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Panasonic tv range - which model?


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Old 30-01-2009, 21:35
Stunty
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I have been looking for a 26" Panasonic television. After looking at all the alternatives I see that there are four options. I cannot find any info as to which one is the most up to date or why there is so much difference in price.

These are the models and the 'Best prices' according to Which? magazine .........

Panasonic Viera TX-26LXD70 £500

Panasonic TX-26LMD70F £535

Panasonic Viera TX-26LXD80 £329

Panasonic Viera TX-26LXD8 £319


Reading through the various litrature I assumed that the '70'models were from 2007 and the '80' and '8' models from 2008, but don't know if this is correct. :confusd: .... and if it is why are the later models cheaper?

Apparently the 80 and 8 models have '1080p24 Support', whatever that means ...... is that important?

The Which? report says that all the models are very good, and all have a high rating, however they don't give any indication as to which features are useful, although the more features the better for me.

I already have a Panasonic 32" tv, it has a feature on it that whilst you are watching the main picture, you can also have another smaller picture at the bottom of the screen which can show pictures from another source. Not sure whether this is called 'picture in picture' but I don't see it listed on any of the above sets.


Could anyone help with any advice as to which one I should buy? Thanks.
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Old 30-01-2009, 23:26
rich66
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Hi

The LMD70 and LXD70 are 2007 models, the LXD70 had 100hz processing built in.

The LXD8 & LXD80 are this years models, the LXD8 is amend at supermarkets,
the LXD80 is yery good but does not have 100hz processing,

The LXD80 has 2Scarts, 2 HDMI and an SD card slot, PC monitor socket, There is no picture in picture

Get which ever one you want quickly because panasonic are putting their prices up shortly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Old 31-01-2009, 11:11
Stunty
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Thanks for your reply rich.

Searching the sites, the '70' range don't seem to be available in many stores, so I guess will have to opt for the LXD80.

My only other concern is that Panny will bring out their new 2009 range soon which may be better ..... although at inflated prices.
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Old 02-02-2009, 20:56
rich66
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Yep

New Panasonic range due out in April/May.

The 26LXD80 is an excellant set for viewing straight on, even got my mother one! shes very happy, however they do not have a very good viewing angle

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Old 03-02-2009, 11:30
davidseven
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Yep

New Panasonic range due out in April/May.

The 26LXD80 is an excellant set for viewing straight on, even got my mother one! shes very happy, however they do not have a very good viewing angle

Yes, Very pleased with the SD picture as well, About the first LCD I have said that about. The viewing angle is a problem if you occasionally like viewing from a low angle (horizontal on a couch) Viewing from anything below the midpoint of the screen and the pq drops off very fast.
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Old 03-02-2009, 11:40
Stunty
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Yes, Very pleased with the SD picture as well, About the first LCD I have said that about. The viewing angle is a problem if you occasionally like viewing from a low angle (horizontal on a couch) Viewing from anything below the midpoint of the screen and the pq drops off very fast.

What is the pq?

How is it that the viewing angle differs so much in their range. The 32" we have had for a couple of years, and was lauded as the best tv at the time, can be viewed from all angles ..... why are the 26" models so different?

Do they have a swivel stand btw?
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Old 03-02-2009, 23:47
emptybox
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What is the pq?

How is it that the viewing angle differs so much in their range. The 32" we have had for a couple of years, and was lauded as the best tv at the time, can be viewed from all angles ..... why are the 26" models so different?

Do they have a swivel stand btw?
PQ stands for picture quality.

I think the answer to your second lies with economies of scale.

32" TVs are very popular at the mo, and loads of them are sold, so they can churn them out in terrific volume, and can keep the cost down.
26" are out of fashion, and far fewer of them are sold.
I would imagine it probably costs Panasonic (or anyone else) more to manufacture a 26" panel than it does to produce a 32" one.

However, nobody would accept paying more for a smaller telly, so they put a cheaper panel in so they can charge less.

That's my opinion, anyway.

