Bargain LCD HDTVs

Zoo_TV

If you're thinking of getting a freeview TB, there could be some confusion around the corner. Sky want to introduce thier own pay-tv option with sports, films etc on Freeview and they propose this takes the place of all the Sky channels on Freeview.

However, you will need a completely new box which can cope with new compression methods proposed by Sky. Ofcom are now conducting an investigation into this as it would impact ppl who have Freeview boxes and Digital TVs. The Freeview boxes could be replaced, but would you want to shell out hunderds of pounds on a Digital TV to save having a box only to find it will be obsolete if you wanted the Sky channels

It's best to keep an eye on http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/

That has the latest on this development

arniel

Whilst out shopping at the weekend, went into Currys (not that I'd ever buy anything from them!) and had a good look at the TVs.
I was able to tell which was LCD and which was plasma without looking at the labels (obviously I looked afterwards to check), purely on the basis that the LCDs were inferior in colour reproduction. Best way I can describe it is a mottled effect, like LCDs can't show as many levels of graduation between different shades. As usual, they were playing the demo disc of underwater wildlife which looks spectacular at first, until you realise that the shots are all less than a few seconds, so it's almost impossible to study a scene on one set then look at another for comparison. Also, there are no dark shades so you can't see the deficiencies in LCD black-level reproduction and hardly any panning shots to disguise motion blur. THe best that can be got from this demo is to identify which sets can produce all the colours and which dither the pixels.
I think I'll be sticking with my CRT for another few years, or maybe pick up a 36" one off of eBay if necessary.

Quickblood

The problem with in shop set-ups is that they usually seem to use the poorest quality feed so the pic will always look crappy but I wouldn't say the best place to see them is at home, unless you can get a load of them in your home the best place remains the shop.
Over Christmas I was in Dixons (I think) and they had several high def TVs outputting a high def content first time I think I'd ever been able to compare several HDTV’s the way they should be seen.

Also local electronics stores will, if you ask them to, change the source so you can see how it deals with standard def pics too.

When I buy my home cinema set-up that's how I'm gonna go about it, read the reviews at the AVforums then go and see the TV in action for myself, I wanna know I got the best TV I could afford and that's the only way I see it happening.

moyhim

ENOUGH with the nonsense and jibber jabber

Can u bargain hunters find the cheapeast 37-42" 1080P capable HDTV which is a decent brand name.

Im not being funny here but 1k is wayyy to much for a tv, so im not going to buy this im still waiting for prices to fall

this is cheapest ive found a SHARP 42" for 1066 delivered
http://www.24electric.com/detail.php?ProdID=98209015

CheekyCharlie_2

SurfBowlSC wrote:

My brother-in-law and his partner only buy Sony.... and it shows.... the house hasn't been decorated since they moved in 4 years ago (still the previous owners minging carpet, wallpaper etc.). Why?! Because they choose to spend the money on items that are overpriced and not that much better.

I hope your Brother-in-law does not use this site and know who you are lol :rotfl:

bilbob_2

moyhim wrote:

ENOUGH with the nonsense and jibber jabber

Can u bargain hunters find the cheapeast 37-42" 1080P capable HDTV which is a decent brand name.

Im not being funny here but 1k is wayyy to much for a tv, so im not going to buy this im still waiting for prices to fall

this is cheapest ive found a SHARP 42" for 1066 delivered
http://www.24electric.com/detail.php?ProdID=98209015

:eek: How much are you expecting to pay for 1080p, 37"+, brand name set exactly???
£1000 and up? Sounds about right to me! I know this is a money saving site, but you have to be realistic!

londonman81

L.S.D. wrote:

Next time try an opticians, that may get rid of the bluring. LCDs outperform crt in all ways. Like it or lump it.

Ah OK - so it's my eyes that are telling lies....hmm right...

Simple test: see how clearly you can read the end credits of a program on an LCD TV and then do the same for a CRT.

I've yet to come across an LCD where the end credits can be read clearly - especially when the credits scroll horizontally as opposed to vertically.

