[L_O_Z]

After agreeing to replace my broken TV with a similar model of my choice I'm now unsure of what to buy. I had stated in the previous topic that my TV was a 65" Panasonic Plasma. After going through paperwork I now remember that the 65" TV was too expensive and I wasn't sure if it would be too big for my lounge. The TV being replaced is actually a 55" Panasonic Plasma, what can I say, us guys always over estimate when it comes to measuring in inches... "Nah babe it's definitely 12 inches"

So a few questions if someone can help me out.

1. Is Plasma still the way forward
2. Is Panasonic still a top company
3. Who are the top 3 brands
4. How close can you sit to a 65" Plasma without getting eye strain/ having eye problems?
5. Any other advice would be really appreciated

I've got a plan that I think will work:

The closest TV to the one I had is an extra £300. I think the company will give me the 55" Panasonic for free and not ask me to pay the extra £300. However for an extra £300 on top of that I could get the 65" equivalent from another company. So I'm hoping the original company will reduce their price to that of one of their rivals so that I could get the same TV in a 65" for an extra £300 (The TV that was £1,500 on top of my 55" this time last year)

Cheers

L_O_Z

 

[stefan88]

I have Samsung 50inch 3d tv and I must say its class

From what I know Panasonic are the best out there as there the only company who actually build there tv in house as you might say. But there also expensive in my opinion again that's probably because there the top brand.

Top companies are Panasonic, Samsung and Sony.

With my 50inch it says your not to sit closer than 3m to stop getting eye strain but I'm about 2m away and get no problems.

Mine is a plasma, I wanted led or LCD but for what I use the tv for i.e. football, gaming and films I was told that plasma is best as you get no motion blur. And also plasma is the only design where black is black,on all the others black is more of a dark grey.

Hope any of this was useful.

 

[stefan88]

.

 

[L_O_Z]

I have Samsung 50inch 3d tv and I must say its class

From what I know Panasonic are the best out there as there the only company who actually build there tv in house as you might say. But there also expensive in my opinion again that's probably because there the top brand.

Top companies are Panasonic, Samsung and Sony.

With my 50inch it says your not to sit closer than 3m to stop getting eye strain but I'm about 2m away and get no problems.

Mine is a plasma, I wanted led or LCD but for what I use the tv for i.e. football, gaming and films I was told that plasma is best as you get no motion blur. And also plasma is the only design where black is black,on all the others black is more of a dark grey.

Hope any of this was useful.

Thank you. I had no problems with the viewing distance from my 55" but worried that the extra 10" might cause viewing problems or headaches. Whether I go with another 55 or a 65 the TV will be used for Football, F1, Blu Ray Movies, PS3 and Xbox360 (not sure if that info actually helps because that's basically everything lol). I really want a TV with at least the same Frame Rate as my previous as I had no problem with Football or F1.

 

[stefan88]

Thank you. I had no problems with the viewing distance from my 55" but worried that the extra 10" might cause viewing problems or headaches. Whether I go with another 55 or a 65 the TV will be used for Football, F1, Blu Ray Movies, PS3 and Xbox360 (not sure if that info actually helps because that's basically everything lol). I really want a TV with at least the same Frame Rate as my previous as I had no problem with Football or F1.

No problem mate. I pretty much use my tv for exactly the same as you and I was recommended plasma. Get no problems with it at all hi definition on the ps3 and blue ray etc is brilliant.

 

[Fat Head]

Go for plasma definitely if that's what your going to be using it for, I have a Samsung led and playing cod is horrible, there is a small delay from moving the analogue stick to something happening on screen, that's a matter or life or death on cod lmao, led is brighter, plasma is duller, but plasma is smoother with more Hz, black is black as mentioned before and if you already had a plasma then you won't complain if you got another.

 

[Montana32]

I have a Samsung 50inch 3d plasma tv aswell and has a fantastic picture.

 

[Silver]

And also plasma is the only design where black is black,on all the others black is more of a dark grey.

Not true. Local dimming?

 

[L_O_Z]

Ok thanks guys. So Plasma still seems to be the way forward. I was told when buying my TV last March that anything over 50" you're best off with Plasma and anything below you're probably better off with LED Back Lit. I really just needed it clarified that LED still isn't quite there for big TV's.

Does anyone know what the minimum viewing distances are for 55" and 65" HD TV's?

