Choose my next TV

[DuncanSWardle]

Ok, had some very VERY good news today about my (and my partners) financial situation for next couple of years which has meant I can start looking for a new TV to replacing my aging (and only just working) 50" Samsung DLP

This is what I want


at least 50"
Easily wall mounted
Good calibration options (each input allows own settings etc)
1080p 24fps


Now the set will be used primarily (90%) for gaming with the remainder made up of SkyHD and Tv shows on DVD and Blu Ray (all movie watching done via PJ)

Have a budget of £1200 or so (dont want to push it too high, cheaper the better) but could go little higher if any 0% finance deals

So anyone suggest which sets I should be looking at
Looked at the Pioneer Plasmas but too high in price for me and to be honest I think probably overkill for my needs

[SithLordSi]

I cannot recommend Pioneer plasmas highly enough!! I have the PDP-428XD and it stands alongside its big brother - the PDP-508XD - as the best display I've ever seen (except the more recent PDP-LX5090, of course, but that will set you back even more £££). If you can find a 508XD for sale, I'd go for it. It's not 1080p but you wouldn't know it - personally I think there's too much emphasis placed on resolution these days, and not enough on overall image quality. You can find plenty of 1080p TVs within your budget, but I'm certain that none of them will give you a better image then Pioneer plasmas.

They also offer the most calibration options of any consumer display. If you wish they can even be ISF calibrated by a professional - one setting for day and one for night. In addition to being 1080p24 ready they can also convert 480i/1080i film-based material to 24p so that you can enjoy old NTSC DVDs with no pull-down judder. It may seem like I'm overselling it, and you'll get many votes for Panasonic, but from my experience Pioneer is the real deal.

[paulsaz]

If not pioneer then panasonic is the next obvious choice, I've just this evening wall mounted my new 42PX80 and it's blown my old panny32lxd600 out of the water for hd sources. The 50PZ80 comes in around your budget

http://www.zettavolt.co.uk/Panasonic-TV/TH50PZ80.html

[DuncanSWardle]

Cheers
If I was going to use the set for movie viewing then I would spend the extra on the Pioneer, but I have a Pansonic PJA2000 Prjector for that

I think it will no doubt be Pansaonic from reading up on them
What is the current best 50 or 52" Panny ? I dont need the one with the internal freesat tuner

[rwniel]

The Panasonic TH50PZ80 would be within your budget; best to go have a look at one in the flesh and then see what you think. The range of full hd models at 50" is the; PZ80, PZ81 (additional freesat tuner though it also inherits some features from the PZ85/PZ800) and the PZ800.

Robert

[DuncanSWardle]

Think it will be the TH50PZ80

[DuncanSWardle]

How does the Panasonic TH50PZ80 compare against similar priced (yet 52") Samsung LCD sets ?

For not much more money I could get a SAMSUNG LE52A656A1FXXU

Just dont know which to go for ?

[bh1]

What is the good news?

[rwniel]

How does the Panasonic TH50PZ80 compare against similar priced (yet 52") Samsung LCD sets ?

For not much more money I could get a SAMSUNG LE52A656A1FXXU

Just dont know which to go for ?Nobody can tell you what to buy, as we all have our preferences; :) Plasma tends to produce a more CRT-like image, with better motion and viewing angle. But some chance of image retention with high contrast/fixed areas and the risk of sensitivity to phosphor lag (causing a sort of green flash with fast moving images). Also they tend to use use more power compared to a similar sized LCD television. Personally, I prefer plasma at larger sizes but you should go view both models in the flesh and then see what you think.

Robert