Which TV....?

hybridtheory · 24-03-2016, 06:38

Hi

Its been a number of years since I last ventured into this section of the forums.

Is Panasonic still 'The King' as it were in the realms of the TV market? Or has Samsung, Sony or LG now taken that title?

I may be considering replacing my current Panasonic 55 inch for either another 55 inch or possible 65 inch.

I'm looking at 4K, excellent picture quality, deep black levels, smooth motion etc.

The TV is mostly used for its designed purpose plus some gaming on a Playstation/Xbox.

Thanks in advance.

Baz

AlanO · 24-03-2016, 08:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by hybridtheory

Hi

Its been a number of years since I last ventured into this section of the forums.

Is Panasonic still 'The King' as it were in the realms of the TV market? Or has Samsung, Sony or LG now taken that title?

I may be considering replacing my current Panasonic 55 inch for either another 55 inch or possible 65 inch.

I'm looking at 4K, excellent picture quality, deep black levels, smooth motion etc.

The TV is mostly used for its designed purpose plus some gaming on a Playstation/Xbox.

Thanks in advance.

Baz

Depends who you ask

Some say Panasonic, others say Samsung and others say Sony.

It's a personal preference thing. What you need to do is go and look at a few, ideally in a store which has the three you want to see side-by-side.

Personally, I'd go Panasonic, but I know others have different views (cue Nigel Goodwin to pitch for Sony and Winston1 to rail against Panasonic for making the tuners in their sets UK specific)........

SnrDev · 24-03-2016, 14:33

In the absence of price guidelines etc, I'd nominate LG esp the EF950V series. Looked at one over the weekend and the picture was absolutely superb, esp compared to to others alongside in the shop.

Cue comments re shop display fluorescent lights etc, but this was v v good. Tempted...

Nigel Goodwin · 24-03-2016, 15:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlanO

Personally, I'd go Panasonic, but I know others have different views (cue Nigel Goodwin to pitch for Sony.

As I always say in these threads, the top two makes are Sony and Panasonic (toss a coin for which is actually 'top') - middling makes are Samsung and LG (well below Sony/Panasonic) - and the rest are pretty well 'cheap crap' (most are just Vestel or worse).

SnrDev · 24-03-2016, 15:22

Nigel, in what way would you describe that LG as worse than Panasonic or Sony? PQ was absolutely outstanding. It had enough inputs, appears to lack commercial catch-up services (no big deal really), so how would it be middling? PSU longevity? Build quality? screen life? Curious, as I could happily buy it tomorrow based on what I saw over the w/e.

Nigel Goodwin · 24-03-2016, 19:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnrDev

Nigel, in what way would you describe that LG as worse than Panasonic or Sony? PQ was absolutely outstanding. It had enough inputs, appears to lack commercial catch-up services (no big deal really), so how would it be middling? PSU longevity? Build quality? screen life? Curious, as I could happily buy it tomorrow based on what I saw over the w/e.

Lower quality of manufacture, use of cheaper parts, poor service, poor spares availability.

Statistically it's likely to have a shorter and less reliable life than a Sony or Panasonic - but of course it might last 20 years

dearmrman · 24-03-2016, 23:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by hybridtheory

Hi

Its been a number of years since I last ventured into this section of the forums.

Is Panasonic still 'The King' as it were in the realms of the TV market? Or has Samsung, Sony or LG now taken that title?

I may be considering replacing my current Panasonic 55 inch for either another 55 inch or possible 65 inch.

I'm looking at 4K, excellent picture quality, deep black levels, smooth motion etc.

The TV is mostly used for its designed purpose plus some gaming on a Playstation/Xbox.

Thanks in advance.

Baz

Just don't go for the entry level Panasonics.

Winston_1 · 26-03-2016, 16:20

Some Panasonics have had terrible problems recently and customer service does not want to know. Yes I'm referring to the ITV HD Freesat problem with long threads here, AV Forums and Boards IE. It seems that Panasonic did not design the sets to be fully compatible the DVB specs, only the specs actually in use at the time. Since ITV HD changed to an FEC of 3/4 which is within the DVB specs a certain range of Panasonic sets won't work with it in spite of their own specifications saying it should. OK any one can make a mistake but Panasonic won't admit to it due to Japanese pride and try to blame ITV. This is not the first time this has happened, remember the split NIT?

