New LCD/Plasma TV's?

[MiniMan64]

Ho ho ho techno wizards of PH, a TV buying pleb needs some advice!

Our current,(3 year old!!) LCD 32" LG has thrown a strop and is refusing to turn on properly, it takes about 10 minutes and crackles and pops like a fireworks display. Apparently according to several local repair places this can be common is is usually a borked power supply or something similar, I've been quoted around £100-150 to repair although it could be more.

Now it strikes me that it might be a bit silly to spend that on a TV that does actually work, but just takes a while to turn on. Why not just go and buy another (bigger) telly for £300 odd quid and keep the old one for a spare or games TV that's not used regularly.

So question A, what do you think, do you think its worth repairing?

Next question B, any suggestions for a replacement if I do? Fairly strict budget of under £400 to be honest but I'm a greddy bugger and I'd like a bigger telly this time around! (I'm imagining playing PS3 BF3 on 42" monster here)

Looked at a view:

http://www.richersounds.com/product/plasma-tv/lg/4... (Plasma? 42" for nearly £300?)

http://www.richersounds.com/product/lcd-tv/sony/br... (32" again but it's a fancy Sony!)

http://www.richersounds.com/product/lcd-tv/lg/42lk... (LCD LG? 42" again?)

The other half has seen some very cheap "Tecknikas" in Tesco but surely this is a bad idea? Right?

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.210-1986.aspx

I have a feeling this is going to end up being small screen/good quality vs big screen/poor quality so HELP! (And no, I can't afford a 50squillion inch Panasonic jobbie!)

[jas xjr]

Comet have a 42" plasma for 400 quid don't know if is any good or not

[MiniMan64]

I think it's the same one as I've posted above for less from Richer Sounds.

Who or what is UMC?

http://www.comet.co.uk/p/LCD-TVs/buy-UMC-4058GF-LC...

[bristolracer]

Do not bother with the umc

stick to lg/samsung/sony/panasonic etc

seems to me the richersound prices have risen a touch, probably to make the sale prices cheaper

a few quid over budget but this good value for money

http://www.comet.co.uk/p/Plasma-TVs/buy-SAMSUNG-PS...

[jas xjr]

It is a panasonic that is available from comet

[BlueMR2]

MiniMan64 said:

http://www.richersounds.com/product/lcd-tv/sony/br... (32" again but it's a fancy Sony!)

That is replaced by the 523 which we purchased a couple of weeks ago for my parents.

The 523 is only £10 more though, 10% extra for 5 years cover £34 which would save you being in this situation again.

[jas xjr]

Mate is a manager of a Sony shop. He just told me they are doing a 40" LCD with 5 yr warranty for £369( after cashback)

[-Pete-]

Three years and it's broken, that's rubbish. A TV should last at least twice as long. Progress eh?

I wouldn't touch LG, personally Panasonic or Samsung. I like the Sony brand but last time I looked their flat-screen TV's weren't particularly good.

[MiniMan64]

-Pete- said:

Three years and it's broken, that's rubbish. A TV should last at least twice as long. Progress eh?

I wouldn't touch LG, personally Panasonic or Samsung. I like the Sony brand but last time I looked their flat-screen TV's weren't particularly good.

Indeed, we're not entirely happy either but there's squat all we can do about it.

[jas xjr]

-Pete- said:

Three years and it's broken, that's rubbish. A TV should last at least twice as long. Progress eh?

I wouldn't touch LG, personally Panasonic or Samsung. I like the Sony brand but last time I looked their flat-screen TV's weren't particularly good.

What would you recommend ? Need to buy one soon

[BenM77]

I would buy a Samsung plasma for that sort of budget.


You can fix the power supply board yourself and keep the 32" for a different room, I fixed the board on my 50" plasma and it has been fine

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Tuvra]

-Pete- said:

Three years and it's broken, that's rubbish. A TV should last at least twice as long. Progress eh?

