Are all LED TV’s rubbish then?
Discussion
Well it’s time to replace the old CRT TV so I thought a new 50” 3D LED TV would be nice, so with a rough budget of £800 I turn to Google to find out what’s hot and what’s not.
I find a model that I like with all the functionality I need, only to read the reviews and find out it’s a bit lacking. For example the Samsung UE55F6740, a bit more than what I want to spend at £1200 but despite the price there is plenty of criticism from magazines and avforums, which claim this model is plagued by DSE, banding/pillars, cloudiness, dark corners etc.
As someone who is not really into technology I find it unbelievable that something costing so much can have such serious flaws. Apparently the UE55F7000 model at a whopping £1599 is a bit better but still found by some to be unsuitable for watching panning shots (such as football) do to the artefacts.
So how about Sony? Same again really, the KDL-55W807A for £1000 which can’t do blacks, and the KDL-55W905A at £1600 has a crummy viewing angle.
I'm a bit of a loss to be honest, I really want a nice large TV but I've yet to hear about one of them that doesn't suffer from what manufactuers call 'characteristics' of LCD panels...
I find a model that I like with all the functionality I need, only to read the reviews and find out it’s a bit lacking. For example the Samsung UE55F6740, a bit more than what I want to spend at £1200 but despite the price there is plenty of criticism from magazines and avforums, which claim this model is plagued by DSE, banding/pillars, cloudiness, dark corners etc.
As someone who is not really into technology I find it unbelievable that something costing so much can have such serious flaws. Apparently the UE55F7000 model at a whopping £1599 is a bit better but still found by some to be unsuitable for watching panning shots (such as football) do to the artefacts.
So how about Sony? Same again really, the KDL-55W807A for £1000 which can’t do blacks, and the KDL-55W905A at £1600 has a crummy viewing angle.
I'm a bit of a loss to be honest, I really want a nice large TV but I've yet to hear about one of them that doesn't suffer from what manufactuers call 'characteristics' of LCD panels...
It's all a load of none-sense.
Think how many of those things they make and then look at how comparatively few complaints there are compared to thus and then realise that when people are happy with their telly they don't go on a forum and bleat about it, they just enjoy their telly.
It's a bit like "all" the Macpro laptops that have dodgy screens.
Add in a bit if brand snobbery and mythology bandied about by those who sell the rival products with a greater margin and you start to understand.
Think how many of those things they make and then look at how comparatively few complaints there are compared to thus and then realise that when people are happy with their telly they don't go on a forum and bleat about it, they just enjoy their telly.
It's a bit like "all" the Macpro laptops that have dodgy screens.
Add in a bit if brand snobbery and mythology bandied about by those who sell the rival products with a greater margin and you start to understand.
I bought a Sony Bravia KDL-47W805A and I'm very happy with it. I read a review in one of the tech mags who gave it 4/5 and they said the blacks weren't great but I'm happy with it. I paid £849 and that included a 5 year Sony warranty, Sony Blu Ray DVD player which plays any region DVD, wireless Sony headphones and a HDMI cable.
A friend actually prefers the Samsung screen (picture quality) over a Sony. Have you thought about LG or Panasonic?
A friend actually prefers the Samsung screen (picture quality) over a Sony. Have you thought about LG or Panasonic?
GAjon said:
I've concluded the latest TVs are so good that the reviewers are going out of their way to make comments.
Or they've all got far superior eyesight to normal folk.
Absolutely. No matter how perfect new television are, the reviewers out there will ALWAYS find a negative. To me or you though, they are perfect.Or they've all got far superior eyesight to normal folk.
my limited understanding of TVs is LED are cool, LED backlit LCD's are not.
we bought mum one last xmas - LG 42" 1080 LED backlit LCD tv.
Picture is so dark on some programmes that it literally has to be put on dynamic for you to make anything out! - this is fine until you have to look at the sky planner, its then like someone shone a thousand blue lasers directly into your pupils.
we bought mum one last xmas - LG 42" 1080 LED backlit LCD tv.
Picture is so dark on some programmes that it literally has to be put on dynamic for you to make anything out! - this is fine until you have to look at the sky planner, its then like someone shone a thousand blue lasers directly into your pupils.
I bought a Samsung UN46C8000 about 3 years ago - yes, I read a few reviews but 90% of the decision was based on features and picture quality. Have to say that, to me at least, it knocked spots off all the opposition - and that included both Sony and Panasonic plasmas.
3 years on and I'm still delighted with the picture quality, and it rarely fails to get a mention when visitors get to see it. No problems so far, and no sign of any of the flaws mentioned in the original post.
3 years on and I'm still delighted with the picture quality, and it rarely fails to get a mention when visitors get to see it. No problems so far, and no sign of any of the flaws mentioned in the original post.
OP - I had a 55" Samsung LCD (LED) in my last place and it was a lovely set to watch.
They have a very bright and surreal picture out of the box so you need to play around with the settings, but once set up with a more natural picture they are great.
I still think plasma give a more natural picture but I would be happy with either. If wall mounting, the LED is a lot lighter too.
