Whats the best 42" LCD or Plasma? (search function down)

[fathomfive]

Bear with me, the search function is down....

Thinking of going out and replacing the 32" widescreen CRT in the next week or so, and am looking at a 42" LCD or Plasma, what do the PH collective reckon is / are the models to look for? (on a max £1500 budget)

Ta very much in advance.

[PhilboSE]

For 42" I would take plasma over LCD due to the contrast ratio (deeper blacks etc)

Pioneer make the absolute best plasmas but their true 1080p screens start at 46" not 42".

So you're left with the second best, Panasonic (Pioneer are using their panels for their next generation), who do a very nice 42" with freesat built in and is widely available for less than £900. Model th42pz81b.

[vonhosen]

I'd probably go for the Panasonic plasma too.

[fathomfive]

Cheers, think I'd prefer sticking to 42", otherwise I'll end up with a projector and screen......

Will go have a look at these tomorrow.

[Legmaster]

If I've only been taught one thing by PH, it's a Panasonic (not sure on the exact model sorry) and you buy it from a fellow PH'er at www.digitaldirect.co.uk

Wish I had the money to do the same, I'm really bored with my 32" CRT...

[SS HSV]

fathomfive said:

Cheers, think I'd prefer sticking to 42", otherwise I'll end up with a projector and screen......

Will go have a look at these tomorrow.

Ooh, might not be you but this is what I have hanging in my front room. They are very very rare and not to be confused with modern plastic projectors. Last time I saw one on ebay it was 3 years ago. They are the Veyron of projectors.

I would say that they are the finest projection device ever made.. but there again what would you expect me to say?

[fathomfive]

SS HSV said:

fathomfive said:

Cheers, think I'd prefer sticking to 42", otherwise I'll end up with a projector and screen......

Will go have a look at these tomorrow.

Ooh, might not be you but this is what I have hanging in my front room. They are very very rare and not to be confused with modern plastic projectors. Last time I saw one on ebay it was 3 years ago. They are the Veyron of projectors.

I would say that they are the finest projection device ever made.. but there again what would you expect me to say?

Very nice and so glad I don't have the £3k to invest in it.....

[swiftpete]

I just bought a 47 inch telly and my sister bought a 42. Both cost in the £800-900 range. My sister is now asking me for details of mine as she's going to buy one as well. I'd think about a 47 if i were you as the 42s really arent that big and the extra few inches does make a difference.
Anyway, the one I've got is the toshiba 47z3030db. lcd, 1080p. I researched it for a while and it was the best for the money and looks brilliant. £900.

[OllieC]

SS HSV said:

fathomfive said:

Cheers, think I'd prefer sticking to 42", otherwise I'll end up with a projector and screen......

Will go have a look at these tomorrow.

Ooh, might not be you but this is what I have hanging in my front room. They are very very rare and not to be confused with modern plastic projectors. Last time I saw one on ebay it was 3 years ago. They are the Veyron of projectors.

I would say that they are the finest projection device ever made.. but there again what would you expect me to say?

i know sweet FA on the subject, but if they are that good how come they arent made any more ?

[SS HSV]

OllieC said:

SS HSV said:

fathomfive said:

Cheers, think I'd prefer sticking to 42", otherwise I'll end up with a projector and screen......

Will go have a look at these tomorrow.

Ooh, might not be you but this is what I have hanging in my front room. They are very very rare and not to be confused with modern plastic projectors. Last time I saw one on ebay it was 3 years ago. They are the Veyron of projectors.

I would say that they are the finest projection device ever made.. but there again what would you expect me to say?

i know sweet FA on the subject, but if they are that good how come they arent made any more ?

If you have a women she will answer that question. The thing is about 4ft wide by 5ft long and it weighs 130kg.. mine is sited directly above where you sit It looks like an alien bolted to your ceiling. They are huge.

They were originally designed on a no-budget specification for military flight simulators and are still used in the Johnson Space Center, hence they are of american design and build and are well over engineered.

