26" LCD TV - HD Ready £378 delivered! (merged) [CLOSED]

onedah

Received mine this morning, I have been worried about the TV because of all the neg feedback. However I have to say that I am pleased with the buy.

I have tried it on with the following:

XBox Via Scart: Watching Matrix 3 - Results: As reviews state the TV does not cope with Black too well, but is viewable. Was a little grainy on some parts but overall was Good.

FreeView (Alba)Via Scart: Most channels are good, LA LAW was not so good but I found most US programs were not so Good but watch able. I put this down to NTSC to PAL conversion. The Problem I found was that the power button on my Freeveiw control switches the DELL on and Off...

Standard TV via Arial: Again Most channels were a little grainy but overall Good, again US Programs not so good.

Overall: From the limited testing I have done with a quick set up, I have to say I am Happy with the TV. If you go into Tesco or Curry's or Dixon's, send 5 minuets looking at the LCD screens on show. You will see that they all have some thing that is not great, ghosting, grainy picture etc. Many of my friends have LCD and the picture on this is no different, not as good as some CRT's but is it fair to compare? I don’t think so..

For the price this TV looks and sounds Great, picture quality can vary in the limited test I have done but in the most above average.

The above is my opinion, I am not a expect but not blind either……..Hope it helps

darfergu_2

Furq thats my thinking as well

I just goes back to the garbage in garbage out theory.

I have bought one of these because I am getting my XBOX 360 on Friday and needed a HD TV.

Also just purchased a progressive scan DVD player (plays DIVX as well) on EBay for £40 good quality cables.

Hopefully this should mean a good quality picture.

PS does anybody know how long it takes for the order to go from pre-production onwards as mine has been sitting there since last night

Ta

Darren

black_star_2

I am signing off now. More bargains elsewhere to be had and i found myself looking all over the web to find out what a SIM2 is. Add that to my forays into component this and rgb that I am concerned that I will be going to Millets and buying a waterproof raincoat soon.
Thank you for all the help, information and links. They have been very valuable.

kowalski_2

I would very much doubt that Dell would actually manufacture more of these sets, so I would hold off buying stuff to accompany them, until you at least know it has been despatched and will definately get one.

AFAIK they are just shifting a discontinued model to make way for a new range.

hasnath

Still waiting for mine to arrive, going to be an evening delivery now. also what video cards are people running when using DVI, hopefully it should be here when i come back from the cinema.

also this quote was taken from hexus

derthballs wrote:

yeh, phone and tell them you want to cancel, they will offer you 10% to keep it, you then haggle to whatever, ive got 20% on the LCD and a 24" LCD now

so i might just aswell try that even if it's fine

junglejim

I've just received my set and was on the brink of not opening it due to concerns over picture quality. In the end I thought I could set it up keeping all the wrapping safe so I could send it back using dsr if necessary.

Now I'm a fairly technologically minded person and can get irritated by by things like pq. However I would just like to say that I would stand by this tv as a good bargain.

It is not going to compete with any decent plasma of the last 2 years nor give you the total DVD experience. But if you just want a TV to replace your 5-10year old set then this is as good as any.

I've watched a bit of Doncaster vs villa, played FIFA 06 and a range of other XB games... some of them HD (I have a modded xbox running the US version of riddick which is HD) As mentioned earlier the unit performs best with the HD content. I've got it running from my NTL box and set up using both composite and rgb inputs. In both cases the pq is fine (note.. not mind blowing). Yes the ntl menu is a bit pixelated, and some straight lines (goal posts) can on ordinary viewing... but when I'm 2meters plus away with a can of beer I'll be buggered if I notice/care.


It strikes me as something like cleartype on PDA's.... yes you notice the difference between ones with and without but unless I directly compare I really don't care!

If you are on here asking about advice on PQ rather than on some of the more technical forums (avforums.co.uk) the chances are you really won't give a monkeys. I'm just glad the set looks smart and displays a picture!!!

For those who've bought and are not planning to use it in a home cinema system, its fine, otherwise if you are a techie, it might be worth saving your pennies a little while longer.


Just by 2 penneth!

JB

mk-donald

darfergu wrote:

PS does anybody know how long it takes for the order to go from pre-production onwards as mine has been sitting there since last night

Darren

Mine went from pre-prod late Thu to left factory at 4am on Friday to tried to be delivered by TNT at 8am Mon - and brought back by TNT within 30 minutes when I got home Mon lunchtime - wonderful courier service. And incidentally the packaging is very strong/comprehensive.

And after an entire evening my parents are VERY HAPPY, not just content, with theirs.

MKD

Brodel

junglejim wrote:

If you are on here asking about advice on PQ rather than on some of the more technical forums (avforums.co.uk) the chances are you really won't give a monkeys. I'm just glad the set looks smart and displays a picture!!!

Just had a browse over there and the reviews are much more positive, has restored a little of my faith in it

steveh2001

ANyone know where to get a 3M+ DVI cable? Like the one which came with the TV, male to female i think

Doesnt seem to be any above 2M on ebay!

mjr600

Mines here :-)

Beatifully built, very solid cast base, nice remote, every connection you could want.

Fed from Shuttle 2.5 P4 HCPC via DVI, Radeon 9600PRO, SONY DVD, Twinhan PCI Freeview, FFDShow/TheaterTek/ZoomPlayer Pro decoding.

Freeview is as expected pixellated on the crap broadcasts the older US TV shows in particular, fine on the new stuff BBC etc, but if I sit on the sofa 10ft away they're all fine.

Normal DVD playback is excellent, all the usual test stuff is superb, Shrek, Hellboy, Toy Story 2, most is CGI but thats where the best picture comes from.

High Def stuff from Microsoft, DIVXHD etc in particular the Madagascar trailer is drop dead gorgeous, truly stunning.

Half Life 2 in Widescreen is also amazing, a little motion blur, big enough to scare you to death if you're close up.

The set has a multitude of audio and picture settings, as with all LCD's black could do with being blacker ! No issues with the sound at all.

Only problem I can see is a jaggy during fast motion across the top 1/4 of the screen but it may be down to my FFDshow processing so I'm going to tinker and see if I can 'software' it out.

As a HTPC TV/monitor this is a real bargain, if you've bought it without the right kit or AV knowledge then I think sending it back to Dell is a bit rich.

Researching your product before parting with the cash should be a given of any real MSE's.

Addit - Looks like the panel is made by LG.