Spec me a 40-42" LCD for Sky HD

Dodge777

Dodge777

Dodge777

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As in the subject, I need to help my parents in buying a 40 or 42" LCD. They're upgrading to Sky HD so I guess I'm looking for advise on a tv which is best suited for this. Gaming is obviously not important at all. It'll mainly be used for watching Sky Sports HD, regular tv and a few movies. The budget is roughly £700 - £800.

It might also be worth noting that sound is also quite important. My folks are hardly going to splash out on a super sound system so preferably we need an LCD with decent sound. I understand that this is not ideal but this is what they want, so who am I to argue?

Thanks in advance.
 
Dodge777 said:
Gaming is obviously not important at all. It'll mainly be used for watching Sky Sports HD, regular tv and a few movies. The budget is roughly £700 - £800.
QUOTE]

I know i keep going on, but an LCD would be the worst choice for them. A plasma will look far better for movies, sports, and normal tv than any LCD.

Check out the new panasonic PX80, or the panasonic PX70. Best value plasmas out there.
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I know i keep going on, but an LCD would be the worst choice for them. A plasma will look far better for movies, sports, and normal tv than any LCD.

Check out the new panasonic PX80, or the panasonic PX70. Best value plasmas out there.
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Does the resolution of Plasmas matter? Cause those Panasonics say 1024x768 compared to my Samsung M86 which is 1920x1080. Cause i currently watch a lot of SD stuff and use my PS3 mainly for movies and im thinking of switching to Plasma. Sorry to sound really noobish, no idea on Plasmas :D
 
I'm open to the idea of a plasma. However, correct me if I'm wrong here, but neither of those Plasma's are 1080p, and thus we really wouldn't be getting the value out of out Sky HD at all?
 
Plasma all the way.
If image quality is what is important to you then look up the panasonic px70 and px80, 42" models. There is also a Samsung Plasma screen that you may want to look at, which has is highly regarded.

The only time I would recommend getting an LCD over a plasma is:

1. If you want a 32" or less TV, as plasmas dont come in anything less than 37";
2. If you really are on a tight budget and need to get one of those LCD TVs whose brand name no one has never heard of;
3. If you primarily wish to use your TV for console gaming.

If you intend to watch SD and HD TV on your screen, then image quality is the most important thing and plasma rules.

I have no idea why people insist on buying LCD TVs, even though all the reviews pretty much agree that at any given price point, a plasma screen will beat an LCD screen for image quality.

If you've got time and want to do some research then goto www.avforums.co.uk.
 
Jonnycoupe said:
And even then by playing it safe for screen burn you compromise gaming enjoyment with LCD screen lag and poorer motion handling and fast panning.
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will you care to provide some sort of source for this ?

or are you just going to blindly post tripe you read on the internet somewhere ?

decent branded LCDs havent suffered screen lag and poor motion handling for a good couple of generations now.
 
No but its an issue with some LCD technologies particularly SPVA's that although provide great colours and viewing angles have higher than TN panel input lag. The F86 Samsung is around 30ms in game mode from what I have read when researching for my M86, although i think this figure is circulated for the TH42PX70 Panny aswell.

With regard to the motion issues, quite frankly there is no need for a source, my eyes are the best source for this as this is what my brain uses as its primary visual sensor, not a what hifi or hdtv test.... although they correlate quite closely.

People always suggest LCD for gaming, but burn is the only issue not to go with plasma, its better at everything else. Particularly now as 1080p panels from either tech are closing in price difference.

Play Halo 3 on a LCD and then a plasma, then tell me Im talking crap!
 
Love my Plasma, its a couple of years old now, so its a 1024x768 model comparible to the current Panasonic PX70 (Its a PX60, know defect purple snake, apart from that its spec is very close to the PX70's).

