Samsung F8000 or alternatives

wildest_jjk · 1 Aug 2013 at 16:25

Hi guys,

I am looking at getting a new TV and wanting to spend up to about £1300.

For a while I have been looking at the F8000 series and have been to see it in store as well. I think it is a great TV and has some excellent features.

What are peoples view on the F8000 series?

I'm also thinking of using XBMC so maybe I can get a TV that isn't so hot on the smart side of things. Are there better alternatives to the F8000 that don't necessarily have a good smart feature?

There is quite a good deal on at the moment on the F8000 so just seeing what people's thoughts are before I make the purchase.

Thanks

DogsBody · 1 Aug 2013 at 17:11

If I had a spare £1400 I would be buying this

http://www.richersounds.com/product/tv---all/panasonic/viera-txp55vt50b/pana-txp55vt50b

Unfortunately I don't have that money spare so will be sticking with it's little brother which is a 46" Panasonic Plasma

Psycho Sonny · 1 Aug 2013 at 20:16

50" GT60 territory there i think

wildest_jjk · 3 Aug 2013 at 12:23

Thanks for the response.

So you guys are both suggesting plasmas?

Psycho Sonny · 3 Aug 2013 at 12:37

wildest_jjk said:
Thanks for the response.

So you guys are both suggesting plasmas?

so long as sunlight or bright lighting is not hitting the screen directly

£ for £

plasma is 2-3 times better than the equivalent LCD in terms of pretty much everything apart from aesthetics.

wildest_jjk · 3 Aug 2013 at 13:35

Are panasonic pretty much leaders in the plasma area then?

Thanks again

Psycho Sonny · 3 Aug 2013 at 14:30

wildest_jjk said:
Are panasonic pretty much leaders in the plasma area then?

Thanks again

Panasonic have the deepest blacks.

Samsung have better features usually.

e.g. my D8000 is a generation older (top of the range 2011 plasma from Samsung) yet has PIP and better smart tv than my GT50 (top of the range 2012 plasma from Panasonic).

you cannot go wrong with either a Samsung or Panasonic plasma tbh, i believe the Samsung 51" F8500 is considerably more expensive than a 50" GT60 therefore GT60 is the clear choice. but the samsung has more features i believe like motion and voice control and a built in camera as well i believe, which you may believe is worth the extra.

or if you want to save more cash then just get a 50" ST60, the ST60 is roughly the same as my GT50.

Clipsey · 3 Aug 2013 at 15:11

I am in exactly the same boat currently.
Been looking at 60" LED LG & Samsung.
Think I have narrowed it down to the Samsung 7 & 8 series. The added features of the 8 series are not really enough to justify the extra $500 or so.

New line up will no doubt come out in what, November? So not sure whether to wait or what now

Somnambulist · 3 Aug 2013 at 16:25

Clipsey said:
I am in exactly the same boat currently.
Been looking at 60" LED LG & Samsung.
Think I have narrowed it down to the Samsung 7 & 8 series. The added features of the 8 series are not really enough to justify the extra $500 or so.

New line up will no doubt come out in what, November? So not sure whether to wait or what now

AFAIK all the 2013 models for everything came out a couple of months ago so nothing new till well into 2014.

Clipsey · 3 Aug 2013 at 16:42

^^Ah, well that's good to know!

Psycho Sonny · 3 Aug 2013 at 17:56

Clipsey said:
^^Ah, well that's good to know!

new models come out in april/may usually, therefore you won't be seeing a new model in the flesh for the best part of a year, the 2013 models only came out a few months back

although it's usually best to buy in feb-april time as sets go EOL they drop in price dramatically due to the new models.

i got my 51" D8000 for £769 (with 5 year warranty and 2 x 3d glasses) it's replacement model at the same time the E8000 was £1600

i got my 50" GT50 for £799 (with 5 year warranty and 2 x 3d glasses) it's price 8 months before was £1400

therefore you get a lot more for your money by buying EOL sets when they are nearly a year old but still brand new.

don't know how it works in america though.

wildest_jjk · 3 Aug 2013 at 23:52

What's the difference between the Panasonic GT and ST?

Thanks

Psycho Sonny · 5 Aug 2013 at 11:01

wildest_jjk said:
What's the difference between the Panasonic GT and ST?

Thanks

http://www.panasonic.co.uk/site/en_...Len_GB/index.html?p=TX-P50GT60B&p=TX-P50ST60B

Panel ----------- NeoPlasma black 3000----------NeoPlasma

Panel Drive-----3000 Hz FFD---------------------2500 Hz FFD

Picture Mode

Dynamic / Normal / Cinema / THX 3D (Cinema / Bright Room) / Custom / Professional 1 / Professional 2 (isfccc)

Dynamic / Normal / Cinema / True Cinema / Custom

Shades of Gradation----24,576 gradation steps-------12,288 gradation steps

those are the ones that make the biggest difference in regards to PQ, especially the picture modes, as you can see the GT60 has isfcc which allows you to get the screen professionally calibrated if that is your thing. or you can use the THX modes on the GT60 which are amazing "stock" modes, very close to reference out of the box.

just compare the reviews tbh from below and see if you think the GT60 is worth it over the ST60

http://www.avforums.com/reviews/Pan...B-3D-Plasma-Television-Review_505/Review.html

http://www.avforums.com/reviews/Pan...-P55ST60B-3D-Plasma-TV-Review_551/Review.html

although that is a 42" ST60 review, it should still be the exact same as a 50" ST60

wildest_jjk · 5 Aug 2013 at 15:07

Many thanks for your response that's very kind.

I have had a glance through so far and one of the immediate things that sticks out to me is the input lag. I would be gaming on it so perhaps the ST60 is too slow?

The GT60 I imagine is more comparable to other TVs.

Thanks again.

Somnambulist · 5 Aug 2013 at 21:01

Yes, last year it was the ST50 with the least input lag, this year it's the worst IIRC, with the GT or VT being where it's at.

Psycho Sonny · 6 Aug 2013 at 11:33

wildest_jjk said:
Many thanks for your response that's very kind.

I have had a glance through so far and one of the immediate things that sticks out to me is the input lag. I would be gaming on it so perhaps the ST60 is too slow?

The GT60 I imagine is more comparable to other TVs.

Thanks again.

bare in mind, in regards to gaming plasma does tend to have IR, if your gaming on it a lot, and not using the tv for other stuff in between.

although every screen is different in regard to IR, it is usually still an issue if you game a lot and don't vary content.

IR happens when the same image is on screen for long periods of time (e.g. maps, huds, scorelines, etc) or when the same image is repeated often throughout the game (menu systems, etc).

if you game for 25% or less of total time using tv you should be fine, but if you game a lot then an LCD would be the better option, as they do not get IR so easily.

also IR can be very prone in the initial 400 hours from brand new, so take it easy during those hours and use the scrolling bar to check for IR after a session and leave it running if you see any with auto standby on, it will then auto turn off after 2-3 hours.

i game on my GT50 all the time but it isn't an issue due to how much tv and movie content is watched on it also

sansnom · 7 Aug 2013 at 07:04

I would consider the LG 660v as a direct alternative to the 7/8 Series. Imo PQ is excellent.

I've tested the TV side by side with the 7/8 series and I was hard pressed to see a difference.

The Samsung 5/6 series by comparison are rubbish, PQ is grainy which you can see a mile off.