Which 46"-50" TV to buy - help required!! (please)

[flatty]

Hi,

I have asked for help before and always recieved great advice - hoping you can help me again!! I put off buying a tv before as I wanted to sort out surround sound etc but am ready to do but right now....

Okay so I have;

Sony STRDG800 Amp
Panasonic DMPBD35 Blu Ray Player
Tannoy SFX 5.1
Xbox 360
a sofa 2.2 meters away from where the tv will be
£1000 to spend on the tv

I want a tv that has great HD picture quality and as good SD quality possible for my buck. I'll be keeping the tv for a few yrs so it will need to stand the test of time.

I've listed the tv's below Im thinking about after reading reviews etc but would really appreciate any comments on them, which one to go for or alternitives I should consider within my budget of £1000.

Panasonic Viera TX-50PZ800 (seen for £965)

Panasonic Viera TX-P46G10 / Panasonic Viera TX-P50G10 (£929)

Panasonic Viera TX-P50U10 (£899) - not sure about this one.

Panasonic TH-PZ80 (£899) - Again not sure about this.

Sony Bravia KDL-46W4000 (£899)


I am really struggling to weigh up the pro's and cons for the above and have relied on this forum for guidance/advice before and hoping for the same this time.

Please, any help is appreciated!! Thanks in advance

James

 

[rewerb]

I would get the 50G10, just under £1k, much better vlaue than the 46G10

The PZ80, PZ800, W4000 are last years models. The U10 is bottom of the range Panasonic and overpriced.

 

[flatty]

Cheers. To be honest I thought the Panasonic G10 was looking like a banker.

I'll be watching SkyHD and blu rays and Im sure looking at reviews that the PQ from these sources will be top notch.

Any one know what the image quality is like on the 50" G10 on standard def?

 

[flatty]

I would get the 50G10, just under £1k, much better vlaue than the 46G10

The PZ80, PZ800, W4000 are last years models. The U10 is bottom of the range Panasonic and overpriced.

Just another point following your comment (thanks again).

I have been reading magazines and one I have with me now is What Video & Hi-Def TV – I have been looking at the tables at the back of these mags, the ones where they list manufacturer and then each model in order from entry level up to top of the range. It has the Panasonic PZ series as top of the range and the G series 2 down from it – are these tables accurate? Or is there an up to date one somewhere on the net? I also noted a V10 being spoke about on the forums and the v10’s in my mag are LCD?

Still the 50” G10 sounds good – just want to know what sd pictures are like....anyone?

Thanks in advance!

Kind regards,

 

[Jim Di Griz]

Just another point following your comment (thanks again).

I have been reading magazines and one I have with me now is What Video & Hi-Def TV – I have been looking at the tables at the back of these mags, the ones where they list manufacturer and then each model in order from entry level up to top of the range. It has the Panasonic PZ series as top of the range and the G series 2 down from it – are these tables accurate? Or is there an up to date one somewhere on the net? I also noted a V10 being spoke about on the forums and the v10’s in my mag are LCD?

Still the 50” G10 sounds good – just want to know what sd pictures are like....anyone?

Thanks in advance!

Kind regards,

Ignore the magazine. G10s are better then last year's PZ models. 50" V10 would be way above your price limit of 1k - I think the 50" G10 is a steal at the price its available at now, I paid way more than that back in May!

SD performance on the G10 improves with use, especially during the first few weeks. Some find it a bit soft (I dont). Some people have found that using a seperate box connected via RGB scart gives a better picture than HDMI - not something Ive tested as I just use the built-in freeview and freesat. Xbox 360 looks great. HD via freesat looks great. HD via blu-ray looks amazing (depending on the actual disc).

 

[flatty]

Right okay thanks Jim - Im ordering today. Going to go for the 50" G10. Think Im going to buy from Dixons...

Just need to get me a wall bracket - any suggestions on where to get one without paying a fortune? Ebay?

Lastly with regards to freesat - does it come with freesat HD in built?

thanks for all the help!!

 

[JiffOrange]

Right okay thanks Jim - Im ordering today. Going to go for the 50" G10. Think Im going to buy from Dixons...

Just need to get me a wall bracket - any suggestions on where to get one without paying a fortune? Ebay?

Lastly with regards to freesat - does it come with freesat HD in built?

thanks for all the help!!

Yeah Dixons seems to be the cheepest so far (£949), I checked them out on this price comp site:

http://shopping.avforums.com/pl/2-1215369/TVs/Panasonic-Viera-TX-P46G10E-Compare-Prices

However Digital Direct cought my eye for £999 as they have a 3 Year warranty & to be fair John Lewis have it at £1199 with 5 Year warranty but not sure its worth £250 extra for the 5 year warranty . Yes it does come with freesat HD built in but you will need a dish to recieve still.
Cheers,
Jiff

 

[flatty]

Nice one Jiff. I am litterally on dixons website now ready to order.

Would be nice to have longer warranty but I guess its covered on the house insurance...

I will have Sky HD so not overly bothered about freesat hd - that said I move into my new house just before christmas and wont get sky set up in time so was hoping that freesat hd would get me by in the meantime...will have to see if thats possible with needing a dish. thanks for the info though!!

 

[JiffOrange]

Nice one Jiff. I am litterally on dixons website now ready to order.

Would be nice to have longer warranty but I guess its covered on the house insurance...

