42 inch Telly - what is flavour of the week?
Discussion
Yes, I know this has been asked more times than any other question in the history of PH, but things move on so quickly I've lost track....
I'm in the market for a 40 or 42 inch telly to replace the ageing 32 inch LG LCD now that I've just landed myself a new job (yes, I have had to seek permission from Senior Management!)
I'll be putting Sky HD, PS3 and a Wii through it, so plenty of connectivity would be good (but is pretty standard these days). Budget would ideally be sub £1k, but I could sneak above if required.
Any suggestions? DeR, where are you when I need you?!
I'm in the market for a 40 or 42 inch telly to replace the ageing 32 inch LG LCD now that I've just landed myself a new job (yes, I have had to seek permission from Senior Management!)
I'll be putting Sky HD, PS3 and a Wii through it, so plenty of connectivity would be good (but is pretty standard these days). Budget would ideally be sub £1k, but I could sneak above if required.
Any suggestions? DeR, where are you when I need you?!
im said:
I hope the people pushing Pannys over everything else on PH are all on good commission.
Thats all thats ever mentioned on here.
Unfortunately, that's the only brand worth buying for plasma at the moment. LG and Samsung both have issues such as picture tearing, image retention, poor build quality, etc. The current Panasonic screens are not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but the new models are getting there! Thats all thats ever mentioned on here.
Edited by im on Thursday 4th March 10:26
For serious DVD/blue-ray fans, plasma is the better medium over LCD/LED any day. The various retail outlets staffed by ignoramuses push LCD's and if people like the artificial skin tones and boosted contrast, then heyho, that's fine.
Just for the record, i delivered an 8 series Samsung Plasma the other day and tbh it actually looked quite good. It is physically very similar to the LED's its very thin and has all of the same connections, i even had to look in the instructions to make sure it was infact a plasma and not an LED.
Obviously i didnt have a side by side comparison with anything else but i certainly wouldnt have said the picture was bad.
(disclaimer.. useage of LED as in samsungs branding)
Obviously i didnt have a side by side comparison with anything else but i certainly wouldnt have said the picture was bad.
(disclaimer.. useage of LED as in samsungs branding)
Got myself an LG 42LH4000 LCD a few days ago and well impressed with it.
Popped into one of the stores to compare it with a plasma and although there wasn't much in it with image quality the LG was slightly better to view and the advise from most was that the LCD are quite good these days.
Downside is that darks are a bit too dark, but I have adjusted this to an acceptable level by changing the gamma setting.
Putting it on PS3 is a different world. I would recommend it to anyone looking. Priced at £469 with HDMI lead from Amazon.
Popped into one of the stores to compare it with a plasma and although there wasn't much in it with image quality the LG was slightly better to view and the advise from most was that the LCD are quite good these days.
Downside is that darks are a bit too dark, but I have adjusted this to an acceptable level by changing the gamma setting.
Putting it on PS3 is a different world. I would recommend it to anyone looking. Priced at £469 with HDMI lead from Amazon.
headcase said:
Just for the record, i delivered an 8 series Samsung Plasma the other day and tbh it actually looked quite good. It is physically very similar to the LED's its very thin and has all of the same connections, i even had to look in the instructions to make sure it was infact a plasma and not an LED.
Obviously i didnt have a side by side comparison with anything else but i certainly wouldnt have said the picture was bad.
(disclaimer.. useage of LED as in samsungs branding)
Ive got the 8 series,had it for 6 months.The next door neighbour has a panasonic plasma,he thinks the 8 series is a lot better picture.Any samsung reps on here!Obviously i didnt have a side by side comparison with anything else but i certainly wouldnt have said the picture was bad.
(disclaimer.. useage of LED as in samsungs branding)
[harry hill mode]Well I like the Samsung 8 series, but I also like the Pana G20, but wich is better[/harry hill mode]
Samsung has it on the super flat bling factor and a very good pic for a Samsung
Panna has it on Better picture quality (that is of course my opinion)
Freeview HD << the only set on the market right now with this
Freesat HD
HDMI v1.4 connectivity (with audio return channel)
PVR recording VIA a USB HDD (all of the other will playback from a USB HDD but only this can use it for PVR functionality)
Has a real SCART connector rather than via a cheepo adapter lead.
Do I need to go on?
Samsung has it on the super flat bling factor and a very good pic for a Samsung
Panna has it on Better picture quality (that is of course my opinion)
Freeview HD << the only set on the market right now with this
Freesat HD
HDMI v1.4 connectivity (with audio return channel)
PVR recording VIA a USB HDD (all of the other will playback from a USB HDD but only this can use it for PVR functionality)
Has a real SCART connector rather than via a cheepo adapter lead.
Do I need to go on?
headcase said:
Freeview HD << the only set on the market right now with this
There are some new Sony models with this feature NX703 edge lit LED model and other CCFL lit versions too. I've only found this out due to being put off by the black level raising issues of previous Panny G10/15 models (that can't be confirmed as fixed in the G20 yet and Panny denied it anyway) and that IMHO the Panny isn't the nicest looking TV when it's not switched on.
There are some owners on AVForums of the 40" version of the NX703 I believe they are on display in the Sony centre in the Westfield shopping centre for those near there. There are cheaper models available/due out shortly that don't use LED edge lighting.
Re the Panasonic raised black level, I've seen a few threads about this, but here are a couple I can find easier.
http://www.avforums.com/forums/plasma-tvs/1185654-...
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=11...
Given that I'd be looking at getting a plasma for better black levels, I'd be dissapointed if I found that they become raised after a few hundred hours due to some firmware/hardware setting. I thought that as it seems to be the kneejerk reaction to recommend Panasonic over all else over here, that it's only fair to point out that not all owners are as delighted with them.
As I tend to use the TV for casual viewing, ie it's on but I'm looking as much at my laptop as the TV
then maybe I should just buy the one that I think looks nicest as I'll be watching films on my projector anyway. 
Re the Panasonic raised black level, I've seen a few threads about this, but here are a couple I can find easier.
http://www.avforums.com/forums/plasma-tvs/1185654-...
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=11...
Given that I'd be looking at getting a plasma for better black levels, I'd be dissapointed if I found that they become raised after a few hundred hours due to some firmware/hardware setting. I thought that as it seems to be the kneejerk reaction to recommend Panasonic over all else over here, that it's only fair to point out that not all owners are as delighted with them.
As I tend to use the TV for casual viewing, ie it's on but I'm looking as much at my laptop as the TV
then maybe I should just buy the one that I think looks nicest as I'll be watching films on my projector anyway. bobthemonkey said:
y2blade said:
Panasonic G10
have a read on AVforums
Out of production. have a read on AVforums
G20 from here on in.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=11...
Further down posts by D-Nice claim rising black levels on his G20 set, plus denial by Panasonic, so I doubt you'll get any dealers agreeing/admiting to this.
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