Looking for a TV

[Cube]

Well, the last "help me find a TV" is probably outdated.

 

Anyway, for my new flat I'll need a new TV, and I haven't paid much attention to them in many years.

 

I'm looking in the regions of 36"+ size. I could do with three HDMI sockets (preferably all on the back, but I could live with one on the side) and one set of component sockets. I'm not too bothered about freeview or 3D. I would prefer a "known brand".

 

I'm looking at trying to keep the costs below £600.

 

Does anyone know of any current offers out there that would suit me?

[The Peeps]

If you're quick you can usually get a great deal on http://www.beyondtelevision.co.uk - That's where I bought mine from.

 

Here's a Samsung full HD, freeview, 46" TV with 4 HDMI ports and USB for £569.85

http://www.beyondtelevision.co.uk/TV+DVD+Blu-Ray/Televisions/LCD/Samsung+LE46D580+-+Series+5+-+46+Full+HD+1080p+LCD+Television+with+Freeview+HD_LE46D580.htm?ne=AQAAAAIAAAAEAjQ2

[Yvonne]

if the hdmi ports are making the tv expensive you can always get a 4 way switch box for like £13

[Cube]

Actually, I think I've found the perfect one.

 

http://www.dixons.co.uk/gbuk/panasonic-viera-tx-p42s30b-42-full-hd-plasma-tv-10179674-pdt.html

 

I didn't realise you could get Panasonics at that price.

[Nintendohnut]

I believe it's at cheap because it's plasma. Some people prefer it, but I know a lot of people who prefer LED or LCD. LED is really the best you can get at the moment so if you can find one in your price range I'd go for that. We recently bought a 32" Toshiba Regza LCD with Freeview HD built in. It has four HDMI ports and is overall really great. Think it was around £370, so if you can spend a little more you can certainly get a bigger screen or slightly better specs. Got that one from Amazon - they have some really great deals on TVs and are always worth a look.

 

Anyway, good luck!

[Cube]

I believe it's at cheap because it's plasma. Some people prefer it, but I know a lot of people who prefer LED or LCD. LED is really the best you can get at the moment so if you can find one in your price range I'd go for that. We recently bought a 32" Toshiba Regza LCD with Freeview HD built in. It has four HDMI ports and is overall really great. Think it was around £370, so if you can spend a little more you can certainly get a bigger screen or slightly better specs. Got that one from Amazon - they have some really great deals on TVs and are always worth a look.

 

Anyway, good luck!

 

I see. When I looked at TVs last it was "Plasma is always the best above 32".

 

Perhaps this one:

 

http://www.dixons.co.uk/gbuk/panasonic-viera-tx-l42e30b-42-full-hd-led-tv-black-09919596-pdt.html

 

The extra features also look very nice indeed. The media functions (it will be right next to the wireless router for ethernet use) sound good and the recording to USB drive sounds pretty good. The main problems with it is a lack of fine-tuning options (something I'm useless at doing anyway).

[MoogleViper]

Hannspree SV42LMNB 42in Full HD LED TV 2 Year Warranty

[Nintendohnut]

Whichever you choose I'd look it up on amazon and read the reviews, or look at professional reviews if possible. I spent a long time reading up on potential options before I actually ordered ours. That one looks pretty good - my parents bought a 40" Sony LED which was a lot more expensive than that, but that could just be a standard 'sony tax' that seems to be on their TVs. It seems a really good price for such a large LED screen!

 

To be honest you might do well to go into a shop and just get the full breakdown from a sales guy. If you get a good one they will actually know what they're talking about and you can work out which is best for you, and whether it's worth spending the extra on an LED. You may well be right about the Plasma being better over 32" - I really don't want to give you bad advice!

[Cube]

Whichever you choose I'd look it up on amazon and read the reviews, or look at professional reviews if possible. I spent a long time reading up on potential options before I actually ordered ours. That one looks pretty good - my parents bought a 40" Sony LED which was a lot more expensive than that, but that could just be a standard 'sony tax' that seems to be on their TVs. It seems a really good price for such a large LED screen!

 

To be honest you might do well to go into a shop and just get the full breakdown from a sales guy. If you get a good one they will actually know what they're talking about and you can work out which is best for you, and whether it's worth spending the extra on an LED. You may well be right about the Plasma being better over 32" - I really don't want to give you bad advice!

 

I read a review of the LED. Also got my Step Dad to ask the home cinema store he uses for which one to choose (they don't sell Panasonics but do highly recommend them - they often give advice to buy stuff elsewhere, too). The LED also has more features.

[McPhee]

At this price point LED is all hype. It's a backlighting technology for LCD panels, replacing CCFL. Compared to CCFL it's cheaper, smaller and uses less power. The advantage of buying an 'LED TV' vs an LCD is that you get a thinner, more power-efficient TV. At this price range it won't affect picture quality as you'll be getting edge-lighting, not a full LED backlight. Edge lighting performs similarly to CCFL lighting (it's the same principal) but has the power, size and cost advantages associated with LED backlight tech.

 

LED vs Plasma is the same old LCD vs Plasma debate that's been going on for years. Big quote time:

 

About Plasma TVs : when to choose a Plasma television, and why. Plus we bust some myths about Plasma TVs. An aricle from the experts at AVForums.

 

Since tube (CRT) technology has been superseded by flat screen TVs, there are really only two TV technologies available right now, and these are Plasma and LCD. They are two competing technologies, each with their advantages and disadvantages. Note that LED TVs are LCD TVs with LED back or edge lighting.

Both Plasma and LCD technologies manage to produce high quality images when correctly manufactured and set up within the home.

 

- Plasma is a self-emitting technology meaning it creates its own light, very much like the old CRT TVs. This helps the technology produce realistic blacks in the picture.

 

- LCD technology uses a backlight which is usually a strip of lights (LED lights in 'LED TVs') to the side or back of the screen. Because this light shines through the LCD panel (which opens pixels to allow light through) it is more difficult for LCDs to produce a deep black on screen at the same time as showing shadow detail. This approach also means that the amount of light shown across the LCD screen is not uniform and can show pools (or cones) of light spill on screen.

 

- Plasma on the other hand, being self-illuminating, can achieve far more consistent light uniformity.

 

Because of the image strong points, Plasma TVs have found a large fan base with movie enthusiasts for displaying pictures that are accurate and natural.

 

When to choose a Plasma TV?

 

- Choose Plasma when picture quality is paramount. Plasmas in almost all cases are able to produce images that have rich deep blacks with good shadow detail, excellent motion resolution and accurate colours - so are often the first choice for the discerning viewer.

 

- Choose Plasma when you want a screen larger than 40 inches. Plasma does not come in sizes smaller than this, so in those cases where you want a smaller screen your only choice at this time is LCD. Plasma is available in sizes up to 152 inches, with the most popular sizes being 42 and 50 inches.

 

- If you have a room where you can control the lighting, or amount of light that comes into the room then Plasma technology is for you. Because of how the technology works it is much better suited than LCD to watching movies in dimmed conditions. An LCD in the same conditions is likely to have lighter blacks and worse screen uniformity because it uses a backlight. Since Plasmas are made from glass (two sheets of glass bonded together with a vacuum containing gas), they may not work as well as LCD in bright conditions. This has been an issue in the past with light hitting a Plasma screen and washing the image out. Most new Plasma models are fitted with a filter that rejects ambient light and stops the image from being washed out. However, Plasma is not as bright as LCD and in some cases where you want a screen in a bright room such as a conservatory or very open room, you may find that LCD will give you a more consistent picture. It has to be noted that a TV in such a room will never give you the best possible image quality and will be a compromise. The amount of light in the room where you use your TV will influence how good the picture is.

 

- Choose Plasma when you need a wide viewing angle. When you have people sitting further off to the side of the TV, Plasma is preferable since its picture does not degrade. An LCD TV's picture, on the other hand, looks worse the further to the side of the TV (or 'off axis') you sit.

 

- Choose Plasma where you are going to watch a lot of sports or fast moving images. Amongst Plasma's strengths is motion resolution where images do not smear or blur as soon as the action on screen speeds up. This also means that, unlike LCD, technically Plasma does not need motion interpolation systems to help produce natural motion. Typical Plasma models will resolve up to 1080 lines of information compared to an average of 300-400 lines on an LCD or LED LCD TV. (Note there are some exceptions to this with certain individual models).

 

The vast majority of Plasma screens also have low input lag which means that those who like to play video games on their TVs will benefit in most cases with Plasma over LCD.

 

Common misconceptions about Plasma 're-gassing', lifespan, screen burn and more.

 

- Plasmas do use gas, but it never escapes and they never require 're-gassing'. Anyone telling you that Plasmas need re-gassing is spreading an urban myth. This is still a favourite tactic with many sales staff and is completely wrong.

