What does it all mean to me?

[admin_exported]

I've been looking around for a new TV for a couple of months now, but can't pluck up the courage to decide on one. I don't really understand a lot of the technical jargon and what it means to me as a viewer.

Our current set is a 28" Panasonic Quintrix CRT, we have Virgin cable, a standard DVD player, a VCR, a Wii and a PS2. The closest seat is 6' from the TV and the furthest is about 10'. Ideally, I want a set with roughly the same width and height (80cm x 60cm), so probably a 32" set, and it needs to handle sport well as DH watches a lot of football. We tend to watch a couple of DVDs a week too.

We have no plans to buy a PS3, XBOX or Blu Ray player. Bearing this in mind, could somebody please help me to understand what these 'features' are and what they mean to me?

• HD ready vs full HD
• 1080i vs 1080P
• 24P
• Refresh rate - 8ms vs 1ms - noticeable difference on a 32" set?

Every month the new generation of sets seems to have a host of features that beat the pants off the last month's sets, but I want to know which of these features are important for what we use our TV for.

Also, if there is a decent 37" plasma available at sub-£500 and not too much bigger than our existing set I'd consider that. Again, I need to know if a plasma will handle what we want it to do.

Any advice would be very welcome as each review I read just serves to confuse me even more and I have been seriously unimpressed with the picture quality on most TVs in showrooms.

Ally

 

[Anonymous]

HD redy will be fine for you. You won't notice the difference in FullHD unless you went to a 42in plus screen. Sounds like all you are interested in at the moment is SD viewing. Taking that into account with the fact that a lot of football is watched.... you definately need a plasma over an LCD. LCD sets do not handle SD very well and sport looks even worse. Plasma will provide a much better picture and the old wives tales about screen burn are a thing of the past. If i was in your position I would be hard pushed to find anything better than the Panasonic TH37PX80. It has just won 5 stars and is the best 37in out there at the moment. Get it from a Panasonic dealer or from John Lewis and you will get a 5 year guarantee. The panny 37PX80 is a bit over budget but I found it for £574 from Sound and Vision Bolton who John Lewis pricematch with!!! Go buy one.... you won't be disappointed.... just look at the many other happy customers posting on these pages.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks tom83cat.

One very frustrating issue we suffer with our current CRT is glare and I've read that plasma screens suffer from this too due to the glass screens. The layout of our house means that we are very restricted on where we can site the TV and both available positions suffer from glare at various times of the day. From what I can find online, LDC doesn't suffer as badly. That said, the current TV has a bevelled screen and IIRC flat screens are better at countering glare so perhaps the plasma won't be as bad as the TV we have?

I've read a lot of good reviews on the PX80 but I'm a bit confused about the difference between this and the PX80B which is £75 cheaper from Digital Direct. I normally associate an additional suffix with a later (improved) model - is this not the case here?

It was much easier to buy our last TV.

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="allybee13"]

Thanks tom83cat.

That said, the current TV has a bevelled screen and IIRC flat screens are better at countering glare so perhaps the plasma won't be as bad as the TV we have?

I've read a lot of good reviews on the PX80 but I'm a bit confused about the difference between this and the PX80B which is £75 cheaper from Digital Direct. I normally associate an additional suffix with a later (improved) model - is this not the case here?[/quote]

The PX80B is the same as PX80, the PX8 is a different cheaper model, spec. not quite as good. (Digital Direct are cheaper because they charge a lot for postage)

The PX80 has an anti-glare coating on the glass and so is not as bad as CRTs for reflections.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks rewerb. I think I'll make a trip to John Lewis at lunchtime today.

 

[Anonymous]

I can confirm that the PX80 has far less glare than my Panny 28in CRT. Don't forget to price match your telly against Sound and Vision in Bolton!

 

[Anonymous]

Cheers tom83cat.

I went into John Lewis at lunchtime and they won't price match for me as Bolton isn't within 6 miles of Glasgow, lol.

 

[Anonymous]

Ah yes... the Scottish trial of their new policy which is supposed to "improve the competitiveness of the company".... How about calling one of the stores over the border and get them to deliver?... that'll show the penny pinchers a thing or two!

