LCD or Plasma for 40"-50"?

Klytus

Klytus

Klytus

Associate
Joined
16 Jan 2006
Posts
828
Location
Yorkshire
Hi there,
I am looking into buying a new TV.
It will be in the living room and we will be sat between 2.5 and 3.5 metres away.
It will be used primarily to watch Sky ~60%(SD atm but potentially HD in 12 months).
It will also be used for my PS3 - Gaming ~25% and Blu-Ray films ~15%.

Budget of around £1500.

Should I be looking specifically at plasma or LCD?
What screen size would be best for viewing at that distance?
Are there any other factors I need to consider so I can narrow down my search a little?

I have very little knowledge in this area so any help you can give would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
 
With regards to screen size, my belief is that this is down to personal preference. No one can tell you the size of the screen to buy. What you can do is take a piece of cardboard and cut it to the size of a 42" and 50" screen. Place it in the location you intend to keep your TV and then see for yourself.

What I can say is that if you get a huge TV, you will quickly get used to it. Within days, you wont find it huge. Similarly, you will adapt to a smaller screen. What screen do you have right now?

Which screen should you get? Thats too easy. Plasma wins every time. LCDs are fine if you need a small screen or budgets are super tight, but if you have a decent amount of money set aside and it will be your main TV, then plasma wins easily. LCDs are also good for computer and console displays. Plasmas tend to have a more CRT like image quality, which still offers the best image quality, given the fact that its a technology that has matured over many decades. Plasmas and LCDs are new to the market, in comparison.

Given that SD images are important to you, I have 2 sets to recommend. They both are acknowledged as offering the best SD image quality of any TV currently available in the UK. LCDs dont even get a look in.

42":
Samsung PS42Q97HD (approx £760)
Panasonic TH-42PX70 (approx. £750)

If you want the 50" versions of the above, just replace the 42 with 50.

If you want the best TV out there for HD, then you might consider the Pioneer Kuro range. The cost is higher but the HD image quality is superior to anything else out there, for the price. The Pioneer's SD image quality is not as highly regarded as the above 2 listed sets.

If you want to do some research, go over to http://www.avforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=82&order=desc&page=2

Good luck man and I hope you find something that suits your requirements.
 
sunama said:
They both are acknowledged as offering the best SD image quality of any TV currently available in the UK.....The Pioneer's SD image quality is not as highly regarded as the above 2 listed sets.
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Both the 720p and 1080 Pioneers are regarded as offering better SD images than both of the screens listed. I've tested them pretty extensively and ended up with the Kuro and I have no HD sourse at all; my opinion is alos supported by hdtvtest, hdtvorg and most of the UK and US AVForums.

Also, out of the two listed the Panasonic is much better than then Samsung.
 
[DOD]Asprilla;11078534 said:
Both the 720p and 1080 Pioneers are regarded as offering better SD images than both of the screens listed. I've tested them pretty extensively and ended up with the Kuro and I have no HD sourse at all; my opinion is alos supported by hdtvtest, hdtvorg and most of the UK and US AVForums.

Also, out of the two listed the Panasonic is much better than then Samsung.
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I remember reading an extensive comparison in What Hifi, comparing the 2. The samsung got the nod ahead of the Panny. Also I read a reviews for the 2 TVs on the same website and same reviewer - the Samsung won. In both cases though, it was marginal.

The Pioneer Kuro is obviously the best all round set, but the price is also double. Reading the reviews in magazines indicated that the SD images of the Pioneers are not as good as those offered by the Panny and Samsung sets talked about above.

Samsung review: (91%)
http://www.hdtvorg.co.uk/reviews/plasma/samsung_ps42q97hdx.htm

Panasonic review: (89%)
http://www.hdtvorg.co.uk/reviews/plasma/Panasonic_th42px70.htm

hdtvorg suggests that the Samsung offers better SD images.
 
