Plasma or LCD?......

hopper1

Simple really, I don't know where to start with telly's etc...
I'm looking for a new TV for the lounge (prob. wall mounted). I'm thinking around 42", and hopefully be able to be viewed from an angle.
Is it possible to get wireless speakers etc, for the sound, we just had everywhere plastered and I don't want to be chasing wires into the new walls! :shock:
Any advice much appreciated.

davetwin

A plasma will give you a much better viewing angle.


You can get wireless speakers;

Quick search found these: http://www.eldonelectricals.co.uk/catalogue.php?iID=3907&tduid=648274de2a926a9f32aec493f6255d91

There are others you can get, just need to search

nicklouse

what will your sources be?

and yes there are some Wireless kits but.... are you going for surround etc?

supersonic

Wireless arent truely wireless - you need to plug the buggers in!

hopper1

nicklouse wrote:

what will your sources be?

and yes there are some Wireless kits but.... are you going for surround etc?

This is a project starting from scratch...No sources.....All new, which is why I'm so concerned to get it right first time.
So, now we've established that, what surround sound etc, would you recommend.
Now, I've stopped looking at wireless, there's probably much better quality in using a wired system.

HELP me, guys/girls!! :oops:

supersonic

What budget? ill you use it to play music too? Do you already have a hifi systm that could be combined with it?

nicklouse

room size?

hopper1

Music: Yes, at the mo, the wife plays cd's through the DVD player.
Budget about £1000ish for LCD/Plasma telly + whatever it takes (reasonable) to make up the rest of the package. No longer looking at wireless, though.

Room Size: 7m x 3.5m ( approx.). The TV will be wall mounted on one long wall, with us viewing it seated against the other long wall (Make sense), about 3-3.5m ditance between TV and viewers.

lm_trek

I always thought and could be wrong, anything up to 30 ish should be LCD and bigger plasma??

Samsung make some great LCD's got mine for the World cup a few years ago and best tele ive ever had!

Popeh

for a 42", imo (Plasma Vs LCD is usually personal opinion as they both have pro's and cons).

Generally for me, on a 42" on a budget: Plasma.

If you've got a more open budget you can a fantastic LCD which outrivals a Plasma and other LCD's, but you need to pay more for that technology. For a cheaper TV, defo a plasma.

In short: £1700 to spend = LCD
Less than £1200 to spend = plasma (can pick one up for £500-600 i think)

Surround sound suggested already, but have you considered 2.1 systems. Some systems give you pretty good surround sound using a 5.1 amplifier but 2 speakers. Again budget needs to be know. Cheap 2.1 needs a square room with you in the centre, a more expensive system isn't quite as specific and allows for any room type.

hopper1

I'm currently looking at a Panasonic TH42PZ81b (new replacement for the TH42PZ85?), or a Sony W4000/ 4500 (I think thats the model!).
As for the surround sound specs:
We have a long lounge (7m x 3-3.5m), in which we spend most time at one end of, the other being a dining area.
Thinking of putting the TV in the centre of the long (flat) wall, on a wall bracket that will alllow it to swivel out for viewing.
The surround sound speakers will have to be placed, primarily in the seating area.
Not sure whether to get an all-in-one set, or buy seperates.
As for budget, the TV will be upto +/- £1000, the rest will be in line with that.

My head hurts!! :? :?

nicklouse

Surround amp. Onkyo 606, speakers maybe KEF KHT2005.2 (or KEF KHT2005.3)

or go for an all in one box.

1340jas

I have the Panasonic. I can't rate it highly enough.

Three of my mates have bought the same after watching DVDs on it.
I wall mounted one for my brother in law and used a wall bracket from B&Q. Half the price of the comet bracket.

get a copy of What Hi-Fi sound and vision. Great reviews and advice. I've even given the writers a call and had good advice over the phone.

I got a good bargain at Comet as I walked in with the cash, Got the TV a large stand and a surround sound DVD system for £950.

I think I'll get the kids a PS3 for christmas and thats the Blue Ray taken care of.

hopper1

Thanks for the info guys.
I've looked on the What HiFi website, plenty of reviews etc, there. Too much info, really, I could get into a lot of trouble buying all the nice stuff that suddenly I feel I need! :twisted:
Both the Panasonic and the Sony are highly rated, just a choice as to LCD or Plasma, I'll see where the best deal lies, when I get home.
I'm not into gaming, but will be looking at Blu Ray as an extra!
Then there's the surround sound....All in one, or sperates....There goes the budget, again.
No wonder I never get sent to do the shopping!

davetwin

I have the onkyo 606 and Q-Acoustics surround setup, can certainly vouch for it. Have the 7.1 setup with floor standing fronts, sounds awesome

Popeh

hopper1 wrote:

There goes the budget, again.
No wonder I never get sent to do the shopping!