 

[Anonymous]

I've emailed Sound & Vision to see if I'd still get the free 5-year guarantee from them. If that's the case, I'll just buy it from them and JL can shove it.

If that fails, I'll try one of the English stores.

 

[Anonymous]

I think it is only JL and the Panny dealers that are doing the 5 years... but good luck!

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="allybee13"]

I've emailed Sound & Vision to see if I'd still get the free 5-year guarantee from them. If that's the case, I'll just buy it from them and JL can shove it.

If that fails, I'll try one of the English stores.
[/quote]You will need to collect in store in person at S&V to get the Panasonic 5 year guarantee offer. Or you could try JL Newcastle pricematch and pick it up from there.

 

[Anonymous]

is 7oaks in glasgow not doing the same deal? how strange.

 

[Anonymous]

Sound & Vision will deliver free if I go in store to buy it. It will take me about 3.5 hours to get there by train from Glasgow.

7oaks don't have this TV on their website but I will try their Glasgow store tomorrow.

Richer Sounds is an approved Panny dealer and they have a branch in Glasgow so I will also try them. They're cheapest so far at £569.99.

I went into Curry's tonight and they wouldn't match RS as they were closed and couldn't confirm stock availability. The guy in Curry's said something about RS buying 'grey' goods from Europe and rebranding them. Surely they wouldn't be an approved Panny dealer if they did this? And if they do, what actual difference does it make?

 

[Anonymous]

richer sounds actually have/used to have a notice on their website/leaflets about that. its just other dealers talking pish.

DO WE SELL SECONDS?

We quite frequently hear of our competitors (who are naturally frustrated at our prices) telling customers that the only reason we are so cheap is that all our goods are either seconds, returns, stolen, counterfeit, second-hand etc... This is, of course, utter nonsense and simply sour grapes on their part! If it were true it would be both illegal and hardly good customer relations - something we assure you we take very seriously. All our stock is brand new in sealed cartons unless clearly stated otherwise.
Last Few To Clear = Stocks limited/not available in all stores. Some may be ex-display or ex-repair at this price (ex-display stock carries a 12 month warranty, ex-repair goods have a 3 month guarantee). GRADED/Factory Repack = Products refer to mail order returns or ex-service products, thoroughly tested and re-sold with a 12 month guarantee. All prices include VAT at 17.5% (Some prices may differ in our stores in Eire due to distribution costs and currency fluctuations.)

 

[Anonymous]

If your budget is tight, there is the 37PX8 model which is cheaper than the 37PX80, slightly lower spec (2HDMI, lower contrast, no PC input..)

 

[Anonymous]

ROFL. The guy at RS described the 'grey goods' thing as an urban myth. He's going to order one in for me at £569.95 and I'll collect it from the store next Wednesday.

I had a good look at it in Currys last night and it's a fabulous looking TV with a terrific picture and excellent viewing angles. I think it may deserve a decent (but reasonably priced) sound system to go with it ... any suggestions?

 

[SpiceWeasel]

I would say the extra few £'s would be well spent on the higher spec'd PX80. The 37" would be perfect as a 42" from 6 ft would look terrible.

 

[Anonymous]

i really like my onkyo 505 and kef 1005's i got from richer sounds. think it came to about £470 inc coax digital cable and stupidly long runs of cable (5x7m ish)[quote user="allybee13"]
ROFL. The guy at RS described the 'grey goods' thing as an urban myth. He's going to order one in for me at £569.95 and I'll collect it from the store next Wednesday.

I had a good look at it in Currys last night and it's a fabulous looking TV with a terrific picture and excellent viewing angles. I think it may deserve a decent (but reasonably priced) sound system to go with it ... any suggestions?
[/quote]

 

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to say thanks, guys. I really appreciate all the help you've given me.

I'm looking forward to my new viewing experience from next week. One of the guys at work bought this TV abour 4-5 weeks ago and loves it so I feel even more reassured now.

If it hadn't been for you guys I'd still have been deliberating this time next year!