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If it were my money i would buy the 50" panny 50pz70 second best 50" tv you can get for resonable money. First choice would be a pioneer but there twice your budget.
As for ^ complete tosh
 
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Stag said:
It was true about 5 years ago. :p
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Yep, Mine is rated at 60,000 Hours I think that’s what most are, if you look at LCD rated lifespan its around the same mark :) so defiantly isn’t the case now that plasmas don’t last as long.


As above I choose the Samsung PS50Q97HDX over the Panasonic due to the reviews etc on various sites the sammy came out on top.
 
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OK gents. Here's a question. Given that everybody in the know, seems to know that Plasmas offer better image quality, why on Earth do people still insist on buying LCD TVs of sizes 40" and above?

I can understand why they buy LCDs in smaller sizes as there is generally no Plasma alternative, but with larger screens, it just doesnt make any sense to me to buy LCD. All the reviews and literature suggest that Plasma offers the best image quality for TVs of size, 42" and over, for a given price point.

I can also understand that some cheapo LCD TVs allow the buyer to save about £100, over a plasma, but this doesnt explain the people who are spending £1500 on an LCD TV.

£1500 LCD-TV VS a 42" Pioneer Kuro (for the same price) - Pioneer wins hands down. It isnt really even a contest.

Someone explain this.
 
We have 2 tellys downstairs, the first is a 46" samsung 1080p LCD and the second is a 50" samsung 720p plasma.

The 50" was replaced by the 46" in the bigger room and it was very difficult to tell the difference in size between the two. Trust me you will get use to the size very very quickly so get the largest you can afford (not sacrificing quality ofcourse).

For the distance you are sat away from the tv, a 50" will not seem too big. The difference between the 2 screens I have, is not that noticeable when watching sky SD. They are both very good. The LCD is used for gaming I have the ps3 n 360 connected to it and its brilliant. The picture is very sharp, I can't really fault it.

I also have a 26" samsung LCD in my bedroom, so I really have to recommend samsung lol. :)

My advice is go for a 46" minimum, preferably a 50". Read the reviews, go see afew screens in person so you can see the difference between them and buy the best screen your budget allows.
 
e36Adz said:
We have 2 tellys downstairs, the first is a 46" samsung 1080p LCD and the second is a 50" samsung 720p plasma.

The 50" was replaced by the 46" in the bigger room and it was very difficult to tell the difference in size between the two. Trust me you will get use to the size very very quickly so get the largest you can afford (not sacrificing quality ofcourse).

For the distance you are sat away from the tv, a 50" will not seem too big. The difference between the 2 screens I have, is not that noticeable when watching sky SD. They are both very good. The LCD is used for gaming I have the ps3 n 360 connected to it and its brilliant. The picture is very sharp, I can't really fault it.

I also have a 26" samsung LCD in my bedroom, so I really have to recommend samsung lol. :)

My advice is go for a 46" minimum, preferably a 50". Read the reviews, go see afew screens in person so you can see the difference between them and buy the best screen your budget allows.
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Any jobs going at your place? :p
 
sunama said:
What was the price difference and which gives better SD images from DVD and Freeview/SKY?
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I have yet to test DVD's on the plasma, but in all honesty the SD quality on SKY isn't that different between the two. The default settings on both screens is crap tbh but once you sort them out, the picture and colour is very good.

The LCD is 1080p and thats used for gaming, whereas the plasma is used more for just general TV and films. Before I move the PS3 to the LCD (just waiting for a HDMI cable in the post) I will test the PS3 on the plasma to see how it holds up in comparison.

The LCD we got afew months ago, for just over £1400 with a TV stand. The plasma was just over £900 with a wall bracket. The LCD on the wall looks stunning, I been hammering abit more of project gotham 4 and badly need some new games now.

The thing that suprised me the most was, before we had either screen I was convinced that even 46" would be too big, and that 40-42 was right. There's now a 50" sat in the room and it doesn't look too big at all, you get use to the size very quickly.

