[Rob2D]

I was like you anlygi. I was on a bit of a budget and I figured the S20 would do me just fine rather than spending more on a G20.

[baarree]

Is the S20 worth the extra over the X20 for tv viewing SD and dvd mainly.

[anlygi]

Originally Posted by Rob2D

I was like you anlygi. I was on a bit of a budget and I figured the S20 would do me just fine rather than spending more on a G20.

Exactly. I was originally intent on a Sony Bravia but due to an issue with a Sony Walkman I am not giving Sony any more of my money.

I was dead set on a G20, but after looking through here and figuring I wouldn't use Viera Cast, I decided I wasn't prepared to spend over £200 more on the G20. Maybe the picture is better on the G20, but its replacing an ageing Toshiba LCD so the S20 will be a massive change. If you always look at what you can have for a few ££ more, where would it end? I made a purchase and I shall decide over the weekend if it was worth it, which I have no doubts that it will be.

[bob1]

I'm also thinking of getting one of these, going to have a good look at one tomorrow as well as the g20 , i can't afford to get it till the start of October so i could change my mind a few times,what about posting some photos of them in your rooms guys.

[rewerb]

Originally Posted by baarree

Is the S20 worth the extra over the X20 for tv viewing SD and dvd mainly.

Main advantage of the S20 over the X20 is Full HD, Freeview HD tuner. Plus better black levels/contrast and more shades of grey (which helps better colour reproduction).

Although you say you only watch SD TV, Freeview HD is now rolling out and this is superior to SD Freeview.

But if you're not going to watch Freeview Hd nor Bluray then the X20 is a decent choice.

The price difference at Dixons for the 42" models is about £140. I think the S20 is worth the extra, but it depends if money is tight and whether you'll actually watch any HD material.

[David Mackenzie]

Hey everyone,
Add me to the S20 owner's club. Amazon.co.uk have the TX-P42S20 for £550 which is too much of a bargain to pass up on. I use a projector for movies, so just want a cheap and cheerful TV for gaming (Halo: Reach is out soon and I'll be damned if I'm playing it on a laggy LCD!) and funnily enough, TV.

When I looked at the 50" version I was delighted with the value for money; for £550 I can definitely tolerate the S20's minor flaws. I considered stepping up to the G20, but didn't feel the extra cash was worth it for the satellite tuner and more calibration options (because Panasonic did such a great job with the "True Cinema" preset mode anyway).

By the way, Rob2D, I laughed out loud at your signature. There's nothing like awful voice acting, is there

[Chronoptimist]

Originally Posted by Rob2D

One thing I've noticed on this set is the grainy look. Up close its like the pixels are 'crawling' all over the screen. I sit about 10ft away from the tv and most of the time I don't see it. But now and again it does become noticeable. Is this the gas that I'm seeing moving around?

Its not gas moving around its how plasmas work though. The pixels can only turn on and off so they need to do a lot of tricks to create different colors and shades. The dancing pixels "dithering" is a side-effect of it.

You need an LCD or LED if you dont want that but they have thier own quirks.

[Rob2D]

Originally Posted by David Mackenzie

By the way, Rob2D, I laughed out loud at your signature. There's nothing like awful voice acting, is there

There really isn't. Those were the days And I also bought my S20 for Halo Reach. Had to be done.


And cheers for that chrono. I sit far enough away that I don't see it anyway. Just wondered about the tech is all

[anlygi]

Well I would just like to say anyone thinking of going for an S20, DO IT!!

I am well pleased with ours as it totally blows our 3 year old Toshiba Regza LCD out of the water. Picture quality is outstanding for a 42" Full HD plasma costing less than £600. I put Monsters Inc on for the 5 year old and the picture quality, particularly the hair on Sully's body, is something else. That was only a 720p recording from Cinemagic HD too, so pondering buying the Blu-Ray release.

Also thanks to the poster on the 1st page for posting the settings, work a treat.

Is anyone using Viera Link with a Panasonic HT system? Everytime I select 'Home Cinema' for Speaker output in the Viera Link menu, the HT system turns on with the AUX input, instead of the optical? I have the Sky HD connected directly to the HT via Optical. Would I need to connect the TV via optical? Then Sky HD doesn't send 5.1 over HDMI......

[bob1]

What is it like with sd , i have spent the last few hours looking at tv's in quite a few different shops and feel totally disappointed and not just with this tv.
The last shop i visited was a panasonic dealer and was hoping it was better set up ,no chance of a play as it was in a side window so not the best place for viewing ,this was inside a shopping centre so at least there wasn't any bright sun light(as if), the rugby was on freeview and it looked terrible.
When i got home 10mins later i put the rugby on what a difference even setting mine on dynamic i couldn't get it to look so bad,then i tried bbc1 hd on my 480p panel and wow what a difference ,other than a few tv's being feed via a bluray player and costing 3 times my budget all the tv's looked bad to absolutely shocking.
I'm unsure what to do now

[David Mackenzie]

Use the "True Cinema" mode and turn the Sharpness down.

[bob1]

Originally Posted by David Mackenzie

Use the "True Cinema" mode and turn the Sharpness down.

I take it thats to me , next time a go to the shop i will try that, i do realize that all the tv's will be set in some type of dynamic mode.

[iMatty]

Hey guys, just got the s20.. very pleased. Not changed any of the settings either so it's just what the TV has done on auto. I remember reading somewhere that it was best to allow the TV a few weeks to bed in before changing the settings, can anyone expand/dispell this?

