Panasonic s10?

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jerry77

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#58841 21-Mar-2010 11:35

Im about to buy a 50'' but just wanting to double check that im making a safe choice

Majority of time im watching HD sport. So is plasma still the choice for this?
Ive narrowed it down to the panasonic s10 and a LG for the same price $2500

Is the s10 a solid choice?

cheers

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75 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#309517 21-Mar-2010 14:33

I can't talk about your model specifically, but I've got a 50" Panasonic, and it's brilliant, way better than the LG equivalent.

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huxtable

114 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 10

#309564 21-Mar-2010 17:38

duckquack: I've got a 50" Panasonic, and it's brilliant, way better than the LG equivalent.

In what respect exactly?

jerry77: I'm in a similar quandry to you. Really liked the look of the LG (assuming it's the Full HD 50PS30 you're looking at). However I've found very few reviews for this specific model, and reviews for UK equivalent (at least by my understanding) model are mixed - most very good, but a number of people having issues with severe Image Retention that you shouldn't think should be such an issue these days. Also highly reflective screen gets some negative feedback.

The Panasonic S10 appears to be a good solid TV - although most pundits seem to think the picture is significantly inferior to the G & V models (& next to impossible to find the G10 around anymore). Also, I harbour large concerns regarding the degradation of black levels on these Panasonics that have been noted overseas and in NZ.

I think if you've narrowed it down to those two models, most people would recommend to go for the Panasonic if they're the same price - but this largely appears to be due to a reluctance (ignorance?) to seriously consider the LG models. LG still doesn't seem to garner the respect as a brand that it does in most other parts of the world. Whereas Panasonic is generally regarded as the brand to go for.

Whatever your decision, please let us (me!) know how you get on and what you make of your choice, cheers.

PS If you're planning on buying these from Harvey Norman, there's a good chance you could get up to $200 knocked off the price of these models by asking...

duckquack

75 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#309586 21-Mar-2010 19:15

Based on my humble opinion the Panasonic was better because of the following:better picture

quality i.e. more natural colours, better contrast, with richer, deeper blacks.

Picture quality also seemed much better from an angle on the panasonic (important for my setup).

Panasonic was more reliable (as judged by NZ Consumer)

At the end of the day, its all about what you think is best.

As stated previously my observations are based on the model before the G10 (mine is PZ850).

samwooff

219 posts

Master Geek

#309647 21-Mar-2010 21:53

Plasmas can tend to look smoother because of their higher refresh rate, not to be confused with 100/200hz interpolation.
I've been following the panasonic black level problem and although it is worth considering I still feel overall the panasonic s10 gives a better picture than the majority if not all of the LG models. Reviews and my viewings in store(I know stores are poor environments for tvs but after a quick eye calibration it can at least give you a good indication of colour accuracy and bright room performance) have given the panasonic line the edge.
The panasonics are admittedly very poor in a bright room but if you have such a room you're probably better off with an LCD. The colour accuracy smashes everything well into the next couple of price brackets and the trump card is of course the black level.
The LGs whilst alright tvs have an obvious tint to them and their blacks fail to impress.
No tv is perfect; LCDs have their own issues, panasonics have the black level problem, samsungs buzz, LGs are brown, pioneers cost $7500 etc
It's simply a matter of choosing the tv that you think will perform the best for your budget, playing the waiting game never works out as you'll just never end up buying a tv and be stuck with you 22" crt forever.

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Home Theatre: 32" loewe CRT, Harmon kardon amp, dvd player, image 418 speakers, rega planar 25 turntable :)

Dunnersfella

4100 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 887

#309652 21-Mar-2010 22:27

Interesting you say that LG's appear brown to you.
To my eye, they look to have an overly blue picture, especially when viewed from the side / a distance.

jerry77

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#309729 22-Mar-2010 10:22

cheers for replys guys

Im heading in today so ill let you know the end result
huxtable, I would also have prefered the g10 based on the good reviews but yeah cant seen to track one down.
The room is fairly light, im hoping wont be to much of a big deal

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Dunnersfella

4100 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 887

#309898 22-Mar-2010 19:15

So...
Did you get it?
Where from? How muchee?

jerry77

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#309907 22-Mar-2010 19:31

yea m8. Ended up going with the g10, they had 1 left in stock. Harvey Norman
$2800 18mnths defered $$
so was a few hundy more than the S. Dont think there much between them specs wise.
Pictures great, alot better than the 4 year old lcd which couldnt keep up with anything

Dunnersfella

4100 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 887

#309933 22-Mar-2010 20:32

Nice!
I don't think you'll be disappointed with the G10 - lovely tellies.

