Another TV thread!

[James]

So i know Colin had a thread like this but I wanted to start up a fresh one to see what the consensus is.

Im going to be using some of the money i got for my car to pick up a 42inc plasma..Looking to spend about 2500 (give or take)

Right now Im leaning towards a Panasonic as I'd like the pioneer but they seem to be about ~600bux more expensive than the comparable panasonic. Another front runner is the Hitachi cinema-max line (or whatever the hell its called)

Panasonic in question: (i really want a black TV as my entire home theatre is black, but this is supposedly a higher-rated plasma)
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...gon=&langid=EN

Hitachi: (i know a dude at LD so i could get it for probably 2100 tax in)
http://www.londondrugs.com/Cultures/...1&ProductTab=1


I'm also considering one, and only one, LCD which is the Sharp Aquos.
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...0079999&catid=

So i've ordered my HDPVR and theres a hockey game on tomorrow night...What are you guys thinkin'?

[Billip]

Re: Another TV thread!

I just bought the 50" version of that Panasonic, and it is absolutely incredible. Consumer Reports just rated these TV's some of the best around:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=51829

Check out this forum on Panasonic TV's. It's Canadian, and has lots of discussion on the best prices around town. Lots of links to other articles as well:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=19

I noticed that one of the displays you linked to was a 1080p one... it's generally agreed that 1080p is mostly a marketing ploy and isn't noticable to most people.

http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/11/13...n-hdtv-buying/
http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/11/13...80i-and-1080p/

[Canadian Turbo]

Re: Another TV thread!

I have the 42" Pioneer, as you mentioned, I have been very happy with it. I think you would be very pleased with the Panasonic, but the Piano black finish is nice

[James]

Re: Another TV thread!

Thanks for the links bud, looks like i've got a busy afternoon

Do you know if the panasonic is available in black?

the other nice thing about the Panasonic is that it's got the 300dollar futureshop gift card so thats basically getting a free wall-mount...

I was under the impression that there is only one Plasma on the market right now that does 1080p and most of the TV's capable of that are LCD's and the Sharp is a LCD.

The Hitachi and the Panasonic are both 760p/1080i...Any HD brodcast at the moment is in 760 from what I can tell and i dont see that changing anytime soon but it'd be nice to stay ahead of the curve

[James]

Re: Another TV thread!

the Piano black finish is nice

You've got the TV i want but they're 3200 stilL!!

My options for a full-on black (in my price range) are the hitachi and a samsung..but as I mentioned in Colins post ive had bad experience with the samsung and while reading some reviews last night I saw that it wasnt just me who hears the audible buzz coming from the p/s in those guys

[Billip]

Re: Another TV thread!

The Pioneer have as good of a picture as the Panasonics, but yes they are expensive. If the Pioneer 5070 was in the same price range as the Panasonic I would have bought it, but alas I wasn't willing to pay $1000 more for a prettier case. PS: Panasonic and Pioneer are generally regarded as the best quality plasma displays on the market right now.

Also, it's not 760p, but 720p, and most broadcasts are in 1080i except for ABC and one other (think it's FOX) that broadcast in 720p. There will NEVER be 1080p public broadcasts as it is not a standard HD format. 1080p requires much more bandwidth than is currently available, and most broadcasters are just trying to get to 720p/1080i levels of service. The only 1080p signals your TV will have to chew on are outputs from Blu-Ray or HD-DVD, and the PS3 (which appears to really just be 720p upscaled to 1080p - more to come on that)

[R_Ethug]

Re: Another TV thread!

xbox fall flash supports 1080p too but yea to the untrained eye most people can't tell the difference between 720p, 1080i/p

[Billip]

Re: Another TV thread!

Even on the Xbox 360 (which I have) it's even a bit of a gimick. There are NO games which support 1080p yet, and I'm not sure they are coming. The Xbox simply upsamples the 720p output and sends it out as 1080p... which means there is no more detail in the signal.

I have yet to determine how the 1080p Xbox signal impacts HD-DVD performance with their new add-on drive (not sure if I'll pick it up or not).

[James]

Re: Another TV thread!

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/prodde...25&catid=23249

LOL, so the same panasonic is 2199 at BB, so futureshop gives you a "free 300dollar gift card" and charges you 300 more..nniiicceeeee

[Kiwi Kid]

Re: Another TV thread!

Yeah I got a Pioneer 50" PDP-5070HD at my house. Simply amazing. I would say that the pioneers black levels are a bit better than the panasonics.. But the panasonics are at a better price. Although the piano black finish does look good, it does distract you eyes if you have outside light coming in.

[Billip]

Re: Another TV thread!

Be aware too James that you can DEFINITELY deal on these TV's. There is room to move, and I've heard stories of people getting wicked deals at BB, FS, A&B, etc. The wall mount you should be able to get a lot off of too... and I would not get the extended warranty.

[James]

Re: Another TV thread!

and I would not get the extended warranty.

hehe, I work in IT so you can rest assured that I wont be gettin any extended warranty.

As for for gettin a deal, that was why im goin to FS over BB cause they are on commission..Hopefully they'll knock even 100 off the price, id be happy enough gettin that panasonic for ~2k

[Canadian Turbo]

Re: Another TV thread!

I saw a Visions flyer today that had the Pioneer 42 on for $2,888 plus got a free HD-DVD player!

[James]

Re: Another TV thread!

I saw a Visions flyer today that had the Pioneer 42 on for $2,888 plus got a free HD-DVD player!

Ended up grabbing the px60u panasonic last night..also got the shaw hd pvr...looks freakin' amazing

[Canadian Turbo]

Re: Another TV thread!

Sweet!! NFL football in HD, gotta love it and of course Discovery HD!!