Plasma/LCD Television for HD Sports / Xbox360 and DVDs

[matmalone]

Hello All - First Post! - I am looking for a TV, to upgrade my Samsung LE32M86BD(?). My main aim is to get the best out of watching sports on Sky+HD and Xbox 360. i.e. No ghosting(?), sharp images etc

Not being harsh but Mr Comet and Mr Currys didnt give me much info to go on and didnt seem to have a big range at the store I went to. They did say that sports (football and rugby) would be better on the plasma screens. I am looking for a 50" screen and saw that plasmas seemed to be lower price than the LCDs for this size. I have a budget of £900 ish so hopefully you guys will give me some pointers. Specific models would be great as well as any deals you know of.

Ive heard the new Panasonic series is worth waiting for but not sure that will fit my budget???

Also - FreesatHD - is there any point to get a TV with this built in if I have Sky+HD?

THANKS ALL

[tombac99]

There are some great deals to be had at the moment, TXP50S10 Panasonic for starters, excellent TV for around £699. From Samsung the ps50b550 551 and 650 are around to be had at a similar price, with arguably better sharpness, SD performance and a cleaner picture than the Panny. They don't have the overall contrast and deeper blacks of the Panasonic though so whichever you find more important. A word of advice, if there are any 50B530s around, they are not worth the £100 or so saving, having seen them next to the B560 and Panasonic S10 they are way inferior; I was going to buy one (they came to our store at £599 around 6 months ago) as I expected stripped down B560 performance but this was not the case, they have sub par contrast and none of the sharpness/clean image of the other sammys.

I think at your budget you'll get more out of 2009 models than 2010, but this may not be the case in 6 months!

[matmalone]

thanks mate - so the samsung650 looks like a good bet.

If I bought a dvd home cinema 5.1 system could I connect a blu ray player to the speakers. the blu ray 5.1 systems seem to start at about £500 which is a little over my budget. thanks again