Budget TV choices

[chrisga]

Am having a few issues with our current TV which is a Bush 32" LCD jobby (given to us just after our wedding so didn't buy it). In the hot weather it keeps freezing the picture and squealing. It seems like it could be overheating as while you can't control it from the remote when it does this, if you turn the power off and on again it will turn on again but only for a few minutes. If you leave it a while, it will stay on longer. I've taken the back off and blown a shed load of dust out of some easy to access PCB's. It's stayed on so far so fingers crossed it will be ok..... If it doesn't stay on it's new TV time!

So while I guess most on this section of PH will be looking at top end stuff unfortunately my budget won't stretch that far if we need to replace it.

I'm not really up to speed on TV's so have been to a few local shops this afternoon hoping it would help us decide what to replace with, but the choices are very varied for approx £300.

The supermarkets seem to be populated by budget brands though Sainsburys had a 42" panasonic plasma Screen for about £330 and Asda a 40" Polaroid LCD for £300. Likewise Currys had a 46" own brand LCD but a Samsung 43" plasma for £330.

So should I take the opportunity to upsize (which I'd like), and should I be worried about buying plasma, which in my head is older tech? Or should I stick with the same size that is ultimately adequate, which are also available for similar prices but which would presumably be better quality as smaller screens.

Looking at two side by side, similar size, one LCD and one plasma, same thing playing I preferred look of plasma as seemed smoother though you could sort of see each pixel, but my wife preferred the brightness of LCD. Do plasmas go brighter, is lack of brightness likely to just be the way they were set up in the shop?

It's so confusing....

[craigjm]

Have a look at Richer Sounds you will get a much better choice for the money you have.

[pmanson]

Have a look at the LG sets, we have two one LCD and the other plasma.

I much prefer the picture on the plasma - it's seems more natural and less artificial (both are 1080p).

[barryrs]

I have just received an email from Ebuyer and this was one of the special offers

http://www.ebuyer.com/492286-lg-hd-ready-plasma-tv...

50" LG HD ready plasma TV with built-in freeview for £399

I have no personal experience of this TV but it looked to me like a pretty good deal.

[chrisga]

Thanks guys, I think it must be overheating as since its cooled down a couple of degrees ambient it doesn't cut out. Do LcD's have fans in them anywhere? Might see if it can be repaired.

I notice the ebuyer LG plasma is 720 not 1080 - is that he number of lines of pixels? Would you notice the difference on a 50" screen?

[chrisga]

Craig, thanks for reminding me about Richer sounds. Bought hifi separates and speakers from them when I was at uni and a new receiver when we bought our first flat. Unfortunately my nearest store is no longer there.....

So, looked at their website and I found a TV I liked the look of in their clearance section. Rang the Solihull branch and despite the website saying they had two left the salesman on the phone said he wouldn't sell either of them to me as they weren't complete. So why advertise them then? The next nearest Richer Sounds in Lichfield were much more helpful they had one left but it was reserved for someone else. They rang me back shortly after to say they checked and whoever reserved it no longer wanted it so I could have it, but it was missing stand screws.

So I collected a Philips 39PFL3807T this afternoon for £299.

So far so good! It looks great both turned on and off!

[craigjm]

chrisga said:

Craig, thanks for reminding me about Richer sounds. Bought hifi separates and speakers from them when I was at uni and a new receiver when we bought our first flat. Unfortunately my nearest store is no longer there.....

So, looked at their website and I found a TV I liked the look of in their clearance section. Rang the Solihull branch and despite the website saying they had two left the salesman on the phone said he wouldn't sell either of them to me as they weren't complete. So why advertise them then? The next nearest Richer Sounds in Lichfield were much more helpful they had one left but it was reserved for someone else. They rang me back shortly after to say they checked and whoever reserved it no longer wanted it so I could have it, but it was missing stand screws.

So I collected a Philips 39PFL3807T this afternoon for £299.

So far so good! It looks great both turned on and off!

Great stuff, enjoy!