Good deal on a Plasma TV

[Fozzie_DeBear]

In case anyone is shopping for an excellent Plasma TV, an online retailer in Burlington is blowing out last years 42 inch Panasonics for a touch under $2k (includes wall mount)

I think that it even goes to 1080p at 30fps...just ask KevanGuy

http://www.complete-it.ca/plasma/Pan...H-42PHD8UK.php

Reviews Panasonic TH-42PHD8UK

NOTE:
This is a 'professional' TV so it is quite sturdy and comes with a 2 year warranty BUT...
It has no speakers or tuner (most people don't need them anyway)
It has switchable 'blades' which allow custom inputs (It comes with component S-video and DVI/PC monitor in). You can add HDMI inputs for about $150

[Draug]

I have one of the first Panasonic 42's. The TH-42PWD4UK. It's only an EDTV, technically, because the HDTV resolution wasnt available 5 yrs ago when we bought it.

I have NO complaints about this display. Even today, I'd put this head to head with all of the cheap branded HDTV 42 inch displays. It looks that good. I've had no problems with this display at all.

Like Fozzie said, if you are tempted by a plasma, this is a deal not to pass up.

Another place that has them really cheap is AVDeals. Extended warranty and a wall mount thrown in, for $2200.

http://www.avdeals.ca/panasonicplasma/th42phd8uk.htm

[Hack&Lube]

Hmm, a friend just bought a 42" Westinghouse LCD from Best Buy for just $1600 due to sale + open box.

How does this Panasonic Plasma compare to LCDs? The plasma's resolution is only 1024 x 768. The LCD is 1920x1080!

[BlackEleven]

Originally Posted by Fozzie_DeBear

It has no speakers or tuner (most people don't need them anyway)

So you'd have you buy your own speakers for it if you didn't have speakers already?

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by BlackEleven

So you'd have you buy your own speakers for it if you didn't have speakers already?

I'm guessing it's just a display monitor (not a TV per say).
So yes, if you want sound, you need external speakers, reciever etc...

[ken0042]

I wish more TVs would come without tuner or speakers. It's a total waste of money for them to put speakers on a high end TV when most people will be using it in a home theatre environment.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Don't know much about that TV but another good option is:

The Pansonic PX60's. They have come down in price a lot.
I bought mine are $3600 last April and they were on for only $2500 at Bestbuy thanksgiving weekend.

IMO, the extra $500 is worth it for an extremely kick ass TV that is HD, speakers and HDMI inputs already.

This TV is unreal!

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Hmm, a friend just bought a 42" Westinghouse LCD from Best Buy for just $1600 due to sale + open box.

How does this Panasonic Plasma compare to LCDs? The plasma's resolution is only 1024 x 768. The LCD is 1920x1080!

Depends on the model, do you have the number?

I am still a newbie to this HDTV party...

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Don't know much about that TV but another good option is:

The Pansonic PX60's. They have come down in price a lot.
I bought mine are $3600 last April and they were on for only $2500 at Bestbuy thanksgiving weekend.

IMO, the extra $500 is worth it for an extremely kick ass TV that is HD, speakers and HDMI inputs already.

This TV is unreal!

We were looking at those too...excellent reviews

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Hmm, a friend just bought a 42" Westinghouse LCD from Best Buy for just $1600 due to sale + open box.

How does this Panasonic Plasma compare to LCDs? The plasma's resolution is only 1024 x 768. The LCD is 1920x1080!

IIRC, HD recievers, dishes etc, don't project higher then 1080i anyway (1080p is just being introduced), so I'm sure 1920 is anything more then a selling gimick. (Could be wrong).

As far as plasma vs LCD, is think it depends on what you're using it for. Plasma can't be used for Video games or computers, becuase they burn in easily with those sorts of images. LCD's however have a slower image transfer which causes some lag and ghosting when watching fast images like sports.
so for sports=go plasma
for vid games=go LCD

edit: I've done some more research and as nfotiu has also pointed out both TV's are 1080i or 1080p which means they both have 1920X1080 resolution.
Also, if yours is the 1080p model, that could be nice in the future, but no HD networks currently broadcast beyong 1080i anyway. Also, most TV's don't reach their max resolution either, so a chanel being broadcast at 1080i will actually be seen at a different resolution on different 1080i TV's. The numbers don't tell the whole story

[nfotiu]

I have the 50" version of this TV, and love it. I really like the aesthetics of the commercial models. The simple charcoal frame is perfect. I was a little bit worried about my wife's acceptance of having to control a tv/receiver/cable box just to watch a tv show, but the Harmony remote made that simple to use, and she didn't have to bother understanding how it all works (she has no patience to learn something like that!).