I will have Sky HD so not overly bothered about freesat hd - that said I move into my new house just before christmas and wont get sky set up in time so was hoping that freesat hd would get me by in the meantime...will have to see if thats possible with needing a dish. thanks for the info though!!

Let us know how you get on mate
Cheers,
Jiff

 

[flatty]

Will do Jiff. Just placed the order £948.99 inc delivery. Delivery arranged for Sunday - typically going to Israel for a week from Monday but should get it set up and a few hours viewing time in before I leave!

Cant wait. Thanks for all the help - much appreciated.

 

[Jim Di Griz]

Yeah Dixons seems to be the cheepest so far (£949), I checked them out on this price comp site:

Panasonic Viera 50in TX P50G10B PLASMA TV - 1080p televsions

However Digital Direct cought my eye for £999 as they have a 3 Year warranty & to be fair John Lewis have it at £1199 with 5 Year warranty but not sure its worth £250 extra for the 5 year warranty . Yes it does come with freesat HD built in but you will need a dish to recieve still.
Cheers,
Jiff

I got mine from Digital Direct with the 3 year warranty - cost me a lot more than £999 though! (bought it back in May). Only slight complaint is that it took a while to arrive but I suspect that was because of where I live - rural part of Wales. Delivery guys knew what they were doing, kept the box upright etc and unpacked it like theyd done it a thousand times (reassuringly!)

 

[JiffOrange]

I got mine from Digital Direct with the 3 year warranty - cost me a lot more than £999 though! (bought it back in May). Only slight complaint is that it took a while to arrive but I suspect that was because of where I live - rural part of Wales. Delivery guys knew what they were doing, kept the box upright etc and unpacked it like theyd done it a thousand times (reassuringly!)

That is reassuring at least ....I think Digital Direct are actually the internet only arm od indy retailer Sound & Vision. So I would be confident buying from them thanks for that though, good to here good experiences!
Cheers,
Jiff

 

[Jim Di Griz]

That is reassuring at least ....I think Digital Direct are actually the internet only arm od indy retailer Sound & Vision. So I would be confident buying from them thanks for that though, good to here good experiences!
Cheers,
Jiff

If you do, I wouldnt bother with the interest-free option though. Was a lot of fuss and bother and if Id known how much effort it was going to be (plus the hidden charges!) I would have just paid for it outright straight away. If youre strapped for cash I suppose its worth it though (as long as you know you will have the money to pay it all off in a year before the interest-free period ends).

Oh yeah - if you do order from digital direct use Quidco and youll save even more money!

 

[quietlife]

I've pretty much decided on a G0 (I think!!)

I've heard that Panasonic introduced a five year warranty on 1st October. Is this universal or limited to Panasonic shops!

Cheers!

 

[S Bibby]

Hi,

I have been reading magazines and one I have with me now is What Video & Hi-Def TV – I have been looking at the tables at the back of these mags, the ones where they list manufacturer and then each model in order from entry level up to top of the range. It has the Panasonic PZ series as top of the range and the G series 2 down from it – are these tables accurate? Or is there an up to date one somewhere on the net? I also noted a V10 being spoke about on the forums and the v10's in my mag are LCD?

The new guide in the back of What Video is not comprehensive but the PZ800 quoted is actually a 58 inch model which remains current due to lack of larger screens in the Panasonic ranges. I've seen this model in John Lewis recently and I believe it is still available.

 

[JiffOrange]

I've pretty much decided on a G0 (I think!!)

I've heard that Panasonic introduced a five year warranty on 1st October. Is this universal or limited to Panasonic shops!

Cheers!

Yeah I'm nit sure about this either ...if you go to Panasonics site they talk about an existing 5 year warranty that is only available if you demo the set at the store this is a strange way to give a warranty, especially when your comp i.e. Sony has done both a 5 year & 3 year warranty in only the last 12 months! It has been running since since the 1st May 2009 – 31st August 2009. First I even new of it, they kept it quiet! No mention though of the warranty which started at the begining of this month! I do not use use Quidco either, had some bad experiences with cash back sites, more trouble than they are worth!
Cheers,
Jiff

 

[Jim Di Griz]

Yeah I'm nit sure about this either ...if you go to Panasonics site they talk about an existing 5 year warranty that is only available if you demo the set at the store this is a strange way to give a warranty, especially when your comp i.e. Sony has done both a 5 year & 3 year warranty in only the last 12 months! It has been running since since the 1st May 2009 – 31st August 2009. First I even new of it, they kept it quiet! No mention though of the warranty which started at the begining of this month! I do not use use Quidco either, had some bad experiences with cash back sites, more trouble than they are worth!
Cheers,
Jiff

Ive not had any trouble with Quidco (the only cash back site I use) and they paid me a tidy sum not long ago too. . I know a few other people who use it and theyve had not trouble either. Definitely worth doing if you are ordering a TV from Digital Direct - check the site.

 

[JiffOrange]

Ive not had any trouble with Quidco (the only cash back site I use) and they paid me a tidy sum not long ago too. . I know a few other people who use it and theyve had not trouble either. Definitely worth doing if you are ordering a TV from Digital Direct - check the site.

may give it another try then ...thats a pretty solid recomendation Anybody know anything about the warranty terms with panasonic yet? In store only? whats the crack?
Cheers,
Jiff