Which plasma with mainly SKY inputs?

[admin_exported]

Folks

Now finally making the step of up-grading my rear projection and having read your reviews gonna elect for a 46" plasma. Although I watch the odd DVD the majorityu of my viewing is through SKY receiver (not HD). In the latest edition of What HIFI the Panasonic TH-46PZ85 comes out commendably well in the review and given the recent price reductions represents strong value (less than £900). However I am concerned re the comments I have seen about freeview performance and when the pixels are up-scaled to meet the screen size picture quality deteriarates.

a) Without moving up to the £1700 Pioneer is the best 46 plasma on the market?

b) Am I expecting too much to get a decent picture with this input and this size?

c) would I be best going for a different model given the above?

Would I be better waiting for the new 2009 range and go for something like the Panasonic TXP50X10 50" Viera Plasma TV? (£950)

Appreciate your inputs.

 

[Anonymous]

What's the budget? The equivalent of the 46PZ85 is now the P46G10, just being delivered to the shops this week.

Initial reviews suggest the SD performance is better. It uses much less elctricity than the old Z85, has deeper blacks and better contrast and even better motion handling.

Having said that, if you have no HD sources the P50X10 will suit you too.

 

[Liam19]

a) According to the WHF review the 46PZ85 is 'the' best performer with Freeview in its class - so rest assured that, with a decent Scart cable (I use QED Sqart, only £26 at play.com), you'll get good performance with Sky. You don't specify which Pioneer model you mean, but assuming you mean the PDP-LX5090, remember you're jumping up a screen size there too, so it'll be even harder for the TV to produce a solid SD picture. While the Pio would undoubtedly outclass the Panny with a HD source, I can only speculate as to whether its tuners are as superior.

b) Depends on what you class as 'decent' really - if you expect a picture that rivals Blu-ray or Sky HD for clarity and detail, you'll likely be disappointed. If you're a little less demanding, you'll find Sky pictures through a good Scart cable perfectly watchable, and even genuinely pleasing to the eye at times (depending on the channel and programmes you watch). For instance, older episodes of 'Friends' on E4 look pretty poor on my Panny TH-42PX70, but then new shows like '24' on Sky1 look very good. Just don't expect anything rivalling HD quality anywhere.

c) Maybe a Panasonic model with a Freesat tuner built-in? Then you should get similar performance to the 46PZ85, but with a little genuine HD programming to whet your appetite for Sky+HD! ÿ

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys valuable advice. Having done a further bit of digging I am thinking about holding out for the 46 G15. It has the freesat, I assume you can run this in parrallel with your sky box and as you say Liam get BBC & ITV HD content which will be a great taster and is cost effective way of getting the best out of the tele having already broken my bank! (looks like should be able to get this one for around £1350 and looks like should be out in June - I think!)

Gonna be with me for several years so wanna get it right!

Advantages of the G15 over the G10:

[*]Slim chassis design (2-inch);
Viera Cast which lets viewers access certain Internet content on the Panasonic Viera HDTV;
An extra HDMI input (four on G15 vs three on G10);
DLNA media streaming capabilities, allowing you to view photos, listen to music, and even playback DiVX videos from compatible networked devices; and
V-Audio Surround Pro (vs V-Audio Surround on G10).

 

[D.J.KRIME]

If you are going to change your TV I strongly recomend upgrading your Sky box to the Sky HD box especially seeing as its now at a very reasonible price, both your eyes and your new TV will appreciate it!

 

[Anonymous]

bygravey:

Thanks guys valuable advice. Having done a further bit of digging I am thinking about holding out for the 46 G15. It has the freesat, I assume you can run this in parrallel with your sky box You will need to run an extra cable from the dish to the TV. You probably have a 4-way LNB on the dish with two spare (SKY+ takes 2)

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks - with the wiring never easy is it!! With regard to HD will see what the quality is like then think about up-grading. Having just recently got SKY+ I am the perenial catch up man.