LCD TV? Plasma?

Scarlet_Fever

hi there

my old tv is getting on a bit and we really need a new one - either continuing with renting, or maybe even buy a new one

whats the best LCD one to get? looking for around 28 / 32 widescreen??

need fairly cheapish - not really worried about the bestest all singing all dancing state of the art - just a good basic tv for the front room

DavidHM

Firstly: don't rent. Rent on one of these will come to £30 a month, which means it's paid for after 2 years... and you keep on paying.

If you truly want no fills, the first option is simply a flat-screen CRT - the picture quality on these is excellent and you can get a nice one for £180 from Asda, for instance (28"). If you have the space, don't dismiss CRT for this application.

Second option is a basic 26" LCD; for current TV broadcasts, these are fine, but with High Definition on the way (for things like DVD, better digital broadcasts in future, XBox 360 and PS3) you might find you want the HDMI input. Something like that should go for about £400 from Asda, Currys, Dixons, or Argos. 26" LCDs have the same visible screen size as 28" CRTs.

For an extra £100 you can get the HDMI connection and higher resolution - this probably adds no more than a fiver to the manufacturing cost but it might still be worth it if you're planning on connecting more devices in future. Alternatively, via Wharfedale at Argos for example, you could get built in Freeview but only standard connectivity.

For around £600 you can either get an HDMI enabled 26" LCD with built in Freeview - http://!!!!!!!.com/r5h4r Alternatively you can go for a basic 32" TV - as set out above for the 26" really.

For around £800 you can get 32" LCD TVs with built in Freeview or digital inputs in retail stores. An all singing, all dancing 32" TV with digital and Freeview is about £925 delviered from Amazon - it's the Phillips 32PF5520D.

Hope this helps.

Reluctant_spender

Have a look here, clicky, this site has a ruck of info on this subject. Well worth a read.

raymond

For under 32" forget the HD its not going to be any benefit in terms of pic quality. Dont forget that its going to cost an arm and a leg if you actually want to watch real HD for the next few years, and it will probably never be available on terrestial freeview.

When you are talking tv's, the words cheapest and best should not be used in the same sentance. There are cheap LCD's around that are ok'ish but not good, there are LCD's around that are good but defo not cheap, its all to do with the response time of the LCD panel and the half decent ones are way at the top of the price range. If you want a half decent picture on a budget then stick to the old fashioned CRT models and forget LCD.

Plasma isnt generally available under 42"