They have a very bright and surreal picture out of the box so you need to play around with the settings, but once set up with a more natural picture they are great.
I still think plasma give a more natural picture but I would be happy with either. If wall mounting, the LED is a lot lighter too.
Thanks for the replies so far.
I should say I am not an audio/TVofile (I haven’t bought a TV in about 10 years, maybe more), but I do research things fastidiously…maybe AVFORUMS is to TVs what Pistonheads is to cars…if you can’t left foot brake or powerslide it then it’s not worth having?
With that out of the way I can’t decide between 46” or 55”, I’m sure the former is ample but it’s £400 more for the 55” and I’ll be sitting a maximum of 3.8 meters away…may just have to swallow it!
I should say I am not an audio/TVofile (I haven’t bought a TV in about 10 years, maybe more), but I do research things fastidiously…maybe AVFORUMS is to TVs what Pistonheads is to cars…if you can’t left foot brake or powerslide it then it’s not worth having?
With that out of the way I can’t decide between 46” or 55”, I’m sure the former is ample but it’s £400 more for the 55” and I’ll be sitting a maximum of 3.8 meters away…may just have to swallow it!
Agree with the 'happy owners don't post on forums' poster. If you look hard enough you'll find people complaining about every model of TV. AV Forums is horrendous for it.
I was trying to pick between the Samsung D8000 and Panasonic VT50 not long ago, I spent a fair bit of time on AV forums, and almost didn't buy either due to the negativity. Even though they were both arguably the two best TVs out there (at the time)
I went into the shops myself to have a look at both, and both were visually stunning to my eyes. (I know places like Currys ramp up the colours etc). Anyways I ended up with the Samsung LED one, and it's beautiful. It looks great even when it's switched off. Almost everyone who has watched it has commented on how good the picture is. HD sport is outstanding. I'd imagine the VT50 (or 65 these days) would also be great. I picked the Samsung as I thought the physical TV looked better, as it didn't have the big plastic bezel around it
I was trying to pick between the Samsung D8000 and Panasonic VT50 not long ago, I spent a fair bit of time on AV forums, and almost didn't buy either due to the negativity. Even though they were both arguably the two best TVs out there (at the time)
I went into the shops myself to have a look at both, and both were visually stunning to my eyes. (I know places like Currys ramp up the colours etc). Anyways I ended up with the Samsung LED one, and it's beautiful. It looks great even when it's switched off. Almost everyone who has watched it has commented on how good the picture is. HD sport is outstanding. I'd imagine the VT50 (or 65 these days) would also be great. I picked the Samsung as I thought the physical TV looked better, as it didn't have the big plastic bezel around it
Ved said:
If you want the best picture and lowest lag for gaming then Plasma is the best option. LEDs are fine but I personally wouldn't buy one unless it was for reasons of cost and power consumption.
Eh? Having done a s
te load of research before I bought my TV. LED is far more suited to gaming than plasma.I spend 60-70% of my TV time gaming so compromised on film picture quality and colour by buying an LED over a Plasma.
I just bought a 46 inch Samsung LED F7000 3D/Smart tv for Christmas. Myself and Mrs R think it is awesome and are watching things on telly with a new sense of wonderment at the picture. Neither of us are as clued up on TV technology as we could be, so maybe aren't the best judges, but for us the transformation from what was a decently expensive 42 inch lcd picture is well worth it. TBH, I could happily have chosen from any one of half a dozen tv's all within a £200 of each other since I wasn't overly fussed with a particular brand or spec, but the Samsung just looked nice/neat/clean/crisp. Anyhow, really impressed.
PHuzzy said:
Ved said:
If you want the best picture and lowest lag for gaming then Plasma is the best option. LEDs are fine but I personally wouldn't buy one unless it was for reasons of cost and power consumption.
Eh? Having done a ste load of research before I bought my TV. LED is far more suited to gaming than plasma.I spend 60-70% of my TV time gaming so compromised on film picture quality and colour by buying an LED over a Plasma.
What did you end up buying as I'm planning to change my Panasonic plasma soon. OLED is just so expensive in comparison to the top end plasmas.
Edited by Ved on Saturday 28th December 18:29
Ved said:
PHuzzy said:
Ved said:
If you want the best picture and lowest lag for gaming then Plasma is the best option. LEDs are fine but I personally wouldn't buy one unless it was for reasons of cost and power consumption.
Eh? Having done a ste load of research before I bought my TV. LED is far more suited to gaming than plasma.I spend 60-70% of my TV time gaming so compromised on film picture quality and colour by buying an LED over a Plasma.
What did you end up buying as I'm planning to change my Panasonic plasma soon. OLED is just so expensive in comparison to the top end plasmas.
Here's an input lag test from Cnet. http://m.cnet.com/news/best-low-lag-hdtvs-for-seri...
Mines pretty much a year old now but I went for an LG 47LM640T. It's an ok all rounder but there are better sets for either pure gaming or pure watching.
Beknown said:
Thanks for the replies so far.
