Televisions, what features to look for?

[Boosted LS1]

It's been years since I bought a tv for the lounge and I'm well out of touch. Plasma this, lcd that, I'm a tad confused. All I need is something appx 30"-40" that's ultra reliable with a sharp picture. Rarely will it be used for games. I have a Technika in the bedroom which has been brilliant, that said I've no idea how long it'll last or who makes it!

Can anybody suggestthe questions I should ask or the features I should look for? Thanks in advance.

Oh and why is it that in a major store I went to just one tv was really good and the rest had poorer picture quality? Does the feed go to one tv before all the others?

[Rob_F]

I was looking last weekend and http://www.digitaldirect.co.uk/ has some great prices. It's Derestrictor's shop; so you can assume good, if overly verbose, service!

In the end i got one of what must be the last ever CRTs sold in a major chain, but otherwise i'd have had one of the LG LCD screens away.

Cheers,
Rob.

[hardcorehobbit]

You'll want a range of inputs, probably a couple of scarts, an HDMI or two for future proofing, and you can get built in freeview.

Between 30 or 40" you'll be looking at LCD rather than plasma, as it's cheaper without a loss in picture quality. Bigger sizes you'll be wanting plasma.

[DAVE-W]

I'll be going for an LG 42" LCD next.

Currently have a 42" Samsung Plasma which is TERRIBLE for getting screen burn at the least little thing......and don't even mention playing the Xbox on it!

BTW.....Argos have some great deals on the 42" LG lcds at the moment.

ETA....links for the above......

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5...

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5...

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5...

Edited by DAVE-W on Friday 16th May 21:22

[spyder dryver]

Hi Mike!
When you've got it all sussed let me know what you go for. I'm looking for a similar thing. Around 37". Isn't a high "contrast ratio" an important feature to look for?
Is it worth considering some of the smaller plasma TVs?
We deserve to be told!

Geoff

[RadoVR6]

I got my 42" LG LCD from digitaldirect. (full HD)

The picture is absolutely fantastic. Got it for a good price and the service was spot on.

If you are thinking of going for similar stay away from the Samsung tv's. I have seen 2 42" LCD's and picture was pathetic.

Mine has 2 scarts, 2 HDMI, 2 components(?) and a RGB.

Mainly use it for games and tv and couldn't recommend it highly enough.

It depends how much you want to spend really.

[Furyous]

Boosted,
I just bought a Panny 32" LZD80 from Der, the product is fantastic, the price is brilliant and the service from the man himself faultless.

To say Im a happy customer would be an understatement.

[matt3001]

Anything LG or Panasonic will provide you awesome service, check DABS for great prices.

If you want to spend a bit more look at the Loewe sets, and if you want the Ferrari of tv's then you have to have a Bang & Olufsen one (like myself) don't have a B&O sound system though as they are over-rated. Couple it to a Denon AVR 3807 and 5 beautiful Bowers & Wilkins speakers and sub!

[Ordinary Bloke]

Go have a look at a Panasonic 32" LCD, can't remember the model number, get them to show you the difference between 50Hz and 100Hz. You'll see why the extra £50 is worth it.

Look at the bright bits, and the dark bits. Notice how 'unsubtle' the brightness/contrast is. Then look at the colours, they're much 'lairier' than your old CRT.

Then get them to show you a 37" Panasonic Plasma. Then you'll see what the extra £100 is for.

Then look on eBay. You can get a TV that cost £500+ a few years ago for £50!

[jamesgrrr]

spyder dryver said:

Hi Mike!
When you've got it all sussed let me know what you go for. I'm looking for a similar thing. Around 37". Isn't a high "contrast ratio" an important feature to look for?
Is it worth considering some of the smaller plasma TVs?
We deserve to be told!

Geoff

High contrast is important as the contrast is the measure of the difference between the blackest black and the whitest white i.e a low contrast equals not very deep images.

As low as possible response time (usually measured in ms) means smoother images and better for games/fast moving images

You need '1080p' if you intend to buy an high definition source (blu ray etc).

I have searched high and low and found that Toshiba make excellent 40" LCD TVs for around £1000, better than Samsung and easily comparable to Sony (and much better looking IMHO)

[GarC]

matt3001 said:

Anything LG or Panasonic will provide you awesome service, check DABS for great prices.

If you want to spend a bit more look at the Loewe sets, and if you want the Ferrari of tv's then you have to have a Bang & Olufsen one (like myself) don't have a B&O sound system though as they are over-rated. Couple it to a Denon AVR 3807 and 5 beautiful Bowers & Wilkins speakers and sub!

