polarbear, the only way to know about the fujitsu is to demo one, i did and prefered it over the 428xd, each to there own.

quote:

I am drawn to the Pioneer for its picture quality but what worries me about pioneer is their quickly changing ranges

You've got me completely baffled on this one Nigel!!!

Lets suppose that tomorrow morning 09:00, Pioneer announced they were going to put ALL future development of their plasma screens on hold for 5 years.

I presume you would then be happy to go and buy a Pioneer tomorrow afternoon, secure in the knowledge that PIONEER wouldn't produce a better plasma than you just bought. But it won't be any better or any worse that what you could buy tomorrow anyway.

If Peter S was able to persuade you that the above mentioned Fujitsu was within a gnat's whisker as good as the Pioneer, you would buy one from him, secure in the knowledge that Fujitsu won't produce a better model each year for the next 5 years. Even though you KNOW that Pioneer will continue to produce and deliver their 9th 10th and 11th generation models over the next 3 years.

But the "let's suppose" senario above, just isn't going to happen.

Your choice is

- Buy a "slightly" below-spec Fujitsu (because they won't change their range every year!)
- Buy a current "state-of-the-art" Pioneer now and enjoy it for 3 years before giving it to JonR
- Put off for ever (cause Pioneer ani't gona stop at their 11th generation plasma)
- Hang on for another 6 months in the hope that the Pioneer 9th generation is technically better and significantly cheaper than their current new models and possibly Panasonic and Fujitsu have got their acts together again to deliver 1080p at 24fps at 24/48/60/72 hz and 25fps at 25/50 hz etc etc

JonR is with option 2 (despite what he said just now).
I'm with option 4

Cheers

Don

quote:

Originally posted by Don Atkinson:
Your choice is

- Buy a "slightly" below-spec Fujitsu (because they won't change their range every year!)
- Buy a current "state-of-the-art" Pioneer now and enjoy it for 3 years before giving it to JonR
- Put off for ever (cause Pioneer ani't gona stop at their 11th generation plasma)
- Hang on for another 6 months in the hope that the Pioneer 9th generation is technically better and significantly cheaper than their current new models and possibly Panasonic and Fujitsu have got their acts together again to deliver 1080p at 24fps at 24/48/60/72 hz and 25fps at 25/50 hz etc etc

JonR is with option 2 (despite what he said just now).

LOL! I'll tell you what, Don, even if I wanted a Pioneer Plasma, PB, nice guy that he is, would never just give it to me!

In any case, whilst I am interested in a new panel myself, my main criteria are:- max screen size 37", LCD, no speakers either side of the screen, 1080p, probably 24fps as well, looks nice. I currently have my eye on the Samsumg 'M' range but on the subject of quickly changing-ranges, I gather they have a new 'F'-range coming out...

pb

in the current climate of av you need to buy what suits your purpose best now !.
pioneer changed their range every six to eight months roughly and the price dropped every time , with the kouros the prices are going back up.

i say buy the pioneer lx and be happy with what youve got for the next few years.
with blu ray you would have the panel to get the best out of it and if sky went 1080p you would also have the panel to get the best out of that also

neil

quote:

PB, nice guy that he is, would never just give it to me!

c'mon Jon, PB IS a nice guy. And in three years time he's goan be stuck with a 3 year old 8th generation Pioneer after he's just bought a brand new 11th or 12th generation jobbie.

Who else (other than the dustman!) is he going to be ABLE to give it to (even the dustman might not cart it away)

YOU will be doing PB a BIG favour (providing he delivers it of course!)

Cheers

Don

I take your point, Don, but Andy C! lives closer to Nigel than I do, so he might prefer to give it to him!

quote:

but Andy C! lives closer to Nigel than I do, so he might prefer to give it to him!

You can see my point though?

Nigel hasn't even BOUGHT this plasma yet, and already he can't arrange to GIVE it away in three years time.............

Cheers

Don

quote:

Originally posted by JonR:
I take your point, Don, but Andy C! lives closer to Nigel than I do, so he might prefer to give it to him!

and Andy is already sorted with his very nice Phillips so it looks like the dustman wins again. You can see my point these TV's are a bottom less pit so I don't want to rush in and make an expensive mistake,

Regards

PB

I'm a football nut and bought the 508xd. On HD feeds from proper HD sources (i.e. domestic football rather than much of the simulated HD of away Champions League stuff) it's stunning. Sadly, much of the Setanta output isn't really good enough for that size screen.

