Which panel? PLASMA or LCD?

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keriboi

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Topic # 50117 23-Nov-2009 08:03

Looking for a FULL HD plasma or LCD. Anything from 42" to 50"

Must be 1080p. Mainly for bluray and the odd divx. No xbox of ps3.

From what ive read on here plasma seems to better suit what I want?? Looking in the shops they also seem to be cheaper? LED is out of my price range :(

Ive been serious looking at the s series 50" panasonic http://www.noelleeming.co.nz/tvs-dvds/televisions/plasma-televisions/panasonic-th-p50s10z-50-full-hd-plasma-television/prod13174.html

any recommendations or shops to try in auckland?

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Reply # 275350 23-Nov-2009 08:22

I don't think anyone can answer that question but you. Both options have there strengths and both have weaknesses. It really comes down to what you want to see on the screen.

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sarg

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Reply # 275358 23-Nov-2009 08:41

choose the type that has what you most, eg colour by comparing both at same time if possible

that would be an ecumenical matter

keriboi

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Reply # 275376 23-Nov-2009 09:31

ok fair enough. :) thought there might be some wonder product out there for low cost :) So from what I can gather Im not likely to notice too much difference at that price range?

sbiddle

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Reply # 275379 23-Nov-2009 09:47

The Panasonic Plasma's are fantastic TV's. You should be able to haggle that price down a little, I've heard of people picking them up for $1999 and somebody a few days ago mentioned on here JB Hifi are quoting the G series 50" for $2699.

It's certainly a great time to be buying a TV.

robjg63

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Reply # 275382 23-Nov-2009 10:00

You also get a free Nintendo Wii with the Full HD panasonic plasmas at the moment!
I bought a G10 50" for about $3200 from JB a little while ago and I know other people reported prices of a squeak under $3k at the time. Just make sure you know whethger its an S10/G10 whatever because there are a few different modles/prices.

I would have to say I think the picture has improved the longer I have had the set. I dont really think they demo well in the shops compared to the LCD/LED sets though. The picture looks a bit bland on the Plasmas in the shop compared to the LCDs. They look almost 3d at times. I suspect its because they have to chuck a lot of image enhancement trickery at the LCDs to get a clean picture, whereas the plamsas have a very quick refresh and dont need so much enhancement.

Dont get baffled by the 100Hz 200Hz thing when comparing LCD and plasma - its irrelevant.

I can recommend the G10 - but then again I dont think there is that much between the G10 and the S10 and the S10 is excellently priced.

JB HiFi or Magness Benrow??

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keriboi

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Reply # 275385 23-Nov-2009 10:11

s10 is top on my list, but if i can get the g10 for $2500 id jump at that. But then again ,how much better is the g10 over the s10? can you really notice any difference in day to day watching?

Nety

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Reply # 275387 23-Nov-2009 10:18

robjg63:[snip]I suspect its because they have to chuck a lot of image enhancement trickery at the LCDs to get a clean picture[snip]

Excuse me but what do you mean "image enhancement trickery"? Yes LCD's have options to "enhance" the picture but then so do plasmas. With any HD source though you want those options turned off (in fact just turn them off regardless) as IMHO they make the image look worse.

keriboi

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Reply # 275389 23-Nov-2009 10:22

ok, on another note, would a 42" show a better picture than a 50" due to the same amount of pixels being smaller? eg both 1080p?

Nety

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Reply # 275392 23-Nov-2009 10:29

Depends how far way from the screen you sit. Good chart here to give you some idea.

http://hd.engadget.com/2006/12/09/1080p-charted-viewing-distance-to-screen-size/

robjg63

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Reply # 275413 23-Nov-2009 11:37

Sorry Nety - You have got the wrong end of the stick. I wasnt rubbishing LCD technology if that is what you think.
I was trying to point out that LCD manufacturers have had to do a lot of work to reduce pixel lag on LCD panels. They were initially very slow and gave a poor refresh rate compared to plasma. I meant that the 100hz/200hz/motionplus/whatever for LCD can not and should not be compared to a plasma panel because its not relevant. My aplogies for poor choice of words.......

And to keriboi - I say go for the largest panel you can afford. We have a very small lounge and replaced the 32" LCD with a 50" G10. The first night had my wife and I going "What have we done - its enormous!!!". On the second night it was "This is great". Now we joke that 65" would be fine.... the 50" picture is stunning from a couple of metres with HD content.

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Jaxson

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Reply # 275422 23-Nov-2009 12:01

robjg63:
And to keriboi - I say go for the largest panel you can afford.

I tend to agree. Whatever you get, in a months time it will just be your TV, so enjoy it whilst it's new!

keriboi:ok, on another note, would a 42" show a better picture than a 50" due to the same amount of pixels being smaller? eg both 1080p?

You are right here (though those with big TV's probably wouldn't want to admit it too much) but in practise it all kind of works out the same. You sit closer to smaller tv's (generally speaking) and you sit a bit further away from larger TV's, so the pixel size you see tends to work out about the same so it's all good. Best to go the other way and say that if you buy a big screen or projector especially then it's best to opt for full HD for sure.

I have a 100" projector and it's 'only' 720P, but it still looks great compared to DVD's SD resolution and TV1/TV2 are native 720P on freeview so it's actually still considered HD. Just bluray is 1080 is all, so more is better.

These days the TV technologies are all a lot better so really it's up to you kerobi, the buyer to go and see what they like. It's really difficult to do with the displays all being bright in the store anyway, and the sales guys looking out for themselves.

Practically, plasma is a lot heavier as it has real glass on the front.
LED is really LCD anyway, just with a more even LED back light.
As sbiddle says, now is really a great time to be buying a TV!

keriboi

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Reply # 275424 23-Nov-2009 12:06

Yeap, seems all the shops are doing a deal right now.

JBHi will do a 50" s10 around $1999 i think, wouldnt tell me over the phone but sort of hinted.

But... has anyone had any experiance shopping on boxing day? I could hold out to then if its going to save me some $$$$

mentalinc

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Reply # 275440 23-Nov-2009 13:03

Don't forget the Panasonic Full HD Wii giveaway http://www.panasonic.co.nz/bonuswii

Samsung with their free 22" (some retailers will buy it off you for $400)

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sbiddle

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Reply # 275475 23-Nov-2009 14:42

keriboi: Yeap, seems all the shops are doing a deal right now.

JBHi will do a 50" s10 around $1999 i think, wouldnt tell me over the phone but sort of hinted.

But... has anyone had any experiance shopping on boxing day? I could hold out to then if its going to save me some $$$$

Don't necessarily count on the boxing day sales offering deals that are any better than what you can get now.

If you pay the ticket price for anything at any major retailer such as Harvey Norman, Noel Leeming etc you've been sucked in. Harvey Norman/Norman Ross in particular are well known for having exceptionally inflated ticket prices, and their business model revolves around haggling.

While retailers might go and offer 20% off TV's you'll probably find you can get the same deals now by haggling with them.

Jaxson

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Reply # 275505 23-Nov-2009 15:32

Also in addition to what sbiddles said above, the big deals last sale (was that labour day or queens birthday or something?) was on a no name 42" full HD TV for $998 or something. So yes a good deal, but maybe not on exactly what you want anyway.

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