Getting my first HD TV - hopefully P50GT30 - have some questions

Steve Kelly

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Hi all,

I plan on getting a P50GT30 soon (current TV -JVC CRT. Never owned plasma). I’m going to see if I can find one to demo this weekend, and then all being well, will order one soon after.
Current sources will be Sky HD box and a Philips non-HD DVD player (with upscaling). Will be upgrading to a BR player at some point in near future though.

I have got loooads of questions I’d like answered. I will bundle some of them here, although technically some of them could be in other sub-forums, but it all comes under the same high-level subject of ‘getting a new HD TV’.

Questions:
- Are there any better prices out there than Amazon for the 50GT30? I just want the TV for now (and by “want”, I mean “can only afford”), so not interested in any bundles deals.
- has anyone bought their GT from Amazon? They are coming in at cheapest for me (£1141), my concern being the courier that they use, are they aware of how plasma TVs should be handled during transportation, etc? are they trustworthy, etc? what’s their returns policy like? etc

- I chose 50” as the size required after looking at several “Optimum viewing distance of HD TV” articles.
This 50” screen is gonna be but a mere 8 foot from my head… in theory this seems HUGE! My current JVC CRT is 28”, from the same distance. 50” aint far from double the screen size! I don’t know if this will be OTT for normal TV viewing. For films of course, this will be great, but for TV viewing, not sure. I would only mainly being using the HD channels, so I’m ok that the quality would be fine, I just think that Saturday night viewing of normal TV, ya know, non-film/documentary type shows, just would seem huge!
I know this can only come from personal perception, and everyone's different, but if anyone was once in same position as me, and worried, and it all turned out well... would love to hear from ya!

- How will SD DVD with upscaling (1080i..i assume?) look on this TV? Obviously I know it would not be ‘HD BR’ quality levels, but hope it would still be good/better than SD transmission. Would be same as Sky HD transmission? @ 1080i?
Note: this one don’t matter too much as will get BR player soon enough. Would still like to know though.

- BluRay player – I will want one that plays:
- 3D BR discs
- SD DVDs, and upscales them ,well.
- CDs – and is user-friendly for this (most DVDs are soo slow at running CDs, and front panel display is rubbish for CDs). This requirement is more a nice-to-have, than a must-have​
....SO…. do we know of any players that fit that bill? Would the DMP-BDT310EB do it?

Comments:
- TV will be used for Films/TV/DVD only…. I do my gaming in another room.
- I’ve read a lot of the GT owners/moaners/lovers threads. And nothing in there putting me off getting a GT30!
- I only got my HD box last week, and I taped (I know, I know, it should be ‘recorded’, but I’ll stick with ‘taped’!) Frozen Planet, and I am saving that for getting my new TV. Yippee!
- I LOVE Avatar, I watch it fairly regularly anyway, and once I have got that in 3D and some glasses, that’s about all I’ll need!

Feel free to answer/comment on as little or many of the Qs/comments as you like!!

Thanks in advance!
Steve the HD Novice
 
Screen size - as you say it really depends on how much HD vs SD content you will be watching.
Personally, i sit 4ft from my 50" which i love for gaming (allthough my eyes disagree with me...) but watching DVDs is kinda rubbish. But im not really that bothered by SD quality
If you're going to watch mainly DVDs and freeview (there arnt that many HD channels) i would be tempted to go smaller. Then buy a BD player with the change?

DVD up-scale. don't get your hopes up.
 
"but it all comes under the same high-level subject of ‘getting a new HD TV'"

by the way - there is a sub-forum called 'Which TV Should i buy?'
 
TimmyBee86 said:
Screen size - as you say it really depends on how much HD vs SD content you will be watching.
Personally, i sit 4ft from my 50" which i love for gaming (allthough my eyes disagree with me...) but watching DVDs is kinda rubbish. But im not really that bothered by SD quality
If you're going to watch mainly DVDs and freeview (there arnt that many HD channels) i would be tempted to go smaller. Then buy a BD player with the change?
DVD up-scale. don't get your hopes up.

Yeah it will be mostly Sky HD, the channels I watch have HD versions.
Wont be watching freeview. DVDs on SD player to begin with, then will get a BR player soon. So I hope to not be watching ANY SD, once I have a BR player, except for BR player SD DVDs.

I will see if I can test the upscaling of this, as I have lots of DVDs, and would rather not have to replace them all in BR! thanks for the tip on that one.



TimmyBee86 said:
by the way - there is a sub-forum called 'Which TV Should i buy?'

yeah I know, saw that one. I know which TV I wanna buy though


thanks for the replies
 
see if you can speek to Scooby2000. He has a 46GT30 and i think he said he's about 8ft away.
I think your DVD collection would thank you if you got the 46. but FullHD 3D blu-rays would love the 50
 
Hi mate

1) I think buying the TV from Amazon would be a false economy. You won't get any free 3D specs with it (which are about £60-70 for the excellent Panny 3rd Gen glasses) and I'm not sure you get Avatar 3D free unless you purchase the tv with a player. A bunch of bricks & mortar dealers such as TPS & Sevenoaks are doing the £1299 bundle (tv, 2 pairs 3d glasses, BDT110, Panasonic 5 year warranty, Avatar 3D, Star Wars Trilogy Blu-ray) for in-store purchases. A good dealer might even throw in free or discounted delivery. Worth phoning them at the very least if you've got a branch within driving distance.

Also, I should mention that that BDT110 is a very good player. It lacks a few of the bells and whistles of the BDT210 and 310 (the 210 has built in wifi while the 310 adds a 2nd HDMI on top of that for people with non-3d capable AVRs) but pic quality is the same.

2) Viewing distance is a very subjective thing. At that distance I probably would've gone for a 46" but you can definitely just about get away with a 50" if most of your viewing is HD.

Good luck whatever you decide mate and happy viewing.
 
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I am 8-9 foot away from my 50' GT30 and its great, wish I had the money for the 60" version. Picture is amazing with great detail and clarity SD is also good.
I bought mine from Panasonic because they offer buy now pay 9 months later and it came with 6 years warrenty. I game on my tv 3D gaming looks great especially Uncharted 3 and Motorstorm Apocalypse.
I too was put off with the negative comments from posters on here about the GT30 but I am really happy with my purchase even the people that moan about the tv say the picture is maybe the best on the market.

I too watch Frozen planet and love it as the picture is so good, as you only have a CRT tv at the moment the picture will be even more impressive for you and first few days you will be just saying wow and smiling every few minutes at the picture ;)

PS get the cheaper panasonic blu ray player and but the money you saved from not buying the 310 towards a PS3 ;)
 
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@Timmy - Cheers mate. I've read Scooby's stuff, he's a fan. Hope he'll see this thread and comment

@Fuzzy/Gareth - thanks dudes! there's a Sevenoaks in Brentwood, not too far away! I will pop in my Rayleigh hi-fi too (much closer) and see if they're interested in price-matching. I wasn't interested in the bundles just cos the extra cash, but I spose it's only another £150, i'm sure I can muster that up! If it was just the 2 x glasses, the price would be much the same, but if that would include 5-yr warranty, plus meaning dealing with a local specialist (over Amazon), then that would be worth it alone.
Scratch that didn't read the full deal, they deffo include the blu-ray player too! a bargain! and £30 more for the 210 looks good. My AVR is so old (Denon 1804) it don't have any HDMI sockets, so HDMI from BR to TV, and optical out to the amp for the sound... should be fine!
Thanks guys, I'm convinced I need to spend £190 more than I was gonna!!! :)

@kopite - thanks for confirming on the distance thang. I will deffo go try them out.
re: the ps3... I'm more of an xbox man! got nowt against ps3's though, but if i have a dedicated BR player, and already got xbox, I guess I dont 'need' one.

well excited! thanks all!
 
Richer Sounds are doing a good deal on the 50" GT at the moment. Or you could try Mains Electricals which has branches in that area i believe. I went for the 50" over the 46" and the SD image is not brilliant compared to a smaller sized set. But it is still brilliant. This TV comes into its own for HD and blu ray where the bigger the screen the better.
The Richer Sounds offer is with 2 pairs glasses - 3D blu ray player - And Avatar & star wars trilogy ( i think ) .
 
DVDs on a 50" GT30 from 8 feet away will probably look OK, but a little 'soft' IMO and certainly not as good as any HD source.