 

- Both Plasmas and LCDs have a good lifespan. Some manufacturers quote lifespans of 100,000 hours, which at 8 hours per day is 34 years. In other words you will probably replace your TV before it gets close to half its lifespan.

 

- Screen burn is another term used by sales staff who may try to push a customer towards LCD (or LED) instead of Plasma. Screen burn is more or less a thing of the past and will only ever happen if the Plasma TV is abused, i.e. used in dynamic mode with contrast up full and left on a TV channel with bright logos for a few days. Most modern Plasma screens can stand up to hours of gaming or news channel viewing if done so with appropriate picture settings and for normal periods of time.

 

- Image retention is usually mistaken for screen burn but is a natural by-product of Plasma technology and is not permanent. It is usually seen if the TV is used for a few hours of gaming or news channel viewing where there are static images on screen. After changing from gaming or the news channel, there are graphics or text boxes still seen as a faint 'ghost' over the picture. Image retention usually disappears within a few minutes. The severity of the problem does vary from manufacturer to manufacturer with the effect disappearing from most modern screens within a few minutes. The vast majority of people never notice image retention.

 

- Plasma TVs do not produce a softer image than LCD TVs. Both will show HD images with the same clarity. Any differences come down to other factors like added sharpness by the video processing of the TV.

 

- Although several TV manufacturers like Sony, Hitachi, Philips and Toshiba have abandoned Plasma technology, others like Panasonic, Samsung and LG continue to develop it. Plasma is by no means a dying technology. Many users and professionals still regard Plasma as the technology for critical viewing.

 

- Plasma TVs are not particularly power hungry if they are set up correctly. They do generally use more power than LCDs, but because the technology is self-illuminating it means that power function is never close to the maximum rated output for any length of time, whereas LCD stays at the same level when switched on (as the backlight is usually constant). Correct calibration can reduce power consumption by up to 50% in some cases (THX research, 2009).

 

Plasma TV prices

Plasma has often been seen as a premium technology because it is available in screen sizes over 40 inches and not in smaller sizes. It is also more expensive to produce and manufacture and has to be built in large numbers. However, as production techniques from manufacturers like Panasonic have improved, this has allowed Plasma to be more affordable to the mass market. With the introduction of LED Backlit LCD TVs which command a price premium for being slim, Plasma has become even more cost effective in performance and price terms. A quality Plasma screen these days costs the same or even less than a competing LED LCD model.

 

Black levels on Plasma TVs

Black levels are considered by many to be a strong point of any TV. In all cases this must also mean that shadow detail (details just above absolute black) must also be seen. To obtain a black that doesn't look grey on screen, some TVs such as LCDs and some low end Plasmas can show blacks that appear black, but which cover over the shadow detail (an effect referred to as clipping). Some LCD and LED LCDs also add in a technique called global dimming where the backlight is switched off or dimmed down to try and create black. Global dimming affects the whole screen. Plasma, because it is self-illuminating, can in most cases (when set up correctly) achieve a black level which looks natural and shows the correct amount of shadow detail. It also means that mixed scenes (an image with very dark areas along with some bright areas) look more natural on a Plasma screen than on an LCD.

 

Better motion on Plasma TVs

Plasma technology handles motion very well and it is a plus point of the technology as it was designed for showing moving images. There is usually no need to add motion processing to Plasma screens like there is for LCD models. It is true that some recent LCD and LCD LED TVs have improved their motion response with fast moving images, but in this area Plasma is usually still better.

 

Best settings for your Plasma TV

Copying settings from owners of a similar Plasma TV is a futile exercise as each screen (even the same model) varies considerably. So one set of settings that may work for one owner, will loo

k completely different to another. However there have been recent improvements to the picture presets these days, with some that aim to try and get as close as possible to the industry standards. The industry standards are the settings that film makers and TV producers use when making their programs and movies for home viewing. This means that white and all the colours match the movies you watch on your TV. THX certified Plasma TVs have at least one preset in the picture menus which set the colour gamut and white colour as correct as possible so you can watch all your TV and film material on your TV with (close to) correct colours and white point. All you have to do is make sure the brightness and contrast settings are set for your room using the test patterns found on some DVDs and Blu-rays. THX picture mode is not just for using with THX certified DVDs as suggested in some manufacturers' manuals. It is designed to be used with everything you watch on TV.

Some Plasmas also have a picture wizard feature that will walk users through a basic calibration on the TV.

To get the best from your TV we would always recommend a professional calibration. This is especially true if you have gone for one of the more expensive screens and you want to get the very best out of your investment.

 

In conclusion

If you want a natural image with accurate colour, good black levels and excellent motion resolution, and your viewing conditions are appropriate, go for Plasma.

As always, there is no such thing as a perfect TV and what will suit you is determined by your viewing environment, budget and the type of material you want to view on your TV. We would always recommend that you do some research and demo the models you think will suit your needs before you spend your hard earned money.

 

That's at the top of the AVForums Plasma forum, housed in a shoutbox type thing. It's editorial content, not user created content. It was written by their reviewer.

 

Overall, the Panasonic TX-P50VT30 is the best performing 50-inch HDTV we’ve reviewed so far this year in any dimension. There is no comparable flat-screen television that gives the same rich blacks, excellent screen uniformity, freedom from input lag, and lack of 3D crosstalk.

 

That's the conclusion from HDTV Test's review of Panasonic's flagship TV this year. It's a Plasma. They call it the best on the market right now. Panasonic's Plasma TVs regularly pick up Highly Recommended from this site (and many others that actually test TVs properly). Not bad for apparently outdated tech...

 

I can't comment on the specific models you're looking at because I've not been paying enough attention recently to know how specific models compare. From what I did see while I was digging up this post, that price on the Panny Plasma is a ridiculously good bargain, the model down (U30B) is usually around that much! If you think Plasma is right for you, based on the information in that AVF quote, then it's probably the set to buy.

Edited September 18, 2011 by McPhee

[Rummy]

Given what I saw when I was looking at TVs I imagine a budget like that is well more than enough; We managed to get a 40" Toshiba Regza for just over £400 last january, and I've managed to get two 32" full HD sets this year for £200(a hanspree off ebuyer) and £250(a samsung). If you're after a cheeky bargain, a few high street stores have tricky to find ebay outlets for refurbished and clearance stock. I know Argos has one(google Argos Outlet) and Tesco too(googling Tesco outlet might work here as well) and they obv both have a home entertainment department. I'm at work atm so can't google check or try and find them via ebay(tis blocked) but I remember I always find them difficult to locate via ebay itself.

[Shorty]

Check hotukdeals and don't forget quidco

[Rummy]

Argios outlet

 

Tesco outlet

 

If you're set on Panasonic the Tesco outlet has a 42" for like £490, though I know nothing about that model except it's different to the one you saw on dixons.

[LegoMan1031]

I see. When I looked at TVs last it was "Plasma is always the best above 32".

 

Perhaps this one:

 

http://www.dixons.co.uk/gbuk/panasonic-viera-tx-l42e30b-42-full-hd-led-tv-black-09919596-pdt.html

 

The extra features also look very nice indeed. The media functions (it will be right next to the wireless router for ethernet use) sound good and the recording to USB drive sounds pretty good. The main problems with it is a lack of fine-tuning options (something I'm useless at doing anyway).

 

Did you get that TV in the end?

 

If so is it any good? I will be in the market for a new TV myself soon you see...

[Cube]

Did you get that TV in the end?

 

If so is it any good? I will be in the market for a new TV myself soon you see...

 

In the end I went for the Panasonic Plasma. I won't be opening the box until a week on Saturday so I can't mention the quality.

[Nolan]

I own the 50" version of the S30 (same model) and it is beautiful. I was going to recommend it but you found it on your own.

[Cube]

If so is it any good? I will be in the market for a new TV myself soon you see...

 

I've given it a (fairly short so far) test.

 

Quick Rundown:

 

Standard Freeview: Looks a bit choppy. Not sure if it's always looked choppy but it's definitely worse than the free channels through Sky.

 

Freeview HD: Looks amazing. Picture quality is rather stunning.

 

Extra frames (600Hz) technology: I'm not 100% sure about this. It makes TV look extremely smooth. But as me (as well as everyone else) is used to the usual framerate it just looks...wrong. I'm going to stick with it to see what it's like. Unfortunately you can't do it to HDMI inputs.

 

PS3 (Game): Uncharted 2. Needed to mess with the sound (but I'll mostly by using my headset) and the picture a little. The "game" picture mode seems very suited to the vibrant colours (without making them too vibrant) and the dark parts. Tried it with Uncharted 2. Looks amazing.

 

PS3 (Film): The opening battle in Star Wars Episode 3 (Blu-Ray) looks absolutely gorgeous.

 

Of course, I don't have a whole lot to compare it to, but the picture quality does look amazing.