Took me a while to adjust to the size (from a 32" Sony CRT) but I'm still in dreamland.

They do a nice, simplistic, stand too (though not cheap).

Hi PB

I know what you mean about making an expensive mistake.

However whenever you buy a tv it will be superceded by a new model in a short space of time. But this will not diminish the enjoyment you will be getting from your current tv.

If you want "cutting edge" you have to pay for it - just like pc's

On talking to my local tv supplier, a new model may represent slight improvements and buttons in different places, but the picture may not necessarily be any better.

When I moved from the 427xd to 428xd I was told that the picture would be a significant improvement - and it was.

You can only buy what is currently available.

Obviously you need to demo the models to see what you prefer.

Regards

Trev

I was looking at this one - may go for the 46" though.

Review seems good, but my own eyes agreed!

JonR - if this is the range you are looking at then 40" seems the smallest at the moment.

http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/Samsung-LE40F86BD/

Looks the business, RB, though I'd be a little concerned about the those damn troublesome "interpolation artifacts"........

In any case, whilst I may lust after one if I had a bigger house and deep pockets, the fact that I currently have neither means it fails on two counts of my criteria - 37" max screen size and no speakers either side of the screen!

Currently, the best TVs appear to be the Pioneer 8th generation KURO. They're more expensive than most mainly because they're quite a different technology and Pioneer is trying to remain firm on pricing in order to turn a profit.

The Fujitsu is also an excellent picture. However, the Fujitsu is not a TV - it's a panel only. If you do not need a tuner (say you're devoted to Sky) then the Fujitsu should definitely be within your compass since the picture is right up there with the Pioneers and possibly even a bit better.

Everything else in this size (40" and above) is not very good, particularly on standard definition. On High Definition, the performance of the various screens is closer but still not as good as the Pioneer and Fujitsu from what I've seen.

Frank, glad to see someone else rates the fujitsu as much am me.

Hi PB,

The Fujitsu is the best plasma panel out there. It is still better than the Pioneer. It has recently been upgraded but the model number remains the same. It uses Panasonic glass. However, the Fujitsu processor is streets ahead of any other. Once it is ISF calibrated you will have a picture that is out of this world with SD or HD.

Cheers

Spike

Is that the same as the AVMII processor as shown on their own website.

I ran a google on it and one page said it was discontinued,

Regards

PB

polarbear, yes mine says AVM11 processor on it, its not discontinued, have a look on av-sales.co.uk

PB,
where is this screen going?

Have you sought permission from a certain person yet re room siting of this tv!!!! ?

Who do you mean Andy, I am single

Crikey PB! We need Polarbears to be breading like mad! Are you not an endagered specie, as defined by the World Wild-life Fund?

Have fun getting a tele. I gave up years ago [with TVs], but I guess that there is still good stuff being broadcast...

ATB from George

PB,
You know exactly what I am on about!

You will receive your 'advice' on monday!

quote:

Originally posted by GFFJ:
Crikey PB! We need Polarbears to be breading like mad! Are you not an endagered specie, as defined by the World Wild-life Fund?

Have fun getting a tele. I gave up years ago [with TVs], but I guess that there is still good stuff being broadcast...

ATB from George

I am very rare thanks George but I am very happy being single and have no desire to change.

As for viewing I spend most of my viewing time watching sport or movies, I very rarely watch normal TV.

regards

PB

quote:

Originally posted by andy c:
PB,
You know exactly what I am on about!

You will receive your 'advice' on monday!

Now who mentioned curry?

LOL - curry indeed.

We need to do some speculative drilling above your fireplace!

And if you were to put a set there, a Phillips of suitable size with ambilight would look spot on...

quote:

Originally posted by andy c:
And if you were to put a set there, a Phillips of suitable size with ambilight would look spot on...

JonR,
My set only has the ambilight on the sides, not the top and bottom. But on a dark night, watching a decent dvd/tv prog with the other lights in the living room turned down, Shelley and me think it adds to the viewing experience.

So are you thinking of an Aurea then, Andy? It looks stunning but not only is it pricey (£2,999 for the 42") but imagine how much electricity it must be using with the entire bezel glowing all over the place!

Shelley will virtually insist we get another ambilight equipped set, Jon. She watches far more tv than me, so who am I to argue with that.
Our current set is fine, tho, for the next year or two. We got it with a 5 year warranty 'free' so we are safe for another year at least.