[CaractacusPotts]

Im looking to buy a nice HDTV, but only have about 500 quid to spare. What would be the best one to get? Im looking for at least 37 inches, preferably 42. (Sidetrack question: Why are there tons of 42 inch tellys, but hardly any 40? And why do the 40 inch ones seem more expensive?)

I work at Sainsbury's, so if it's from the Sainsbury's website it could go up to like 550 I suppose.

[late8]

Best tv you can get for under £500 is one of the latest entry level panasonic PLASMA tvs. They get top reviews and even the gadget show recomended plasma under £500. Even the entry plasmas offer picture better than there LCD counterparts. Have a look on Richer Sounds website under Plasma TVs. Picture quality for money = plasma hands down. Smallest plasmas are 37" from Panasonic but LG did do 32.

Personally, and quite a few agree, plasma is the best tech to go for if you want a nice propper HD TV as they do a better all round job with things.

Plasma will give you better viewing angle, contrast, more natural colour, better motion and better black levels resulting in a natural deep rich picture.

[CaractacusPotts]

Is the http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/shop...hnav=429496664
A good telly? I've heard both good and bad things about it.

[diablo]

Old fashioned plasma TVs weigh at least 500 pounds.

Do you need really wide viewing angles? Look in Comet etc but don't on any account buy from them. The gadget show people don't know everything. There is no substitute for your own eyes.

. . . And ears. Unless you intend to get a sound system to go with it then insist that you hear the damned things. Some of them are damned awful sound-wise.

[mr.ian]

Originally Posted by CaractacusPotts

Is the http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/shop...hnav=429496664
A good telly? I've heard both good and bad things about it.

It's not 1080p HD to begin with.

[CaractacusPotts]

Originally Posted by mr.ian

It's not 1080p HD to begin with.

Doh. Whats the difference between 1080p and whatever that TV is? How come it's allowed to say 'HD Ready' if its not?

[pzboyz]

The Sony 32w5500 is about £530 as it is end-of-line if you can get your hands on one.

[late8]

Originally Posted by diablo

Old fashioned plasma TVs weigh at least 500 pounds.

Do you need really wide viewing angles? Look in Comet etc but don't on any account buy from them. The gadget show people don't know everything. There is no substitute for your own eyes.

. . . And ears. Unless you intend to get a sound system to go with it then insist that you hear the damned things. Some of them are damned awful sound-wise.

My 37" Panasonic is pretty light + build quality is excellent as they use metal and glass in construction instead of cheap plastics.

AV purists tend to go for Plasma over LCD due to the superior picture quality you can still get.

Also yes you do need full viewing angles. LCD still fades at angles and the poor person sitting side on to the screen gets a wishy washy poor depth picture.

[late8]

Originally Posted by CaractacusPotts

Is the http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/shop...hnav=429496664
A good telly? I've heard both good and bad things about it.

Samsung plasmas are OK - more on a parr with LG.

Panasonic and Pioneer ones are the best. You are better looking at these...

http://www.richersounds.com/products...asma/plasma-tv

This is the best for under £500. There is also a 37" version. http://www.richersounds.com/product/.../pana-txp42x10
That model isnt FULL HD but accepts 1080p. Unless you are watching Bluray all the time this wont matter. The model above the X10 is 1080p but is a couple hundred quid more.

for £500 however Plasma is the one to go for if you want a lot of picture for your money.

[late8]

Originally Posted by CaractacusPotts

Doh. Whats the difference between 1080p and whatever that TV is? How come it's allowed to say 'HD Ready' if its not?

1080p is also known as FULL HD. There are two resolutions of HD. 720p - which is HD Ready and 1080p - which is Full HD.

1080 and 720 refers to the number of vertical lines on screen.

Bluray movies are mostly in 1080p but HD TV and Games are mainly 720p/1080i.

In terms of difference between the two, 1080 has more detail and is more suited to huge screens around 50"+. on 32, 37" screens its not as noticable.

Some HD ready screens accept 1080p as an input and with this 24fps support for bluray playback.

the HD ready Panasonic entry plasmas I recommended accept 1080p

[CaractacusPotts]

Originally Posted by late8

1080p is also known as FULL HD. There are two resolutions of HD. 720p - which is HD Ready and 1080p - which is Full HD.

1080 and 720 refers to the number of vertical lines on screen.

Bluray movies are mostly in 1080p but HD TV and Games are mainly 720p/1080i.

In terms of difference between the two, 1080 has more detail and is more suited to huge screens around 50"+. on 32, 37" screens its not as noticable.

Some HD ready screens accept 1080p as an input and with this 24fps support for bluray playback.

the HD ready Panasonic entry plasmas I recommended accept 1080p

Excellent posts, thanks a ton. I'll have a look. I only have a small room, so I think a 37" telly would suffice, and 1080p sounds like it wouldn't be necessary at that size either.

[Fatwaz]

the panasonic 37x10 is under 500 and is a superb tv and accepts a 1080p signal.the 42x10 is available in places for just over 500 if you can stretch a bit further and the extra 5 inches may well help too.great sd and hd pics

[Skint Eastwood]

Originally Posted by CaractacusPotts

Im looking to buy a nice HDTV, but only have about 500 quid to spare. What would be the best one to get? Im looking for at least 37 inches, preferably 42. (Sidetrack question: Why are there tons of 42 inch tellys, but hardly any 40? And why do the 40 inch ones seem more expensive?)

I work at Sainsbury's, so if it's from the Sainsbury's website it could go up to like 550 I suppose.

I just got my first HDTV, a Toshiba 32RV635DB from eBay for £345. It's great. I saw it in Sainsbury's for £500, but bizarrely the 42'' version is also £500 there, on offer. Too big for me but ideal for you, if they are doing that deal at your branch.

[FlatProblem]

Originally Posted by late8

1080p is also known as FULL HD. There are two resolutions of HD. 720p - which is HD Ready and 1080p - which is Full HD.

1080 and 720 refers to the number of vertical lines on screen.

Bluray movies are mostly in 1080p but HD TV and Games are mainly 720p/1080i.

In terms of difference between the two, 1080 has more detail and is more suited to huge screens around 50"+. on 32, 37" screens its not as noticable.

Some HD ready screens accept 1080p as an input and with this 24fps support for bluray playback.

the HD ready Panasonic entry plasmas I recommended accept 1080p

*cough* horizontal *cough*