Is SD Pic quality any good on Sony V3000 or Pan LZD80?

[Scooby Stevo]

Hi

I've had a price match come through from JL and can get either:

Sony KDL 40V3000 for £700
Panasonic TX37LZD80 for £759.

Can anyone confirm that watching Standard def tv on either of these has a good quality picture?

Everywhere I've looked they've been really poor and blocky, pixelated and really bad on sport.

Most places I've seen these have admittedly been using a freeview signal shared through laods of tvs, but even in JL showing a Sky input (not HD) it still looked pretty naff.

I'm still learning on all the finer details on this stuff but would a 100Hz panel make a lot of difference as I viewed one of those and it looked much better but wasn't sure it was sharing the same input?

Also - would a plasma be better for SD - (despite the much higer running costs!

Thanks for any help.

 

[Lt. Dang]

I have the V3000 and use it for watching SD Sky+ and the PQ is fine.

Also BluRay 1080/24p is top notch.

I also use it for 360 and PS3 gaming and get good PQ with no lag.

All in all I find it a great TV.

Hope this is helpful.

Regards,

Lt. Dang

 

[ChrisGgr]

Both have fine SD perfrormance and even very good depentended also on the signal and the channel

 

[Boostrail]

Usually the Panasonic LCD's get the best rating in reviews for SD. But be aware that the LZD80 is not 100Hz this is only on the LZD85 and 800.

I have just cancelled an order for a Sony 40D3500 (which opinion on here says is the same as the V3000 except the latter has some better connectivity) due to some doubts on SD performance on its internal freeview tuner. I have now ordered a 37LZD85.

 

[Lt. Dang]

I would recommend that you try to find a decent store which has both of these TVs set up for you to watch in SD and even perhaps fiddle with the basic settings a bit.

Only by seeing them with your own eyes will you be able to make a decision you can trust.

I was lucky to find just such a store and found it an easy and obvious decision to get the V3000.

Of course a price of £899 with a free 40Gb PS3 (sold it for £250) and a free 5 year warranty also came as a happy bonus.

Very pleased with the V3000 BluRay and SD picture quality and very pleased with my bargain!

Regards,

Lt. Dang

 

[Scooby Stevo]

Ok thanks for the tips.
We'll mostly be watching Virgin Media and V+.
I'm sure either should be fine but just wasn't convinced by what I've seen in stores.
I'll try to view both in a store together as you recommend and also see if a 100hz can be squeezed in the budget!
Didn't realise 100hz made that much difference.

"magic legs"

 

[Lt. Dang]

Ok thanks for the tips.
We'll mostly be watching Virgin Media and V+.
I'm sure either should be fine but just wasn't convinced by what I've seen in stores.
I'll try to view both in a store together as you recommend and also see if a 100hz can be squeezed in the budget!
Didn't realise 100hz made that much difference.

"magic legs"

On some TVs 100Hz causes more problems than it solves. Check through some of the threads here and you will find people where the first thing they do is turn the 100Hz "enhancement" off!!

Regards,

Lt. Dang

 

[Boostrail]

On some TVs 100Hz causes more problems than it solves. Check through some of the threads here and you will find people where the first thing they do is turn the 100Hz "enhancement" off!!

Regards,

Lt. Dang

Yeah this is true however it appears the Panasonic implementation does work.

/www.trustedreviews.com/tvs/review/2008/04/23/Panasonic-Viera-TX-37LZD800-37in-LCD-TV/p3

I take delivery of a 37LZD85 on wednesday and intend to post an SD review approx 1 week later when I can try all of the following sources and form some sort comparative idea..

Internal freeview tuner
External freeview tuner via RGB scart
External freeview tuner via HDMI upscaled externally to 1080p
DVD via RGB scart
DVD via HDMI upscaled externally to 1080p
VM+ via RGB scart
VM+ via HDMI externally upscaled to 1080i
and for good measure analogue Tv on internal tuner.

 

[Lt. Dang]

Yeah this is true however it appears the Panasonic implementation does work.

/www.trustedreviews.com/tvs/review/2008/04/23/Panasonic-Viera-TX-37LZD800-37in-LCD-TV/p3

I take delivery of a 37LZD85 on wednesday and intend to post an SD review approx 1 week later when I can try all of the following sources and form some sort comparative idea..

Internal freeview tuner
External freeview tuner via RGB scart
External freeview tuner via HDMI upscaled externally to 1080p
DVD via RGB scart
DVD via HDMI upscaled externally to 1080p
VM+ via RGB scart
VM+ via HDMI externally upscaled to 1080i
and for good measure analogue Tv on internal tuner.

Your link desn't work.

Regards,

Lt. Dang

 

[Lt. Dang]

Yeah this is true however it appears the Panasonic implementation does work.

/www.trustedreviews.com/tvs/review/2008/04/23/Panasonic-Viera-TX-37LZD800-37in-LCD-TV/p3

I take delivery of a 37LZD85 on wednesday and intend to post an SD review approx 1 week later when I can try all of the following sources and form some sort comparative idea..

Internal freeview tuner
External freeview tuner via RGB scart
External freeview tuner via HDMI upscaled externally to 1080p
DVD via RGB scart
DVD via HDMI upscaled externally to 1080p
VM+ via RGB scart
VM+ via HDMI externally upscaled to 1080i
and for good measure analogue Tv on internal tuner.

What I initially did not realise is that the 37LZD85 currently sells for about £200 more than the 40V3000 but for only a 37” screen?

Regards,

Lt. Dang

 

[jpr141]

What I initially did not realise is that the 37LZD85 currently sells for about £200 more than the 40V3000 but for only a 37” screen?

Regards,

Lt. Dang

£853 is currently about the best price for the panny 37lzd85 i think mate.

 

[Lt. Dang]

£853 is currently about the best price for the panny 37lzd85 i think mate.

Just spent 5 minutes checking and found a price of £699 for the 40" V3000.
That makes your price £154 more expensive for a 37" Panasonic.

Although, I have seen the V3000 selling for cheaper than £699 before.

Regards,

Lt. Dang

Edit : Digital Direct were previously selling at £645 for the V3000.

 

[Lt. Dang]

Just checked the Digital Direct site for their current price, which is £664.01 - which is £188.99 cheaper for a bigger screen.

That sounds "about £200" to quote my previous post.

Regards,

Lt. Dang

 

[jpr141]

Just checked the Digital Direct site for their current price, which is £664.01 - which is £188.99 cheaper for a bigger screen.

That sounds "about £200" to quote my previous post.

Regards,

Lt. Dang

i wasnt trying to have ago at your maths in any way if thats what you thought,i was just pointing out the best price ive found for the panny 37lzd85 at the moment thats all in case anyone was interested in buying it right now.

 

[jpr141]

Just checked the Digital Direct site for their current price, which is £664.01 - which is £188.99 cheaper for a bigger screen.

That sounds "about £200" to quote my previous post.

Regards,

Lt. Dang

you forgot the delivery charge there at digital direct i think.

 

[Lt. Dang]

you forgot the delivery charge there at digital direct i think.

Where did you source your price of £854 from? - and do they charge for delivery?

Regards,

Lt. Dang

 

[jpr141]

Where did you source your price of £854 from? - and do they charge for delivery?

Regards,

Lt. Dang

dixons with the aw20 £20 off code,and it is free delivery,the price is actually abit better than i said its currently £852.22 to be totally precise mate.

 

[Lt. Dang]

dixons with the aw20 £20 off code,and it is free delivery,the price is actually abit better than i said its currently £852.22 mate.

Checked the Digital Direct delivery, using a random post code it brings it back to my orignal £699 and still over £150 cheaper for a bigger screen.

Could also get it from S & V for £699 and price match with JL for free delivery and free 5 year warranty (worth £200?) thrown in! Try getting that from Dixons?

