Opinions Of : Acoustic Solutions - LCD26761HDF TV?

[Blib]

A friend of mine wants to buy a new TV. She's not a great television viewer, in fact her current TV is a 14" CRT thingy that she has had for years.

She is on a very tight budget and I've offered to find her a cheap 26" TV which would fulfill her needs. She likes watching films, she's not interested in cable/satellite or playing games on it and high definition doesn't register on her radar.

She just wants something widescreen with an acceptable picture and sound clear enough for her to hear without straining. She wants it to be able to handle the digital switchover and that's it. In other words, bog standard.

The cheapest 26" TV I've found is this Acoustic Solutions model. Argos are selling it at £214.00. I've never heard of this company and so I'm posting this thread to suck your collective brains.

The customers' reviews on the Argos site - there are over 100 reviews of this model - are generally favourable. I am wondering whether any of the PH community own one of these or have seen one 'in action'?

I know that it will not be the greatest televison out there. Indeed, it will possibly be 'below average'. But, will it do a job for her or will it be totally crap and should I suggest that she spends another £60 and splash out on the Sharp LC26SB25E which Richer Sounds are doing a deal on?

Are there any other "26 models that I should take a look at?

Many thanks for any advice. It would be nice to save the girl a few quid if I can.

[lord summerisle]

i would have thought another CRT and a freeview box would be the cheapest option for a decent picture.

Of all the LCD TVs i've seen at the budget end of the scale have been poorer picture quality than a traditional CRT.

I'd have a look in Asda - we have a 29" 4:3 CRT that we got last year for £150 that is great, its a rebadged Sharp box. they were also selling widescreen versions for about the same price.
If she doesnt care about picture quality, and hasnt got much to spend - i'd stick with CRT for now.

[wildoliver]

Most sensible option is ebay or forum sales sections/freecycle/gumtree looking for CRT TVs. People can hardly give them away so they fetch nothing. She will get a nice quality CRT screen as big as she likes for circa £50.

[Blib]

I never thought of another Crt to be honest. Thanks for that.

Anyone else got a view on cheapo LCDs? In particulat this Acoustic Solutions one?

Thanks

[rhinochopig]

My father is looking for a cheap LCD at the moment, so I had a look for him over Christmas, and Richer Sounds had a 32" Panny with built in freeview for £350. Don't know whether it's any good but every TV thread on here seems to come down to buy a Panny if you can't afford a Pioneer.

[Blib]

I didn't see that Panasonic offer from Richer Sounds . Thanks, I'll check it out.

[cqueen]

What is it with the TV threads at the moment? must be at least 5 threads in 2 days.

[Graham E]

for gods sake, don't buy a cheap horrible lcd - it'll be pants.
Accoustic solutions is a non brand, sticking a little label on the cheapest nastiest chineese tat they can find. The poster somewhere above suggesting a decent ebay CRT is deffo on the riht track, or ebay / local ads an SD plasma / LCD - sicnce 1080p was invented, noone can give away SD sets, despite the fact they're great tellies for nrmal viewing...

[spidermanUK]

Acoustic Solutions is Argos's own brand. I won a 17" LCD in the pub Xmas draw last year and was going to take it back to Argos to swap it for something decent....like a pencil case....BUT my cctv monitor went bang, so I decided to use it.....and surprisingly, the picture quality is sharper than the LCD it replaced.

[Simond001]

have an accoustics Solutions LCD in my bedroom.

Quite acceptable picture quality IMO

[Blib]

Thanks Spiderman.

The problem I have is that I assume an example of the TV will not be available to check out at my local Argos, so I won't be able to see the quality of the picture until we get it back to her place.

Hence this thread.

[Blib]

Simond001 said:

have an accoustics Solutions LCD in my bedroom.

Quite acceptable picture quality IMO

Is it this model Simond001?

[uk_vette]

Blib said:

I never thought of another Crt to be honest. Thanks for that.

Anyone else got a view on cheapo LCDs? In particulat this Acoustic Solutions one?

