Any Thoughts on Current TV's LCD/Plasma?

[Chompers]

Hi Guys and Girls,

Looks like me and the OH will soon be kicked out of the Family room as the kids are growing up ever faster and seem to rule the remote, thought that was my job but anyway. So I need to buy a TV for the Living room. Do you have any thoughs/experience of the current offerings/good review sites?

Currently have a 32" Sony but will probably look at a 40" or maybe a 46" Opened minded to brand but have had Sony for ages and without any faults.

Any feed back would be much appreciated on this as its not often I get the 'green' light to go gadget buying I fully understand the security point of view and that many won't want to openly shut about what they have at home, it you could PM me your thoughts that would be great.

Cheers

Chompers

[pvr]

I am very heavy into my AV gadgets, so have some experience there.

It all depends on what you want to achieve, i.e. I use a plasma monitor as my TV and have a media streamer for pictures and film streaming and use the Sky HD box for the "TV" part.

Secondly, it depends on the budget as well. I can spend your money quicker then you would want

You can have a look at my setup and I can bore you to death ...

[pvr]

And for review: www.avforums.co.uk

[Chompers]

Cheers PVR, will look at AV forums.

I guess I'm looking to spend upto £1k, I don't have Sky normal or HD and Freeview HD is not in our area yet The TV will be used as well a TV + watch BR films via a PS3 and would be nice if it would accept some sort of wifi connectivity and maybe twin DVB tuners, would also be used for showing pictures and will be run through an AV amp with a Bose 5.1 speaker set up.

[pvr]

I am a reseller of these by the way ... http://www.tranquilpc-shop.co.uk/acatal ... ayers.html

[Chompers]

That looks a handy piece of kit, which kind of leads me on to my next question: I asume you need to have DVD's already loaded on a LT or DT any thoughts on software that can do this and if so can they then be placed on my iPhone, helpful for keeping the kids quite when on a plane or in the car. Hope this makes sence.

[pvr]

anydvd HD, copys Blu Ray, DVD etc.

[squeaky2]

Upgraded from a 6 year old Panasonic 42" plasma last christmas and bought a Samsung UE46b7020. Really thin LED telly.......great picture and am very happy with it.

Like most of these new tellys though the speakers are rubbish but already have a great surround system that was bought originally.

Definitly worth spending more money on a amp and speakers system than a telly..........sound kit last ages against Tv's which seem to come around every few years at the moment

[AW8]

Depends how much you want to spend.

In 2002 & when plasma prices were in the thousands I spent about £600 to buy a now archaic 36" Panasonic big box conventional tube TV. Although not a thing of beauty it had a good enough picture.

We must have been one of the last households in my area to by a flat screen when we upgraded at the beginning of last month to a Panasonic Viera TX-P42X10B which I was lucky enough to source on clearance from Richer Sounds for a mere & very reasonable £350.

I know it's not a 2010 model or even 1080 but opinion seriously varies re 1080 benefits over a decent spec 720 outside of gaming.

Have a look at Play.com & for great clearance deals & service try Richer Sounds.

£579 buys this 50" Plasma Seems a bargain if you are prepared to ignore the LCD / 1080 hype & save yourself not far shy of £1500 over an equivalent 1080 model albeit I've not not read any reviews.

I like the slim look of some of the LCD's but am very happy with our TV - Ironically as squeaky2's post confirms I have bought my Plasma at a time when some with older Plasma's are changing to LCD or even 3D.

I have seen LCD's & Plasmas demo'd & I researched prior to buying. Personally I like they way a good Plasma handles blacks & how it works with larger screen sizes.

I cant stress enough the importance of doing research on the AVForums.

Finally I would add that many spend a fortune on out of the box kit & then fail to position kit properly, fail to correctly position & set up time delay on their surrund sound, fail to set up TV picture settings properly, use cheapo cables, ( I wonder how may use a decent HDMI lead rather than the rubbish that comes with a Sky HD box)), or perhaps watch with bad eyesight yet not wearing glasses. I am a great believer in making the most of what I buy. (just as I dont see sense in those who spend a fortune on shirts they don't iron or cars they don't drive or maintain properly).

[petert]

Just bought a Samsung 6000 series 46 inch LED here in Canada. Great picture, especially on HD via cable (1080i). Very thin and great choice of inputs. Has internet conection facility for updates and widgets though not tried these yet. Can detect (and via the remote control) control my media disc player that I originally bought for my old E53 headrest screens. Speakers are ok but sound would obviously be much better through proper cinema system. Price was more than 1000 quid, though I was back in the UK recently and saw a similar set for about 1300. Recommended, though similar sets available from LG. I also like Sony's - hear only good views about them - though they are more expensive I understand.

[kena]

I bought myself the samsung 8000 series 46" led just before Xmas. Upgraded from a panasonic 42" viera plasma. The picture quality on the samsung is outstanding. I suppose it's down to what your looking for and how much your willing to spend. At the time samsung had a £200 cashback offer on that particular model.

[Garry247]

Here are a few points to think about

3D capable. These are already here but will be coming down in price post Xmas

1080p known as full hd. If you put 2 50" screens next to each other one 720 and one 1080 you will notice the difference but only if the film was recorded at a high enough resolution in the first place

Refresh rate. 50hz is the STD refresh rate but if you are watching action or football you will want a 100hz or more. Be ware of manufactures claiming 400hz or more these are a trick on words. Yes they refresh at that rate but with the same picture. The Sony tv's do it properly.

In short if you can wait till Jan you will save a packet on a 100hz 50" 3d Bravia

[Chompers]

Thanks a million Guys for all you feedback

After spending the weekend on the net, I am nerar to buying a Sony KDL 46EX703. Details here http://www.sony.co.uk/product/t46-ex-se ... alfeatures Have noted all comments from above i.e. 100hz, this is also has LED backlighting + WiFi capability.

While I know Sony products can be over priced I think this TV for £995 inc. 5 year warranty is a dood deal, considering I paid more for a 32" 4 years ago and yes I know there will something better + cheaper tomorrow but you have to take the pludge sometime.

@ AW8 - Comments noted re: cables. All I would say is that I paid quite well for an HDMI cable when I got my PS3 which was fine until my boy yanked in out of the TV
I then got one off fleabay for peanuts and hand on heart cannot not tell any difference in quality.

I also note all comments re: TV sound and these are widely echoed by buyer reviews. I will be putting the TV through a digital AV amp + Bose 5.1 Accoustimas set up so hapefully will have this issue sorted.

Thanks again and any further thoughts will be welcome as the AV Forum site is U/S at the moment.

[pvr]

A cheap hdmi cable could have handshake issues. It either works or it doesn't, but some lower standard cables can not work with certain equipment. My streamer for example is very sensitive.

[AW8]

Glad you seem to have found something you like...............looks good as does spec.