TX-P50VT30B vs LG 60PZ950T £1500 budget

Ok, so a strange line up....

I basically have £1500 and not a penny more

Currently have a Samsung 40" LCD ~4 yrs old and done 12,000 hours! So i like my tv viewing

Is the Panny worth sacrificing the extra 10". Ill be sitting approx 13' from the TV.

What do we think?

 

If your seriously considering the Panasonic goto a show room and watch is for a good 10 15 minutes.

I can spot a panasonic at the opposite end of a best buy store by the Flicker and I can't stand watching for more than about 10 minutes without getting a headache/eye ache. I find some LG's flicker a bit too now but I get used to that and it doesn't make me want remove my eyes or give me a headache.

With that alone for me personally the LG is a no brainer.

If your not fussed about 3d want the best keep an eye out for a Pioneer Lx*090 or or KRP-*00.

I can't believe they have been out the business for a few years and the last gen TV are still the best TV's for 2d pictures bar none if you have the patience to tinker. you might be able to find somthing under 1.5k if you keep your eyes peeled.

 

LG are way way behind this year. Yes Panasonics flicker more if you see flicker with plasma, but Id not recommend LG this year, you want to look at the Samsung D8000 or D6900 they compete well with Panasonic and are better in some areas. My vote goes to Panasonic this year, my GT30 is fantastic. LGs this year have awful black levels and are poor with IR, generally LG plasmas just arent up to it this year.

 

It seems here is no 'perfect' set

Although i struggle to find any independent review to slate the VT30. Not many reviews on the LG. Both looked good in currys, but very difficult to gauge as the environment is rubbish for such things...

 

LG were quite good last year, amazing for the money, they just havent moved on this year with plasma, whilst Samsung have really stepped up.
I and many others are hoping Samsung continue improving, if they do Panasonic will have more of a battle on their hands next year. Take a look at the AVForums reviews, more than just opinion, our revbiewers are not only experts in the field but also use top end equipment to test the sets they review and publish the results with great detail. Theres also a TV shootout in the states with some top calibrators and industry experts, this clearly shows at least on black level, how far behind LG are this year. By all means go demo LGs, any set you like, end of the day you need to buy what you like, but technicaly LG just aren't as good this year.

IMO this years best sets are the VT30 and GT30, then Samsung D8000 and then the D6900 and ST30. Just my opinion some may rate the Samsungs higher, especially for the money.

 

Thanks for the responses.

Im now considering the d6900 59"

I hate this. I just want to buy a kick ass tv and be happy with it .....

I think 50 might not be enough and 60 too big. 55s are all LCD apart from the panny which I can't afford for the vt30.

Can I return a tv if I "just don't like it"?

£1500 is a load of cash and I've been saving for a while so don't want to get something that's not the best.

I sit 13' from the tv.

Heeeelp and happy Christmas!

 

Costco have a 90 day no quibble returns policy and 5 year warranty

 

Both D6900 and especially VT30 are by and large kick ass TVs, so just flip a coin maybe
If I had the money my coin would flip on the "VT30-side" with 90% chance. Compensate for the loss of size by moving your sofa 1.5 feet forward

 

Or maybe a 50" GT30 and an Oppo 93

Tooooo many choices!

 

Humph.

Back to the shops I think. Have to look at the 59 Sammy

I have a JL price match to 1299 for it.

Just seems too good a value to justify 10" less and £200 more...

 

How far from the set you going to be? Samsung D6900 is a great set but not as good as the GT IMO let alone the VT, I put it more at a level betwean the ST30 and GT30 myself. You need to go see the sets, the Samsung can go brighter than the Panasonics and the extra picture controls over the ST mean it can be calibrated to produce a very good pic.
The Panasonics have it out the box PQ wise though and have deeper black levels. The GT30 and VT30 are both better out the box and can be calibrated to improve PQ further. If you plan on getting the set Calibrated and want a brighter set then the D6900 is still worth considering, otherwise its the top two Panasonics for me. Have a thorough read of the reviews and go demo.


