New 60" TV ideas needed
Discussion
I would also look at the Samsung stuff in that price range. I know they get slagged off on here, but here's why I make the suggestion. Based on the standard 'the panny plasma is king' I went ahead and bought one of their top of the range THX certified panels and was impressed with the results - although I've always questioned the notion that they offer more 'inky black' blacks. To my eyes the blacks have always been a little grey.
Anyway, a couple of years later I wanted a cheap small TV for the lounge which would be used solely for on-demand viewing and blu-rays for the kids. Based on these criteria I opted for a mid-range (F6500 IIRC) Samsung LCD screen which I picked up from my local Richer sounds. Whilst in there I looked at the 4K TV which had pride of place (think it was an LG) and I can honestly say the F9000 TV (1080p) which was sat next to it blew it away for colour, picture depth, and detail.
When I got mine home I fired it up and did a quick back to back comparison of the two TVs - the new LCD and my older Panny - and the Panny was left for dead in every respect; especially in the blacks department. The Samsung offered superb black levels and stunning vibrant but not artificial looking colours.
And what impressed me the most was the revelation that is Samsung's UI. In the 3 months I've had it, it's had two updates to the software which have improved the experience. Contrast this with the Panny which had a terrible UI from the off, an even worse OD service, and as far as I know has never had a single update - certainly none that have addressed the terrible reliability of the OD features.
In summary, I'm a Samsung convert, and to a man, everyone who has seen the two TVs back to back has preferred the picture quality of the Samsung which was a fraction of the price of the Panny.
So my advice is to have a look around before you fall for the buy the panny mantra that exists on PH.
Anyway, a couple of years later I wanted a cheap small TV for the lounge which would be used solely for on-demand viewing and blu-rays for the kids. Based on these criteria I opted for a mid-range (F6500 IIRC) Samsung LCD screen which I picked up from my local Richer sounds. Whilst in there I looked at the 4K TV which had pride of place (think it was an LG) and I can honestly say the F9000 TV (1080p) which was sat next to it blew it away for colour, picture depth, and detail.
When I got mine home I fired it up and did a quick back to back comparison of the two TVs - the new LCD and my older Panny - and the Panny was left for dead in every respect; especially in the blacks department. The Samsung offered superb black levels and stunning vibrant but not artificial looking colours.
And what impressed me the most was the revelation that is Samsung's UI. In the 3 months I've had it, it's had two updates to the software which have improved the experience. Contrast this with the Panny which had a terrible UI from the off, an even worse OD service, and as far as I know has never had a single update - certainly none that have addressed the terrible reliability of the OD features.
In summary, I'm a Samsung convert, and to a man, everyone who has seen the two TVs back to back has preferred the picture quality of the Samsung which was a fraction of the price of the Panny.
So my advice is to have a look around before you fall for the buy the panny mantra that exists on PH.
Edited by rhinochopig on Friday 18th April 07:50
I picked up a Sony KDL-65w855a from Currys for £1799 last weekend. I was really impressed with the screen quality and its a nice size upgrade from my old Samsung 40 inch!
I was considering a 4K TV but to be honest I couldn't tell any difference between the 4k demo stuff being played and the 1080p demo on the Sony. I think 4k's time will come but not for a couple more years yet and I think on a TV smaller than 65" you just won't notice that much difference anyway.
I was considering a 4K TV but to be honest I couldn't tell any difference between the 4k demo stuff being played and the 1080p demo on the Sony. I think 4k's time will come but not for a couple more years yet and I think on a TV smaller than 65" you just won't notice that much difference anyway.
Edited by camelot1971 on Thursday 17th April 15:10
Not a Fashionable brand, but have a look at the new SHARP LC60UQ10 and LC70UQ10 available for £1799 and £2999 respectively including a 5 year warranty, they're playing with the panels again adding a yellow sub-pixel and then splitting the pixel in two so it offers a pseudo 4k resolution the upshot is brilliant picture quality.
Also the main body of the set is manufactured from aircraft grade aluminium, and is beautifully screwed together.
As you all probably know i've always championed Panasonic plasmas, but that ship's sailed, so we've got to look for alternatives.
Problem is I fully expect it to get rubbished because of the badge sadly
http://www.sharp.co.uk/cps/rde/xbcr/documents/docu...
Explanation of Quattron Pro
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http://www.sharp.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/gb/hs.xsl/-/ht...
Also the main body of the set is manufactured from aircraft grade aluminium, and is beautifully screwed together.
As you all probably know i've always championed Panasonic plasmas, but that ship's sailed, so we've got to look for alternatives.
Problem is I fully expect it to get rubbished because of the badge sadly
http://www.sharp.co.uk/cps/rde/xbcr/documents/docu...
Explanation of Quattron Pro
|http://www.sharp.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/gb/hs.xsl/-/ht...
The Sharp TVs are pretty decent from what I've seen. Not had a chance to see them outside of a store though. Have heard good things about the current LG range too.
All my Panasonic sets have been replaced with Samsung. No regrets whatsoever - vastly superior picture, and none of the myths I've heard ring true, no motion blur, no washed out blacks, and the colour is orders of magnitude better.
I was also pretty smitten with the current gen Sony TVs - they're well worth a look.
All my Panasonic sets have been replaced with Samsung. No regrets whatsoever - vastly superior picture, and none of the myths I've heard ring true, no motion blur, no washed out blacks, and the colour is orders of magnitude better.
I was also pretty smitten with the current gen Sony TVs - they're well worth a look.
Interesting thoughts there StuR, i'm fortunate to sit literally next to a Samsung UE55F9000 4K set and next to it is a TX-P60ZT65 panasonic (i'm hoping to buy this set in the next week or two) and i'm sorry to say that the Panny utterly destroys the Samsung, for everything with the exception of genuine 4k stuff.
But remember we all see things differently......
But remember we all see things differently......
tdm34 said:
Interesting thoughts there StuR, i'm fortunate to sit literally next to a Samsung UE55F9000 4K set and next to it is a TX-P60ZT65 panasonic (i'm hoping to buy this set in the next week or two) and i'm sorry to say that the Panny utterly destroys the Samsung, for everything with the exception of genuine 4k stuff.
But remember we all see things differently......
I think the last line is the salient point really. I'm not passionate about any particular brand - hypothetically if Aiwa looked better to my eye I'd buy one of theirs, but to me the Samsungs look better for the stuff I watch. That could be because of the rooms they're in, the things I watch, or another reason - I've no idea. I really didn't want to move away from plasma and the first Samsung I got was a big gamble, but I'm so glad I did. Until reliability problems cropped up, I was a stalwart Panasonic plasma fan with VT and GTs. But remember we all see things differently......
One thing I have noticed with the Samsungs is they're incredibly sensitive to setup. It took me quite a long time to get mine (F9000, F8000 and F6300) calibrated to a standard I was happy with. The Panasonics were much easier. I also find them much better for SD video - an odd consideration for whizz-bang new TVs, granted, but I do enjoy a lot of older comedy stuff and things like MST3K which haven't made the transition to HD.
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