Urgent Panasonic TX37LZ800 vs Philips 42PFL5403/98

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browned

636 posts

Ultimate Geek

#23694 7-Jul-2008 13:44

Hi all,

We got burgled a couple of weeks back and lost our Philips 37PFL7422 Full HD TV

Insurance has been pretty good so far and are allowing me to agree or disagree with the quotes, makes and models they are getting prices on. ie My old HP 9088ea laptop had dual hard drives so the new one does too along with 2GB more ram and newer Nvidia 8600 VGA.

Anyway they have come back with the above topic TV's and I cannot find any info on the Panasonic TX37LZ800. There is a TX37LZD800 in the UK that supports DVB-T, but my main concern is if the newly release LZ800 NZ model will support Freeview HD. If not, no big deal I have a computer that currently supports it

Other than that my only other concern is that I get the best features from the models they are suggesting. I have had a 37" Philips previously and it looked and worked great, a few little niggles but otherwise well worth it. Any advice appreciated.

Thanks
DB

AncestralGeek

91 posts

Master Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#144303 8-Jul-2008 09:56

The Panasonic TX37LZ800 does not have a Freeview Tuner built in. Have viewed instore and ordered. Hopefully performance is the same as the TX37LZD800 which has some good writeups.

TinyTim

1042 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#145308 9-Jul-2008 11:48

We've had one of those for a couple of weeks. Top of the line Panasonic, same class as the old Sony Bravia D series (but newer). We find it very nice but don't have anything to compare it with.

AncestralGeek

91 posts

Master Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#146663 11-Jul-2008 11:49

TV has arrived and installed . First LCD TV so do not have a direct comparison. Do have a Panasonic widescreen 100hz, 1080i CRT which I will feed with a upscaling DVD player as soon as it arrives to see how they compare. The Panasonic was chosen from shortlist of Sony Bravia "D" and "W" series and the Panasonic. The Panasonic got the nod mainly because of how it sounded in the store. Still playing around with sound settings and positioning. While there were slight differences in the display of the three units I was unable to call any one as being marketly superior to the other. Had intended to purchase a Panasonic DMR EH68 DVD recorder but cancelled that when offered a DMR-E58 as one of the three "cashback" options as part of Panasonics Hi-Def promotion. Next addition will be a upgrade to a MySky HD unit at the end of this month (main reason for new TV). Freeview HD will probably never be available where I live.

AncestralGeek

91 posts

Master Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#147163 12-Jul-2008 16:31

Hi

Oops

, reading through your original question I should have mentioned that the W series Bravia and also the new V series both have Freeview compatable tuners. Guess you would have already made your decision by now.

browned

636 posts

Ultimate Geek

#148048 15-Jul-2008 12:08

Hi Guys,

Thanks for you replies. With mixed feelings I could not decide on which model to get so went with what I new and got the new Philips 42pfl5403/98, it is a series down from the old one (7000 series down to 5000 series), but has all the same features plus some.

Anyway, I am not unhappy with the TV, but am on the second one after picking it up Thursday night and swapping it with a picture freeze problem on Sunday morning. I only have 1 HDMI capable device so testing has been limited. I can confirm the TV freezes when using DVBViewer (any channel), Media Center in Vista (videos, DVD's), Windows Desktop (mouse pauses). Sound continues with no problems. To fix the freeze (if it is a long one) I have to change the input (other source hdmi2, Component) and back to hdmi1. The problem seems to show up about every 15-30 mins and is almost regular.

I have contacted the supplier again and will contact Philips for support to see what they say, I am also waiting on another computer with HDMI and Blu-ray player in it, and am going to try and borrow a friends PS3 to test that. At the moment I don't want to bag the Philips...the last one (before it got nicked) was great and did the job well, this one looks even better and had perfect 1:1 pixel mapping with it's new PC features.

My only other concern is that I am using Nvidia 8600GT video card (which is a few months old), the laptop coming has an 8600GT as well and with the current speculated Nvidia issues with the 8500 - 8600 cards I am wondering if that is failing. I suppose a PS3 test will confirm that.

anyone got any other ideas or having similar issues with the new Philips 5000 series with HDMI inputs?