Oh and its not all about size The LGs are just not up to it size doesn't help, just shows it up more. This is also a problem for any set, if you sit too close to a big set youre more likely to see its flaws(all sets have them). Moving closer to the set is exactly what I do when gaming on my set, its easier to move closer to a set than further away.

 

Thanks for the reply!

Happy Christmas to you

The Gt30 at 999 does seem a good deal. I'm about 13' from the tv, so a fair distance. Ive read reviews and already been to currys 3 times

It's a battle between 59" and lower pq or 50 and top dog. Is the vt30 £500 better than the gt30? I doubt it.

I've never saved this sort of cash saved before. Always bought on credit and having the cash is making me extra extra careful that I'm getting the best set. I keep convincing myself each way and then not knowing what to do.

 

Also

It's a pitty they don't do a 55" GT30

Then it would be a no brainer as that's the perfect size I think for me. No way am I spending 2400 on one though. And all the others are LCD. Not interested in LCD at all.

 

This is where it is going. Currently that is a 40" tv

 

Merry Christmas
hmm no I agree there isnt a great differance betwean the GT and VT, I went for a 46" GT30 over a 42" VT myself. 13ft? hmm yeah 50" may well be a bit small, Id still say VT over the D6900 myself though some have replaced a faulty VT with the D6900 and are happy. By demo I mean at a dealer in a demo room, RS, Panasonic stores and Sound and vision offer this service, Sound and vision will consider price matching others, have the best service IMO and more knowledgeable staff. They also do free 5year on the Panasonics.

 

wow! great wall for a set you lucky so and so, whatever set will look fantastic on there. 50" may well be too small on that, it is a real shame there isnt a biger GT30, maybe look at the Samsung D8000? not sure on recent prices......that walls bigger than my house lol.

 

Is the d8000 only 64" though?

 

Ah good point not sure to be honest, dont think so.....yep sorry 51 and 64" by the looks if it....looks like the D6900 after all lol guess if you can get a good deal maybe get it calibrated? looking at about £300 for a pro isf or get a meter for like 150 and have a go yourself. Calibrated it will be up there with the Panasonics, better in some areas though black level will always be higher, not by a lot though.

 

Looks like there is a 51 & 59

If I get a 50 it'll be a panny. I just think I need bigger.

 

Which leaves me little choice for 1500 quid.

Crazy init.

Oh for an affordable 55" plasma

 

Indeed, maybe next year, but then prices will be higher for 6 months or more.

Id recommend having a decent look its the only way to decide, If you were a bit closer Id say PQ was more important but not so easy at that distance Id be very tempted to go bigger. Maybe bring the sofa closer? can your room layout do that?

 

personally I think it's amazing how much you can get for 1500 quid these days.

 

I hear you. But I'm being fussy with my requirements

 

yeah, and that's fair enough of course. The 50"+ market is still fairly small in Europe it seems. I am looking to upgrade in the near(ish) future from my 4 year old 40" set, and I am just impressed by the improvement and drop in price .

 

Looks like the perfect place for a ~130 inch TV Ask Santa very nicely

 

I've just taken out a projector which I sold the other week on here. Still got the screen to shift thou :s

 

Just seen this then...

GT30 50"
2 pairs of Panasonic TY-EW3D3ME 3D Glasses
Panasonic DMP-BDT110EB 3D Blu-ray Disc Player

All for £1033.18 delivered... Im not sure if you get 5yr warranty if bought from Amazon.

Looks good compared to £1699 that the same VT30 deal would cost

 

No extra warranty from Amazon unless you pay extra for it

 

hmmm

So you don't het the Panasonic warranty if bought from Amazon?

Thats a shame....

 

Nope, smaller independent retailers only

Where to buy - VIERA 5 Year Warranty Dealer Locator - Panasonic UK & Ireland

Think it's still running

Amazon aren't even a UK based retailer ultimately

Do you have access to Costco, they can have some decent deals with warranty. Or a Sevenoaks hi-fi store?

Various extras here http://www.sevenoakssoundandvision.co.uk/products/productdetail/part_number=TX-P50GT30B/1765.0.4.3