Iain Young

Thinking of getting a plasma tv to replace my ailing 28" telly, and was thinking maybe one of these....

http://www.unbeatable.co.uk/CatalogueItem_18358.html

I haven't been able to find any reviews however. I'm going to pop into the locat comet and have a look, but does anyone know anything about it (or can you recommend any others in a similar price range).

Also, do you know how well these screens work with consoles (xbox / ps2 / gamecube etc at 60hz)

Thanks,
Iain

Neil Smalley

Panasonic are reckoned to be the best screens, but the wife did'nt like it so I've bought myself a Sony KE-42M1

http://www.sony.co.uk/PageView.do?si...screen+16x9+TV

You can play consoles on them just fine, but be aware that spending too long on will cause screen burn where the images are permanently burned into the screen. PC's won't work so well because of the low(er) resolution the screen offers. For PC use you need one that's at least 1024X768 and at the moment they are good few 100 quid more

Best place to get them are John Lewis's as they offer a 5 year warranty and if you can find a place cheaper(e.g a richer sounds) they'll price match too

Hoppy

Hitachi has had very good reviews, and I even ordered that very set. But decided it was too small (if you're gonna go big, go BIG!) and swapped it for a 42in LG from John Lewis and am very happy

I would say a) you can't go too big b) even digital broadcast quality is generally much lower than the screen's potential (but the ads usually look great!), and c) the sound always lags behind the image a bit, giving poor lip-sync, sometimes by an annoying amount (the image takes a mo to process, hence the delay).

Richard.

Iain Young

Thanks for that.

I didn't realise that image burn was a problem for plasma screens (thought it was only projection screens that had trouble). Also, that lip-sync lag problem sounds a little worrying...

Any thoughts on what the LCD screens are like. There seems to be a few reasonably priced ones on the John Lewis site. More expensive than plasma, but are they worth it?

For example...

http://www.johnlewis.com/Shopping/Pr...U&Id=230200690

Thanks again,
Iain

cong

try and do a kelkoo search you can get 42 inch and 50 inch plasma screens for about £2000 and less

Neil Smalley

Hoppy. Not noticed any lipsync issues on mine. The other factor to bear in mind is the contrast ratio. Too little and the screen will appear washed out in daylight. You need at least 2000:1. My sony is 3000:1 and the panasonics 4000:1.
I did'nt think LCD's went as big as 42 inches. BTW I did'nt need a 50 inch due to the 8ft screen I use for my projector The plasma is for normal TV watching, the PJ for films

Iain Young

I was only looking for a 32" one (not sure I've got room for anything else in the bedroom), which why I wondered about the LCDs and if they're any good...

Hoppy

My LG 42in plasma is now under £2k and has an automatic anti-burn programme thingy that whitewashes the screen. I guess many others do, too. However, it is said that this effect exists mainly in saleman's imaginations (especially when selling extended warranty) or maybe occasionally on one of their shop tellies, but that's only because it's been on the same channel continuously for the last three months. Anyway, it's only on the logos and if you're clever you can turn them off, I think.

I believe that LCD is maybe better but the screens are smaller and more expensive right now. Anyway, if you get a decent signal into a big plasma screen (new DVD, say) the image will blow you away. And I repeat, if you watch braodcast TV, only the best transmission will show the screen to its full potential. 80% of broadcasts I watch on BBC and ITV do not show the screen at its best.

On the sound-sync thing, it really bugged me at first then Logiclee on here explained why. He also said that some of the better AV amps have a sound delay circuit built-in that you can adjust. But I've got used to it now - just have to listen more carefully!

Oh, and did you know digital broadcasts are a second or two behind analogue? Sometimes they are almost simultaneous, sometimes maybe three seconds behind. That can be really annoying if you've got two different tellies on at once.

Richard.

Neil Smalley

I noticed that. If I switch from analogue to my Tivo it jumps back a second or two.

I've not my mine long enough to ignore the warnings about Screen burn. It is as you say the darn channel logos that can be the main culprits. I'm also told, like scoobs they need to be 'run in' for a few hours before the picture gets it's best.

