Evening folks,

I'm vaguely considering buying a Plasma TV - probably 32" or 37" as our old Hitachi is on its last legs.

Looking at Philips http://www.empiredirect.co.uk/produc...=PHI-32PF9964C Samsung or Panasonic http://www.empiredirect.co.uk/produc...e=PAN-TH37PW5B brands but not sure what to go for. Complete Novice as far as Plasmas go

So... has anyone got a Plasma? Can anyone offer any opinions on them? and finally wheres the best place to buy?

cheers

Neil

[Edited by NeilT - 6/1/2003 9:18:37 PM]

 

I worked as a home cinema installer for a couple of years and have seen a lot of very expensive kit plasmas are great but LCD is where it's at! the sizes are getting bigger and the prices are dropping fast. If you can wait for a 42LCD, but if you have made your mind up sony do a very nice one with 3 scarts and a built in tuner and speakers with RGB! very rare on such a unit but not cheap good luck! ADS
oh we currently have an 8.2 surround sound system (yamaha AZ1) with a 32" sony vega and a projector untill the LCD's drop in price!

[Edited by specialx - 8/3/2003 10:51:23 PM]

 

from what I've read, Plasmas have to be recharged every 4-5 years and its a hit and miss affair whether this works or not. LCD's dont require this.

Organic LCD's for TV's (already used in mobile phones) are on the horizon, meaning much cheaper LCD screens.

Hence the reason I went for a 28" Phlips widescreen (only £320!) and a Sony DAVS 550 Wega amp.

GTI - my previous TV was a Hitachi and I would never buy another one - has the repair guy out almost monthly for the first year of its life (plus the VCR it came with developed an annoying rattling noise after just 6 weeks!)

Neil





[Edited by NeilT - 8/4/2003 8:51:43 AM]

 

My only observation is every time i see a really good picture on a plasma its a Panasonic.

 

Pioneer are supposed to be good !?!

By the way, the panasonic one you like is only £2647 http://www.priceguideuk.com

 

The Pansonic is often considered to be the best 42" plasma screen you can currently buy.

However I recently read a review which strangely did'nt rate its 37" brother.... I suppose it is a completely different panel though.

Seriously tempted myself, but they still keep coming down in price...

 

Also take a look at the new 37 inch (I think) Sony plasma that 'floats' in a glass frame. It has what I think is an excellent picture quality for a plasma.

Cheers

Ian

 

This should answer a few of the questions in the plasma vs lcd debate.

 

I saw Stars Wars Episode One demoing in a shop on a Plasma and LCD side by side. The clarity of the LCD over the Plasma was nothing short of amazing!

Simon.

 

bought a 28" Philips CRT in the end. cheap for now, until organic LCD gets released.

Neil

 

i would buy a cheap tv and a nice projector, as with plasma you will need sound source aswell so if you havent already got you will need av amp and speakers

 

no has siad that they only last about 10,000 hours viewing time

 

10,000 hrs my sony only get 2000 if you lucky before a bulb change but have tv underneath and only watch projector for the odd gaming session and films

 

10,000 hours is 4 hours a day for 7 years. How long exactly do you want a TV to last?

 

Plasma and LCD, cough (look left) cough..

 

Thanks folks,.... thats answered a lot of questions for me. Looks like LCD has it in the bag. Now where did I put that piggy bank ?

 

Sorry to hi-jack but are Hitachi tv's anygood? (standard widescreen i mean)

Thanks

 

do LCD TV's have a longer life expectancy than a plasma TV???

 

Plasma's need recharging...... oh please.....

 

not true then???

 

IMO the quality for both plasma and LCD still isn't good enough to justify the massive price differential to normal TVs - get yourself a cheap 32" wide screen £300-400) and wait for them to drop in price and noticeably improve.

It's no surprise that the shops displaying these things are still playing Toy Story - i.e. like for like there's sod all difference next to a normal TV and, if anything, they're often worse with e.g. natural history programmes

Gordo

 

"Plasma's need recharging...... oh please..... "

are they still coming out with this krap!!

 

Rasher - no it's total b0llocks.....[img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img]

My next door neighbour was about to sign on the dotted for one in Dixons (I know I know!) until the oik salesman said you MUST take out the extended warranty - these things need regassing every year.....

Upside is they deffo didnt want the extended warranty so didnt buy the plasma - strike two for Dixons then.....LOL

Its basically being told by salesmen on warranty commission using the Fear, Doubt & Uncertainty rule to sell ext warranties.

See:- http://www.plasmatvbuyingguide.com/p...matvpixel.html

The rest of the site is an excellent resource for plasma advice too. A bit american but the info is the same.

 

try http://www.richersounds.co.uk

always good prices

 

NeilT - likewise, bought a 28" pro logic Hitachi screen in 1993 and for the first year - 18 months the bloody thing would flick onto standby and back on 2 or 3 times a day - fecking anooying, luckily it doesnt do it anymore (albeit once or twice a month). Although it is now 10 years old and going strong (touch wood!)

 

LOL sounds hilarious when you put it like that

 

Makes it sound like air con.

 

plasmas and LCD's are great just be very carefull with picture burn! this is caused buy those nasty little logo's at the top right of the screen on SKY 1,MTV etc (that should be banned!! we know what chennel we are on!!!) game consoles and pausing dvd's. I have seen a lot of units ruined by those nasty bl**dy channel logo's that have been perminantly burnt into the screen so when you turn it off you can still see it on the screen! but I will add this is only caused in extreme circumstances ie on one channel or image for longer than 8 hours just a warning folks! Ads

 

In defence of LCD (whilst still very much in love with his plasma ) they don't suffer from permanent burn, however plasmas and CRTs do if left on sky news all day. Some of the screens put little white dots around the channel logo to limit the effect but frankly if you're watching the same channel for hours and hours thehn you need to get out more (just like me )

and you still can't get 50" LCD ! <coat on>