new 55" TV suggestions

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nathan

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#150139 12-Jul-2014 14:19

looking to get a new TV, any recommendations for make/model

browsing looks like mostly LG/Samsung models are around here in NZ

Don't care about curved screens, want a good quality, loads of HDMI ports :)

TIA

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#1087721 12-Jul-2014 14:25

If you'd posted 6 weeks ago the answer was a Panasonic plasma.

In all seriousness there now isn't anything on the market as good.

Bobdn

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#1087742 12-Jul-2014 14:48

It's true. I have a Panasonic plasma. Such a pity that they stopped making them but how could they go on? Panasonic was bleeding cash every year as consumers flocked to showroom retina-burning super-bright LCDs that don't look anywhere near as good as my plasma. And no, this is not just a "matter of personal taste" or "my opinion". It's a fact.

I'm going to run my Panasonic plasma into the ground. If I can buy a 65 inch OLED TV for around 3K in 5 or so years, I may consider upgrading. If I can't, I'm keeping my plasma. LCD can kiss my ass.

scuwp

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#1087755 12-Jul-2014 15:10

Budget?

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

nathan

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#1087765 12-Jul-2014 15:29

thinking 2K or under, but would go higher if there as a good model in the 60-65" range

HowickDota

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#1087776 12-Jul-2014 15:52

http://magnessbenrow.co.nz/index.php/th-p60s60z-panasonic-60-plasma.html (The link says s60 but the site says st60 so just be careful of what you're actually getting) $2400 for a display model. You can probably haggle that price down to or under your budget of 2k.

Also some stores still have st60 plasmas even though the product may not be listed on their website. Panasonic plasmas are still king and will be for a while, no new/upcoming displays are coming close of matching their performance.

MikeB4

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#1087777 12-Jul-2014 15:52

I would avoid the Samsung units they all seem to have an odd pink hue. My order of preference would be Panasonic, Sony, LG

Normal ain't coming back, the crazy stays.

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sbiddle

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#1087802 12-Jul-2014 16:57

I went to the Panasonic 2014 launch a month or so ago. It was hilarious to see all the snippets they'd taken from reviews pointing out how great the new TVs were. I read 2 of the reviews in full which basically said the TV was great (and better than most of the other LCDs on the market) but not a patch on the plasma it was replacing,

sdavisnz

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#1087803 12-Jul-2014 16:58

If u can find a f8500 samsung plasma they are good value. They have great reviews - up there with Panasonic vt's

I got a 51" for less than 2k.

Let us know what u get.

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ilovemusic

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#1087871 12-Jul-2014 21:03

a word of caution on the f8500.
they be capable of near-panny performance but reliability appears to be sub-par.
a friend bought an f8500 51" and is currently onto number 3.

Panasonic didn't stop plasma production because they were bleeding red but they couldn't justify the investment in next-gen 4k plasmas.

freitasm

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#1087888 12-Jul-2014 22:02

nathan: browsing looks like mostly LG/Samsung models are around here in NZ

You forgot to mention Panasonic (as pointed before). I have a 65" 4K model here (sending back this week) and it's an incredible screen - plus Freeview, loads of HDMI, USB and more...

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PhantomNVD

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#1087924 12-Jul-2014 23:57

freitasm:
nathan: browsing looks like mostly LG/Samsung models are around here in NZ

You forgot to mention Panasonic (as pointed before). I have a 65" 4K model here (sending back this week) and it's an incredible screen - plus Freeview, loads of HDMI, USB and more...

Soooo, why sending it back?

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nathan

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#1087927 13-Jul-2014 00:13

Boomerang review unit I bet

billgates

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#1087988 13-Jul-2014 10:00

I went to the Panasonic roadshow last month and had a look at their 65" 4K screen. Of course playing 4K content was going to be good. I switched the source to a 1080P Blu-Ray and it was really good. I am a Panasonic plasma fan myself but I think Panasonic 4K TV's are really good panels. RRP was $7k I think.

I recommend Panasonic, LG or Sony LED now that Panasonic plasma have disappeared. Go to the store and compare the quality. The 2014 Panasonic LED TV's on the roadshow were impressive.

I sell RUiXU 16kWh batteries, Victron & Fronius inverter hardware

freitasm

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#1087998 13-Jul-2014 10:31

PhantomNVD:
freitasm:
nathan: browsing looks like mostly LG/Samsung models are around here in NZ

You forgot to mention Panasonic (as pointed before). I have a 65" 4K model here (sending back this week) and it's an incredible screen - plus Freeview, loads of HDMI, USB and more...

Soooo, why sending it back?

As above. Panasonic sent me a unit for three weeks, Samsung is sending me a curved one next week.

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freitasm

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#1087999 13-Jul-2014 10:32

I got 4K content streaming to the Panasonic over WiFi on TelstraClear cable, no drops or buffering. Really beautiful picture. It supports ethernet, 802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz and 5GHz.

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