Panasonic th37px80b help!!

[murg]

Hi All

After trawling through other forums, magazine reviews etc I finally was convinced that my next tv would be the Panasonic Plasma. So off I went to my local dealer to give it the all important audition. After two hours of sitting and viewing I couldnt believe how poor the picture was compared to most of the other sets on display. The image appeared "washed out" with a dull appearance. I tried changing the brightness, contrast etc all to no avail. Where were the "deep blacks" and depth of colour everyone keeps mentioning? Am I missing something here? Is there something that was not set up correctly? I watched on freeview and then via blue ray with the same results. Right next to the plasma was the panasonic 37 lzd85 which was simply in another class and also out of my price range. Help please!!

 

[professorhat]

How bright was the room you were in? Was it a dimly lit demo room (when I say dimly lit, I mean about the level you would have in your living room)? Or was it a showroom with strip lighting in the ceiling?

 

[murg]

Hi professor.

I know what you are getting at here. I actually got the shop to turn the lights down somewhat to replicate front room conditions( they were very patient with me!) but no real difference. Bear in mind that I was viewing and comparing with around 20 other sets in the same conditions-plasma and lcd. and the Panny plasma really was that poor.

 

[professorhat]

Fair enough! It's just you're the first person I've heard to say that, hence why I wondered about the lighting. Of course, just because most people rave about a TV, doesn't mean everyone will think it's great - which is why I always recommend auditioning!!

 

[Anonymous]

In a shop environment with many screens on display, it is usually the LCD that will shine due to their generally brighter and more vibrant natures. I watched the cars blu ray in a shop on a Samsung 50" plasma (sorry, don't know the model) and some Panasonic LCDs (26", 32", 37"). All of the LCDs had greater instant appeal with reflections and colours etc. The plasma was less obvious but on closer inspection, showed greater depth and more of a film like quality. The 42PZ85 was then tried and to me, improved the plasma argument quite a bit.

I am on my second PZ85 as the first had a faulty picture. Perhaps the one in the shop that you saw had similar problems. My second one has a much better picture and I prefer all aspects of it to my 32" 32LXD700 LCD.

 

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a duff tv to me. I got my 37PX80 the other day and it's stunning. I couldn't be happier. Admittedly, there is some variation in quality among the channels (I'm running mine through Sky and Channels like Dave and Sky3 aren't the best), but watching "5 days and 6 nights" (or whatever it was called) on BBC1 the other night was magnificant. Even the sound is better than what I was expecting.

 

[murg]

I`m really appreciating all your comments. Don`t get me wrong, all my av kit is Panasonic and I think they are ahead of the rest in terms of quality. It seems to me that this could well be a faulty set. While I am on the subject, what is your opinion on full hd/hd ready regarding the px80 bearing in mind Freesat is now almost with us?

 

[Anonymous]

As many of you will know I am hoping to get a 37PX80 (when I can afford it!) to replace a Panasonic 32LXD700 with yellow clouding.

However, I am a bit worried to read (on another forum) of someone complaining that the blacks on the 42PX80 are grey and even worse someone else says they are green!!!!

I don't want to get a Tv which will have grey blacks or green blacks as opposed to yellow blacks which I have already?!!!!

What do owners of this TV think of the blacks?

I have to say I was quite miffed to find that, on viewing LCDs at my local Tesco, that the blacks were superb even on the real cheap brands so why does there seem to be such a problem with backlight on a premium brand like Panasonic?

I feel another TV induced headache coming on!!!!

 

[Anonymous]

My TV's less than a week old the black levels are........well, black. I haven't seen any grey blacks or, thankfully, green blacks.

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="Wally Bazoom"]My TV's less than a week old the black levels are........well, black. I haven't seen any grey blacks or, thankfully, green blacks.[/quote]

Cheers! That's good to hear.

I suppose I am wary since having the backlight probs with the LCD. I couldn't bear to go through all the hassle again with a Plasma!!! Not that the Plasma has a backlight but just want one which is problem free!

 

[Andrew Everard]

[quote user="Scotsgirl"]I am a bit worried to read (on another forum) of someone complaining that the blacks on the 42PX80 are grey and even worse someone else says they are green!!![/quote]

You see what happens when you go reading other forums...?

