New TV Help please 40"

acs1

acs1

acs1

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Joined
22 Feb 2003
Posts
156
Hi peeps,

Just need a bit of help here.

We have bought a Samsung Le40M86BD 1080p LCD TV a few weeks ago. We are using only to watch SD sky+ and DVDs via my xbox 360. To be really honest the TV quality is terrible at the best of times.

The picture quality is blurry and the g/f gets a constant headache from watching it. I must have played around with about 100 different picture settings but nothing gets it as good as I would like.

We have been to the mother-in-laws and they have an old 720p Sony which is 10 times better than ours.

Is this a problem with our tv or with the fact that we are expecting too much out of a 1080p tv with SD.

If we were to replace it what would we replace it with?

Thanks in advance for all your help
 
Cue dozens of recommendations for the PX80 ;)

Honestly, unless you're primarily feeding it 1080p, it's a waste. You'd be better off with a higher end 720p model, and for SD the panny plasma is likely a safe bet.
 
Doug said:
Cue dozens of recommendations for the PX80 ;)

Honestly, unless you're primarily feeding it 1080p, it's a waste. You'd be better off with a higher end 720p model, and for SD the panny plasma is likely a safe bet.
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Is that the Panasonic TH42PX80. How close would that be to the picture that we used to get from our CRT?

I really thought 1080p was going to be the bee-all-and-end-all. I take it then the picture that we are getting at the moment from the TV is going to be the best we can get and no amount of changing the settings is going to effect it.
 
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the TH42PZ80 is the 1080p model and is supposed to be an excellent tv for the cash

seen it for £700 and I'm very tempted to buy one for movies, sports etc
 
Same boat as you man. I have the 40M86 and it sucks badly on Sky+ SD. really want to get it shifted and get the PX80, which is harder than it sounds cause I can't return it since I got it in February and finding a buyer locally is proving troublesome. :(
 
Nymins said:
Same boat as you man. I have the 40M86 and it sucks badly on Sky+ SD. really want to get it shifted and get the PX80, which is harder than it sounds cause I can't return it since I got it in February and finding a buyer locally is proving troublesome. :(
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The picture really is bad isn't it. I just cannot believe the reviews I read said it was a good set, even for SD stuff!!

Saying that HD isn't brilliant either!!
 
Raikiri said:
The Samsung 40" 686 we have set up is excellent running HD and not bad when it comes to standard def either (certainly better than the Sony 40W4000).

656 review (cosmetically different, but the same inside) - http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/Samsung-LE40A656/Conclusion.htm
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The 656 is no where near the PX80 for normal tv quality and motion handling, plus it is another LCD, which i would not recommend for the OP.

This is the reason i go on about plasmas, and soo do many others, LCDs just can't hack it when you have come straight from a good CRT. They produce a picture that is unrealistic and jerky, with some blockyness thrown in.

Doug said:
Cue dozens of recommendations for the PX80 ;)

Honestly, unless you're primarily feeding it 1080p, it's a waste. You'd be better off with a higher end 720p model, and for SD the panny plasma is likely a safe bet.
Click to expand...

^^^ THIS, go for the PX80, it is the closest you will get to a CRT for this price. CRT is still better, but the PX80 is the closest for the low price that the PX80 is. I wouldn't get the PZ series, the SD isn't as good as the PX80, and i would save your pennies :D

acs1 said:
The picture really is bad isn't it. I just cannot believe the reviews I read said it was a good set, even for SD stuff!!

Saying that HD isn't brilliant either!!
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Reviews are just a guide, user opinions are better, and seeing the sets properly calibrated running a solid feed is even better. Come here again or avforums before buying a tv, everyone should so we can give you a nudge in the right direction :D
 
-Ad- said:
The 656 is no where near the PX80 for normal tv quality and motion handling, plus it is another LCD, which i would not recommend for the OP.
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I disagree regarding quality. The A656 is slighty better in my experience, however the motion will be of course be better on the plasma.
 
You might find the VGA cable with the Xbox better. I really cant fault mine on DVD's that way as the Xbox does most the work, even motion is decent. Problem with LCD is static looks so damn good, HD stuff looks so good it draws you up against the screen to observe the detail and with things like crystal clear panels you dont see pixel grid mesh or plasma PWM noise it remains brillantly detailed, its like looking out the window which doesnt really help when stuff starts moving as theres more of a reduction in quality.

On my M86 the scart sources generally are comedy, try to avoid using them. Freeview on this set is pretty decent tbh.
 
If its possible could someone just post some really nice pictures of the TH42PX80B so I can show the missus, she wants to see real pictures of the plasma rather than the shop images so I can persuade her its the tv to get!!
 
acs1 said:
If its possible could someone just post some really nice pictures of the TH42PX80B so I can show the missus, she wants to see real pictures of the plasma rather than the shop images so I can persuade her its the tv to get!!
Click to expand...

I wouldn't mind this also. Never really seen the PX80 perform on SD or HD in pictures!
 
Very interesting thread. Back in the summer a friend of mine bought a Samsung for their other room which is running from a Sky RF output. TBH the quality of the picture was awful and they were not impressed. They have a Sony Bravia as their main TV and the quality of it is remarkable compared to the Samsung. I need a TV for my other room and it will be on an RF feed with and Xbox/PS3 connected so I will be keeping an eye on the PX80 but the PZ gets my attention because its 1080p. Decisions Decisons.
 
Sky RF? Please dont use that as a benchmark. RF for a plasma, the px80 has more of a hope of looking okay as its inventing less pixels.

Noticed something wierd with my M86.

Xbox, perfectly sharp if you hit still. BUt ITV HD earlier was blurry even on still, which is just crazy. Im sure the LCD panel is better with motion, just some bizarre stuff is happening in the processing, maybe some OTT noise filtering.
 
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