43" TV options - Samsung/Philips/Other
Discussion
Having lived with a 40" LCD Samsung for the past ten years I've been on the hunt for Black Friday deals. I have absolutely no need for anything larger, but it seems 43 is the new 40 so I'm fine with that. I gave up on Sky/Virgin prior to the last house move so predominantly watch Netflix/Amazon Prime/iPlayer with very occasional 'live' tv and no gaming.
I've been considering what I'd need and due to the relatively small size and subsequent prices, I don't particular mind what I spend.
Reading a couple of other threads from here I thought I found the perfect option -
Philips 43PUS7334 - Ambilight and P5 Perfect Picture Engine at £419.
https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-and-home-entertai...
However digging a little further and considering my trusty Samsung has done me proud for 11 years now, I cames across a couple of contenders from Samsung which aren't easy to dismiss.
Samsung UE43RU7400 - What Hi-Fi? Awards 2019 winner at £379.
https://shop.bt.com/products/samsung-43--ru7400-4k...
SAMSUNG QE43Q60 - QLED at £529.
https://www.johnlewis.com/samsung-qe43q60r-2019-ql...
The question is, will I see the benefit from the QLED? Or even the P5 from the Philips? I'm just as happy to go with the cheaper or more expensive option - At this end of the market we're talking £150 between them, but if the 'best budget small TV around right now' does the job at £379 that's fine by me. I could of course go cheaper still with £300 options available from either, but that'd just be silly!
And yes, I'm certain I don't need a 60"/70"/80" option
I've been considering what I'd need and due to the relatively small size and subsequent prices, I don't particular mind what I spend.
Reading a couple of other threads from here I thought I found the perfect option -
Philips 43PUS7334 - Ambilight and P5 Perfect Picture Engine at £419.
https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-and-home-entertai...
However digging a little further and considering my trusty Samsung has done me proud for 11 years now, I cames across a couple of contenders from Samsung which aren't easy to dismiss.
Samsung UE43RU7400 - What Hi-Fi? Awards 2019 winner at £379.
https://shop.bt.com/products/samsung-43--ru7400-4k...
SAMSUNG QE43Q60 - QLED at £529.
https://www.johnlewis.com/samsung-qe43q60r-2019-ql...
The question is, will I see the benefit from the QLED? Or even the P5 from the Philips? I'm just as happy to go with the cheaper or more expensive option - At this end of the market we're talking £150 between them, but if the 'best budget small TV around right now' does the job at £379 that's fine by me. I could of course go cheaper still with £300 options available from either, but that'd just be silly!
And yes, I'm certain I don't need a 60"/70"/80" option
Philips 43PUS7334 is now down to £389 at Curry’s - so much for Black Friday deals!
Samsung QE43Q60R Is now £499 at Amazon, but some of the reviews complain about light bleed.
I’m getting closer to thinking the Philips may be the better choice but still considering options. Also wondering if it’s worth holding out for Christmas/New year for further drops. I don’t ‘need’ something straight away but if £389’s as good as it’ll get I’ll pick one up now.
Samsung QE43Q60R Is now £499 at Amazon, but some of the reviews complain about light bleed.
I’m getting closer to thinking the Philips may be the better choice but still considering options. Also wondering if it’s worth holding out for Christmas/New year for further drops. I don’t ‘need’ something straight away but if £389’s as good as it’ll get I’ll pick one up now.
The 43 Samsung ru7400 and Philips can be either VA panel (good) or IPS panel (poor) depending on the factory it is assembled.
I have just ordered a Samsung 43" The Frame for the bedroom. This is basically a Q60r with a "nicer" design.
My only concern is not local dimming, hoping it will be OK. I would rather have paid a bit more and had local dimming like on the Q70r, but we shall see.
I will get it Friday, so can report back.
I found the P5 processing on that Philips too aggressive, I had the VA panel Samsung Nu7400 but that was not great imho, in the end I swapped for a 49XE9005, which I think I paid £650 for. That is in a different league and I like that as much as my OLED.
