My fathers looking to buy a new TV :

- Between £1,000 and £1,500, slighty more if its worth it.
- Between 42" and 50"
- Wants a crisp picture.
- Mainly watching Sports on it.

Any recommendations then?

Well You can narrow down as Most here will recommend a Samsung or What seems to be actually getting better - LG

I would allways go samsung.

my father in law has a sony bravia and i dont rate it.

Ive heard good things about Panasonic and Toshiba.

Samsung for LCD, Panny for Plasma.

Best bet go to somewhere independent where people know what theyre talking about and want to spend time with you (so not Currys) and get them to demo with the sort of stuff he wants to watch.

If you can stretch to 1580 the Pioneer PDP-508XD cant be topped (well it can - by the new 9th generation Pioneers, although theyre 2.5k +)


I love Samsung but if you are going to spend that much it just doesnt compare.

Where have you seen the 508xd for 1580?

Plus whats the difference between the 508xd and the 5080xd?

Correction its now 1516 inc VAT

http://www.digitaldirect.co.uk/products_moreinfo3/index.asp?product_id=13488

Same place I bought mine from.

One thing to remember - this does not include a stand or speakers, so youll need to buy a table stand or a wall mount. I went for the wall mount myself. Ill take a picture and show you, but it really does look spectacular, the frame being so minimalistic.

Not having speakers lends itself to this kind of screens real buyers, people who already have surround sound. You can buy the side mounted speakers of course.

Heres the Pioneer 8th gen thread at AVForums
http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=544315

Itll show you the difference between the 508XD and 5080XD. Its minimal and youd expect the 5080XD to be cheaper but it isnt (well not from what Ive seen).



I looked into the best Samsung had to offer at the time, the 50" local dimming LED backlit LCD which is spectacular and 2k at the time, but it didnt compare in the end. I use the 508XD all the time for my Xbox360, HTPC (lots of 720 and 1080 stuff), freeview and general PC stuff.

Really cant fault it, black level and shadow detail is incredible, colours vivid and life like.

You pay a premium but it is like buying a Rolls Royce.

if you can get the Pioneer that cheap go for it. Didnt realise theyd come down that much. Probably best for sports too.

You should try http://www.teleland.co.uk/

5 year warranty on ALL TVs.

Maybe something like this - http://www.teleland.co.uk/item--Samsung-46-LCD-FULL-HD-TV-100HZ--SamsungLE46F86BDX.html

Quote from: Goblinif you can get the Pioneer that cheap go for it. Didnt realise theyd come down that much. Probably best for sports too.

Wee bit frustrating, I paid 1950 for it right at the beginning of Jan. Can understand why theyve come down with the 9th gen series just around the corner.

They are silly good though so I shouldnt complain, pretty sure Im going to be using this until they bring out holographic TVs!

panny, pioneer or hitachi all the way