Panasonic - Value for Money

[admin_exported]

I am in a quandary as to which Panasonic plasma to buy.

Being in Ireland, my choice is limited to the PY80 (equivalent to the PZ80) for €1499. I can get the PZ85 imported from the UK for about €100 more or I could blow €2500 on thr PZ800. Neither of the latter will work for Irish TV but are fine with a Sky HD box. The question I have is whether it is actually worth the extra money for either the PZ85 or the PZ800. As these are not officially available in Ireland, I can't even go and look at them first. From what I can determine, apart from all the HDMI inputs being on the back of the PZ85, the only differences between that and the 80 are the motion creation function (that I have heard is not too hot) and the Real24p cinema. I will be hooking it up to an Onkyo 875 amp and Monitor RS6 AV 5.1 speakers so do not need the better speakers on the 85.

There is no review of the PZ800 onsite here so I cannot determine what is better about it?

Any comments/ideas gratefully received!

Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

In my mind, the PZ80 is better value for money. If you're not bothered about IFC and have your own sound system and the tuner will actually work in Ireland, then it's no contest with the Z85.

As to the Z800, I havent seen any reviews (except in the US where the specs tend to be different). But the Z800 will cost 60% more than the Z80. Contrast ratios are the same as the Z80.

It does have Digital Cinema Colour, one sheet of glass design, extra HDMI... but I dont think they are worth 1000euros.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for that. I'm not worried about the tuner not working here in Ireland as I only watch TV through Sky anyway. I have really discounted the PZ800 due to costs but am torn between the PZ85 and the PZ80 - it's the 24p Real Cinema vs 24p Playback thing that I'm more interested in. Is the 24p Real Cinema worth paying an extra ?100 for?

 

[Andrew Everard]

Standard 24p playback will be fine. We tend to find extra image enhancements do more harm than good.

 

[Clare Newsome]

I second the above, though will point out another advantage the 85 has over the 80: it sounds better. That may not be an issue if you're adding a sound system, but if you intend to rely on its own speakers, i'd say the extra is worth it.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks both Andrew & Clare. I have the amp & speakers bought, so the better sound from the 85 is not an issue. It was really only the difference between the two 24p processing that interested me. If the 24p playback is fine, then I think it's the 80 for me!

 

[Anonymous]

Having said that the 80 seems to be my choice.... What is the 800 like? Is it reviewed in the bumper TV special that came out recently?