Anyway, for SkyHD its great, you can really see the extra detail, pictures are sharp, and the colours are fantastic. Super deep blacks, and plenty of detail in the dark colours. Interestingly enough, the PX60's famous purple snakes are far far harder to spot on a good quality HD source. ( I love HD!!! )

Play Wii on the TV, and there is not even a hint of burn, sure there can be some image retention, but its gone by the morning (While the TV is off, minor retention generally goes away on its own). Never had any burn/retention that needed "wiping" so I cant comment on that.

Would I trade up to a new 1920x1080 native panel... Well not at 42inch, as I sit 12ft from the TV, and honestly there is no difference between 720p and 1080p on a 42inch screen at that distance. However if I had the money to upgrade to a 50-60inch TV, then sure I'd take a 1080p screen.

Average viewing distance from the screen is the biggest factor when picking a 720p or 1080p screen. 42inch 1080p plasma's can be had for well under 1k now.

As for sound, imho no TV has good sound, end of story. Even the cheapest budget all in one HomeTheatre box will probably out perform the tiny low power speakers fitted into flat panel TV's. With the exception of speakers like the NXT flat panel speakers, conventional speakers generally need "space" inside the box to generate any real levels of bass.
 
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Corasik said:
As for sound, imho no TV has good sound, end of story. Even the cheapest budget all in one HomeTheatre box will probably out perform the tiny low power speakers fitted into flat panel TV's.
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I'd go along with that. You might even think about spending £40 on some 2.1 computer speakers, as these will probably out perform those on most flat panel TVs.
 
Jonnycoupe said:
Play Halo 3 on a LCD and then a plasma, then tell me Im talking crap!
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i have done

as you so rightly say, your eyes are the best judge, and i see no such input lag on my F86, no matter what some review says about it being 30ms in game mode (not that anybody uese game mode but thats beside the point)
 
I agree its not a prominent issue but it is something LCD's suffer more from than Plasma.

I have a M86 LCD, its good, but i think i would have prefered plasma now. I use my TV with my XBox so when deciding I read a lot of peoples comments on LCD being the prefered technology by fact when really there is still a trade off for gaming.
 
Does the resolution of Plasmas matter? 1024x768 makes it seem like your not getting the best of HD as you would on a 1920x1080 LCD? Im probably wrong cause i have no idea when it comes to plasmas.
 
Nymins said:
Does the resolution of Plasmas matter? 1024x768 makes it seem like your not getting the best of HD as you would on a 1920x1080 LCD? Im probably wrong cause i have no idea when it comes to plasmas.
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If its 1024*768 then it isn't true HD, thats the way I see it.

Won't be wasting my hard earned on anything like that. 1080p or nothing!
 
It does matter. However, in most reviews, you will read about how 1024x768 plasmas are beating higher resolution LCDs for picture quality.

If you want picture quality, go for plasma. If you want to boast to your mates about big numbers and resolutions, at the expense of image quality, then go LCD. ;)

Personally, image quality is the most important thing I look for when choosing a screen.
 
sunama said:
It does matter. However, in most reviews, you will read about how 1024x768 plasmas are beating higher resolution LCDs for picture quality.

If you want picture quality, go for plasma. If you want to boast to your mates about big numbers and resolutions, at the expense of image quality, then go LCD. ;)

Personally, image quality is the most important thing I look for when choosing a screen.
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I see. But is the image quality not based on the resolution? The amount of pixels at 1920x1080 compared to 1024x768 is a big difference. Or what other factors come into it? Again sorry for the lack of knowledge from me, cant get me head around plasmas :D
 
EvilFranky said:
If its 1024*768 then it isn't true HD, thats the way I see it.

Won't be wasting my hard earned on anything like that. 1080p or nothing!
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Try comparing a 720p Pioneer Kuro against a similarly priced LCD and you will see the Kuro will beat it.

Like I said, you either impress your mates with big numbers or go for superior image quality. LCD makers seem to be basing their marketing on big numbers (and people are falling for this), while plasma makers are marketing their products based on superior image quality.

Its your money, so its your choice, but dont trust the numbers.
 
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