Iain Young

Not sure about John Lewis being a good place to get stuff.

Just looked up the Sony KEP42M1S Plasma screen. John Lewis have it for £2995, but Comet have the same set for £2497 !!!

paulr

Panasonic.

Neil Smalley

JL will pricematch. Go find your local richer sounds and get JL to match it.

unfeasablylargegonads

iTrader: (3)

just be carefull about the small print of warenty regarding pixel failure. It is not uncomon for a the warrently to allow for several pixels to fail. If one does, then its not the end of the world however its one of those things that if you notice it you can't stop noticing it (if you know what I mean).

corradoboy

Echo what's been said about Panasonic plasmas, only really bettered by Pioneer which are much dearer. The Hitachis are usually very good too. I'd recommend looking at them at a specialist AV/HiFi retailers rather than Currys/Comet as you will not see their full potential. The big retailers haven't got a clue how to connect up and fully demonstrate plasmas, and usually have the connected via composite RF to the multiscreen (200+) splitter which feeds every set in store. A specialist will show you it connected with component/progressive or RGB/SVHS (and with Pioneers HDMI ) and via a variety of sources. I agree with getting JL to price match and taking advantage of the 5 year guarantee, but try and see if the specialist will also match and offer an extended warranty, as the aftersales service from them is usually astounding compared to the majors. Unfortunately it is reflected in their prices

paulr

Ditto last comment.I saw a Panasonic at a specialist hi-fi shop and the pic was awesome......unbeleivable.

Trout

iTrader: (1)

How pants is that!!!

Panasonic 42in Plasma is £3,700 at JL...

...without stand...

...and the wall bracket it £350!!!!!!!

Pants!

I will get Wallis to make me one!

Iain Young

Thanks folks,

I'm actually thinking about one of these now...

http://www.tvandvideodirect.com/product.php?xProd=945

32" LCD screen. Saw it running in Comet this morning (playing a dvd), and the picture was significantly better than the similarly priced plasmas

corradoboy

Were the plasmas also playing a DVD, and how were they connected ?

Try and see some football on it before you commit, fast moving images such as when a wide camera angle tracking a ball can turn the picture into pea soup as the processing struggles to keep up. LCD's are worse than plasmas for this, but are getting better and are close to overtaking them, but not yet.
BTW, Sharps new range has a 45" LCD, Samsung have been selling a 40" for a year or two and LG have made (but not marketed) a 57" LCD (along with a 100" plasma)

My money would go on a 42" Pana Viera at the mo'.

Madjay2

personally i wouldnt spend any less than 2200 on a plasma screen at a size of 42in, cus if u do u'll be dissappointed. best value for money 42in is the hitachi, absolutely stunning picture but not a patch on the pioneer 43in which is to my knowledge the only high definition panel available at the mo.

if ur going for 32in go for the hitachi at richers sounds which comes with bracket, tuner box and speakers for around 2000 i believe. same panel used in the 42in so u wont be dissapointed

Iain Young

The plasmas were running the same dvd as the lcd (I brought along finding Nemo and Phantom Menace and got them to play them both ).

The lcd had no problems keeping up with the fast moving action, and looked a lot crisper than the plasmas. The colour reproduction seemed better, and the contrast was definitely better. The lcd was brighter, higher resolution, and as I'm going to be using it with the xbox etc, will have no problems with burn in etc...

Having trouble seeing why I would go for a plasma when you take those things into account, (especially as I haven't got room for anything bigger than a 32")....

Madjay2

ur gonna be talking bit bucks for a large lcd. lcd screens are naturally alot more sharp than plasma's personally i dont like them.

"I brought along finding Nemo and Phantom Menace and got them to play them both "

george lucas films are the worst ever for showing off plasma screen, he shouldnt be allowed to make films

Iain Young

The 32" Phillips screen I was looking at (which has won loads of awards from people like what hifi etc) is 2175.00 from numerous places, so they're not too expensive.

