Discussion
My other half and I have decided to get a new TV and whilst I'm pretty technically minded I don't know much about TV's. I'm looking to be reasonably future proof so am happy to spend a couple of extra quid if need be.
I'm looking at a 37" (maybe 40 but 37 is enough.) Its just going to be used for normal TV and a fair bit of DVD watching. I daresay we'll upgrade to HD at some point in the future so I want something that'll do HD.
Now comes the technical stuff: 100hZ is supposed to be good for action type stuff (and I watch lots of that) so I think I want that, along with 1080p. I don't know if I want LCD or plasma - or even if there are 100hZ, 1080p compatible 37" TV's out there. If so I don't know the price differences and if they're worth the extra, so I'd appreciate some pointers.
And given the choice of two TV's of equal merit, I'm inclined to go with Samsung because a) I've got a Sammy monitor and its great and b) they generally look pretty stylish.
Anyone got any recommendations or advice?
I'm looking at a 37" (maybe 40 but 37 is enough.) Its just going to be used for normal TV and a fair bit of DVD watching. I daresay we'll upgrade to HD at some point in the future so I want something that'll do HD.
Now comes the technical stuff: 100hZ is supposed to be good for action type stuff (and I watch lots of that) so I think I want that, along with 1080p. I don't know if I want LCD or plasma - or even if there are 100hZ, 1080p compatible 37" TV's out there. If so I don't know the price differences and if they're worth the extra, so I'd appreciate some pointers.
And given the choice of two TV's of equal merit, I'm inclined to go with Samsung because a) I've got a Sammy monitor and its great and b) they generally look pretty stylish.
Anyone got any recommendations or advice?
If i were you I would have a look at the new PX10 37 plasma from Panasonic. Its HD ready so not 1080p but unless youre going to be watching Blu Ray endlessly its not a huge issue. A lot , as others will tell you, will depend on how far away youre sitting from the screen. Whatever you do decide to buy make sure you watch SD taelly pictures before deciding. Most stores just show demo or HD discs that would make even a Wharfedale telly look good!
They might be a bit too big for you, but What Hifi have a 40-42 inch super test in their next mag, in shops on the 6th April.
I assume the same would apply to the 37 inch variations, so might be worth a read.
I'm looking at the Sony 40W5500 (LCD), and the Panasonic TX-P42G10 (plasma), so I'm hoping they have something positive to say about them!
I assume the same would apply to the 37 inch variations, so might be worth a read.
I'm looking at the Sony 40W5500 (LCD), and the Panasonic TX-P42G10 (plasma), so I'm hoping they have something positive to say about them!
You need to consider the following:
Budget
How far you sit from the TV
How bright is it in the room when you usually watch tv
what's the tv to be used for most? (e.g. SD tv, HD Sky, BluRay, Gaming... etc)
That will narrow the choice down quite a bit.
Samsung tend to be the cheaper end of the market, but that's fine if you don't spend too much time watching the box. Panasonic are towards the higher end of the market, but that's reflected in the price. Pioneer are pretty much top of the tree for consumer sets, but cost quite a bit more. Though as Pioneer are getting out of TVs in the near future, there are some deals to be had.
The 1080p thing is only worth it if you sit close to the TV and are going to watch 1080p sources (ie BluRay and some games on PS3/xBox). Sky HD is not broadcast in 1080p so you get no benefit from the 1080p set (and it still looks great). If your budget is limited, you are better going for a higher end set that is 'only' 720p.
Budget
How far you sit from the TV
How bright is it in the room when you usually watch tv
what's the tv to be used for most? (e.g. SD tv, HD Sky, BluRay, Gaming... etc)
That will narrow the choice down quite a bit.
Samsung tend to be the cheaper end of the market, but that's fine if you don't spend too much time watching the box. Panasonic are towards the higher end of the market, but that's reflected in the price. Pioneer are pretty much top of the tree for consumer sets, but cost quite a bit more. Though as Pioneer are getting out of TVs in the near future, there are some deals to be had.
The 1080p thing is only worth it if you sit close to the TV and are going to watch 1080p sources (ie BluRay and some games on PS3/xBox). Sky HD is not broadcast in 1080p so you get no benefit from the 1080p set (and it still looks great). If your budget is limited, you are better going for a higher end set that is 'only' 720p.
The TXP-37X10 is immediately streets ahead of a great chunk of bandola lcd offerings (pretty boxes with all the processing quality finesse of a Morlock doing Swan Lake, know what I meenz, Guv 
) so... on a budget, the aforementioned entry level Panasonic 37X10 is good but spend the extra on a 42G10 set: it's probably 'worth' four times as much.
{Btw, that 32" JVC is an absolute belter}
) so... on a budget, the aforementioned entry level Panasonic 37X10 is good but spend the extra on a 42G10 set: it's probably 'worth' four times as much.{Btw, that 32" JVC is an absolute belter
}Cheers for the replies.
Budget is £600-800. I'll be sitting 8-12ft from the TV. TV will be used at all times of the day, though more often in the dark. And main use will be watching films and TV-though we'll be getting a Wii in the future as well.
Hope that clarifies things. I suspect my budget rules out plasma-will a good LCD meet my needs?
Budget is £600-800. I'll be sitting 8-12ft from the TV. TV will be used at all times of the day, though more often in the dark. And main use will be watching films and TV-though we'll be getting a Wii in the future as well.
Hope that clarifies things. I suspect my budget rules out plasma-will a good LCD meet my needs?
tenohfive said:
Cheers for the replies.
