Considering my first plasma screen

So I have finally decided to ditch the old telly and get a plasma screen.

Yes yes, I know a projector is better but it isn't really practical for my
setup.

Finding reviews for plasma screens has prooved more difficult than I thought
at first, the only proper (i.e. paper) ones I have found have been from What
HiFi magazine:

First they recommended:

JVC PD-42D30ES for £5,500

This month they recommend the:

Pioneer PDP-434HDE for £4500

The above two are 42 inch screens, but I noticed that there was a 50 inch
version of the Pioneer for sale:

Pioneer PDP-504HDE for £5799

This seems like quite a good deal, a 50 inch screen for under £6k. But is it
any good? I am really having trouble finding any reviews for this, online or
offline.

Also, WhatHiFi magazine recommends using a Pioneer DVD player (which costs
£1000 (!)) and a Pioneer amp to take advantage of Pioneer's "HDMI"
interconnects. Along with surround speakers this pushes the system price to
nearly £9k. Is this worth it?

Finally, I am confused about where to buy. Shops I have visisted tend to
have a poor range, or silly prices, so I am looking online. So far the
places I see with reasonable choice a

www.empiredirect.co.uk
www.homecinemaheaven.com

I have had experience with empire direct before, and it wasn't very good,
very slow and too many phone calls to get my product.

How about home cinema heaven? They seem to have a better selection of audio
equipment, but the plasma screen prices are slightly higher.

Anyone any recommendations?

"Oliver Keating" wrote in message
...
First they recommended:

JVC PD-42D30ES for £5,500

This month they recommend the:

Pioneer PDP-434HDE for £4500

£3,995 at a number of places including www.avland.co.uk and www.ivojo.co.uk

These are both companies I have dealt with before without issue. (So far!
;-)

The above two are 42 inch screens, but I noticed that there was a 50 inch
version of the Pioneer for sale:

Pioneer PDP-504HDE for £5799

£5,499 as above...

This seems like quite a good deal, a 50 inch screen for under £6k. But is
it
any good? I am really having trouble finding any reviews for this, online
or
offline.

Remember that you will have to factor in the cost of a stand/bracket...
(Can be £150 to £300!)

But most important is connectivity!!!!!! Be sure you understand the output
from your devices and the inputs on the display. You may also need to buy
convertor boxes/switches/leads too. Most plasma's don't have SCART
connections (although its starting to become more popular) and you need
component to do progressive scan.

Also, WhatHiFi magazine recommends using a Pioneer DVD player (which costs
£1000 (!)) and a Pioneer amp to take advantage of Pioneer's "HDMI"
interconnects. Along with surround speakers this pushes the system price
to
nearly £9k. Is this worth it?

Depends on your budget... Personally I prefer the Panasonic plasma's - be
wary of manufacturers proprietry interconnects, it limits you in the future.
Best to stick to standard interconnection unless you really must have the
'ultimate' and love the brand.

That £1,000 DVD is available for £800 - but personally I'd look at the new
Denon DVD-2200 - £500.

Finally, I am confused about where to buy. Shops I have visisted tend to
have a poor range, or silly prices, so I am looking online. So far the
places I see with reasonable choice a

It's the usual decision... Pay more and have 'local' support or get it
cheaper on the net! Most local support doesn't amount to much though!

Justin.

On Tue, 30 Dec 2003 13:16:50 -0000, "Oliver Keating"
wrote:

So I have finally decided to ditch the old telly and get a plasma screen.

Yes yes, I know a projector is better but it isn't really practical for my
setup.
[snip]
Anyone any recommendations?

Panasonic series 6 42". View both the Pioneer and Panasonics before
you buy, don't know about thi left field JVC offering, but most people
only choose between the two big Ps.

Personally I chose the Panny over the Pioneer due to black levels and
contrast ratio, although that was a decision based on the equivalent
models 2 years ago.

Lee.
--
Founder, DVD Debate
http://www.dvddebate.com
lee at dvddebate dot com

Is the owner of Hotpoint a Fridge Magnate?

"Oliver Keating" wrote in message
...
So I have finally decided to ditch the old telly and get a plasma screen.

Hi Oliver!

Try your local richersounds for value for money and advice - they have good
deals on domestic plasma TVs which compete with the online prices and you
get to play and take away. Wait until the middle of the month though, got a
DVD from them today and they're mega busy.

I have never had any trouble with Richer Sounds. Panasonic plasma 2499

http://www.richersounds.com/index.ph...l.php&p=206557

without tuner, but not a problem for most people now (get a twin tuner
freeview or a sky+ box)

50" pioneer is 4999 from them.


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.556 / Virus Database: 348 - Release Date: 26/12/2003

"Tim S Kemp" wrote in message
...