I really didn't want bigger than 43 for that room, but it was fine.
What is the reason for 43"?
Just that all the 50" panels are VA and never much more money, if anything.
I have just ordered a Samsung 43" The Frame for the bedroom. This is basically a Q60r with a "nicer" design.
My only concern is not local dimming, hoping it will be OK. I would rather have paid a bit more and had local dimming like on the Q70r, but we shall see.
I will get it Friday, so can report back.
I found the P5 processing on that Philips too aggressive, I had the VA panel Samsung Nu7400 but that was not great imho, in the end I swapped for a 49XE9005, which I think I paid £650 for. That is in a different league and I like that as much as my OLED.
I really didn't want bigger than 43 for that room, but it was fine.
What is the reason for 43"?
Just that all the 50" panels are VA and never much more money, if anything.
Edited by gizlaroc on Tuesday 3rd December 22:19
gizlaroc said:
The 43 Samsung ru7400 and Philips can be either VA panel (good) or IPS panel (poor) depending on the factory it is assembled.
I have just ordered a Samsung 43" The Frame for the bedroom. This is basically a Q60r with a "nicer" design.
My only concern is not local dimming, hoping it will be OK. I would rather have paid a bit more and had local dimming like on the Q70r, but we shall see.
I will get it Friday, so can report back.
I found the P5 processing on that Philips too aggressive, I had the VA panel Samsung Nu7400 but that was not great imho, in the end I swapped for a 49XE9005, which I think I paid £650 for. That is in a different league and I like that as much as my OLED.
I really didn't want bigger than 43 for that room, but it was fine.
What is the reason for 43"?
Just that all the 50" panels are VA and never much more money, if anything.
Thank you. Is there an easy way of telling which panel it is when it’s still boxed? I’ve no issue with buying in store if it means I get a chance to make sure I get the VA panel. I have just ordered a Samsung 43" The Frame for the bedroom. This is basically a Q60r with a "nicer" design.
My only concern is not local dimming, hoping it will be OK. I would rather have paid a bit more and had local dimming like on the Q70r, but we shall see.
I will get it Friday, so can report back.
I found the P5 processing on that Philips too aggressive, I had the VA panel Samsung Nu7400 but that was not great imho, in the end I swapped for a 49XE9005, which I think I paid £650 for. That is in a different league and I like that as much as my OLED.
I really didn't want bigger than 43 for that room, but it was fine.
What is the reason for 43"?
Just that all the 50" panels are VA and never much more money, if anything.
Edited by gizlaroc on Tuesday 3rd December 22:19
Size comes down to location. We have an alcove which fits a 43” perfectly, but any larger and it would stick out in front of the fireplace unless I moved it. Moving it would involve changing the whole room around, chasing extra sockets, replacing sofas and having the volume louder in a room below where the kids sleep. For the little amount it gets watched, it’s not worth the hassle
You can tell buy the serial numbers or build numbers. Probably got them all listed on avforums.
Yeah I will let you know how I get on. I will be keeping it regardless as I want it to be wall mounted like a picture, I don't really want a TV in our new bedroom, well I do, but don't want to see it, so this is a good compromise.
Ours is going on the chimney breast, so the one connect box of the Samsung is also nice, one wire you can hardly notice.
Yeah I will let you know how I get on. I will be keeping it regardless as I want it to be wall mounted like a picture, I don't really want a TV in our new bedroom, well I do, but don't want to see it, so this is a good compromise.
Ours is going on the chimney breast, so the one connect box of the Samsung is also nice, one wire you can hardly notice.
I got The Frame 43" today.
This is a VA panel, where as it seems some Q60R can be an IPS panel.
Overall?
Pretty poor imho.
Black levels are not good.
HDR is pointless on this set with no local dimming, it makes any scenes with dark areas just look flat, there is no real depth to the image.
AQ sets ability to do black is what gives us the realistic image with depth.
The design is lovely, however, I wish there was at least an optical out on the back of the set so you could plug a sound bar in as the sound is pretty poor too.
