Panasonic 42" Plasma PZ81 - what do you think?

Chipboard

I have been looking at the various options over the last week or so and have (almost) decided on the Panasonic PZ81 unless someone wants to convince me otherwise.

The guy in the shop I'm dealing with reckons it will enable me to receive BBC and a few other UK channels in HD without having to purchase a subscription. I don't know much about HD but it sounds like this would be worth the extra few quid.

I'm aware that there is an issue re these sets not having a VHF tuner which can mean that you may not be able to pick up terrestrial televison channels (depending on which transmitter you receive from). The guy I dealt with reckons it won't affect me in my location and I told him that they will be getting it back in the same lorry it arrives in if I can't receive terrestrial. He said he has no problem with this and that the delivery guys will install and tune it so I'll know before they leave.

I have been quoted €1,150 by an Northern Ireland shop including delivery to my southern address, installation and 5 year warranty.

Anyone had a bad experience with this set??

Qwerty?

I'm planning on getting the same TV. I was getting it for £950 last week, but now at about £1000. Not including installation. Where are you buying from?

In relation to the channels you will receive check this link, however you also need a satellite dish for receive these.

All in all it's supposed to be a great TV. Review here.

Hope this helps.

Q.

Chipboard

Sent you a PM Qwerty.

Qwerty?

Heres a breakdown of the PZ 80, 81 & 85's features.

Q.

Sykkes1

Did you get the PZ81 yet?
I've read elsewhere it has a freeview tuner aswell, is this true?
Also, would that tuner be able to decode MPEG-4 (as the Freesat one can)?

If all the answers are yes to above, then does the PZ80 and PZ85 tuners support MPEG-4?

Anyhow would love to know how you got on or if there are anymore PZ812 owners out there.

Chipboard

No, didn't get it yet.

Went into Curry's in Enniskillen to see it yesterday evening and was not one bit impressed with the picture quality. I would be disappointed with the picture quality which I saw yesterday evening, even if it was ordinary terrestrial TV which I was watching. Given that it was a blueray demo disk that was running which really should show the capabilities of the plasma at its best, I was extremely dissapointed. The picture wasn't pixalated but the colour/contrast was really dull and unexciting. I said it to the salesman and he didn't disagree.

The other options he suggested were;

Samsung LE46A556P on sale at £799 - picture looked quite pixalated.

LG 50PG7000 for £1,099 - no demo running in shop.

LG50PG6010 for £749 - blueray demo running which looked good but they weren't able to connect ordinary Sky, cable or terrestrial to it to show me what that would look like (or maybe that wouldn't have been a good sales tactic).

I would be interested to hear if anyone has one of these and how they find it.

Rew

I would have said that the Panny was better then all of those TBH. TV's that would be more up there would be Sammy 656/686/756 and the Sony W4000/W4500.

Frelance

Chipboard wrote: »

Went into Curry's in Enniskillen to see it yesterday evening and was not one bit impressed with the picture quality.

Picture quality is generally worse in store then it is once you get it back home. Generally they split the signal between several different tv's. that was the case for the tv i bought.

M00lers

You have just ruled out a great TV after a shop demo in Currys, big mistake. You have probably no idea how the source is set up and the TV was probably (almost certainly) set up incorrectly too.
Do yourself a favor and get a proper demo somewhere, and avoid Currys dixons etc.
Its a great TV, much better than the others you mention.