matthewpiano whats your thoughts on the z5800

[admin_exported]

matthewpiano
whats your thoughts on the z5800 as im at the point of putting down a deposit on the 46,

would it come any were near the Phillips 664

 

[matthewpiano]

I haven't spent enough time with the Philips to be able to give you a balanced comparison between the two. To do so would be completely unfair to you.

In terms of the Z5800 I like it very much. The menu systems are as good as ever and its certainly the best looking of Sony's current range. Picture performance is excellent, particularly in terms of the motion processing, and its much better with standard definition sources than the Z4500 was (mostly due to Bravia Engine 3). Colour range and black levels are better than the W-series thanks to a better LCD panel. Of course it also benefits from having a good Freesat tuner, as well as the Freeview one.

HOWEVER, the one drawback is the sound. Compared to the older Z4500 the sound just isn't as good. Whereas the older set had forward firing speakers and a 12w woofer this has been sacrificed on the Z5500/5800 to enable the more elegant frame/bezel. The sound isn't terrible, but I'd certainly want to be using it with a surround sound system or 2 channel amp/speakers when watching a movie or anything musical.

So its not a perfect set, but I believe it gets most things right and that it represents a good buy for the sort of prices its being sold at.

I hope this helps. Hopefully someone who knows the Sony and the Philips equally as well will be able to provide more of a comparison.

 

[Anonymous]

thank you matthew that has helped no end, it was the PQ that interests me the most sounds like the bravia engine 3 has put this lcd up there with the best of them, had read sound is abit weak but i can always add to this, would you say the 200hz on free sat is the way for me with next years world cup

 

[matthewpiano]

The 200Hz is good, but I doubt you'll want it set to its maximum. If/when you get the set it would be worth spending some time establishing which setting suits you the best.

In terms of Freesat, that is another debate entirely. At present it doesn't really offer anything extra over Freeview apart from a small amount of HD content. However, with the World Cup finals in HD (as you mention) and the Freeview HD sets not being available yet, I believe Freesat is the way to go at present. Worth bearing in mind also that Freeview doesn't have the same potential for expanding the amount of HD content as Freesat and, given the multitude of problems experienced by customers retuning as a result of the digital switch-over in the North West, I think there is a great deal to be said for the satellite based service. With the current offers of a free BDP-S560 with the Z5800 (but not the Z5500), and the small price difference between the Z5500 and the Z5800 I think its a no-brainer anyway.

Finally, yes BE3 has moved the LCD game on, there is no doubt about that but other manufacturers have also been very successful in this respect. There is a big difference between BE3 and BE2, particularly when viewing SD content. With the better panel in the Z-series as well, black levels are now excellent. Whilst not quite as inky as the blacks on an LED edge-lit set, I feel that the Z retains details in those dark areas more successfully. There is always some slight element of trade-off no matter which way you go.

 

[Anonymous]

The Zs have 10 bit panel, wcg ccfl lighting and 200hz motion blur control over the W series. I was considering the Zs but couldn't justify the 400 quid xtra cost over the W series. The old Z4500 is on sell in SC for £1250.....pricey.I didn't want an old model. Ws are the best performabce vs price in Sony's CCFL TV range.

I really wouldn't bother with the Z.

It offers more accurate colors I accept and the motion 200hz is ace but will you really notice???

Its worth £150 more but not 400 quid more

 

[sonycentre]

The z5800 is a truly mindblowing tv.We turned all the lights off in store just after we closed the store and it just blowes you away.I did like the 40z4500,but as matthew pointed out the diffrence is far better,better clarity,color,depth,detail.Freesat is a good option if you cant get freeview,also the picture on freesat seems to give a slighty better picture(more bandwith on freesat vs freeview)If you can get skyhd as well.We put on fringe on sky1hd and it looked sublime.the most hd content you will get out of freesat is bbchd,itvhd(selected hd content) c4hd and five hd(late 2011).

 

[Dave_]

sonycentre:c4hd and five hd(late 2011).Do you have a source for that?

 

[matthewpiano]

Ultraslim:
The Zs have 10 bit panel, wcg ccfl lighting and 200hz motion blur control over the W series. I was considering the Zs but couldn't justify the 400 quid xtra cost over the W series. The old Z4500 is on sell in SC for £1250.....pricey.I didn't want an old model. Ws are the best performabce vs price in Sony's CCFL TV range.

I really wouldn't bother with the Z.

It offers more accurate colors I accept and the motion 200hz is ace but will you really notice???

Its worth £150 more but not 400 quid more

The difference is worth differing amounts to different people. It is true, however, that the law of diminishing returns sets in somewhere between the W and Z series sets. I have some customers who really won't consider a W after seeing a Z, and some who can't see any point in going further than the W.

This is the beauty of having such a big range. No one way is right or wrong. It is such a personal decision.

 

[sonycentre]

Daveh75 It was on bbc click programme,www.bbc.co.uk/click

 

[Anonymous]

if i add a BR player to the z would you guys go for the 550 which for £50 WITH the set or get the award winning 760