LCD/Plasma/CRT/DLP - questions

[JP]

I've seen some stunning quality on Viera screens while seeking out my TV!!

1080p means absolutely nothing at that size really. I'd be very surprised if they would even build a 1080p 26"???

Reviews are always a good way to get other peoples opinions on screens and I'd never say ignore them but don't read too much into them.

You really must spend some time in an serious AV shop testing them to see which works best for you. That really is the main thing to rely on...if it looks best to you, forget about what anybody else says and go with it! It may well have the worst colour/blacks/contrast etc but if it looks perfect to you...then it's perfect!!

[rossman]

thanks for the suggestions folks, much appreciated

I read they were releasing a 700 but maybe it was just hearsay

the panasonic is about 569 online so thats well within budget

I'll seek it out and have a look.

Again, thanks for the advice.

[NaveT]

Your American TV is unlikely to accept the 50hz-based video signal, even over the Video inputs, so you might find that it's better to sell the TV (or test it with a Digital Camera's TV-output) to see if your TV plays nicely with PAL signals.

It doesnt work with PAL.

Do i have any options here for converting the signal?

Probably will still take the TV for my dvds, media centre, 360 and wii...

[Lyris]

You can buy standards converters to convert to PAL but it's really not a very good idea (visit www.220giftcenter.com ). I've never tried these units but the quality is likely to be acceptable at best.

[Richard.John]

I am considering picking up a HDTV. This 1080p business is confusing as why do makers include such features if they are irrelevant? Is it just a marketing gimmick? Here in Japan they call them 'full spec HDTVs' and there is a price premium over 720p sets but is it really worth shelling out the extra dough. I thinking about getting a PS3 which is why I am leaning towards the 1080p option. I am looking to the future here as if I buy a panel, I might as well make sure it's a good one.

Sharp have some 32 inch full spec sets which seem reasonable. I don't really want to go over 32 inch as my house is too small for mammoth sized panels like 37 and 40 inchers, though the 37 inch Toshiba models look tempting.

[themanwithapc]

hello

Ive decided i definitely want a 26 inch tv, no bigger. Ive looked at toshiba, sony and panasonic and the panasonic seems to win

http://www.hdtvorg.co.uk/reviews/lcd/Panasonic_tx26lxd70.htm

although at the bottom of that review it states there is a 1080p samsung on the way, and also there is a tx26lxd700 coming out which may be worth holding on for. The big brother is here...

http://www.panasonic.co.uk/lcd-tv/tx-32lxd700/index.htm

nice!

any ideas!!

As per the above 2 posts, don't bother with 1080P at 26". There's far more important things worth considering.

As for the screen, then AFAIK, the Panasonic LX70 is probably the best all round 26" LCD on the market. 100Hz image processing, 2xHDMI, VGA with 1:1 mapping are all brilliant additions.

The LX700 won't be made in 26", and isn't really wrth spending the extra for anyway. You get a SD card slot, some slightly better speakers, an extra HDMI and optical output. Seems a lot, but it's all generally useless.

[Kotatsu Neko]

I am considering picking up a HDTV. This 1080p business is confusing as why do makers include such features if they are irrelevant? Is it just a marketing gimmick? Here in Japan they call them 'full spec HDTVs' and there is a price premium over 720p sets but is it really worth shelling out the extra dough. I thinking about getting a PS3 which is why I am leaning towards the 1080p option. I am looking to the future here as if I buy a panel, I might as well make sure it's a good one.

Sharp have some 32 inch full spec sets which seem reasonable. I don't really want to go over 32 inch as my house is too small for mammoth sized panels like 37 and 40 inchers, though the 37 inch Toshiba models look tempting.

It's just a marketing point mainly, same with digital cameras and their even increasing but pointless mega pixel numbers. (try telling the difference in quality between 8 mega pixels and 4 with a compact camera - it's impossible) 1080p only matters on huge screens, simple as that.

As for PS3, very few games run in 1080p anyway, and that isn't likely to change as the GPU simply isn't powerful enough.

[Richard.John]

It's just a marketing point mainly, same with digital cameras and their even increasing but pointless mega pixel numbers. (try telling the difference in quality between 8 mega pixels and 4 with a compact camera - it's impossible) 1080p only matters on huge screens, simple as that.

As for PS3, very few games run in 1080p anyway, and that isn't likely to change as the GPU simply isn't powerful enough.

So who would you recommend then in terms of makers?

[smokedog]

It's just a marketing point mainly, same with digital cameras and their even increasing but pointless mega pixel numbers. (try telling the difference in quality between 8 mega pixels and 4 with a compact camera - it's impossible) 1080p only matters on huge screens, simple as that.

But if you was playing a video game at 800 x 600 then you up to 1024 x 768 would you notice the difference? If you compare a same size screen 720p and 1080p side by side, you will notice. Granted, it wouldn't be worlds apart but you will notice the extra definition.

[JP]

There is a difference but only if you're really looking for it! It's the same with HDMI cables, they are only slightly better than component cables but if you're looking for it you will notice.

It's far more obvious on larger screens though, a friend has a 52" (I think) X-range Sony Bravia and that really does benefit from the extra resolution, it truly is stunning to see!!

[Lyris]

I wouldn't trade my 1920x1080 TV for anything lower, whenever I have to review a 1366x768 panel the pixel grid looks much more obvious by comparison. Yeah, I sometimes sit close, but I think that's true of a lot of video gamers.

1080p panels give me a nice silky screen look with absolutely zero scaling (and also zero overscan) for HD DVD and Blu-ray movies. Like I said, I wouldn't settle for anything else now.

[Pezley]

its funny all the people saying about different resolutions and how they can see a difference. AVSForums did a in house test with a few of their senior member running two projectors one above the other, one running at 720p and one running at 1080p, both calibrated equally.Could anyone there tell the difference ? no.... the decision was torn at which screen was the 1080 native one.which to me suggests that even some the keenest enthusiasts cant tell the difference.I think alot of the time its down to the source material and how the display is calibrated. I personally dont like the look of LCD's and prefer the image of plasma anyday, lower res and all. but thats just me.

[Lyris]

I'd be interested to hear more about that; what footage were they showing?

[sj33]

I certainly think a huge amount of it depends on how close to the screen you sit. Certainly at the distance I sit at, the difference between 720p and 1080p is pretty big.

Some may say 'sit further back then', but that's somewhat avoiding the point - I sit at my preferred distance.

[Richard.John]

If I buy a panel it will be 1080p capable. I just have to work out which size and which maker.