"Oliver Keating" wrote in message
...
So I have finally decided to ditch the old telly and get a plasma
screen.
Try your local richersounds for value for money and advice - they have
good
deals on domestic plasma TVs which compete with the online prices and you
get to play and take away. Wait until the middle of the month though, got
a
DVD from them today and they're mega busy.

I have never had any trouble with Richer Sounds. Panasonic plasma 2499

http://www.richersounds.com/index.ph...l.php&p=206557


They're selling the old version '5' models - avoid!

Justin.

"Oliver Keating" wrote in message
...
So I have finally decided to ditch the old telly and get a plasma screen.

Yes yes, I know a projector is better but it isn't really practical for my
setup.

You reckon - alignment, burn out, walking in front, image brightness and
power consumption...


Finding reviews for plasma screens has prooved more difficult than I
thought
at first, the only proper (i.e. paper) ones I have found have been from
What
HiFi magazine:

First they recommended:

JVC PD-42D30ES for £5,500

This month they recommend the:

Pioneer PDP-434HDE for £4500

The above two are 42 inch screens, but I noticed that there was a 50 inch
version of the Pioneer for sale:

Pioneer PDP-504HDE for £5799

This seems like quite a good deal, a 50 inch screen for under £6k. But is
it
any good? I am really having trouble finding any reviews for this, online
or
offline.

Also, WhatHiFi magazine recommends using a Pioneer DVD player (which costs
£1000 (!)) and a Pioneer amp to take advantage of Pioneer's "HDMI"
interconnects. Along with surround speakers this pushes the system price
to
nearly £9k. Is this worth it?

The DVD is definitely NOT worth it.


Finally, I am confused about where to buy. Shops I have visisted tend to
have a poor range, or silly prices, so I am looking online. So far the
places I see with reasonable choice a

www.empiredirect.co.uk
www.homecinemaheaven.com

Try Sound & Vision in Bolton [le Moors*], D&C or Richer Sounds.

What Video & Widescreen (Nov. Edition) has a table of review results.

Including only the (best for any make) 1024 x 768+ for 42" these a -

Fujitsu P42HHS10S £5k4 5
Hitachi CL42MA400E £3k 5 "no tuner"
JVC PD-42PD20 £6k5 (1280x1024) 4.5
JVC PD-42D30ES £5k5 4
Philips 42PF9964 £5k8 4.5 "one of the best plasma's money can buy"
Sony KE-42MR1 £8k 4 "flawed performance"

ignore 852x480 42" screens.

There are larger higher resolution screens from

Fujitsu, NEC, Panasonic, Pioneer (not reviewed), Samsung, Sharp, Thompson,
Toshiba and Yamaha. None under £5k though.

You need to be about 3m from a 36", 4m from a 42" and 5m from a 50" in order
to be able to view it properly.

For my money the Philips 9964 is the best because: -

Pixel Plus cleans up the image (seen this working at a show).
Best tuner box with loads of inputs including VGA.
Best teletext.
About £3k5 on the street.

"R. Mark Clayton" wrote in message
...
ignore 852x480 42" screens.

Why?

Justin.

On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 00:19:19 +0000, David Hemmings
wrote:

On Tue, 30 Dec 2003 23:55:36 -0000, "Nath" wrote:


"Justin Cole" wrote in message
...
"R. Mark Clayton" wrote in message
...
ignore 852x480 42" screens.

Why?

Justin.



PAL will have to be scaled down (therefore loose rez) to 480 lines.

However NTSC is 480 lines so no scaling is done. I've seen the Panasonics-
pretty good picture, although at the same viewing distance as my own 42"
screen I can see the pixel resolution

which ntsc, i always remember it as 525 lines ?

NTSC has 525 total lines, of which 480 are picture lines. Similarly,
PAL has 625 lines, of which 576 are picture lines. Hence, a Region 1
DVD is 720x480, and a Region 2 DVD is 720x576.

--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering

"Nath" wrote in message
. ..
"Justin Cole" wrote in message
...
"R. Mark Clayton" wrote in message
...
ignore 852x480 42" screens.

Why?


PAL will have to be scaled down (therefore loose rez) to 480 lines.

I know that - but the other option is not exactly great either! ;-)

The OP said to totally ignore 480 displays - I don't agree... We're not
likely to get a HDTV feed anytime in the future so 480 screens are just
fine... The Panasonic scaling is excellent.

Justin.

Hi there,

you'll be pleased to know there is a magazine called "What Plasma" from the
makers of What TV. You should find the first issue on sale at your local W H
Smith now. Try the computing section and the entertainment section. Cant
make up their mind what classification it is.

AR


----== Posted via Newsfeed.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeed.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 100,000 Newsgroups
---= 19 East/West-Coast Specialized Servers - Total Privacy via Encryption =---