As mentioned before, you pay for what you get.

Do you buy a Fiesta or a Porsch?

Set your budget and stick to it.

Edit: Panasonic for me from those options

hopper1

Well, as you put it like that...
I was thinking more of an Audi!

NikB

www.avforums.com has one of the largest amounts of info available.

CraigXXL

I too have the Panasonic and can't rate it high enough. I also have the Q Acoustics speakers meantioned earlier after going to buy a KEF setup, disappointed with the later after been a fan of theirs for many years.

Rich9

i ahve a Panasonic 5.1 system that we have had for a few years. Really good piece of kit. sound quality is superb. only paid about £200 for it

hopper1

Update!

Well, I've committed to a telly...
Panasonic TH42PZ81B , arrives Friday.
I'm toying with two different Sony surround sounds. Not sure if I can really justify a big system, as we don't watch too many movies, so my choice at the mo, is a Sony DAV-F200 (2.1), or, Sony DAV-IS10 (5.1). Both have 5 stars in What HiFi, and are not too obtrusive.... :roll:

nicklouse

not a fan of the Sony DAV setups as there are no inputs for other sources. Not sure if you can put the TV sound into it!

Be aware of these limitations.

hopper1

Thanks for that nicklouse, I would like to put the tv sound through, and also, keep my options open for the future regarding inputting other sources.
Can you recommend a system that can do these things, plus give a very good performance, for similar cash...£700ish?

davetwin

hopper1 wrote:

Update!

Well, I've committed to a telly...
Panasonic TH42PZ81B , arrives Friday.
I'm toying with two different Sony surround sounds. Not sure if I can really justify a big system, as we don't watch too many movies, so my choice at the mo, is a Sony DAV-F200 (2.1), or, Sony DAV-IS10 (5.1). Both have 5 stars in What HiFi, and are not too obtrusive.... :roll:

Nice choice on the TV.

I would scrap the idea of 2.1 personally and go straight for the 5.1. You really will be impressed

The Northern Monkey

i have the sony HT-ss1300 sound system...has 2 optical in, 3 hdmi in and 1 hdmi out (for full HD pass thru, it is rated at total 1000w and is superb for dvds, blu ray, tv and music.

http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/4-/5599155/-/Product.html?searchstring=sony+htss1300&searchsource=0[url][/url]

The Northern Monkey

just noticed what you've said about 2.1-5.1...if your not watching many dvd's/ playing games etc that support dolby 5.1 then there doesn;t seem much point in a 5.1 system.

most tv channels are only 2.1 anyways (music channels an exception) and a 5.1 surround would only replicate the sound into multi stereo (all the speakers are playing the same noise but it seems louder as the whole room is filled with the same sounds)

nicklouse

bigbenj_08
Most TV channels are just 2 and most 5.1 amps will mix to at least 5.1.

Oh and that Sony is nothing like 1000w it is just a figure that they have manipulated.

The Northern Monkey

nicklouse wrote:

bigbenj_08
Most TV channels are just 2 and most 5.1 amps will mix to at least 5.1.

Oh and that Sony is nothing like 1000w it is just a figure that they have manipulated.

but its not true 5.1 surround (but i'm pretty sure thats what i said above,,,)

and how have they manipulated it?

davetwin

Pretty much every surround sound system will code into Dolby Pro Logic II.

Although not strictly 5.1 it is still far superior to the standard sound that comes from your TVs 2 speakers and still worth getting

andyturner28

There is a new virsion of Pro logic 11 that dose a much better job of replicating 5.1 from a stereo scource, think it is PL11x. I would definately go for a separates system with as many HDMI and audio scources as you can afford. The budget Sony and Pioneer systems get good reviews, and if you can afford it Denon are still the dogs dangly's in the processing department. I'v been out of the AV loop for a while but everyone used to rave about the Warfdale Diamond speaker range, and i'd go for floorstanding fronts, with a BK xls200 or Monolith subwoofer. Good chaice on the TV, i was going to suggest that too. There are still a lot of problems with black levels and motion smearing with LCD tech, and you have to spend a lot more money to get a comparable picture to a decent equaly priced plasma.
As mentioned already have a look on AV Forums, and decide on a budjet and stick to it, or you can go a little mad! I shudder to think how much i have spent on AV gear over the years :shock: