36" INCHES?...ooooer!

[TopMeTom]

Have been looking at upgrading my 32" philips,wanted plasma,can't afford it!!!!(missus will only go up to 2.5.k)
So,seeing the new Tosh 36PZ38,(free dvd vcr speaker stands)at£1499 inc vat and del with robertsons online would anyone recommend these pic frame tv's? 36PZ18(£1299 empire direct)
Then I saw the new Panny Acuity TX-36PD30D on another site,anyone know anything about this one??
Help!!
Phil

[wilber]

there's a thread about the tosh pf2. Hard to recommend tho as it's not in any shop I've been in.

[TopMeTom]

I read that, what about the old pic frame's 36pz18?what are they like?

[kenfowler3966]

Picture frame original sets are great if you get a good one with good geometry, I had 3 sets to get a good one and have been very pleased with it for coming up to 2 years in may.

There are some features that some cannot live with, such as the grey sides and black middle when it should be completely black, and my set has a poor analogue tuner(Which I never use so no problem).
Considering some mugs paid £2k back then and it is now available for £1300 or so I think its a bargain.

[harrisuk]

Two of my friends have the 36" Tosh. It is excellent. In fact it is the best CRT set I have ever seen. But you have 2.5.k to spend and you are getting a CRT ?

For that money you are in LG 17 Plasma country at £2499 from RS. Very nice screen. OK you need another £150 for a wall bracket but come on its 3 and half feet wide ! A 36 inch CRT is still only giving you 32 - 33 inches of visible screen. My advice. If you cant stretch to a quality budget Plasma model such as the LG 17 wait for 6 months, the price may come down a bit. You will be gutted if you get another CRT for £1500 and could have got a descent Plasma 30% bigger for around £2000.

Another point 36" Tosh nice screen. But it is HUGE. Dont ever try moving one on your own. I helped my friend shift his recently when he moved house. Not a nice experience. Weight much be 90 - 100 kg plus at least. An you will need a big room to put it in it totally dominated this guys lounge in his old house.

[bash]

No way is the LG plasma pic quality anywhere near as good as the tosh CRT. If you're really bothered about size the fair enough get a plasma, but right now pound for pound CRTs have better pic quality when compared to simarly priced Plasmas.

I got my 36ZD Tosh strata recently for £1400 inc delivery and cabinet assembly and in just analogue mode its impressive. I've now got NTL running through it and most people cant believe there eyes when they come into my living room. I could've speant another £1000 but you decide. . . . top of the range CRT or bottom of the range plasma? No contest IMO

Oh and the TV weighs around 75kg so not a problem if you;ve got a mate helping

Or a 42" Toshiba CRT RPTV, at £1050 bigger and cheaper than a 36" (actually 34") and very good picture. Better PQ than the Plasma's I've seen (Fujitsu)

[harrisuk]

Seen one properly setup have you bash ? And we are talking about the 17 not 13 or 14. I have a couple of mates with your screen who dont agree. Actually one of them is having his house remodeled shortly and is getting an LG 17 for above his fireplace. The 36" Tosh will be going in his bedroom. And its hardly bottom of the range at £2500. Plenty of lesser quality panels available now for £1700 - £2000

Dont get me wrong. The Tosh is a nice set but a bit small for me. And takes up way too much room. for my lounge anyway. They really are HUGE. And we are big lads and it was not easy I can tell you getting it out of his old house and into his new one intact.

But at the sort of money you can get them for now they are good value. If I had got a CRT it would have been this model. But It would really annoy me if Plasma prices drop another £500 or so in the next few months. BTW If you want wow factor come and see my setup playing LOTR on DVD .

Certainly dont compare RPTV with Plasma screens though. I have never seen an RPTV with quality I would call acceptable unless you were sat straight on in pitch darkness. But if thats your bag and price is an issue there is a nice looking Samsung 42" going in the classifieds for £450.

[TopMeTom]

So the LG is ok then?what about smearing et al....?
Contemplating now....

You don't have to watch a RPTV in pitch darkness- you're talking bolony there. As long as the room is dimmed- ie after dark with a 60W lamp shade lighting the room it's fine.

RPTV's have come alot further & better in the last few years. If you've only seen RPTV's going in Currys with full on artificial light, well that's pretty short sighted. Personally I prefer my RPTV to a Plasma because I notice Plasma pixels and gradient-like colours.

[edit]

I've just tried out the scene which trips up the Plasma "Gradient" effect. Monsters Inc 6:54, Monsters Inc logo on Sulley's TV. With Plasma the black colour difference between just outside the white Monsters Inc logo and the black screen is pretty horrible- a bit gradient. Not so on CRT, not noticeable at all, more variation of black between the black and grey

[harrisuk]

If you are happy with it good for you. I dont see much solarisation you mention having set mine up properly. Certainly not an issue like the blur and artifacting you see on the RPTV I have seen. And yes I ahve seen them outside show rooms. Its great in natural and artifical light 180 degree viewing angle and everyone who sees it thinks its absolutely stunning.

