1080P vs. 720P at 37 Inch? 37PX80 vs. Samsung 37 Series 6? HD Priority.

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Hi,

I know this is a common question but I need reassurance from others that my judgement is correct!

I spent about 5 hours a few days ago with my handy Blood Diamond Blu-Ray running around Cheltenham to every tv shop comparing the picture quality of Blood Diamond using the same scene over and over again. I knew I wanted to compare the px80 with the series 6 samsung. At the panasonic shop, the assistant was all for the px80 on HD merit alone (he bought it over the full hd 37lzd85 even though he could have got either for the same price). My problem at the time was whether i would notice any difference at 37" between 720p and 1080p. So, I closely, (for a long time repeating the same scene over and over again and from 4 foot or so away) studied the blood diamond blu ray presentation on each tv and came to the same conclusion as the assistant: THERE WAS NO DIFFERENCE IN CLARITY!! (However, the TV's were NOT SIDE BY SIDE, so is that why i may not be able to see the difference?)

Furthermore, the shadow detail and overall picture quality was better on the px80 in comparison to the lzd85 . . . . 1080P meant nothing at 37"! At 32" there was certainly NO difference at all! At 42" however, the picture clarity on the px80 in comparison to the other full hd plasma at 42" was noticeable.

BUT, I will be playing a lot of PS3 games through the T.V and with more 1080P games coming out I wondered if it were here that I would notice the difference between 720P and 1080P at 37"? I couldnt notice the difference with Blu-Ray . . . . Do you think that with games, the resolution gap will become noticeable considering that game images are quite different to films?

Thus, my conclusions so far;

At 32" there is no difference between 1080 and 720

At 37" (For Blu-Ray at least) I couldnt recognise the difference between 1080 and 720

At 42" I could notice the difference.

But will this change when using PS3?

As there wasn't a 37 inch Series 6 samsung around, i couldnt compare it to the px80, but im assuming the 37" lzd85 performs similarly to the series 6' 37" samsung.

I'm going to take some more blurays on monday to have a second look to convince myself, but wondered what everyone elses opinions might be . . .

Thanks,

Richard P

 

[Anonymous]

I would say at 37" you'll see no difference unless your viewing distance is actually ON THE TV!! I really think it's pathetic that these companies, and to my disgust Pioneer now, are making 32" Full HD.
It's all a marketing gimmick for the average muppet public.

Rob

 

[Clare Newsome]

Well, we did see the sets set by side when we last did a 37in Supertest - which is when the TX37LZD85 came down to four stars: it's a superb LCD set, and we think you CAN see more detail, but we felt it can't compare on performance-per-pound with the exceptional-value TH37PX80. I've said it before and i'll say it again... that 37in Panasonic plasma is about the best-value set (of any size) you can buy right now.

I'll also repeat our advice on buying on performance, not specification!

 

[Anonymous]

Clare Newsome:
Well, we did see the sets set by side when we last did a 37in Supertest - which is when the TX37LZD85 came down to four stars: it's a superb LCD set, and we think you CAN see more detail, but we felt it can't compare on performance-per-pound with the exceptional-value TH37PX80. I've said it before and i'll say it again... that 37in Panasonic plasma is about the best-value set (of any size) you can buy right now.

I'll also repeat our advice on buying on performance, not specification!

Fair enough Claire but what's your view of 32" Full HD sets?

R

 

[Clare Newsome]

Well, before long you won't be able to buy anything else!

Again, I think it depends on the set itself, rather than the spec-sheet - we've seen a lot of highly impressive 32in Full HD sets, but the step up in resolution isn't the most impressive thing about the best of them: picture processing performance and colour-handling (eg better motion and better blacks) has been the most noticeable improvement from the best 2007 to best 2008 sets.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies. Clare, was the detail in picture obviously greater or was it that some of the testers thought they could see more detail and some not? Also, will playing PS3 games make the resolution gap more noticeable between the 37" PX80 and the 37" Series 6 Samsung?

Thanks Again,

Richard P

 

[Anonymous]

If money were not an issue, would you pick the series 6 samsung or the px80?

Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

Rich525:

If money were not an issue, would you pick the series 6 samsung or the px80?That's easy. Plasma any day

 

[Anonymous]

I'm currently looking for a new TV and having trawled through the threads on this forum I have noticed that the Panasonic 37PX80 seems to be a popular machine, but today I went into my local Comet store to test them all out with a copy of Batman Begins on blu-ray I found the picture quality of the PX80 to be a bit washed out and the lcd 37" LZD80 model seemed a better picture, which was disappointing given the high praise for the PX80. Is there anythig I should know about the PX80 as to why the picture quality was so bad ?

 

[Anonymous]

Probably the settings that the shops insist on to catch the average punters eye (numerous mentions on threads on here). I watch Bladerunner on my Px80 (PS3, Onk 606) and it is anything but washed out. It's no Kuro but blacks are rendered easily there are definite shades to black and gray areas where required and thia also carries over to games.

Print out the settings for the PX80 from the hdtvtest.com website (it does it in 'clicks to the left or right') then go back and try it again.

Good luck.

 

[Anonymous]

andyb190:

Probably the settings that the shops insist on to catch the average punters eye (numerous mentions on threads on here). I watch Bladerunner on my Px80 (PS3, Onk 606) and it is anything but washed out. It's no Kuro but blacks are rendered easily Not to mention the bright fluorescent lighting in these shops. LCDs do fare better in these conditions. But hardly your typical evening viewing conditions at home, which is where Plasma tend to look better than LCD.

 

[Anonymous]

rewerb:andyb190:

Probably the settings that the shops insist on to catch the average punters eye (numerous mentions on threads on here). I watch Bladerunner on my Px80 (PS3, Onk 606) and it is anything but washed out. It's no Kuro but blacks are rendered easily Not to mention the bright fluorescent lighting in these shops. LCDs do fare better in these conditions. But hardly your typical evening viewing conditions at home, which is where Plasma tend to look better than LCD.

That's a matter of opinion, not a matter of fact.

 

[Anonymous]

Richard

Are you saying that in your eyes the 37px80 was a better picture than the 42" PZ or are you saying that the full HD 'Z' model was the better picture at 42"level.

My father has put in a 37" PX80 and i must admit it is a really good picture on SD TV.

 

[Anonymous]

The 42" PZ had the the best picture, better than the 42" PX80, but it wasn't huge. The difference for me was the extra bit of sharpness. However between the 37" LZD85 and PX80, in my opinion, the plasma blew the lcd out the water. The images from the plasma had real dimensionality. The LCD looked rather flat in my opinion. (This opinion is based entirely on HD content) The best judge however is yourself, so spend a couple of hours testing in shops and you will find the answer/ evidence you need to purchase the right television!

Hope that helps,

RP