Topic: Television buying

[filopastry]

LCDs generally look more eye catching with brighter displays especially under fluorescent lighting.

Personally I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole for 42" screens and up but thats just me

[Raul!]

Sony Bravia S-Series 32" LCD TV (KLV-S32A10)

Has now been going since the World Cup and is continuing to belt out excellent pictures.

[Ben S]

Can't beleive how fast the prices are dropping on these big screen beasts.

[BazC]

Can't beleive how fast the prices are dropping on these big screen beasts.

I know. Speaking to a mate who has a Panasonic LCD Tv- 32"... bought it last year with a surround sound set up (can't have been more than a couple of hundred quid)... for £1500. You could get a beast of a tv for that now.

Good news though.

[buzzing]

Think i read somewhere to go with LCD if youre getting a "normal sized" TV. For larger go with Plasma

Edit: It seems Filo has already made this point

[Wigwamdelbert]

Another bargain, for one day only:

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.200-5686.aspx

[Raul!]

Can't beleive how fast the prices are dropping on these big screen beasts.

True.  We are buying 2 for our new office and together they are only 50% more than 1 was 8 months ago.

[Graeme]

Another bargain, for one day only:

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.200-5686.aspx

Thats damn cheap compared to other prices I'm looking at on the net for the same TV.

[BazC]

So Toshiba LCD/Plasmas good then?

[Wigwamdelbert]

Thats damn cheap compared to other prices I'm looking at on the net for the same TV.

Yup, I get a "Deal of the Day" e-mail from Tesco everyday, this is today's offer and is available until 10.00 am tomorrow, or until stocks run out.

[keithcun]

Panasonic are famous for telling people that Plasma is better than L.C.D.

Look out for vested interests....

Seems to match what the independant tests say as well then.

The best flatscreens out there are plasma.Doesn't matter whether it's Panny,Pioneer or Fujitsu.they are the cream when it comes to flat screen displays.

[Joby]

Seems to match what the independant tests say as well then.

The best flatscreens out there are plasma. Doesn't matter whether it's Panny,Pioneer or Fujitsu.they are the cream when it comes to flat screen displays.

I just don't know how you can know that to be true. Unless you work for an AV magazine or something. It's so hard to get to test a range of good displays in life-like conditions. Shops are no good. Dedicated showrooms are, but the conditions can be a little 'too good'. One of the main drawbacks of plasma, for me, is the reflection issue. If you draw the curtains to watch TV, fine, but if not, plasma can be annoying.

Even seeing displays at other peoples' houses can be uninformative, as most people set them up wrong. And have poor leads, a poor receiver, and so on.

[Graeme]

Yup, I get a "Deal of the Day" e-mail from Tesco everyday, this is today's offer and is available until 10.00 am tomorrow, or until stocks run out.

Got home, went to order - out of stock

[BazC]

Got home, went to order - out of stock

http://www.hotukdeals.com/?merchant_filter=All&category_filter=3&type_filter=All&availability_filter=All&status_filter=Active&order_by=Newest

Must be quite a few tvs on that that may take your fancy- may be a bit of trawling though, seeing as it's also got other electricals in it.

[keithcun]

I just don't know how you can know that to be true. Unless you work for an AV magazine or something. It's so hard to get to test a range of good displays in life-like conditions. Shops are no good. Dedicated showrooms are, but the conditions can be a little 'too good'. One of the main drawbacks of plasma, for me, is the reflection issue. If you draw the curtains to watch TV, fine, but if not, plasma can be annoying.

Even seeing displays at other peoples' houses can be uninformative, as most people set them up wrong. And have poor leads, a poor receiver, and so on.

I watch my plasma during the day and I have never had the need to draw my curtains.Reflection is not an issue as far as I'm concerned.

I have yet to see an independent test of flatscreens where the LCD has beat the Pioneer or Panny plasma on picture quality,and believe you me,I have read a lot.

You also don't get motion issues that is inherrent on LCD's,with plasma as the technology is similar to CRT and the LCD black levels can not match those of the plasma.

The only advantage of the LCD over the plasma is that you can't get screen burn on LCD's.Saying that,I have left my plasma from day one on such channels as Sky Sports News and never had a second of image retention,so that is one advantage negated.Also,plasmas don't go smaller than 37",but again,that's not a problem because I wated a minimum of 42",where plasma prevails.

I gained my information from doing almost 2 years of research on flatscreens which ranged from buying magazines to seeing all the different screens in different environments and sourced from different set ups.

[Joby]

LCDs are also a lot lighter, so easier to hang, but that just totally depends on where you live, DIY competence, and such like.

But, OK, fair enough, you did your research and are happy. Personally I prefer the picture from an LCD, and do find the reflection from a plasma very distracting.

All of that said, I think that whether you prefer plasma or LCD, it's always going to be better getting a decent set from a decent brand - rubbish TVs are rubbish whichever way they are made.

[hooded claw]

I have yet to see an independent test of flatscreens where the LCD has beat the Pioneer or Panny plasma on picture quality,and believe you me,I have read a lot.

I recently lost my Panny 42PX60. As soon as I'm sorted I'll be replacing it, like-for-like. It's that good.

[filopastry]

Only way I'd recommend a LCD over a plasma is if your primary focus is using it for gaming rather than TV viewing, I'd say its pretty widely accepted that LCDs do a better job with gaming than plasmas.