If it will be used for gaming and HD I would go for a 1080p LCD, otherwise get a plasma, 1080p if possible. But the bigger the better :)
 
e36Adz said:
The thing that suprised me the most was, before we had either screen I was convinced that even 46" would be too big, and that 40-42 was right. There's now a 50" sat in the room and it doesn't look too big at all, you get use to the size very quickly.
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This was my thought exactly, before I got an 81" projector screen. My eyes quickly got used to it after I switched from using a tiny 21" CRT that I had had for over a decade.

Its amazing how quickly your mind adjusts to the larger screen and similarly when you switch back down to the smaller screen. Obviously though, the big special effect laden movies look a lot more spectacular on the 81" screen.

e36Adz said:
If it will be used for gaming and HD I would go for a 1080p LCD, otherwise get a plasma, 1080p if possible. But the bigger the better :)
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Even if you will be mostly using it for SD Freeview/SKY?

1080p seems a waste right now if SD is your main source. For me 720p is more than enough, especially when you consider that the 720p Pioneer Kuro plasma gets higher ratings for HD image quality than most other 1080p screens.

Eventually, I believe that LCD image quality will overtake that of plasma. Its just a matter of time; but until then plasma rules.
 
Get the 42 kuro.

I spent 2 months comparing sets, espec the kuro and pana PZ 42. Even though the PZ was 1080p, the kuro looked better in HD up close and far away. And i mean FAR superior. THis is with blu rays (starship troopers, stealth, kingdom of heaven) and when i took my PS3 into 'named department store' to try out some games.

Didn't watch much SD stuff on it before i bought it, but now i have the kuro 4280xd and it's fully calibrated, it really does look simply sublime in SD and HD. Blacks don't have as much definition as the panasonic PZ, but it's because they are soooooo black. Makes the 1080p toshiba X3030 i chose for my rents last year look positively carp. il get some pics up for ya tonight oir tomorrow.
 
I've got the Samsung PS42Q96HD, and the picture quality is awsome. The best thing to do would be to have a look in your local electrical store and compare the picutres.

There's no point blowing the whole of your budget on a screen coz you got told it's the best when you personaly dont notice any difference between a £1500 screen and a £800 screen. Plus if you dont spend all your budget just think of the extra's you could buy also. eg. surround sound, hd dvd or blu ray player. sky hd, etc.

p.s did i say the picture quality on the samsung is awsome ;)
 
tystar said:
I've got the Samsung PS42Q96HD, and the picture quality is awsome. The best thing to do would be to have a look in your local electrical store and compare the picutres.

There's no point blowing the whole of your budget on a screen coz you got told it's the best when you personaly dont notice any difference between a £1500 screen and a £800 screen. Plus if you dont spend all your budget just think of the extra's you could buy also. eg. surround sound, hd dvd or blu ray player. sky hd, etc.

p.s did i say the picture quality on the samsung is awsome ;)
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Granted the samsungs are cheaper, but in the case of tvs you really do get what you pay for. I had to discount them (42 and 50) first as they just did not look as natural or as good overall as the panasonic. Then the kuro just imroves greatly over the panasonic.

As you said there is no need to blow all his budget straight away, but he needs to get some settings off this forum for a number of tvs and go watch his favourite films etc on the correctly setup tvs, as in all stores they are far too bright, colour on max, max contrast, and all uselesss techno babble turned on. But to be honest why spend £800 on something like a samsung when the 42 panasonic pz is much better and can be had for £900-999 from 'certain department store' that also offers you 5yr warranty.


If you skimp out on the tv you will prbably be sat there wondering 'what if i bought the better one'. But as with buying new hi-fi separtes/speakers, prepare yourself with settings and what you want to watch and get yourself down to that department store that sounds like 'ron brewis' ;)
 
The same thing can be said for audio components, with £1000 per item you get what you pay for. Yet seem to gloss over that.
 
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