Panasonic TX-P42U30B

Dano

Dano

Dano

Soldato
Joined
19 Dec 2006
Posts
10,589
Location
UK
So after weeks of technicians attempting and failing to fix my tv Oncall have finally decided to swap it out, only they don't have my model any longer so I'm left with the refunding the cost of £500 and having to spend it in store. Now I'm not overly bothered by this apart from my lack of ability to make a choice :)

Went down today and had a look around and other than the new expensive ones the only tv that caught my eye was the panasonic TX-42U30B Plasma, at 42 inches it's significantly bigger than my current sick LCD which has me concerned.

I sit roughtly 9 feet away from my tv and that's as far as I can get, is 42 inches too big for that distance?

Also, being plasma I assume that I'll get far better colour and blacks that the current LCD which is a TX-L32S20B?

Current TV:
http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_...20B/Overview/3788571/index.html?view=&angle=3

Proposed TV:
http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_...ecification/7048306/index.html?trackInfo=true

I'm pretty happy with the current set, just the issue it's having is a bugbear and the only way to minimise it is with maximum intelligent frame creation turned on which I cannot stand. I'd also love to have some better blacks and assume the plasma would supply this?

Thanks in advance :)

This is what my current setup looks like:

2011-05-21%2022.55.55.jpg
 
Last edited:
i am also interested in this TV, PANASONIC Viera TX-P42U30B, seen it for sale at £440 new which seems an absolute bargin.

Anyone got one of these or can point me to a decent review?

many thanks
 
I got one on sunday, returned it yesterday.

It wasn't as described, only had one scart socket as opposed to the two stated by on the retailers website and with my current hardware that's an issue although minor. However I can honestly say that saying plasma have the best blacks is very misleading. They're great when ambient light is low or nill, put it in a room with white walls and light curtains and it turns all the blacks to grey which makes daytime viewing frustrating, it also has a very reflective screen so on top of grey blacks you can clearly see everything reflected in the screen.

The unit they had setup in store appeared to have been placed to avoid these issues as they were unoticable in the main.

Was just looking at the 37 inch version of my previous tv and found a review that showed the same fault as mine developed, back to tv hunting again :(
 
U30 is one of the entry levels will be missing Louvre filter and anti reflective coating which would help in brighter environment all of the 2011 models got 1 scart input but it is well known plasma is best in dim room or pitch black and be useless in middle of summer in a conservatory hence lcd's tend to look better in shops while lcd or led lcd's in dark environment you would see how bad uniformity is with the black levels
 
nshire said:
U30 is one of the entry levels will be missing Louvre filter and anti reflective coating which would help in brighter environment all of the 2011 models got 1 scart input but it is well known plasma is best in dim room or pitch black and be useless in middle of summer in a conservatory hence lcd's tend to look better in shops while lcd or led lcd's in dark environment you would see how bad uniformity is with the black levels
Click to expand...

Yes, like I said, it was clearly placed to avoid these issues in store. As for the scart situation, that's something I'll now deal with, like I said, a minor issue. I was unaware of the light room issue with plasma, all I knew was that they were supposed to be better, probably why I asked here in the first place.

The other thing I noticed was a distinct flicker on screens made up with a majority of one colour, looked like the old 50hz flicker on a CRT.

I'll now deal with having a borrowed tv while I do some reseach and choose my replacement, expect a spec me soon :)
 
Last edited:
Dano said:
I got one on sunday, returned it yesterday.

It wasn't as described, only had one scart socket as opposed to the two stated by on the retailers website and with my current hardware that's an issue although minor. However I can honestly say that saying plasma have the best blacks is very misleading. They're great when ambient light is low or nill, put it in a room with white walls and light curtains and it turns all the blacks to grey which makes daytime viewing frustrating, it also has a very reflective screen so on top of grey blacks you can clearly see everything reflected in the screen.

The unit they had setup in store appeared to have been placed to avoid these issues as they were unoticable in the main.

Was just looking at the 37 inch version of my previous tv and found a review that showed the same fault as mine developed, back to tv hunting again :(
Click to expand...

Sorry but you did buy the worst plasma in the range, with the worst black levels, unless your prepared to buy a quality screen you wont get great black levels.

Spend a bit more an bu something worth having.
 
Well yes, I made the mistake of buying on the spot pretty much, I also got some advice from an independant tv guy who told me it was a great screen, lesson learned.
 
Dano said:
Well yes, I made the mistake of buying on the spot pretty much, I also got some advice from an independant tv guy who told me it was a great screen, lesson learned.
Click to expand...

Seriously ! i wouldnt touch one, and would only recommend to some one if they are on a really tight budget and and not worried buy having anything to fancy.

What budget can you stretch to ?
 
I have £500 quid tied to Comet, I can stretch further but am very very reluctant to give them any more money than that to be honest, I've been trying for a couple of days to get a proper refund with no luck and to be fair, I don't think I have a leg to stand on seeing as how the original set was an insurance replacement.
 
Dano said:
I have £500 quid tied to Comet, I can stretch further but am very very reluctant to give them any more money than that to be honest, I've been trying for a couple of days to get a proper refund with no luck and to be fair, I don't think I have a leg to stand on seeing as how the original set was an insurance replacement.
Click to expand...


I dont know if your vouchers will work online, but the G30 is £712 web exclusive, that would be a much better telly, or for a bit less the S30 not quite a black, but much better than the u range.
 
insane200 said:
Save a bit more, if i was buying again, i wouldnt get less than a G30 plasma.
Click to expand...

I really can't afford that, my budget is £500, can stretch to £530ish if I have to.

I've spent days looking at TV's and finally decided to buy the U30 with real high hopes then I stumbled on this post ! :(

The TV is going to be a gift for my parents....in a room with white walls....white curtains....next to windows + patio doors. Oh dear.

Any ideas on what I should get instead ?
 
Oh right, I've found it.

To be honest, I've gone off the idea of such a big tv, want something 32 - 37 inch in size, probably LCD too.
 
Joey, this is how bad it looked in my place during the day:

2011-05-22%2012.12.19.jpg


Edit: Changed the picture to something with a visable image.
 
Last edited:
Joey1988 said:
I really can't afford that, my budget is £500, can stretch to £530ish if I have to.

I've spent days looking at TV's and finally decided to buy the U30 with real high hopes then I stumbled on this post ! :(

The TV is going to be a gift for my parents....in a room with white walls....white curtains....next to windows + patio doors. Oh dear.

Any ideas on what I should get instead ?
Click to expand...

Going to be a bright room then, tbh you'll probably be better of with an Lcd at that price range. Something like a Samsung le40c580 would fit your Budget. and give a great picture.
 
Dano said:
Oh right, I've found it.

To be honest, I've gone off the idea of such a big tv, want something 32 - 37 inch in size, probably LCD too.
Click to expand...

Keeping with Panasonic, the Txl32/37e30 range is nice, you will have to pay a bit more but there really nice tellys, also Led/lcd and use very little electricity.
 
Been looking at the panny range, the only concern I have is that they'll eventually suffer from the same fault that my original tv had. I spotted a review on the panny website for the 37inch version of mine that was suffering the same issue and panasonic were unwilling to do anything about it :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom