Bargain LCD HDTVs

MSE_Martin

What's the deal?

The price of big, thin, flat hi-tech tellies with detailed screen resolutions is plummeting; it's now possible to get a 32" model for under £360.

What is High Definition (HD) TV?

It's a better resolution picture so you get a more detailed image on your screen. An 'HD ready' TV is one which is capable of displaying this type of image, provided it receives an HD signal; in other words you have a special Sky or cable HD receiver box. These boxes are currently expensive, yet the format is likely to become very common over the next few years, so if you're buying a telly now, you want to future proof it so it'll still work when HD is common place.

The cheapest 32" HD Ready TVs:

• Hannspree XV32 £357 includes delivery. Web retailer Intekx is currently selling the Hannspree XV32 for £357 including delivery, and it's got some good feedback from MoneySavers (read this). The TV supports both 720p and 1080i HD formats (more on that later).
  
• DabsValue 32" LCD £379.99 delivery. Web PC giant Dabs.com offers the DabsValue 32" as part of its budget electronics range. It has many of the same features as the Hannspree, but claims a slightly higher contrast ratio (1200:1).
  
• Techwood 32" LCD £379.99 in-store Woolworths has recently reduced the in-store price of this Techwood 32"* model, which was one of the first budget LCD HDTVs available. It has 1 HDMI in, 2 scarts and a contrast ratio of 800:1. You can buy it online too, but delivery is £4.95.

With Freeview:

• Cello LT0402 £419.99 includes delivery This is the only set in the bargain line-up which has a built-in digital tuner so you can watch Freeview (more channels without a fee - but not HD channels). Available from Amazon, the Cello LT0402* also has an electronic program guide, 1080i support and a parental locking facility. Plus, it looks pretty smart.
  
  If you have no need for the wall bracket, or just wish to check the set out in the flesh, then it's also available from Woolworths* for the same price (though you'll pay an extra £5 delivery if you order online)

A few pointers to look out for when buying an LCD TV:

The 'HD Ready' logo: Any TV with the 'HD Ready' logo must be capable of screening either/both 1080i and 720p HDTV formats. It's likely that future HD TV shows will use both types as 1080i offers higher definition for slow moving pictures, while 720p is better for showing fast action, such as sport.

Try to get one with an 'HDMI' connection: While you can get an HD picture through the same type as leads as current TVs use (known as composite and DVI connections) most future HD boxes will use a special type of connector called an 'HDMI connection', so its worth checking for this. All of the TVs above have an HDMI connector.

WARNING! Please think very carefully before buying this

While this is very good value, £360 is not a small sum of money; don't be tempted to buy if you can't afford it. TV technology prices tend to drop for the same thing, so saving up and waiting a while can often pay off.

This site is about getting the best deals, but always spending within your means so do....

....Remember the MoneySaving mantras:

IF YOU'RE SKINT

Do I need it?
Can I afford it?
Can I find it cheaper anywhere else

IF YOU'RE NOT SKINT

Will I use it?
Is it worth it?
Can I find it cheaper anywhere else?

Martin

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Geoggy

hi - if you read the thread in the grabbit forum on the 37 inch hannspree tv, you will see that it is in fact wall mountable.

hope that helps

SurfBowlSC

The AOC 32" is currently available from techfever.co.uk for £369.84 delivered.

Mine arrived on Friday and I have to say that it's pretty damned good!
Very well reviewed too.....

Have had issues finding a bracket to wall mount it because it's not VESA measurements (you're looking at 400 x 200). Cheapest compatible bracket I found at weekend was £100 from Argos which I refuse to pay.
Fortuantely I've found one in a local TV/Hi-fi store for £50!

startrekker

SurfBowlSC wrote:

The AOC 32" is currently available from techfever.co.uk for £369.84 delivered.

Mine arrived on Friday and I have to say that it's pretty damned good!
Very well reviewed too.....

Have had issues finding a bracket to wall mount it because it's not VESA measurements (you're looking at 400 x 200). Cheapest compatible bracket I found at weekend was £100 from Argos which I refuse to pay.
Fortuantely I've found one in a local TV/Hi-fi store for £50!

Definitely reccomend the aoc. i got one 4 weeks ago and very pleased. It also came unbadged which is even better:beer:

Lankysi

I'm thinking about purchasing an HDTV at some point in the near-ish future (these AOC ones are tempting me far too much at the moment haha).

Anyway, I'll be plugging my Xbox 360 into it so is there anything I need to look out for specifically in order to get my 360 in HD when connected to an LCD tv? I.e. what sort of connection should I be looking out for in order to hook up my 360?

Cheers

Geoggy

Lankysi wrote:

I'm thinking about purchasing an HDTV at some point in the near-ish future (these AOC ones are tempting me far too much at the moment haha).

Anyway, I'll be plugging my Xbox 360 into it so is there anything I need to look out for specifically in order to get my 360 in HD when connected to an LCD tv? I.e. what sort of connection should I be looking out for in order to hook up my 360?

Cheers

you have 2 choices, a component lead or a VGA lead.

The component lead is supplied free with the Xbox premium pack, the VGA you have to buy as an extra.

Either will give 720p high def on these TV's, and I would imagine all of them will have both compinent and VGA (sometimes called PC DSUB)

VGA will however give you upscaling on DVD playback. I use VGA and it looks great.

bluetillidie

hi the 37" techwood is £499 in woolworths aswell bit of a better reputation at least that might help some people out

37" Techwood
http://www.woolworths.co.uk/ww_p2/product/index.jhtml?pid=50790688

Relisys 32" LCD TV HD Ready
http://www.woolworths.co.uk/ww_p2/product/index.jhtml?pid=50777255

PeteHerts

AOC 27" Wide HD Ready LCD TV 6.5ms 1366x768 SCART HDMI 2 yr wty - £308.38 next day delivered

Technical Specifications General
Product Type
27\" LCD TV
TV Type
HD ready
TV Tuner
1x analogue
PC Interface
VGA (HD-15), HDMI
Enclosure Colour -Black
Display
Diagonal Size
27\" - widescreen
Technology
TFT active matrix
Resolution
1366 x 768
Display Format
720p
Image Aspect Ratio
16:9
Colour Depth
24-bit (16.7 million colours)
Image Contrast Ratio
1200:1
Progressive Scan
Progressive scanning (line doubling)
Viewing Angle
176 degrees
Viewing Angle (Vertical)
176 degrees
V-Sync Rate at Max Res.
60 Hz
Max V-Sync Rate
75 Hz
Max H-Sync Rate
48 kHz
Backlight Life
60,000 hour(s)
Colour Temperature Control - Yes
TV Tuner
Tuner Qty
1 tuner(s)
Multi-channel Preview
Picture-in-picture (PIP), POP
Reception System
PAL, SECAM
Stereo Reception System
NICAM, A2
Teletext - Yes
Teletext Memory
1000 pages
NTSC Playback on PAL TV -Yes
Remote control - infrared
Audio System
Sound Output Mode
Stereo
Speakers Included
2 speakers
Output Power / Total
20 Watt
Speaker(s)
2 x right/left channel speaker - built-in - 10 Watt
Connections
2 x SCART (RGB) ( 21 PIN SCART )
1 x HDMI ( 19 pin HDMI Type A )
1 x VGA input ( 15 PIN HD D-Sub (HD-15) )
1 x composite video/audio input ( RCA phono x 3 )
1 x component video input ( RCA phono x 3 )
1 x S-Video input ( 4 PIN mini-DIN )
1 x audio line-in ( mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm )
1 x headphones ( mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm )
1 x audio line-out ( RCA phono x 2 )
Stands & Mounts
Stand Included
Built-in
Stand Design
Tabletop
Flat Panel Mount Interface
200 x 200 mm
Miscellaneous
Compliant Standards
DDC-2B
Power
Power Device
Power supply - internal
Voltage Required
AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )
Power Consumption Operational
150 Watt
Dimensions & Weight Details
Dimensions & Weight Details
Panel with stand - 69.5 cm x 23 cm x 54 cm
Panel without stand - 69.5 cm 13.5 kg

http://www.redstore.com/fx/techinfo.php?itm_code=AOCMON025

chuggnut

What's the difference between the AOC L32W451T (as per techfever £369.84) and the AOC L32W551T as mentioned in the original post?

Cheers

Chuggnut

Mr_Mister

After watching the Gadget Show on Channel 5 last night, I would stay clear of unknown makes.
For LCD - The best companies are Samsung & Sony
For Plasma - Panasonic & Pioneer

Ok going for a well known make will burn a hole in ya pocket but it will be quality and will last much longer than the duds.

Geoggy

chuggnut wrote:

What's the difference between the AOC L32W451T (as per techfever £369.84) and the AOC L32W551T as mentioned in the original post?

Cheers

Chuggnut

you can compare the specs on the aoc website.

google is your friend.

in summary - different housing, slight difference on brightness. 451 is the older model and has had a few problems.

my advice go for the 551.