[Clank007]

Hi,
Due to various reasons I need to buy a new TV.
My old Philips LCD 32PF5321 was disappointing with its SD broadcast picture (lots of 'smudging' in sports etc)

My question is would a plasma be a better bet for purely SD broadcasts? I've no intention yet to go for Sky HD (until the prices come down) so need one purely for Sky SD.

Mate of mine owns the Panasonic Viera Plasma TH42PX70.
He reckons the freeview pic on ITV for the footie is pucker, whereas on my old LCD is was very pixelated.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated as have to decide by tomorrow night cos the bread knife comes home Saturday and will go chicken oriental when she sees a TV stand with no TV on it!

[w3dal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clank007

Hi,
Due to various reasons I need to buy a new TV.
My old Philips LCD 32PF5321 was disappointing with its SD broadcast picture (lots of 'smudging' in sports etc)

My question is would a plasma be a better bet for purely SD broadcasts? I've no intention yet to go for Sky HD (until the prices come down) so need one purely for Sky SD.

Mate of mine owns the Panasonic Viera Plasma TH42PX70.
He reckons the freeview pic on ITV for the footie is pucker, whereas on my old LCD is was very pixelated.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated as have to decide by tomorrow night cos the bread knife comes home Saturday and will go chicken oriental when she sees a TV stand with no TV on it!

Typical fault of LCD with sport you get that horrible ghosting effect.

if you can still find one go for a panny PX70. SD is brilliant and also will take an HD feed for the future.

panny are bringing out there next gen versions now so keep an eye out.

to be honest if your serious about finding out which is best pop along to www.avfourms.com all the advice you need is there.

Go plasma mate and dont look back

Dal


P.s. the LCD boys will come on here and give a go back - but simple for the money you wont get a better SD picture unless you spend lots more on the latest LCD and even then im not convinced.

for SD Plasma is still the best simple as that - stick with a panny or pioneer

---

Last edited by w3dal : 13-03-2008 at 15:49. Reason: extra info

[jibberjabber2b]

Yeah, but forever live in fear of burn-in which isn't covered by the guarantee.

Yeah I am giving a go back>

[richardc77]

I have a 37PX70 which is superb and benefits from a sharper sd display than the 42" version. Id rec one of these or the newer Px80 (identical picture imo). If you must have a 42" then they are the best value imo on the market picture quality wise. But the larger you go the sd picture quality is less sharp 37" imo at this price point is the sweet spot...

[w3dal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jibberjabber2b

Yeah, but forever live in fear of burn-in which isn't covered by the guarantee.

Yeah I am giving a go back>

boring

[w3dal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by richardc77

I have a 37PX70 which is superb and benefits from a sharper sd display than the 42" version. Id rec one of these or the newer Px80 (identical picture imo). If you must have a 42" then they are the best value imo on the market picture quality wise. But the larger you go the sd picture quality is less sharp 37" imo at this price point is the sweet spot...

another satisfied panny customer

Dal

[d'@ve]

Quote:

Originally Posted by richardc77

I have a 37PX70 which is superb and benefits from a sharper sd display than the 42" version. Id rec one of these or the newer Px80 (identical picture imo). If you must have a 42" then they are the best value imo on the market picture quality wise. But the larger you go the sd picture quality is less sharp 37" imo at this price point is the sweet spot...

But can't the difference in "sharpness" be corrected simply by sitting 13.5% further away from the screen? 13.5% being the percentage difference in screen sizes.

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by d'@ve

But can't the difference in "sharpness" be corrected simply by sitting 13.5% further away from the screen? 13.5% being the percentage difference in screen sizes.

Most probably yes! - people seem to ignore viewing distance, and it's VERY important.

[Clank007]

Hi,
Thanks for your replies.

With regard to the distance, I cant really sit further away from the TV cos my lounge isnt that big.
Based on that and previous replies I think either 32 or 37 inches is the right screen size for me and her indoors to enjoy.
Still unsure if LCD or Plasma is the way forward though.

Am i right in thinking with regard to LCD TV's that LG basically provide all the components? So if you buy a Sony for example the increase in price over an identically spec'd LG will be purely down to the name 'Sony' and not the quaility of the TV?

[w3dal]

go and see them.

if you cant decide from what we have said. go down to your local store and see for yourself mate.

its the only way your get to know which is right for you.

Dal

[Jaycee Dove]

We checked ths out very carefully when getting an HD TV as SD is still what we watch much of the time.

We found no LCD to match the Panasonic Plasma which offers by far the best SD picture we saw.

Ours is also a 37 PX (60 in our case as we got it in 2006) But the 70 and 80 are basically just updates.

As this thread shows this TV at that size looks hard to beat if you want the best of both SD and HD pictures.

Do not hesitate in my opinion. I recently saw a 37 PX 70 for under £600 on a price comoarison site on the net. Unbeatable value.

Also check out the HD displays section of this very forum (just above!) There is a thread on the Panasonic 37 PX 70 and you will see comments on there from a new purchaser ecstatic about its SD pictures.

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clank007

Am i right in thinking with regard to LCD TV's that LG basically provide all the components? So if you buy a Sony for example the increase in price over an identically spec'd LG will be purely down to the name 'Sony' and not the quaility of the TV?

No, you would be completely wrong, generally more expensive sets are better made using better quality components.

As far as I'm aware LG aren't even a large supplier of components for LCD sets?.

[Fussy]

You really should go and have a look for yourself, only your's and your miss's eyes should decide.................nevermind other peep's opinions.

