New Tv

[Gunther]

So. My CRT packs up. What next? £1300-£1500 budget, and I am so undecided between Sony Z Series, Samsung LED 7020 and Panasonic Viera 600hz Plasma. What should I do? I want 40 inch (said actress to bishop).

I still think for the money CRT has best picture for anything that is 50hz, but the new 100+hz TV's are so good now.

Any recommendations?

[Parthiban]

Have heard about those new Panasonics but not seen one yet, how good does it look? For as long as I can remember I've always thought plasma was the best way to go for a large screen (and in some ways it still is as it's the closest to CRT imo) but having seen the 200Hz Sony LCDs (not sure on price though) that would now be what I'd go for if I bought a new TV now.

The 200Hz makes the motion so smooth, actually saw a demo with some 200Hz screens next to some 100Hz screens and the different really was unbelievable! I originally thought it was just a gimmick but I was seriously impressed after seeing it. Not sure if 600Hz is so high that it won't make any difference, but I'll reserve judgement on that until I see it :)

[eXOBeX]

I've got a Panasonic TH-42PZ81B (the first of the FreeSat sets), VEEEEERY happy with it.

Which? magazine has reviewed 245 plasma & LCD TV sets, I've got the 37-42" listed below from best to worst, with the top ranking model for each manufacturer in bold.

I'd recommend taking a look at the Which? magazines in your local library for a full review and rating of any of these sets, or subscribe online, after all you'll be spending quite a few quid! Even if you don't bother, the list below should give you some idea of how the manufacturers generally compare, although it's worth noting that if you include the other sizes as well, Panasonic account for eight of the top ten, with Sony in third and tenth places.

BEST BUYS

Panasonic TX-37LZD800

Panasonic TX-37LZD81

Panasonic TX-37LZD70

Sony KDL-40W4500

Sony KDL-40Z4500

Panasonic TH-37PX80B

Panasonic TH-42PX7

Sony KDL-40E4000

Sony KDL-40D3000

Panasonic TH-42PX700

Panasonic TH-42PX80B

Philips 42PFL9703D

NOT BEST BUYS

Panasonic TH-42PZ700

Sony KDL-40D3500

Panasonic TH-42PZ85B

Sony KDL-40X3500

Sony KDL-40V4000

Philips 42PFL9803

Sharp LC-37XL8E

Panasonic TH-42PZ800

Panasonic TH-37PX70

Philips 37PFL5522D

Samsung LE40A556

Sharp LC-37D65E

Toshiba 37XV505DB

Toshiba 37X3030D

Toshiba 37CV505DB

Sony KDL-40S3000

Philips 42PES0001

Sony KDL-40EX1

Sony KDL-40W3000

Sony KDL-40V3000

Samsung LE40A856SM1XXU

LG 37LG3000-ZA

Pioneer PDP-428XD

Toshiba 42RV555DB

Samsung LE37R87BDX/XEU

Sony KDL-37P3020

Toshiba 37RV555DB

Panasonic TH-42PX70

LG 42PG6000

Panasonic TH-42PZ81B

Toshiba 40ZF355DB

Panasonic TH-42PZ70

LG 42PG3000

Sharp LC-37B20E

Sharp LC-37RD2E

Samsung LE37A457

Samsung LE37A456C2DXXU

Philips 42PFL5603D/10

Toshiba 42XV505D

Samsung LE40A656A1FXXU

Sharp LC-42XL2E

Samsung LE40A686

JVC LT-42DR9

Pioneer PDP-4280XD

LG 42LG6100

Philips 37PFL5603

Philips 42PFL9900D

LG 42LF66

Toshiba 42ZV555D

Toshiba 37XV555D

Samsung PS42A457P1DXXU

Samsung PS42A456

Samsung PS42Q97HDX/XEU

JVC LT-42DV8BJ

LG 42PC55

Samsung PS42C96HDX/XEU

LG 37LC55

LG 37LY95

Sharp LC-37AD5E

Hitachi L37X01

LG 42PT85

Bush LT42M1CFA

Philips 37PFL9732D/10

Acoustic Solutions LCD37761F1080P

LG 42LF75

Samsung LE37S86BDX/XEU

Samsung LE40M87BDX/XEU

JVC LT-37DA8

ONN OLCD3701

Wharfedale LTF42K1CB

JVC LT-42DG8

DON'T BUYS

Toshiba 40XF355D

Atec AV371DS

COMING SOON (THIS MONTH?)

Panasonic TX-P42G10

Panasonic TX-P42X10

Sony KDL-40WE5

LG 42PQ3000

Sony KDL-40V5500

Sony KDL-40ZX1

LG 42LH4000

Philips 42PFL9903D Aurea II

Toshiba 42AV635D

Samsung LE40B650T2W

Sony KDL-40E5500

Samsung PS42B4501

Philips Cinema 21:9 (56" plasma with 2.35:1 aspect ratio)

Panasonic TX-P46Z1

LG 37LH2000

Samsung UE40B7020W

[Saraj]

I would just buy one for 600-700 cheap and cheerful and use the rest on something elese, like a home cinema system

[redz_UK]

would have to be the panasonics mate..

only thing that lets them down is the sound.

best tv by far is the Kuro but at 2K just for the TV with no stand (£200) or speakers (£150/£200) its a bit pricy. The good news is it uses Panasonic panels..

[eXOBeX]

I would just buy one for 600-700 cheap and cheerful and use the rest on something elese, like a home cinema system

You usually get what you pay for when it comes to plasma TVs. Buy cheap, get cheap. My Panasonic wipes the floor with my friend's Goodmans. Remember all the trouble with Tiny plasma sets? Using Samsung panels (which they used to brag about) is all well and good, but they used poor quality control gear that let the whole thing down.

[Saraj]

I would just buy one for 600-700 cheap and cheerful and use the rest on something elese, like a home cinema system

You usually get what you pay for when it comes to plasma TVs. Buy cheap, get cheap. My Panasonic wipes the floor with my friend's Goodmans. Remember all the trouble with Tiny plasma sets? Using Samsung panels (which they used to brag about) is all well and good, but they used poor quality control gear that let the whole thing down.

yh true, for me i dont have many people to compare my tv with, in which case there is no comparison, meaning i dont know abot the other quality on the market

[Ellz]

My mates just got the Samsung 50inch LED jobbie so when I go round and see it i'll report back

[Yeldarb]

I have a 18 month old Panasonic 42" plasma and 100% happy with it. My brother has the Pioneer 42" OK its "better" but not £1000 better if you understand what I mean?

[redz_UK]

I have a 18 month old Panasonic 42" plasma and 100% happy with it. My brother has the Pioneer 42" OK its "better" but not £1000 better if you understand what I mean?

agreed on the older models..

the 9th gen Kuro Plasma only comes in 50" or 60".. these ones are far superior to the old ones

[Bazza]

i remember the old days when the only thing that mattered about a tv was the size of the screen and the fact it had a remote control

i cant work out what all the latest stuff is about or does, they all look good to me !!

[kev dood]

Well, I currently work for the TV Group at Sony so in a way I am biased (only cos I get a staff discount so for the money, nothing comes close) but the 200Hz Sony is supposed to be very good.

I am a little dubious about the 600Hz model Panasonic, as it has to be very very good at interpolation to generate so many missing frames. Unless its more of a marketing gimic and the 600Hz doesn't actually relate to the frame refresh - bit like the Samsung LED tv - its NOT and OLED but they make it out to be one!!?

Panasonic Viera or however its spelt, do give a nice picture and have sharp graphics. But the last I saw, the freeview (say BBC1) wasn't quite as good as a decent Sony can be.

The first Pana freesat TV's were not that great as couldn't do a good black very well.

Personally I would only get an LCD and not a plasma - but thats personal choice.

Either one, you will not be disappointed with. Good luck.