Help me decide on which Plasma to get for my lounge.

[Zildjian285]

Hi everyone.

I need a new TV for my lounge because our current old Toshiba CRT is about to die and we are planning to modernise the room, so a big, old, CRT will not look right.

I have been reading various reviews and had a look in Currys at the weekend to get some idea's, but I am still really undecided on which TV to buy.

The TV will be used mainly for SKY TV, movies (some blueray played through a PS3) and maybe a small amount of PS3 gaming. From what I have read, plasma's seem to be the best for SD, and the Plasma TH-42PX80 seems to get excellent reviews and comments on here.
In currys I didn't see many Plasma TV's for some reason, so couldn't compare them to LCD's...

I have just checked the viewing distance of our current TV and it is between 9ft - 14ft, so I am guessing a 42" should be pretty nice at that distance? It's hard to tell when looking at the TV's in the shop.

The budget is up to £850, but could stretch to £900 if it's worth it.

I would like the TV to be as future proof as possible for that budget and I am unsure whether to go for 720p or 1080p. If 1080p will come in useful, and if it will future proof the TV a bit more, I would be willing to pay the extra over the 720p, but would apprectiate your view on this...

So to sum it all up;

Size of TV; 37" - 42"
Budget; Up to £900 max
Viewing distance; 9ft - 14ft
Useage; Mostly SKY TV, films (including blueray), some PS3 gaming.

Any help would be very much appreciated!

 

[Astraeus]

The Panasonic TH42PX80 is widely regarded as the best TV at that price and can be had for £680 with a 5-year warranty if you get John Lewis to pricematch Sound & Vision in Bolton. The 1080p/720p argument is open to debate with many saying that 42" is where you begin to notice the difference from normal viewing distances - from 9-14ft, you'll likely not notice a difference.

 

[audiphile76]

I have just checked the viewing distance of our current TV and it is between 9ft - 14ft, so I am guessing a 42" should be pretty nice at that distance? It's hard to tell when looking at the TV's in the shop.

At 9-10 feet viewing distance 42" is ok and 42PX80 to be precise choise but if the viewing distance is around 12-14 feet, i would propose 50 inch.

I would like the TV to be as future proof as possible for that budget and I am unsure whether to go for 720p or 1080p. If 1080p will come in useful, and if it will future proof the TV a bit more, I would be willing to pay the extra over the 720p, but would apprectiate your view on this...

So to sum it all up;

Size of TV; 37" - 42"
Budget; Up to £900 max
Viewing distance; 9ft - 14ft
Useage; Mostly SKY TV, films (including blueray), some PS3 gaming.

Any help would be very much appreciated!

At this distance for you to notice any benefits with 1080p, you should get a 60" and upwards FullHD plasma

 

[rewerb]

Size of TV; 37" - 42"
Budget; Up to £900 max
Viewing distance; 9ft - 14ft
Useage; Mostly SKY TV, films (including blueray), some PS3 gaming.

Any help would be very much appreciated!

Got to be 42". At 9ft away you might see a difference with a 1080 panel, depends on how good your eyesight is. Only you can tell.

The Panny TH42PZ80 (1080p) just meets your budget, or the PX80 (720p) as already mentioned

 

[Zildjian285]

Thanks for the replies.

I think at the moment the Panny TH-42PX80B certainly looks the best value for money and it will save me some £££ to buy a nice TV cabinet.