Panny PHD8 review

[Daviao]

I guess this US spec pannel is the same as UK.

Check out the review....

http://www.plasmatvbuyingguide.com/plasmatvreviews/panasonic-th42phd8uk-review.html

 

[steve-o]

Nice review, but near the end it says that there isnt a fan in it, when clearly Piers found out that there IS one and it's also pretty damn noisy.

 

[Peabo]

These guys are cheap. This is just their PWD/PHD6 review with a few details changed!

Actually, so was their PWD/PHD7 review.... You can see in the screenshots that it's not the new 8 series panel because of the power button and controls on the front.

 

[theo cupier]

My PHD8 definitely makes some sort of 'woosh' noise when first switched on and is audible in operation the rest of the time.

AV Sales (who I was lucky enough to buy from) confirmed the fact that it is meant to be fanless and are looking into this as soon as they get their demo screen running in the next few days.

 

[Mep]

is it distractingly noisy Theo?

 

[theo cupier]

mep - are you a fan of Star Trek The Next Generation?

The reason I ask is that the best analogy I can give is that it's like all the scenes filmed on the Enterprise. They all have an engine noise in the background of them but you don't really notice it because its there all the time. However if they ever forgot to put it into a scene you'd be aware of the absence of it.

Don't know if that helps. It's certainly not so loud as to drown any audio detail out and most of the time you probably would not notice it if what you are watching is engrossing, but if you're looking for distraction in a slow moment it's noticeable. I'm at that stage at the moment where I'm deliberately looking out for any problems/faults/niggles with the screen. Hopefully I'll have forgotten all about it in a few weeks.

AV Sales did tell me that the PHDs are always noisier than PWDs. I'm certainly not regretting my decision to buy on this basis and any minor irritation is certainly compensated by PQ. I'm going to get it ISFed in the next few weeks so hopefully an experienced 3rd party will be able to reassure me.

 

[Gussie]

... AV Sales (who I was lucky enough to buy from) confirmed the fact that it is meant to be fanless and are looking into this as soon as they get their demo screen running in the next few days ...

The manual on page 42 says there is a fan in all PHD8 units!
"[for TH-42PHD8EK/S, TH-50PHD8EK/S] Whirring sounds can be heard
from the display unit ... The display unit is fitted with a cooling fan to dissipate heat generated during normal use. The whirring sound is caused by rotation of the fan and is not a malfunction"

I would have thought AV-Sales would have known this.

Manual available at http://www.panasonic.ch/doc/6301_6400/6327/userguide/userguide_4_th-42phd8ek_-.pdf

Everyone who buys a PHD8 is going to have to get used to the noise. If you think it's going to annoy you get the SD PWD8 instead which is fanless or complain to Panasonic.

However, Panasonic being the arrogant they are will ignore any complaints and say it's within spec!

Gussie

 

[Mep]

thanks Theo, it's a great analogy!

 

[NWhiteley]

set my PHD8 up today... its fantastic. there is a momentary fan noise just as it is turned on but after that it is totally silent, even with the sound completely off