For TV though especially SD broadcasts a good plasma will be the better option

[Something Else]

I recently lost my Panny 42PX60. As soon as I'm sorted I'll be replacing it, like-for-like. It's that good.

how do you lose a 42 inch tv, you checked in the corner?

[AnotherSpanishfan]

how do you lose a 42 inch tv, you checked in the corner?

Maybe he was watching the Villa match on that TV...

[Socratease]

 

[hoonin]

Panasonic will be rollling the new models out in a month or so,so I would personally wait.The good news is,that they will be considerably cheaper than the model it is replacing when they were launched.Less than £1000 for the 37" and around £1200 for the 42".The new model numbers are PX70 and PX700.

Looks like I'll be going for the PX70.

http://www.multizoneav.com/web/product.php?productid=20609&xid=72cb8b1c539aff2404fb204d0a1bc492

Ony concern is that it doesnt have two or 3 of the socket types that the P60 had, not that that I realy know what they are for or if I even need them?

[Brian Blessed]

It doesn't have HDMI?

[hoonin]

Whats that then?

[kmo1969]

Whats that then?

It's how you receive HD from external sources (I think). It has 2 so no problems. Am looking to buy this plasma in the next few weeks as well.

[Graeme]

For connecting HD devices such as a HD Sky Box or a PS3 etc.

That Panasonic has got 2 HDMI inputs, that site just doesn't list them.

[hoonin]

Nice

[filopastry]

2 HDMIs but down to 2 Scarts (both RGB) I believe

They've taken out the front S-Video as well which would be annoyig for connecting my laptop across the living room if nothing else!

[hoonin]

They've taken out the front S-Video as well which would be annoyig for connecting my laptop across the living room if nothing else!

When will you ever have your laptop in my living room though?

[WorldChampions]

When will you ever have your laptop in my living room though?

But now he knows which Tv you will have, you better lock your back door

If you dont then the problem comes into play

[Wholey]

Looks like I'll be going for the PX70.

http://www.multizoneav.com/web/product.php?productid=20609&xid=72cb8b1c539aff2404fb204d0a1bc492

Ony concern is that it doesnt have two or 3 of the socket types that the P60 had, not that that I realy know what they are for or if I even need them?

Planning on purchasing exactly the same.

Dwelling over whether to get the cabinet, get the wall bracket or leave it as it is.

[keithcun]

Spend the extra and get a very good five year guarantee as well thrown in.

http://www.johnlewis.com/Audio+and+TV/Televisions/Televisions/Plasma+TV/1377/230419042/Product.aspx

Or for a cheaper price with a 3 year guarantee for limited period try here.

http://www.empiredirect.co.uk/content/products/details/index~modelcode~PAN-TH37PX70B.htm

[Hoppy]

I need a decent (but cheap) 20" LCD TV for the bedroom.......any recommendations?

[buzzing]

does "1080p Digital Processing Chip-Set /1080p Digital Re-Mastering Processor" actually mean it is 1080p, or it scales it to give something that is like 1080p ?

[keithcun]

does "1080p Digital Processing Chip-Set /1080p Digital Re-Mastering Processor" actually mean it is 1080p, or it scales it to give something that is like 1080p ?

It means it will accept a 1080p source and will scale to suit the resoluton of the TV.Not all HD TV sets will,in fact,a lot won't.

You need a 1920 x 1080 pixel count to display true 1080p.

[Wholey]

Spend the extra and get a very good five year guarantee as well thrown in.

http://www.johnlewis.com/Audio+and+TV/Televisions/Televisions/Plasma+TV/1377/230419042/Product.aspx

Or for a cheaper price with a 3 year guarantee for limited period try here.

http://www.empiredirect.co.uk/content/products/details/index~modelcode~PAN-TH37PX70B.htm

Fairly cheap to get some kind of stand for it?

[keithcun]

Fairly cheap to get some kind of stand for it?

They do the built in cabinet for £999 at Empiredirect or you coulkd get the ped version and buy your own stand or just simply stick it on the wall for the best look of the lot.

[Matt S]

Hmm, I was going to save up for a cheapo one, something like this:
http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?quicklinx=4c4w

but maybe it's worth spending abit extra & saving abit longer?

Out of interest, is this any good?
http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?quicklinx=413f

The only HD signals I'd be recieving would be from my 360 for the forseeable future.

Are there any websites out there that compare the best TV's and offer reliable reviews & specifications? Just had a look on which, but you have to be a member to take advantage of their advice.

[Socratease]

'It means it will accept a 1080p source and will scale to suit the resoluton of the TV. Not all HD TV sets will, in fact, a lot won't.

You need a 1920 x 1080 pixel count to display true 1080p.'

Is there any prospect of standardisation, keithcun, or is that a long way of mate?

[keithcun]

'It means it will accept a 1080p source and will scale to suit the resoluton of the TV. Not all HD TV sets will, in fact, a lot won't.

You need a 1920 x 1080 pixel count to display true 1080p.'

Is there any prospect of standardisation, keithcun, or is that a long way of mate?

It will come eventually,but as long as SD (Standard Definition ie normal TV) is broadcast in the majority,which it is at the moment,then they have to find a compromise between both resolutions,which is what we currently have now.

Unless the screen will be used solely for HD sources,then I wouldn't bother with a 1920 x 1080 panel at the moment as they really struggle giving a good picture with SD sources.