I heard Panasonic panels are made by Vestel or some 3rd party, is that True?

O2 priority will give you another £20.00 off.

So £ 379.99

It's not being ignorant, the fact is you're not buying a Panasonic if you buy one of the models with a Vestel panel, and bearing in mind people pay for Panasonic for the quality, you're not getting what you're paying for, just a rebadged TV. I believe Vestel usually make for lower end brands like Bush, Sharp, etc. Panasonic used to be renowned for their panel but since the discontinued Plasma they reduced manufacturing with LCD and LED and really in my opinion Panasonic is no longer the big player with current TV's

Actually appears this tv is actually a Currys exclusive and not a model sold elsewhere so not really supported by Panasonic. Also the 5 year guarantee has disappeared from the web page making this an even worse deal considering you will be forced to use Currys for repairs at your cost after 1 year. Also its unclear what type of cpu the tv has. Single core, dual core and quad core are mentioned. Quad core only mentioned on the currys video.

They are all fair points!

The pricing of this Panasonic seems quite competitive though. Can you find a supermarket/shop brand model that has the same spec for the same money. £400 for this spec seems pretty good. You could probably buy it with a worse brand for more.

Also the Panasonic may have easier and more regular firmware updates and be fully supported by the Panasonic spares and repair infrastructure which many vestel sets don't get. Also the firmware is likely to be better. I don't think Vestel's own brands like Finlux or Techwood will be as well supported.

I don't have a problem with Vestels or UMCs...because the prices they go for are in line with Supermarket TVs!

They are budget TVs & they have their place in the world!

Typically a 42" Vestel or UMC with basic features retails for about £180-£200

But the same TV with a Panasonic badge goes for £300+

That's what I call deception

Higher price models may be better quality with better results but they are still a collection of third party components screwed together. The panel, logic board and other parts are likely not designed or manufactured by Panasonic. Probably the only Panasonic bit is the firmware they have written for the logic board they have purchased. Of course higher end models will use better panels, speakers, faster processors etc and most importantly power boards and be capable of better results but how does this make the higher end Panasonic anymore genuine than the Panasonic models made using more basic components. Vestel still use Chinese panels and logic boards. They may fit the LED backlit to the LCD panel but apart from that they are basically Chinese assemblers.

As for reliability if your using lower end power boards with lower spec capacitors or using speakers more likely to distort reliability will be less. I personally don't think Vestel are too bad and don't think they are far apart from many more established brands. Remember the lower cost sets are often the highest sellers and make up a huge amount of the ranges of companies like Sony, Panasonic and Toshiba especially entry level and smaller screen sizes.

Can anyone confirm whether this definitely does or doesn't have an optical audio output (for a sound bar)?

I am aware that the full price Panasonic sets are high end & Panasonic as we know it.

But most people when they see a too good to be true bargain price TV with a Panasonic badge on it, will not think 'aah..thats a Vestel.' They will be thinking that they have bought a genuine 100% Panasonic made Panasonic

And thats DECEPTION in my book.

I agree that it's wrong for Panasonic to trick consumers for cheap stuff.
But if you want a good set, the models higher up in the range are actual Panasonic sets.
I think their OLED TVs are LG panels, and reviews say the Panasonic beats the LG.
Thought would let you know...

try updating the firmware go to settings in the tv setup menu.

Brought this and it keeps turning itself off grrrrrrrr

its fine there is no lag- i play call of duty and watch now tv, netflix, amazon prime

To be honest i am a badge snob and wouldnt have bought it if it had a vestal badge. Put that debate to one side the tv is great i have no 4k content but sd and hd look very good and i have had nothing to complain about. The remote is nice and also controls the ps4 which is great oh and i should mention the sound nice and clear no complaints.

​Nothing wrong with Vestel or UMC (which I have) but I paid the UMC price for it....no frills TV... didn't have huge expectations from it (served me well for 3 yrs).

But consumers should know when a Panasonic is not really a Panasonic

Nothing wrong with Vestel mate.

Deceptive practice. The industry shouldn't be allowed to get away with this. People buy products based on the reputation earned and established by solid business practice, build quality, brand prestige, customer service etc.

If this set had Vestel on it, I guarantee you most people wouldn't want it because Vestel haven't earned that respect.

think of all the people that are conned by these dodgy trade practices

just because you stick a panasonic badge on doesnt make it a panasonic but it fools people into buying the product anyway

like everything these days there's a fraud in it, for me it's miss-selling that's the in thing these days

I heard Panasonic panels are made by Vestel or some 3rd party, is that True?

O2 priority will give you another £20.00 off.

So £ 379.99

Both would be better quality than the Panasonic here.

Have a look at the Sony centre website, they have some great offers

http://centresdirect.co.uk/c-3-tv.aspx#pgnum=1&sort=lowhigh

Thanks mate

In comparison to this TV what is this one like?

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/sony-bravia-kdl43w805cbu-led-full-hd-1080p-3d-android-tv-43-with-freeview-hd-built-2388299?page=7#comments

Seems to have gone back up to £500 now but the guy in the shop said Sony are the number 1 brand for TV's. Does it have a better firmware than these Panasonic Tv's etc? Reviews seems good on here for the Sony.

There is also this TV:

http://www.richersounds.com/product/tv---all/samsung/ue43j5500/sams-ue43j5500

It's alot cheaper but im not sure what Samsung are like, do they use cheap components/firmware?

Can anyone help? I'm thinking of getting the SONY BRAVIA KD55X8005CBU (£749 in Currys at the mo), but I see it has a 200hz processing rate. All other 55" Sony TVs in Curry have no less than 800hz. I don't intend using it for gaming, but I'm slightly concerned that this low setting detracts from the quality of the picture. Is it important? Thanks in advance.

Does it come with 1 yr/5yr warranty?

If 1 yr, do John Lewis (5yr) or Richer Sounds (6yr) stock it?

id save up for one of these.

http://www.whathifi.com/panasonic/tx-50cs520/review

Software update for the CX400, CX350 & CR430 ranges:

http://eng.faq.panasonic.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/35077?_ga=1.80247956.2038559987.1456420375

Use 'GAME' and 'SPORTS' settings for reduced lag and play about with settings for better picture, i changed backlight settings as was too high contrast etc

Software update for the CX400, CX350 & CR430 ranges:

http://eng.faq.panasonic.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/35077?_ga=1.80247956.2038559987.1456420375

Use 'GAME' and 'SPORTS' settings for reduced lag and play about with settings for better picture, i changed backlight settings as was too high contrast etc

Software update for the CX400, CX350 & CR430 ranges:

http://eng.faq.panasonic.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/35077?_ga=1.80247956.2038559987.1456420375

Use 'GAME' and 'SPORTS' settings for reduced lag and play about with settings for better picture, i changed backlight settings as was too high contrast etc

Software update for the CX400, CX350 & CR430 ranges:

http://eng.faq.panasonic.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/35077?_ga=1.80247956.2038559987.1456420375

Use 'GAME' and 'SPORTS' settings for reduced lag and play about with settings for better picture, i changed backlight settings as was too high contrast etc

My TV just packed up, was looking to spend around £250-£300

I saw this and thought maybe i should/could stretch my budget but now people are saying this one isnt great because its actually being made by Vestel

Can anybody recommend a good quality TV for me please? I'll mainly be using it to watch sport and have SKY HD. My last one was an LG LCD with a matte screen and was about 5-6 years old

What is the glare/reflection like on the newer TV's? (i feel watching the TV in the daytime is difficult because you just see your own refection in them, almost like a mirror)

Are these newer LED TV'S anti glare?

I bought one of these in-store around 10 days ago (for £429). In short it's a very good TV, picture is perfect etc. But one major problem I had was with the screen switching itself off after a few minutes regularly (at one point it was doing it after a few seconds of switching on, obviously unwatchable). Resolved the problem by phoning the support number (under warranty) and it was an issue with the HDMI input not working, which could be fixed by doing a system-update. That ended up for me being a system-update via buying a new USB-stick and downloading the update off the internet (an extra 5er).

In short, i'd recommend the TV but strongly recommend they test the TV in-store before you buy it so that this system-update is in place, as it saves a lot of hassle and frustration.

​No idea how car purchase ties into the Panasonic debate

You've obviously never bought a new car then!

Exactly. It's bordering on deception from Panasonic.

I'm in the market for my next big TV purchase, and for the first time in 30 years of TV buying, Panasonic is NOT on the list of probables.

It's not being ignorant, the fact is you're not buying a Panasonic if you buy one of the models with a Vestel panel, and bearing in mind people pay for Panasonic for the quality, you're not getting what you're paying for, just a rebadged TV. I believe Vestel usually make for lower end brands like Bush, Sharp, etc. Panasonic used to be renowned for their panel but since the discontinued Plasma they reduced manufacturing with LCD and LED and really in my opinion Panasonic is no longer the big player with current TV's

I had this exact same TV - do not purchase it. Returned it straight away. The low processing rate plays havos - impossible to use with gaming due to huge lag. Steer well clear.

Forgive my ignorance, but what's the problem with Vestel screens?

Just wanted to know bit more as there was a thread and it said panasonic don't make their TVs now it's Vestel which is not to the standards panasonic was once known for.

I bought Argos one few years ago and it was very ordinary quality even though specs on paper were good.

I want to change my old FHD Toshiba so seeking advice. :smiley:

Thanks Andy. I'm sure your response will help me and others like myself :smiley:

Panasonic used to have the best panels in the industry, but a few years later a 3d 4K 48" tv is under £400, what happened :/

Not sure but aern't the 'Smart' one's Panasonic rather than Vestel?

I see. Thanks. Will Steer Clear then :smiley:

http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/tvs-entertainment/tvs/1403475/panasonic-viera-tx-55cs520b-review

Lag, but meant to be bearable on GAME mode

In terms of gaming how does it fair with a ps4 eg Fifa or call of duty, would it lag? And what about when watching sport?