Nearly crunch time

[True Blue]

Hi all, after months (and months and months) of research / viewing / saving have narrowed down TV choices to 2

1. Sony KDL 40W4500

2. Panasonic TH42PZ800b

Will be eventually buying AV reciever to go with depending on SD picture quality from V+ via HDMI. The recievers are either

1. Yamaha DSP AX 763 (if I dont need to upscale)

2. Sony 2400ES (if I do)

These will be used with KEF 2005.3 (only part of system actually sorted)

Main use for TV, SD viewing sports (no HD on Virgin boo hoo), PS3 gaming and blu ray.

Am willing to pay the extra for the Panasonic IF it really is worth it??

Any views on any of the above will be helpful. Total budget for system inc cables and two stands £2500 (less hopefully in January) already own PS3.

 

[Messiah]

Hey, there is BBC HD on V+! If you are a Jools Holland fan you are in luck!

There is also HD stuff 'On Demand' What more do you want

A package like Sky you say......oh I see.....then you (and Me) are out of luck there....

 

[True Blue]

Yeh, takes ages for me to browse my hd channels (sorry channel) any ideas on the new set??

 

[Anonymous]

Have you read the threads on the W4500 problems??

 

[Anonymous]

you will love the plasma mate.

 

[True Blue]

rewerb, yes, unfortunately that is one of the big red flags that is causing my dilema, do you think plasma then or another LCD?

Gander, many thanks, is it worth the extra £300 in ur opinion then?

 

[grdunn123]

True Blue:

rewerb, yes, unfortunately that is one of the big red flags that is causing my dilema, do you think plasma then or another LCD?

Gander, many thanks, is it worth the extra £300 in ur opinion then?
Definitely go down the Plasma route.......the Sony does have a great picture but there's always gonna be that doubt every time you turn it on. Recently got a Panny TH46PZ81 and I love it!

 

[Anonymous]

you could get a plasma for the same money, doesnt have to be the 800. I have the equivalent to the 80b and love it with all sources. Treats SD brilliantly.

The first night i had mine i hook it up with an old dvd player, connected with a scart and watched jaws. It was great!!

 

[True Blue]

Was looking at the 80b, heard audio pretty poor, obiously not a problem once I get my reciever, but is it really that bad in the first place?

 

[Anonymous]

I thought it was fine. Of course, as you say, its no problem at all when you get your speakers and amp.

 

[Anonymous]

I got the panny pz85 for £1150 great tv! i prefered the picture over the sony overall although the sony was good

 

[True Blue]

garethwd, thankyou. Think I am definately now tending towards the panny, can get the 800b for 1200 now think that is the way forward. Only problem is have not seen one, only seen 85 , 81 and 80.

 

[avnut]

i was like you,was all set to buy the sony 46w4500 but just couldnt risk the clouding and backlight issues. did some research and bought the panny th50pz80. although only the 80 i was blown away what a set and saved a few quid as well. £1150 DELIVERD AND 5 YEAR WARRENTY.go with the 80 you wont be dissapointed.

 

[Anonymous]

True Blue:

Was looking at the 80b, heard audio pretty poor, obiously not a problem once I get my reciever, but is it really that bad in the first place?No, the 80 sound is perfectly adequate for normal use. If you are a film buff and like booming sound tracks then you might want to use your own speakers.

 

[Anonymous]