When LG on the other hand made a set that wouldn't access i-player they did the good thing and offered all affected customers a gratis Freesat HD box.

I know where I would be spending my money.

David (2) · 26-03-2016, 19:57

....that's the thing that's currently the blocker for me re Panasonic.
I would go with Sony or Samsung. I just saw a tv commercial where 50 and 55in 4K samsungs looking very affordable (relatively speaking). Personally for me, owning an older full HD Sony, with the amount of big screen viewing in decline but wanting to be forward compatible, the samsungs are most likely where I would spend my money.

Chris Frost · 26-03-2016, 20:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winston_1

Some Panasonics have had terrible problems recently and customer service does not want to know. Yes I'm referring to the ITV HD Freesat problem with long threads here, AV Forums and Boards IE. It seems that Panasonic did not design the sets to be fully compatible the DVB specs, only the specs actually in use at the time. Since ITV HD changed to an FEC of 3/4 which is within the DVB specs a certain range of Panasonic sets won't work with it in spite of their own specifications saying it should. OK any one can make a mistake but Panasonic won't admit to it due to Japanese pride and try to blame ITV. This is not the first time this has happened, remember the split NIT?

Not denying there is a problem, but.... just exactly how many people are actually affected in real terms?

This is a problem that only affects those who use the satellite tuner built in to the TV. If one uses Freeview (the aerial input), or Sky, or one does most of the TV viewing via an external PVR (either Freeview or Freesat) to make use of 'pause and rewind live TV' then this issue with one channel via the TVs own satellite tuner isn't going to rear its head. As I said, not denying there is an issue, but out of all the users of these TVs just how many are going to be using the TVs own Freesat tuner all the time?

24-03-2016, 06:38	#1
hybridtheory Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Antrim, Northern Ireland Posts: 744	Which TV....? Hi Its been a number of years since I last ventured into this section of the forums. Is Panasonic still 'The King' as it were in the realms of the TV market? Or has Samsung, Sony or LG now taken that title? I may be considering replacing my current Panasonic 55 inch for either another 55 inch or possible 65 inch. I'm looking at 4K, excellent picture quality, deep black levels, smooth motion etc. The TV is mostly used for its designed purpose plus some gaming on a Playstation/Xbox. Thanks in advance. Baz

24-03-2016, 08:56	#2
AlanO Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1,902	Quote: Originally Posted by hybridtheory Hi Its been a number of years since I last ventured into this section of the forums. Is Panasonic still 'The King' as it were in the realms of the TV market? Or has Samsung, Sony or LG now taken that title? I may be considering replacing my current Panasonic 55 inch for either another 55 inch or possible 65 inch. I'm looking at 4K, excellent picture quality, deep black levels, smooth motion etc. The TV is mostly used for its designed purpose plus some gaming on a Playstation/Xbox. Thanks in advance. Baz Depends who you ask Some say Panasonic, others say Samsung and others say Sony. It's a personal preference thing. What you need to do is go and look at a few, ideally in a store which has the three you want to see side-by-side. Personally, I'd go Panasonic, but I know others have different views (cue Nigel Goodwin to pitch for Sony and Winston1 to rail against Panasonic for making the tuners in their sets UK specific)........

24-03-2016, 14:33	#3
SnrDev Inactive Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 5,981	In the absence of price guidelines etc, I'd nominate LG esp the EF950V series. Looked at one over the weekend and the picture was absolutely superb, esp compared to to others alongside in the shop. Cue comments re shop display fluorescent lights etc, but this was v v good. Tempted...

24-03-2016, 15:03	#4
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by AlanO Personally, I'd go Panasonic, but I know others have different views (cue Nigel Goodwin to pitch for Sony. As I always say in these threads, the top two makes are Sony and Panasonic (toss a coin for which is actually 'top') - middling makes are Samsung and LG (well below Sony/Panasonic) - and the rest are pretty well 'cheap crap' (most are just Vestel or worse).

