New TV

[ch4mbo]

Basically I'm looking at getting a new TV but since I started looking I'm now more confused than ever.

I want a 42 46 or 47" screen, main use will be with Sky HD+ (sport & Films) Gaming on the PS3 & Blueray.

I just want to know if anybody has either recently bought a new TV and if so what, why and would you recommend it, or if there's anyone out there that knows their stuff and can advise / guide me in the right direction.

My current TV is LCD and we've been pleased with it but would consider plasma or LED if recommended.

Thanks in advance for any help given

Graham

 

[fcukcov]

Hey up Ch4mbo.

Ive just been through this myself and it was a bloody nightmare!!

I plumped for the Panasonic 42 inch plasma in the end. If you are going Plasma don’t get anything other than Panasonic!

My father in law got a Samsung LED and TBH I don’t like it. The contrast is so sharp that a lot of the hd programs look almost cartoon like. It also struggles with fast moving images sometimes (like football) and seems to almost stutter or break up. By virtue of the way a Plasma works it is much smoother and flows better on fast moving images like sport and action movies etc.

LED screens don’t tend to do blacks very well either. A plasma will give much greater depth when black is on the screen (better for dark set movies).

Set yourself a limit in terms of budget and see what you can get in that region. If you find the tv you want locally for a decent price then go to John Lewis and they will usually price match and give a 5 year guarantee!! (I didn’t do this as Panasonic were giving their own 5 year guarantee at the time).

LED is good for nature programs and the discovery channel type stuff.

Also get a couple in mind then go and join and post on www.avforums.com. Those boys know their stuff!

EDIT:-The size will depend on how far away you can sit. You won’t get a decent experience from a 47inch if you only sit 2m away from it!

 

[ch4mbo]

Hey Leroy.

I honestly feel like it's temporarily consumed my life, I find myself spending all available seconds searching different models. I'm gripped by some tecno bug which makes my mind think my life will end if I buy something now and next week a 3d version is available for only an extra £50 or worst still the same model is now £5 cheaper else where!

You know that what ever you buy is already old hat, and that's a horrible feeling given the sort of money these things are!

Anyway, as a typical bloke I have my spot in the lounge and i'd say it's about 12 ft away. And similar for the others, so not a massive distance and i'm starting to lean towards the 42 as at the mo we've an 37" LG with side speakers, so in actual terms of TV size a modern 42 would be smaller overall. (obviously not the screen itself)

Which Panasonic did you buy? and if you don't mind me asking why? and did the store say anything about screen burn from the plasma?

Sorry for all the questions but you know what it's like!!

 

[LCFCmonkey]

Have you got a budget set in mind. Argos has Plasma TV's available for £479.99. This is a 42inch LG Plasma. For a Panasonic 42inch, there is one for £529.99, but this is currently out of stock.

 

[SJN-Fox]

Make sure it's full HD (1080p) not just HD Ready.

Apparently, if you have the right cable, you can connect it to your laptop as well.

 

[fcukcov]

Hey Leroy.

I honestly feel like it's temporarily consumed my life, I find myself spending all available seconds searching different models. I'm gripped by some tecno bug which makes my mind think my life will end if I buy something now and next week a 3d version is available for only an extra £50 or worst still the same model is now £5 cheaper else where!

You know that what ever you buy is already old hat, and that's a horrible feeling given the sort of money these things are!

Anyway, as a typical bloke I have my spot in the lounge and i'd say it's about 12 ft away. And similar for the others, so not a massive distance and i'm starting to lean towards the 42 as at the mo we've an 37" LG with side speakers, so in actual terms of TV size a modern 42 would be smaller overall. (obviously not the screen itself)

Which Panasonic did you buy? and if you don't mind me asking why? and did the store say anything about screen burn from the plasma?

Sorry for all the questions but you know what it's like!!

I was exactly the same and got really wound up when I realised that Panasonic released another Plasma for around a 100quid more just as I brought mine. This was supposedly a better model with a slightly better picture but it also had 2 very noisy fans that ran in the back of the tv constantly that would have drove me mad! But im afraid you just have to accept it and live with the fact that you got the best you could for your money at the time. I saw my tv for 200 quid cheaper about 3 months after I brought it but hey that’s life!

I got the P42?10. (I can’t remember without looking which it is! Its either G, S or X) Like I say the plasma section of avforums.com is exactly and will answer a low of these questions. The reason I went for this was it was the best I could get for my budget at the time (after I negotiated an excellent deal at my local Euronics!) and I went for plasma for the reasons mentioned in my original post. I mainly watch sport and movies so it seemed like the best choice for me.

You won’t get screen burn on a modern Panasonic Plasma so no need to worry about. It can still be a problem on some of the cheaper plasmas as I understand it!

Have you got a budget set in mind. Argos has Plasma TV's available for £479.99. This is a 42inch LG Plasma. For a Panasonic 42inch, there is one for £529.99, but this is currently out of stock.

Don’t mention anything with an LG panel in with Durham around!!!

It all depends how much you care about the picture, generally the more you spend the better it will be!

Also spend the time to play with the settings and also check avforums.com for some standard settings to get the best picture.

 

[ch4mbo]

yes I read this as well (about attaching the laptop). As for Budget well it's gone from looking to spend between 5-700 to I've been looking at one that'll give me very little change from £1000.

I've just looked at the AV Forum and for only a distance of 12ft they're recommending a cinema sized screen?? I'd be blind in a couple of years, although my boys would love it i'm sure as COD 6 or Fifa would be unbelievable i'm sure!

 

[Jeff]

In my experience Richer Sounds on London Road is the cheapest place for televisions.

For example this 42" Panasonic Viera for £499: http://www.richersounds.com/product/plasma-tv/panasonic/viera-txp42x10/pana-txp42x10

 

[Matt_B]

In my experience Richer Sounds on London Road is the cheapest place for televisions.

For example this 42" Panasonic Viera for £499: http://www.richersounds.com/product/plasma-tv/panasonic/viera-txp42x10/pana-txp42x10

That's only HD Ready though, I assume he wants full HD

 

[Jeff]

That's only HD Ready though, I assume he wants full HD

:icon_conf

 

[Matt_B]

:icon_conf

I think there is a difference between supporting HD input and being able to display 1080P HD

 

[Jeff]

I think there is a difference between supporting HD input and being able to display 1080P HD

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_ready

 

[Steven]

As I have said before about HD TVs Sony Bravia is the way forward. Another tip is don't worry about spending loads now, wait for 3D TV in a couple of years time. Indeed ESPN? in the US will be broadcasting the World Cup in 3D so only a matter of time before it is in the UK and Europe. :icon_wink

 

[Jeff]

3D is a gimmick, it's not going to catch on

 

[fcukcov]

As I have said before about HD TVs Sony Bravia is the way forward. Another tip is don't worry about spending loads now, wait for 3D TV in a couple of years time. Indeed ESPN? in the US will be broadcasting the World Cup in 3D so only a matter of time before it is in the UK and Europe. :icon_wink

Steven this is absolute rubbish. Any Sony product is automatically overpriced due to the brand name. Equivalent products (and in many cases better products) can be found much cheaper with just a different brand name IMO.

3D t.v. being broadcast widely enough to justify buying a specialist tv is years away from now so advising someone to wait is absolutely ridiculous. If this is your best advice then Im going to have to ask when are leaving again?

 

[Matt_B]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_ready

I still don't understand your point? And quoting Wikipedia isn't like you at all :icon_bigg

 

[Jeff]

I still don't understand your point? And quoting Wikipedia isn't like you at all :icon_bigg

I didn't look at the TV spec, I thought you were saying that "HD ready" means they're not really HD. Full HD TVs also say HD ready.

 

[Steven]

Steven this is absolute rubbish. Any Sony product is automatically overpriced due to the brand name. Equivalent products (and in many cases better products) can be found much cheaper with just a different brand name IMO.

3D t.v. being broadcast widely enough to justify buying a specialist tv is years away from now so advising someone to wait is absolutely ridiculous. If this is your best advice then Im going to have to ask when are leaving again?

Given the quality of this response it is clear I have much work to do and so will not be doing an HF any time soon. :icon_wink

 

[fcukcov]

Given the quality of this response it is clear I have much work to do and so will not be doing an HF any time soon. :icon_wink

Im missed the you out in my rage!!:icon_wink:icon_lol:

 

[drummindefender]

We have a Panasonic 42" viera brought from richer sounds, and it is 1080p.