New ten year ago they cost £50k plus installation - so that rules out most peoples budget for a big screen projector. They are too expensive to make now, and there are other technologies which are catching up quickly like D-ILA Projectors although the purists like www.crt-prjectors.co.uk and I still believe them to be the best devices on the market.

They will be superceded soon if the technology continues at the rate it is developing at. However even the new breed cannot do 2500x2000 dpi or refresh 1600x1200 at 130Khz, you cannot find any other modern projector that is capable of doing that. I have thought of selling it long and hard and I know that soon they will become totally worthless, but they are the last of an era - like the hard-core vinyl junkies were (are) about platters, cartridges and tone-arms, and I am loathed to get rid of something that gives the results like they do. They are still the best in the world alongside the Barco 909 but their time is limited as spares will become rarer to find

Here; if you're interested have a read:

http://www.curtpalme.com/CRTforSale.shtm
http://www.curtpalme.com/CRTforSale_HighPerformanc...

[bint]

Legmaster said:

If I've only been taught one thing by PH, it's a Panasonic (not sure on the exact model sorry) and you buy it from a fellow PH'er at www.digitaldirect.co.uk

Wish I had the money to do the same, I'm really bored with my 32" CRT...

Interesting........

Earlier in the year he recommended the 42" Pioneer plasma to us and you know what, it's a fabulous piece of kit and I apologise to MOH for doubting we needed such a thing and for not saying we should have the 47"............

[Plotloss]

bint said:

Legmaster said:

If I've only been taught one thing by PH, it's a Panasonic (not sure on the exact model sorry) and you buy it from a fellow PH'er at www.digitaldirect.co.uk

Wish I had the money to do the same, I'm really bored with my 32" CRT...

Interesting........

Earlier in the year he recommended the 42" Pioneer plasma to us and you know what, it's a fabulous piece of kit and I apologise to MOH for doubting we needed such a thing and for not saying we should have the 47"............

Sadly Pioneer no longer make a 42" Plasma, its been replaced by a 46" LCD.

You wont go far wrong with a Panasonic set, any of them, to suit your budget.

[richinleeds]

I've just ordered my self one of these baby's gets delivered on Wednesday and was voted best in class by CH5's The Gadget Show, Ambilight is the dogs btw. £999 rrp btw so well within your budget.

[richinleeds]

Doh here's the link http://www.consumer.philips.com/consumer/en/gb/con...

[andy_s]

Apparently there is an '11' series of Panasonics coming out, HERE, I am swithering because I prefer plasma (I think), want a minimal bezel (a la Toshiba zf/xf one) and so far have not been able to find the combination - these look good - plotters/deres, any idea when/if available in UK?

[Plotloss]

andy_s said:

Apparently there is an '11' series of Panasonics coming out, HERE, I am swithering because I prefer plasma (I think), want a minimal bezel (a la Toshiba zf/xf one) and so far have not been able to find the combination - these look good - plotters/deres, any idea when/if available in UK?

They are commercial displays, not televisions

Expect something new from Panasonic probably after Christmas.

[andy_s]

Plotloss said:

They are commercial displays, not televisions

Expect something new from Panasonic probably after Christmas.

Thanks, I'm looking for something after christmas anyway so will keep an eye out.

[tuscan_al]

www.AVforums.com have some great info, got myself a panasonic 42" TH42PZ85B amazing pic quality. I paid £1250 in may they are now £850 ish through empire or the likes, for the money a great TV. WishI had also gone for the 46" now though...

Edited by tuscan_al on Monday 10th November 08:40

[crofty1984]

Just bought a 42" LG LCD telly for 600 euros. I'm made up with it. Got my PC running through it, and it's big/clear enough to surf the tinternet from the sofa, which was my main concern. as much as I feel dirty saying it, I think 47" would have been too big.
I use my PC as my media centre/telly/stereo etc. and it came with a 22" screen that wasn't too bad, but it meant everytime you wanted to use it as a computer, you had to pull up a seperate chair and sit right up to it.

[thehawk]

Couldn't we just have a 'sticky' thread with the title 'Panasonic and Pioneer Make The Best TV's'?