TH-37PX8B or KDL37V4000 for mainly SD viewing

[admin_exported]

Hi, 
New to this forum so apologies if this is a boring question...

 

I plan to buy a 37" TV soon but I dont have any HD sources - mainly watch Sky, Freeview and use Wii. I do have a Sony DVD player with upscaling and HDMI connector. Eventually I may purchase a HD Freesat box but not just yet - waiting for the temperamental Sky Digital box to become unbearable.

I have seen TH-37PX8B for under £500 which looks good and also fancy the Sony 37V4000 which seems better on paper / newer but in the local Comet / Currys does not look to impressive for SD..

What do the experts here feel will fit my needs best?

 Look forward to the responses - thanks! 

 

[Anonymous]

TH-37PX80B is the WHF best buy and from what you've said it'll suit your requirements better than the Sony LCD.

 

[Ravey Gravey Davy]

umern:

Hi,
New to this forum so apologies if this is a boring question...

I plan to buy a 37" TV soon but I dont have any HD sources - mainly watch Sky, Freeview and use Wii. I do have a Sony DVD player with upscaling and HDMI connector. Eventually I may purchase a HD Freesat box but not just yet - waiting for the temperamental Sky Digital box to become unbearable.

I have seen TH-37PX8B for under £500 which looks good and also fancy the Sony 37V4000 which seems better on paper / newer but in the local Comet / Currys does not look to impressive for SD..

What do the experts here feel will fit my needs best?

Look forward to the responses - thanks!

Watch out for the model no of the Panny - the PX8B and PX80B are different models -the PX80B is the 37in class winner and superior to the 8B. It is worth paying the extra (currently around £560)

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies.

Just want to be sure the PX80b is really worth an extra 20% cost over the PX8B - from the specs the difference just seems to be number of HDMI connectors and colour levels? Are there other differences?

ÿThanks!ÿ

 

[Anonymous]

PX8 has lower contrast, no PC connection, Vreal2 (from last year), and is a matt finish, not glossy, frame. No SD card. But it is 100Hz and plays 24p.

 

[Ravey Gravey Davy]

Search the forum for other threads on this subject but here's the view of one of the panel

 

[Anonymous]

I would agree with Clares view of the PX8.Go for the PX80, it will be money well spent.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone - guess the PX80 is looking a stronger buy...just wanted to be sure it was worth the extra - sounds like it is.

ÿ

ÿ

 

[lobby]

Px80 at RGB with 5yr's warranity in store only is £560 and bundle packages are available ie with wall bracket for £599 seems good value, considering one for my bedroom at that price as it will handle standard tv better than most.

 

[Anonymous]

My father hasa TH-37PX80 along with a new digital aerial set up by local aerial men and he gets a fantastic picture on SD, he also got a freesat box and i watched the England match on ITV HD, picture was absolutely brilliant, superb TV, like it so much i bought the 42" version which is equally as good.

 

[Anonymous]

Well I took the missus to two different stores with the 37PX80 on display and she really didnt like the Plasma (cant blame her - both times the picture was not as sharp as nearby Panasonic LCDs). I tried to convince her that they were probably not setup correctly - but she was not convinced.

She quite liked the 37LXd85 and 37LZd80 - both seemed much sharper and brighter than the PX80. In the Currys store all three were next to each other and all were being fed the same composite signal.

I know that both What Hifi and Which (and others) rate the 37PX80 but I cant risk if I get it home and I cant get it setup right. The missus wont be happy.

So I guess I am going to have to choose between the 37LXD85 / 37LZD80 / 37LZD85 - any suggestion for my requirements as described (bearing in mind that the LXD85 can be had for £555 online).

Many thanks again!

 

[Anonymous]

umern: She quite liked the 37LXd85 and 37LZd80 - both seemed much sharper and brighter than the PX80. In the Currys store all three were next to each other and all were being fed the same composite signal.

I know that both What Hifi and Which (and others) rate the 37PX80 but I cant risk if I get it home and I cant get it setup right. The missus wont be happy.There is no risk in getting the setup wrong. In your own home, using the out of box settings (not dynamic) it will be great. Bright fluorescent lights in Currys just do anything for plasma. Why do you think it has got so many excellent reviews everywhere. (37PX80B is better than the cheaper 37PX8B)

 

[Anonymous]

umern:
Well I took the missus to two different stores with the 37PX80 on display and she really didnt like the Plasma (cant blame her - both times the picture was not as sharp as nearby Panasonic LCDs). I tried to convince her that they were probably not setup correctly - but she was not convinced.

She quite liked the 37LXd85 and 37LZd80 - both seemed much sharper and brighter than the PX80. In the Currys store all three were next to each other and all were being fed the same composite signal.

I know that both What Hifi and Which (and others) rate the 37PX80 but I cant risk if I get it home and I cant get it setup right. The missus wont be happy.

So I guess I am going to have to choose between the 37LXD85 / 37LZD80 / 37LZD85 - any suggestion for my requirements as described (bearing in mind that the LXD85 can be had for £555 online).

Many thanks again!

Hi umern,

I looked at the three TVs mentioned a few months back and opted for the PX80. I tested the three TVs at Shop@Panasonic in a room with not overly bright lighting and with the settings I wanted

and for me the PX80 was the clear winner. On SD it was miles ahead without any kind of blocking and better motion with footie. With blu-rays the colours were far more natural with better blacks. the LZD80 is slightly sharper with a blu-ray but that was sitting pretty closely.

