Panasonic TX-P50GT50

If it were not for those reported issues, I would've confidently said to go for it. If you're prepared to take the chance & the risk of returning the set in case of problems, then go for it. John Lewis is amongst the best out there for customer service. 

See if you can check the TV in shop before buying it, & watch a game of football.

If you can take along some grey slides on a USB, this will also show up the issue.

I'm not sure you'll lose anything by buying, since John Lewis allows a 28 day cool off period. I'll be surprised if you get a TV free from the famous vertical bands/dirty screen effect, though.

I bought the 50" GT50 just after Christmas from John Lewis. However, we had 2 faulty sets (motion handling poor on 1st, bad flicker and buzzing on 2nd... minor banding on both) so I ended up getting a refund.

JL customer service is so excellent that I wouldn't but a TV from anybody else. It's a lot of money and having that peace of mind is priceless.

You might get lucky but if not, it's a lot of hassle (phone calls, boxing/unboxing/waiting for delivery/collection etc). Plus Pansonic will have pulled out of the plasma TV business before the 5 year warranty is over. Question for JL would be what happens if it develops a fault in that time period? Will you get an equivalent 4k / OLED at £900 (wishful thinking I'm sure)???

I won't worry too much about that. There will always be an equivalent TV on the market. Some Kuro owners have been offered a Panasonic VT50 as a replacement. 

A Japanese branded, Chinese manafuctured equivalent if the TV market goes the way of Philps... Oh, and some other Korean ones 

Personally, I'd avoid the GT50 but appreciate £900 is very tempting for such a (fingers crossed, issue free) TV.

I only found the buzzing a problem, but this really is noticeable to me as I use it in a very very quiet room.....I've had two sets (3rd on the way) and not noticed any of the other problems.....

it must be the best 50' for that money...

Fingers crossed it's 3rd time lucky... like Gel 

Good luck.  Same problems as I had, you can definitely get quiet ones though but it does seem hard to get them.  Fingers crossed for you.  The buzzing got on my nerves too.

hi all ,it's a shame the likes of panasonic, pioneer have pulled away from the plasma market ,you would of thought they would of carried on until the likes of oled and 4k tv's where more affordable to the moddest man ,lets hope when the new samsung comes out that is a good as the zt 65 at cost that most can afford ,let hope these new formats are as good as they say.david

long live plasma

 Mattjax - bought mine from a local independent last June and with careful running in I have to say its excellent and no problems.

£750 to buy or not to buy? 

go for it,i was really put off by this thread and like yourself didnt no whether to take a chance on the gt50,ordered from jl last week and have hardly slept,well took delivery today and all i can say is wow

a stunning tv,no noise,no picture issues just beautiful,i will sleep well tonight...if i can drag myself away from it,so go for it.

Just a uniform grey image at the appropriate resolution (1920x1080)?  GIF?  What should I be looking for if the set were faulty?

For the price it is worth it, you could buy a newer set/model and still have problems, I think the reviews/awards speak for them selves, I have had mine a few weeks now and well pleased with it.