36inch widescreen tv recommendations

[Baron S. Greenback]

Hi,

I am looking to upgrade my current 29inch 4:3 tv to a widescreen, and i really want a 36 inch one at least. Can anyone recommend me a decent make and model or let me know what functions i should be looking out for.

thanks

[Brad123]

For what you would pay for a 36 inch tv you could get a brand ne widescreen projector from panasonic, I was gonna get a new tv then saw this and bought it instead, now i have an 8 fiit wide picture that the bees knees.

Panasonic PT AE100 £1200 to £1500 depending where you buy it from.
Dedicated widescreen chip
long bulb life and low bulb replacement costs.

Great picture quality.

[Reeves29]

Projectors and Rear projection tv's are great if you only watch DVD's and not that often. They are not really that suitable for normal tv watching, can't really have a projector running while you listen to MTV doing some DIY.

I just bought a Panasonic TX36PB50 36" 16:9 for £2000, great tv. I went from a 28" 4:3 tv, the extra inch's are well worth it (a 16:9 picture on a 28" 4:3 tv is only 25" big so its a big jump to 36").

But 36" tv's are pushing the limits of CRT. All the 36" tv's have their problems, the Panasonic TX36PB50 and Panasonic TXPL30 seem to have the least problems. Stay well clear of the Sony 36", seem to have more problems than the rest put together.

But it comes down to wheather you want buy a Projector for a couple of films a week, and a normal tv to watch BBC, ITV, Sky etc.
Or go for a 36" tv for everything.

[Urban Tiger]

My Panasonic 36PL30 arrived today (check pics in the sticky thread at the top).

This was chosen after lots of research. The geometry on the set is nigh on perfect (check with the geometry test on the DVD Platinum set up disc). The picture is truly stunning on DVD's. I upgraded from a 32" Sony Wega 100hz flatscreen and am glad I did. My one advice tip is don't buya TV with features you don't need, ie surround sound if you have a seperate amp etc.

Have fun choosing :)

[Pablo Noir]

Where did you purchase the Panny from Urban?

[Justin]

Originally posted by Baron S. Greenback
Hi,

I am looking to upgrade my current 29inch 4:3 tv to a widescreen, and i really want a 36 inch one at least. Can anyone recommend me a decent make and model or let me know what functions i should be looking out for.

thanks

Go for a panasonic. If its any intrest got an ex dem 36PF10 (loads of good reviews in its day, but was dropped end of last year). No stand as was displayed on a CD rack, but otherwise mint and boxed.

If not, then keep well away from the Panasonic PB range... Instead consider the newer PL range (replaced the PF range), and are a half decent set for the dosh. As mentioned else where in this thread, keep away from the sony 36", until the last couple of months these shipped with the s-videooptions disabled in the engineer modes:)

Also worth checking out are the tosh pictureframes, although theres been a few problems with these also:(So that rules it down to Pana or Philips tbf.

hope that helps.

[Urban Tiger]

Pablo Noir

I got mine from Sound in Vision, even though I have read some pretty ropey things about them. It was £1414 inc. delivery (empiredirect is £1417 inc. delivery).

The reason I chose Sound and Vision was not price. They were very helpful on the phone but the clincher was that they promised they use a courier with a two man team who would unpack the TV and show it to you before they leave. This was a godsend as only my wife would be in during the week when they delivered it. Its important to understand they don't set it up (no hassle as its a very quick job), and they don't make the matching stand up either, so if you haven't already got an existing cabinet I assume they will leave it on the floor.

I am praying it doesn't go wrong as S & V's after sales service does seem questionable, but so far the TV has been great

[Baron S. Greenback]

Thanks for the replies, just a quick question , i have seen projection tv's in various stores and the picture quality doenst look to good , infact it looks pretty bad... but i put this down to the way the individual storesd had them set up, anyway do projection tvs if set up properly give as good a picture as crt's and can you get an rgb picture.

thanks.

[nigel_williams]

I decided to upgrade from 32" and looked at rear projection but thought the picture was quite poor. I was also put off by the size of the box and I doubt I could get it up the stair to my flat! The delivery men struggled with my 32" Sony!

