Panasonic 42PZ81CAB vs Sony 40KDL V5500

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The local paper dropped through the door this morning and a nearby 'TV Warehouse' is advertising the 42" Panasonic plasma with Freesat for £600 with a 3 year warranty from D&G thrown in.

This when I had just decided to go for the Sony, if John Lewis would pricematch with Richer Sounds (and I could pick up a free 5-year warranty into the bargain.)

The Panny had good reviews on here when it was £1k. At £600 should I rush out and grab it? I just cancelled Sky so I have a satellite connection going spare.

The Sony doesn't have Freesat but it does have USB playback and DNLA - you know, network connectivity - and since my house is networked up the kazoo, that appeals to me. I was hoping JL would do it for about £550-600 instead of the £949 they list.*

The observant amongst you will have noticed I've been humming and hahing over various TVs for a fortnight now. That's because I shouldn't really be spending the money, so vacillating is a cheap option. But I'm getting fed up with myself and I just want to buy something and get it over with and figure out the finance later...

EDIT: JL won't play. Their Sony is an 'online exclusive'. At full retail price? What's the point of that? Back to Richer Sounds with an old TV to trade in, £550+£55 five year warranty = £605. vs the Panny @ £600 from Mr Local and Possibly Dodgy.

 

[vickster]

The Panasonic is last year's model, but does have Freesat IIRC

I would go for the Sony or look at the new Panasonic G10

 

[[email protected]]

"The new Panny G10" sounds expensive. My budget's about £600 and I'd want at least 40".

 

[vickster]

Yeah the 42G10 is £700+ currently (RS and JL do it, so could perhaps get a PM) ....But you get Freesat and better motion handling, no risk of backlight bleed or clouding either . Worth the extra by all accounts

 

[[email protected]]

The PZ81 has freesat... but backlight bleed and clouding? I didn't read about that anywhere!

 

[vickster]

No, LCDs suffer those, not plasmas like the G10

Is the PZ81 plasma or LCD?

 

[[email protected]]

Plasma. I know the Panny is last year's model but I don't mind if it keeps the costs down and the pic's still good. DNLA like on the Sony LCD sounds great but I have a HTPC that will do all that anyway.

 

[vickster]

Review of Panasonic here Panasonic TH-42PZ81 42inch full HD Freesat plasma TV review at AVForums.com

Do you absolutely need 1080p? If not look at the excellent 42X10 plasma

http://www.avforums.com/reviews/Panasonic-TX-P42X10-Plasma-HDTV-Review.html

 

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Rather than go for an end of line model from a no-name dealer, or a TV that takes freesat, I have gone for the Sony. My lounge isn't that big and though I read all the rave reviews I could just not stretch to £730 for the Panny G10.

I have been using a Tivo for years and years and the idea of telly that you can't pause just seems ridiculous to me. If I want Freesat later I'll buy a Humax Freesat PVR... I like the sound of DNLA like the Sony has as I have just gone to 20mb broadband and stream a lot of stuff over my home network anyhow.

I tried to get John Lewis to pricematch Richer Sounds on the TV but they have no KDL40V5500s anywhere and didn't know when they would get any more, so wouldn't order it for me or take a reservation. Richer Sounds did though, no bother, and they say they'll have it instore Friday.

I happened to be at the Council dump and asked a worker there for an old TV which he obligingly provided. So that's £100 off... I'll be getting the Sony for £550+£55 for the warranty, which I think is good, as it's about £700 everywhere else (before scrappage admittedly) and £949 in John Lewis! Though since they don't have any, that's moot...

Thanks to all who contributed their thoughts.

 

[Fennn]

Interesting, I also have on order from Richer Sounds (they say they will have it tomorrow) the KDL40V5500.

Hope all is well.

 

[vickster]

He meant that John Lewis don't have it, while RS do (hence no price match possible)

 

[lipz_89]

I have just bought the sony 40v5500 from JL. They price matched it from RS for £699. Paid a little more than i thought i would, but a great buy, everything just looks great quality. Hope that helps.

 

[S Bibby]

Hi Niall,
I just wanted to say you might want to check these models out first to see what condition they are in. If there are returns they could have some damage/marks, refurbished or ex-display shop models might be OK though.

I'm only mentioning it since I saw a PZ81 50 inch in my local Comet for £700 and it was covered in scratches and marks on the base. If you do get a warranty included then it might well be good deal. I suppose it is a Cash and Carry-type place and you are a trade customer?

 

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I have just bought the sony 40v5500 from JL. They price matched it from RS for £699. Paid a little more than i thought i would, but a great buy, everything just looks great quality. Hope that helps.

What branch of JL did you find it in? I was told nowhere in London was stocking it and they weren't getting any more in.

Mind you since RS is selling it for £650, or £600 to 'VIP' customers, or £550 with trade in, it doesn't sound like much of a price match. Did the salesperson tell you you had to take the warranty into account? That isn't supposed to be part of the JL price-matching policy, from what I have seen on the various threads about the JL pricematch here on AVF.

 

[[email protected]]

Hi Niall,
I just wanted to say you might want to check these models out first to see what condition they are in. If there are returns they could have some damage/marks, refurbished or ex-display shop models might be OK though.

I'm only mentioning it since I saw a PZ81 50 inch in my local Comet for £700 and it was covered in scratches and marks on the base. If you do get a warranty included then it might well be good deal. I suppose it is a Cash and Carry-type place and you are a trade customer?

I don't know what sort of place the 'TV Factory Outlet' is since I decided not to go there. I'm getting the Sony from Richer Sounds and going for the RS warranty. Not refurbished, not end of line, so if there are any scratches on it I will be a distinctly unhappy bunny.

 

[S Bibby]

Yes, that's a good idea really. I'm not sure of the place but if they aren't completely honest about the condition then I would probably avoid.

 

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Thanks to a tipoff in a different thread I learned the 100 mhz KDL40W5500 was going for £600 in Argos, pick it up today. So I've gone for that instead... just brought it home!

Amazing bargain - about £800+ elsewhere - I think Argos meant to discount the V5500, but made a mistake. Get in there quick with the plastic.

 

[Fennn]

Thanks to a tipoff in a different thread I learned the 100 mhz KDL40W5500 was going for £600 in Argos, pick it up today. So I've gone for that instead... just brought it home!

Amazing bargain - about £800+ elsewhere - I think Argos meant to discount the V5500, but made a mistake. Get in there quick with the plastic.

Got mine reserved for pickup tomorrow.

Can the 100hz be turned on and off easilly? I have heard so so so much debate on it being good and bad for various things..

um I just noticed it has a U at the end of it.

KDL40W5500U

Whats this about?
EDIT: apparantly it means nothing more than the UK style plug? (3 pin)

This for sure?