True Blue,

I was in the same situation until recently. I previously had a Panny 32" Quintrix CRT which I have been more than happy with, but wanting to upgrade to HD, I have been watching events all this year as to determine which TV to buy. My viewing distance recommended 40/42" and I have been wavering between Panny's and Sony's. After many, many viewings, seeing the TV's in friends/family's homes in "real" conditons, and reading all the write-ups I choose the Sony KDL 40W4500 and Sony S550 Blu ray player. I basically let my eyes do the talking and I just found the Sony's overall picture quality, definition, colours, contrast and motion, to be the most natural and pleasing. I too was concerned about backlight/clouding issues but just as concerned with screen burn problems. I was also concerned with SD quality on the Sony's. Well, having collected my new TV on Monday, I can happily say I am gobsmacked. Easy to install and set up, brilliant Digital tuner in both SD and HD (I live in France and receive the French free to air channels (TNT) of which 4 are HD), awesome upscaling of my existing DVD collection and equivalent if not better SD pictures from my Sky Digibox via scart. The downsides are slightly inferior sound compared to my CRT TV and image quality reduction on Sky SD via scart when 45 degrees or more off-axis. Sound though is adressed through my surround sound system and the Digibox will be swapped out soon for a Humax HD Freesat box giving me TV via HDMI. No backlight problems. I do get the "four torches" in each corner of the TV when the screen is completey blank/black but I would expect this to a degree given the level of backlighting, which you can turn down anyway. The acid test is whether it affects the viewing pleasure/image quality, but it doesn't seem to, to me. I have been a life long Panasonic fan so the switch has been a hard one from a brand loyalty point of view but one that I now don't regret. Apologies if I have thrown a spanner in the works.

Sony KDL 40W4500, Sony DMP-S550, Yamaha DSP E800 AV processor, Arcam A85 amp, Roksan Caspian CD, Monitor Audio Gold Reference 20 fronts/surrounds, Sky Digibox

 

[True Blue]

hdmad, thankyou, at last one happy Sony owner. Really am struggling now with decision as both sets excellent. Have seen PQ on PZ80/81/85 and really good 800b meant to be better. Am too concerned refernce screen burn / phospher trails / power consumption on plasmas. But then the LCD probs. Must admit was blown away by black level on panny plasmas, but my friend hasjust got a W4000 Sony, and set up "in house" looks awesome.

Might wait till Jan sales and see which one has more flexibilty in price. Still leaning towards Panny tho.

 

[Anonymous]

True Blue, just let yours eyes do the talking cause what is good to one person might be different to you. This whole thing is very subjective and it is easy to get caught up in hype and technologie cause I did just that but your eyes won't let you down. Happy viewing!

 

[avnut]

hdmad is of course right go with what your eyes and insticts say. we are all guilty of overanalyzing stuff and being blinded by specs wish it was all as simple as do i want a red one or blue one. choose one and dont look back.

 

[Davro83]

Yeah hdmad is right. I was having the same problem. I coundlnt decide between sony plasma and sony w4500. Ive always liked pannys. My parents have one. I went and compared the sony and panny but i just prefered the sony. Thought it was brighter and slightly better picture. I had the remotes but just preffered the lcd sony, which i didnt expect. I know there is a big forum on problems but i met someone who had one and he said no problems what so ever. Went in the sony shop and they said they had no returns due to problems. Internet forums always gets people complaining. Yes there is some dodgy sonys out there but i doubt they are anywhere near the scale that everyone thinks. Sony sells millions of tvs. If everyone was deffective they wouldnt sell. As clare has said also, whathifi have had 3 w4500s and no problems, so i would just buy the one you prefer. Go see for yourself and make your choice.

 

[Anonymous]

Just bought the PZ85 - recommended. Nice picture even on most SD channels and excellent picture through my upscaling Denon 1940 DVD. Was originally going for the PZ80 but saw the 85 in the shop and preferred it (also liked the design a little more). Got mine for £888 from PRC Direct (good service).

Was thinking of the W4500 (to the point of almost clicking on the 'Place Order' button) but then went to see it in the shop. Too stark for my liking, looking like the screen was covered in vaseline when watching SD, and my girlfriend said she couldn't watch it for more than 5 mins without getting a headache. Plasma on the other hand was much smoother, easier on the eye (but can still do vibrant if that's what you want). Found out that Plasma tends to be the better technology (at least for larger screens) but LCD is cheaper for the manufacturers to make as they produce it in warehouse size sheets which are then cut to size whereas each plasma screen is made as one.

So, that's the PZ85 - if you can go for the 800 then even better.

 

[True Blue]

Thanks everyone, mind now decided on Panny PZ800, question is now or January?????

 

[Anonymous]

Sound choice! It may lack some of the fine detail the sony displays (very slightly) but is better imo in every other respect.

 

[Sorreltiger]

.....and as many have said before, you need to be in a specialist retailer, watching under 'home' conditions - trying to make a judgement in a large store is a disaster waiting to happen.