New TV but have no idea where to start

gemmaovwales03 · 10-11-2008, 23:58

So we are planning on buying a new HD tv for Christmas and we have no idea where to start. We want a 40 - 42" and that's about all we know. We watch a lot of sport so a perfect picture for that would be great. There's so many options LCD or Plasma 720p, 1080i or 1080p. Any advice would be great

gemmaovwales03 · 11-11-2008, 00:30

I've done a bit more searching and this one caught our eye it has some good reviews

Panasonic TH42PZ80B

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-TH...6362458&sr=8-1

OranguMaTang · 11-11-2008, 09:15

Panasonic PX80 42" plasma

Toshiba XV LCD or Sony LCD

1080p makes no difference on a 40"-42" set at anything like normal viewing distances.

Plasma is generally considered better for sport due to better motion handling but I doubt there is that much in it these days.
LCD will give less reflections, plasma tends to be a more CRT like image. Plasma still considered to be a more natural picture but again I doubt there is much in it.

VanillaK · 11-11-2008, 11:22

We have a 42" Philips Plasma. We got it 2 years ago and everything is going well with no probs, although they are a lot cheaper now than when we got ours.

It has freeview built in also.

It had a baby last may so we have a 23inch in the bedroom lcd but without the freeview but we have box. lol.

There are so many diff ones around now to choose from but I do suggest going for a well known reliable brand.

chrisbartley · 12-11-2008, 12:25

To the OP,
you havent said what the sources for this TV would be ? i.e. freeview, sky,sky hd, dvd, blue ray,game console etc etc

Thats quite important to know before we can fully advise.

You've mentioned the pz80, if your source was to be FreeView i.e. SD, (since you didn't mention sky hd etc) then the px80 might be a better bet, the PQ is generally accepted to be better on that unit than pz80for SD - plus it'll be a bit cheaper

as other have said 1080 etc, only really worth having if your going to sit very close to set ( closer than most people would normally watch from) and most(all?) of that content is going to have to come from blue ray disks or a PS3

I find the plasma to be much more natural picture than other people LCDs I've seen, although it could of course could just be their setup / preference

Gazzy3d · 13-11-2008, 07:25

I am selling my samsung Sp50l7hx after 4 years for a 46" Panasonic TH-46PZ81B Plasma Freesat TV Full 1080p HD built in. It seems to me be an amazing tv, you can get a 42" version which looks brilliant also and EVERYTHING I have read from independant reviews says it is the TV to go for. The price for the Panasonic viera 42" is £750 at play.com and the 46" one is under £1200 now and I am holding on till late december to get this thing of beauty for under £1000.

10-11-2008, 23:58	#1
gemmaovwales03 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Wales Posts: 7,052	New TV but have no idea where to start So we are planning on buying a new HD tv for Christmas and we have no idea where to start. We want a 40 - 42" and that's about all we know. We watch a lot of sport so a perfect picture for that would be great. There's so many options LCD or Plasma 720p, 1080i or 1080p. Any advice would be great

11-11-2008, 00:30	#2
gemmaovwales03 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Wales Posts: 7,052	I've done a bit more searching and this one caught our eye it has some good reviews Panasonic TH42PZ80B http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-TH...6362458&sr=8-1

11-11-2008, 09:15	#3
OranguMaTang Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 712	Panasonic PX80 42" plasma Toshiba XV LCD or Sony LCD 1080p makes no difference on a 40"-42" set at anything like normal viewing distances. Plasma is generally considered better for sport due to better motion handling but I doubt there is that much in it these days. LCD will give less reflections, plasma tends to be a more CRT like image. Plasma still considered to be a more natural picture but again I doubt there is much in it.

11-11-2008, 11:22	#4
VanillaK Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Yorkshire Lass Posts: 304	We have a 42" Philips Plasma. We got it 2 years ago and everything is going well with no probs, although they are a lot cheaper now than when we got ours. It has freeview built in also. It had a baby last may so we have a 23inch in the bedroom lcd but without the freeview but we have box. lol. There are so many diff ones around now to choose from but I do suggest going for a well known reliable brand.

12-11-2008, 12:25	#5
chrisbartley Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: berks Posts: 1,643	To the OP, you havent said what the sources for this TV would be ? i.e. freeview, sky,sky hd, dvd, blue ray,game console etc etc Thats quite important to know before we can fully advise. You've mentioned the pz80, if your source was to be FreeView i.e. SD, (since you didn't mention sky hd etc) then the px80 might be a better bet, the PQ is generally accepted to be better on that unit than pz80for SD - plus it'll be a bit cheaper as other have said 1080 etc, only really worth having if your going to sit very close to set ( closer than most people would normally watch from) and most(all?) of that content is going to have to come from blue ray disks or a PS3 I find the plasma to be much more natural picture than other people LCDs I've seen, although it could of course could just be their setup / preference

13-11-2008, 07:25	#6
Gazzy3d Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hell Posts: 2,283	I am selling my samsung Sp50l7hx after 4 years for a 46" Panasonic TH-46PZ81B Plasma Freesat TV Full 1080p HD built in. It seems to me be an amazing tv, you can get a 42" version which looks brilliant also and EVERYTHING I have read from independant reviews says it is the TV to go for. The price for the Panasonic viera 42" is £750 at play.com and the 46" one is under £1200 now and I am holding on till late december to get this thing of beauty for under £1000.

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New TV but have no idea where to start