[David Mackenzie]

Not true, just switch it into "True Cinema" and leave it that way. The out of the box settings stand a higher chance of doing damage because of the high contrast.

[tele1962]

Originally Posted by David Mackenzie

Not true, just switch it into "True Cinema" and leave it that way. The out of the box settings stand a higher chance of doing damage because of the high contrast.

Have you got yours yet David or have you just ordered?

[David Mackenzie]

Just ordered - mine apparently isn't appearing until September 1st because of bank holidays. I paid for express delivery too from Amazon, d'oh.

[tele1962]

I remember one of the good people who work for AVForums getting the S10 (can't remember who) i think you lads know something we don't. .


Edit:

Probably price. .

[Rob2D]

If you ask me, SD will always look bad on most TV's.........because its SD

[bob1]

Sd looks very good on mine ,i certainly don't want it to look worse just to get a slightly better picture on hd.
Also as pointed out in another thread that the screen looks grey compared to other tv's , i also noticed this and it really stuck out, looking at 3 rows of tv's i could easily pick it out.

[baarree]

The grey?green screen is what is worrying myself about going for this model, I am starting to look at the Samsung 50C550 which is not a lot more expensive and it can play movies through the USB ports.

[ChopChop]

I've given up on the s20, I've had and returned three sets from Amazon over the last month- every single one has had a horrendous 'buzzing' noise. It's not overly noticable at first but late at night when there isn't much ambient noise it quickly becomes very irritating. It becomes much , much worse when the images change from a dark scene to a brightly lit one or subtitles appear.

I know plasmas have a 'buzz' when operating but it's only normally noticable when you stick your head around the back of the set- it's easily audible from 6' away on the s20 with the volume on. The Hitachi 42" plasma that I am replacing has never given any problems like this.

The picture is superb though, shame it's only usable by deaf people.

[Rob2D]

Its strange that you should get three of them all with the same problem. Mine is as quiet as a mouse.

[bob1]

The ones i looked at didn't seem to make any noise and i had my ear right up to it ,can some one please post some photos of the back as i need to know where the sockets are located.

[ChopChop]

Originally Posted by Rob2D

Its strange that you should get three of them all with the same problem. Mine is as quiet as a mouse.

Bad batch with Amazon perhaps, I have read on other threads about Panasonics poor QC of late. Immensely disapointing though as it's a great set otherwise.

[ChopChop]

Originally Posted by bob1

The ones i looked at didn't seem to make any noise and i had my ear right up to it ,can some one please post some photos of the back as i need to know where the sockets are located.

No pic sorry, but the sockets are in a cluster at the bottom right corner as you look from behind. The power button and more inputs are on the side of the tv close by, so are on the bottom left as you look at the screen. HTH

[Chronoptimist]

Originally Posted by ChopChop

I've given up on the s20, I've had and returned three sets from Amazon over the last month- every single one has had a horrendous 'buzzing' noise. It's not overly noticable at first but late at night when there isn't much ambient noise it quickly becomes very irritating. It becomes much , much worse when the images change from a dark scene to a brightly lit one or subtitles appear.

I know plasmas have a 'buzz' when operating but it's only normally noticable when you stick your head around the back of the set- it's easily audible from 6' away on the s20 with the volume on. The Hitachi 42" plasma that I am replacing has never given any problems like this.

The picture is superb though, shame it's only usable by deaf people.

All plasma buzzes and newer ones buzz more because their brighter thinner and cheaper made now.

If you had 3 its obviously not a fault. You need to get a LED telly if it bothers you.

Different people notice it more and where it is in your room and whats in your room affects how noticable it is.

[tele1962]

Originally Posted by Chronoptimist

All plasma buzzes and newer ones buzz more because their brighter thinner and cheaper made now.

If you had 3 its obviously not a fault. You need to get a LED telly if it bothers you.

Different people notice it more and where it is in your room and whats in your room affects how noticable it is.

Mine doesn't.

[Insanity202]

Originally Posted by tele1962

Mine doesn't.

Mine buzzes but its so quite I can only hear it from behind the tv. My last G20 (faulty) buzzed like a wasp nests.

[ChopChop]

Originally Posted by Chronoptimist

All plasma buzzes and newer ones buzz more because their brighter thinner and cheaper made now.

If you had 3 its obviously not a fault. You need to get a LED telly if it bothers you.

Different people notice it more and where it is in your room and whats in your room affects how noticable it is.

I placed the Panasonic in exactly the same position as the outgoing Hitachi which never made the racket that the Panasonic did when I sat in exactly the same position to watch it. I wasn't focusing on trying to hear the buzz, it was clearly apparent and very distracting to the point where watching anything got very irritating.

Thing is, the s20 isn't that cheap compared to a lot of 42" TVs. I thought that by spending more than £350-£500 I would get a quality item.

I've gone against all my instincts and ordered an LG LCD for less than £400 to see what a non-plasma TV two-thirds of the price of a s20 will be like, I hope to be pleasantly surprised but not going to bet my house on it.

[eddscott]

One thing I have noticed on our 50 is that when theres lines on the screen (wallpaper for instance with lines in it) the lines kind of break up - its the same with fencing. Also in some scenes theres a faint after image around moving images people etc.

Does it irrespective of what its showing - sky, movies etc. Not a big issue but I'm noticing it alot.