Here are some settings to go with if you get the PX80 btw.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies - will try one more time to convince the missus - otherwise I have seen a 37LXD85 for £599 inc 5yr warranty so may just have to compromise and go for that. I dont fancy the LZD80 and the LZD85 is £799 with 5yr warranty....

Shame there is no panasonic store around us - may have to see if the local Richer Sounds allows me to play with the setting...

 

[Ravey Gravey Davy]

umern:

Well I took the missus to two different stores with the 37PX80 on display and she really didnt like the Plasma (cant blame her - both times the picture was not as sharp as nearby Panasonic LCDs). I tried to convince her that they were probably not setup correctly - but she was not convinced.

She quite liked the 37LXd85 and 37LZd80 - both seemed much sharper and brighter than the PX80. In the Currys store all three were next to each other and all were being fed the same composite signal.

I know that both What Hifi and Which (and others) rate the 37PX80 but I cant risk if I get it home and I cant get it setup right. The missus wont be happy.

You really do not know what you are missing if you do not get the 37PX80B.The LCDs may be good but the SD picture on this plasma is unbelievable.Try and find someone in your area who has this TV and see it in reality,not the showroom on a shared signal.What county are you in?? you are quite welcome to see it here so impressed am I with this TV.

 

[Anonymous]

Oh no, another poor person who has fallen for the shiny brightness of LCD. Not everything that glitters is gold my friend. Beware fools gold.

Take her back to the shop and explain to her that the Plasma has much more natural colours. Dark rich blacks, not washed out greys. Also, ask them to put on fast moving action with the TV on SD. The motion blur on LCD should stand out a mile. Everyone gets taken in by the brightness of LCD when they first see them, but you need to take some time ,and look at how more natural Plasma colours look.

If she still wants the LCD, then exchange her for a new model.

 

[avnut]

like you iwanted anew tv but when i showed her the panasonic 42pz80 in the shop (currys) she said the sony lcds were a better picture,2 weeks later i bought the panasonic and just told her it was lcd,she still says she glad i bought the lcd as its much better than those plasma thingys.yes dear you were right as always !!##??

 

[Anonymous]

Took her to the PRC store in Ilford and thankfully the 37PX80 was setup better and after spending 5-10 mins looking at both she agreed that they PX looked (almost) as good as the LZD85 and LXD85 they had close buy.

She still felt the LCDs look slightly brighter but did conceed it looked a bit artificial.

My only problem is me myself now - spotted a 37LZD85 graded for £660 online with full warranty and am now tempted by the FULL HD possibility offered by the LZD85..... Just feel I am going to miss out in the future when I get my Bluray Player + Freesat HD box in the next year or two....Agghhh!

 

[Ravey Gravey Davy]

umern:

Took her to the PRC store in Ilford and thankfully the 37PX80 was setup better and after spending 5-10 mins looking at both she agreed that they PX looked (almost) as good as the LZD85 and LXD85 they had close buy.

She still felt the LCDs look slightly brighter but did conceed it looked a bit artificial.

My only problem is me myself now - spotted a 37LZD85 graded for £660 online with full warranty and am now tempted by the FULL HD possibility offered by the LZD85..... Just feel I am going to miss out in the future when I get my Bluray Player + Freesat HD box in the next year or two....Agghhh!

Umern, Freesat will not be broadcast in 1080p for the foreseable future it is only in 720p afaik.-and at 37 inch you will struggle to see the difference beween 1080i and 1080p on blu ray.

Stick with your victory on the PX80

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for that - didnt know about Freesat only being 720p - guess that swings for the Plasma.

Just have to wait for it to come back into stock at EmpireDirect now (they are doing a free 5yr warranty)

Thanks!!

 

[Anonymous]

Right - going to buy a TV tomorrow - at the moment the 37PX80b is 1st on the list with the 37V4000 2nd - I can get both for the pretty much the same price.

Hope you will persevere with me and address just one last point before I go ahead....

My wife watches some TV during the day and the TV location is very close to a large bay window area. With my present CRT TV the lighting is not usually a problem except when the sun is shining directly onto the TV screen - otherwise it is watchable during daytime.

With the above point in mind is the Plasma still the 1st choice as I have read in a few places that Plasma is best for night time viewing with the lights off etc and not so good for daytime?

Just have to be sure as I wont be changing the TV again for at least 5 years!!ÿ

 

[Anonymous]

I have 2 x 6' french doors and a large velux in my family room and no probs with my 37px80. Just angle he tv away from the source. Plasma is prob bette with reflection than CRT and no worse than LCD.

Go on buy the px80..... I bought mine as a 'fill in' but really no need to replace it yet. The pic is superb with SD ....which is 90% of what most people watch and the step up to Blu Ray is still very pronounced. Money very well spent !!

 

[Ravey Gravey Davy]

Ours is in the corner next to a 3 window bay and we do not have any issues either.Go for it.

 

[Anonymous]

umern: My wife watches some TV during the day and the TV location is very close to a large bay window area. With my present CRT TV the lighting is not usually a problem except when the sun is shining directly onto the TV screen - otherwise it is watchable during daytime.If your happy with your CRT in that position, then the Panny will be less reflective due to its anti-refection coating. You wont have a problem.