I should say I am not an audio/TVofile (I haven’t bought a TV in about 10 years, maybe more), but I do research things fastidiously…maybe AVFORUMS is to TVs what Pistonheads is to cars…if you can’t left foot brake or powerslide it then it’s not worth having?
With that out of the way I can’t decide between 46” or 55”, I’m sure the former is ample but it’s £400 more for the 55” and I’ll be sitting a maximum of 3.8 meters away…may just have to swallow it!
I post a bit on AVF. The TV's that come in for review are often the higher end of the scale, aimed at the home cinema enthusiast more than the average consumer (often the sets aren't easily sourced via your local PC world etc). The price tags often give that away though.I should say I am not an audio/TVofile (I haven’t bought a TV in about 10 years, maybe more), but I do research things fastidiously…maybe AVFORUMS is to TVs what Pistonheads is to cars…if you can’t left foot brake or powerslide it then it’s not worth having?
With that out of the way I can’t decide between 46” or 55”, I’m sure the former is ample but it’s £400 more for the 55” and I’ll be sitting a maximum of 3.8 meters away…may just have to swallow it!
On that basis, you'll find most of the reviews go into depth on areas that do not interest a consumer (black levels, colour gamuts, gamma and greyscale etc).
Back to the topic; as noted already, the latest OLED's from Samsung are quite special. They aren't cheap, but they pick up the mantle from Panasonic with their outgoing VT & ZT series plasmas. Going forward, OLED is the tech to go for with a 'regular' TV IMO.
Based on your seating distance, the 55" would provide a better experience, but if it's just a TV, and not forming part of a home cinema build, the 46" would still work (and the money saved cant go elsewhere).
fuelracer496 said:
I post a bit on AVF. The TV's that come in for review are often the higher end of the scale, aimed at the home cinema enthusiast more than the average consumer (often the sets aren't easily sourced via your local PC world etc). The price tags often give that away though.
On that basis, you'll find most of the reviews go into depth on areas that do not interest a consumer (black levels, colour gamuts, gamma and greyscale etc).
Back to the topic; as noted already, the latest OLED's from Samsung are quite special. They aren't cheap, but they pick up the mantle from Panasonic with their outgoing VT & ZT series plasmas. Going forward, OLED is the tech to go for with a 'regular' TV IMO.
Based on your seating distance, the 55" would provide a better experience, but if it's just a TV, and not forming part of a home cinema build, the 46" would still work (and the money saved cant go elsewhere).
Cheers. On that basis, you'll find most of the reviews go into depth on areas that do not interest a consumer (black levels, colour gamuts, gamma and greyscale etc).
Back to the topic; as noted already, the latest OLED's from Samsung are quite special. They aren't cheap, but they pick up the mantle from Panasonic with their outgoing VT & ZT series plasmas. Going forward, OLED is the tech to go for with a 'regular' TV IMO.
Based on your seating distance, the 55" would provide a better experience, but if it's just a TV, and not forming part of a home cinema build, the 46" would still work (and the money saved cant go elsewhere).
To be honest the TV will only be used for 2-3 hours a week max, but I don't want to spend £800 on something a bit mediocre so if £1200 will get me a 55" then so be it.
55F6740 from John Lewis looks good.
So much fail in this thread. 
There is no such thing as an LED TV, it's an LCD with LED lighting, which can be either back- or edge-lit.
Plasma is still king, (of the current and affordable), TV displays but sometime next year I'll be replacing my 2009 Pioneer Kuro with a 4k OLED.
And to answer the OP question......yes, all LCD TV's are rubbish!
There is no such thing as an LED TV, it's an LCD with LED lighting, which can be either back- or edge-lit.
Plasma is still king, (of the current and affordable), TV displays but sometime next year I'll be replacing my 2009 Pioneer Kuro with a 4k OLED.
And to answer the OP question......yes, all LCD TV's are rubbish!
I have a Panasonic TX-L50B6B. It's a budget 50" LED TV (I paid £440 and includes Freeview HD!).
I'm pretty anal about picture quality - but it looks very very good to me.
No noticeable artefacts or other problems I can see.
I've seen a lot of *bad* TV's but they were either quite old (i.e. LCD's from 3+ years ago) or the Tesco etc own-brand units which are rubbish.
I'm sure if I compared my TV to a £1500 unit, side by side the blacks might not be as good, colours not as rich etc - but in isolation it looks brilliant.
If your worried - try to find a retailer (Currys, John Lewis, Richer Sounds et al) with one you can have a look at.
I'm pretty anal about picture quality - but it looks very very good to me.
No noticeable artefacts or other problems I can see.
I've seen a lot of *bad* TV's but they were either quite old (i.e. LCD's from 3+ years ago) or the Tesco etc own-brand units which are rubbish.
I'm sure if I compared my TV to a £1500 unit, side by side the blacks might not be as good, colours not as rich etc - but in isolation it looks brilliant.
If your worried - try to find a retailer (Currys, John Lewis, Richer Sounds et al) with one you can have a look at.
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