Thanks

'
'
'
My sister bought a 26 inch Acoustic Solutions a few months ago from Argos.
To be honest I can't see the difference between that and my brothers 32 inch Samsung.
Apart from size, the picture, to me, (a very untrained eye), looks fine.
.
.
Based on that, I was at Argos yesterday and ordered a 26 inch AS for our bedroom.
At 214.00 for a 26 inch, this has to be value.
Anyway, there is the 14 day return so if you really don't like it, send it back.
.
.I think it looked good so thats where my money went.

[Blib]

uk_vette said:

Blib said:

I never thought of another Crt to be honest. Thanks for that.

Anyone else got a view on cheapo LCDs? In particulat this Acoustic Solutions one?

Thanks

'
'
'
My sister bought a 26 inch Acoustic Solutions a few months ago from Argos.
To be honest I can't see the difference between that and my brothers 32 inch Samsung.
Apart from size, the picture, to me, (a very untrained eye), looks fine.
.
.
Based on that, I was at Argos yesterday and ordered a 26 inch AS for our bedroom.
At 214.00 for a 26 inch, this has to be value.
Anyway, there is the 14 day return so if you really don't like it, send it back.
.
.I think it looked good so thats where my money went.

Thanks UK_vette. That's exactly the feedback that I was looking for. PH wins out again.

[uk_vette]

Blib said:

uk_vette said:

Blib said:

I never thought of another Crt to be honest. Thanks for that.

Anyone else got a view on cheapo LCDs? In particulat this Acoustic Solutions one?

Thanks

'
'
'
My sister bought a 26 inch Acoustic Solutions a few months ago from Argos.
To be honest I can't see the difference between that and my brothers 32 inch Samsung.
Apart from size, the picture, to me, (a very untrained eye), looks fine.
.
.
Based on that, I was at Argos yesterday and ordered a 26 inch AS for our bedroom.
At 214.00 for a 26 inch, this has to be value.
Anyway, there is the 14 day return so if you really don't like it, send it back.
.
.I think it looked good so thats where my money went.

Thanks UK_vette. That's exactly the feedback that I was looking for. PH wins out again.

.
.
There are always people that will see differences in a screen quality.
Perhaps they are more 'judgemental' or have more expectations, or have better idea of what to look for, but for me, it looked good

Edited by uk_vette on Saturday 27th December 11:56

[Glassman]

Blib said:

Acoustic Solutions

LCD TVs?

Acoustic Solutions: sounds like that 'brand' of speakers pikeys sell

[davido140]

Blib said:

The customers' reviews on the Argos site -

Hmm, Maybe I'm a snob, but doesnt the average Argos shopper think Elizabeth Duke Jewellery is "bling", a saxo with a massive exhaust is "mint" and music by bass-hunter is "wikkid"

I've no idea about the TV in question but I would take Argos reviews with a pinch of salt!

I found this place very useful

http://www.avforums.com/

When I was looking for reviews/info on new AV kit.

Edited by davido140 on Saturday 27th December 12:18

[stefd]

I have a 22" Acoustic Solutions LCD in my bedroom, it has a built in DVD player and freeview tuner. I think it's Argos's own brand but suprisingly the picture is good.

Of course, a main stream japanese TV will have a better picture but at that size and taking the price into consideration it's a great buy. Only comparison I made was with Tesco's own brand (Technika?) and the Argos picture was far superior.

[Niiick]

I have a 20" Acoustic Solutions LCD TV/DVD, it was approx £230 from Argos two years ago. The picture quality is okay, but not even close to the quality of a CRT set or a high end LCD or plasma.

I think one ends up getting used to the quality be it good or poor.

If space isn't a limiting factor your friend might be better off going for one of the last made pure flat widescreen Sony CRT sets. They are a very low cost option (used) and represent better value for money than a cheap LCD.

Edited by Niiick on Saturday 27th December 13:01

[Blib]

Glassman said:

Blib said:

Acoustic Solutions

LCD TVs?

Acoustic Solutions: sounds like that 'brand' of speakers pikeys sell

Thanks Glassman.

Could you pop over to the London forum and put your energy to use arranging a new North London PH meet for sometime towards the end of Jan, beginning Feb?

Thanks.