ex-webby

Hi All

Looking to pick up a 50" plasma this afternoon.

Local store has a Panasonic TH-50PZ80B in stock, for £1200.

They also have a Pioneer PDP-5080TX for £1900.

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Can you tell me whether the Pioneer is worth the extra cash, and any other advice around these two?

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I have a 42" Panasonic Viera which I've been very pleased with, but want to upgrade.

Cheers

Simon

Hanley

My advice...if you can afford the Pioneer then definately get it.

Panasonic is a fantastic tv but definately a poor mans Pioneer

Just my opinion

ex-webby

thanks for the reply Hanley

I've updated the model names, as I'd got them wrong!

Am I likely to notice the picture quality improvement? Better contrast, etc?

Hanley

Shouldn't that be the Pioneer 5080??

This is the Kuro (means black in Japanese) and you won't find depths of black and colour on any other TV.

I would definatley get it

One note - the Panny is FullHD and Pioneer is only HD Ready - so this could be important depending on what your inputs are going to be.

Hanley

Simon - read this review of the Pioneer

Pioneer Kuro PDP-5080 Plasma TV

Hanley

This guy seems happy with it

Having just purchased this model i have to say,its just stunning.
ok so its not full hd but compared to other full hd model there really is no [to the non expert eye]difference.
yes i am a bit bias towards this tv ,having hung it on my wall.
I have tosay that after spending so long waying up other tvs,the pioneers are as good as they say,for example the blacks are so deep ,and there are so many adjustments you can make to picture quality rgb,sharpness,contrast ,cinema mode,you spend more time doing these than watching the films,anyway enough of this rambling ,just to say id find it hard to choose any other make from now on,well until we see what panasonic do with them..

I've seen this model in Warrington AV and the quality blew me away.

Tough choice you'll have to make....but I'm sure you'll enjoy either

ex-webby

Hanley, again thank you.

I've updated to 5080 now.

Thanks for pointing out its only HD ready, as that's a consideration for me.

Maybe the Panasonic is looking favourite again.

Shame I was starting to get excited about the Pioneer!

Hanley

Just remember a FullHD TV is 2 million pixels and that means the TV has a lot of work to do when displaying standard inputs e.g. Sky (Sky HD will be okay over HDMI but normal Sky over scart would struggle) - that can result in a poorer picture, even more as it's a 50inch screen.

Advice I was given by a very respectable TV expert was if you consider the majority of your inputs will be HD e.g. PS3, Blu-Ray and SkyHD then opt for the FullHD, if however, you will spend the majority of your time watching 'SD tv' then you may be better with the HD ready.

Trust me the Panansonic will not dissapoint either

drb5

iTrader: (4)

I place the Pioneer JUST above the Panny in quality terms, so consider the Panny is FullHD, it sounds a better price IMO.

God, we have an HD Ready Samsung 50" and comparing it to our old 37" Panny, it's just as good.

Hanley

HDMI connections:

Panasonic 2
Pioneer 3

I must be bored at work this afternoon




I have the Panasonic TH-42PZ80B, this is full HD and the picture quality is fantastic on Sky HD and simply jaw dropping via a standalone blu ray player

odds

I've a Pioneer and think the picture quaility is excellent. I would, if I had to, buy another one of them.

But don't forget, if you go for the Panny, Amazon do it for a hundred quid less.

Although, I get the feeling you'll be going out this afternoon to buy one.

jsh1

iTrader: (1)

Forget the fact that the Panasonic is full HD, the Pioneer is head and shoulders above ANY screen on the market at the moment.

I install screens all of the time and have been in the industry for years - I would not hesitate to buy the Pioneer.

You will not be disappointed in any way

Jason

drb5

iTrader: (4)

Completely agree with you there fella, but your talking £700 difference.

That's a lot of extra cash.

ex-webby

Hi Gents

Thanks a lot for you advice.

I've just got home with the Panasonic.

While I was there I looked at the full hd version of the pioneer, and there is no question, the picture is better. But not a grand better (for me personally).

Thanks again for the advice, I'll report back once I've got it set up!

Hanley

You won't be dissapointed

JPL

I have the Pioneer HD ready PDP 434 HD..E (?) in my bedroom, 43"

Nice, had some warm up issues with it, which niggle me. Customer service was also 5hite!

Upgraded the lounge with the 46" PZ85B ... It's full 1080p, and running the PS3, she's a beaut.

I may be biased, but I much prefer my new Panny to the Pioneer.

Hanley

Well??

How is it?