24-03-2016, 15:22	#5
SnrDev Inactive Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 5,981	Nigel, in what way would you describe that LG as worse than Panasonic or Sony? PQ was absolutely outstanding. It had enough inputs, appears to lack commercial catch-up services (no big deal really), so how would it be middling? PSU longevity? Build quality? screen life? Curious, as I could happily buy it tomorrow based on what I saw over the w/e.

24-03-2016, 19:42	#6
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by SnrDev Nigel, in what way would you describe that LG as worse than Panasonic or Sony? PQ was absolutely outstanding. It had enough inputs, appears to lack commercial catch-up services (no big deal really), so how would it be middling? PSU longevity? Build quality? screen life? Curious, as I could happily buy it tomorrow based on what I saw over the w/e. Lower quality of manufacture, use of cheaper parts, poor service, poor spares availability. Statistically it's likely to have a shorter and less reliable life than a Sony or Panasonic - but of course it might last 20 years

24-03-2016, 23:06	#7
dearmrman Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Utopia Posts: 10,186	Quote: Originally Posted by hybridtheory Hi Its been a number of years since I last ventured into this section of the forums. Is Panasonic still 'The King' as it were in the realms of the TV market? Or has Samsung, Sony or LG now taken that title? I may be considering replacing my current Panasonic 55 inch for either another 55 inch or possible 65 inch. I'm looking at 4K, excellent picture quality, deep black levels, smooth motion etc. The TV is mostly used for its designed purpose plus some gaming on a Playstation/Xbox. Thanks in advance. Baz Just don't go for the entry level Panasonics.

26-03-2016, 16:20	#8
Winston_1 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 5,008	Some Panasonics have had terrible problems recently and customer service does not want to know. Yes I'm referring to the ITV HD Freesat problem with long threads here, AV Forums and Boards IE. It seems that Panasonic did not design the sets to be fully compatible the DVB specs, only the specs actually in use at the time. Since ITV HD changed to an FEC of 3/4 which is within the DVB specs a certain range of Panasonic sets won't work with it in spite of their own specifications saying it should. OK any one can make a mistake but Panasonic won't admit to it due to Japanese pride and try to blame ITV. This is not the first time this has happened, remember the split NIT? When LG on the other hand made a set that wouldn't access i-player they did the good thing and offered all affected customers a gratis Freesat HD box. I know where I would be spending my money.

26-03-2016, 19:57	#9
David (2) Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: S.West England. Posts: 18,037	....that's the thing that's currently the blocker for me re Panasonic. I would go with Sony or Samsung. I just saw a tv commercial where 50 and 55in 4K samsungs looking very affordable (relatively speaking). Personally for me, owning an older full HD Sony, with the amount of big screen viewing in decline but wanting to be forward compatible, the samsungs are most likely where I would spend my money.

26-03-2016, 20:00	#10
Chris Frost Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Cheshire Posts: 6,462	Quote: Originally Posted by Winston_1 Some Panasonics have had terrible problems recently and customer service does not want to know. Yes I'm referring to the ITV HD Freesat problem with long threads here, AV Forums and Boards IE. It seems that Panasonic did not design the sets to be fully compatible the DVB specs, only the specs actually in use at the time. Since ITV HD changed to an FEC of 3/4 which is within the DVB specs a certain range of Panasonic sets won't work with it in spite of their own specifications saying it should. OK any one can make a mistake but Panasonic won't admit to it due to Japanese pride and try to blame ITV. This is not the first time this has happened, remember the split NIT? Not denying there is a problem, but.... just exactly how many people are actually affected in real terms? This is a problem that only affects those who use the satellite tuner built in to the TV. If one uses Freeview (the aerial input), or Sky, or one does most of the TV viewing via an external PVR (either Freeview or Freesat) to make use of 'pause and rewind live TV' then this issue with one channel via the TVs own satellite tuner isn't going to rear its head. As I said, not denying there is an issue, but out of all the users of these TVs just how many are going to be using the TVs own Freesat tuner all the time?

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Which TV....?