Panasonic 37PX70 or PX80?

[admin_exported]

I've been banging my head against the wall trying to find a flat screen TV to fit in our living room. This would be our first flat screen sho I wanted to make sure the choice was a good one. Originally I was going for a 32", probably a Sony KDL32D300 as the other half didn't want anything too big. However once I saw it I thought it looked a little small and since it's got to last a few years (had our current CRT for 10+ years!)

Anyway, after much reading and soul searching it seemed that the 37PX70 would be the best choice (although I still have concerns about image retention, burn and purple snakes!) This was 2 weeks ago... Almost as soon as I had made a decision I read about the "80" series TV's coming out with 100hz, 15000:1, 24p etc...

Suddenly the PX70's started to become harder to find and of course I have the dilema as to whether I should pay a little more for the PX80 being that it is newer (doesn't always mean better I know!)

So my budget has gone from approx £450 to £600 at the moment, or £680 roughly for the PX80. But is the PX80 worth the extra? Should I try and find a cheap PX70 and go for that?

Just to clarify my viewing needs, we have Virgin+, standard DVD, PS2.... no Blue ray or PS3 at the moment!

 

[Anonymous]

Id say go for the PX80, about the screen burn, the last time i saw it on the latest range of plasma, was when a family left it on without watching it for about 3-4 hours a day (on MTV) then after a few weeks they had a slight image of the MTV Logo burnt into the screen.

Id say screen burn is mostly due to negligence though

 

[Anonymous]

I am trying to make exactly the same decision as you. I can now get the PX70 with Pedestal stand for £599. A month ago it would have been £719. I usually go for the older model with computer equipment, because you save a lot of money than buying the latest gizmo. It will only be a year before the PX8O will be out of date and something better will have come along.

UNLESS

The PX80 is fantastically better than the PX70, in which case it might be worth the money. As yet I have not seen the PX80 and nobody has reviewed it yet. So I am holding on, at the moment.

 

[Anonymous]

having seen both side-by-side i would say the picture quality has improved on SD sources and slightly on HD

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="Very Annoyed"]

As yet I have not seen the PX80 and nobody has reviewed it yet.

[/quote]

http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/Panasonic-TH42PX80/

I saw two pannys wall displayed next to each other in curry's at the weekend, one was the TH42px80 tother was the TH32px70. Both were fed by the same Panasonic promo feed and I would assume both were on "shop" display mode. The wife and I both agreed the px80 was better on colour and its blacks were blacker. Having said that I wouldn't let that put me off a keenly priced px70.

 

[Anonymous]

I saw the 37PX80 today and was extremely impressed, even though it was only displaying standard-def Freeview. I found that the quality of the picture was closer to that of a decent upscaling DVD player than Freeview. Also, from an aesthetic point of view, I very much liked the new sexy and stylish look of the set, which I did not appreciate when I saw photos of the tv in the mag or online.

Also, the new model has an extra HDMI, bringing the total to 3 HDMIs, and has true 24p playback. I would choose this model over the PX70. In fact, I am going to start saving up for the PX80 as soon as possible...

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="BenjaminHart"] I very much liked the new sexy and stylish look of the set, which I did not appreciate when I saw photos of the tv in the mag or online.[/quote]

Ditto, the px80 looked better in the flesh

I'm glad I saw a 42" & 37" together as I was all set on the 42" but I reckon the 37" will be more than adequate. The px80 series will be the one for me, in no rush after 18mths scouring the plasma world so holding off till a weeks holiday in June has passed, then we'll pounce - leaving it in charge of two heavy gamers during the 200hr run-in period whilst on hol?...no chance.

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="Arbk"][quote user="Very Annoyed"]

As yet I have not seen the PX80 and nobody has reviewed it yet.

[/quote]

http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/Panasonic-TH42PX80/

I saw two pannys wall displayed next to each other in curry's at the weekend, one was the TH42px80 tother was the TH32px70. Both were fed by the same Panasonic promo feed and I would assume both were on "shop" display mode. The wife and I both agreed the px80 was better on colour and its blacks were blacker. Having said that I wouldn't let that put me off a keenly priced px70.

[/quote]

Thanks for that review link, they think the 42PX80 has improved over the PX70, although they don't think it is as good as the Pioneer. So the improvement is not that great.

 

[Anonymous]

Found the 37PX80 here for £659 inc delivery, anyone used them before?

http://www.totaldigital.biz/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2462

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="chriscwharris"]

Found the 37PX80 here for £659 inc delivery, anyone used them before?

http://www.totaldigital.biz/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2462

[/quote]

Never used them myself, few reviews below, do you feel lucky

http://www.twenga.co.uk/shop-reviews/Total-Digital-27775-0-0

http://www.pricerunner.co.uk/retailer/11350/reviews

..Few quid extra delivered at AjElectronics, they seem to fair better over 1.437 reviews

http://www.pricerunner.co.uk/pl/2-1072770/TVs/Panasonic-Viera-TH-37PX80-Compare-Prices

£662.25 @ http://www.ajelectronics.co.uk/ViewProdDetails.asp?Prod_code=TH37PX80B

also noticed cramptonandmoore.co.uk were doing the 37px80 with 4 years warranty on it for about £100 more.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm in exactly the same position as you pal...... Is the 'PX80 significantly better than the 'PX70? (Enough to justify >£150 extra purchase price?)