I have two B&O LCDs and a B&O audio system (the one with 6 discs in a row) and would not recommend them. Althought they are nicely finished the quality is only comparable with other main brand products. They are over-priced and honestly not worth the premium.

I had an older Loewe (CRT) before the B&O and thought it was great but again over-priced and not worth the premium. (TBH the best TV I have is a Philips, for what that's worth.)

Most of these brands use similar internals. I think you should buy a copy of a specialist magazine (What Home cinema etc.) and look at the editors' recommendations.

They are the people to be asking..

[jamesgrrr]

GarC said:

..

I totally agree... Loewe and B&O concentrate on design first and foremost. Their internals are more often than not technology bought from other companies.

[sadoksevoli]

I hear colour sets are the in thing with sound (that is synchronised with the picture) and some even come with a "remote control". Still doesn't beat the wireless though.

[Ordinary Bloke]

jamesgrrr said:

GarC said:

..

I totally agree... Loewe and B&O concentrate on design first and foremost. Their internals are more often than not technology bought from other companies.

Any examples? I thought B&O designed their own TV's...

[gangster66]

Ordinary Bloke said:

jamesgrrr said:

GarC said:

..

I totally agree... Loewe and B&O concentrate on design first and foremost. Their internals are more often than not technology bought from other companies.

Any examples? I thought B&O designed their own TV's...

Only the outside bits.

They often use Philips innards

[outlaw biker]

Panasonic Viera - no contest.

[PJ S]

jamesgrrr said:

GarC said:

..

I totally agree... Loewe and B&O concentrate on design first and foremost. Their internals are more often than not technology bought from other companies.

Complete and utter tripe of the highest order!
Where'd you unearth this gem of information?
As pointed out above, Loewe is the best on the market for a slight premium. B&O is equally top notch, but part of the price is the interoperability with its other products (muting TV/Audio via phone, etc), and the high-ticket advertising costs in the various magazines it does run adverts in.
If Loewe were as you claim, then I'd be very keen to hear Sharp's explanation for purchasing 30% of the company.

As for Philips being best - pull the other one, it plays Jingle Bells, and I haven't heard it played in a while. I'd sooner buy a Samsung over a Philips, and I'd sooner shag a razor blade filled blow-up doll than buy a Samsung LCD TV. Honestly, I would!

[PJ S]

gangster66 said:

Ordinary Bloke said:

jamesgrrr said:

GarC said:

..

I totally agree... Loewe and B&O concentrate on design first and foremost. Their internals are more often than not technology bought from other companies.

Any examples? I thought B&O designed their own TV's...

Only the outside bits.

They often use Philips innards

More misinformation - the CRTs were the 1% cream of the crop from Philips, and remeasured and returned by B&O if outside their specs.
LCD panels may be Philips/LG or Samsung/Sony - but then Loewe is Sharp mainly, and Samsung on the lower end models when Sharp can't meet demand.
As for both companies' electronics - totally in-house design with proprietary algorithms for scaling and de-interlacing. That was the primary reason Sharp bought into Loewe initially, then increased the share to the current 30% mark.

[matt3001]

Ordinary Bloke said:

jamesgrrr said:

GarC said:

..

I totally agree... Loewe and B&O concentrate on design first and foremost. Their internals are more often than not technology bought from other companies.

Any examples? I thought B&O designed their own TV's...

They do, trust me. The guy before must of had a bad experience as they are in a different league visually, B&O's sound systems are second rate though. I also have a 22" HD LG which is fantastic and a 37" Panasonic Viera which is best picture for ££.

Sony's are ok, bit pricey for what you get. Philips and Samsung are just too unreliable, and they only have average picture quality.

OP, what DVD player are you hooking up to it? Some TV's are better matched to certain players, Toshiba/Denon/Arcam and the Naim DVD5 that I use all need a good quality screen like the Panasonic or B&O to see the benefits!

[PJ S]

outlaw biker said:

Panasonic Viera - no contest.

I see someone knows their onions from their bks.
Well, up to a point. The Pioneer Kuros are still a fraction ahead of the Pannys 8 Series Plasmas. Still better tuner section too.
As for LCD for real world money - I think JVC now have the edge on Panasonic, but it'd be a tough call either way.
For lesser money again, Toshiba would be worth serious consideration, and Sony is coming back into the fray - but only just.