TV Advice - Plasma or LED?

psd99 · 15 Nov 2009 at 18:29

Hi all,

Really looking to replace my 32 inch CRT.

I'm interested in the Panasonic VIERA TX-P46G10B 46" Full HD Plasma TV for around £750.

Also seen the 50 inch version which is just under £900

I'm going to use it for gaming and watching television (sky HD on order)

But I've also seen these samsung LED televisions and they look good

so which TV type should I go for? LED or Plasma?

Invaliduser · 16 Nov 2009 at 18:37

Gaming = LCD

Watching movies and general viewing = Plasma

Plasma produce better (deeper) blacks. At an equivalent price point most commentators feel that they produce superior viewing compared to LCDs (better blacks, more natural colours). That said, if you use a PS3 or XBOX a lot on the TV, then Plasmas might not be for you - image retention and screenburn are things that occur sometimes on Plasma, but not on LCD.

Ive a P37X10 and chose it over LCD after extensive side by side comparison against more expensive LCD models. For me, LCD colours look unnatural and processed too often. Bear in mind though, that its all down to what you use the TV for and what YOU like.

If you go LED, remember thet the sammy LEDs out now aren't full array screens (just edge lit). I personally dont see the benefit in going for edge lit LED at present and would wait a bit for the full array screens to become more widespread (SHARP do full array LED TVs atm if I recall)

kinetic747 · 16 Nov 2009 at 19:30

That price for the 46G10 is a steal but hurry as that price only lasts until the 19th November. I was gonna order it myself today but I don't get my Xmas bonus until next week.

^TANK^ · 16 Nov 2009 at 19:33

Plasma plasma and plasma.

M0T · 16 Nov 2009 at 19:46

I have the 42" and haven't encountered any Image Retention or screen burn and I have racked up 106 ours now and 50% of that is gaming.

That said there is phosphor trailing, most noticable on Fifa. There is also significantly less imput/display lag on a plasma compared to an lcd.

-Ad- · 16 Nov 2009 at 22:02

Invaliduser said:
Gaming = LCD

Not exactly !

Lcds can suffer from some pretty bad lag, even noticable with game mode on. Check out some proper reviews (avforums) to see what it is measured at if you are looking at a gaming screen.

Get the 46 G10 if you can, at £750 it really is one hell of a steal !

psd99 · 17 Nov 2009 at 07:26

yep got the 46 G10 for £749

was contemplating getting the 50 inch version for £910 but for now decided against it

ArchAnGeL · 17 Nov 2009 at 08:49

recently went for a panasonic tx-P50u10b - £770 with 5 yr guarantee

certainly a budget 1080p panny but better for absolutely everything than my old 32" 720p toshiba lcd

RSR · 17 Nov 2009 at 09:20

Invaliduser said:
Gaming = LCD

Watching movies and general viewing = Plasma

Plasma produce better (deeper) blacks. At an equivalent price point most commentators feel that they produce superior viewing compared to LCDs (better blacks, more natural colours). That said, if you use a PS3 or XBOX a lot on the TV, then Plasmas might not be for you - image retention and screenburn are things that occur sometimes on Plasma, but not on LCD.

I would agree that for a given price point plasma works out more cost effective though. However, in terms of images reproduction LCDs the higher end panels are more than a match for Plasma. The Black comment is also void on these new panels as well. The only thing the plasma may handle better and again this is now questionable with higher end panels is motion. On the subject of image retention, this does still occur no matter what people say. As I have heard reports from friends with Panny’s. The one thing that Plasma is better than LCD is the viewing angle, but most people these days sit straight in front of the TV anyway, so again it can be questioned.

However, you can't compare a £400 LCD to a £700 Plasma and likewise a £1500 LCD a £700 Plasma

RSR · 17 Nov 2009 at 09:22

-Ad- said:
Not exactly !

Lcds can suffer from some pretty bad lag, even noticable with game mode on. Check out some proper reviews (avforums) to see what it is measured at if you are looking at a gaming screen.

Get the 46 G10 if you can, at £750 it really is one hell of a steal !

I would agree. However, some of the people on there get really anual about lag and in most cases its a lot of fuss about nothing that noticable to the average person.

Thats a very good price on a G10. For the budget you have, you'll be hard pushed to get a back lit LED screen.