ETA: The Sony V series 26" LCDs have a proper 178/178 viewing angle, but they're relatively pricey (over £500 on the Sony site).
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Old 04-02-2009, 10:33
davidseven
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What is the pq?

How is it that the viewing angle differs so much in their range. The 32" we have had for a couple of years, and was lauded as the best tv at the time, can be viewed from all angles ..... why are the 26" models so different?

Do they have a swivel stand btw?
No they just have a solid foot. The viewing angle is really only a problem if you weren't aware, Just mount it lower if you use it in a bedroom or want to watch lying down.
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Old 04-02-2009, 11:15
Stunty
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Thank you again for your replies, it's most helpful and has made me think again.

Although I like the Panasonic and really don't want to desert them, it seems as though I shall have to look at the Sony now.

Strange that the smaller tv's don't have a swivel stand as I would have thought that these were the ones that you would want to 'swivel' more, as they are for smaller rooms.

Is the Sony a better tv or is it just that they 'put more effort' into them than Panny?


In the coming years when all those small 2nd/3rd/4th/5th analogue tv's people have in the kitchen/bedroom etc need replacing, would imagine the manufacturer's would have to up their game as the demand grows...... or perhaps other people aren't as damn picky as me.
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Old 04-02-2009, 14:51
emptybox
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Is the Sony a better tv or is it just that they 'put more effort' into them than Panny?
The Sony V series is a higher spec than the Panasonic LXDs.
Sony do lower spec ranges with 160/160 viewing angles as well.
Also Panasonic do higher spec TVs (the LZDs) but I don't think there is a 26" version of those.


In the coming years when all those small 2nd/3rd/4th/5th analogue tv's people have in the kitchen/bedroom etc need replacing, would imagine the manufacturer's would have to up their game as the demand grows...... or perhaps other people aren't as damn picky as me.
I think you are probably right. At the mo the 26" HD Ready TV is a bit of a neglected format.

32" TVs are already available at full HD (1920 x 1080).
Whereas smaller TVs by the likes of Samsung, LG etc, tend to be combined TV/computer monitors, with 16:10 monitor resolutions of 1440 x 900 for 19", and 1680 x 1050 for 22" for instance. Mostly with the cheaper TN panels.

At the moment it is price that is dictating that the smaller TVs have cheaper LCD panels in them, but if the cost of manufacturing better panels comes down, then I would think they'll start appearing in smaller TVs, as long as the demand is there.

Ofcourse there's no saying what effect the credit crunch will have in all this?
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Old 04-02-2009, 14:57
davidseven
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I have always had Sony CRT sets in the past but for me I found the Panny better suited my needs. All these things are subjective in the end. Have a look at the sets in the flesh, and read any bumph you can on the models you are interested in.
And check pricing, these can vary wildly atm.
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Old 05-02-2009, 18:20
Stunty
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Well I have been out to the local High Street electrical shops to have a look at the quality of the various tv's. Firstly I ventured into Curry's, after walking round about 40+ tv's on display had to ask one of the asistants where he had hidden the 26" models ...... they only had stocked one 26" model, an LG.

Onwards to Comet, more of a selection there, about 5/6 different makes including the Panasonic TX LXD80 and the Sony KDL26V4000. They all look a bit fragile and the poor looking shiny black plastic creeks when you move them ..... they do not have the visual build quality of previous models when I compare the Panny, however the Sony looks more sturdy than the Panasonic.

I now prefer the Sony of the curent models, but if I could get one of the older Panny 70 series then I would probably get that.

All in all the availability and choice of 26" is dreadful atm, but in a few years when everybody has up-graded their main tv, I'm sure the manufacturers will have to address this problem. I would have thought there was more demand for this size rather than the very small 19" of which there are plenty on display. Can't see how one minute people want to watch a massive 46" tv then go to another room and watch a squitchy 19".

I know it's all supply and demand, but in this technological world we live in, it's the manufacturers not ourselves who decide what we buy.