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

IIRC, HD recievers, dishes etc, don't project higher then 1080i anyway (1080p is just being introduced), so I'm not sure 1920 is anything more then a selling gimick. (Could be wrong).

As far as plasma vs LCD, is think it depends on what you're using it for. Plasma can't be used for Video games or computers, becuase they burn in easily with those sorts of images. LCD's however have a slower image transfer which causes some lag and ghosting when watching fast images like sports.
so for sports=go plasma
for vid games=go LCD

1920 is the vertical resolution of 1080i or 1080p.
A lot of LCDs are too slow to keep up with video games, and burn in is pretty much a non-issue for Plasmas these days unless you really abuse it. I haven't seen the Westinghouse, but I'd guess the contrast is far better on the plasma (and that is more important to the overall viewing experience, IMO). You probably can't differentiate the difference in those resolutions for that size of tv unless you are sitting closer than 6 feet or so to the TV.

[BlackEleven]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

1920 is the vertical resolution of 1080i or 1080p.
A lot of LCDs are too slow to keep up with video games, and burn in is pretty much a non-issue for Plasmas these days unless you really abuse it. I haven't seen the Westinghouse, but I'd guess the contrast is far better on the plasma (and that is more important to the overall viewing experience, IMO). You probably can't differentiate the difference in those resolutions for that size of tv unless you are sitting closer than 6 feet or so to the TV.

Isn't one advantage of LCD vs. Plasma power consumption (ie LCD uses a lot less power than a Plasma)? Or have they improved upon that now?

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by BlackEleven

Isn't one advantage of LCD vs. Plasma power consumption (ie LCD uses a lot less power than a Plasma)? Or have they improved upon that now?

LCDs use slightly less. I think that advantage was generally overstated as people were comparing larger plasmas to smaller lcd's.

From this chart, the 50PHD8UK plasma is only about 10% higher than the much smaller 40 inch sony lcd.
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6475_7-...3.html?tag=txt .

When comparing to convential tube tvs, s 34 inch convential tv uses about 25% less power of a 50 inch plasma. But the the plasma is lighting a screen that is more than size the size.

[return to the red]

so all this talk about what everyone has, is there a general consensus of what IS the BEST Plasma out there (manufacturer wise)?

convinced the wife that we can't build a new house and put a crappy TV in it

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by return to the red

so all this talk about what everyone has, is there a general consensus of what IS the BEST Plasma out there (manufacturer wise)?

convinced the wife that we can't build a new house and put a crappy TV in it

Fujitsu/Pioneer/Panasonic are almost always mentioned as the cream of the crop. Panasonics are far cheaper than the other two.

[BlackEleven]

Originally Posted by return to the red

so all this talk about what everyone has, is there a general consensus of what IS the BEST Plasma out there (manufacturer wise)?

convinced the wife that we can't build a new house and put a crappy TV in it

Different people say different things (most think whatever they own is the best!), but the general consenus is the brand name ones (Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, etc) cost more but do have a better picture than the not-so-well known names (Futureshop brand, etc).

I've been casually looking at plasmas for a while now and my favourites are the Panasonic models. But that's not to say you should buy a Panasonic if you see a great deal on a Samsung or something else. I've heard lots of arguments for all the various major manufacturers having the "best" plasma.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

burn in is pretty much a non-issue for Plasmas these days unless you really abuse it.

Yeah I've heard that its not really an issue any more. I also read somewhere that there is like 100 hours or so of "break in" time with Plasma's, where you may notice burn from the bars on widescreen DVD's, but the burn in goes away after a watching something new for a while. Apparently permanent burn in damage is much more difficult to achieve on plasma's these days.

I agree with Winsor, the PX60's are fantastic..but I have been watching a Toshiba LCD..can't remember the model number, but there is no noticeable ghosting or lag..hockey in HD is amazing.

[Burninator]

Slighty off-topic. What brands would you guys recommend for LCD tvs?

[obss]

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/ has a great message board with a ton of info on the different manufacturers HDTV's and is canadian.

I've started looking for a new tv and am really glad i found this site. My biggest concern is the motion blurring on some TV's while watching high def sports and it seems the plasma is probably the better choice but i'm not 100% sure.