£600. What LCD TV?

[Gizmo!]

I've already got an MX-5, and love it to bits. No HDMI inputs though and rather difficult to park in front of the sofa (it's small, but doesn't fit though the front door and the dog-leg left into the living room would be impossible anyway).

So for a budget of 600 or Her Majesty's pounds or fewer, I need something to plug my soon-to-arrive SkyHD box into and potentially a PS3 in a few months. I've just moved house and my old backup Panasonic 28" CRT is not cutting the mustard at my 8/9-foot viewing distance: the last house had a 37" Pana in it that was very impressive.

Have done some research and found the following:

Panasonic 37S10 - £599

Sony 37V5500 - £599

Sony 40S5500 - £549 - or £599 from a Sony Centre incl 5 year warranty.

The Panasonic is very nice. But at the same price I think I'd rather have the Sony 37" V-series: Bravia Engine 3 and better contrast. But given my viewing distance would I be better having the base-model S-series Bravia at 40"?

[PJ S]

And as you've obviously trusted recommendations here in the past regarding the choice of car, then on a similar theme - Panasonic 42G10.
Job done, now get along to the Der Emporium, and place your crisp Queen's English in his manicured mitt.

Now, if a 33% increase in budget isn't doable, then the 42X10 will have to suffice, and you'll have some surplus from you budget to spend on a game for your soon-arriving PS3.

[Killer2005]

I've been looking at the Panasonic 37U10, only just out apparently. Means you'll have to pop to the local Panasonic shop though as its only available there

[Plotloss]

Killer2005 said:

I've been looking at the Panasonic 37U10, only just out apparently. Means you'll have to pop to the local Panasonic shop though as its only available there

Import set, as far as I can make out.

[Gizmo!]

OK. I've decided I can't cope with the S series Sony, and can't raise the budget. But I've just wandered around Comet of all places and they're selling a Pana plasma TX-P42U10B for £599. It's 1080p, 400hz, huge contrast ratio, has all the slots and looks good... What's wrong with it???

[Killer2005]

I just bought the V Series Sony. Shall report back when I've set it up

[Gizmo!]

And I've just bought the one above. Although a certain orange and black shop did their best to lose my custom. Listen, shopmonkey. I've told you I want to buy a tv. I've asked you how much delivery is and what times you are able to deliver. I don't expect you to tell me the answers to those things wrong, how difficult can it be?

[derestrictor]

If you had to buy lcd with a regimentedly fixed £ ceiling, you should have gone for the S10.

It's superiority is marked.

[Killer2005]

Its looking good so far, just have to get my PS3 and I'll be pleased

[Gizmo!]

derestrictor said:

If you had to buy lcd with a regimentedly fixed £ ceiling, you should have gone for the S10.

It's superiority is marked.

I was definitely going to get the 37" Pana S10. But a plasma, five inches bigger, for the same money... I couldn't see a downside. I may live to find out otherwise, of course.

[derestrictor]

In isolation, you have a fine set.

The mistake is buying on perceived bang/buck when vast superiority is marginally further up the hill.

[bodhi]

Killer2005 said:

Its looking good so far, just have to get my PS3 and I'll be pleased

I'd agree with this. Don;t know if there's actually any grounding in this, but I find PS3 games seem to gain that nth degree of picture quality when hooked up to a Bravia.