Quote from: SteveFClockd and Nexus seem very up on the consumer HD stuff so since theyre both saying something different to me Im thinking I may be incorrect but I really think it was simply a marketing stunt.  It certainly doesnt mean anything at the manufacturing/system end.

The tricks theyre talking about with the scaling hacks exist in several full 1080 systems as well from what I know.

I never commented on that point as I wasnt 100% sure either way, but I was pretty certain like you are that its all marketing BS.


Its best to take a lot of specs when it comes to LCDs with a pinch of salt, just like the ropey 2ms response times quoted for monitor TFTs, theres a lot of similar number based jargon that flies around for for HD panels, and some of it is very misleading.

The key things to look at for full HD are, does it do the true native 720p/1080p resolution (depending on which youd rather stick with for your screen size) and do they do 1:1 pixel mapping. You also really want a screen that is 24fps/100hz, as models that arnt cant actually keep up the frame rate required for playback of HD material. Then of course theres the contrast ratio...

Its easy to think you are getting a bargain when really you are buying a POS. Be smart and read up. AVForums and DVDForums are full of great product recommendations and advice, go lurk


No no no no no, dont let him get a Sony, they arnt that good. A decent Samsung/Panasonic will pee all over their panels.

Personally Im a Samsung panel lover, they not only fuction marvellously and give great image quality, but they look damn stylish too.

Out of interest whats peoples opinions on the glass vs plastic for the scree?

Id recommend Samsungs as well. Sonys are OK but so overpriced.

Im actually typing this up using a Samsung LE-46M87BDX, which is one of Samsungs 46" 1080p screens (borrowed it from the rents while theyre out the country - Im holding out till the Jan sales to get one of the new Samsung F96 LED screens ). Weve got a 40" M87 at work as well. This models actually been replaced by the F86 series which is the one Id recommend.

The M87 has issue with Freeview judder, although I havent really noticed it as I havent used Freeview yet.

The one you want to check out is the Samsung LE-46F86BDX. Its a very good looking screen which handles 1080p very well, has 3 x HDMI 1.3 sockets and a 25,000:1 dynamic contrast (ok so dynamic figures can be deceiving, but its still excellent).

Heres a rewview of the 40" F86:

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

You can quite easily pick up the 46" F86 for £1375-1400.

Quote from: SteveFOk since I disagree with everyone elses post above me take this with a pinch of salt as its possible Im wrong and everyone else in heres right.  But... afaik...

A tv is either 1080p capable or not.  Putting 1080p Full Hd doesnt make it any different to a 1080p HD tv.

Full HD is just a marketing ploy with no meaning.  Im not sure where the guys in this thread have got the full HD sticker meaining its better at handling the signal or can cope with more inputs etc from...  A tv saying full HD should include all the 1080p stuff but if the tv next to it says 1080p as well then theyre both 1080p.  Clockd and Nexus seem very up on the consumer HD stuff so since theyre both saying something different to me Im thinking I may be incorrect but I really think it was simply a marketing stunt.  It certainly doesnt mean anything at the manufacturing/system end.

The tricks theyre talking about with the scaling hacks exist in several full 1080 systems as well from what I know.

The normal ones are often labelled HD Ready, meaning they can take the full signal but will downgrade it to whatever resolution the screen can handle. This has been going on for several years and the issue is a problem. This would allow some definition of the problem, even though it isnt standard. Havent seen the stickers myself yet but its bound to happen sooner or later.

If you can afford a good Sony Bravia then right now Id take that.  The latest generation with the inserted blank frames (I forget what its called but its the fake 120Hz refresh system).

AV forums wont see you far wrong.  Unless hes dropping a serious amount of cash or buying an industrial panel instead of a consumer screen hed get a lot out of a slightly cheaper screen and a good (seperate) upscaler/decoding box.

Quote from: SeriousThe normal ones are often labelled HD Ready, meaning they can take the full signal but will downgrade it to whatever resolution the screen can handle. This has been going on for several years and the issue is a problem. This would allow some definition of the problem, even though it isnt standard. Havent seen the stickers myself yet but its bound to happen sooner or later.

