Best 42" TV under £1000?
Discussion
Hi All, wondered if any of you can offer any advice. I'm after a new TV and have done quite a bit of research and narrowed down to a few choices, but I'm still confused as to which would be best for me.
Primarily the TV will be used in the Living Room at night (relatively dark conditions), and we watch quite a bit of freeview + blu ray movies. I also like playing PS3 and Xbox games so it would need to be responsive and not laggy re: display response to the input signal. I know these new slimline panels don't exactly have great sound, but generally when watching TV we would need relatively good audio capability. Our home cinema system is really only used for movies.
I also enjoy watching the odd bit of sport so it would annoy me if the TV suffered from motion blur/ghosting. Picture quality is very important to me so it needs to have a clear picture, be good with motion processing/gaming/blu rays, and have decent sound without a soundbar.
My shortlist so far:
1. Panasonic TXP42ST60 (plasma) - £699
2. Panasonic TXP42GT60 (plasma) - £999
3. Sony KDL42W805 (LED) - £699
4. Panasonic TXL42ET60 (LED) - £699
The plasma's seem to be the best fit for my viewing requirements, but I have heard that both of these models suffer from high input lag which would cause delayed screen response when playing games.....
Oh and by the way, smart TV features are a nice to have - I can already access most on demand services through the PS3.
Thoughts?
Primarily the TV will be used in the Living Room at night (relatively dark conditions), and we watch quite a bit of freeview + blu ray movies. I also like playing PS3 and Xbox games so it would need to be responsive and not laggy re: display response to the input signal. I know these new slimline panels don't exactly have great sound, but generally when watching TV we would need relatively good audio capability. Our home cinema system is really only used for movies.
I also enjoy watching the odd bit of sport so it would annoy me if the TV suffered from motion blur/ghosting. Picture quality is very important to me so it needs to have a clear picture, be good with motion processing/gaming/blu rays, and have decent sound without a soundbar.
My shortlist so far:
1. Panasonic TXP42ST60 (plasma) - £699
2. Panasonic TXP42GT60 (plasma) - £999
3. Sony KDL42W805 (LED) - £699
4. Panasonic TXL42ET60 (LED) - £699
The plasma's seem to be the best fit for my viewing requirements, but I have heard that both of these models suffer from high input lag which would cause delayed screen response when playing games.....
Oh and by the way, smart TV features are a nice to have - I can already access most on demand services through the PS3.
Thoughts?
Depending on your viewing distance obviously, I would respectfully question the choice of a 42. You're unlikely to see much added 1080 BD detail at say 10ft (actually you would only see half of the 720p/1080i detail) http://s3.carltonbale.com/resolution_chart.html
We sit at 12/13ft and the 50' feels a little marginal so looking at 60' for around £1k.
There is little point in spending a lot of dosh on a high end TV if it is too small or if you're too far (same thing) to appreciate the (slightly) higher picture quality.
We sit at 12/13ft and the 50' feels a little marginal so looking at 60' for around £1k.
There is little point in spending a lot of dosh on a high end TV if it is too small or if you're too far (same thing) to appreciate the (slightly) higher picture quality.
They can be PITAs for TV size. 2 things : 1 - they visually shrink 20% after a week 2 - the frames are now so slim, an 47 now looks like an old 42 overall.
I would not get less than 55' at 10 feet(3M).
The answer is to buy what you want and tell he it's a 40.
I would not get less than 55' at 10 feet(3M).
The answer is to buy what you want and tell he it's a 40.
Edited by nickfrog on Sunday 22 September 20:07
daveknott5 said:
That's a good point. The viewing distance is 2.9 metres, not sure what that is in feet. I've been lobbying the wife that we should go for at least a 46 inch, but she's adamant that 42 is as big as she'll consider without it dominating the room...
My missus said the same when I started us off with a 28" CRT years ago.....now we're on 47" after I threw a paddy and downsized from what I originally wanted which was a 50" because she moaned and yet now she has finally admitted that actually a 50" would be ok in the lounge.So the moral of the story is: do not let your partner dictate the size of the lounge TV with the arguement that it will dominate the room. The real size she would be ok with is a lot bigger than she realises.
Centurion07 said:
My missus said the same when I started us off with a 28" CRT years ago.....now we're on 47" after I threw a paddy and downsized from what I originally wanted which was a 50" because she moaned and yet now she has finally admitted that actually a 50" would be ok in the lounge.
So the moral of the story is: do not let your partner dictate the size of the lounge TV with the arguement that it will dominate the room. The real size she would be ok with is a lot bigger than she realises.
Good point, I held firm and the 64 plasma looks just fine, although I think the 85 UHD might be a bit big So the moral of the story is: do not let your partner dictate the size of the lounge TV with the arguement that it will dominate the room. The real size she would be ok with is a lot bigger than she realises.
. Now a short wait until 4k OLED is out and I'll see whether a 75 will fit 
Centurion07 said:
My missus said the same when I started us off with a 28" CRT years ago.....now we're on 47" after I threw a paddy and downsized from what I originally wanted which was a 50" because she moaned and yet now she has finally admitted that actually a 50" would be ok in the lounge.
So the moral of the story is: do not let your partner dictate the size of the lounge TV with the arguement that it will dominate the room. The real size she would be ok with is a lot bigger than she realises.
^^^This x 100. Exact same thing with my Wife.So the moral of the story is: do not let your partner dictate the size of the lounge TV with the arguement that it will dominate the room. The real size she would be ok with is a lot bigger than she realises.
Just (finally!) got round to putting my 50GT60 up yesterday (it was delivered at the beginning of Sept...thanks again TDM34
). Had a quick blast on GTA V and didn't notice any lag issues whatsoever. In fact the only issue was that GTA V will only go to 720p on the PS3 
. Otherwise it looks truly superb Before you go shopping, measure the physical sizes and talk about those in front of your wife in the shop, she will see any difference as a cm here or an inch there and accept it
Be aware of the price issues of size as well
When we bought our 37" we could have got the same model 42" for £10 more, as 42" is a popular size
"42 is too big/dominates the room/blah blah" followed by "for ten quid more, we could have had the 42" why didn't you tell me"
Be aware of the price issues of size as well
When we bought our 37" we could have got the same model 42" for £10 more, as 42" is a popular size
"42 is too big/dominates the room/blah blah" followed by "for ten quid more, we could have had the 42" why didn't you tell me"
Good advice chaps. I started the psychological pursuasion last weekend by taking her into a few different shops and asking a few different salesman what the ideal size screen was for our viewing distance. 50" was the standard response so at least now she appreciates that its not just me trying to get the biggest screen I possibly can and that there is some logic to looking to go bigger than a 42!
I've got her to at least consider 47" now - progress!
What are people's thoughts on the Panasonic TX-L47DT65B (£1,299 at John Lewis)... or there is the L47ET61B at £749 that appears good value......Both look like sexy displays with tiny bevelled silver edges. The panels look very up-to-date.....
Still - I have a nagging feeling that I should go plasma and maybe get a 50GT60B.......even if it does look a little dated with thicker black borders round the screen.....
Primary use will be for movies (blu rays), viewing Freeview HD, and for gaming....
I've got her to at least consider 47" now - progress!
What are people's thoughts on the Panasonic TX-L47DT65B (£1,299 at John Lewis)... or there is the L47ET61B at £749 that appears good value......Both look like sexy displays with tiny bevelled silver edges. The panels look very up-to-date.....
Still - I have a nagging feeling that I should go plasma and maybe get a 50GT60B.......even if it does look a little dated with thicker black borders round the screen.....
Primary use will be for movies (blu rays), viewing Freeview HD, and for gaming....
I have recently bought a Panasonic TX-P50VT65B & a Panasonic TX-P42GT60B both through TDM34 and at much better prices than you are showing on this thread, drop him a line, excellent service as well, no I am nothing to do with him just another satisfied customer.
Edited by Kneetrembler on Wednesday 23 October 21:09
daveknott5 said:
Does tdm34 own an electronics business?
tdm34 - are you able to supply the 50GT60? if so, what sort of price can you do it for and do you offer a 5 year warranty like other retailers? (as per John Lewis/Hi Spek etc)
Dave
Just to add, I got my 50GT60 from tdm34. The warranty is offered by Panasonic, so you'll have to go to the store to purchase the TV, however the savings easily warranted the tank of V-power.tdm34 - are you able to supply the 50GT60? if so, what sort of price can you do it for and do you offer a 5 year warranty like other retailers? (as per John Lewis/Hi Spek etc)
Dave
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