Plasma is better but you need to spend over £4,000 for a decent screen which is only 42" - Panasonic has the best picture IMO. A lot of money for only a slightly larger screen.

The solution? For me it's projection! The new Panasonic AE100 is getting rave reviews an is considerably smaller/lighter than a 36" TV! I will probably spend the extra money and go for the Sony VW11 next week but I will have a 92" diagonal widescreen image to look at!

Hope that helps.

[Baron S. Greenback]

Thanks for the suggestions, so far i am interested in the following 2 tv's , the Panasonic TX36PG50 and the Toshiba 36ZP18B has anyone had any dealings with them.

[wack]

Originally posted by Baron S. Greenback
Thanks for the suggestions, so far i am interested in the following 2 tv's , the Panasonic TX36PG50 and the Toshiba 36ZP18B has anyone had any dealings with them.

I have a 36 ZP,I have learned to live with it's problems,the main one being sides brighter than the middle when viewing it in a darkened room,some people say theirs doesn't have this problem,it only really shows up at the end credits of a dvd when the screen is black and can be made OKish by fiddling with the contrast and brightness menus,

I looked at a few 36" tvs the tosh is much more stylish than the others and looks great in the room.

I doubt you'll get a better tv for the £1500 it can be found for now,just look at it in a darkened room if you can before buying it.

[Strider]

I also looked at all the options, plasma, projection, rear projection, based on my requirements (sharp, vibrant colour, and reasonable foot print with tonnes of trick features, like PIP, dual sound etc.), I finally decided to go for the SONY 36" with DRC 100, it was the latest and unlike the comment mentioned previously, I have never had any problems with it.

Like the experience with Nige mentioned earlier (Hey Nige, its Gareth here), the 6'5 foot tall american footballer built guy definitely had problems with the weight of the machine... and I was forced to help him, but my two flights of stairs were like mount everest. .... therefore, I would suggest you make sure you get enough people ready to help! :nuts:

I have not regretted the choice, as many of my friends who have plasmas and other expensive options have commented how great the picture is, and its fantastic for all my DVDs.

Hope this helps,

[Baron S. Greenback]

i like the look of the sony as well , but i was told that the panasonis has a better picture, dont know how true this is , has anyone got a Panasonic TX36PG50???

[Vinster]

Well - I was in the same situation as you, looking for a 36" TV.

The Toshiba is by far the best looking TV out of any current TV on the market, even turned off!! :D

I looked at all the problems here and rang Toshiba who told me they "think" they have addressed these problems. There was no way I was going to get a Rear Projector - there *****. What people are not telling you here is that if you watch something like MTV for a prolonged amount of time, the little MTV icon is burnt into the screen - something that is NOT covered by the manufacturers or extended warranty. And I don't think the pictures are actually that good, but thats my opinion.

In the end I went with Toshiba, and the only fault I could give it (I've had it for only a month however) is that the Sub is not as loud as I would like it (its still loud) - this is because it has been toned down because it had an effect on the picture when turned up real loud.

All the boxes have their problems no doubt, so I would go with the one you most feel comfortable with.

Good luck :)

[SOUNDSTYLE]

Double post!

[SOUNDSTYLE]

Originally posted by Strider
I also looked at all the options, plasma, projection, rear projection, based on my requirements (sharp, vibrant colour, and reasonable foot print with tonnes of trick features, like PIP, dual sound etc.), I finally decided to go for the SONY 36" with DRC 100, it was the latest and unlike the comment mentioned previously, I have never had any problems with it.

Like the experience with Nige mentioned earlier (Hey Nige, its Gareth here), the 6'5 foot tall american footballer built guy definitely had problems with the weight of the machine... and I was forced to help him, but my two flights of stairs were like mount everest. .... therefore, I would suggest you make sure you get enough people ready to help! :nuts:

I have not regretted the choice, as many of my friends who have plasmas and other expensive options have commented how great the picture is, and its fantastic for all my DVDs.

Hope this helps,
I have the Sony 36FS70 aswell and have had no problems what-so-ever.
It's a great tv.

[Baron S. Greenback]

some great replies here , thanks for teh help, dont suppose anyone can tell me the best place to buy from, (looking for interest free credit if available and good customer services for any faults that may occur after buying).

thanks.