Cheers

 

[richard_nottm]

Ive got a Sony Bravia.

Im sure Samsung have got more market share a lot of the others put togther.

Im sure its soemthing that will be reasonable fun researching and sorting!

 

[Marcus Morgan]

Get youreself what hifi mag I've got a panasonic gt50 42" you won't be disappointed I used to be a Sony fanatic but the new range of panasonic tv's are spot on + they have taken on the guy who used to design the legendary pioneer tv,s

 

[Hostile]

Samsung are number 1 at the moment. Take it from someone in the trade. Plasmas were great. If you can get a used one, get a pioneer as they were the best plasmas. Panasonic and Sony are struggling so much. Panasonic don't make their TV's in house anymore, they actually get parts from Samsung or LG as these are the only two you can. The best advice is go to a shop and look at them yourself. If you want gaming, have a look with a games console on it, surely a store would do that for you. Plasmas used go be amazing. But they're dying out slightly compared to before. But the best choice is to view them and see them in the cases you would view it and then make your opinion. 8000 series in Samsung is immense and Panasonic v series is their top spec, well was. I haven't been at work for a while and this time of year is when they release all the new TV's into store. Just my opinion, anyway.

 

[CorradoR32]

Plasma is still the way forward if you want deep blacks and wide viewing angles but don't write off LED just yet. Sony's latest LED is superb and Pana have just released a range of midrange LEDs too which are pretty good.

If you want ultimate PQ, there's a new Pana Plasma due out soon too which is said to rival the old Pioneer Kuro's blacks, which is still the reference set even now. Pana are the only panels that come close to the Pioneers. I think this new set might 5 grand tho!!! If you don't want a reference grade panel, the GT series is good as mentioned /\.

Bear in mind Plasma consumes over 3x as much power as LED. If you're a movie lover, it whacks the old bills up a bit!!

Edit: beaten to it by hostile!!

 

[Marcus Morgan]

Samsung are number 1 at the moment. Take it from someone in the trade. Plasmas were great. If you can get a used one, get a pioneer as they were the best plasmas. Panasonic and Sony are struggling so much. Panasonic don't make their TV's in house anymore, they actually get parts from Samsung or LG as these are the only two you can. The best advice is go to a shop and look at them yourself. If you want gaming, have a look with a games console on it, surely a store would do that for you. Plasmas used go be amazing. But they're dying out slightly compared to before. But the best choice is to view them and see them in the cases you would view it and then make your opinion. 8000 series in Samsung is immense and Panasonic v series is their top spec, well was. I haven't been at work for a while and this time of year is when they release all the new TV's into store. Just my opinion, anyway.

 

[Marcus Morgan]

They don't buy they panels fro Samsung not knocking Samsung unless you go for the 9000 series I wouldn't bother panasonic all day

 

[monkfish/R32]

The Samsung F8500 plasma sounds good.
awesome blacks & great viewing angles but the brightness and pop of a LCD.
I have the Samsung ES8000 and love it too bits & soon to buy a colorimeter and start perfecting the art of calibration

 

[jon_R32]

didn't panny have a lot of issues with buzzing from thier plasmas?

Ive got a 50" sammy 3d which is great and I mainly bought for playing battlefield on, but Ive noticed with it compared to the 40" lcd in the bedroom that when the camera is panning on screen the plasma is a lot clearer.

 

[Paul_N]

Samsung LCD are good, my brother has their top range one, but we both agreed when I got the Panasonic plasma VT series thats its much better. Much less distortion, more contrast and more natural movement and colour.

Paul

 

[-Ju-]

I've always rated Panasonic plasma tv's and almost bought the P50GT50 recently as the picture was stunningly good but I ended up buying a Sony Bravia 46HX923 LED instead as it was better suited to my room (conservatory). The Sony 55HX853 is also worth a look as the top end Sony Bravia's are beautiful looking sets.
Don't overly focus on size though as to me it's much better to buy the best tv for the room and viewing experience rather than the biggest I can get in!

 

[JMP R32]

There are plenty of websites that will quote ideal viewing distances. Just bear in mind that a 65" screen has the same number of pixels than the smaller sizes, so you really need to view it from further away. Got to say, my parents have a 65" Panasonic and it's incredible. If I had the cash, I'd certainly get one.