Why? Surely if it shows up the flaws in plasma screens then it's a good thing to try. The lcd handled it much better....

Madjay2

it doesnt show up flaws on the plasma, they just look rubbish because of the way george lucas has them all mastered in that smudgey ****e everything looks fake way that he does his films. basically they are too soft and dont show a screen at its full potential.

have u seen the philips 32 in the flesh? if it was me, i wouldnt touch if with a stick.

Iain Young

So you're saying that plasma is better because the picture is fuzzier and so doesn't show up imperfections in the original image. That's like saying vhs is better than dvd because it masks imperfections in the film reproduction. Or vynil is better than cd

Yes, I have. It looked very good. Certainly seemed to handle fast moving stuff with no noticable blurring etc.

Is there any particular reason you wouldn't touch it with a stick? What hifi, what video, (plus a couple of others) have all been giving it 5 star ratings....

Madjay2

"So you're saying that plasma is better because the picture is fuzzier and so doesn't show up imperfections in the original image. That's like saying vhs is better than dvd because it masks imperfections in the film reproduction. Or vynil is better than cd"

no no no, thats not what i mean, lucas films are naturally soft images which dont show people the full potential of a panel, it will make most panels look reasonable good. thats why it isnt a good dvd to use

we have one of the philips running in our store and the build quality is to say the least rubbish imo, the picture isnt that great either, finding nemo looks very rare on it imo

Iain Young

Ah I see what you were getting at now

Not sure what you mean by "rare" ?

Well, I'm officially confused now. Seems that a lot of people love it, but you're saying it's not great and not built well (although the one I looked at seemed ok).

If I didn't go for this screen, which would you recommend then? Around a 32" in the 2000-2300 price range, with good contrast rating, and high resolution....

Thanks,
Iain

Madjay2

to be honest i dont really know of a great selection of that size. personally i'd got for the hitachi plasma everytime.

http://www.richersounds.com/index.ph...l.php&p=302188

absolutely beautiful panel, and a nice surround on it, which makes it look like the price it is unlike the philips which looks like a tescos job to me

as for the picture being rare on the philips unless we've got a dud, oranges arent orange on it, they are more red, absolutely awful to look at

DavidBrown

Lip Synch problems are more likely to be an issue with your DVD player than the plasma - I've never known any plasma to show a noticeable "lag".

Modern plasmas are excellent. Get one !!

I'm using a Pioneer 50" (504HDE) and can't recommend it highly enough.

Vinesh

I currently have the following:

Pioneer 433 mxe1
Vison Scaler
Marantz AV amp - Changing to Yamaha 2400 soon
Mordaunt Short Speakers
Limit DVD - Changing to Pioneer 575a soon

The pioneer is a awesome screen and the scaler makes a hell of a difference.

The scaler is running at 768 prog lines at 59.94 hz. The scaler can run at 1080 prog lines if needed. A typical DVD player displays 540 prog lines. My DVD and Sky + runs at 768p lines.

There are cheaper screens on the market, ie LG, Samsung, etc but the picture quality is crap.

Iain Young

Conversely, I saw the Hitatchi and wasn't impressed. I thought the picture looked fuzzy, and the blacks just were'nt black, more like dark grey. Probably something to do with the fact that the contrast ratio is only 1000:1 on that model. I can get the screen for £1629 from Unbeatable, so it's quite cheap now (probably because it's an old model).

I never noticed that, but then to a lesser or greater degree, I'm red/green/brown/blue/purple colour blind

Trouble is, in Swindon there are no decent hifi shops with stuff set up correctly, so it's very difficult to form an accurate opinion...

I had noticed that. I've seen a couple of plasmas which I liked the look of, but they were a good couple of thousand quid out of my price range. It seems that most of them (even the larger ones) only run at 852x480, which seems a little low (the lcd I mentioned runs at 1366x768 with a 12ms response time).

A little large for me. I haven't really got room for anything over a 32" (unless I wall mount it), and really haven't been impressed with any of the cheaper large screens in the 2000-2500 price range...

Iain