Quote:
Originally Posted by
drummerpip 
I have a Panasonic Viera TH-42PX60B which I bought six years ago. I have always been happy with the screen and through my Humax HD box it gives a good picture. Six years is a long time in technology however, and with the EU Footie and Olympics imminent I have been trying to decide whether to buy a newer model. I would still go for a 42" display as that is just right for the room, but I'm not fussed about 3D or SMART features. The problem is that I can't see a whole lot of difference between the displays in the shops and my current screen. I suppose they are not properly set up in the stores but I don't want to spend a whole lot of dosh unless there is a consequential improvement in the picture. Has anyone upgraded a display like my Panasonic Viera TH-42PX60B? Does anyone know how it compares to today's £700 - £1000 plasmas? If an upgrade is worthwhile what should I go for in that price range?
Thanks.
Your TV is the British version of our 2006 TH-42PX60U which i'm familiar with (my friend has one) and i have the previous year's 2005 PX50U model which was actually a bit better. A new 2012 Panasonic ST50 (or GT50) series is a huge increase in picture quality in every picture quality category and would be a definite improvement over your current PX60. All the good TVs now automatically come with 3D and Smart capability but most of us don't use it and just ignore that it's in the menus. Don't bother looking at TVs in the stores because that's never a good place to judge picture quality (the lighting environment is nothing like your own home, sources and settings are usually not good, etc).
The ST50/GT50 (both use the same panel and filters and have virtually identical PQ) are 1080p (much smoother than your PX60's 768p panel) and they have better processing, better color, and much much better black levels. I don't know if the GT50 in the UK comes with THX mode or not like it does in the US, but it's a popular picture mode (the ST50 doesn't have THX).
PS: Are you aware of the UK based AVForums Plasma forum? It covers all the UK models:
http://www.avforums.com/forums/plasma-tvs/
Cheers !
