Plasma/LCD TV Advice

[Opt1]

I'm thinking of getting a plasma/lcd TV, mostly for gaming on avec my Xbox 360 (Premium, not Elite) and possibly for having as a second monitor for my laptop for watching DVDs, etc. on..

I was just wondering what are the important things to look out for in these TVs? I'm a bit behind the times and don't really know what values are important and what is a "good" value..

I'm looking to get something at 26" 's as anything else bigger is impractical for me as a student and anything smaller is just no fun

Other than HD, the only thing I'm really looking at is the contrast ratios of TVs as my way of comparing them, what else should I be looking at? What sort of range is good and what ratio is rubbish?

My budget is probably £450 or so tops.. I'd rather not spend that much if I can help it, but I'd like to make sure I get something good that will last me several years and don't want to end up wasting £250-£300 on something average..

I've found some TVs that *look* good around the £350-£450 price range on websites for Currys, Dixons, etc.. but I don't know very much

Anyone able to recommend anything or any particular manufacturer?

Ta

 

[Ch3tan]

Is 32" really impractical? you end up paying more for the smaller sizes.

 

[Moriath]

400 quid will get you a 26inch sammy R87 model that works fine with my 360 in the bedroom

You wont get plasma that small or that price

I recommend the sammy tho

 

[Opt1]

Noob question: What's the difference between plasma and LCD?

Ch3t - I am very tempted by 32".. but I assumed they were more expensive and I'd be sacrificing some quality for the increased screen size? :s

 

[Wij]

Plasma can show a deeper black because LCD can only show black by blocking all the light behind it which doesn't work 100%.

imo most plasmas look better but there are great screens in both types. Check them out in a shop to see which you like the look of. Then buy them online to save money

Problem is in that price range you won't get a 1080 resolution screen. 720 ones may be out of date in a few years.

 

[Hawkwind]

LCD = Samsung
Plasma = Panasonic

Don't buy from Curry's or Dixon's the models the models they generally stock are unique P/N's so it is difficult to do comparrisons. Usually just some strange feature enabled that a baseline does not have but is done to confuse.

Better off buying from an online stockist or even from someone like John Lewis in UK who will match any retail price and deliver.

If you can stretch your budget a bit this is a very nice LCD:

http://http://www.dabs.com/productv...eMode=1&NavigationKey=11229,50429,49090000,22


If not this is what I would go for given the budget:

dabs.com - Samsung LE32R87BDX 32" LCD TV (LE32R87BDX/XEU)

 

[Clown]

I have a question. How can a plasma with a 1024x768 (or just something that obviously isn't 720p or 1080p) resolution be high definition ready?

 

[nath]

I have a question. How can a plasma with a 1024x768 (or just something that obviously isn't 720p or 1080p) resolution be high definition ready?

It's something that makes me want to stab marketing fuckwits in the face. Basically, it's HD Ready because it can take a hidef source and downsample it to its resolution. I guess the difference is, my 28" CRT can't do that, it has to be fed a standard def source.

It's a total crock of shit, and what fucks me off is a few friends that aren't so clued up about this stuff had no idea HD-Ready didn't mean genuine hi def so obviously it's a successful marketing ploy to sell inferior goods. There should be some consumer watchdog investigation or something, it's a such a scam.

Plasma = Panasonic

Last time I checked (which was a while ago) Pioneer made very good plasmas too.

 

[cHodAX]

It's something that makes me want to stab marketing fuckwits in the face. Basically, it's HD Ready because it can take a hidef source and downsample it to its resolution. I guess the difference is, my 28" CRT can't do that, it has to be fed a standard def source.

It's a total crock of shit, and what fucks me off is a few friends that aren't so clued up about this stuff had no idea HD-Ready didn't mean genuine hi def so obviously it's a successful marketing ploy to sell inferior goods. There should be some consumer watchdog investigation or something, it's a such a scam.





Last time I checked (which was a while ago) Pioneer made very good plasmas too.

Very true, an awful lot of 720p/1080i sets out there that can actually display what people expect.

 

[cHodAX]

Last time I checked (which was a while ago) Pioneer made very good plasmas too.

And Sharp make some stunning LCD panels.

 

[Yaka]

go to you local richer sounds, currys and comet look at the tvs,

richer sounds alow you to bring in your own ps3/360/wii for demo in thier demo rooms which is an ace way to see and find the best one.

currys and comet of late have been known to knock off a few bob of the price if
you are paying cash.

for plasma panasonic is great with pioneer and fujitsu dominating the top end of the market.

LCDs wise samsung is a good bet. but LG,toshiba are worth a look as well

£450 right now will net you ver decent lcd tv

 

[Clown]

Basically, it's HD Ready because it can take a hidef source and downsample it to its resolution. I guess the difference is, my 28" CRT can't do that, it has to be fed a standard def source.

I thought that's what HD Compatible meant. There are some very good Pioneer Plasmas, but with shitty resolutions. People sing their praises and they score well in reviews but I don't see how it is true HD. Someone tried to say it was because plasma pixels were rectangular, but I wasn't buying that.

Anyway, I guess scaling down an image should look better than scaling up an image.

The reason I was asking was because I very nearly bought a Pioneer plasma, HD ready, with a funny resolution.
Pioneer PDP4280XD Review – 42” Kuro HD Ready Plasma TV Test

 

[nath]

Hmm, odd. Given that it's a widescreen tele without a widescreen resolution I guess the pixels would have to be rectangular, either that or there's some sort of interlacing. On the Pioneer PDP-607XD the resolution (horizontal x vertical) 1,365 (Hor) x 768 (Ver) so the pixels clearly aren't always rectangular.

 

[JBP|]

i got one of these, Sharp Electronics (UK) - LC32AD5EBK 32 Inch HD Ready LCD TV - Buy online direct from Sharp UK

Ordered it online from Currys (reserve and collect) and picked it up for £485.

No doubt someone will now tell me its a crap tv but i'm happy with it for playing on the 360 with and the occasional movie.

 

[Ch3tan]

Noob question: What's the difference between plasma and LCD?

Ch3t - I am very tempted by 32".. but I assumed they were more expensive and I'd be sacrificing some quality for the increased screen size? :s

No, you pay more for the smaller sizes because they make less. Prices of 32" LCD's are rock bottom right now, lots of very decent deals to be had. I am not a big fan of samsungs. Sharps bigger screens are good, not sure about the 32" ones. Personally I would buy Toshiba, prices are very good and feature set and picture quality is top notch.

 

[Ch3tan]

Hmm.. if you are looking at the samsungs, I beleive this model is newer than the r87 and has higher brightness and a 100hz refresh -for the same price Samsung LE32M87BDX - Product Information - Digital Direct UK

 

[Opt1]

I don't have time to follow this all up, but just wanted to say cheers for all the advice - is much appreciated.

Am pretty resigned to 720p, though I'm not sure I'll be buying for a month or two yet, so we'll see how it goes.

EDIT: Nice find Ch3t.. are they including VAT?

Right, must run!

 

[Bodhi]

Me sis has just had a 40" Bravia - gotta say the picture quality is stunning, pin-sharp with good colours. A mate has a 37" Tosh which is also good, but I prefer the Bravia. Just a shame about the price of the bloody things.

Sonystyle has a 70" one for just under 5k. If only.....

 

[Clown]

but I prefer the Bravia

You didn't have to tell us Bodhi

 

[nath]

Sonystyle has a 70" one for just under 5k. If only.....

Pff my 106" cost me about £1.5k all in

 

[Clown]

My £1500 projector is just sitting around doing nothing

 

[nath]

My God why?

 

[Ch3tan]

Because his room is actually too small for a projector nath, do keep up

 

[Hawkwind]

And Sharp make some stunning LCD panels.

Fujitsu actually make some of the best LCD's but their driving circuitry is far from the best. Their LCD's are in a lot of best branded sellers.

Bizarre the way Jap companies buy parts from each other

I work for Panasonic albeit on the Aircraft side but having seen the financial reports of MEI (Panasonics a subsiduary of MEI) can tell you that MEI's biggest customer for sub assemblies is Sony!

 

[Hawkwind]

Me sis has just had a 40" Bravia - gotta say the picture quality is stunning, pin-sharp with good colours. A mate has a 37" Tosh which is also good, but I prefer the Bravia. Just a shame about the price of the bloody things.

Sonystyle has a 70" one for just under 5k. If only.....

Pity the reliability of the Sony range is not as good as in years past

Panasonic Plasmas range have now exceeded 103".

 

[soze]

Amazon.co.uk: Samsung LE37M87BDX / 37in Full HD LCD IDTV by Samsung: Electronics & Photo

This is the TV i have ordered i got it though my works reseller discount (not from Amazon) and got it for under £600 only bad thing 6 week delivery still got another 3 weeks to wait. Be glad to hear any plus negatives about the Samsungs.