HD ready actually meant something.  It wasnt specific but it meant they could handle certain inputs.  The Full HD was introduced by some company in their marketing iirc.  Then some of the others copied it because customers fell for it thinking it was better than normal HD.


Its incredibly confusing at the moment.  Unfortunately about 10 technologies, the analogue switchoff and new encoding decoding formats all arrived at the same time.  Industry seem to be saying theres about 18 months more of this until the market and technologies stop churning.

I think youre talking about the new Sony X3500 series Steve, which is their flagship LCD with 100/120hz and the glass frame. OK its definitely a cracking TV but the 40" version is £18-1900! Thats absolutely mental in my opinion, £200 more and you can pick up an LED backlit 52" Samsung with local dimming or a 50" Pioneer Kuro with the best image processing money can buy in the consumer bracket.

yeah - I dont actually pay for them.  But I have been absolutely blown away by its performance tbh.  Its the first commercially available LCD Ive seen that is not to overstate it...  Breathtaking!

Not sure what the retail product name for the screen is but its available to buy now so probably the same one

Yeah at that price point I would be looking at a Pioneer Kuro for sure. Image quality still tends to be better on the top end plasmas than for the LCDs, if only they didnt have the cons of screen burn and such they would still be seen as a mainstream alternative to LCD I think.

Panasonic plasmas are also excellent and virtually impossible to go wrong with.

42PX70 can be picked up for 700 quid while the 1080p version the 42PZ70 is around the £1000 mark.


If you really want to be blown away go to the Samsung shop on Tottenham Court Road and take a look at the Samsung LE-52F96BDX. Currently only comes in 52 and 70", it features locally dimming LEDs for its backlight.

Were all used to seeing blacks look like grey with light bleeding through an LCD, this is truely a jaw dropping experience, where the screen is actually OFF where its black. Its in the same price league as the 50" Pioneer Kuro, and even then Im still blown away by the Samsung.

I think LED backlighting will really give Plasmas a bloody nose over the next couple of years.

Quote from: SteveF

Quote from: SeriousThe normal ones are often labelled HD Ready, meaning they can take the full signal but will downgrade it to whatever resolution the screen can handle. This has been going on for several years and the issue is a problem. This would allow some definition of the problem, even though it isnt standard. Havent seen the stickers myself yet but its bound to happen sooner or later.

HD ready actually meant something.  It wasnt specific but it meant they could handle certain inputs.  The Full HD was introduced by some company in their marketing iirc.  Then some of the others copied it because customers fell for it thinking it was better than normal HD.


Its incredibly confusing at the moment.  Unfortunately about 10 technologies, the analogue switchoff and new encoding decoding formats all arrived at the same time.  Industry seem to be saying theres about 18 months more of this until the market and technologies stop churning.

Its even worse simply because shop assistants wont tell customers the truth. I can still remember being acosted by a pleb in Currys wanting a sale and each time I asked what the actual resolution was he replied that it was HD Ready except it wasnt really an answer. Interested people started gathering so he eventually he admitted it was 480 widescreen. Not a genuine HD screen at all. It doesnt give you any confidence in the staff.

And he was actually one of the more knowledgeable ones, another in a different store had to go and try to find out for me, except it wasnt in the literature or on the box and the other people in the shop and who they phoned didnt know either.

Cant wait to see what lazer tvs turn out as

Serious! Stop buying HD plasma tvs!  Youre on benefits!!!  It makes the rest of us sat at work want the day off ;-D

Cheers for the advise guys

It seems then, with all the internal chips etc etc, you dont really know what your buying, even if the Res looks good.

Think my mate is going to go for the Samsung for around £1100 now.

Quote from: Clockd 0NeYeah at that price point I would be looking at a Pioneer Kuro for sure. Image quality still tends to be better on the top end plasmas than for the LCDs, if only they didnt have the cons of screen burn and such they would still be seen as a mainstream alternative to LCD I think.

Its worth pointing out that iirc plasmas have slowly crept up and overtaken on lifetime expextancy if that was one of the issues you were thinking off.

http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk