Please help ...! Panasonic TH46PZ81 or 85 or even 82 which one to buy

[admin_exported]

Are the above screens Identical apart from the Freesat...?
also considering Comets PZ82 Model(Always available for collection)

The problem I have is All our local retailers dont have 1 of each model so can can demo at the same time and when I have seen each model separate they are all fed with a seperate source.

Please help

 

[Anonymous]

They are all slightly different ...

But, really it all depends on what you intend to view, what services you
have now and what services you might purchase in future. e.g. do you have Sky
now, planning on Sky HD in future? then the 85 is a good bet. You have Terrestrial
now, moving to Freesat, then the 81 is for you.

The 82 is for people who like Comet and is based on the 80.

I have the 81 (42" model) as I am Freesat based - I can't receive
Freeview and I don't want to give money to Sky. So, the choice was simple.

 

[Anonymous]

Previously discussed. Check out ...

http://whathifi.co.uk/forums/t/119858.aspx

 

[Anonymous]

I watch a lot of Blue ray and SD Broadcasts, Did have sky HD fitted (from the launch date) got fed up with the ever spiraling grind of shelling out £65 per month to them

So the 85 and the 81 are the same exept the freesat....?
as there are some good deals on the 85 at the moment if this is true I could buy a seperate Freesat HD Box and still be £150 better off than buying the 81..!

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks REWERB,
that gives me a better idea

 

[Anonymous]

"So the 85 and the 81 are the same exept the freesat....?"

The 81 is a miss-mash of the 80, 85 and 800. Front HDMI connection of the 80, IFC of the 85, some PiP features (I've not used) and stronger glass (So I've been told) than the 80/85. But all very similar!

"as there
are some good deals on the 85 at the moment if this is true I could buy
a seperate Freesat HD Box and still be £150 better off than buying the
81..!"

I was in the same position! Had there been Freesat HD PVR's out now, I might have gone with an 85 and a Freesat PVR. I actually have a Satellite HD tuner, but I wanted a single remote and fewer boxes cluttering up my small lounge. But, as you say it's cheaper to go with a separate Freesat receiver :-(

 

[Anonymous]

'AAJ'

Where did you get your 81 from as everyone is talking silly delivery times at the moment

 

[Anonymous]

i couldnt wait for the delivery times on the 85 and didnt want the 81 (free sat). So i went for an 82 (yes comet) and it arrived today. It was also a very good price and pretty damn good service too. It was the branch in hove.

 

[Anonymous]

Comet are currently selling the 46 pz80 for £1099

and the 46 pz 82 for £1150

so is this model a revamped 80 or a downgraded 85 (£1210), anyone know what exactly the Panasonic TH46pz82 is...?

 

[simonlewis]

As far as i know the pz82 is exactly the same as the pz81 but without the freesat.

 

[Anonymous]

that could be interesting....!

 

[Anonymous]

slewis:As far as i know the pz82 is exactly the same as the pz81 but without the freesat.No, the Z82 is Comet's version of the Z80.

 

[Anonymous]

I seem to have been getting the idea the models were the same as each other (81 & 82) from the sales guy from comet about a month ago if i think back.

So comet are charging an extra £50 more for the 82 when its the same as the 80
(prices in lower link from the comet store at today's prices)

 

[Anonymous]

i would have gone for th 85 if i could have held out for the delivery date. i used my 82 for the first time last night with not so good a source and i loved it.

i reckon you will be happy with whatever you get to be honest. if you are on a budget then just get the cheapest one, you wont be disappointed either way.

 

[Anonymous]

bulloy:I seem to have been getting the idea the models were the same as each other (81 & 82) from the sales guy from comet about a month ago if i think back. So comet are charging an extra £50 more for the 82 when its the same as the 80 (prices in lower link from the comet store at today's prices)Comet are rarely the best price. Question to ask Comet: Does it have IFC, if not it's a model 80.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for that REWERB,
just been to comet and as you pointed out the 82 is indeed a 80

(with £50 extra price tag)

So I have just ordered a 81

Thankyou very much for all your help

 

[Anonymous]

bulloy - i have the 42pz81 and so far pleased with it. SD pictures could be clearer but that all depends on what channel im watching and the quality of the broadcast. HD pics are superb and a great joy to watch. PIP and PAP functions are useful if you are watching two games of football at once (a mad footy fan.....me.....what gives you that idea) Just bought a PS3 and Onkyo 875 to go with it and very soon KEF KHT3005se to accompany them.

Investing in Sky HD when i can get it without the installation fee (and the missus lets me) so hoping to build a good system once competed!

Hope you enjoy the TV!

Panasonic TH42-PZ81
Onkyo 875
Playstation 3
KEF KHT3005SE (soon).

 

[Anonymous]

"Where did you get your 81 from as everyone is talking silly delivery times at the moment"

Sorry for the late reply. I bought mine from John Lewis, Oxford Street as I rate them highly. I bought the 42" PZ81 for £1200 including delivery and their 5 year guarantee. My second choice would have been Richer Sounds, as they do a 5 year guarantee for an additional 10% of the TV cost. My parent's just picked up a 37PX80 from Richer Sounds in Reigate

BTW whatever model you get, it'll be excellent. I wish I'd bought it years ago [they didn't make a PZ81 years ago -Ed.] ...

 

[Anonymous]

By the way,
I bought the pz81 tv from comet they price matched everything I could throw at them, They also threw in a brand new glass stand for free and waivered the delivery cost.

It might have a lot to do with my wife seeing a 50" model in the store and talking me into parting with the difference in price of a 46" model.

But the best thing is the TV comes today....yes honest, next day delivery couldnt believe it....!

They couldnt do enough .....superb...!

 

[Anonymous]

bulloy:By the way, I bought the pz81 tv from comet they price matched everything I could throw at them, They also threw in a brand new glass stand for free and waivered the delivery cost. Guess traders are having a tough time with sales dropping everywhere. Sounds like we all should be bartering these days.

As a matter of interest, what did you pay in the end.

 

[Anonymous]

The total price with delivery, stand and tv

£1589

I have seen a cheaper TV on line without the deal but what the hell....!

and as you rightly pointed out the current economic climate, sell sell sell is the order of the day,

Just a note noticed today, that comet online are saying you can now collect this item from store...!

This was never available for a tv of that size previously