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Coffee House => Coffee House Boards => CH / General => Topic started by: A4000_Mad on December 05, 2010, 01:28:51 PM

Title: Should I buy this TV please??
Post by: A4000_Mad on December 05, 2010, 01:28:51 PM
Hi Guys,

This time last I bought my first HDTV but knew nothing about the technical jargon and was talked into buying an Orion 32" which is 1080i at 50HZ. Grrrrr!


Anyway, I've just seen a Curry's advert for a TV and the offer ends on 9th December.

It's for a Panasonic 42" plasma 1080p with 400Hz for £449 which is half the usual price of £999.


Should I go for it or can you suggest something better please??

Thanks,

:drink:
Title: Re: Should I buy this TV please??
Post by: the_leander on December 05, 2010, 02:46:33 PM
Panasonic are a very stable brand - it's rare they put out a pug. Their Plasmas are amongst the best on the market.

For that money, I'd go for it. Just make sure you dial it in right for your room and you won't regret it.
Title: Re: Should I buy this TV please??
Post by: Franko on December 05, 2010, 03:16:54 PM
I can't find an online advert for the TV you mention at Currys, the only one at that price by Panasonic at Currys online is a 100Hz version. Panasonic, Samsung & Sony make some of the best Plasma TVs (and most them actually contain Samsung manufactured screens)... :)

Panasonic items are generally of an excellent quality & build of both cases and components used so if the TV suits you it should be a good buy at that price. Although Plasma TV's don't suffer to the same extent as LCDs when it come to motion blur it's best if possible to view it first before you buy...:)

Simplest way to check for motion blur is when in the shop get them to switch it to something like Sky News and watch the scrolling text at the bottom of the screen. If you spot any motion blur there then you can guarantee that when it comes to watching something like sport or a fast moving action movie the motion blur will be pretty bad... :(

Advice on Plasma TVs (http://www.the-home-cinema-guide.com/plasma-tv-problems.html)
Title: Re: Should I buy this TV please??
Post by: A4000_Mad on December 05, 2010, 04:21:31 PM
Thank you very much the_leander & Franko :)

The advert was not online but was actually on TV last night. Hmmmm... After reading the advice on plasma TV's, prehaps an LED would be the way to go? I may also go bigger than 42" if it isn't too much more as my frontroom is huge. The 32" inch I bought last year looked big at the time, but they appear to get smaller the longer you have them it would seem.

So, without being greedy, I basically I want something HUGE and amazing at a reasonable price :D

EDIT

@ Franko

Your link revealed This (http://www.dixons.co.uk/gbuk/product-04877729-pdt.html?srcid=198&tag=TV_LT&xtor=SEC-37-GOO&mctag=gg_goog_7904&gclid=CMnGyIrE1aUCFc0f4QodTxSMjQ/#) which looked a bargain for a 50" TV, but it appears to be only 720p. Sigh!
Title: Re: Should I buy this TV please??
Post by: Franko on December 05, 2010, 04:49:53 PM
@ A4000_Mad

Glad it worked, wasn't sure if it would show up in the PM, keep looking around I've seen some pretty good bargains for 50" and 60" Plasmas on the net in recent times... :)
Title: Re: Should I buy this TV please??
Post by: A4000_Mad on December 05, 2010, 06:21:56 PM
Quote from: Franko;597274
@ A4000_Mad

Glad it worked

Me too thanks Franko :drink:  It was easier on the old site where you just entered the link, clicked on 'OK', then another box appeared for you to just type a name of your choice for the link :)
Title: Re: Should I buy this TV please??
Post by: Hattig on December 05, 2010, 07:42:48 PM
That TV does sound good.

One thing you might want to consider is Freeview HD support, because it will suck to have to get a separate decoder box if you decide you want that service. Not an issue if you get Sky or Virgin HD already.

But for the price I don't think you can go wrong. I have an older 720p Panasonic 42" TV and it's still great despite not being 1080p.

Also: buy now, don't pay 20% VAT in January!
Title: Re: Should I buy this TV please??
Post by: the_leander on December 05, 2010, 09:39:22 PM
Quote from: A4000_Mad;597264
Thank you very much the_leander & Franko :)

The advert was not online but was actually on TV last night. Hmmmm... After reading the advice on plasma TV's, prehaps an LED would be the way to go?


As far as looking after a plasma goes: If you can look after an oldskool tube telly you can look after a plasma. LEDs... In theory you can get a larger colour gamete (range of colours from the brightest whites to the inkiest blacks) than plasma, however, you're going to pay heavily if you don't want fast moving scenes looking like arse. Certainly you won't get anywhere near the price performance ratio of the panasonic.


Quote from: A4000_Mad;597264

So, without being greedy, I basically I want something HUGE and amazing at a reasonable price :D



You have it in that link. If I had the cash and the space, I'd buy it.
Title: Re: Should I buy this TV please??
Post by: Karlos on December 05, 2010, 09:57:20 PM
I think you mean "colour gamut", a gamete is a cell that fuses with another in reproduction (ie, sperm or egg)... ;)
Title: Re: Should I buy this TV please??
Post by: A4000_Mad on December 05, 2010, 10:29:16 PM
Thanks again guys,

I'm not in a location that receives freeview, so it's a satellite dish I've got on the wall outside provided by Sky for my TV channels.

I've had a measure up of my unit and it's 50 inches wide, so I would definately like a 50" TV for a good price to sit on it nicely if possible :)


@ the_leander

Can you just confirm which link you meant mine or Franko's please? For the 50" LG in my link it says "Resolution (horizontal x vertical - in pixels) 1365 x 768 pixels (720p)". But I want 1080p don't I? Hmmmmm.... So what I really want is something like a 50" Panasonic instead of the 42" one described in my original post right?

EDIT

Prehaps this (http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/4-/13593484/-/Product.html?source=9593&_%24ja=tsid%3a11853%7Cprd%3a73985) one but from a bit cheaper supplier if possible?
Title: Re: Should I buy this TV please??
Post by: KThunder on December 05, 2010, 11:40:05 PM
Quote from: A4000_Mad;597264
Thank you very much the_leander & Franko :)

...So, without being greedy, I basically I want something HUGE and amazing at a reasonable price :D

...


I think when buying an hdtv is a good time to be greedy. Get the best tv you can possibly get, as you will have it a while; especially if you choose well.

doing your home work is a good thing, but you really need to compare as many tv's personally, take notes, watch stuff from different sources. Some people don't really notice the difference between 720p and 1080p and some tvs use the same screen resolution for both. My hdtv has a resolution of 1080x910 and looks beautiful with a 1080p signal (and quite noticably not as good in 1080i).

Personally I haven't seen an lcd I like, or a plasma, crt, or dlp I didn't like. ymmv
Title: Re: Should I buy this TV please??
Post by: ChaosLord on December 06, 2010, 03:58:54 AM
Quote from: A4000_Mad;597264
So, without being greedy, I basically I want something HUGE and amazing at a reasonable price :D
You need a 61" (or larger) 1080P DLP TV/Monitor like I have.
I only got the tiny 61" because the 65" was sold out.

Anything less than 61" is tiny :D
Title: Re: Should I buy this TV please??
Post by: the_leander on December 06, 2010, 07:39:39 AM
Quote from: A4000_Mad;597325


Can you just confirm which link you meant mine or Franko's please? For the 50" LG in my link it says "Resolution (horizontal x vertical - in pixels) 1365 x 768 pixels (720p)". But I want 1080p don't I? Hmmmmm.... So what I really want is something like a 50" Panasonic instead of the 42" one described in my original post right?


Your first one, the Panasonic. LG are beyond crap. When I worked for a well known high street electronics retailer, LG sets were amongst the worst for build quality. In 10 months time, you'll be taking it back to the shop.

And yes, beyond 36 inches, unless you have really shit eyesight or a truly gargantuan sized living room with terrible lighting conditions, you want 1080p.

@ Karlos, after having come straight off of a 12 hour shift, I reserve the right to mix up similar sounding words :p
Title: Re: Should I buy this TV please??
Post by: A4000_Mad on December 06, 2010, 07:56:51 PM
Thanks very much again guys :)

I was thinking of going for this 50" Samsung (http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/r/392592/0_0_0/)

But I think I would regret not paying another £170 for this 50" Panasonic (http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/r/507758/0_0_0/)

Would you agree?
Title: Re: Should I buy this TV please??
Post by: the_leander on December 06, 2010, 08:06:20 PM
Quote from: A4000_Mad;597451
Thanks very much again guys :)

I was thinking of going for this 50" Samsung (http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/r/392592/0_0_0/)

But I think I would regret not paying another £170 for this 50" Panasonic (http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/r/507758/0_0_0/)

Would you agree?


The Samsungs look prettier generally, but build quality is imho very patchy - some models will last yonks, others will fall apart 10 minutes after the equivalent LG, but of course YMMV.

If it were me, I'd pay the extra in the knowledge that you're getting the best picture quality on the market and of sound construction, even if it meant I had to wait a little longer to get it.

At least we all know now whose house to go to once footy season starts again ;)
Title: Re: Should I buy this TV please??
Post by: A4000_Mad on December 09, 2010, 04:36:34 PM
Thanks again for your help guys :)

The picture on the 50" Panasonic was not good at all, so I've just go home with this 60" LG60PK790 (http://www.comet.co.uk/p/Plasma-TVs/buy-LG-60PK790-Plasma-TV/631450) from a store called Comet.....


(http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o164/Cyberstorm604e/60inchHDTV.jpg)

Do you think it is big enough to be a monitor for that A4000? :lol:
Title: Re: Should I buy this TV please??
Post by: A4000_Mad on December 14, 2010, 02:51:24 PM
Hi Guys,

I watched this video this morning....

http://www.isitetv.com/809d534d009c4ba63646a5ed5c8d76c1-p10.htm

... and saw that I didn't have the flagship of the fleet which has something called TruBlack :furious:

So I've just been over to Comet and paid the extra to have an LG60PK990 delivered on Friday and the 790 taken away :) :) :)

Thanks again for all your help and advice.

Merry Xmas :drink:
Title: Re: Should I buy this TV please??
Post by: Franko on December 16, 2010, 03:43:56 PM
Quote from: A4000_Mad;597915
Thanks again for your help guys :)

The picture on the 50" Panasonic was not good at all, so I've just go home with this 60" LG60PK790 (http://www.comet.co.uk/p/Plasma-TVs/buy-LG-60PK790-Plasma-TV/631450) from a store called Comet.....


(http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o164/Cyberstorm604e/60inchHDTV.jpg)

Do you think it is big enough to be a monitor for that A4000? :lol:


That's quite a nice wee portable you got yourself there... :lol:

(If I recall correctly from the review in What HI-FI magazine that one uses a good quality Samsung Screen... :))