed with HD the quality is absolutly brilliant as is the digital sound.The tv itself does have a low fan background noise but that is only noticeable when first switched on and no programme selected.I too was amazed at the Pioneer Kuro sets on display but I have to say..this set is right up there with them on blu-ray material. Purchased from Crampton and Moore in Sheffield they have the same equipment at virtually the same price but no extended warranty.The tv is priced with them online at £979 and an extra £20 for the wall bracket(if you visit the store).My only gripe..and its a small one..is the bracket does not swivel which makes fitting cables awkward..best to connect and then hang which would not be suitable in all installations.Hope this helps. 

PS...they also have PS50A558 on a 3 yr warranty deal at £849..havent checked the spec against the one your talking about.

Gerry

I bought a £800 LCD TV that developed a fault 3 months outside it's warranty. I sent letters recorded that went unanswered that they claimed they never got yet according to Royal Mails web site they were all signed for!

This woman kept telling me to get in touch with the manufacturer which under the Trade Description Act it is the retailers responsibility to sort out any faults and NOT the manufacturer!

Eventually after getting no where with this incompetent company I did get sorted through Samsung who was brilliant.

I'D TOTALLY STAY AWAY FROM CROMPTON AND MOORE... I FOR ONE WILL NEVER EVER DEAL WITH THEM AGAIN! THEY'RE SHOCKING.

Dont knock the new Plasmas

the high end have very sweet pictures. Smoother animation and better color contrast.

There is still the need for "breaking-in" to avoid IR and Burn-In. But this is more the case for hardcore gamers. 

 My e-mail to them below sums up my experiences of Crampton and Moore.

We waited in all day Saturday
Nothing arrived
We rang your delivery enquiries number and it does not work Saturdays?
We rang your shop number 0114 246 7635  at 3.00pm who said do not worry TNT
deliver up to 6.00pm - the goods were collected yesterday and they will
arrive.
We rang TNT web site number at 5.30pm and they confirmed they had no
consignment for our post code either today or Monday?
We have got rid of our old tv and cleared the space in preparation and have
now been left with nothing and no communication from you at all?
You have taken payment from us
I do not consider any of this very good customer care and the communication
is non existent

When are we getting the goods we have paid you for? Please ring me first
thing Monday and tell me what is going on and explain to me why your
communication channels for customer service are so poor

If I ran my business like this I would not have one!!

Hi Peter,

Sorry for the problems you have had.I have to say that I am an independant purchaser with no affiliation at at all to them.I hope you can get the purchase sorted and settle down to what you expected.I fortunately havent had to call anyone in relation to the warranty...fingers crossed that continues as Ja ma and yourself have had poor service from what youve posted...I dread to think...!