Price of the V3000 will be dropping even further as the 2008 models start to bite.

Regards,

Lt. Dang

 

[Boostrail]

Your link desn't work.

Regards,

Lt. Dang

Works fine on my PC from your quote - Firefox default

Just in case here it is again
http://www.trustedreviews.com/tvs/review/2008/04/23/Panasonic-Viera-TX-37LZD800-37in-LCD-TV/p3

regards

Boostrail

 

[Boostrail]

£853 is currently about the best price for the panny 37lzd85 i think mate.

Empire Direct

£899.99 -10%code =£810
+ delivery £25 =£835

Optional 5 yr warranty £30

Quidco at 2% on price less Vat =£14

So £821 with 1 yr warranty or £851 with 5 yr warranty.

NOTE! 10% expires at nominally midnight tonight but expect it not to work after around 11.30 pm

 

[Boostrail]

What I initially did not realise is that the 37LZD85 currently sells for about £200 more than the 40V3000 but for only a 37” screen?

Regards,

Lt. Dang

Price difference is not £200 but about £125 on a like for like basis but I do not regard a 40" (actually 39.75") screen to be much bigger than a 37"(actually 37.5") screen. PQ on all sources is the discriminating factor and vitally important to me. From the reviews the Panny delivers the best on all sources it would seem unless one is into the Sony x series (although this looked awful in my local "specialist" Sony dealer last week) or perhaps the Philips Aurea = both at a considerable premium.

 

[Lt. Dang]

Price difference is not £200 but about £125 on a like for like basis but I do not regard a 40" (actually 39.75") screen to be much bigger than a 37"(actually 37.5") screen. PQ on all sources is the discriminating factor and vitally important to me. From the reviews the Panny delivers the best on all sources it would seem unless one is into the Sony x series (although this looked awful in my local "specialist" Sony dealer last week) or perhaps the Philips Aurea = both at a considerable premium.

Actually £152 difference on a like-for-like basis with the 5 year warranty.

Some other posters have argued that 1080p is pointless for screens smaller than 40" - I wouldn't know.

All I do know is that I am getting the best PQ I have ever seen from my V3000and for a really good price. With a 5 year warranty I will not be tempted to change my set for a few years to come.

Regards,

Lt. Dang

 

[mk-donald]

Ok thanks for the tips.
We'll mostly be watching Virgin Media and V+.
I'm sure either should be fine but just wasn't convinced by what I've seen in stores.

I have had a 40v3000 since last Friday (£699 JL NKU PM). I'm quite impressed with the quality of SD Freeview actually. Occasionally notice artefacts but they are rare enough to be noticable when they do show. Mind you SD Aerial pic at that size is awful. VERY impressed with HD-DVD 1080P of course.

You'll have the additional advantage of the option of V+ box upscaling and 1080i HDMI feed. My folks have a 18m old 1080p Sharp LC42XD1E fed from the V+ which is FAR better than the Sharp's inbuilt SD Freeview.

Waiting for Freesat here...

 

[Lt. Dang]

Price difference is not £200 but about £125 on a like for like basis but I do not regard a 40" (actually 39.75") screen to be much bigger than a 37"(actually 37.5") screen. PQ on all sources is the discriminating factor and vitally important to me. From the reviews the Panny delivers the best on all sources it would seem unless one is into the Sony x series (although this looked awful in my local "specialist" Sony dealer last week) or perhaps the Philips Aurea = both at a considerable premium.

By the way, your quoted figures are wrong.

The V3000 is 102cm (contrary to the Sony website) or 40.157 " exactly.

The Panasonic is 94cm or 37.008 " exactly.

Making the V3000 3.149" bigger.

Regards,

Lt. Dang

 

[muttyhc]

the panasonic isnt worth it over the price of the sony, maybe if you were to go onto one of the superior models or even the plasma panny 1080p then you'd have a case.

However I've just seen the pan for £738 inc del @ sound & vision, in which case... well your choice is more difficult.