Budget is £600-800. I'll be sitting 8-12ft from the TV. TV will be used at all times of the day, though more often in the dark. And main use will be watching films and TV-though we'll be getting a Wii in the future as well.
Hope that clarifies things. I suspect my budget rules out plasma-will a good LCD meet my needs?
You'll easily get the 37X10 plasma for that....and change!Budget is £600-800. I'll be sitting 8-12ft from the TV. TV will be used at all times of the day, though more often in the dark. And main use will be watching films and TV-though we'll be getting a Wii in the future as well.
Hope that clarifies things. I suspect my budget rules out plasma-will a good LCD meet my needs?
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Unfortunatley this is utter drivel, Samsung TVs are bought by sheep who just follow crowds, And are wowed by acres of rippled shiney plastic, they heve lousy sound, can't handle fast
Motion properly and have a very poor reliability record.
That power consumtion argument has been going on for years and again most people
Just don't have any idea of what they're talking about.
If you look at the compulsary CE rating plate on the back of the
TV in gives the MAXIMUM current draw of that product, now on a plasma
Set for it to use that figure it would have to have every picture setting
At maximum ( at which point it'd replace your sunbed and burn your retinas out!)
And more importantly it would have to be showing a 100% White screen,
I think you'll agree this is a situation that's unlikely in normal use!
An LCD set uses a CCFL backlight which is on all the time so it uses a higher
Percentage of it's rated power.
A well set up and calibrated plasma set uses about 60% of it's rated power in normal use
A well set up and calibrated LCD set uses about 85% of it's rated power in normal use.
So in the real world the differance is minimal to nonexistant, and this is before you take
Into account Plasmas massive superiority in black levels, colour fidelity, motion handling
Screen strength, panel longevity and general child resistence.
Take Derestrictors advise and find the extra £200 or so and buy
The Panasonic TX-P42G10 it's the best alround value I've seen in years
And in the forthcoming edition of What Sony oops What Hi-Fi mag
It gets a 5 star rating they only knock it for two things,
Average sound (pretty standard really most flat TVs are the same)
And a bulky build!! The set's only 3cm wider than a KDL40W5500
And at 13cm deep it's 2cm deeper than the same set, now given that
Both sets cost pretty much the same the Panny is very much the winner
As it has higher contrast ratio, better motion handling and vastly faster
Response time aswell as the worlds first 600hz picture processor and to
Finish off a FreeSat HD tuner aswell. It really is in a league of it's own
Just get it bought you'll never regret it.
Regards To all Gandalf..............
Why thank you kind sir! I'm not into flowery prose, just
Cold hard facts! And the myth that LCD TVs are better
Than Plasma TVs just gets my goat! I deal with this rubbish
On an hourly basis e eryday at work. Half of the time the
Question which is which isn't mentioned unless the customer
Specifically mentions it. I will generally convert over 85% of
LCD to Plasma it's just ardent gamers and Sonyophiles that can't
See the differance. There's an old saying "you can lead a horse to
Water but you can't make him drink" and there are some people
Who just won't budge but ce la vie! One interesting little titbit if LCD
Was the better TV tech why do most retail staff in the TV retail business
Have Plasma TVs, we don't get given them we buy them with our own
Hard earned cash!!
Regards Gandalf................
Cold hard facts! And the myth that LCD TVs are better
Than Plasma TVs just gets my goat! I deal with this rubbish
On an hourly basis e eryday at work. Half of the time the
Question which is which isn't mentioned unless the customer
Specifically mentions it. I will generally convert over 85% of
LCD to Plasma it's just ardent gamers and Sonyophiles that can't
See the differance. There's an old saying "you can lead a horse to
Water but you can't make him drink" and there are some people
Who just won't budge but ce la vie! One interesting little titbit if LCD
Was the better TV tech why do most retail staff in the TV retail business
Have Plasma TVs, we don't get given them we buy them with our own
Hard earned cash!!
Regards Gandalf................
Cheers for the replies. Just got proper internet again so can do some digging.
42" sounds a bit too big but it might not be too bad - will dig out the tape measure tomorrow and check it out.
How do you go about calibrating a plasma/LCD - something built into the TV's menu system?
Edited to add:
Just had a look at the Panasonic TX-P42G10...that does look pretty well top notch, though by my presence here I'm admitting I know nothing about TV's. Not cheap - cheapest I've seen was £1030, though I'd probably pay the extra £20 and get it from someone I know and trust (play.com @ £1050.)
Have bookmarked the dimensions of the TV so will see if it'd fit. If its not, and I do need to look smaller (closer to the 37" mark) are there smaller equivilants?
This is of course if I can persuade the other half that its worth spending a grand on a TV.
42" sounds a bit too big but it might not be too bad - will dig out the tape measure tomorrow and check it out.
How do you go about calibrating a plasma/LCD - something built into the TV's menu system?
Edited to add:
Just had a look at the Panasonic TX-P42G10...that does look pretty well top notch, though by my presence here I'm admitting I know nothing about TV's. Not cheap - cheapest I've seen was £1030, though I'd probably pay the extra £20 and get it from someone I know and trust (play.com @ £1050.)
Have bookmarked the dimensions of the TV so will see if it'd fit. If its not, and I do need to look smaller (closer to the 37" mark) are there smaller equivilants?
This is of course if I can persuade the other half that its worth spending a grand on a TV.
Edited by tenohfive on Saturday 4th April 03:39
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