[wnpg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jibberjabber2b

Yeah, but forever live in fear of burn-in which isn't covered by the guarantee.

Yeah I am giving a go back>

Is burn-in still a problem? I thought it was only on the early gen plasma's.

[Fussy]

Yes according to what i have read but not as bad.

It get's mentioned in the panna manual still.

[wnpg]

Damn I had been lusting over a Pioneer Kuro but the screen burn issue freaks me out.

[d'@ve]

Ex-wife has had an LG 42 inch plasma for 3 years, I just checked with her and she's had zero burn-in and no other trouble with it. She just watches normal main channel TV and DVDs, no gaming etc.

I'm starting to think burn-in may be a non-issue in "normal" TV/DVD use.

[Fussy]

I don't really think that it's that much of a prob now, unless you intend on having it on channel like sky sports or summit for a long period of time, like 24 hours .

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wnpg

Is burn-in still a problem? I thought it was only on the early gen plasma's.

It's far less of a problem than on the early Plasma's, and a little care for the first few months will reduce it still further.

[Lizzybif]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

Most probably yes! - people seem to ignore viewing distance, and it's VERY important.

What distance should you sit from a 37" Plasma?

I am seriously considering changing my 32" LCD for a 37" Plasma as I am having real problems with backlight bleed.

I sit about 9 ft away from the TV so not sure whether this is far enough?

Any idea whether the 2008 Panasonic models are any better than the 2007 models?

I was thinking of waiting and maybe replacing my LXD700 with one of this years models. Whether this be LCD or Plasma.

Unfortunately, I can't go and see them in action as I live in the far North of Scotland so there aren't many showrooms and in those that there are they don't really have the major brands such as Sony as Panasonic.

The Panasonic 32LXD700 has stunning picture and sound quality and, if I could get another LCD which has this when I would be delighted.

I am sure Plasma is great but I watch a lot of Tv and the higher power consumption worries me as does the glass screen as I used to hate seeing myself 'on telly' on my CRT and I love the fact that there is no reflection on LCDs.

[jibberjabber2b]

But for example if you watch a channel like News 24, where certain things like the clock are there indefinitely, won't that cause burn-in on a Plasma?

[jibberjabber2b]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lizzybif

What distance should you sit from a 37" Plasma?

I am seriously considering changing my 32" LCD for a 37" Plasma as I am having real problems with backlight bleed.

I sit about 9 ft away from the TV so not sure whether this is far enough?

...

Unfortunately, I can't go and see them in action as I live in the far North of Scotland so there aren't many showrooms and in those that there are they don't really have the major brands such as Sony as Panasonic.

The Panasonic 32LXD700 has stunning picture and sound quality and, if I could get another LCD which has this when I would be delighted.

I am sure Plasma is great but I watch a lot of Tv and the higher power consumption worries me as does the glass screen as I used to hate seeing myself 'on telly' on my CRT and I love the fact that there is no reflection on LCDs.

If you want an LCD go for it. However, as others have said if you want to avoid ghosting, etc, you can only be sure that this doesn't happen when you see the set in action with your own eyes. My screen upscales SD great from analogue sources and it's an LCD. I don't get ghosting either. Obviously HD looks great.

If I were you I would be willing to travel a great distance to view sets in action because it would save a lot of hassle in the long run (i.e. getting a TV, not being happy, sending it back, etc).

Maybe this will help you assess how far you should sit from the screen (scroll down to the table):
http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/Article/Ho...ould-I-Sit.php

[Lizzybif]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jibberjabber2b

If you want an LCD go for it. However, as others have said if you want to avoid ghosting, etc, you can only be sure that this doesn't happen when you see the set in action with your own eyes. My screen upscales SD great from analogue sources and it's an LCD. I don't get ghosting either. Obviously HD looks great.

If I were you I would be willing to travel a great distance to view sets in action because it would save a lot of hassle in the long run (i.e. getting a TV, not being happy, sending it back, etc).

Maybe this will help you assess how far you should sit from the screen (scroll down to the table):
http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/Article/Ho...ould-I-Sit.php

Thanks for the advice.

However, I would need to travel over 200 miles to the nearest big showrooms and, due to illness, this just isn't possible so I need to rely on good reviews and online shopping!

Which LCD do you have?

[jibberjabber2b]

Oh I see. That brings a whole new meaning to it then. 200 miles! Wow. You really do live out in the sticks. Sorry to hear that you are not well.

The screen that I have is the 32 inch Philips 32PFL7962 with Ambilight:
http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/stor...ory_oid=-30633

I did pay £500 for it as it was on sale at the time (January sales).

I suppose that Nigel and others might slag this TV off because it's not got whatever, but for me it does the job very well and I'm very happy with it. No offense to Nigel though.

[Lizzybif]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jibberjabber2b

Oh I see. That brings a whole new meaning to it then. 200 miles! Wow. You really do live out in the sticks. Sorry to hear that you are not well.

The screen that I have is the 32 inch Philips 32PFL7962 with Ambilight:
http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/stor...ory_oid=-30633

I did pay £500 for it as it was on sale at the time (January sales).

I suppose that Nigel and others might slag this TV off because it's not got whatever, but for me it does the job very well and I'm very happy with it. No offense to Nigel though.

As long as you are happy with the Tv that is all that matters.

Do you get any of the dreaded backlight bleed or clouding?

If I could just get another Panny without this then I would be well chuffed.

Yes I am about as far North as you can get without falling off!lol I am about 30 miles south of John O'Groats.
Nice place to live but not good for shopping for TVs!!

Liz