Considering a new tv, a few queations - TH-42PZ80B related

opencube · 21-10-2008, 2:35 PM

Ive seen the TH-42PZ80B going for £715 with a 3 year warranty...so it got me interested in purchasing a big tv again.

All advice led to Plasma technology and the Pannasonic or Pioneer brand.

Due to budget constraints Pioneer is out of my league (although i did just see a PDP-4280xd going for £910, not bad price i thought, but would rather go for 1080p even though some advice says that that model knocks the spots off some other 1080p sets).

The viewing distance to the tv with be about 2 metres-ish.

I did want a nice big screen, so was looking at a 46 or 50 inch screen, however prices for the jump from 42 inch upto 46 is around £450, and thats too much for me.

Is 42inch too small?

Usage will be a standard TV viewing through either Freeview or possibly Vigin Media.

Probably High Def content viewed through either Laptop or Xbox 360 from content run off a hard drive.

I have an original XBOX 360 without HDMI, so i presume component is the way to go with that?

Whats this i hear about not being able to put a 1080p source through a dvi/vga connection from a laptop/pc? Is it true?

On another note, recently seen a friends new 46inch Samsung LCD (1080p) and was massively impressed by its performance with Xbox 360 through component and upscaled SD footage from his SD Skybox.

Does plasma still lead the way for the best picture these days?

With LCD you seem to get a big more for your money these days compared to Plasma.

mackie1 · 21-10-2008, 2:42 PM

I'd say with 2m viewing distance, 42" is a decent size. I sit 8-9 feet away and would probably benefit from a 46" if the alcove had room.

I have a TH-42PZ82B and you can definately feed it a 1920x1080 signal via an HDMI cable (I used a cheap DVI to HDMI cable from ebuyer). I don't think the VGA port will accept that mode but then most PCs have a DVI or HDMI output these days anyway.

opencube · 21-10-2008, 2:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mackie1

I'd say with 2m viewing distance, 42" is a decent size. I sit 8-9 feet away and would probably benefit from a 46" if the alcove had room.

I have a TH-42PZ82B and you can definately feed it a 1920x1080 signal via an HDMI cable (I used a cheap DVI to HDMI cable from ebuyer). I don't think the VGA port will accept that mode but then most PCs have a DVI or HDMI output these days anyway.

so if i wanted to feed the tv with a 1080p video from a pc with dvi out then all i need is a cheap cable?

mackie1 · 21-10-2008, 2:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opencube

so if i wanted to feed the tv with a 1080p video from a pc with dvi out then all i need is a cheap cable?

Correct.

I got one of these:

Plexus Gold Plated HDMI To DVI-D Dual Link Cable (Black) 2m - Ebuyer

and it works just fine.

I would make sure that your graphics card can support that mode. I've got an nVidia 8800 GTS and the drivers let you specify standard HDTV modes.

opencube · 21-10-2008, 3:51 PM

by the way, my friends samsung is a lcd LE46A559P4FXXU

I was very impressed with it. especially on the xbox.

rewerb · 21-10-2008, 5:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opencube

I did want a nice big screen, so was looking at a 46 or 50 inch screen, however prices for the jump from 42 inch upto 46 is around £450, and thats too much for me.

46PZ80 is now under £999, and the 50PZ80 is arround £1150.

opencube · 21-10-2008, 10:29 PM

i can get the 42pz80B for £700 with 3 yr warranty... another £300 for the 46 is abit execessive... I may avoid temptation and do what i was gonna do and wait for the post xmas sales.

richest · 22-10-2008, 8:43 AM

Does the PZ80 50 inch stand swivel stand.

Julie · 22-10-2008, 9:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richest

Does the PZ80 50 inch stand swivel stand.

Yes, only the PX8* range don't swivel.

richest · 22-10-2008, 9:39 AM

Thanks, i rang 3 different stores and they say the 50 in is fixed.

Julie · 22-10-2008, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richest

Thanks, i rang 3 different stores and they say the 50 in is fixed.

Must admit, it certainly looks like a fixed stand, unlike the previous PZ70 series which definitely swivelled.

I am only going by the Panasonic site that states a swivel anlgle of plus or minus 15 degrees on the PZ series specs (10 degs for the 50")

There's a strong possibility I'll be near a Comet or Currys store this afternoon & if so I'll give one a push. Your fault if it falls over.

richest · 22-10-2008, 10:14 AM

That would be very kind of you Julie. The tv will sit on a glass stand in an alcove, with just enough space to fit it in. But if i bring it out to the 'outer' side of the alcove it woud fit easier and be moveable. If worst comes to the worst i could just manually adjust it i guess.

Julie · 22-10-2008, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richest

That would be very kind of you Julie. The tv will sit on a glass stand in an alcove, with just enough space to fit it in. But if i bring it out to the 'outer' side of the alcove it woud fit easier and be moveable. If worst comes to the worst i could just manually adjust it i guess.

Having just downloaded the 2008 Viera range brochure from their wbsite, I'm not too hopeful now, looks like it's an error on their on-line spec. While the brochure states a swivel angle of 15 degs for the 42PZ80 and 10 degs for both the 50PZ81 & 50PZ800, it has a - for the 50PZ80. So I'm afraid it very much looks like those three dealers are correct. To be absolutely sure I'll still check it out myself anyway this afternoon as promised & report back.

There is another solution of course, Ikea do a nice Swivel base for £14, only 1 cm thick & transparent.

richest · 22-10-2008, 10:47 AM

See here Julie...

http://tda.panasonic-europe-service..../TQB0E0596.pdf

Julie · 22-10-2008, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richest

See here Julie...

http://tda.panasonic-europe-service..../TQB0E0596.pdf

Thanks for that, page 7 & 8 of the manual clearly shows the 50PZ80 stand does swivel by plus/minus 10 degs.

I can understand the dealers saying it doesn't because from the look of the stand I would have sworn it didn't as well, a very subtle design. I still intend to test one out later though.

curveball · 22-10-2008, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JulieBell

Having just downloaded the 2008 Viera range brochure from their wbsite, I'm not too hopeful now, looks like it's an error on their on-line spec. While the brochure states a swivel angle of 15 degs for the 42PZ80 and 10 degs for both the 50PZ81 & 50PZ800, it has a - for the 50PZ80. So I'm afraid it very much looks like those three dealers are correct. To be absolutely sure I'll still check it out myself anyway this afternoon as promised & report back.

There is another solution of course, Ikea do a nice Swivel base for £14, only 1 cm thick & transparent.

I have a 42PZ80B and even though it says in my user manual that the base can swivel I cannot make it do it

What am I doing wrong?

richest · 22-10-2008, 12:21 PM

Try ringing panasonic UK direct

Visor · 22-10-2008, 2:42 PM

I have a 50PZ80 and the stand definitely swivels.

richest · 22-10-2008, 2:46 PM

Good news, thanks for that. Maybe it is a little stiff to move, and you need to use a bit of reasonable strenght whilst steading the tv.

So i have ordered this tv then for £1199 from Lewis (Empire price match).

Would you and the rest of the folks on this great forum give me some helpful tips ref set up etc please.

many thanks

Visor · 22-10-2008, 3:06 PM

Managed to swivel mine easily with just a finger.

However, it doesn't swivel by a huge amount though....

richest · 22-10-2008, 3:11 PM

Thanks, its meant to be only 10 degrees max i think.

Visor · 22-10-2008, 3:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richest

Good news, thanks for that. Maybe it is a little stiff to move, and you need to use a bit of reasonable strenght whilst steading the tv.

So i have ordered this tv then for £199 from Lewis (Empire price match).

Would you and the rest of the folks on this great forum give me some helpful tips ref set up etc please.

many thanks

£199 is a bargain

First tip I can give you is to remember to remove the 4 white plastic bits near the bottom of the cardboard box. Took me a while before I realised what they were for, as I had already started to cut the box up to remove the TV.

Setup wise, I've copied the settings from Panasonic TH42PZ80 / TH42PZ80B Review: 42" Viera Plasma HDTV so I've set it to Cinema mode, Colour Balance to Warm, and finally Brightness and Contrast are a couple of clicks to the left from 50%.

One other thing. My set didn't have any of the stickers along the front top corner showing the features of the TV which you would normally see at most store displays, i.e the sticker that advertises 1080p, 100 hz processing, 24p playback etc..

I felt a little suspicious that I've been given a 2nd hand TV, so went into the service menu and was relieved to find that all of the values were set to zero. Phew.

richest · 22-10-2008, 3:41 PM

oops £1199 of course... thanks for the set up tips btw.

Julie · 22-10-2008, 9:23 PM

Yes, the stands on all the PZ8* series I saw in Comet including the 50PZ80 do swivel.

The stand actually swivels together with the TV rather than the TV swivelling on top of a stationary stand. Hope that makes sense. The swivel mechanism is hidden in the base of the stand.

richest · 23-10-2008, 8:14 AM

Thanks, so if they move together they are rigidly locked together? how is the screen turns on the stand then?

WildCard · 23-10-2008, 9:13 AM

The swivel bit is underneath the stand.

I can't check mine as its still on the carpet and aint moving for no one but I'll have a check when it gets onto the cupboard.

curveball · 23-10-2008, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JulieBell

Yes, the stands on all the PZ8* series I saw in Comet including the 50PZ80 do swivel.

The stand actually swivels together with the TV rather than the TV swivelling on top of a stationary stand. Hope that makes sense. The swivel mechanism is hidden in the base of the stand.

Thanks Julie. That makes perfect sense. I have now tried it and amazed how easy it seems to swivel the whole telly and stand together as one. I was expecting the the TV to swivel on top of stationary stand as you have described.

Thanks for your help.