Best current Panasonic Plasma below 1k??

Hedge

Hedge

Hedge

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Hi guys, a bit out of the loop with tvs but I'm looking to buy a good tv in the near future.

Always been a bit of a Panasonic fan boy so was wondering what model is the one to get now.
Gotta be under 1k really.

If another manufacturer offers better then I'll consider that.

Thanks.
 
What size !! Under a grand, you'll be looking at something like a Pana TXP42GT60 just over a grand you could get the 50'' if you really can stretch that far, the ST60 range should be good.
 
42 inch I think would be ideal for room size. I'll look for gt60 thanks. Any recommendations for place to buy from?
 
Find it online and then give your local Panasonic shop a call and ask if they'll price match it. Mine did a couple of years ago when I got my last plasma.
 
Hedge said:
42 inch I think would be ideal for room size. I'll look for gt60 thanks. Any recommendations for place to buy from?
Click to expand...

Common mistake and cause for regret from almost anyone I've know who bought a 42" TV... buy a 50" as minimum it makes a huge difference to the cinematic viewing experience and really isn't as big as you think. After a couple of weeks you won't notice it and will probably even think to yourself: "Hmm, bet a 55"-60" would have done".
 
Yeh my 50 seemed massive for the first day or two, now I'm completely used to it and pondering a 65 next time :D
 
if used for occasional gaming then GT60 minimum.

if no gaming use at all then you may as well go ST60 (has more input lagg) and a bigger screen size.

although you would be a fool to go for these models imo when the 51" E8000 is only £899 from John Lewis.

yes it's a Samsung, but it has the far better "smart" tv features, built in skype camera (worth at least £100+ if you want the same thing on a panasonic), etc, etc.

I have the 51" D8000 which is the older gen version of the E8000 as well as a 50" GT50 which is the older gen version of the GT60.

both are cracking sets and the newer E8000 and GT60 will be even better.

go for the 51" E8000 for £899 from John Lewis.

as for PQ Samsung are on par with Panasonic, Panasonic have better black levels, but Samsung have better panels in regard to 50hz flicker bug, DFC (dynamic false contouring) and banding.

go for the samsung and this is coming from someone who has pretty much recommended panny's on here to everyone.


also with the spare £100 - put it towards one of these

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18538496

i got mine from supermarket for £159 using a £10 online voucher code from hotukdeals.

the built in speakers on any modern flat screen tv are crap.

here is a link to the E8000

http://www.johnlewis.com/samsung-ps...ch-with-freeview-hd-and-2x-3d-glasses/p505127
 
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Thanks for lengthy reply mate.

That tv looks great actually and has come down a lot in price since release eh.

It sent me looking for reviews and I came across some av forum reviews. All positive. But it also made me notice the Panasonic p50vt65b...which is 600 over budget but very very temptin.

Gotta jjust try and get my head straight
 
the VT65B uses the "kuro killer" panel

it's also supposedly the better tv for the money in regards to the ZT65B which is more than double the price.

if you can afford the VT65B, then sure go for it, but if you are looking to save money then it is a toss up between the E8000 and the VT50 posted above.

tbh i could argue for both tv's being the one to go for.

does the VT50b above come with a 5 year guarantee, 2 sets of 3d glasses and a skype camera built in?

again only really useful if you use skype, or 3D but again these are something which are going to be getting used more and more in the future so worth having imo.

the VT50 is the slightly better panel, but I believe it also has some issues which the samsung doesn't like flicker, etc.

if it was me i'd probably go for the sammy due to the warranty, glasses and camera and better smart features.

an enthusiast may opt for the panny though simply for the deeper black levels.

if you can't decide then flip a coin between the E8000 and VT50, both are brilliant sets for the money and you cant really go wrong with either.

if you can afford the VT65B though, it's supposed to be out of this world in terms of PQ, second best TV on the planet after the ZT65B, so again you can;t really go wrong with that either.
 
Psycho Sonny said:
if used for occasional gaming then GT60 minimum.

if no gaming use at all then you may as well go ST60 (has more input lagg) and a bigger screen size.

although you would be a fool to go for these models imo when the 51" E8000 is only £899 from John Lewis.

yes it's a Samsung, but it has the far better "smart" tv features, built in skype camera (worth at least £100+ if you want the same thing on a panasonic), etc, etc.

I have the 51" D8000 which is the older gen version of the E8000 as well as a 50" GT50 which is the older gen version of the GT60.

both are cracking sets and the newer E8000 and GT60 will be even better.

go for the 51" E8000 for £899 from John Lewis.

as for PQ Samsung are on par with Panasonic, Panasonic have better black levels, but Samsung have better panels in regard to 50hz flicker bug, DFC (dynamic false contouring) and banding.

go for the samsung and this is coming from someone who has pretty much recommended panny's on here to everyone.


also with the spare £100 - put it towards one of these

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18538496

i got mine from supermarket for £159 using a £10 online voucher code from hotukdeals.

the built in speakers on any modern flat screen tv are crap.

here is a link to the E8000

http://www.johnlewis.com/samsung-ps...ch-with-freeview-hd-and-2x-3d-glasses/p505127
Click to expand...

The Sony CT-260 is better audio than the Yamaha, has a wireless sub of good quality, and is really worth the extra £70 even were it even just for the Bluetooth.
 
Richdog said:
The Sony CT-260 is better audio than the Yamaha, has a wireless sub of good quality, and is really worth the extra £70 even were it even just for the Bluetooth.
Click to expand...

if you really want a sub you can add one to the yamaha, i may even do this in the future, but tbh after listening to the bass of the soundbar i don't think I need one, the bass of the sound bar is enough currently.

http://www.avsforum.com/t/1427309/sony-ht-ct260-or-yamaha-yas-201

this review slates the sony

and you can also buy a bluetooth receiver off ebay and then use a DAC to hook it up to any soundbar if bluetooth is something you really need.

do you have any sources saying the CT-260 is better?

the YAS 201 is basically the YAS 101 with a subwoofer.

the yamaha has more DTS encoder's as well, for better SQ with compatible products.

http://gizmodo.com/5954631/the-best-sound-bar-for-less-than-300


this review slates the sony subwoofer

The sound quality from the bar itself is actually better than the Battlemodo winner—the Sony delivers detail and clarity, and the virtual surround is second only to the Yamaha YAS-101. But all this credit to the SA-CT260 is undone by the subwoofer. It's loose and boomy, but also punchy in a bad way. It generates a low-end sound that isn't smooth and complimentary. Instead, it's oppositional. And yes, you can tone down the aggressiveness of the sub, but it still can't mask the fact that it just isn't a very good component. It's a shame too, because this bar does so much else well.

the only reason the Yamaha came 3rd is because it doesn't have a seperate sub, but as I stated above, that can be fixed with buying one.

it's the best for "surround" sound experience too.

yamaha are also regarded as being the best in the business when it comes to soundbars.
 
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