I view DVDs on my 46" GT30 from 8-9ft away via the PS3 and the quality is acceptable, but I'll almost certainly be taking advantage of any sales by replacing my favourites with BluRay versions at some stage.

When you see just how much better BluRays look, I'm sure you'll think the same !
 
sorry to go off topic, but do you really think its worth buying old DVDs on blu-ray?
I got the godfather box set for a bargin price (£20 i think) but the quality is pretty much the same as a DVD being upscaled.
New films - yes. Blu-ray is king. Rambo is still my prefered show-off blu-ray, although that might change when i go 3D
 
that's so far off topic that i don't know what to say!!
I (the thread starter) haven't even got a blu-ray player yet!!
get your own thread!! ;)
 
well hurry up and buy your TV. Then we'll talk Blu-ray
Only joking. You had any more thought on 46 vs 50?
 
OMG!! I am so excited!! Rayleigh Hi-Fi are gonna match the £1299 bundle.
I'm going in on Saturday to test it, and pretty much buy it.
The TV can be delivered on Saturday!!
and best case, the blu-ray player too! worst case, might have to wait till monday for that.
then Timmy my man, we can talk blu-ray till we're blue(ray) in the face!!!
WAHOOO!!!!
thanks all for the input, and especially steering me right with the bundle
 
Good luck with the purchase..... I have to wait til December for my bonus...:suicide:

tell us what you think when you get it set up :)
 
December? i have to wait until March for mine... But i wont tell you who i work for, otherwise you may get angry at the idea of me getting a bonus
 
im getting off topic again, arn't I? SDKelly, make sre you give us a full review when the TV turns up!
 
Hey sdkelly13 good choice of set;)

Its all been said really but heres my 2p.

I sit 8ft roughly from my set in a room around 3.5m x 3.8m.
I did have a 42" set last year and was happy, SD was good as was HD. After having issues I got a refund and chose to spend it all on a 46" this time.:) Room size needs to be taken into account as well as seating distance IMO, if you dont want a set to dominate a room.

Having the 46" is great, love it!, 42" sets look small now lol. HD and 3D is fantastic, as said though most SD freeview looks a bit pants, it is what it is end the day, cant blame the set as it does a good job, its purely size v distance and the quality of the broadcast. I am tempted by 50" if my room was bigger Id likely get one, though I think at 8ft I may regret it as I still watch a lot of SD TV.
A good example of what a differance side makes, is comparing my 32" upstairs at around the same distance(bit extream I know). We love Dexter and got the box set on DVD. My girl likes us to watch it in bed so 32" it is. The picture is stunning playing via a bluray player on the 32", it looks like HD. As I spent a lot of money on the main set though I persuaded her to watch an episode downstairs:), it didnt look bad but the experiance wasnt as good, it just looked so soft with less pop we always watch it upstairs now.:)

I think if I sat around 9ft+ 50" would be a the size Id go for, for my viewing at 8ft though, I think 46" is better. If HDs your thing 50" will be great, especially with 3D. You soon get used to these sizes, like I say, 42" looks small to me now.

As others have said Id get a good deal from Sound and vision or a local specialist over Amazon. As well as the glasses, 5 year and player, you also get free blurays from Panasonic, amazing value really.
 
Scoobs, it's done mate. I've put the depo down and everyfink!!
2 days to go!
wooo!

will be sure to give my feedback on here
cheers lads

STEVE (it's Steve!!)
 
Hope you get as good a set as i did. When they are good they are perfect. You get used to the size.
I guess scooby is upstairs having a Dexter moment :) Dexter rules!
 
:laugh: I got the 32 upstairs just before she moved in:) its 'her' set lol she prefers it to the 46:confused: cant complain I guess, means I get more time on it......then again we dont watch may films on it:rolleyes:
She prefers watching films in bed, rather than the sofa, now you may think thats a plus:devil: there is a reason I spent a small fortune on surround and a big telly tho.....prob wasnt a good idea to get a bluray upstairs too thinking about it, now apparently theres no need to watch films down stairs.:suicide:
So in our house we have the 32" LCD for films and I use the 46" plasma mostly for gaming, go figure.:facepalm:
 

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