TV advice - LCD or Plasma for 47-50"

[N10k]

Hi
Moving house next month so im looking for a new TV. Currently have a Samsung 32" which we think is amazing so would like to stay with Samsung.

We have a budget of £700 - £900

We went into Currys and quickly noticed that the plasmas compared to the LCD's struggled to show a true black when i compared the 2 together.

There are so many different models and technologies

(Can of worms) but what are the differences between the 2 LCD and plasma.

What do model do people recommend?

I will have a PC, Xbox, blue ray an sky HD going to it

Thanks

[sherman]

LCD <40"
Plasma>40"

[N10k]

sherman said:

LCD <40"
Plasma>40"

Thanks for the reply, why does the size come into it?

I found a nice 46" LCD
http://www.digitechelectronics.com/model.php?ID=34...

[sherman]

LCds if I remember correctly produce better results on the smaller screens and plasma better on the larger screens although nowadays LCD technology seems to be catching up.

[PJ S]

Aside from Panasonic's 37" Plasma, it's because most other brands (LG/Samsung) only start at 42" for Plasma.
Anyway, why not look at the Panasonic website, with a view to opting for the 46G20 or 50X20.

[headcase]

Installed a 50X20 today, looks like a splendid set

[TVR Tommy]

www.richersounds.co.uk have some good deals. Picked up an LG "50 for £500 last weekend.

[gbbird]

PJ S said:

Aside from Panasonic's 37" Plasma, it's because most other brands (LG/Samsung) only start at 42" for Plasma.
Anyway, why not look at the Panasonic website, with a view to opting for the 46G20 or 50X20.

Where is the best place to get a 46g20, either online or in store? Are they widely available yet?

[E31Shrew]

Should be with dealers in about 10-14 days. Agree re the 50X20 , and the 42 for that matter. Great sets. Just to go on again...you'll get a FREE 5 year manufacturers warranty from independent dealers.

[ClassicMercs]

Output quality - plasma
Electric bill - lcd (but at least we have been able to turn the heating down in the living room)

[TEKNOPUG]

gbbird said:

PJ S said:

Aside from Panasonic's 37" Plasma, it's because most other brands (LG/Samsung) only start at 42" for Plasma.
Anyway, why not look at the Panasonic website, with a view to opting for the 46G20 or 50X20.

Where is the best place to get a 46g20, either online or in store? Are they widely available yet?

Costco £939 for 46", £822 for 42" and £1057 for 50"

I had budgeted £1,100 for the 42" as that was the price I had seen advterised elsewhere. As soon as I walked in I was confronted by the 50" below budget! Aaaarrggghhh! Got the 42" as planned in the end as the missus would have gone nuts if I'd come home with a 46 or 50"; neither would fit in the car either....

Bit of a bargain I reckon, even with the £23.50 membership fee.

[CO2000]

E31Shrew said:

Should be with dealers in about 10-14 days. Agree re the 50X20 , and the 42 for that matter. Great sets. Just to go on again...you'll get a FREE 5 year manufacturers warranty from independent dealers.

I have a £800 voucher for the DSG group, annoying that they don't offer it.

[WeirdNeville]

What are you going to use it for and how much use will it be getting?

Plasma tellys will use 3-4x the electricity of an LCD set, not an issue if you use it a few hours a week but a big difference if you use it all the time.

Likewise, for computer games LCD generally has the edge due to better response times, but Plasma may have the edge for out and out picture quality if Hi def films are your thing.

I went LCD but 90% of the time I'm playing games, and I didn't fancy getting a tan off of a plasma telly!

[CO2000]

N10k said:

Hi
Moving house next month so im looking for a new TV. Currently have a Samsung 32" which we think is amazing so would like to stay with Samsung.

We have a budget of £700 - £900

We went into Currys and quickly noticed that the plasmas compared to the LCD's struggled to show a true black when i compared the 2 together.

There are so many different models and technologies

(Can of worms) but what are the differences between the 2 LCD and plasma.

What do model do people recommend?

I will have a PC, Xbox, blue ray an sky HD going to it

Thanks

Do you mean the blacks better on a LCD as it should be the other way round.

Also think about the shiny screen on a plasma & screen burn.

I'm in the same boat & probably going to go for a dearer 46" LCD/LED or take a chance on a sub £700 50" Plasma.

[-Ad-]

WeirdNeville said:

What are you going to use it for and how much use will it be getting?

Plasma tellys will use 3-4x the electricity of an LCD set, not an issue if you use it a few hours a week but a big difference if you use it all the time.