Footloose

bilbob wrote:

:eek: How much are you expecting to pay for 1080p, 37"+, brand name set exactly???
£1000 and up? Sounds about right to me! I know this is a money saving site, but you have to be realistic!

Have you tried Argos? I haven't checked if they're the cheapest or not, and I'm not sure if Bush is a decent enough brand name for you, but they sell a Bush 42" HD ready LCD for £899.99.

anttreas

I am in the Trade of LCD's and Plasmas. I dont sell them, I deliver, install and repair them with an independant firm in the south west.
This information is purely from my experience and knowledge and I hope some of you find it useful...

Price over Quality...
Im sorry but I have to agree with people when they say it is worth waiting and saving and buying a better brand.
The picture quality and the durability of the set seriously drops when you buy a cheaper 'unknown' brand.
I personally like Panasonic. Purely because from what I have seen, they last much much longer than the other makes, they come in for repair MUCH less and the picture quality is far superior.
I have seen many posts about Sony. The firm I work for sell Sony, but I really wouldnt recommend it. Most of Sony components are made by other companies, often samsung. They dont make Plasma screens, and it is widely documented that Plasma beats LCD hands down in bench tests. Also their picture quality compared to makes such as Panasonic, and even Toshiba (:undecided) is poor. If you are looking for something slightly cheaper, Samsung make good value for money, with picture quality and durability similar, if not better than Sony. (another note to consider, there are rumors that Sony will be pulling out of Europe in the near future)

Buying in the shops...
When you are in a showroom, it is a common thing now to have all the LCD's and Plasmas connected to a High Deffinition feed.
Before buying, ask the sales rep to show you the screen in a 'normal' feed. To be honest, not many people are going to watch HD picture.
Ask them to show you the screen showing standard freeview, analogue or DVD etc...

High Deffinition...
Yes HD is comming, but how quickly and with who?
At the moment, the only HD input is coming from Sky.
Sky only has a handful of channels transmitted with HD, and when you sum up the EXTRA £10 a month on top of a normal subscriptions PLUS the costs of the box, PLUS the cost of an HD tv, is it worth it?
HD as a standard broadcast is a long way off. The last statement I heard, was that we are looking at about 6 years. Are you likely to have the same set now that you will have in 6 years time?

CRT vs LCD vs Plasma...
I have yet to see an LCD without an HD feed to have a picture quality superior to an old CRT set. It just doesnt happen. The poor picture quality on LCD and Plasma is the reason that HD exists! Even HD fed LCD's have difficulty matching a decent CRT.
HD plasmas (if they are good) can create an image superior to CRT.
But being honest, the reason we all like LCD and Plasma is the fact that they take up so little room! :T

Slightly off topic but... HDDVD vs BlueRay Disc...
My advice is to WAIT! This is another battle like VHS vs Betamax.
HDDVD has come out first, but when you look into it, it may be possible it wont be around for long. When you look at the lists of companies supporting the different formats, there are more than twice as many supporting BlueRay rather than HDDVD.
The reasons for this is that BlueRay will be better. Simple.
The picture quality will be pretty much the same, but BRdiscs will be able to hold MUCH more information, be far more flexible, and it appears, will have many more films available on them.
Only a couple of the major studios are supporting HDDVD, and even those are also supporting BlueRay along with the rest of the Studios and major AV related companies.

I hope this has helped...:beer:



(ADD ON NOTE)
I have noticed people are mentioning 1080p.
Another thing to consider, are we going to stay with 720p and 1080i, or are we going to adopt 1080p in the future.
Many, if not most, of the cheaper Plasmas, are unable to support 1080p (much higher picture quality)
No one knows what will happen with this yet, as it is a decision that will need to be made by the broadcasters. But it may be worth asking the sales rep whether the screen supports 1080p. (but dont neccessarily believe them if they tell you why you dont need it! )

deefadog

Also on the HDDVD vs BlueRay Disc - I heard that LG are bringing out a Player than can play both!

Just something to watch out for!