70mm

80 posts

Master Geek

#310343 23-Mar-2010 19:02

Panasonic still make the best PLASMAS with the best blacks, I would never change brands!

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clevedon

1059 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 205

#310502 24-Mar-2010 07:31

70mm: Panasonic still make the best PLASMAS with the best blacks, I would never change brands!

+1.

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huxtable

114 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 10

#310537 24-Mar-2010 08:39

70mm: Panasonic still make the best PLASMAS with the best blacks, I would never change brands!

Most people certainly agree with that. Although:

1) The apparent issue of Black Levels severely reducing over time adds a little bit of doubt to the claim.
2) In Noel Leeming today, they had both an S10 and a V10 in different parts of the store, wedged between other brands/types (Samsung Plasma, LED etc) and to my (very untrained!) eyes, the black levels on the panasonics were noticeably weaker than the four others surrounding them. Now, of course this was a typical store environment, and I'm certainly no expert, I'm just calling it as I saw it.

Jerry, I think you've done brilliantly getting a G10 - unfortunately they're not available any more from the shop I need to buy from. Most reviews say it is a lot closer in quality to the (top of the line) V10 rather than the S10 - particularly with the NeoP panel or whatever the jazz. Nice buy.

Personally, I'm probably still leaning towards an S10, but still quite circumspect about it...

70mm

80 posts

Master Geek

#310580 24-Mar-2010 09:28

huxtable:
70mm: Panasonic still make the best PLASMAS with the best blacks, I would never change brands!

Most people certainly agree with that. Although:

1) The apparent issue of Black Levels severely reducing over time adds a little bit of doubt to the claim.
Personally, I'm probably still leaning towards an S10, but still quite circumspect about it...

I think you will find that was just some overseas models and to date there are no reports of NZ models displaying any problems.

NZ Agent Oppo BDP-80 & BDP-83 REGION FREE/ZONE FREE Blu-ray Players
One-Stop Online Home Theatre Shop
www.oppo.co.nz www.rapalloav.co.nz www.indigoscreens.co.nz

huxtable

114 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 10

#310873 24-Mar-2010 17:32

70mm: I think you will find that was just some overseas models and to date there are no reports of NZ models displaying any problems.

Geekzone user fahrenheit would probably beg to differ, as per his recorded observations halfway down the page in http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=34&topicid=57360&page_no=2 .

However, it clearly isn't something which is affecting a lot of people, considering how many of these units have been sold in the last year.

Think I'm now angling for a 50" S10, which I can get for $2200.

samwooff

219 posts

Master Geek

#310973 24-Mar-2010 20:53

huxtable:
70mm: Panasonic still make the best PLASMAS with the best blacks, I would never change brands!

Most people certainly agree with that. Although:

1) The apparent issue of Black Levels severely reducing over time adds a little bit of doubt to the claim.
2) In Noel Leeming today, they had both an S10 and a V10 in different parts of the store, wedged between other brands/types (Samsung Plasma, LED etc) and to my (very untrained!) eyes, the black levels on the panasonics were noticeably weaker than the four others surrounding them. Now, of course this was a typical store environment, and I'm certainly no expert, I'm just calling it as I saw it.

Jerry, I think you've done brilliantly getting a G10 - unfortunately they're not available any more from the shop I need to buy from. Most reviews say it is a lot closer in quality to the (top of the line) V10 rather than the S10 - particularly with the NeoP panel or whatever the jazz. Nice buy.

Personally, I'm probably still leaning towards an S10, but still quite circumspect about it...

Panasonics plasmas tend to look the most washed out of all the tvs this year in a bright room, however the upside is that they have the best performance in a dark room. If you want a better idea of how they really perform chuck them all in a dark room and calibrate them.

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