It also makes the room, great piece of furniture above my fireplace and saves a shed load of room. It has removed all the unslightly av clutter that used to be under my 32" CRT.

To be honest what ever you guys are happy with. But you wont find many people who know there stuff comparing RPTV quality with a good plasma. Not unless you are talking to RPTV owners that is. But we are drifting off thread here a bit. The guy was asking if the Tosh 36" is a good screen. And it is. Very good. And if we are talking about that or a 42" projector set. I would definately have the Tosh personally. I would not think twice about it.

One other point my friend who also posts on here and has the Tosh 36" screen commented that he is looking at gettting the Plasma screen I have to save space mainly and secondly for the larger screen size. When he has had the work done on his house he wants to put a two seater couch where the Tosh 36" is at the moment. This is not a reflection on the screen or because he things the Plasma has a better picture. Just thought I would clarrify the situation.

[Dimmy]

Even IF the LG 17 is a descent budget plasma (which it isn't coz I've seen it in action) it still can't touch a descent 36" CRT for overall image quality. Even the VERY best plasmas have trouble outdoing one. Par example, I tested a PDP503HDE and wasn't blown away by the image quality. The tradeoff of size meant that a bit more detail was visible - but it wasn't as clear as a descent CRT image in my view.

[harrisuk]

Dimmy

You would not be saying that if you saw my setup mate. And it is well documented that it is the best "Budget" Plasma model available currently. Though at £2500 budget is not the right word to use I would say. Whats a better panel for the money then ? RS cant keep them in stock so obviously alot of people dont agree.

The point you are making is pretty obvious. I never said the picture quality on Plasma was better on all sources than a high Quality CRT. That would be difficult seing as CRT technology has been developed over 50 years. Even top of the range Panny and Pioneer models dont claim to do that on all sources.

But quality is comparable and much much bigger. I used to think my friends 36" Tosh was huge when I went round to his house. After I got my Plasma up it looked tiny. And I am not just saying that. You get to expect the size. It also saves a hell of alot of space and asthetically big CRT are not my cup of tea. Just would not fit in my lounge. But I seriously considered it.

On high quality sources such as DVD or my Xbox no way anyone I know would go for a 36" CRT over a decent plasma if they had the option. Just my opinion mate. Whatever you are happy with.

Once again I as I said I think the 36" Tosh is an excellent screen especially for the money if you have the room for it. I was simply replying to the originas post having two friends with this screen. He said he had a budget of £2500 and could not afford a plasma. That is not the case.

I think we are drifting a flittle of the point here. This has turned into a Crt v Plasma v RPTV thread when it was meant to be advising this guy if the Tosh 36" is a good screen for him to buy.

For the last time the answer to that question is YES in my opinion. And I must say I am about the only person on this thread who has offered any constructive advice on the original topic ! Unless anyone has anything else constructive to say about the 36" Tosh we should all leave our CRT v Plasma v RPTV for another day or a thread focused on the issue.

Philb. If you are in the Manchester area I am happy to give you a demo. Unlike most people I am willing to put my money were my mouth is. The smearing you mention. Not an issue I have seen mentioned before with Plasma but it is a massive issue with LCD screens mainly due to the low contrast ratios on the current sets.

To be honest I turned the sharpness right down on mine. I like a very so slight blur effect I suppose it is down to personal taste. Interesting one of my friends with the Tosh has similiar brightness, sharpness setting as me. There is loads of info on this screen in the Plasma / LCD forum if you do a search. Looks outstanding when setup right. I use a Scan RGB Scart to component converter to connect my XBOX, DVD and NTL Digital via a scart switch. I will say the only way to connect stuff to these screens is component. You see alot of people using svideo and even composite (Which is what they use in post retailers which is why people who dont know there stuff think the quality is crap)
This is where alot of the misconceptions start. Think about it would not dream of using anything but high quallity RGB scart to conenct to your RPTV or CRT. WHy do people spend £2500 - £3000 on a Plasma and use crap connections !

[TopMeTom]

unfortunately I am in Kent so I can't take you up on your kind offer.
However I do appreciate everyone's comments,and, once I come back of hols will have to demo screens,The plasma(is it the 17 model again?)And the tosh,will be popping into allders fri to look at size of 36",see if the missus likes!!
Cheers,
Phil

[DJM]

If you are going to look at 36" CRTs then you ought to at least have a look at the Sony Fs76. It's a better looking piece of furniture than the Tosh, and IMHO a better picture on all sources (terrestial analogue, terrestial digital, DVD and VCR). Make sure the TVs are set up well and have a play yourself for your own settings to make sure you can live with the set. I started with the Toshes and ended up with the Sony and think I made the right choice.

As for a plasma, well the prices must continue to fall, so if your room can take a big CRT, then maybe you should consider that as a 1 or 2 year temporary position. Economically it could still work - just. £1200 or £1400 for a 36" CRT now and £2000 for a plasma or similar in a couple of years. You get a better picture than a budget plasma now, and when the plasma technology has improved even more and at reduced cost you get a picture better than a CRT in a year or 2 time. And, you still have the CRT to either sell to recoup some costs or move to another room as a second set. Just a thought.