I will keep it I reckon as it will suit the room, but I would certainly recommend at least going Q70r and making sure it is a VA panel you get, it needs the local dimming that the Q60r doesn't have.
I just don't think HDR works on LCD unless it is a FALD set with 500 dimming zones.
The colours and motion on my Sony 49XE9005 are on another level compared to this, and the blacks on the Sony I have never really noticed, which is a good thing, especially as I have had Pioneer Kuros and OLEDs as my main sets for the last decade or more.
It is not bad, and I suppose it depends what you are comparing it too, but I just think that if you're spending £600, you may as well spend a grand as what you get is on another level image wise.
I would also have read up on the Panasonic GX800, the 40" is a VA and meant to be pretty good.
This is a VA panel, where as it seems some Q60R can be an IPS panel.
Overall?
Pretty poor imho.
Black levels are not good.
HDR is pointless on this set with no local dimming, it makes any scenes with dark areas just look flat, there is no real depth to the image.
AQ sets ability to do black is what gives us the realistic image with depth.
The design is lovely, however, I wish there was at least an optical out on the back of the set so you could plug a sound bar in as the sound is pretty poor too.
I will keep it I reckon as it will suit the room, but I would certainly recommend at least going Q70r and making sure it is a VA panel you get, it needs the local dimming that the Q60r doesn't have.
I just don't think HDR works on LCD unless it is a FALD set with 500 dimming zones.
The colours and motion on my Sony 49XE9005 are on another level compared to this, and the blacks on the Sony I have never really noticed, which is a good thing, especially as I have had Pioneer Kuros and OLEDs as my main sets for the last decade or more.
It is not bad, and I suppose it depends what you are comparing it too, but I just think that if you're spending £600, you may as well spend a grand as what you get is on another level image wise.
I would also have read up on the Panasonic GX800, the 40" is a VA and meant to be pretty good.
I think this TV will have to go back.
The black levels are just too poor on it.
You can see the black bars on a film with a couple of lamps on in the room, they shouldn't be seen, I have not seen them on a TV for about 15 years.
God knows what the IPS panels are like without local dimming, most look like the brightness if cranked up to 75%.
The black levels are just too poor on it.
You can see the black bars on a film with a couple of lamps on in the room, they shouldn't be seen, I have not seen them on a TV for about 15 years.
God knows what the IPS panels are like without local dimming, most look like the brightness if cranked up to 75%.
Thanks for the updates, really appreciated!
It sounds like the Q60 isn’t going to be the one to go for then! The Q70 seems to start from a 49” too so that’s out of the question.
I’ve taken a look at the Panasonic - quiet why they though it’d be a good idea to use GX800 for both a tv and camera range I don’t know, but it’s lower rated by whathifi than the cheaper Samsung:
https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/panasonic-tx-40gx...
It’s a minefield! If it was a case of sucking it up and spending a grand on an option that ticked every box I’d do it, but at 43” there seems to be compromises whatever you buy.
It sounds like the Q60 isn’t going to be the one to go for then! The Q70 seems to start from a 49” too so that’s out of the question.
I’ve taken a look at the Panasonic - quiet why they though it’d be a good idea to use GX800 for both a tv and camera range I don’t know, but it’s lower rated by whathifi than the cheaper Samsung:
https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/panasonic-tx-40gx...
It’s a minefield! If it was a case of sucking it up and spending a grand on an option that ticked every box I’d do it, but at 43” there seems to be compromises whatever you buy.
gizlaroc said:
I think this TV will have to go back.
Damn. I saw your post last week and was eagerly waiting your update on this tv. It was at the top of my list for our bedroom I've just rearranged. I have a space for a tv behind a sliding wardrobe door and absolute maximum I can fit in there is a 49"... but really would prefer to go 43". B&O Horizon would be perfect but not spending £2k on a bedroom tv! I might have to end up squeezing a 49" into it and going for either the Sony XG or the Samsung Q70. Which would be your preference out of them 2 gizlaroc?
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