Likewise, for computer games LCD generally has the edge due to better response times, but Plasma may have the edge for out and out picture quality if Hi def films are your thing.

I went LCD but 90% of the time I'm playing games, and I didn't fancy getting a tan off of a plasma telly!

They don't use 3-4 times the electricity, that is complete rubbish.

Electricity consumption of a plasma screen varies depending on the brightness of image. Obviously this will be constatly changing but I would take it as x2 as much as an equivalent LCD for comparisons sake.

Do the sums and see if it really affects you that much, but the odd pound or so a month if ou use the tv a fair amount really isn't something to get your knickers in a twist about. If it is, then why are you spending soo much on a tv of this size, stick with a 26inch budget supermarket lcd instead

And what are you on about regarding a tan from a plasma screen ?

[PJ S]

Cheers Ad, you just saved me from a ranting session.......3-4 times as much electricity as LCD, what utter fking bks!
Still wouldn't endorse your 2x assumption - either parity or up to 1.5x absolute max.
This has been reduced with the NEO screens in Panasonic's range - starting with the previous gen, the G10's.

As for sun tans - I don't believe Plasma TVs give off UV A or B radiation, and never have!
Sounds like either a troll with a bad case of buyer's remorse, or a case of accepting what was overheard in the pub 5 years ago, without researching it for accuracy.

Edited by PJ S on Friday 9th April 19:49

[OldSkoolRS]

gbbird said:

PJ S said:

Aside from Panasonic's 37" Plasma, it's because most other brands (LG/Samsung) only start at 42" for Plasma.
Anyway, why not look at the Panasonic website, with a view to opting for the 46G20 or 50X20.

Where is the best place to get a 46g20, either online or in store? Are they widely available yet?

I was looking for one of these, prices still seem a bit high and hard to find at much of a discount (IIRC £1,150 seemed to the best price someone on the AVForums found). However, I've deceided not to buy one as they also seem to be effected by the rising black level issue and I'm not prepared to argue with Panasonic's poor CS as to whether it's 'acceptable' or not should I be unlucky. So I figure I'll be looking at one of the Sony HD Freeview models around the same sort of price HX403/503/703 rather than the Edge LED models as they seem a little too dear and have issues with backlight shadows from what I've read (and seen pictures of).

[G20RG B]

WeirdNeville said:

What are you going to use it for and how much use will it be getting?

Plasma tellys will use 3-4x the electricity of an LCD set, not an issue if you use it a few hours a week but a big difference if you use it all the time.

Likewise, for computer games LCD generally has the edge due to better response times, but Plasma may have the edge for out and out picture quality if Hi def films are your thing.

I went LCD but 90% of the time I'm playing games, and I didn't fancy getting a tan off of a plasma telly!

What utter nonsence!!!
BEWARE NOTHING IN THE ABOVE POST IS TRUE.....

[WeirdNeville]

Fair enough!
I was going on power consumption figures I've seen for plasma screen 40" size, around 600W, and my LCD 40" telly which is 160W. Obviously, power consumption will vary with use, image brightness etc etc.

As for the 'tan' comment, that was just Tongue in cheek, I've noticed that mates plasmas give off significantly more heat if you hold your hand close to the screen, compared to LCD, but was only joking about it really.

I'm perfectly happy with my telly, a KDL40W4500 bought for £750 18 months ago. Suits me down to the ground.

Do you experts not think it relevant how the OP uses his tv then? No-one asked what he's goig to watch on it, just a load of people shouting that plasmas better, end of.

If it's so good, why are there now very few plasma screens left on the Market? What have all the manufacturers moved to OLED etc?

And what about the down sides of plasma? Screen burn? Re-plasma-ing the screen after a few years? Any comments?

[Plotloss]

WeirdNeville said:

If it's so good, why are there now very few plasma screens left on the Market? What have all the manufacturers moved to OLED etc?

And what about the down sides of plasma? Screen burn? Re-plasma-ing the screen after a few years? Any comments?

There are loads of Plasma screens on the market, loads. Only Sony make an OLED screen, its 11" and costs £2500 quid, its nice though.

Samdung (and now others but they're mainly to blame) market LED backlighting as a new screen type, its not of course, its just LED lights rather than fluorescents that backlight LCD film.

Screen burn is no longer an issue and hasnt been for years and you've never had to re-gas a plasma - I'd fking love to meet the person who came up with that idea, the tt.

There is a simple simple rule if you're buying a television for quality.

If plasma is available in the size of screen you want then it is the correct choice.