How good is Sky HD with an LED TV?

[paddyhasneeds]

I've no idea if this will be moved to Computers, TV & Film or Home Cinema as IMO it encompasses a bit of all three so I'll leave it to the mods...

I currently have a 7 or so year old 28" Panasonic Quintrix widescreen TV. It's big, but the picture is spot on. I did once buy an LCD TV from Dell but it was like I'd smeared the screen with Vaseline when I hooked it up to my Sky Plus through the Scart.

Anyway, every time I go into any big electrical store I'm blown away by some of the HD TV's on display, however they're usually connected to Blu-Ray players or some kind of "manufactured" demo.

Let's assume I upgraded my Sky+ box to a HD one, and let's assume I went out and got a new TV - how blown away would I be if I spent £500 vs. if I spent £1000?

I don't watch much in the way of DVDs nor do I game, I do watch a lot of Sky Sports (football mainly) and Sky Movies stuff.

Thanks all.

[paddyhasneeds]

Thanks, and I think I hit "Submit" a little too quickly - one of my big (possibly the biggest) question is what happens when you're watching either a non-HD channel, or older content on a channel that is HD?

As I understand it Sky have recently changed their software so that if you have an HD box 101 is BBC HD, 301 is Sky Premier HD rather than you having to "go fishing" for the HD channels?

[paddyhasneeds]

Luke. said:

Not sure if I'm missing something here, but you have neither an LED TV or an HD TV. So don'think it'll make any odds getting Sky+ HD.

I've probably missed the point. I usually do.

Maybe I worded it badly. I usually do

I have a CRT TV (the Vaseline Dell went back the next day), my question is whether I'd be substantially better off with a Sky+ HD box and a new LED/LCD/Plasma TV and which is best - I'm totally out of date with TV tech.

[paddyhasneeds]

randlemarcus said:

Size being everything...

How big is the room, how far away do you sit to watch TV, and how grossly oversized do you want the nice flat thing on the wall to be?

The only place for the TV is in the corner and wall mounting isn't a possibility, so I suspect 40-42" as I'm viewing from 8 - 10 feet away, even that may be too big.

It's very difficult to get a sense of scale in the stores - 50" TV's seem small/normal sometimes because you're surrounded by them.

[paddyhasneeds]

Good idea on the cardboard!

Any specific suggestions on models?

It's ridiculous when you look at Samsung/Panasonic just how many sets that make that look absolutely identical barring some obscure number.

As for 3D TV, I can't help but think it's a fad?

[paddyhasneeds]

Perhaps, I guess my basic confusion right now is, for the sorts of applications I mentioned, what spending say £500 on a LG LG 42LE4900 or Sharp LC - 40LE811E or SAMSUNG UE40C5100 means you lose vs. spending say £900 on a SONY Bravia KDL-40EX713U - it's a minefield of numbers and specifications.

[paddyhasneeds]

Right been out today to look at some sets. I'm not convinced I'm going to be substantially better off spending, say, £900 on a set than spending £400 for what I want, which isn't a "home cinema" just a decent TV to watch Sky HD+ on.

I think 37" will be big enough, like I said I'm only 6-7 feet away from the thing and 40-42" isn't huge but it just seems it may be that bit too big.

As we have a Richer Sounds in town I nipped in there after looking in Curry's and PC World (the sheer volume on display makes it very difficult to compare models) and spotted a Sony BRAVIA KDL37EX401 for £330 - wondering if it's worth a punt on the basis "replace it in a year" if 3D takes off and so on?

Still not clear on the LCD/LED vs. Plasma thing either when you have a PANASONIC VIERA TXP37X20 for £350.. fking minefield.

[paddyhasneeds]

PJ S said:

Grab that Panny - you'll move it on quicker/easier if you sell, last 37" Plasma they've made apparently.
It may 'only' be HD Ready, but as you're not talking about BR movies at 1080p, then you're not missing out on anything.
It's 1024x720, so pointless feeding it anything more than a 720p signal anyway.
SD on it will more like your CRT than a similarly priced (and above) LCD will, even ones with LED backlighting.
Get it, upgrade to Sky HD or switch to Virgin, and enjoy it.

One thing I noticed when looking at Plasma's in PC World was that they appeared to look like more of a "grid" if that makes sense? It's as if the horizontal pixels were quite distinct, almost like when you watch a movie using VLC that needs interpolation enabled to make it look less "liney".

I would appreciate any input on Plasma's as despite the Sony appearing a bargain I am still vary wary of the performance with SD material even if it's being fed to it from a Sky HD box.

[paddyhasneeds]

Right, so it needs to be 37", bigger is just too big for the room (I'm 7 feet or so away remember, maybe 8 allowing for the new set being further back).

For £349 if my local store still has one and it's not a shoddy refurb or something, what is better than this?

http://www.richersounds.com/product/plasma-tv/pana...

The SD and motion performance is what's steering me towards it - I'm still wary of how an LCD will perform with "average broadcast material" even on Sky HD+

To re-iterate, I really don't give a st about DVD and Blu-Ray performance, I'll be using it as a TV with Sky and it's a "living room set" - I'm not going for the Odeon here.

EDIT - does "HD Ready" vs full 1080 actually matter when we're only talking a 37" set and Sky HD?

[paddyhasneeds]

OK well Richer's don't have the panny available, both reserved. I did see one on demo at Curry's and PC World, looks decent enough.

Now, whilst I was sure 37" is the right size, I did see the Samsung PS42C450 which I was very impressed with and which is only £399. There was an LG plasma but it looked wk.

Having just spent some time looking at various sets (again) I'm convinced Plasma looks the smoother and more natural on Sky HD demo material, the LED/LCDs looked a bit too digital, probably fantastic for Blu-Ray but as 95% of my viewing will be Sky HD....

So, off to do some digging but any thoughts on the Samsung @ £399 (incidentally the 42" Panasonic is the same price)?

I think I'll buy online whatever I go for as I get a little slack from distance selling regs should I think "Oh my god why did I do this", and point taken about the likes of What Hi Fi, I always take them with a pinch of salt.

[paddyhasneeds]

randlemarcus said:

If you're buying online, it's always worth looking at digitaldirect.co.uk, as it keeps our very own Derestrictor in schnell juice and vitriol

That's good to know actually as I'm assuming he's not going to be any trouble with any aftersales issues

I noticed John Lewis are doing the Samsung @ £399 too, but with their 5 year warranty which is worth a few quid.

So, I think we're down to the 37" Panny or the 42" Sammy unless anyone wants to throw anything else into the mix.

[paddyhasneeds]

If you're going to argue about it, could one of you explain to me in laymans terms whether what you're arguing about should matter to me?

[paddyhasneeds]

What does the Panasonic offer over the Samsung? Only ask as at £350 the Panasonic was a bit of a no brainer but of course now I see a 42" Samsung @ £399 with 5 year warranty vs. either a 37" Panasonic @ £410 or 42" TX-P42X20B for £450.

Sorry, I appreciate how irritating/indecisive this must all sound but it has to last so I have to get it right first time.

[paddyhasneeds]

Is Mr Derestrictor reading? Does he do any kind of PH discount?

[paddyhasneeds]

I thought I'd tracked down the X20 at £399 but it would seem not.

Then I noticed there is a new Panasonic TX-P42C3B but I'm not clear other than Freeview HD if it is better, worse, or just different to the X20. I suspect it's too early to tell and nowhere local seems to have it on display.

[paddyhasneeds]

dave0010 said:

I know you are just trying to get the best TV you can for the money and don't want to regret it but get the Panasonic and I think it will do everything you want excellently day in day out.

Oh I have no doubts you're quite right, and I was talking about it with a colleague this morning - I'm sure there's a psychologists case study lurking somewhere in why we buy a house or car or something expensive on a whim yet spend days pouring over specifications and reviews on a £500 telly

I think the problem is that at £399 the X20 would have been a bargain and I'd have had it, I actually called a place this morning who had stock but by the time I called it had gone, but once you jump up to £450-500 there's a little more choice where you start getting into "just another fifty quid" territory.

I am settled on a Panasonic plasma, it's just a question of the most bang for the buck that I can actually find in stock to buy anywhere.

This hasn't helped.. http://www.laskys.com/tv_and_dvd/plasma_tvs/37_to_...

[paddyhasneeds]

Still hunting, still settled on a Panasonic plasma. Can't find anyone with the 37" X20 less than £400 (Best Buy) then it seems a bit of a lottery on who has what 42" models.

Some of the A/V stores are fking clueless as to customer service. I've emailed quite a lot as there's just too many to call and when you say pretty much "What Panasonic plasma can you sell me for up to £600" you have to laugh when the reply you get is:

SORRY WE ARE SOLD OUT ON THIS MODEL

ALL OUR STOCK IS BRAND NEW

fkwits.

TXP42C3B @ £475 delivered is looking good - anyone know what the 600hz stuff on the Panasonic website means? I thought Plasma's were 50hz or 100hz?

Edited by paddyhasneeds on Tuesday 22 February 19:37

[paddyhasneeds]

OldSkoolRS said:

IMHO the '600Hz' is a bit of marketing BS. The TV can create extra frames to make the motion appear smoother, but it's not as many as 600Hz would imply (otherwise there'd be 11 'new' frames plus the original one to take the 50Hz broadcast to 600Hz). It can add smoothness to the picture, but I think it can spoil film based sources by making them look like 'video'. It doesn't matter as you can turn it on or off depending on what you find you prefer.

I've just been doing a little (more) reading. Apparently the 600hz is indeed markering BS as it's actually taking 6 "segments" of panel, each of which is fed a 50hz signal (or so I believe) and then processes each to display it at 100hz, which x6 give this 600hz malarkey.

I think I've narrowed it down to 2, the new TX-P42C3B which is £475 or the 42S21B.

I'm most tempted by the S21B I think.

It seems to be true HD, is NeoPDP so I believe their top end panel type?

£550 for the thing I spend most time in front of when I'm at home doesn't seem worth quibbling about vs. £475 for the lower model down albeit the new model (the TX-P42C3B).

Someone tell me to just fking do it please

[paddyhasneeds]

Unless I turn up and there has been a horrific mistake, I've just bagged a brand new 37" X20 for £349 at my local Richer Sounds.

Stock confirmed and reserved for me.