I wouldn't touch LG, personally Panasonic or Samsung. I like the Sony brand but last time I looked their flat-screen TV's weren't particularly good.

Why is that? I have always bought LG, I have a 50", 42" and (2x) 32" in my house, none of them have ever failed and offer superb picture.

My grandmother on the other hand bought a 37" Panasonic, smoke started coming out of the back of that before giving up the ghost after 13 months! The picture was good while it lasted though.

[bristolracer]

Power supplies are the usual achilles heel of these tvs, the chipsets dont carry the same sort of loads,Psu has to contend with heat, varying loadings etc. Vents fill with fluff and cause overheating.

Trouble is when these things are built down to a price then sometimes they will skimp on components. People who repair these things often beef up the replacements to stop the fault re-occuring.

Sky boxes are a classic example of cost engineering, 99 times out of 100 its a psu failure

NB for those of tempted to buy a psu and swap it, please ensure the old one is discharged before removing it! Their job is after all to store mains power!

[MiniMan64]

Uh oh, apparently Tesco are doing TV's at 0% for 6 months (save me the usual comments about finance) so that might potentially be a better purchase option. They've got several LG/Samsumg 40/42" at £399 which look interesting...

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.211-6449.aspx

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.211-1261.aspx

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.212-6111.aspx

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.211-2916.aspx

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.211-1873.aspx

I've only just noticed the last one is actually a Sony!

[Gaffer]

Derestrictor - Sound and Vision

http://www.soundandvision.co.uk/

Accept no substitute.

Oh and go for Samsung LED if you can, picture quality is amazing.

Claire

[BlueMR2]

Gaffer said:

Derestrictor - Sound and Vision

http://www.soundandvision.co.uk/

Accept no substitute.

Oh and go for Samsung LED if you can, picture quality is amazing.

Claire

They have got a store in Leeds now, might have to send over a CV.

[Toffer]

...Samsung are the biggest display manufacturer in the world.

If you are not bothered about 3D, this is possibly the best value out there at the moment.

http://www.dixons.co.uk/gbuk/samsung-ue40d5520-40-...

Excellent LCD/LED panel with very good connectivity and most of the toys you find on more expensive models.

Hope this helps?

Good luck!

[MiniMan64]

I think I'm going to try for one of the Samsung/LG ones from Tesco but help me out here because it seems I've got two choices..

Do I want a 40/42" LCD 1080p res?

Or do I want a 40/42" Plasma 720 res?

For reference I play a lot of PS3 and movies/Blu-ray etc although no Sky HD or anything (yet)

[BlueMR2]

MiniMan64 said:

I think I'm going to try for one of the Samsung/LG ones from Tesco but help me out here because it seems I've got two choices..

Do I want a 40/42" LCD 1080p res?

Or do I want a 40/42" Plasma 720 res?

For reference I play a lot of PS3 and movies/Blu-ray etc although no Sky HD or anything (yet)

For blu rays and many PS3 games you want 1080p.

[MiniMan64]

BlueMR2 said:

MiniMan64 said:

I think I'm going to try for one of the Samsung/LG ones from Tesco but help me out here because it seems I've got two choices..

Do I want a 40/42" LCD 1080p res?

Or do I want a 40/42" Plasma 720 res?

For reference I play a lot of PS3 and movies/Blu-ray etc although no Sky HD or anything (yet)

For blu rays and many PS3 games you want 1080p.

I am utterly rubbish at this large-item purchasing. I do all this online research, I ask on here and get good advice on what's worth getting. I'm sensible and considered.

And then I get a HRMC rebate cheque for £350 in the post when I walk in the house, pop out to Tesco's to buy lunch, see the Samsung 43" Plasma (720p) I posted the link to above, for £350 minus £15 of vouchers I have and on impulse, bought it!

And then I get home and see your post about 720/1080! Doh!

ETA: Which now won't work with the PS3. If you need me I'll be throwing TV's out of windows or if sense prevails returning TV's to Tesco.

Edited by MiniMan64 on Saturday 17th December 00:04