Disillusioned but will have to make my mind up with the limited choice.
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Old 06-02-2009, 11:23
deesee
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I am interested in the PANASONIC TX-37LZD81, Here are the prices quoted.
RRP £999-99
C0MET £978-69
CURRYS £799-99
DIXONS £720-00
So as you can see, its good to shop arround.
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Old 07-02-2009, 14:08
frankietheturk
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On the subject of panasonic i have been offered a panasonic TH42PZ780 FULL HD PLASMA does anyone have one of these and if so what are they like cheers
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Old 07-02-2009, 14:11
frankietheturk
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Deesee try this shop for your telly still even cheaper
http://www.cramptonandmoore.co.uk/
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Old 09-02-2009, 22:16
Stunty
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Still undecided about this tv.

Now I am considering the Sony range. Would like to know if anyone can give an info as to whether the Sony KDL 26V4500 is worth the extra £100 or so, as compared to the Sony KDL 26V4000?

It seems the 4500 is not widely available, mainly from Sony shops and their on-line shop. Not sure what the difference is but by all accounts the 4500 gets a good write up.

The 4000 does have 'picture in picture', anybody know whether the 4500 has this as well?
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Old 09-02-2009, 23:13
emptybox
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Compare them here.

It seems to me, the main differences are -

The 4500 is 1080p/24p compatible.
It'll accept that input, but is still a 768 line TV.

The 4500 uses the Bravia Engine 2 rather than the Bravia Engine of the 4000.

The 4500 uses less power in Standby, but more power in operation.

The 4500 has USB input and picture frame mode, so you can easily display photos on it.

They both support P in P, but the 4500 supports Picture & Picture as well (no idea?).

Wether all that adds up to £100, is up to you.
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Old 10-02-2009, 00:16
Stunty
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Compare them here.

It seems to me, the main differences are -

The 4500 is 1080p/24p compatible.
It'll accept that input, but is still a 768 line TV.

The 4500 uses the Bravia Engine 2 rather than the Bravia Engine of the 4000.

The 4500 uses less power in Standby, but more power in operation.

The 4500 has USB input and picture frame mode, so you can easily display photos on it.

They both support P in P, but the 4500 supports Picture & Picture as well (no idea?).

Wether all that adds up to £100, is up to you.

Thanks for your extensive reply.

There is something about the 4000 having PiP but for PC only, whatever that meas, so perhaps not as good as the PiP on my current brilliant Panny 32".

If the 4500 has the full PiP, I shall probably bee tempted to get that. Meanwhile my budget for this tv goes up and up.
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Old 10-02-2009, 09:53
russellelly
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Thanks for your extensive reply.

There is something about the 4000 having PiP but for PC only, whatever that meas, so perhaps not as good as the PiP on my current brilliant Panny 32".

If the 4500 has the full PiP, I shall probably bee tempted to get that. Meanwhile my budget for this tv goes up and up.
PiP for PC only just means that one input has to be a PC (using a monitor cable). Making it fairly useless, IMO.

Picture & Picture usually refers to having two sources side by side (each a quarter of their original side), rather than one full being overlapped by the quarter (or smaller) picture IN picture.
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Old 10-02-2009, 11:13
Stunty
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PiP for PC only just means that one input has to be a PC (using a monitor cable). Making it fairly useless, IMO.

Picture & Picture usually refers to having two sources side by side (each a quarter of their original side), rather than one full being overlapped by the quarter (or smaller) picture IN picture.

The PiP, or Picture and picture on the 32" must have both then.

It is able to display the main picture and another in a box about an eigth of the size in the bottom right, or ....

if you want to see the whole of the main screen, that is reduced and the small picture it at the side, or ..

you can have two pictures the same size side by side.

I have found the facility quite useful. The 4500 is getting more appealing than the 4000.


I have found the 4500 at Pixmania for £429, much cheaper than anywhere else. Apparently the company is based in France and sometimes supply products with a 2-pin plug, but also supply the 3-pin to change it. Has anyone ordered from this company, and if so are they reliable? I have found several reviews, some good, some bad.
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