Best 40-42" tv for <£1000?

Slinky1989 · 2 Jun 2008 at 23:07

My dad has finally decided that we need to get rid of our mahoosive 32" CRT flat screen and move into the 20th century.

He also rightly decided that if he was going to upgrade, he wanted to get a decent tv.

It'll be used for gaming, watching high def sky and movies.

I know absolutely bugger all about tvs bar contrast ratio and the different types of high def you can get (1080i/p etc).

So what's best for the money? He had a look at a few samsungs in a local electrical retailer (no worries) between £800 and £1000 but wasn't very impressed.

He has apparently been told that sony and panasonic are best atm, is this correct?

Thanks all

Hen_Dawg · 2 Jun 2008 at 23:39

"slinky" said:
So what's best for the money? He had a look at a few samsungs in a local electrical retailer (no worries) between £800 and £1000 but wasn't very impressed.

He has apparently been told that sony and panasonic are best atm, is this correct?

Sounds like he may prefer a plasma then if he didn't like the look of the Samsung LCDs. In which case Panasonic is by far the most popular choice for sub £1000. Otherwise, yes, Sony are leading the LCDs
Was there something in particular he didn't like about the Samsungs? Colours, blacks, blurring etc.

Slinky1989 · 2 Jun 2008 at 23:41

He was mainly commenting on how much blurring there was in the samsungs and how to him the pictures weren't as sharp as some of the other models.

Failsafe · 3 Jun 2008 at 00:37

You can get a 42" Panasonic 1080p plasma for around a grand or the non 1080p TH42PX80 for a lot less. Sony do make some of the best LCD screens available but for me its Plasma every time. Get down to a decent showroom and compare for yourself. If it must be an LCD then look at something like the Sony KDL40W3000, a 40" 1080p panel that can be had for just under a grand.
As for gaming, I've seen the PS3 look stunning on some of the higher end Sony LCDs but I have to say that my mates Panasonic TH42PZ70 plasma looks fantastic with his PS3 and Xbox360.

-Ad- · 3 Jun 2008 at 08:43

If want a sublime tv for the money then get the 42inch panasonic PX80 which is soo soo hard to beat for the price (~£700). But my other recommendations will depend on a few factors.

How far will you sit from the set, and will it be used mainly for gaming, or just a combination of all the uses you mentioned above ?

My point of view on samsungs, best avoided, with too many issues and quality control problems.

Jumping · 3 Jun 2008 at 11:52

I just got the Panasonic TH42PH80z for £1000 at my local dealer with 5 years warranty. You can get it for ~£840 on some online stores but you will have to pay extra for more than 1 years warranty.

I'm very pleased with this set and going from my old 29" CRT Phillips it still feels huge when I see it switched off. However viewing on it and it feels just right...

Slinky1989 · 3 Jun 2008 at 12:36

To answer your question -Ad-, it won't be mainly used for gaming but it will come into it.

Main use will be sky tv and the HD channels.

Also sitting between 8 and 14ft away depending on what sofa in the room you are on. Although most will be on the one that's 14ft away.

vila · 3 Jun 2008 at 16:49

The Pioneer Kuro's are considered to be 'the best'

[DOD]Asprilla · 3 Jun 2008 at 16:59

vila said:
The Pioneer Kuro's are considered to be 'the best'

But you can't get one for <£1000. Last time I checked they were closer to £1300.

At 14' I'd be tempted to go for a 50" 720p plasma. It doesn't really make sense to go for 1080p at that distance and a 42" might be a little small (don't fear the size of the TV, they shrink very, very quickly).

-Ad- · 3 Jun 2008 at 17:39

"slinky" said:
To answer your question -Ad-, it won't be mainly used for gaming but it will come into it.

Main use will be sky tv and the HD channels.

Also sitting between 8 and 14ft away depending on what sofa in the room you are on. Although most will be on the one that's 14ft away.

Cheers.

As asprilla said at that distance 1080p is a waste and you won''t be able to tell *** difference between 720p and 1080p. As it'l mainly be tv channel usage with gaming as well then plasma is the perfect choice for you. Panasonic 42 PX80 is the best bet, but if you really want 1080p then go for the PZ range from panasonic. But the PZ range are worse for watching tv channels on and the 1080p will be unnoticable, so really a waste of money going for one of these.

Maybe think about trying to find a 50incher.

Slinky1989 · 3 Jun 2008 at 18:59

Ahhh ok, my dad will be pleased that he now has an excuse to get a 50"

Thanks all for your help! I'll get him to have a look at some panasonics then