PANASONIC TX-P37X10 or TX-L37S10 ?

[strapped for cash]

If I were you I would opt for the S10. Contrast levels on the X10 are quite low. Or, if you can accomodate it, the 42" G10 is now £689 at Richer Sounds, so still falls within your budget.

 

[admin_exported]

So I've reached the point where I have exhausted the contents of all the home cinema magazines on my local WHSmiths shelves and I still don't know which 37inch tv to opt for.

I am reluctantly replacing my 17 year old Sony Triniton CRT which, although running perfectly well and refusing to break on me, is just too big (or deep) for my current lounge. Although my room and viewing position is probably best suited for a 32 inch screen, I am thinking long term and want the new tv to last at least a decade, so have decided on 37 inch. The question is, which one?

Originally my heart was set on a Sony V5500 or W5500. Although the W gets great write ups, there still seems to be some negative comments regarding motion tracking despite being 100hz. The styling is also losing my favour a little.

This leads me to Pansonic. The X10 plasma and its previous incarnations seem to have had great reviews and can be had for a good price, and although lacking full HD, seems to get positive reviews with regard to upscaling and all other plasma benefits. I then see the S10 LCD winning the best in class 37 inch but costing £150 more.

The tv will be getting mixed use. Mostly standard def at the moment although I do have sky and may consider Sky+HD in the future. We enjoy movies and my Blueray is a Playstation 3 which gets occasional use. Eventually I will twin the TV with a receiver (probably the Denon AVR 1910 or the Sony 2400ES with Q Acoustics 5:1's.

I would be grateful for any opinions of the two Panasonics, epecially from anyone with direct experience or from anyone who's recently been in the 37inch market. I undestand the differences between Plasmas and LCD's I just need a little help to help tip the balance....£500-£700 is a lot for me at the moment... but I really want one! I just wish there was a 37inch full HD plasma on the market as I think this would futureproof me.

Perhaps I should even consider the slightly more expensive Philips? This whole ambilight thing is putting me off a little though.

Thanks for looking. All comments would be welcome.

 

[Gwyndy]

One thing that you may need to consider with all the Panasonics is stock levels, I had a TX-P37X10 on order with John Lewis for delivery on Tuesday 20th Oct as Richer Sounds had none left and the price including 5 year warrantee was better. On Wednesday 21st (yes the day after delivery,after I had waited in all day) I discovered that John Lewis were out of stock on the TX-P37X10 for online deliveries, as are a few other stores. I'm now hoping that the Cardiff store can do me a nice deal on another Panasonic to say sorry.

 

[Gwyndy]

Oh by the way I have a P42G10, lovely set, well worth considering if you can find one, like the built in FreesatHD as well