Panasonic TX-P55VT65B - good for everyday viewing?

[rowleyd3]

Hi,

I've been looking for a new TV, been reading reviews, comments and 'top 10's' etc - and I'm confused...

A few of the comments regarding plasmas refer to "I couldn't watch it everyday as an everyday tv" - why is that? (I've never had a plasma before)

I'll be watching 99% of my TV from Sky HD and watch movies, sport and general tv (HD wherever possible). It will also be used with a games console occasionally.

It will replace an old Samsung LE40A656, which we've had for quite a while now.

Would the TX-P55VT65B be a good choice? Its a serious amount of money to spend and whilst I don't begrudge it, I want to make certain its not too 'specialist' for general family viewing .....

Also, does anyone know of any decent deals?

Cheers,

Darren

 

[Deleted member 2457]

Hi,

I've been looking for a new TV, been reading reviews, comments and 'top 10's' etc - and I'm confused...

A few of the comments regarding plasmas refer to "I couldn't watch it everyday as an everyday tv" - why is that? (I've never had a plasma before)

I'll be watching 99% of my TV from Sky HD and watch movies, sport and general tv (HD wherever possible). It will also be used with a games console occasionally.

It will replace an old Samsung LE40A656, which we've had for quite a while now.

Would the TX-P55VT65B be a good choice? Its a serious amount of money to spend and whilst I don't begrudge it, I want to make certain its not too 'specialist' for general family viewing .....

Also, does anyone know of any decent deals?

Cheers,

Darren

Hi

The Panasonic 55VT65 is a cracking TV and is the best around but this and the last generation has been more prone to image retention. So as long as you don't plan to over game on it you should be fine. I use mine with Sky Hd and it is perfect.

The best TV deals use to come from Total Digital and price matching with John Lewis but they are both out of stock, so the best place now looks like Richer Sounds:

http://www.richersounds.com/product/tv---all/panasonic/viera-txp55vt65b/pana-txp55vt65b

Alternative options could be the Samsung 55F8000 which a few on here have done and can be had for:

http://www.totaldigital.biz/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=43_124&products_id=4766

Price match at John Lewis

http://www.johnlewis.com/samsung-ue55f8000-led-hd-1080p-3d-smart-tv-55-quad-core-with-freeview-freesat-hd-and-voice-motion-control-with-2x-3d-glasses/p430265

 

[Deleted member 2457]

Panasonic cheaper here:

http://www.electricalexperience.co.uk/televisions/tvs-by-size/37-to-43-inch-tvs-96/panasonic-tx-p55vt65b-p55vt65b-55-inch-3d-smart-plasma-television-with-built-in-wi-fi.html

 

[ellisdj]

Darren

The VT65 range is awesome, I would sit and watch mine all day if I could. You can sleep easy - its a very good all round TV.

There are a few things to be careful of static images for long periods but apart from that - its a Great TV

 

[Series1boy]

My VT is fantastic and can be viewed all day.

 

[margetti]

A few of the comments regarding plasmas refer to "I couldn't watch it everyday as an everyday tv" - why is that? (I've never had a plasma before)

The only thing I can think of with regards to this comment is that plasmas aren't so easy to watch (IME) if the tv is near a window and the sun is streaming in... This is the case for me and so I have to close the curtains on a winter's afternoon for any serious tv viewing. Daytime curtain closing seems to be an issue for some...

 

[rowleyd3]

Cheers ... I think reading the comments and other forum post make me nervous of a Panasonic Plasma - not matter how good the picture.

I might have to go back to considering an LCD/LED .. or whatever they're called

Cheers,

Darren.

 

[Deleted member 2457]

Cheers ... I think reading the comments and other forum post make me nervous of a Panasonic Plasma - not matter how good the picture.

I might have to go back to considering an LCD/LED .. or whatever they're called

Cheers,

Darren.

I have had to have a fan fix because the fans can be noisy but John Lewis, Richer Sounds and Panasonic carry this out. Plasma buzzing isn't there for me and you are right the picture is fantastic. You have the newer models coming out at the moment so could be worth holding fire for a while.

 

[bigboss]

You have the newer models coming out at the moment so could be worth holding fire for a while.

Yes, I'm keeping my eyes on Samsung and Sony models.

 

[Son_of_SJ]

Cheers ... I think reading the comments and other forum post make me nervous of a Panasonic Plasma - no matter how good the picture.

I might have to go back to considering an LCD/LED .. or whatever they're called

Two things. One, the comments from VT65 owners in this thread seem to very positive! I've never understood why a television must be bright enough to overcome daylght. I have four plasma sets (two Pioneer, one LG and one Samsung) and they are fine in the daytime. Only the Samsung, which has its back against a south-facing wall with windows immediately on either side, needs to have the curtains partly drawn in the daytime. Two, other people are (just about) still making plasmas. In this thread http://www.whathifi.com/forum/tvs-and-projectors/samsung-f7000-plasma-scrapped-0 you will see that Samsung are continuing with the F8500 plasmas, which were very well received last year and are the brightest plasma sets that the UK market has ever seen, and apparently well able to cope with daylight. LG plasmas are also quite bright. Where Panasonic plasmas excelled was in their black levels, which were generally a bit better than the black levels of Samsung's plasmas and certainly noticeably better than the black levels of LG plasmas. But, away from forums like these and anoraks like us, the general public really doesn't care about black levels, which is why most people who have seen my much-maligned (but calibrated) LG 60PZ950T television in the kitchen seem to be quite impressed wtih it. Oh, for all plasma sets, it's best to avoid, certainly for the first 200 hours or so of use, television channels that have fixed logos always on screen.

With that caveat, if I were you, my choices would be, in this order:

1. The Panasonic 55VT65 plasma that you were considering;

2. A Samsung plasma;

3. An LG plasma;

4. Only then would I consider an LCD/LED set, though many of the newer Sonys and Samsungs are very, very good. I personally tend to prefer how plasma sets handle motion.

 

[bigboss]

I think the OP is alluding to poor after sales support by Panasonic, Son_of_SJ.

 

[Son_of_SJ]

Ah, so. I hadn't realised that!

 

[bigboss]

When you were away, Panasonic's after sales support has received some good bashing on this forum from almost everyone who had to deal with them.