Cheers
DB

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

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Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#148054 15-Jul-2008 12:20

browned: I have contacted the supplier again and will contact Philips for support to see what they say, I am also waiting on another computer with HDMI and Blu-ray player in it, and am going to try and borrow a friends PS3 to test that. At the moment I don't want to bag the Philips...the last one (before it got nicked) was great and did the job well, this one looks even better and had perfect 1:1 pixel mapping with it's new PC features.

Does the manual say that PC input via HDMI is supported? I know many older Samsung TV's did not support PC inputs via HDMI and this caused all sorts of issues.

It seems that HDMI is not necessarily HDMI!

browned

636 posts

Ultimate Geek

#148064 15-Jul-2008 13:02

sbiddle:
browned: I have contacted the supplier again and will contact Philips for support to see what they say, I am also waiting on another computer with HDMI and Blu-ray player in it, and am going to try and borrow a friends PS3 to test that. At the moment I don't want to bag the Philips...the last one (before it got nicked) was great and did the job well, this one looks even better and had perfect 1:1 pixel mapping with it's new PC features.

Does the manual say that PC input via HDMI is supported? I know many older Samsung TV's did not support PC inputs via HDMI and this caused all sorts of issues.

It seems that HDMI is not necessarily HDMI!

PC->HDMI is supported. In the display menu there is an option for PC or HD. When changed to PC I believe the TV is turning off it's processing and leaving it to the Computer. When left in HD the desktop is larger than the frame of the TV and not 1:1 pixel mapping. I have tried both options though and both freeze randomly.

Cheers
DB

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

browned

636 posts

Ultimate Geek

#148865 17-Jul-2008 14:31

- New developments.

Philips support said PC's are not supported via HDMI.

Manual, Philips web site all have references to DVI -> HDMI input from computers. Manual and Internet specifically mention multiple ways to connect your computer to TV, these inslude VGA, and HDMI. TV Menus have a PC option for input as well. Anyway after all of that I cannot be bothered researching and testing further.

- Results.

Retailer is happy to take this second Philips back (Insurance claim) and provide me with a new Sony KDL40W4000 for a little extra cash. So I am picking that up tonight. All in all I am very happy with the retailer so far, mildly dissappointed with Philips and there lack of firm knowledge on there own products.

So in the next day or so I hope to be able to give a bit of a review on Freeview HD via the new Sony and not the computer. Will be interesting to compare the picture quality and see if the Sony reviews are correct.

Cheers
DB

AncestralGeek

91 posts

Master Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#148871 17-Jul-2008 14:57

Cool
I assume that since you mentioned that you had to pay some cash that you chose the 102cm model. Did the retailer demonstrate the unit using the Freeview tuner.

browned

636 posts

Ultimate Geek

#148872 17-Jul-2008 15:05

AncestralGeek: Cool
I assume that since you mentioned that you had to pay some cash that you chose the 102cm model. Did the retailer demonstrate the unit using the Freeview tuner.

Gone from Philips Full HD 37" (burgled, 37" no longer made) -> Philips Full HD 42" -> Sony Full HD 40" + Freeview HD :-)

I am happy to lose a few inches, how many guys are happy to say that about anything other than fat, for the added Freeview HD built in. But I will still use the computer for that mostly (recording, Blu-Ray, DVD's, AVI's and music).

Retailer does not have a UHF aerial installed yet so running analogue which looked terrible :-) on the V4000 haha.

Cheers
DB

AncestralGeek

91 posts

Master Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#151370 25-Jul-2008 16:53

Final note.
When I originally ordered the TX-37LZ800 I also ordered a DMR-EH68 DVD recorder. Was stoked when I went to pick up the TV to be told that the DMR-EH58 was part of a promo deal so cancelled the order for the DMR-EH68 and fired of the coupon to Panasonic.
The DMR-EH58 turned up today, which was somewhat sooner than expected; well done Panasonic. Already had the weekend booked for serious TV watching (bad weather coming amongst other things) so new toy will be put into use straight away.