 

[professorhat]

[quote user="Scotsgirl"]I have to say I was quite miffed to find that, on viewing LCDs at my local Tesco, that the blacks were superb even on the real cheap brands so why does there seem to be such a problem with backlight on a premium brand like Panasonic?[/quote]
You'll find your local Tesco is lit up like a premium photo shoot, hence why blacks look blacker there (and in a lot of Currys / Comet showrooms). Take them home to your dimly lit living room and all of sudden, those blacks turn grey...

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="Andrew Everard"]
[quote user="Scotsgirl"]I am a bit worried to read (on another forum) of someone complaining that the blacks on the 42PX80 are grey and even worse someone else says they are green!!![/quote]

You see what happens when you go reading other forums...?

[/quote]

I know!lol

Lesson learned!!!

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="professorhat"][quote user="Scotsgirl"]I have to say I was quite miffed to find that, on viewing LCDs at my local Tesco, that the blacks were superb even on the real cheap brands so why does there seem to be such a problem with backlight on a premium brand like Panasonic?[/quote]
You'll find your local Tesco is lit up like a premium photo shoot, hence why blacks look blacker there (and in a lot of Currys / Comet showrooms). Take them home to your dimly lit living room and all of sudden, those blacks turn grey...[/quote]

Or yellow in my case!

You make a good point though and it probably is to do with the different lighting. Having said that my Panasonic doens't cope well in very bright conditions?

 

[Anonymous]

Watching my 37px80 now and the black photo frame in Ile Nastase's lounge is as black as the frame on the tv itself. So thats quite black then ?

 

[Anonymous]

I find that the blacks 'within' the picture, such as Ile Nastase's photo frame, are really black on my LCD but it is a different story with black backgrounds?

I take it this a problem with the backlight?

 

[Anonymous]

Just flicked onto the Sci-Fi channel and the backgrounds on Angel are 'black-as-the-frame' as well. Which considering it's only a 585 quid telly ain't that shoddy !

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="Scotsgirl"]I find that the blacks 'within' the picture, such as Ile Nastase's photo frame, are really black on my LCD but it is a different story with black backgrounds?

I take it this a problem with the backlight?[/quote]

I also have a 32LXD700 though without any backlight problem. As you describe, blacks within the picture are very black but backgrounds in general only ever achieve a dark grey. I have now also got a 42PZ85 which is essentially the 1080P version of your proposed set. I saw the PZ85 alongside the 37PX80 and 42PX80 in Selfridges in Birmingham. The lighting in the shop was quite reasonable - not too bright - and so I could audition the sets quite well. Blacks on all 3 were very much the same as each other on all sources. I opted for the PZ85 because in side by side comparisons I can see the difference in detail (on blu ray) but admittedly close up.

Using the PZ85 at home the set is capable of doing very black backgrounds. You have to remember that the way programmes/films are recorded also affects how black they will look.

I am confident that you will consider the blacks to be black. If anything, I would say that on freeview the blacks look black but lack some detail. I also noticed this on a Pioneer 428 in Selfridges and am convinced that it is just the low bit rate of freeview that is to blame.

Watch a good quality blu ray and you will see great blacks with great detail.

If I could offer some advice I would say buy the 37PX80 with confidence, you will not be disappointed BUT please buy with a 5 year warranty (I got my PZ85 from John Lewis - I have noted your comments on previous threads that this proves difficult in Scotland but persevere!). I am on my second PZ85 and expecting my third on Friday! It appears that there are a few rogue Panasonic sets out there. John Lewis are looking after me well so far (hope that's not the kiss of death!). The 5 year warranty should ensure that if any problems arise in the future I can get it seen to.

Good luck!

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="Cooney"][quote user="Scotsgirl"]I find that the blacks 'within' the picture, such as Ile Nastase's photo frame, are really black on my LCD but it is a different story with black backgrounds?

I take it this a problem with the backlight?[/quote]

I also have a 32LXD700 though without any backlight problem. As you describe, blacks within the picture are very black but backgrounds in general only ever achieve a dark grey. I have now also got a 42PZ85 which is essentially the 1080P version of your proposed set. I saw the PZ85 alongside the 37PX80 and 42PX80 in Selfridges in Birmingham. The lighting in the shop was quite reasonable - not too bright - and so I could audition the sets quite well. Blacks on all 3 were very much the same as each other on all sources. I opted for the PZ85 because in side by side comparisons I can see the difference in detail (on blu ray) but admittedly close up.

Using the PZ85 at home the set is capable of doing very black backgrounds. You have to remember that the way programmes/films are recorded also affects how black they will look.

I am confident that you will consider the blacks to be black. If anything, I would say that on freeview the blacks look black but lack some detail. I also noticed this on a Pioneer 428 in Selfridges and am convinced that it is just the low bit rate of freeview that is to blame.

Watch a good quality blu ray and you will see great blacks with great detail.

If I could offer some advice I would say buy the 37PX80 with confidence, you will not be disappointed BUT please buy with a 5 year warranty (I got my PZ85 from John Lewis - I have noted your comments on previous threads that this proves difficult in Scotland but persevere!). I am on my second PZ85 and expecting my third on Friday! It appears that there are a few rogue Panasonic sets out there. John Lewis are looking after me well so far (hope that's not the kiss of death!). The 5 year warranty should ensure that if any problems arise in the future I can get it seen to.

Good luck!

[/quote]

Thanks a lot!

I really hope it is third time lucky for you! I know what it's like to have a 'rogue' set so wish you well.

 

[southdownswolf]

I've had the PX80 for a while now and am really impressed with it. I find it much better than my friends lcd's (various manufacturers). Is there another shop that you could try it in and be able to play with the settings? As for Full HD/HD Ready, at this size it really doesn't matter unless you are sitting about 4 foot away! Freesat may be upon us, but remember that only BBC1 is currently HD for a few hours per day, ITV will be later in the year, but you are not going to see every channel suddenly go HD.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Murg,

I know EXACTLY what you mean, I guess right now you're like "Is it just me!? that thinks the picture sucks!?", well I just brought a Panasonic TH-42pz80b only last week. When I turned it on for the first time (imagine how excited I am opening a brand spanking new plasma right?) first reaction was uhoh! I brought a size too big, I should have brought the 37 incher, 2nd reaction was "hang on a minute! the picture is sheer rubbish!" you know like watching analogue tv through a standard old ariel before digital came along? yeah...it was like that! I tell you! It was rubbish through the freeview and my Sky, tried tweaking the picture manually to no avail, oh no I thought, regret was brewing in my mind getting louder with words like "see! I told ya you should have went for the Kuro...doh!"

So I left the tv on all night as I went to work, when i got back home I did (what now seems the norm) dvd test, I put in a DVD with a thx optimizer thingy testy job, that helped..that helped alot, but I gotta tell ya, in my opinion the tv seems to be getting better by itself, oh.. I have a Sony Dav-is10 home cinema kit too and DVD's upscaled to 1080i is amazing! it's like watching a totally different movie, like watching a 3D movie without the need for those red and blue lens glasses.

Now, a week on, I find the tv no longer too big and the picture is perfect, I also upgraded to Sky+ yesterday and the picture now is superb, it's now worthy of why it got voted 5 stars and whatnot, but going back to what you were saying about your in-house audition, yesterday I went to Currys to pick up a optical cable, passed a 42pz80b on the showroom floor and was appalled again with the picture, I dont know the reason why this is, the tv i have at home and the one shown in Currys is totally bipolar, so much so I had to read the label at Currys couple of times, surely it cant be the PZ i was thinking...oh well, I bet some clever cloggs on here can come up with a scientific explanation I guess haha

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you!

 

[murg]

O.K
Thanks for the reply but it leaves me even more confused. It seems then that the longer you leave this set running, the better it gets. How would that explain a shop demo tv that is left running for weeks and still looks poor? Maybe the multi ariel feed in shops has something to do with it. I plan to dem in another store this weekend and see what happens.

 

[Anonymous]

I used to have the tx-37lzd70 and recently changed it for the PX80, primarily due to the black levels.

I have had the set for one week now and I can honestly say that it hammers the lcd set on every front. The picture is better on standard def and every bit as good on high def.

I went for the lcd for hull hd, despite all the musings on this forum telling me otherwise. Should've saved time and went straight for the plasma. Much better.

 

[southdownswolf]

[quote user="slippy67"]
I went for the lcd for hull hd,
[/quote]Is HULL HD worth it?